The Ship, Leeds

Located down a narrow alleyway just off of the Briggate shopping area, this isn’t somewhere you’re likely to just stumble across by accident, but was nonetheless pretty much full to capacity on our recent Friday evening visit, perhaps on account of the singer that they had on who was doing a decent collection of 80’s covers. Internally it’s one single, open plan room and furnished quite traditionally with black wooden boards on the floor and much dark wood panelling, not only on the walls but the ceiling as well, and was perhaps somewhat reminiscent of a ship’s cabin which is appropriate I suppose given the pub’s name, although what it’s nautical connections are seeing as it’s quite some way from the coast, I’m not sure. A knot display in a glass case continued the theme, whilst much of the lighting was brass fittings. A few panels of stained glass were fitted in to the wood above the bar. Beers on tap were Timothy Taylor Landlord, Old Speckled Hen and Black Sheep Bitter, whilst three further pumps appeared to have run out. A chalkboard also listed something from Twickenham and Leeds Pale, so that was presumably two of the three that had not been crossed off. Cider choice was disappointing though with just Strongbow in the regular and Dark Fruit varieties. Overall I thought this was a pretty decent pub with a lively atmosphere, mostly due to the music, and I’d happily pop in again if in the area.

A lively alleyway pub but with the dead corporate hand of Greene King showing through. The very bogus interior is incredibly brown, both the main area near the bar and the 'dining room' up a couple of steps. It did at least offer a reasonable selection of beers, with 4 Yorkshire ales plus one from Twickenham and Old Speckled Hen.

this alley pub has been Greene King-ified though without the usual heavily corporate stuff loved by that brewery. It has sadly taken to calling itself a ‘bar and kitchen’ rather than a pub serving food, something that always irrationally irritates me. Anyway it’s okay and kind of reminds me of the small back alley pubs you find in central London.