The Old Red Lion, Leeds

Multi-roomed pub retaining a few interesting features but some of the more recent work (e.g. a few replacement windows in the rear lounge) are somewhat lacking in character and the whole place has something of a clinical feel. The old photographs are interesting, though. As a Sam Smith's house, there was just OBB available from the various handpumps, but at only £1.80 it is very difficult to complain.

Stood in the shadow of the more opulent and well known Adelphi, this Sam Smith pub could perhaps be easily overlooked, but to do so would mean missing out on an interesting multiple room boozer. The main bar is at the front of the pub and has carpet flooring with half panelled walls and a long curved banquette under the front windows. It was pretty quiet when I visited, but a small handful of locals had gathered in this room, sat along the bar counter. To the left, there is a large lounge with a curved button backed banquette along the back wall, a few tub chairs under the front windows which bear the Sam Smith's logo, and low stools elsewhere. The walls have been decorated with some genuinely interesting old pictures of life on the nearby river and other decorative touches include a smart frieze running around the room, a patterned ceiling and an attractive tiled fireplace. A corridor running behind the servery leads to the toilets and eventually brings you out to a small lobby with enough room for a couple of tables and chairs and access to the bar. To either side of this area there are two more rooms, one with a few seats and a dartboard, the other filled by a pool table. I hoped to settle down to read my paper and relax over my pint, but I ended up playing a long, futile game of fetch with the charming and remarkably persistent pub dog. Old Brewery Bitter was available on handpull, but I fancied something different and opted for the Light Mild which I thought was pretty reasonable all things considered. The landlady seemed a bit gruff and the locals didn't strike me as the most approachable lot, so in many ways, having the dog for company was a bit of a blessing. I agree with the previous reviewer, that this isn't the sort of spectacular, ornate Sam Smith's pub that visitors from the capital might expect, but I still thought the place was nicely presented and offers something a bit different to other city centre pubs. Not one to seek out for the beer, but certainly worth a look if you find yourself in the vicinity.