The Hop, Leeds

We popped in here on Saturday afternoon about 4pm and it was quiet busy. There was music playing at a decent level, the place had a good atmosphere to it. Even though it was busy, there was no problem getting served as the bar was well staffed. There was a choice of 5 Osset beers and 5 guests. We went for the Osset Silver King, Pure Gold and Fernandes Columbus. I would return here as the beer is excellent.

Hidden away under the arches beneath Leeds train station and fronting the fancy Granary Wharf development, The Hop is an atmospheric pub and live music venue from the Ossett Brewery. The pub fills two arches, with smartly appointed seating areas running from front to back where the servery can be found in an open space connecting the two halves. You enter into a lovely, tiled floor seating area with plush banquettes and low stools running down the right hand wall. There are plenty of bare brick walls and some decorative dark wood panelling, giving the place a bit of a traditional feel which is offset nicely by modern, elaborately decorated mirrors and arty prints of various musicians. A window on the left hand side allows you to take a peek at the cask ales racked up in a central storage room. At the rear of the pub, opposite the bar, there are large windows bearing the pub’s logo, looking out to the service road that runs under the train tracks, although there didn’t appear to be access into the pub from this side. The lack of natural light at this end has resulted in the use of muted lighting, which created a nice, cosy feel despite the fact that I was visiting in broad daylight. The left side of the pub roughly mirrors the right hand seating area, although there is an enormous display case on the staircase on this side, full of various beer bottles. The stairs lead up to a sizeable space where the bands perform, looking down to the bar below. The decor here is a bit incongruous, with lots of graffiti style artwork on the walls, although I suppose it wouldn’t look entirely out of place in most venues on the gig circuit. I arrived to an empty pub, having apparently just missed the lunchtime rush, but it wasn’t long before the next wave of punters started drifting in, livening the place up a bit. As with other Ossett ‘Hop’ pubs, real ale is a key facet and I had a tough time choosing from a line-up of Ossett Pale Gold, Excelsior, Blonde and Silver King, Mauldons Suffolk Pride, Fullers Red Fox, Wentworth Bumble Beer and Fernandes Ale to the Tsar, eventually opting for an excellent pint of the latter. The keg range seemed quite extensive as well, and veered away from the more mainstream products. I didn’t spot menus, so I’m not sure what sort of food is provided, but posters advertised pie, mash and a pint for a fiver, which seems very reasonable. I thought this was an excellent pub with an atmospheric location, offering something a bit different and affordable in amongst all the pricey eateries on the Wharf. It’s a versatile venue and I’d happily return here for food, drinks or a gig.

Situated by the canalside developments, this new bar offers a different dimension to Leeds’ burgeoning real ale scene. Taking the same approach to the concept as its older sister in Wakefield, Ossett brewery have mixed up music, ale and a younger vibe and, like the one in Wakefield, it appears to be just as successful a conversion given the speed at which is was filling up on my late afternoon visit. It is housed in two arches under a platform of Leeds station. There are 10 pumps, loaded with brews from Osset and a number of well-selected micros all priced by abv; alongside this is a real cider and some interesting bottled stuff along with higher-end keg. Due to being built into a couple of rail arches there is inevitably quite a dark interior but this has been neatly overcome by adding in plenty of interesting visuals (such as the large bottle collection ton the staircase), prints (a number of Sheffield band feature) and stained glass, which is then picked out by various coloured lights. A steel mezzanine level adds an elevated level for the bands to play on. There is a section on the ground floor that faces onto the canalside and offers a decent view. It’s enjoyably trendy in a way that perhaps the two new Leeds Brewery offerings in the city aren't; my sort of ‘modern’ perhaps. I’d happily pop back here at a quiet time or to catch a gig.

It is worth perusing the excellent photos from both Quinno and Jaqptiao to get an accurate picture for this bar beneath the arches.Around the front entrance there is a pub feel ,while the serving area at the back is more like a trendy bar.On my trip there were 10 handpumped ales and a real cider on the go,with among others four Ossett ales,a Goose Eye,Golden Rat and Fernandes Dustcatcher,representing a good range of local micros.Beer quality was good and justifies a visit if crawling around the City centre. There are tables outside where you can view the Granary Wharf canalside scene.If approaching The Hop from the station,take a walk down Dark Neville Street,great name, if you want to see and hear the atmospheric scene of the subterranian River Aire gushing through the gloomy arches at quite a pace below the narrow street crossing.If you are on your own,late at night with no one else around,this does entail a modicom of nerve.

Ossett Brewery outlet, housed under two railway arches at the west end of Leeds Central station on the Holbeck bank of the River Aire. 'U'-shaped layout at ground-floor level, with the bar to the rear (and thus somewhat hidden at first glance). Additional seating at mezzanine level. The furniture and decor is a mix of traditional and modern, and regular live music is advertised. Patio seating area out front. 11 handpumps, mostly own beers but supplemented by others from local microbreweries, all priced by ABV. My pint of Fugelstou Village Life (4.0%, £2.75) from the Fulstow Brewery was first rate. Overall, well worth seeking out.