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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Duck & Drake, Leeds
Leeds
LS2 7DR
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Ian Mapp left this review about Duck & Drake
Beautiful two roomed victorian wegde pub. We made the mistake of going left into an empty room before finding a surprising amount of punters for midday on a Tuesday in the other room, huddled around a wonderful open fire. Old Print of Leeds dominates one wall.
Beerwise, plenty I could have chosen but I went for an excellent Rooster Yankee. My pick of the pubs visited on this trip.
On 8th December 2024
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1563 recommendations about 1543 pubs]
Moby Duck left this review about Duck & Drake
A solid two room wedge shaped boozer well described below with two reviews close to my June visit. I enjoyed my first visit on a lively Saturday evening so much I returned on the Sunday afternoon before my train home. I didn't record all the beers on but I had Wensleydale Human Menagerie and Roosters Bank Of Dave, which is actually Yankee re-badged for the pub as it refers to the name of a film shot in the pub and surrounding area. Great pub.
On 23rd July 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2151 recommendations about 2118 pubs]
Blackthorn _ left this review about Duck & Drake
A traditional no-frills boozer in an unusual wedge shape building towards the end of the popular Kirkgate, it consists of two bars with a central bar counter serving both. The left-hand bar had a band on when we visited and we did not investigate this. Locals seemed friendly and we shared a table with a couple of old boys who soon struck up a conversation.
Décor wise it’s quite dated but not at all unpleasant, with nicotine coloured embossed wallpaper on the ceiling, flock wallpaper and deep red paintwork on the woodwork as well as red drape curtains in the windows. An old brick fireplace was off to one side, and there were some old brewery mirrors on the wall, as well as their own Duck & Drake mirror describing themselves as a Fine Ales Emporium. The pub’s emblem of a couple of flying ducks also appeared on the etched glass windows and a wooden carving above the bar counter. The main feature of interest was some very old and large pictures, murals almost, of the locale, including a bust street scene and some shops. Seating was a mixture of fitted leather bench seating as well as regular chairs and stools.
Beers that I spotted were Timothy Taylor’s Landlord and Golden Best, Bradfield Farmers Blonde, Rooster’s Bank of Dave, Old Peculiar and Wensleydale’s Masks & Mirrors (although this was described as a cask lager whatever that is) although there may well have been further offerings in the other bar. The only ciders were Strongbow and Strongbow Dark Fruit, although again, perhaps there were others that I missed.
On 8th July 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2060 recommendations about 1962 pubs]
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Duck & Drake
Long overdue revisit to this wedge-shaped alehouse retaining its traditional twin-bar interior, with a stage area in the left-hand room since regular live music is a major feature here. There is a more of a lounge to the right, where the furniture and decoration is still quite basic but none the worse for that. Fine selection of up to 15 cask beers available from the various handpumps on the counters on each side of the central servery, with my Wensleydale Libertine (£4.40) being one of the many smaller Yorkshire brewery examples. Always worth a stop if in the area.
On 16th June 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Duck & Drake
A traditional pub in alehouse style that seems unchanged from when I lived in Leeds in the early 90s, though I don't remember the beer garden. Possibly there are more beers on these days, with 14 listed on the board behind the bar. I saw six hand pumps in the right hand bar, with five beers one, and the barman confirmed that there were "more or less" 14 beers on altogether. My half of Roosters Yankee was in very good condition, but I still wished I had studied the options more carefully as it was a bit too light and frothy for me. I might have to come back another time and try some other beers.
On 10th June 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Duck & Drake
Two-bar traditional city centre boozer.
Apparently there can be up to 15 real ales, but on our visit, there were 11. In addition to the regular Bridgehouse Blonde, Rooster's Yankee, Theakston Old Peculier & Timothy Taylor Landlord, they also had Rooster's White Rose, Timothy Taylor Golden Best, Yorkshire Heart Ghost Porter, Purity Pure Gold, Ossett Silver King & Yorkshire Blonder & Daleside Bitter.
Whilst consuming my Ghost Porter, I also noticed an old fellow drinking from an Old Rosie glass. I asked him if it contained Old Rosie. The answer was yes. They don't advertise it in case it encourages the idiots. I trust none read this page.
Probably the best new pub visited in Leeds on this visit.
On 24th August 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about Duck & Drake
this two sided pub is so friendly and a great place to spend a while in Leeds, even if just to absorb the excellent music they play. it was all Clash, Members, Adam and the Ants etc today. I was going to call it a rock pub but i think it’s just a pub that is passionate about good music. Lots of prints on the walls, very nicely done. I appeared to be sat in ‘Cabbage Corner’ !
On 21st September 2019
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1174 recommendations about 1136 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about Duck & Drake
Two rooms with the bar in the middle. Fine selection of real ales as per usual. Would always return to this place.
On 13th August 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Davey left this review about Duck & Drake
A great beer and live music venue. Superb range of unusual brews on the bar, all well kept by a very enthusiastic gaffer, who was happy to chat about the beer.
On a big crawl, we don't often stop for two, but we did here, despite the incessant attention of the pub dog who could detect a crisp packet opening at 200yards.
We were in on a Saturday lunch so missed out on the music, but the chalk board of forthcoming events was packed with tribute bands and other little known local bands. The rock memorabilia on the walls marks the place as somewhere that probably hums later in the evening.
On 17th January 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about Duck & Drake
It was rather late in the day when I visited so detail is scant but is, as ever, accuately provided by Mr. Signman below.
It's a large, street corner, just off town centre boozer which has a central bar. The room to the left felt cavernous which was perhaps due to the gig about to start and, as mentioned below, live music is a speciality.
The lounge area to the right is more comfortable, and less noisy.
There was a wide selection of real ales which I didn't list but which included three from Salamander, Saltaire Pride and Blonde and an excellent Roosters Yankee. A largely local offer and why wouldn't it be in this brewing heartland.
I'd happily drop by again in the expectation of an excellent pint.
On 2nd August 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 683 recommendations about 682 pubs]