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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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The Pack Horse, Leeds
Leeds
LS1 6AT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Pack Horse
Tucked away down an alleyway off of the Briggate shopping street, this isn’t somewhere you’re likely to stumble across by accident, but was nonetheless quite busy on our recent Saturday afternoon visit, perhaps on account of the forthcoming Euro’s match, although fortunately it was Shania Twain at Glastonbury who was on the screens when we arrived. That didn’t last though, once the football was underway it was switched to that, and the volume ramped up considerably with sound even piped to parts of the pub that did not have a screen. You couldn’t even escape to the courtyard, there was a further screen here and yet another speaker at the end of the alleyway to annoy any passing pedestrians.
Internally it’s presumably been opened out at some point, and consists of a series of interconnected rooms, each broadly similar in terms of style but slightly different décor. Flooring was either black and white chequered tiling, flagstone style tiling or old wooden boards, whilst the ceilings were mostly painted dark green with some old wooden joists in some areas. A plethora of plastic footballs hung from the ceiling and there were numerous flags as well, both large and small, all around the pub to compliment the TV screens. There were a few old pictures dotted around the walls, as well as a large old map of the city filling one wall. It was interesting how many of the terraced streets have the same name but with a different suffix, e.g.; Clark Mount, Avenue, Crescent, Terrace, Road, View, Lane and Grove. The room at the rea was a little more contemporary perhaps with some sort of aqua blue shade of paint on the walls with black wood panelling down below, but the obligatory TV screen on the wall spilt the ambience somewhat.
Beers on tap were Ossett White Rat and Timothy Taylor Landlord, whilst the cider choice was a disappointing Strongbow and Strongbow Dark Fruit. Not one I’d bother returning to unless at a quieter time perhaps when there was no sports on, but even then there are far better options nearby.
On 10th July 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2060 recommendations about 1962 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Pack Horse
Another of the alleyway pubs - my heart sank on seeing the 'Craft Union' sign, fell further on seeing the slightly squalid yard outside, and plummeted on finding a large queue snaking across the bar waiting to be served. But shortly after the late turn barman turned up and things rapidly improved, revealing a lively little pub full of regulars, with a few sports screens showing the footy. There is also a smaller bar upstairs available for functions, which is what it was doing on this occasion. Just TT Landlord and White Rat on handpump, but prices seemed sensible compared to certain others nearby. A reasonable locals' pub.
On 28th April 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Pack Horse
nothing special at all , but it did open its doors an hour earlier than the other alley pubs. food is being pushed at every opportunity and the alleyway stinks of it. not too bad a selection of ales but at premium prices. Maybe worth visiting, once.
On 21st September 2019
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1174 recommendations about 1136 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Pack Horse
The least attractive of the four pubs "hidden" in alleyways off Briggate, though to be fair it's a long time since I was in the Angel, so I can't be sure about that one. Any pub painted in a shade of battleship grey is never going to be attractive in my book, so I think I'm on fairly safe ground. Once inside, there's a deal of modernisation (which is not something anyone could accuse the other three of) but it's not unpleasantly done. The five hand pumps on the bar had a reasonable selection (see photo), of which I selected Doom Bar for some reason - may have been a new year's resolution to do with not letting prejudice get in the way of beer tasting. My notes fail to mention whether it was any good. There's a 10% discount for card carrying Camra members, but it's available only to those who visit the toilet before ordering their beer, as that's the only place where it is mentioned. Naturally, I failed to claim it, but now, readers of this review can skedaddle down to the Packhorse and claim their 10% discount without having to use the toilet first! Hurrah for Pubs Galore!
Date of visit: 8th February 2018
On 5th February 2019
- rating: 5
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Pack Horse
A pleasant enough pub down an alleyway this is apparently the oldest pub in Leeds. Its been modernised but still retains a traditional pub feel. There are only 5 handpumps on the L-shaped bar and the beer selection was quite good. The pub has 3 levels consisting of a stone flagged bit, up a step to a chess board tiled middle bit where the bar is and an upper part depending on which entrance you use.
On 6th April 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Pack Horse
One of the 'famous four' alleyway pubs, but probably the one which retains the least original character. Semi-modernised interior, with seating areas in front of and at each end of the bar, but the dark-wood panelling in some parts of the layout does little to add interest. Also has some patio tables out in the yard. Eight handpumps, on this visit offering Saltaire Pride and Cascade Pale Ale, Hobgoblin, Brain's Bread of Heaven, Leeds Pale, Copper Dragon Golden Pippin, Theakston Paradise Ale and Orchard Pig Explorer cider.
On 8th March 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Pack Horse
There were seven handpumps on our visit. We went for the Saltaire, which was ok and we sat over in a section with oak wood panelling. The pub was quite busy on our visit and the service was fine. The main entrance door was annoying me, as it was creaking with every open and close. A spray of WD40 wouldn't go amiss.
On 2nd December 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3645 recommendations about 3645 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Pack Horse
Another of the four alley pubs off Leeds's Briggate, not as narrow as the Ship or Whitelocks. Seven handpulls with regular UK and local micro beers as well as the usual band of kegs. You enter past an outside smoking / drinking area into a large square room. To one end is a panelled snug with tasteful pictures, to the other is a raised area with modern furniture in the Ikea identikit style, and a big screen. Any charm the pub may have had in the past has been lost through modernisation, for atmosphere Whitelocks or the Ship are far better. The beer quality is as ordinary as the pub, I fear the level of custom is not sufficent to support the seven pulls. The toilets are upstairs.
On 11th February 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Pack Horse
This pub is up a very narrow alley off Leeds main shopping street.
Once inside here the pub is quite narrow with a beamed ceiling and as you walk through the pub there are a few steps to go up.
There were only two beers on the bar i had a drink of Black Sheep bitter which was ok but nothing special the other beer was GK IPA.
I think there are better pubs nearby.
On 1st December 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Pack Horse
One of the 4 alley pubs off Briggate and just to confuse things, one of 3 pubs in Leeds called the Pack Horse. For my money this is the least interesting of the alley pubs and, given the lack of any information concerning the pub on various web sites, it would appear that it is the least well known. Accessed via a narrow passageway bearing the pub’s name, there is a small courtyard with some cover at the front where the smokers congregate. The pub interior is a single room with a slight raised area towards the rear. There is little in the décor or the building itself (despite apparently dating back to 1615) that stands out other than a selection of musician portraits (Beatles, Cobain; Lennon) dotted about the walls. On our Friday evening visit the place was quite vibrant with a younger crowd but everything seemed good natured and I didn’t feel out of place or note anything that anyone would find intimidating. The ale selection was a bit standard for the area - Black Sheep Best, Greene King IPA and Landlord, the last of which was unavailable. On the whole it’s OK but not really a place that warrants a specific visit other than for completists doing the 3 other alley pubs - do this one first and the others will come across as far more interesting.
On 2nd March 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]