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The Dry Dock, Leeds
Leeds
LS2 3AX
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Dry Dock
As you approach this pub, the temptation is to assume it’s some sort of elaborate student prank – a grounded barge on a traffic island in between several Leeds Met University buildings? Surely not. But this is a fully functioning pub and quite an interesting one at that. The boat isn’t entirely intact, with one side having been removed to allow a brick built extension to be added, cunningly hidden under a grassy embankment so that when viewed from outside, the boat appears to be buffeted by a big green wave. This extension forms the left hand side of the pub which houses the entrance, servery, pool table area and toilet block, allowing the actual interior of the boat to be used entirely for seating. A few tub chairs can be found close to the pool table which is next to the front door, whilst high tables and stools run opposite the bar with comfier sofas and plenty of standard seating along the right hand wall. Skylights provide a good amount of light in the absence of any windows, which was much appreciated by the busy, student oriented crowd enjoying food from the cheap menu. The pub is part of the Scream chain and if further student credentials were required, the indie soundtrack and TV screens showing Total Wipeout should do the trick. A door at the rear leads to a smoking area and there are seats available outside on the upper deck.
A strange ale selection faced me at the bar with Greene King IPA, Acorn Yorkshire Pride and Black Sheep Bitter available, the latter of the three being the strongest at an underwhelming 3.8%. There were no seats available, so I opted for a quick half of the Yorkshire Pride whilst propping up the bar, but sadly it seemed to be a bit past its best.
This is certainly a fairly memorable bit of pub design and I can see why it’s popular with the local student population. Not a destination pub by any means, but well worth a look in passing, if only for the novelty value. And if you really love the place, you could always seek out their sister pub of the same name outside Leicester University.
On 25th October 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Dry Dock
You certainly wouldn't expect to find an old barge left high and dry in the middle of an interchange some distance from the nearest navigable waterway, and the idea of a Scream outlet being a place of interest is also rather implausible. The Dry Dock is also much larger inside than might expect because there is a side extension well hidden by landscaping. Being right by the university, the clientele and staff mostly appear to be students. Plenty of food offers. Pool. Three handpumps, not only offering Black Sheep but also Tyke and Porter (£2.80 and in good condition) from the local Bridgehouse microbrewery. Although I only sought the place out because I had a voucher for a free burger and chips, I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed my visit.
On 11th March 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Julie Windmill left this review about The Dry Dock
Dry Dock is an unusual pub that takes the form of a large boat, it serves a wide range of beers, wines and spirits and is open until 2am from Monday to Friday. Opposite Leeds Uni it's often frequented by students and it's not uncommon to see a queue a mile long outside. And it plays some rocking music...
On 9th October 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2 recommendations about 2 pubs]