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Pub Of The Month - October 2025 with ROBCamra
on the Pub Forum
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Head of Steam
One of two branches of Head of Steam in Leeds city centre, this is a much more modern version than the Mill Hill branch and this one does not make an appearance in the Good Beer Guide, unlike its counterpart.
This pub is quite spacious with seating areas to the front as you enter and also around a large oval-shaped bar to the rear. There is a games area, which was cordoned off for our visit. A pinball machine has been removed.
At the bar, we found Kirkstall Three Swords & Jasper, Rooster's Franklin, Abbeydale Moonshine, Vocation Naughty & Nice & Timothy Taylor Boltmaker. The cider was Lilley's Wild Berry, one I had not seen before. Craft beers were Vocation Hop, Skip & Juice & Crush Hour, Mash Gang Chug, Overtone Mother Glasgow, Vault City Cowboy Canned Laughter With Kim Blythe, Pretty Decent You Don't Win Friends With French Horn, Little Brewing Juicy Lucy & Bird of Prey, Alter Ego S'more Fire, Head of Steam IPA, Yeastie Boys Bigmouth, Delirium Red, Northern Monk Faith & Tooth and Claw Jellyfish Nebula.
I find Head Of Steams quite expensive these days but a discount for CAMRA helps. I'm surprised that this branch does not make the Good Beer Guide. It's every much as good, if not better than the Mill Hill one). Certainly worth a visit if touring Leeds pubs.
On 19th August 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3272 recommendations about 3270 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Head of Steam
Loads of space inside plus an outside seating section down the side from the entrance. It seemed like a good walk to get the bar, as this is a huge pub. Mostly hip and trendy somethings serving behind the bar, all upbeat as though they're on one big party. One member of staff was quite chilled and we had a good chat about the cask beers on handpump, two of which were a bit way out. The Brass Castle Rhubarb and Custard I ordered was bizarre, as you got a taste of Rhubarb then a few seconds later the custard. The Roosters Creeper Cucumber pale ale, I defo wouldn't touch that.
I did try and enjoy the Vault City Radler Sour which was good.
On 30th June 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3716 recommendations about 3716 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Head of Steam
Rather cavernous beer hall in a rather anonymous modern building, with a surprisingly limited amount of furniture. That said, most of the other customers on a Saturday afternoon were in stag- and hen-do parties, and it was still early enough for them to be standing. Use was also being made of a couple of shuffleboard tables. Seven of eight handpumps were in use when I visited, but the pint I ordered was in poor shape, but quickly changed Ilkley Blonde (£5.40).
On 20th May 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8928 recommendations about 8928 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Head of Steam
The Head of Steam is a large pub in the lively part of the town centre, not the sort of place I usually venture on a Saturday night. This is a corner plot at the foot of an office block so floor to ceiling windows wrap around. A seating area to the right of the entrance was being used for a function. Up a short walkway to the rear is a large island bar that was being run by some friendly bar staff. Premium and craft keg were available alongside eight hand pumps that were drawing Northern Monk’s Don’t Mess With Yorkshire, Alpha Delta Brewing’s Inti, Black Lodge Brewing’s Pirates, Cameron’s Strongarm (bland) and Motorhead Road Crew, Brew York’s It’s This Was Tony (ok), Kirkstall’s Vocation & Friends and Thornbridge’s Jaipur (always great). At the rear behind the bar counter is a games area with a couple of shuffleboard tables and pinball. To the right of the bar is a stage area where a band plays every Saturday from 20:00. Unfortunately the band on during my visit was crap, maybe that’s why the pub was empty by 22:00 and the manager decided to close early at just after 23:00. I must say that I wasn’t disappointed in this decision.
On 14th September 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6277 recommendations about 6240 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Head of Steam
The second and newer Head of Steam in Leeds, it has 8 pulls plus 14 odd kegs of various types, it’s a big area looking like a strange scene from a sci-fi movie, no not that one. However I was suffering from an overindulgence when dragged in here by younger drinking buddies, so a second visit will be required.
On 4th November 2019
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3779 recommendations about 3450 pubs]