The Grove Inn, Leeds

Absolutely excellent back street boozer, selling a decent range of beers, all in top condition. I loved the stripped wood floors, basic seating and feisty pub dog that greeted us on entry. I could have stopped here all day, but as 3rd pub in an 8 pub crawl, we had to move on, despite the inviting dart board.

The Grove Inn is made up by several rooms that are accessed from a central corridor. To the right of the entrance are a small room with seating and another slightly larger room beyond. To the left of the entrance is the bar area where there is some more seating. The bar also serves the corridor which leads to the largest room in the pub which houses a piano and a stage area for regular live music events. There is a dartboard in the bar and there was some background music playing throughout the pub during my recent Friday lunchtime visit. The bar is stocked with standard draught and I counted nine hand pumps. I cannot remember what I had to drink, but it was a decent pint and the service was very friendly. The pub was busy with local office workers when our large PuG crawl wandered in, but the staff took it all in their stride and served us all promptly. Food is served during the week from midday until 14:00 and there is a quiz every other Sunday. This pub has the feel of a proper local’s boozer and I would make sure of a revisit if I find myself in the area again.

Still cuts it as my favourite pub in Leeds and did not disappoint on a return visit, this time on a Lunchtime. I’m still amazed how this pub going throw back survives amongst the modern glass towers of the town centre regeneration and it was great to find it being well utilised on this lunchtime visit. Good range of beers on again and for the record Daleside Blond and Elland Brewery Beyond the Pale were tried and found in excellent nick. An excellent return visit justified a rating increase to a rare top score. I really cannot see how you could improve this place, except for moving it lock stock and barrel down to North London to be round the corner from my house.

Sorry Gill, had to upstage you there and rate this pub a 10. A back street gem, the service was impeccable, in spite of all the PG crawlers piling in at once. There was 7 very well kept ales on handpump, we went for the Great Newsome Frothingham Best and Daleside. This pub had a nice traditional feel about it. Could easily have stayed here all afternoon. Also serves food.

Just loved this pub and enjoyed wandering round it's many rooms. A room at the back looks set for gigs, and it has a lot of character. The bar was busy at the front when we got there, and there was a great atmosphere giving positive vibes of a popular pub. Plenty of ales to choose from. Real ales were on the bar in the front room, and also in the corridor serving the other rooms. We chose an excellent Winter Warmer from Collingham brewery, and Wharfebank Aztec Orange. Worth the short walk from the station and deserves it's place in the 2014 Good Beer Guide.