The Highland, Leeds

A surprising survivor amidst the cheap hotels, ring road stores, and low rent, high rise in the Kirkstall Road area, although not far from the Fox and Newt and easily reached down a flight of steps from Burley Street just west of the F&N. A Victorian building that looks to have been made over in the 1900s, 1930s and again fairly recently but retaining features from all periods. Three pulls with decent Tetley Cask, Leeds Pale and Everards Tiger on sale, served by a friendly barmaid. It is one long room where originally there would have been two or three, one end is more of a lounge extended by the removal of a corridor and in addition to benches and tables it has leaning cushions fixed to the walls on one side. The other larger area has a nicely panelled bar counter down one side and benches, tables and chairs down the other. Simple décor with a couple of big screens and ironically in the year Tetley's moves out of Leeds, a poster from the 1923 centenary of Tetley's Brewery with the legend “Here's to the next hundred years”. A very popular locals pub, busy with a good vibe and mix of ages.