Templar Hotel, Leeds

Having not visited The Templar for several years, it was good to see the place apparently thriving, when I called in recently. Both ‘John Bonser’ and ‘old boots’ describe the interior well and so I’ve little to add apart from the fact I think it’s a shame that the replacement black and white half-timber ceiling feels rather plastic and incongruous alongside the ‘Tudor’ dark wooden panelling and fittings. However, that’s a minor niggle compared to the overall comfortable feel of the place. (Apparently, it was during the mid-1980s that the main body of the pub was opened out, with only the back lounge remaining largely unaffected.) Eight hand pumps were on the go during my visit, with four allotted to Tetley Bitter, one for Tetley Mild, plus Adnam’s Bitter, Lancaster ‘Blonde’ and ‘Leeds Pale’. The Mild was in very good nick, with the friendly barman apologising for the fact it had just gone up to £2.25! At four o’clock on a Thursday afternoon the place was absolutely buzzing, with a real sense that this was a proper, old style drink led boozer. It’s one of a handful close to Leeds market that has the feel of a genuine workingman’s pub. Not surprisingly, some of the clientele were a bit rough and ready, with language definitely at the saltier end of the spectrum, but the atmosphere was all very relaxed, including plenty of good-natured banter. Over time, I’d forgotten what a cracking little pub The Templar is, having rather lazily stuck to my default choices when in town. However, I shall definitely call again soon and would also recommend it to any visiting fans of traditional pubs.

A long, thin pub now a single room but originally three, Lounge, Vaults and Saloon, the external door lintels are carved with these names. The outside is in stone and tiles on the ground floor, applied letters pick out the pub name as well as giving the original owners “Melbournes” a billing in contrast to the the rather tacky Tetley signs; Tetley took over Melbournes in 1960. The upper floors are in stucco and appear older than the ground floor suggesting a big make-over in the 1930s. Inside the décor is 30s tudor-bethian, stained glass and wood panelling with a half timber ceiling in black and white, set off with plates, jugs and brassware. The walls are decorated with prints mainly of heraldic subjects in keeping with the tudor-bethian theme. Obviously Tetleys is still sold here, four out the eight pulls had Tetleys Cask and a fifth had their lovely Mild in excellent nick, the other three serving GK IPA, Bombardier and surprisingly Leeds Pale. Fosters and John Smiths Smooth seemed to appeal more to the mainly middle aged, working men making up the clientèle, although the low prices probably had more to do with that than any lack of quality in the ales. The staff were spot on as well, checking I was happy with the amount of head. The pub is listed in the 2010 GBG.