Whitelocks First City Luncheon Bar, Leeds

This is a really nice pub that is up an alley off Leeds main shopping street. Once inside here the pub is very narrow and was very busy on my visit,i liked the look of this pub and would have liked to have a drink in here when its a bit quieter. I had a drink of Springhead Roaring Meg which was very nice the other beers i could see were Sharpes Eden, John Smiths cask and Kelham Easy Rider. I wont try and describe the inside of this pub as Rogers and Old Boots are far better than i could do. I would be very happy to visit this pub again.

Magnificent, is how I'd describe this place. No other word seems appropriate. Gorgeous Victorian interior and a peaceful outdoor alleyway area which were both good spots for a pint. Copper Dragon Golden Pippin was in terrific nick, and this stands out as one of the best pubs I've visited in Leeds, possibly only eclipsed by Foley's on the Headrow.

Fantastic pub with wonderful real ale and great food. Im having my wedding reception in the back room there in November. Lovely lovely Bev owns it and shes a great lady. Very atmospheric place and you can just feel the history in the place. Just be careful if you cant climb steps properly, the way to the toilets is like climbing everest.

Described by Betjemen as being “the very heart of Leeds”, Whitelocks is the most famous and for my money, the most interesting of the alley pubs that radiate off the central Briggate shopping area. The pub was originally the Turks Head but changed its name in the 18th century to represent the family that had owned it for 9 decades. The long narrow interior is full of character with low ceilings, patterned glass windows and full of tradition and slightly opulent charm. The marble topped bar is most unusual being a kind of split level shelf which involves service at arms reach from elevated staff on the other side. Note also the “luncheon bar” section depicted in stained glass and the wonderful brewery mirrors on display. The drinking area around the bar is quite narrow opposite the bar and one end is more of a dining area so seating can be hard to find at peak times, such is the pub’s popularity. Those who suffer from nausea may wish to avoid standing near the bar where a strange vibration can be felt in the floor, presumably from equipment beneath. There are seats and barrel tables outside in the alley where you almost feel that you have been transported back 200 years and seems totally at odds with the bustle of the modern shopping area a few steps away. The pub has a generous selection of Real Ales – 8 hand pumps with Caledonian Deuchars, Theakstons Best & Old Peculiar, Brains SA, Leeds Ale, York Yorkshire Terrier, Kelham Island Easy Rider and Brass Monkey Bitter all present on my vist although I found the prices a bit on the steep side. A collection of pump clips from former guest beers decorate the bar. We had intended to eat here but the bar food was quite limited with little or no veggie options for Mrs B so we passed on this occasion. My visit was unfortunately fairly brief and I would like to have spent more time here to sample a few other ales and get a real feel for the place but food and other pubs beckoned. This will however certainly be one of the first places to return when I next hit town.

Tucked away up an alley off Briggate, as you may imagine this is a long thin pub along one side of the alley, chairs and tables take up the other side. The impressively mirrored interior is a wonderful example of late victorian exuberance, with a long counter filling one side and bench seats and copper topped britannia tables and stools ranged down the other, at the far end is a luncheon room. The counter itself is a decadent brown, green and yellow tiled affair, with an equally impressive bar back of twisted columns, plain shelves and stained glass, echoing the staining glass windows of the pub. One end of the bar back has a small shrine to Elvis. The counter has a glass and brass food servery at one end, a bank of four handpumps on a raised block dominating the middle and there are two other handpumps to each side. These dispense a mix of regional and local ales, with Theakstons, Daleside, Adnams, Brass Monkey and Deuchars on during my last visit, a single T-bar serves a mundane range of kegs. Oddly for a city centre pub in a major shopping street the customers were quite local and friendly, the staff very efficient. A Good Beer Guide regular.

Weird, mirrors, arrgghhh, what, huh?!?! Just go and visit if in Leeds, a little gem, if you can find it!