Nation of Shopkeepers, Leeds

Modernised bar / restaurant with a long, narrow counter area with a bit more space for seating at either end. Thankfully, there is also a covered terrace and a decking area with wooden benches and a few booths out in the courtyard. Five of six handpumps in use, offering Leeds Pale, Kirkstall Pale (£3.90, Thornbridge Hacksaw and a couple of ciders.

Historic listed building modernised into an L shaped bar in two parts. One end with higher seating the other with low leather booths down each side and refectory tables and benches in the middle. The counter against the rear wall has a selection of UK standard kegs plus another 6 pulls, two in use for beer, one on cider and a fourth apparently being made ready for a busy Friday evening to come. Quality was acceptable for my Purity UBU but a touch cold and slightly tired. Passé grey paint job, Edison bulbs; candles in jars, albeit interesting jars, and industrial ducting, show the time period of its last makeover. There’s a covered area and an open decking laid yard at the back and a way through to the back of the Henry Moore Institute and Leeds Art Gallery and another through gates onto Cookridge St

This place is now owned by Nicholsons, but it isn't branded as such. Apparently it is one of 7 that don't fit the brand image and are a special project called Scorpio, I think. It's a slightly weird mix of decor and people and I suspect it gets pretty lively later on. There are all sorts of things hanging on the walls and the seating is very eclectic. There's also a large outside courtyard. There are 5 handpumps with some more unused ones at the other end of the bar. The selection wasn't very interesting so I had a Nicholsons Pale Ale which was pretty good. It's not somewhere that will become a regular haunt of ours, but it is unusual.