Roland's, Leeds

Rolands is a small bar that found on my way back to the bus station after getting off a train from Brighouse. Once inside there is a small oblong shaped room with the bar on the right side,the floor is bare boarded,there is bench seating to the rear and tall tables and chairs opposite the bar. There was one real ale on which was Ilkley Mary Jane,this went down well as the last drink of my crawl. Background music was playing and the bar was quite busy on my early Saturday evening visit. I thought this was a decent enough bar to have a drink in. Pub visited 3/9/2016

Tucked away on a side street, close to the Corn Exchange, is this recent addition to the Leeds drinking scene. Opening in April 2014, it’s a small one roomed bar, very voguish in its low key décor, with exposed brickwork, distressed plaster and battered beech flooring. There are bare bulbs aplenty, dangling on extended wires from the high ceiling, plus, a chandelier towards the back of the room. A handsome reclaimed bar, on the right hand side, plus a couple of retro booths in the window, complete the effect. A review in the local paper had highlighted that Roland’s sold real ale, thus prompting my visit, so it was with some disappointment that I saw only one of the three hand pumps in use. My pint of Roosters Yankee (£3.80) was served in a jug (what else?) and was in reasonable nick, but nothing special. However, the ten continental and craft keg taps (e.g. Thornbridge Jaipur) are probably more in keeping with what the place is about. There’s also a wide selection of bottles (£4.50-£5.00), cocktails, all at £6.50 and a wine list. Service from the two young barmen was very friendly and welcoming, but as I was the only punter in the place, on a midweek afternoon, it’s very difficult to comment on the atmosphere of the place. No doubt, at the weekend, it’s full of hipsters, students and trendy riverside dwellers. However, full credit for the music playing in the background – an achingly tasteful selection of rare soul, blues, latin and reggae, it was like languishing in the aural equivalent of a warm Radox bath! I suspect that I’m probably twenty to thirty years beyond the targeted demographic of Roland’s, but overall, I rather liked its rejuvenating, laid back feel. Would I call again? I’m not sure. Visiting when it’s busier would offer a livelier atmosphere and probably more beer choice, but then there’s also the risk of being made to feel very old. Maybe the trick is to call with my daughters!