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The Cardigan Arms, Leeds
Burley
Postal town: Leeds
LS4 2HQ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Cardigan Arms
A really beautiful and well preserved Victorian pub,operated by Kirkstall so the perfect match of heritage with decent ale.The interior has a public bar to the left of the main entrance,a wide corridor with an impressive staircase and access to the central island bar with two rooms off ,a rear snug and a side lounge with large dining type tables.Everywhere the etched glass is terrific and the public bar has some fine brewery mirrors and adverts from long gone brewers.Furniture is traditional ,there is a wood burner in the corner while a side door to the public bar is marked as Ladies Only but the internal devide in the public bar has disappeared sadly .The ceiling is noteworth with marble effect cornicing .
On my trip the ale selection was split across two banks of pumps,so worth wandering around to find out whats on ,for me Kirkstall Three Swords,Pale,Jasper,Dissolution IPA and Black Band Porter (NBSS 4) with a single guest of Five Points XPA.
An absolute must visit,take a bus from the city centre and revel in the fine surroundings.I will most certainly return.
On 14th April 2024
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Cardigan Arms
This has become my regular pub before Leeds Rhinos games, as it's easy to get to from the railway station in the centre of town either by bus or on my bike (if I've brought it with me), and it's also an easy walk or cycle ride to the Headingley Stadium (albeit with some uphill sections). The beer is always in good condition, if not better, and the surroundings are first rate. I used to find the Kirkstall beer range a bit challenging, but the introduction in the last year or so of some old recipes from the original Kirkstall Brewery has suited my palate, so that I'm no longer limited to just Dissolution IPA or Black Band Porter. Even if you're not interested in rugby league or cricket, this one is worth the effort.
On 4th September 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3740 recommendations about 3477 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Cardigan Arms
Now an old favourite, under the care of Kirkstall Brewery this has become a thriving pub once again. I suspect the combination of old pub features and excellent beer might be the cause. It retains the Victorian multi room layout and enough refurbished decor sympathetically done to make it a venue for old and young. Drinks are served in two separate spaces, each with a separate door off different streets, there’s no public / saloon or lounge bar differential now, four pulls in one bar, four pulls plus another four plus four kegs in the larger front bar. This is a vertical drinking area with a selection of rooms leading off. There’s a door between the two main areas so the (refurbished) bogs can accessed. Only downside, is that unpublike and prone to induce unnecessary friction affectation of taking table bookings. Oh and there can be some unpleasant punters. A don’t miss pub in spite of those limited shortcomings.
On 29th January 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Cardigan Arms
A light touch renovation by new owners Kirkstall Brewery has left the pub much cleaner and polished with a much better beer choice, and quality, of Kirkstall and guests. Some may quibble about the cheap main window refurbishment but the money has been spent on the detail leaving the historic fabric well alone. A classic multi-room Victorian pub cleaned and freshened up, I think Kirkstall has done a fine job and the pub is in safe hands.
West Riding SPBW Pub of the Year.
On 4th February 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Davey left this review about The Cardigan Arms
Nice solid boozer, full of people on a wet Saturday evening. Decent pint of Mosaic from Kirkstall Brewery.
This pub is a bit far out of town for a walk, but can be reached on any one of about a dozen busses that use Kirkstall Road.
Possibly the best thing about this pub is the bar top beer canning machine for your carry outs. Order a beer, they stick it in the can and the machine spins the top into place, sealing the beer in and ready to pop the top off when you get home. Works brilliantly, my beer was still safe and sound at home in Nottingham.
On 17th January 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
aleand hearty left this review about The Cardigan Arms
Following a period of uncertainty and a failed community buy out, from Greene King, the Cardigan Arms is now under the ownership of Kirkstall Brewery. The pub was closed for four months whilst it underwent a major restoration, but finally re-opened its doors on 07.10.17. Various newspaper articles and social media sites have been very complimentary, so far.
On 11th October 2017
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 581 recommendations about 563 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Cardigan Arms
A classic multi-room Victorian pub with a profusion of etched glass and carved wood. The main front entrance leads to a large drinking lobby labelled "Public Bar" while a side entrance leads into a tap room and the lobby. Off the lobby are three other rooms and a corridor to a yard and the Gents. The Gents by the way have one of the longest runs of slab urinal I've seen comprising nine bays. Pumps and taps are spread round the counter in the Public and Tap room, four cask beers in fairly sad condition plus the national favourites on keg. The Public bar and front room were the most popular on my visit, the front room being full of silent, staring men, not a place for direct eye contact. There is a neat marble fireplace in here and as with the other rooms Victorian fittings and marbled architrave. Sadly the etched windows have and continue to have damage inflicted on them most being replaced with opaque or even clear glass, the last to go looks like one of the door panels into the Public Bar. Currently owned by Greene King, although none of their tosh was on sale, it is the subject of a community buy out proposal with an asking price of £295,000 and at least £100,000 in repairs and renovation needed.
On 26th February 2017
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Cardigan Arms Hotel
Another splendid example of a Victorian heritage pub. The pub has four rooms off the main central bar area. The pub consisted of a small narrow room running along the front with ornate glazed tiles along the main wall. There were two separate lounges front and back on the right with decorative open fireplaces and high ceilings. The further room situated towards the rear of the pub on the left hand side was home to a pool table. The mahogany bar was curved, with the original pot shelf and etched glass panels above. There were two ales on the bar, one Tetley and a Copper Dragon Golden Pippin.
I have rated this pub in terms of grandeur and heritage only, as this wouldn't be the sort of locals pub I'd like to revisit.
On 11th May 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]