The Most Family-Friendly Pubs & Bars in Leeds

Just because you’ve got little ones in tow doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the city’s coolest haunts.

When you’ve got kids, it can be too easy to find yourself in places that are more about the little ones than they are the grown-ups and vice versa.

But these family-friendly pubs and bars in Leeds welcome the whole gang, so you can enjoy a few drinks and rest assured the kids will be looked after too. We’re talking oodles of buggy space, kid-friendly eats and a few games here and there to make leaving the house fun. So, the next time you fancy a drink, why not bring the kids with you?

City centre pubs and bars

In the heart of the city and need a place to eat and drink with all the family? Look no further…

Belgrave Music Hall and Canteen

Belgrave’s doors are open to all, little ones included. This three-storey venue is so much more than a bar – it’s also one of the coolest family-friendly hangouts in Leeds.

Forget boring pub snacks – the whole fam can gorge on Patty’s Burgers or Dough Boys pizza by the slice (they’re half price if you grab ‘em before 7pm Sunday to Thursday or before 5pm on Friday and Saturday) while you enjoy a few craft beers. Sit back with full bellies on the cosy sofas and spend quality time together. If you pop by during the monthly Belgrave Feast, they have a bunch of kid-centric craft workshops on too.

Belgrave Music Hall, 1-1A Cross Belgrave Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8JP.

Water Lane Boathouse

With views over the water, a cool, cosy feel and huge benches to huddle around, Water Lane Boathouse is a prime spot for the whole clan to gather and catch up with each other.

Board games will help keep the little ones busy, giving you the chance to enjoy a drink or two. The bar is well-stocked with over 70 beers to choose from and plenty of options for a G&T. When hunger strikes, they’ve got you sorted with a menu packed full of family-friendly bites, like fuss-free sourdough pizzas fresh out of the oven – just ask if you need a highchair.

Water Lane Boathouse, Canal Wharf, Water Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 5PS.

North Tap Room

The inside of North Brewing Co Taproom with long bench seating and a food order window

North Brewing Co. have one of the coolest tap rooms in Leeds. But don’t be fooled, it’s also one of the most family-friendly bars in town – and they won’t chuck you out come evening.

You could quite literally spend the entire day here if you so desired, testing their range of legendary own-brewed craft beers, including the latest collabs. Get here bright and early for your caffeine fix and spoil yourself and the kids with a few of Little Bao Boy’s street food bundles of joy for breakfast, lunch and dinner – or tea, whatever you call it.

North Brewing Co. Leeds City Tap, 3 Sovereign Square, Sovereign Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 4BA.

Outlaws Yacht Club

Okay, there may not be any yachts of any sort, but Outlaws Yacht Club is the laidback drinking den the kids will love too.

Part bar, part record shop, part cafe, there are loads of things for you and the kids to get up to here. Grab a board game, claim a sofa and get stuck in. They’ve even got retro games for the young’uns to see what life was like before the tablet. Their grilled cheese sandwich guarantees big smiles all around, while their range of cocktails, beer, wine and spirits will keep the grown-ups happy.

Outlaws Yacht Club, 38 New York Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7DY.

The Adelphi

The Adelphi is one of Leeds’ most family-friendly pubs, welcoming countless families through its doors over the years.

It’s a local favourite, and with an impressive array of ales and classic pub food aplenty, it’s clear to see why. Long gone are the days down the dingy local – this is a pub you can feel good about bringing the little ones along to. They can experience a bit of tradition in the best way, with proper pub grub in an inviting space. Here, you can take over one of their cosy snugs and dig into a roast, surrounded by those you love.

The Adelphi, 3-5 Hunslet Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1JQ.

Nation of Shopkeepers

In town with the brood? Stop by A Nation of Shopkeepers for tasty fried chicken, enormous burgers bigger than their heads, and maybe even a few bevvies to wash it all down with.

Shopkeepers has got the optimum mix of good music, good food and good drink down, with a generous range of craft beers and ciders on tap to suit everyone (well, the adults at least). Their hidden courtyard is the place to be on a sunny day, but when the weather turns, cosy up in a booth inside. For kids, games and toys are on hand to keep them busy.

A Nation of Shopkeepers, 26-27 Cookridge Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 3AG.

The Midnight Bell

Tucked away south of the river, The Midnight Bell is well worthy of the short walk from the centre.

It’s a light and airy family-friendly pub with ample space for buggies, serving pints of the good stuff straight from Leeds Brewery, like the Leeds Pale or their self-titled mild. On a fine day, you can take the party outside to the courtyard, where you can get that country pub vibe without having to go far. When tummies are rumbling and the hangriness is getting out of hand, they’ve got burgers, grills and mains to suit even the fussiest of eaters.

The Midnight Bell, 101 Water Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 5QN.

The Cross Keys

The Cross Keys is a cracker of a pub worth dragging everyone out of the house for. It’s one of the last remaining free houses around Leeds, where you can take your pick of the local brews, guest crafts and wines on offer.

Family life can be hectic, so when you don’t fancy doing it yourself, come for their ever-popular Sunday roast or stop by during the week for a top quality sarnie, be it BLT, fish finger or chicken caesar. In the warmer months, their secluded beer garden is a great place to unwind altogether.

The Cross Keys, 107 Water Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 5WD.

Wapentake

Whichever way you pronounce it, Wapentake stands as one of Leeds’ best family-friendly pubs. It’s a cosy little place that’s Yorkshire through and through, from the Old Norse name to the pudding-rich menu.

Not only are little ones welcome, but the local brews and gins tick all the boxes for the adults, and the food is a win for everyone. County-inspired brunch, like the breakfast Yorkshire pud, is served until 4pm and the Yorkshire pudding burger is an absolute must-eat. But if it’s a Sunday roast you’re looking for, both the classic and veggie versions are superb, with lashings of gravy and a Yorkshire pud to top it off.

Wapentake, 92 Kirkgate, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7DJ.

Whitelock’s

Credit: Daniel Johnson

Bring the whole brood along to Whitelock’s for a family-friendly outing that’s all about the history. It may be one of the oldest pubs in Leeds, but its doors are open to young ‘uns too.

This age-old ale house first opened in 1715 – since then, it’s become a landmark that’s well worth bringing the kids to. You’ll find real ales, craft beers and speciality ciders at the bar and the pub grub is legendary, serving homemade steak & ale pie and a black pudding scotch egg that’s gained quite the reputation. So next time you’re about the city centre with company and you fancy a drink, make a beeline for this gem.

Whitelock’s Ale House, Turk’s Head Yard, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6HB.

Northern Monk Refectory

Long benches to squeeze around, plenty of space for prams and beer from the brewery right beneath your feet? You’ll get all this and then some at Northern Monk’s Holbeck Refectory.

Based in The Old Flax Store in Holbeck, just a 10-minute walk from Leeds Train Station, this family-friendly pub is the original home of local brewing legends, Northern Monk. The venue is less local pub, more cool hangout with an ultra laidback vibe that welcomes even the youngest of people. You can take your pick of 20 taps of fresh beer while everyone can stay well fed with the fare from Fratello’s – it’s slices and sarnies all round!

Northern Monk Refectory, The Old Flax Store, Marshalls Mill, Marshall Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 9YJ.

Lamb & Flag

Looking for somewhere to chill out as a family in Leeds city centre? Make Lamb & Flag your first port of call.

With little nooks aplenty, you can get cosy for the day surrounded by exposed beams, warm lights and local art in this family-friendly 19th-century pub. Delve into a seasonal menu of tasty treats, like the wild mushroom risotto & blue cheese topped with crispy sage or a Yorkshire Dales steak burger, and any bookworms in the family can grab a read from one of the many bookshelves. As for the good stuff, they serve the full range of Leeds Brewery beers on tap so you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Lamb & Flag, 1 Church Row, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7HD.

Bundobust

Looking for somewhere that’s less of a pub and more of a family-friendly eatery that also serves beer? Search no longer, because Bundobust not only tops the list for its next-level Indian street food, but they also serve some of the finest craft beer in Leeds.

This is the only place in the city where you can sample the lineup from the Bundobust Brewery – and that’s not the only thing worth coming here for. With loads of crowd-pleasing small plates to scoff, like spice-tossed okra fries, crispy bhajis and tasty paneer tikka, Bundobust is a must-try for beer-loving parents and foodies of all ages.

Bundobust, 6 Mill Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5DQ.

Cosy Club

A child in a high chair and their mother reaching out to them at Cosy Club

Cosy Club is a Leeds favourite with parents for a reason. The decor may be striking, but the vibes are nothing but laidback and the menu is full of comforting dishes.

Got a pram? The lift will take you to the first floor, where you can snap up a high chair and get, well, cosy. If you’re here in the morning, start the day off right with a set of full English breakfasts or pancake stacks. At dinner time, your little eater can enjoy a bowl of macaroni cheese, while you tuck into the likes of buttermilk fried chicken, pan-fried sea bream or a choice of stacked burgers. As for tipples, their reinvented cocktails are a well-deserved treat.

Cosy Club, 53 Albion Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5AA.

Pubs and bars in the suburbs

It doesn’t matter what Leeds suburb you’re in or going to – there are wonderful family-friendly watering holes all over the city

The Beck & Call

The Beck & Call is a super family-friendly pub nestled in the heart of the buzzing Leeds suburb of Meanwood, with a cool Scandi feel and plenty of rooms to take your pick of.

Behind the bar, you’ll find craft beers, handpicked wines and yummy cocktails for the grown-ups, and a mighty menu offering something for everyone. It’s got all the traditional British fare, so you can tuck into sausage & mash or the Beck & Call Burger while the tots dig into chicken strips or fish fingers & chips.

The Beck & Call, Stainbeck Road, Meanwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS7 2NP.

Preston

The couch area at Preston with a fridge full of beer cans to the left

A member of the North Bar family, Oakwood’s Preston has all the charm of a local pub, but the beer selection of a Leeds city centre haunt.

Needless to say, it’s family-friendly through and through, so if you find yourself at Roundhay Park with the little ones, squeeze in a pitstop here. You’ll find it at the southern tip of the park in prime position for little legs and prams. Whether you’re thirsty or you need a bit of boost, their rotating tap list from North and friends and bespoke hot coffee will come in handy.

Preston, 468 Roundhay Road, Oakwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS8 2HU.

Kirkstall Bridge Inn

Set in a quaint riverside location with all the ambience of a country inn and beers straight from Kirkstall Brewery and beyond, Kirkstall Bridge Inn is all you could want from a suburban watering hole when you’re with the kids.

You can warm yourself up with an impossible choice of ales, stouts, porters and pilsners. And if that’s not enough, there’s delicious home-cooked food aplenty too. Sunday roasts, small plates and pizzas – there’s something to keep all the fam happy, which includes the gluten-free, veggie and vegan ones too.

Kirkstall Bridge Inn, 12 Bridge Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS5 3BW.

The Mustard Pot

The Mustard Pot is a thoroughly cosy, family-friendly Leeds pub. The exposed brickwork and roaring fires give this local favourite a rustic, almost country feel that demands a family chill-out session.

There’s a decent selection of real ales, wine and spirits on the bar, and if it’s warm out, you can take them out to the massive beer garden with heaps of room for prams and energetic little ones. If it’s that time, they’ve got a menu of pub classics like sausage & mash and even a mini mac & cheese for the kids. Stop by on a Sunday for their quality roast that’ll save you some washing up and fill up the whole gang ready for the week ahead.

The Mustard Pot, 20 Stainbeck Lane, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS7 3QY.

The Roundhay Fox

Credit: Craig Howarth Photography

After a family walk around Roundhay Park, another well-earned stop-off comes at The Roundhay Fox. Step inside this glorious gastropub and get comfy. Located right on the western edge of the park, it has all the appeal of a country tavern.

The menu is full of hearty eats, including a range of seasonal dishes that’ll see you through the year, while the kids can take their pick of tomato pasta, sausages & gravy, beef burger and more. The well-stocked bar will meet all your needs – cask ales, fine wines and local gins that all hit the spot, whether you’re hanging out in the pretty gardens or cuddled up by the crackling log fires.

The Roundhay Fox, Princes Avenue, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS8 2EP.

The Meanwood Tavern

Three children eating pizza at Meanwood Tavern

Credit: JMA Photography

The folks behind Whitelock’s have poured all their expertise into The Meanwood Tavern, found on the site of the old Becketts Arms pub which closed in the 1990s.

The family-friendly bar and spacious seating areas are open to everyone, including families with little ones. You’ll find a wide range of the hoppy stuff across 14 keg taps and six pumps, showcasing Leeds’ local and indie brewery talent. But if beer’s not your thing, they also have wine, spirits and low and no-alcohol drinks to boot. Hungry? Resident Neo-Neapolitan pizza connoisseurs Pizza Loco will keep even the pickiest of eaters well fed.

The Meanwood Tavern, 607 Meanwood Road, Meanwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS6 4HQ.

Myrtle Tavern

Nestled on the edge of Meanwood Park, it doesn’t get much more family-friendly than Myrtle Tavern. The seemingly endless warren of warm and welcoming rooms in this behemoth of a pub are more than accommodating for even the biggest of families, while the giant covered beer garden boasts oodles of space.

Their beer pumps are ever-changing, often featuring Leeds local favourites like Kirkstall and Ossett. Got some hungry devils to please? Their menu of pub classics and sharing plates will do just that, and the Sunday lunch comes kiddy-sized too.

Myrtle Tavern, Parkside Road, Meanwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS6 4NE.

North Bar Social

Tables and benches outside North Bar Social in Otley

Just a five-minute walk from Otley Chevin, the family-friendly North Bar Social has plenty of outdoor benches to seat all the gang and a cosy-as-heck bar area that’s open to under-18s until 9pm.

As you’d expect, they serve many of their own North Brewing Co creations, totalling around 70 beers from Leeds and beyond, including three casks and six kegs. But if it’s a caffeine kick you need, they have ground to order coffee, as well as a selection of herbal teas to boot. Although it gets crowded at peak times, parents will benefit from baby changing facilities, colouring sheets and soft drinks for the older ones.

North Bar Social, 8-10 Bondgate, Otley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS21 3AB.

Amity Brew Co

Credit: Amity Brew Co

Set in the stunning Leeds landmark of Sunny Bank Mills, the Amity Brew Co bar tap is all about community, friendship and, of course, beer.

You can try everything from the Sunny Bank American pale ale to the award-winning Waterpistol juicy pale ale, or go for one of their one-offs. Families can settle into sofas, surrounded by subtle lighting, and enjoy the sights, sounds and, more importantly, smells of the brewery. Their rotation of street food pop-ups will keep the “I’m hungry” complaints to a minimum.

Amity Brew Co, Sunny Bank Mills, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, Pudsey, West Yorkshire, LS28 5UJ.

Cover image credit: Jonathan Ridout

Imagine Selby Writer

Born and raised in Yorkshire, Imagine spent 6 months championing the city as a tourist destination at Visit Leeds before joining Leeds-List, where she set about uncovering all the city’s secrets. She has a lifetime of experience exploring Yorkshire and a love of travel that feeds her adventures.