From one pub to the next… and the next. Make the most of sunny Leeds with a pint in your hand.
There’s nothing quite like Leeds on a sunny day, and there’s no better way to enjoy it than by visiting some of the city’s top pubs. We’ve compiled a list of 10 watering holes with great beer gardens that’ll take you right across the city centre, and with top-notch drinks, great character and tasty food, you and your pals will surely have a whale of a time.
Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen
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There’s only one place to kick off the ultimate beer garden pub crawl of Leeds and that place is Belgrave. The cornerstone of the city’s Northern Quarter, you may be out of breath once you reach the sun-kissed roof terrace (three whole flights!) but boy is it worth it with a tasty alfresco beer waiting.
The vibe here at any given time is unbeatable – in fact, we don’t think we’ve ever seen it less than packed. To save you a trip down those stairs, the rooftop bar means you’re never far away from a pint of Kirkstall’s finest (one Judicious for us, please), so slip your sunnies on, catch some rays and get sipping. Make sure you grab a Dough Boys slice on the way out to line your stomach.
Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen, Cross Belgrave Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8JP.
Parkside Tavern
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Good news – the next pub is just a stone’s throw away. Merrion Street’s Parkside Tavern boasts not just one beer garden, but three. First up is the small area in front of the pub, second the courtyard, but our favourite is roof terrace that not many people know about.
Before you get too comfortable, though, you’ll have to choose from 18 lines of beer. Brooklyn? Kirkstall Brewery? Or maybe Northern Monk… While the choice may be hard, the result is sure to be crisp and refreshing. If it’s a cocktail you’re after, you’re in luck – they have a cracking 2-4-1 deal, covering Long Island Iced Teas, Negronis and Passionfruit Martinis. Mmmm.
Parkside Tavern, St Johns House, Merrion Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8JE.
Headrow House
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Next, the five-minute stroll to Headrow House. We love everything this four-storey slice of paradise has to offer, but its two roof terraces might just take the cake. The first opens up from their top-floor cocktail bar, but climb the stairs to Kennedy Meadows for views of the city skyline – see if you can spot Kirkgate Market!
And to drink, you ask? The first floor beer hall is the best bet for all your brewski needs, so be sure to stop off there before heading up. Elsewhere, Redondo Beach serves up cocktails cold and crisp, from the vodka-infused Redondo Kiss to the blueberry gin-heady (and cleverly named) Mary Berry. Grab a seat on the bench, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the good times.
Headrow House, 19A The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6PU.
Whitelocks
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Ah, trusty Whitelocks. Walk down Briggate from Headrow House and you’ll have to keep an eye out for its entrance – it’s hidden down an undistinguished alleyway. The beer garden here isn’t massive, but it’s full of character, with loads of benches packed together, fairy lights and shade from the sun.
If you love craft beer and real ale, you’ll be well taken care of here. The bar is lined with lagers, IPAs and more from the finest breweries Yorkshire has to offer with the likes of Northern Monk, Anthology and Five Points all in attendance. Pint in hand, grab a pew with your mates and get cracking – we love how big the tables are here, perfect for groups of all sizes.
Whitelock’s Ale House, Turk’s Head Yard, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6HB.
Duck and Drake
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Duck and Drake is up next and you can get there in just five minutes. The true definition of a British boozer, you may be shocked when you step around the back and discover a lovely little beer garden. Long benches line the decking, but our favourite part is the greenery, with hanging plants and colourful flowers.
Don’t get comfortable yet, because you’ve got to choose your drink first! Amstel, ABV and bitters are all fine choices, but you can’t go wrong with a Neck Oil. Beers aside, one of our favourite things about the Duck and Drake is the eclectic mix of people – locals, students and young professionals stopping by for an after work drink, you’ll find them all here.
Duck and Drake, 43 Kirkgate, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7DR.
Lamb & Flag
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Excellent news – Lamb & Flag is just across the road from Duck and Drake. Sitting in the shadow of Leeds Minster, this beer garden is one of our favourites and the place to be on a hot (or not) summer’s day, kitted out with parasols, fairy lights and wooden benches. There’s even a terrace upstairs.
Being a Leeds Brewery pub, all of the favourites are present and correct – we’re talking Leeds Best, Leodis and Yorkshire Gold. If you’re feeling peckish but don’t want to fill up too much, how about grabbing a couple of small plates? The Yorkshire scotch egg is a delight, infused with spicy ‘nduja and served with spiced lime mayo. It’s the perfect fusion of flavours.
Lamb & Flag, 1 Church Row, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7HD.
Roland’s
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Time for Roland’s. While this bar may not exactly spring to mind when you’re racking your brains for beer gardens in Leeds, it’s actually of the city’s not-so-secret hidden gems. Head up the stairs at the back of the bar and you’ll happen upon an understated beer garden where you’ll have the sun all afternoon.
With space for only 30 people on the terrace, you might be waiting for a table for ten minutes or so, but it’ll be worth it. In the meanwhile, why not grab a drink? Take it from us, they do one of the best pints of Guinness in Leeds, but if that’s not your thing, there’s a menu of classic cocktails, quaffable wines and a whole load of spirits to keep you going.
Roland’s, 39 Call Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 7BT.
Water Lane Boathouse
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Ready for the ten minute walk to Water Lane Boathouse? The big daddy of beer gardens, we’d even go as far to say that it’s one of Leeds’ finest spots when the sun’s out. You’ll find it sitting pretty on the banks of the Leeds Liverpool Canal with a spacious beer garden and an outdoor bar for easy access.
They have a cracking cocktail deal – two for £13.95, all day everyday – so you can mix ’n’ match with your pals. The Tropic Sangria is a twist on the Spanish classic, infused with fruity passion fruit liqueur, mango syrup and pineapple juice. Elsewhere, pints of craft beer should keep you happy if you love a brew, or perhaps an artisan gin and tonic?
Water Lane Boathouse, Water Lane, Canal Wharf, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 5PS.
Cross Keys
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Next up is Cross Keys, which is only a 5 minute stroll away. It’s one of the last few genuine free houses in Leeds, with a rustic and cosy interior, but head outside and you’ll find a cracking beer garden. Surprisingly, it’s a real sun trap, surrounded by the urban scenery of Holbeck.
From local ales to craft IPAs and bottles to draught, the beer offering covers just about everything you could need. If it’s a sunny day, you can’t go wrong with a pint of Kirkstall Brewery’s Mango IPA – fresh, juicy and exotic, it’s oh-so-sippable. Elsewhere, you’ll find plenty of craft gins and wines should you fancy mixing it up a little.
The Cross Keys, 107 Water Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 5WD.
Northern Monk Refectory
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Last, but certainly not least, it’s time for Northern Monk Refectory. Just around the corner from The Cross Keys, the beer garden has undergone a refurbishment that’s left it ready-made for summer sipping, with loads of wooden benches, greenery and fairy lights.
What we love about the Northern Monk Refectory is the fact they brew all their beers on site. You’ll find 15 beers on keg, including all the Northern Monk classics, from the refreshing Great Northern lager to A Little Faith hazy pale ale. If you look down from the taps you’ll also see a fridge stocked to the brim with bottles and cans, making sure no one leaves thirsty.
Northern Monk Refectory, Marshalls Mill, The Old Flax Store, Marshall Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS11 9YJ.
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