You never have to wait long for a beer festival in Leeds. The question is, which one will you go to next?
There’s nothing quite like a beer festival and, thankfully, Leeds is home a host of quality hop-based celebrations. The Leeds International Beer Festival every September will always get the headlines, but there’s plenty to keep your thirst quenched all year round, whether it’s brewery-based festivals or community-focused celebrations, raising money for local causes. Take a look and plan your next beer festival visit.
Ilkley Beer Festival
Credit: Nabin from Soul & Co
For over a decade, Ilkley has been swarmed with beer lovers for their annual beer festival at the King’s Hall & Winter Gardens. A surefire sell out every February, it’s organised by the Ilkley and District Round Table Club to help promote local businesses, with donations made to local causes.
They succeed because they manage to source the best beer from across Yorkshire and the UK – think Amity, Meanwood, Kirkstall and, of course, Ilkley Brewery. Throw in live music, street food and a prosecco & gin bar, and it’s a winner.
Ilkley Beer Festival takes place at King’s Hall, Ilkley every February.
Morley Beer Festival
Since 2012, Morley Cricket Club has been taken over by thirsty folk for the town’s beer festival. They stick on over 40 different real ales and ciders, featuring a range of breweries from Yorkshire and beyond, including local favourites and festival partners Truth Hurts to staples like Horsforth, Turning Point and Wilde Child.
They offer plenty more than just beer too. There’s a gin bar, alongside street food from rotating vendors and residents The Wicker Box, as well as a full programme of live music across all three days.
Morley Beer Festival takes place at Morley Cricket Club every April.
North Leeds Charity Beer Festival
Since 2012, the North Leeds Charity Beer Festival has become a must do for real ale fans. With help from the Rotary Club of Roundhay and Sam Parker of the British Guild of Beer Writers, North Leeds Cricket Club offers over 30 different ales from around Yorkshire and further afield, with one named beer of the festival each year.
They also have ciders, gins and soft drinks, which you can pair with pie or samosas and peas. Every festival sees the Rotary Club donate proceeds to charities, with over £100,000 raised so far.
North Leeds Charity Beer Festival takes place at the North Leeds Cricket Club every April.
Rothwell Beer Festival
Credit: Rothwell Beer Festival Commitee
A joint venture between Holy Trinity Church and the Rothwell Lions Club every April, the Rothwell Beer Festival is a community event that helps to give back to local charities as well as maintaining the upkeep of the church.
They scour the country to pick out the best beers they can find, with the likes of Thornbridge, Wilde Child and Quirky all having their brews served in recent years. They also have bottled beers, ciders and perries as well as food and live music on offer, with special meet the brewer and family-friendly sessions too.
Rothwell Beer Festival takes place at Holy Trinity Church, Rothwell every April.
Thorner Beer Festival
Taking place in the historic Victory Hall, the Thorner Beer Festival is a quaint village affair, but with plenty of choice beers to pick through. They offer a generous array of different beers, including porters to hazy pales, from the likes of Northern Monk, Ainsty Ales, Roosters, Ossett and Bradfield.
Your ticket bags you a souvenir glass and vouchers for two half pints. There’s wine and lager for those who don’t want traditional beer festival fare, as well as hot food and live music. Got a pooch? They even welcome dogs to enjoy the festivities in their outdoor area.
Thorner Beer Festival takes place at Victory Hall, Thorner every April.
Wetherby Beer Festival
The Wetherby Lions have hosted one of the best beer festivals in Leeds in the heart of Wetherby since 2011. Now taking place at Grange Park, all profits go to supporting grassroots sports at the venue and it’s always a popular weekend in the market town.
The last one was one of the biggest yet, taking you from Kirkstall classics to Saltaire sups, while raising £55,000 for for Martin House Children’s Hospice. But that’s not all – there are cider, gin and even champagne bars, as well as live music and family-friendly sessions. Hungry? They host a range of local street food vendors
Wetherby Beer Festival takes place at Grange Park, Wetherby every May.
Hop City
Ah, the humble hop. Wouldn’t it be great to celebrate this beer-birthing bundle of joy? Well, that’s exactly what Northern Monk do every May with their aptly-named Hop City festival, an all-out tribute to wonderful beers from near and far.
You can look forward to checking out the latest and greatest tipples from acclaimed breweries like Verdant, Track, Deya, Bundobust Brewery and more across two days of beer-related goodness. As well as the brews, you can look forward to chowing down on treats from a host of great local street food vendors.
Hop City takes place at The Old Flax Store, Holbeck every May.
Aireborough Beer Festival
A collaboration and fundraiser for Aireborough Rotary Club, Guiseley Theatre and Rawdon Parish Church, the Aireborough Beer Festival is now one of the best in Leeds. They scour Yorkshire to find the very best beers for you to sup across three days.
The last event a wide array of real ales, keg beers and ciders, including gluten-free options, alongside an array of gin, rum and prosecco for the non-hop lovers. Throw in street food and live music, as well as two free beer tokens in the ticket price, it’s a must-visit.
Aireborough Beer Festival takes place at Guiseley Theatre every June.
Clifford Champion Beer Festival
Just outside of Wetherby, Clifford is just a small village, but it has a hugely popular beer festival for you to attend every June. They have over 30 different beers on the go, with the likes of Acorn, Kirkstall, Half Moon and more, all showing off their brews in recent years.
You can also indulge in prosecco, gin and wine, all washed down with hot and cold food. There’s live music and a raffle too. It’s all for a good cause, as the festival helps to fund the upkeep of the Village Hall and their amateur football club.
Clifford Champion Beer Festival takes place at Clifford Village Hall every June.
Yarnbury Beer Festival
Based in the heart of Horsforth, the Yarnbury Beer Festival has slowly become one of the must-attend beer festivals in Leeds. A permanent fixture since 2010, their beer tent takes over the grounds of Yarnbury Rugby Club and proceeds go towards supporting the club.
There are over 60 different real ales from all over Yorkshire including the likes of Kirkstall, Ilkley and Elland. They also have Pimm’s, prosecco and gin on offer, while the clubhouse bar is open for lagers. Peckish? They serve up burgers and hot dogs with a side of live music all weekend long.
Yarnbury Beer Festival takes place at Yarnbury Rugby Club, Horsforth every July.
Horsforth Brewery Beer Festival
Credit: Horsforth Brewery
Horsforth Brewery are one of the best beer makers in Leeds. And they’ve also got a cracking beer festival you don’t want to miss. Taking place twice a year, on Easter weekend and August bank holiday weekend, it gives them a chance to show off their own choice brews and new Icon Series creations, alongside the wares of other local breweries.
That’s not all, as they also have street food on offer from vendors like Meanwood Pizza. Ticket price includes a free glass, or if you already have too many, bring your own and get two half-pint tokens instead.
Horsforth Brewery Beer Festival takes place every Easter and August bank holiday weekend.
Leeds International Beer Festival
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Now in its 13th year, the Leeds International Beer Festival is the headline event of the year for the city’s beer lovers. Formerly at Leeds Town Hall, the historic Kirkstall Abbey is taken over by a host of esteemed breweries as near as Kirkstall and as far as Sierra Nevada in California.
But it’s about more than just a beer – they’re famed for the quality of their street food and live entertainment, be it music or art. Plus, how often do you get to sup quality real ales within the stunning setting of 800-year-old abbey ruins?
Leeds International Beer Festival takes place at Kirkstall Abbey every September.
Otley Beer Festival
When you get past the queues outside Otley Rugby Club, you can see why this beer festival has lasted two decades. Previous events have seen over 60 real ales from over 30 different breweries, as well as a choice of different keg craft beers.
It returned to Otley Rugby Club as a venue in 2023, with last year’s Great Ale List showcasing an impressive selection of handpump and cask dispense brews, along with a a Craft Keg Bar Mezzanine Bar serving real cider and perry. They’ve also done great work for local charities, raising over £100,000 since launching in 2002.
Otley Beer Festival takes place at Otley Rugby Club every November.
Boston Spa Beer Festival
Just outside of Wetherby, the Boston Spa Beer Festival has moved from November back to its old February slot, but a change of date doesn’t stop it from being one of the best beer festivals in Leeds. Head down to Boston Spa Village Hall where you’ll find over 30 different beers to choose from.
You might need to attend both days to try all the ones you want to – from Ilkley to Saltaire, Ainsty to Brew York, there are loads of treats waiting for you. As well as the brews, get ready for street food, live music and a gin & prosecco bar, as well as the Six Nations on the big screen on Sunday.
Boston Spa Beer Festival takes place at Boston Spa Village Hall every February.
Dark & Wild City
Credit: @paintedinframes
Not content with one annual beer festival in Leeds, Northern Monk has a second and this one is the UK’s first and only festival of dark and sour beers. Dark & Wild City is an all-day affair, serving everything from stouts to black IPAs, brewed by breweries like Boundary, Deya, Break, Side Project, and many more.
Throw in a host of great local street food vendors and live entertainment and you’re in for a treat. Better yet, you can buy tickets that include all your beers for the whole festival – that makes it easier, doesn’t it?
Dark & Wild City takes place at The Old Flax Store, Holbeck, every November.
