Leeds
West Yorkshire, England
I've only ever been to Leeds once, but I tried four pubs and I was very impressed with the drinking facilities available.

North Bar - review last updated Feb 2004.
24 New Briggate

North Bar has only one hand pump (which had the lovely Mordue Workie Ticket when I was there). The other ten-odd pumps serve European beers like De Koninck and Erdinger. Behind the bar is a row of cabinets with, I should say, at least fifty different bottled beers from around the world. At the time I recognised many old friends among those bottles, but now I can only definitely remember that they had Frueh Koelsch.

This place was quite young, almost 'trendy'. I wouldn't say that the beautiful people drank there, but there were certainly lots of young well-dressed people there. I don't think I saw a single fat scruffy real ale anorak in the whole place.

The Angel - review last updated Feb 2004.
Down a little side-alley off Briggate or New Briggate, I think two alleys north of Whitelock's

This is a Samuel Smith's pub. They sell several Smith's beers and some by a German-sounding brewery I hadn't heard of. As far as I could see, they don't sell the standard crap lagers (Carling etc.) at all - if you want to drink lager, you have to drink the German-sounding one.

The amazing thing is the price. The Sam Smith's Oatmeal Stout was one pound twenty-five! I questioned how they could make a living like that, but the barman told me they still turned a tidy profit on it at that price. I was struck dumb with amaze.

Whitelock's - review last updated Feb 2004.
6-8 Turks Yard (off Briggate or New Briggate)

Said to be the oldest pub in Leeds, Whitelock's had lots of nice beer in it and seemed to have a pleasant atmosphere. I was only there for one pint but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Duck and Drake - review last updated Feb 2004.
34 Kirkgate

This is a real old Yorkshire working men's pub. Many flat caps were in evidence, though I didn't see a whippet. There are four hand pumps and they do cracking big plate of nosh for cheap prices. I had pie, peas, chips and gravy for two quid fifty. 'Champion!' as I believe they say around that part of the world.