Beer lovers are already pretty spoilt for choice in Leeds, thanks to the huge range of lovely pubs and bars in the city.
For those who want to delve a little deeper into the craft side of things, though, there's now a tour that'll show you the best of the best in the city.
The Leeds Craft Beer Tour is the brainchild of Mike Hampshire, who also runs the popular Leeds Beer Tours.
During the 3 hour and 30 minute tour, you'll visit three of Leeds’ leading craft beer venues and sample some of the freshest beer the city has to offer.
The Turk's Head is the sister pub to 300-year old Whitelock's Ale House / Image: Leeds Beer TOurs
Your experienced tour guide will take you to modern craft ale brewery Nomadic Beers, quality craft beer pub The Turk's Head, and North Brewing's city tap which serves as the home of the brewery’s pioneering craft beer creations.
You'll start at Nomadic, one of Leeds' leading micro-breweries, specialising in craft beer inspired by traditional styles, taking the time to see the brew kit, learn about the brewing process and sample some of Nomadic's brews right from the source.
From here, the tour moves to The Turk's Head, the craft beer sister bar of 300 year old pub Whitelocks Ale House.
Nomadic beers are tipped as one of the best craft ale houses in the city / Image: Nomadic Beers
You'll get to explore a little bit of medieval and Victorian Leeds whilst learning about the rich history of the two pubs and trying a variety of pioneering craft beer styles, before finishing up at one of Leeds' most famous breweries.
At the City Tap, you'll learn about North Brewing's story and taste some of their fantastic ales - tipped to be the best in the city.
Speaking on the new tour, tour guide and company owner Mike Hampshire said: “I’m really looking forward to showing tour guests Leeds’ uniquely vibrant modern beer scene.
“It’s going to be a privilege to take guests to some of our great beer places, Nomadic Beers, Turk’s Head and North Brewing’s City Tap.”
Tickets cost £40 and include all your beer, a brewery tour and tutored tastings.
Dates for the new craft beer tour start in July, but can be booked now via the Leeds Beer Tours website.
Feature image - Leeds Beer Tours
Eats
Salon Madre – a new tequila bar and pool hall is opening in Leeds this month
Manchester's favourite Mexican bar is about to become your newest nightlife destination in Leeds.
It's been a long time coming, but Salon Madre is officially ready to open in Leeds.
Although we may have to wait a little bit longer for Madre, the day-to-night eatery that has made waves over in Manchester and Liverpool, Salon Madre, its lively tequila bar and pool hall sibling, is officially opening on Friday 20 February.
Salon Madre, which will be located just around the corner from Madre at 114 Wellington Street, is where the party really gets started.
Image: The Manc Group
Expect tequila-fuelled nights, pool tables, lively DJs and Lucha Libre on the big screens.
There will also be plenty of tacos being flung out the kitchen to keep you going until the early hours.
If you’ve ever visited one of their venues in Manchester or Liverpool, you’ll know it’s an absolute riot and we can’t wait to welcome them to the city.
Images: The Manc Group
Co-founder Sam Grainger, inspired by countless trips to Mexico, says: “Mexico is alive with passionate artisans and cooks, mastering everything from street tacos to regional delicacies. It’s a world where traditions blend and evolve and we’ve built that ethos into the heart of both Madre and Salon Madre.”
Madre Leeds will open soon and you can even grab yourself a free margarita by signing up to their newsletter here.
We’ll keep you up to date with their opening times but for now, we'll see you at Salon Madre for a boogie, margarita and game of pool next week.
Award-winning Leeds restaurant announces shock closure just months after opening
Clementine Hall
Emba in Leeds will be closing its doors with the owner blaming rising costs and pressure on the hospitality sector.
Back in April last year, one of Leeds' top restaurants The Owl closed its doors.
Run by renowned Chef Liz Cottam, The Owl was reimagine into Emba - a trendy restaurant tat bridged 'the gap between cosy bar and vibrant dining room'.
To open Emba, Cottam opened a Crowdfunder where supporters would be awarded with prizes such as VIP dinners and merch depending on how much they donated.
But sadly just months after opening, Emba is to close permanently.
Cottam confirmed the sad news with a statement shared with customers over the weekend, saying she was completely "heartbroken".
She said: “This is no longer the right time to own independent restaurants like Emba,” she said. “Under the current conditions they cannot survive and the recent budget confirmed what so many of us already knew: no meaningful help is coming for hospitality.
"The experience of being here and the harsh financial reality of running a business here no longer stack up.
"Being award winning, popular, admired and loved no longer means profitable and as an industry if we’re honest most of us have not truly been okay since Covid."
She signed off the statement promising to return to the restaurant world, she said: “What I do know is this, I am not done. I will keep cooking, keep creating and keep finding ways to do the thing I love.”
Georgina Pellant -
17th June 2021 
