Historic Leeds pub that has survived over two centuries, Duck & Drake, finds fame on new Netflix film, Bank of Dave.
The pub was closed for five days in March 2022 to allow for filming to take place for Bank of Dave - a heartwarming, feel-good film which is now topping the Netflix charts.
Based on the true-life experiences of Dave Fishwick, Bank of Dave tells the story of how a working class man from Burnley became a self-made millionaire and fought to set up a community bank, so that he could help the local businesses of his beloved town survive in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.
Starring BAFTA-nominated actor Rory Kinnear as the title character, in his bid to help his beloved community of Burnley, Dave has to take on the elitist financial institutions of London and fight to receive the first new banking license to be issued in over 100 years.
Image: Netflix UK & Ireland
The film was predominantly shot in Burnley but additional filming took place in Leeds, with scenes of Dave coming up with the idea for the bank and organising his first loans shot at the Duck & Drake.
Located on Kirkgate, it is one of the most beautiful and historic pubs in all of Leeds.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
It is believe that a public house has stood on the very site for over 200 years, and to this day you can still see examples of its original Victorian beginnings.
From the marble archway doorway jambs to the original light fittings and the floorboards that have survived a whopping two centuries; the pub is drenched in history and if the walls could talk, we're sure they'd have a whole lot to say.
The pub has existed under several different names including The Horse & Groom and The Brougham’s Arms. During the second world war, Brougham’s even had a reputation for being a place where women would meet and entertain American GI’s.
It wasn’t until 1985 that the name changed to The Duck & Drake and today on your visit, you can expect a selection of the finest cask ales, delicious plates of pie and peas and some of the best live music that the city has to offer.
You can find the Duck & Drake towards the end of Kirkgate, just behind the Corn Exchange.
Leeds Christmas Markets is returning to the city centre in just a weeks time, and we've got everything you need to know.
This year, the markets are looking a little bit different than before as outdoor events company Thor’s Tipi have stepped up as the all-new operators of this Christmastime spectacular.
They're organising a market where 'even if you’re not from Yorkshire, you’re going to leave being from Yorkshire'.
Although Leeds locals already know that Yorkshire is 'God's Own Country', the Leeds Christmas Markets team are making sure that the county is represented through its food, drinks and wider stalls.
So, let's get into it...
Opening dates and timings
The Leeds Christmas Markets will kick off from Thursday 19 November and run until Wednesday 23 December. So that's almost five weeks of festivities flooding the city, and plenty of time for you to make the most of it.
The markets will be open 7 days a week, the exact timings are:
Trader Village & Leeds Street Food
Sunday-Wednesday: 10:30am-7pm
Thursday-Saturday: 10:30am-8pm
THOR’S Highland Lodge & Folié Ski Bar
Sunday-Tuesday: 11am-9pm
Wednesday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Locations
The main stalls and street food will be located at City Square, here you will also find the main Christmas tree and two THOR's bars.
Ice Cube at Millennium Square will also be making a return, here you'll find rides, an ice rink and more food and drink. This is separate to what is being run by THOR's this year, though.
There will be plenty of other festive activities taking place throughout the city throughout November and December, you can find out more and view the Leeds Christmas map here.
Food
Okay, now we can get onto the good stuff.
We all know that the highlight of the markets is the food, and this year there's going to be more independent and local trader than ever before.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
From Leeds' very own Italian street food restaurant Stuzzi to homemade mini tiramisu drawers, you're going to want to arrive feeling very peckish at these markets that's for sure.
The current full list of street food vendors at City Square is as follows:
Cut & Craft (steak and chips)
Beth Bakes Cakes (hot chocolate fudge cake)
Misu Tiramisu (mini tiramisu drawers)
Crumble pots (crumble)
La Grassa (Italian-American sandwiches)
Chocolate Circus (stacked hot chocolates)
Stuzzi (Italian street food)
Street Kings Bratwurst (traditional bratwurst)
Johnsons' Toffee (homemade toffee and fudge)
The Savvy Baker (sweet treats and hot cookie dough)
Irish spice bags
Churros
Drink
Closely following behind food, a good old tipple is what many of us venture to the markets for.
This year, alongside a few mulled wine stalls in city square, THOR's will be doing what they do best and opening two brand-new outdoor bars to really get you in the spirit.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
You can pick from a Scottish Highland Lodge and a Folie Ski Bar, both designed to welcome large groups with their own themed drinks and cosy interiors. You can read more about these bars here.
Not only that, but they'll be a specialist coffee trader as well as a matcha trader if you don't fancy anything alcoholic.
Shopping
The Leeds Christmas Markets isn't just about eating and drinking, it's also about browsing and shopping for those last minute Christmas gifts or gorgeous knick-knacks to decorate your home with over the festive season.
Here's your list of traders to buy gifts from at City Square:
Stump Cross (natural crystal jewellery, fossils and more)
House of the Trembling Madness (festive craft beer cans)
Real Markets Yorkshire (lots of goodies made in Yorkshire)
Yorkshire Print Company (Yorkshire-inspired artwork)
Paper Starlights (handmade paper lanterns)
Scents of Christmas (handcrafted decorations)
Kakuwi (homemade crafts sourced across India and Nepal)
Leeds has been named one of the most ‘pet-friendly’ cities in the UK
Emily Sergeant
A new index has revealed the best cities for pet owners in the UK, and it’s great news for Leeds.
Millions of us share our home with a pet, and making sure we give them the best possible life is often at the forefront of our minds, right?
While there’s a lot people can control about their pet’s lifestyle, many of the factors that affect their happiness are determined by location, and sadly for the 83% of the UK population who live in more urban areas, the challenges to give a pet a good life can feel even greater – with less access to green space, and fewer social spaces to take dogs, for example.
But when it comes to cities, which are the best ones to own a pet in? Well, pet insurance firm Lassie has decided to get to the bottom of this and do some updated research.
Lassie analysed data across nine metrics that determine a pet’s wellbeing to create a ‘Pet-Friendliness Index’, and using this index, the UK’s five most populous cities were each assigned a score out of 100 and ranked to determine which is the most and least pet-friendly.
The index looks at four main categories to gauge how suitable each city is for pets – green space, environment, health, and infrastructure.
Then, within these, experts compared a range of measures, including air quality, temperature, costs, access to vets, road safety, pet-friendly rental housing, social opportunities, and many others.
And Leeds has taken the fourth spot.
The UK’s Most Pet-Friendly Cities
Manchester
Birmingham
Liverpool
Leeds
London
“We tend to think that being a good pet owner comes down to what we do at home, but your postcode could be playing a much bigger role in your pet’s happiness and health than you realise,” commented Hedda Båverud Olsson, who is the CEO and co-founder of Lassie.
“Our findings show that not all cities are created equal when it comes to pets. The difference between living in Manchester and London isn’t just about green space or somewhere to walk your dog, it can mean higher vet bills, poorer air quality and fewer veterinary practices nearby.”
Clementine Hall -
25th January 2023 
