Iconic Leeds pub where Nirvana played recreated inside Kirkgate Market

Up until 2000, 71 Vicar Lane was home to an iconic Leeds pub that hosted such bands as Nirvana, Oasis, Blur and the Manic Street Preachers.

Known as The Duchess of York, it was famous not just in Leeds but across the north – serving as an integral piece of the city’s music scene for many years.

After its closure in 2000, it was replaced by fashion giant Hugo Boss which still has a store on the site to this day.

For those who miss the good old days at the Duchess, though, we’ve got some good news. The pub has now been partially recreated in Leeds’ Kirkgate Market for the Compass Festival, as part of a project called “Public House: The Yorkshire Square.”

At just 12ft x 12ft, it’s not that big – but then it’s true that all good things come in small packages.

Described on Compass Festival’s website as “Bringing a ferment of connections, conversations and experiences to the heart of Leeds iconic Kirkgate market”, it will be in situ here up until 24 July.

Although it’s an interactive art project, you can still grab a pint here at the recreated Duchess and relive a taste of the good old days and reminisce on a time before the iconic pub was replaced with a clothes shop.

Designed by Katie Etheridge and Simon Persighettie, the remade pop-up pub features a mock-up of the sign, gig flyers, photos from gigs in a massive hit of nostalgia.

The duo behind the project hopes that local visitors will “come together, share memories of gigs they went to and discuss why pubs and pub venues are so important, and what we can do to stop them being lost” here.

Further big names to grace The Duchess’s stage over the years include Radiohead, Coldplay and Green Day – but it’s biggest claim to fame has to be welcoming in Nirvana as a support band back in the late 80s.

It’s said that the little-known band from Aberdeen, Washington came to support Tad – and that Kurt Cobain went and slept on the sofa upstairs afterward.

At the time, the band was in town to promote their album Bleach; but they also played some songs that would feature in their second album Nevermind, such as About a Girl, Love Buzz, Floyd the Barber and Polly.

For anyone who was there, it was surely a truly iconic gig to witness. We have to say, we’re rather jealous.

Modeled on the dimensions of the unique fermenting vessel made famous by Tetley’s Brewery, the recreated Duchess of York has plenty of cold beer as well as what they’re calling the ‘Time Bar.’

Here, you can watch and listen to specially recorded interviews on pub’s past, present and future and add your own using the interactive Pub Quiz machine.

There is no need to book, you can just turn up. Find it inside Kirkgate Market until 24 July.

Opening times at The Duchess: 

Friday 16 July: 11am – 10pm

Saturday 17 July: 11am – 5pm  

Monday 19 July: 11am – 5pm

Tuesday 20 July: 11am – 5pm

Wednesday 21 July: 11am – 5pm

Thursday 22 July: 11am – 5pm

Friday 23 July: 11am – 10pm

Saturday 24 July: 11am – 5pm

Feature image – Leeds Civic Trust / Youtube.