Leeds is inundated with bars, but there's few places that you can guarantee will have space for the whole team and serve a decent pint.
There's far more to consider when drinking with a large crowd too: will you all fit around a single table? Can your team travelling home by train still make their once-an-hour slot back in time? Perhaps most pressing, what will the drinking options be like?
We've rounded up our favourite watering holes that offer a combination of all the factors needed for the perfect post-work drink. Each bar has enough space for businesses big and small with vast drinking options, including non-alcoholic options for those tee-total or driving, and we've even considered places where you can forget about the working day and the proximity to the train station.
Keep reading to find out top picks for places to have a drink after work in and around Leeds city centre.
Salt Leeds City Centre
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Serving up cocktails on tap, there's no worry here about having to waste time waiting for a drink. Both of Salt's bars in the city centre, on East Parade and Granary Wharf, are equipped with the state-of-the-art draught cocktail machines and located within a half mile of the train station, so regardless of if you're a city centre commuter or live within close proximity of Leeds, you can make the most of a post-work tipple before heading off into the evening.
The cocktail trees will be a crowd-pleaser for the whole team too. You can mix and match with the likes of strawberry cosmos, espresso martinis and classic pornstar and passionfruit combos amongst other favourites too- an exciting alternative to buying in rounds that will suit all cocktail drinkers, regardless of their individual preferences.
Located right in the heart of the city centre, Revolución de Cuba is the post-work hotspot that serves up everything you need to forget about the day's activities and transition into that after hours euphoric state. Helping you to leave those anxieties behind is a vast range of cocktails and specialist rums.
Save the sharer teapots for a Friday early finish: they're refreshing but potent. Made up of Havana Club 3 Year Old rum and Koko Kanu coconut rum with raspberry, mango and fresh pineapple. Served in a giant teapot, it's the perfect way to start off your weekend as you mean to go on.
Pastel
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Pastel may have only opened just a few weeks ago, but it's quickly becoming our go-to for drinks after hours. Promising a unique menu of cocktails- bubble guns, pancetta and Haribo eggs are all featured- this laid-back boho bar will have you in holiday-mode upon entrance.
Plus, every Monday, Pastel offers one of their signature drinks at just a fiver. A new cocktail is chosen every week to keep their menu fresh, innovative and guarantee that your Monday blues will stop the moment the clock strikes 5pm.
Banyan has been serving the city worker crowd in their masses for quite some time and there's a good reason why people keep coming back- besides its convenient location adjacent to Leeds train station. There's plenty of outdoor and indoor seating, so regardless of the size of your workforce, you're likely to all sit around the same table.
Designed to serve larger groups, those feeling generous can treat the whole team with cocktail trees filled with the likes of Espresso and Pornstar Martinis or a perfect-serve gin with Fevertree tonic or keep the fizz a free-flowing affair with their vast range of wine options too.
Canary Bar
The Spiced Pear Fizz and a mocktail. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Swap the city's bright lights for a canalside view over at Leeds Docks and leave the day behind at Canary Bar. The shipping container bar is cosy and intimate, but provides plenty of space for large groups to gather, either round huge wooden benches, outdoor seating area or through private hire of their upstairs space and balcony.
Drinkswise, there's plenty to choose from too. Expect a considered list of classic cocktails and lagers from local breweries, amongst a huge range of non-alcoholic options. Plus, if you make it in before 4pm, there's 30% off food and the laid-back bar actively encourage remote workers to make the most of their work-friendly amenities, so there's always an option to work from here before (or whilst) grabbing a drink or two.
When the weather is rubbish, there’s nothing better than tucking away in the corner of a cosy pub with a good pint and a bowl of chips.
Thankfully, Leeds is blessed with many.
Roaring fires add extra comfort, as do old-fashioned characteristics like low-slung wooden beams and wood panelling, whilst big windows serve to let in a bit of light on the darker days.
To help you pick where to go, we’ve put together a list of our favourites below.
The Victoria & Commercial
Great George Street, LS1 3DL
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Newest and maybe the most festive is The Victoria, originally opened in 1865 this historic pub has recently been reborn courtesy of Kirkstall Brewery and Whitelock's Ale House.
The interior here is absolutely beautiful, even without the decorations it feels festive. So if you're looking for that Christmas feeling all year round, this is the place to be.
Whitelock’s Ale House
Turk’s Head Yard, Leeds LS1 6HB
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Of course it wouldn't be a cosy pub guide without the iconic Whitelock's Ale House. The oldest pubs in Leeds, Whitelock’s is easy to miss – tucked away down a side alley off the main high street, but once you find it it's well worth the hunt.
A former marketman’s pub, inside you’ll find historic features like an old wooden bar and stained glass windows as well as good selection of beers, ales and traditional British dishes.
Crowd of Favours
4-12 Harper Street, Leeds City Centre, LS2 7EA
This laid back spot in Leeds is the perfect spot to get nestled in, enjoy a few pints and escape the dreary weather.
Food-wise, think lemon and thyme chicken wings, braised beef cheek and hearty stews. As for the drinks, there’s a solid wine and cocktail menu as well as a good selection of beers on draught.
The Highland Laddie
38 Cavendish Street, LS3 1LY
Images: The Hoot Leeds
From the team behind Empire Cafe, The Highland Laddie is one of Leeds' newest pubs but it's as cosy as it gets.
Fabulous traditional interiors with a proper homely feel to it, and of course the food is absolutely banging. Think oysters, ham and chips and belting sausage rolls.
The Lamb and Flag
1 Church Row, Leeds City Centre, LS2 7HD
Housed in a renovated 19th-century building, The Lamb and Flag boast a locally-sourced menu and a strong selection of local ales. A stone’s throw from Leeds Minster, there are two bars – one upstairs and one down. Between them, you’ll find ten different hand pulls pouring some of the best beer in Leeds..
The Brunswick
82 North St, Leeds LS2 7PN
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This absolute gem at the top of town has everything you could ever want in a pub. Great drinks, a warming atmosphere, a pool table and brilliant food.
The staff are always lovely and there's usually an adorable dog knocking about too.
The Franco Manca ‘pizza run’ explained – here’s how you can get a free pizza
Danny Jones
If you’ve been wondering why you’re seeing a lot of free pizza lately, we’re here to explain the current Franco Manca pizza ‘run trend’.
And yes, we were the foolish ones enough to have not quizzed any of our jogging chums until now, meaning we’ve missed out on more money and free pizza. Sigh.
Nevermind, though, because at least we spotted it before the end of the month (this being Franco Manca’s main January deal), and we dare say that now you’ve heard about it, you’ll see plenty others popping up on social media with their free slices.
That’s right, it may be a very thin slice with a very long and thin slice, but that is as much of a pizza slice outline as we needed to qualify for the current deal.
Yes, we’re aware that the actual pepperonis on ours are more square than most – listen, we did our best, and we’ve certainly seen people pulling off better overall shaped pizzas than us; that’s part of the fun/and or challenge.
For instance, we didn’t mean for our picture to come out with one long crust running down either…
So, how does it work, you ask? Well, it’s quite simple, to be fair. All you have to do is run a pizza-shaped route (any pizza shape works, by the way), map your route on the likes of Strava or Apple Fitness, etc., then show your creation at your nearest and claim a quid off for every kilometre you run.
As advertised on the ‘Map My Pizza Run’ page on their website, the aim isn’t about putting pressure or hitting a strict target; you simply get rewarded the longer you go.
Here’s a handy example from a local running content creator for you:
There are some stipulations, such as not being used in conjunction with any other offer, one pizza map being valid per person, and the route has to have been run in January. You can find the full terms and conditions HERE.
Oh, and technically, you can do it however you like: run, walk, cycle – you name it. Other than that, we’ve pretty much given you all the info you need to know, so go and get yourself some free pizza.
Sophie Smith -
19th April 2022 
