Summer is here and the sun has got its hat on, so there's only one place for it.
It's not often that it's hot enough to sit outside and enjoy a cold, crisp pint here in England.
So when it is, we've got to take advantage of it and spend as much time as possible basking in that sweet sunshine.
We've chosen 10 of our favourite beer gardens and rooftop bars for you to gather with your mates, have a couple pints and soak up those rays. Just promise us you won't forget your suncream.
Green Room
36 Wellington St, LS1 2DE
Images: The Hoot Lees
Whether it be a weekday or weekend, Green Room's sprawling roof terrace right in the centre of town is always busy and buzzing with an electric atmosphere.
Here you'll find pints from local breweries, cocktails, spritzes as well as live DJs and foodie popups.
Waterlane Boathouse
Canal Wharf, Holbeck, Leeds LS11 5PS
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Fancy a pint with a lovely chilled atmosphere and relaxing canal side views? Waterlane Boathouse is the one for you.
There's plenty of seats in their beer garden meaning you won't be waiting long if it's full, and there's always some banging drink offers on too so you can get more booze for your buck.
Belgrave Music Hall
Cross Belgrave St, LS2 8JP
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Now this one is an absolute classic, especially for the students - but all for good reason.
Their rooftop terrace offers plenty of spaces for large groups around painted picnic benches, parasols and pergolas cover the immediate sunlight so that basking in the heat is manageable without having to keep your sunnies on all afternoon. You've have to walk a fair amount of steps to get to the top though, but it's well worth it.
The Original Oak
2 Otley Rd, Headingley, LS6 2DG
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The Original Oak in Headingley is a favourite for all ages, but if you’re a student looking for some sports action, you’ll feel quite at home at this Otley Run stop.
You can catch the latest Leeds United games throughout the rest of the season in the sunlight as the pub shows all the sports on their huge outdoor TV screen and you can bet that there will be plenty of space for you to join the crowd.
Headrow House
19a The Headrow, LS1 6PU
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Just like Belgrave, Headrow House has a rooftop beer garden that offers panoramic city views.The beer garden is decked out with greenery between the picnic benches and truly does offer an intimate hiding place from the city centre down below.
They've also always got some great DJs playing, so if you're looking for a spot to transition from day to night - this is the one.
Whitelock's Ale House
Turk's Head Yard, LS1 6HB
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Leeds' oldest pub, Whitelock's Ale House, is tucked away off Briggate at Turk's Head Yard. Here you'll find a gorgeous terrace with wooden booths that are decorated with festoon lighting and covers for if the heavens open. Which let's be honest, is a regular occurance.
Beck and Call
Stainbeck Rd, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 2NP
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Nestled in lovely Chapel Allerton, the Beck and Call is a proper family pub with a sprawling beer garden. No frills, great drinks and plenty of room to soak up the sun. What more could you want?
A Nation of Shopkeepers
26-27 Cookridge St, LS2 3AG
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Nation of Shopkeepers' beer garden is one of the worst kept secrets in Leeds, but given it's a full courtyard's worth of outdoor drinking space right in the heart of the city, it's not exactly a surprise that everyone loves drinking here.
Serving up food and drink into the early hours basking in the sun trap or sheltering from a midday shower under the umbrella and pergola, this is an ideal day drinking spot for all weather in Leeds.
Piglove by the River
Clarence Rd, LS10 1EE
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're a real beer fan, then get yourself to Piglove Brewery where just outside of town you'll find a sunny oasis that'll have you feeling like you're outside of Leeds entirely.
Their riverside taproom right next to the River Aire features riverside benches for the sunny days and a heated indoor area for the rainier ones, open from Wednesday to Sunday.
White Cloth Hall
27 Crown Street, LS2 7DA
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Leeds' newest all-day drinking and dining destination, White Cloth Hall, has a lovely sun-drenched terrace for you to enjoy. This is a fab spot if you fancy some fabulous street food, from Mexican tacos and steak sandwiches to charcuterie boards and fluffy focaccia pizza slices.
The drinks are also class too, with a great wine list and plenty of expertly crafted cocktails to choose from.
Yorkshire interior design specialist Design Tonic has completed a major series of projects for Leeds United Football Club.
A new era for Leeds United is on the horizon, and we're catching a first glimpse of it already.
Design Tonic is a long-standing design and build partner of the football club that has delivered approximately 30,000 sq ft of new and refurbished space, completed to coincide with the start of the new premier league season.
The latest work has been designed to support the club’s continued development of plans for Elland Road, including the new West Stand.
Image: Supplied (Pink Gorilla)
The main element of the programme has been the full design and build of a new 20,000 sq ft temporary hospitality marquee at Elland Road, providing high-quality hospitality facilities while the West Stand is redeveloped.
The facility incorporates four individual hospitality suites with capacity for approximately 1,000 guests with interiors carefully considered to deliver a high-end experience.
Images: Supplied (Pink Gorilla)
Alongside the temporary hospitality facility, Design Tonic has delivered a series of significant upgrades throughout Elland Road including the creation of a new Presidents Lounge transforming a previous back-of-house area into a premium hospitality environment, a new Chairman’s Guest Lounge, and refurbishment of the club’s reception and boardroom.
Head of IT and facilities at Leeds United Football Club, Mark Broadley, said: “Design Tonic has become a trusted partner to Leeds United. They understand both the operational requirements of a football club and the importance of ensuring every environment feels unmistakably Leeds United.
Images: Supplied (Pink Gorilla)
“This has been a particularly important project for us, supporting the next stage of development at Elland Road while ensuring our hospitality guests continue to receive a high- quality experience. At the same time, the improvements at Thorp Arch enhance the everyday environments available to our players and Academy.
“The completed spaces look fantastic and provide an excellent platform as the club starts the new Premier League season.”
Five of the best new restaurants and cafes to open in Leeds recently
Clementine Hall
Leeds has welcomed a whole host of new places to eat and drink recently, and there’s a lot to get excited about.
We all love our food, and it's safe to say we love writing about it.
So please, allow us to indulge by telling you all about five of our favourite new foodie openings that have popped up in and around Leeds over the past few months.
But fair warning, continuing to read on may cause extreme hunger...
Moods
98 Kirkgate, Leeds LS2 7DJ
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Just over a month ago, one of Leeds' most historic buildings was transformed into an all-day cafe, bar, restaurant and events space.
Moods is the brainchild of husband-and-wife founders Will and Hayley Moody, the team behind Buzz Club Tattoo.
They do it all, whether you're popping in for a coffee and a spot of brunch or swinging by for a few carefully curated cocktails and some small plates to share with friends. With a kitchen led by Head Chef Craig Rogan, who trained within Simon Rogan's Michelin-starred restaurant group, you know you're in good hands.
Taking over the old Flannels site on Vicar Lane, Dishoom Leeds is nothing short of beautiful and has been in the pipeline for quite some time.
Dusty pink exteriors welcome you into a huge dining room complete with gold picture frames, baby blue walls and huge arched windows. They've really thought of every little detail, even down to the relaxing incense burning on the windowsill.
The menu is large and can seem overwhelming, featuring everything from breakfast naan rolls and small plates and to big sharing curries, but the staff are keen to lend you a helping hand.
If you order anything - let it be the lamb chops (thank us later).
Rizia's Bottega, on Bolling Road on the outskirts of Ilkley, officially opened at the end of August following a soft launch, serving authentic schiacciata sandwiches, colourful salads, and light Sicilian breakfasts.
The new neighbourhood spot comes from the team behind Ilkley favourite Emporio Italia and has been created as somewhere locals can pop in for their morning coffee, sit down for a bite to eat, or pick up some high-quality Italian treats to enjoy at home.
One of Manchester’s most popular brunch spots, which always has queues down the street, has made its way across to Leeds at last.
Bruncho has opened on The Headrow, bringing its hit products like French toasts, Middle Eastern brunches, and iced matchas, to Leeds city centre.
Bruncho has also made a name for itself with its viral creations, including Labubu Dubai pistachio French toast (how many 2025 buzzwords can you get in one menu item?) and its collection of drinks served at -86°C. We're sure that their weird and wonderful creations will go down just as well here in Leeds.
Domo is an independent restaurant born in Sheffield that is loved by many for its delicious food, inviting atmosphere and stellar service.
Run by Raffaele Busceddu and Sarah May Elliott, Domo serves a range of traditional Sardinian specialities that aren't often seen outside the island, all made entirely in-house.
Located right on the water's edge, you could do a lot worse than plonking yourself on the terrace with mates, ordering a selection of their cocktails and tucking into a heaping plate of fried calamari and prawns or a carefully curated plate of Sardinian cured meats and cheeses.
Clementine Hall -
23rd June 2026 
