Whitelocks Ale House was awarded a spot on the Mail on Sunday's cosiest pubs in Britain this week.
Pubs around Britain were marked on the cosiness of their interior and overall feel: fires, comfy nooks and whether or not dogs were allowed inside, were all factors in the decision making.
Nine pubs across Yorkshire were selected, which is no surprise to us, but it was Whitelocks made a particularly clear impression on judges Tom Parker Bowles and Olly Smith.
The pub really could tick any of the boxes in their sleep. With a wide selection of ales and craft beers, the nineteenth century interior effortlessly oozes sophistication, softened by candle light and merlot red hues.
The kitchen hatch is conveniently placed in the centre of the building, allowing the waft of mouthwatering dishes to flow through both the beer garden and indoor seating area. / Image: Whitelocks Ale House
The roaring flames from the fire heat up the bar area and offer the perfect place for dogs to curl up to after a long day in the city: creating the perfect laid-back atmosphere for all ages.
Whitelocks has a long history of serving customers a range of ever-changing dishes, including their famed Sunday roast, each paired with a careful selection of ales and wines.
Tucked away off the high street, Whitelocks is a true hidden gem, although given its popularity, it is more likely Leeds worst kept secret. A considered selection of ales and wines are paired with home-cooked food, all sourced from the local area, are just some of the little touches that make this public house feel like home.
Whitelocks Pub is still full of heritage features. / Image: Whitelocks Ale House
The pub was first founded in 1715 and has a long history of serving customers an endless selection of delicious seasonal meals and locally brewed drinks.
These days, customers have the choice of sitting outdoors in their beer garden or inside with a seat close to the action. Whichever you choose on your next visit, good food and a truly memorable atmosphere is guaranteed.
The Victorian pub was originally named The Turk's Head before being taken over by the Whitelock family in the 1880s. The entire building has been preserved with beautiful nineteenth century decor, including stained glass windows.
To us, it's really no surprise that the pub has been recognised as one of the cosiest in Britain, but it's great to see Whitelocks recognised on a national scale.
A new cocktail bar is coming to Leeds city centre.
If you know a thing or two about cocktails, or just drinks in general, then you're going to be very excited about this news.
The very talented team behind Roland's on Call Lane and The Domino Club, just to name a few, are setting their sites on a brand-new venture.
Introducing Paper Plane, an intimate new cocktail bar that will be taking over the old Casa site in the city's beautiful Grand Arcade.
Paper Plane will be inspired by the glamour of 1970s air travel and will be a vinyl-only listening bar, serving a world-inspired cocktail menu alongside a carefully curated whisky collection.
The space will be lovely and intimate, with around just 40 covers, designed to transport guests somewhere completely different from the minute they step foot through the door.
And what a location too, joining a whole host of fantastic independents in the arcade such as Alfonso's Deli, Stuzzi and Sonder.
For now, we don't know many more details about the project, but we already know it's going to be exceptional cas anything these guys do turns to gold.
Not only has Roland's been consistently one of the busiest bars on Call Lane since they opened back in 2014, but The Domino Club was recently crowned one of the best cocktail bars in the world. Now that is some accolade worth shouting about.
We'll keep you updated with Paper Plane's progress, but Roland's have stated that the site is hoping to open this coming autumn. So we really don't have long to wait.
When Yorkshire is due to get hot as a fourth heatwave of the year hits the UK
Danny Jones
Yes, ANOTHER heatwave is set to hit the UK - the fourth in 2026 so far - and, understandably, Yorkshire residents are already preparing for the latest blast of hot weather and wondering when it arrives.
Yes, in case you missed the news, more high temperatures are set to spread across the UK and Ireland this month and heading into August.
The increase will gradually build throughout this week, with Wednesday tipped to be the hottest day according to various meteorologists.
While Yorkshire thankfully isn't quite slated to get the sweatiest, parts of the Midlands and the usual suspects down south are set to hit the highest numbers, but the thermometers are still on course to reach around the mid-20s over the coming days.
Estimates of 26°C were predicted for this coming Tuesday, with the levels floating in and around 24/25 on the following Wednesday.
The heat is then due to drop off slowly, with top scores of no higher than 21°C on the cards for Thursday and Friday. Although the weekend forecast is less certain at present, one thing that has been announced is reduced rainfall.
Aside from a few more trickles today (Mon, 27 July), the showers or lack thereof cease rather soon, with some of the driest parts of the country already having various effects; for instance, parched parts of Wales have even revealed lost archaeological sites last Friday (24/7/2026).
It would be remiss if we didn't mention the obvious moorland fires across our region, which were sadly exacerbated by hot weather earlier this month.
At least it'll be a bit cooler here than in other parts of the country. ☀️
Sophie Smith -
12th October 2021 
