Leeds

All the stops you need to make on a Dry January pub crawl around Leeds

What better way to find the non-alcoholic scene in Leeds than a pub crawl?

Sophie Smith Sophie Smith - 21st January 2022

Just because you're doing Dry January, there's no reason to skip the pub.

In fact, it's more important than ever to support hospitality after the winter.

It's not just about the need for a pint, it's about the fact that not as many of us want to drink an alcoholic beverage as much as we used to.

Sales of low and no alcohol have been on the rise since 2019, especially amongst beer drinkers – who are generally of the opinion that the offerings have vastly improved in recent years. Due to the rise in popularity, consumers now generally accept that they will be paying a similar price for a low alchohol alternative, too.

So why skip the pub crawl if you're not drinking? There's loads of non-alcoholic options in Leeds, all from the bars that need your support- seems pretty win, win if you ask us.

Here's our list of places to try out on your pub crawl, and the non-alcoholic or low-alcoholic drinks to try out in Leeds city centre.

Draught Pint- 0% Mango and Guava IPA from North Brew Co.

Image: North Brew Tap Leeds

Start off at North Brew Co- it's steps from the train station and there's all the non-alcoholic and boozy options to get the party started. Plus, they have Little Bao Boys supplying the food, so there’s a winning combination waiting for you at North Brew Co.

The drink: Fruity, refreshing and tastes exactly like any other IPA, just without the boozy bit. North Brew Co have an ever-changing supply of fresh beers, lagers, pale ales and every other variety imaginable, so if you’re looking for a safe bet of getting a non-alcoholic pint on draft, we’d recommend putting your money on this place.

Pineapple Mocktail- Grand Pacific

Image: The Hoot Leeds

Next up is a trip to the classy Grand Pacific bar- before anyone drinking booze takes things too far. Keep this one to the sober-end of your crawl, you'll want to be able to come back.

The Drink: Made up of coconut, pineapple and lime, this mocktail from Grand Pacific perfectly matches the rich palette of the high-tea spot. Having recently undergone renovations, the Grand Pacific inside the Queens Hotel is a fine-dining spot that fuses the best of British and Asian food and drink, and naturally their selection of cocktails and mocktails is no exception to this.

Read More: The Hoot Leeds reviewed the Sunday Roast and drinks menu.

Lazer Crush- Hoist House

Image: Hoist House

Back to the beer, and Hoist House will have loads of alcohol-free choices for you inside their laid-back, New-York-apartment-feel bar.

The Drink: If you’re a fan of Beavertown’s boozy beers like Neck Oil and Gamma Ray, you’re sure to cling onto the Lazer Crush Alcohol Free IPA this January at Hoist House. The bar describe it as “a heavyweight flavoured IPA with a featherweight ABV- it’s well worth a try” but if you prefere Peroni 0.0%, Leffe, AF Heineken or Adnam’s Ghost Ship, there’s plenty of other options available for you too.

OPA Beer- Crowd of Flavours

Image: Lamb and Flag

If you want to stop for a snack, Crowd of Flavours will have you covered with plenty of healthy dishes and tasty treats to keep the momentum going without sending you into a food coma.

The Drink: Leeds Brewery are particularly proud of this bottle of non alcoholic pale ale, describing the product as “specially crafted to create a well-rounded, full flavoured, traditionally styled beer.” Available at the Lamb and Flag, as well as The White Swan, Duke of York and the Lamb & Flag- or any other pubs owner by Leeds Brewery.

Lost & Found- Hedgerow Cooler

Image: The Lost and Found Club Leeds

Over at The Lost and Found Club, it's time to take on a fruity cooler with a refreshing aftertaste. The bar has a full non-alcoholic section on their menu so there's a whole range of low or AF options that will cover just about every palette.

The Drink: Blackberries, apple juice & lemon juice, lavender syrup and soda with plenty of ice and topped with a blackberry and mint leaf, this refreshing mocktail sounds like a refreshing alternative to a boozy cocktail that has more flavour than its boozy predecessor. Located alongside other non-alcoholic favourites like Seedlip Espresso Martinis and the low-alcohol Hayman’s Small G&T with just 0.2 units of alcohol per serve.

Issho- Shiso Smash

Mocktail with an orange on top, being held up in front of a cherry blossom tree inside Issho, Leeds.
Image: The Hoot Leeds

Up in the Leeds skyline with a beautiful view of the city, the Japanese fine-dining restaurant and bar at Issho comes alive in the twilight hours, especially if you snag a seat on their fully-heated rooftop terrace with blankets to keep you warm.

The Drink: Non-alcoholic drinks are twice as refreshing than their boozy counterparts and but that doesn’t mean that they can’t taste alcoholic. The Shisho Smash from Issho is made from Seedlip Spice 94, an alcohol-free spirit distilled in the same way as an other spirit: just without the boozy bit.  It’s a sophisticated blend of Allspice berries and Cardamom, mixed in with lime juice, sugar syrup, elderflower cordial and topped with Shisho leaves.

Read More: The Issho Ki No Bi menu offers some of the best Japanese fine-dining in Leeds

The Botanist- Rhubarb and Sage Spritz

Image: The Botanist Newcastle

If you're missing the taste of gin and want to find yourself in a bustling bar right in the heart of Leeds, look no further than The Botanist, conveniently located next to the Trinity shopping centre.

The Drink: If you’re looking for a cocktail that replicates a boozy original, The Botanist will have you covered. Made from rhubarb & sage syrups & lemon juice and topped with ginger ale, this sweet concoction will make any cravings for an alcoholic cocktail subside with its refreshing taste.

Draught Pint- Lost AF from Brewdog

Image: Brewdog Headingley

Read More: Brewdog is offering unlimited non-alcoholic pints throughout Dry January

Throughout the month of January, you can get free refills of all your favourite pints for the price of one and what’s not to love about that? You end your pub crawl with this bargain.

The Drink: Bestsellers like the original Punk IPA are available in the offer, just transformed to remove the alcoholic part- forming Punk AF, soon to be your new favourite Dry Jan alternative. You can also get cans of alcohol-free Lost, Punk, Hazy and Nanny State beers to take away with you after last orders is called.

Read more: The 10 best restaurants in and around Leeds according to the Michelin Guide 2023

Feature Image- Issho Leeds

Leeds

Leeds city centre crowned one of the best places to live in the north by The Sunday Times

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Today, Leeds city centre earned itself a coveted spot in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.

What brilliant news to end the week on, hey?

Leeds city centre was amongst eight other locations across the north and the north east to be featured on the list.

The market town of Skipton took home the dazzling first prize, but it's still nice to be included isn't it.

Here's what the judges had to say about Leeds city centre: “Leeds has five universities, the fourth largest urban economy in the UK (with job opportunities in finance, insurance and big business), a youthful vibe and a relatively affordable average house price (£285,100).

Image: Unsplash

“Stay close to the centre, where you won’t have to worry about the patchy public transport, and it all adds up to a fun-filled, fulfilled life within walking distance of stylish shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. There’s a good choice of riverside homes, where you may spot kingfishers and otters, and even the schools are good.”

In total, 72 places across the UK were selected by The Sunday Times to showcase the very best of Britain, with Norwich named the overall national winner.

The full list of locations in the north and northeast include:

  • Skipton
  • Howardian Hills, North Yorkshire
  • Leeds city centre
  • Morpeth, Northumberland
  • Newcastle: Gosforth
  • Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire 
  • Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire
  • York

Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, said: “This guide is a great opportunity to highlight the best places in Britain.

“It is full of places that show that our village, town and city centres can still be full of life, as well as places bursting with natural beauty, culture, connectivity and most importantly a sense of community.  

“Our expert team of judges visit every location on the list and talk to the locals to find out what they love about the place they live."

Read more: Leeds has been crowned the best city in the UK for foodies outside of London

Featured image - Unsplash

Leeds

“What’s Love Got to Do with It?”: A Story of Survival at Leeds Grand Theatre

Declan Kelly Declan Kelly

An unflinching and empowering portrait of Tina Turner’s life.

Bringing the life of the Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll to the stage, TINA: The Tina Turner Musical arrives at the Leeds Grand Theatre with an energy that is both electrifying and deeply affecting. More than just a celebration of Tina Turner’s iconic career, this production offers a powerful portrayal of the hardship she endured and the extraordinary strength it took to overcome it.

While the musical is packed with well-known hits, it is the story behind them that leaves the greatest impact. From her early years to her rise to global stardom, the production lays bare the reality of Tina’s life, particularly the abuse and control she experienced at the hands of Ike.

These moments are handled with care but never softened, forcing the audience to confront the emotional and physical toll of her journey. It is this honesty that gives the show its real power this is not just a story of success, but one of survival.

Image: Supplied

A standout element of the production is the use of a younger Tina to show the early stages of her life and career. These scenes reveal her vulnerability, ambition, and the experiences that shaped her resilience, giving crucial context to her struggles with Ike and making her eventual empowerment all the more powerful. From hopeful, constrained performer to fiercely independent icon, her journey feels earned and deeply moving.

At the heart of the show is Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi, whose portrayal of Tina is nothing short of extraordinary. She captures every facet of the performer from vulnerability to fierce determination allowing the audience to fully experience Tina’s lowest moments as well as her eventual rise.

Image: Supplied

Opposite her, David King-Yombo delivers a chilling performance as Ike, embodying the manipulation and control that defined their relationship. Their dynamic is deeply uncomfortable at times, but essential in highlighting the magnitude of Tina’s resilience.

Equally striking is the musical’s staging and visual storytelling, which mirrors Tina’s emotional journey. Intimate early-life moments and larger-than-life concert sequences are enhanced with lighting, set design, and choreography.

Iconic numbers such as “Disco Inferno,” “Proud Mary,” “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” and “Private Dancer” are brought to life with golden disco balls and soaring spotlights, celebrating her rise while reflecting her transformation from oppression to empowerment. These moments are met with overwhelming audience enthusiasm, making Tina’s struggles and triumphs feel immediate, immersive, and unforgettable.

Image: Supplied

The only area that felt slightly less polished was the stage combat. While the physical tension between Tina and Ike was effective in conveying conflict and control, some of the choreography occasionally felt a little uneven, which momentarily pulled focus from the emotional intensity of those scenes. Even so, these moments were brief and did little to diminish the overall impact of the production. 

By the final moments of the production, Tina prepares once more to take the stage, the narrative comes full circle the show ends the same way it began, with Tina getting ready for her gig. This framing is both thoughtful and powerful, giving the audience a moment to reflect on and celebrate the journey they have just witnessed.

Having experienced her struggles, triumphs, and transformation, the audience is invited to share in the exhilaration of her performance, turning the theatre into a concert-like celebration of resilience, empowerment, and music. As Tina herself, who worked on the production before her passing in 2023, described on opening night, the show is “poison turned into medicine.”

Ultimately, TINA: The Tina Turner Musical is a story of empowerment forged through adversity. For audiences at the Leeds Grand Theatre, this is more than a night at the theatre; it is an emotional, inspiring, and unforgettable tribute to a woman who refused to be defined by her past.

Running until 4 April. Tickets available now here.

Featured image - Supplied

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