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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Ballad of Johnny & June at Leeds Grand Theatre – From Ring of Fire to heartbreak | Review
Declan Kelly
Johnny Cash’s biggest hits come to the stage, but the first act takes a little too long to find its rhythm
I’ll be honest, I went into The Ballad of Johnny & June knowing the songs far better than I knew the actual story.
Johnny Cash? Obviously. Ring of Fire? Of course. That famous black suit and unmistakable voice? You’d have to be living under a rock.
But ask me to tell you the ins and outs of Johnny Cash and June Carter’s relationship, and I probably wouldn’t have got very far.
Images: Supplied
So, sitting down at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House on Tuesday 15 September, I was going in pretty much blind, expecting some big country classics, big performances and, naturally, Ring of Fire.
And while the show definitely delivered on the music, I have to say to say that act one felt VERY long. There’s a lot of story to get through, from Johnny and June’s early lives and careers to their meeting, relationship, family life and the struggles that came with fame.
But there were quite a few scenes where I found myself thinking they could have been cut without taking anything away from the bigger story.
The narration was another thing I struggled with.
John Carter Cash guides us through his parents’ story, jumping back and forth through different points in their lives. I completely understand why it’s there, especially for someone like me who didn’t know the story inside and out.
But with such a huge story, incredible songs and two massive characters at its centre, it felt like the safer option.
Image: Supplied
I couldn’t help thinking that there was potential for a much grander piece of musical theatre, rather than relying so heavily on narration to move the story along.
But, then came act two.
And honestly, this is where the show completely won me back.
Suddenly there was more drive, more emotion and much more depth to the characters. Christopher Ryan Grant as Johnny Cash feels completely at home in the role. He captures that unmistakable voice and presence without it ever feeling like a simple impersonation.
And Christina Bianco as June Carter is brilliant. She brings so much energy and personality to June, but it’s her more emotional moments that really stay with you. Her solo before June dies is utterly heartbreaking.
Image: Supplied
It was one of those moments where the whole theatre seemed to go silent, and you could feel everyone completely invested in what was happening on stage.
The chemistry between Bianco and Grant is also a huge part of what makes their story work, while the rest of the cast all feel like they’ve been cast in exactly the right roles.
And then, of course, there’s the music.
I Walk the Line, Folsom Prison Blues, Jackson,A Boy Named Sue and, naturally, Ring of Fire all make an appearance. Hearing those songs performed live with the band on stage is easily one of the show’s biggest strengths. In fact, it’s during these big musical moments that you realise just how much potential this story has.
I just wanted more of that in Act One.
By the time the curtain came down, though, I had gone from knowing Johnny Cash for a handful of songs to understanding much more about the man, June and the story behind the music.
The Ballad of Johnny & June is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday 15 September until Saturday 19 September 2026. Tickets are available here.
Sophie Smith -
21st January 2022 
