January 2025. Meanwood. Leeds.
Mrs RM went off in search of “culture” on our afternoon in Leeds, I tool the bus to the pubs of Meanwood.
“The bus, RM, you’re going soft !“. Yes, could have walked it in 45 minutes but it was wet, and you get to see Leeds’ northern suburbs from the top deck.
Not much to say about Meanwood. Nice bit of art,
big Waitrose opposite an unfussy little shopping arcade of the type you see on the A420 east of Bristol, and an unexpected bounty of modern beer bars.
Unexpectedly, I find I’d been to that new place above when it was called East of Arcadia, which must be at least a decade ago, as if it had been during the lifetime of this blog I’d have definitely put in a reference to that Duran Duran splinter group.
More expectedly, these bars are all closed till 3 or 4, except this one;
No, it’s not called Dry Cleaner, it’s Boot & Rally, a reference to L***s United FC tactics in the late 80s.
With its covered smoking patio and largely Sheffield beer range you could have been back in South Yorkshire.
Two good cask beers under a fiver,
the Mallinsons a bitter, chewy NBSS 3.5.
Old and young in here, singing along to Bruce,
“My clothes, my face, my HAIR !” they sing.
More trestle tables in the cosy room upstairs,
home to some frankly disturbing art.
A little gem, with lovely staff who helped a partially sighted lady out of the door and were generally charming to all. But then, if you read this you’d expect nothing else.
retiredmartin 
Haha sounds like it wasnt just the Beer tgatcwas a littke bitter about Leeds 😂
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*that was….
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The picture is of George Costanza.
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He should put some clothes on. A Bass t-shirt would help.
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I concur! (But mine might bass of the four string variety).
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Isn’t Mallinsons what was on at that upstairs Corner venue in Huddersfield ?
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Well remembered, Paul. I think it was their pub. Beer was better than the venue !
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All I remember is the stairs, and I think more stairs to the lavatory, and us getting a proper bollocking for ordering food individually. A dreadful venue compared to the Commercial, Slubbers Arms, Sportsman and Vulcan.
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It closed during the first covid lockdown and has never reopened. I believe Mallinsons gave up the lease or didn’t renew it.
I see their beers are still faulty though. Or else Martin’s camera is on the blink. (Only kidding, Martin. It’s obviously the beer that’s wrong!)
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Faulty ? It’s craft, mate.
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You could walk to those Meanwood pubs from Headingley, I guess. Or not.
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I’ve been to Meanwood a couple of times before a game at Headingley, but I’ve had my bike with me, as it’s quite far out from the station and another long walk to the ground.
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