December 2025. Newlay. Leeds.
5 years ago (if pubs had been open in 2021) a trip to Leeds would have targeted a BRAPA-friendly half dozen new Guide pubs in a day.
Those two in Todmorden, a couple of new Spoons, Bradford, as well as that Horsforth diner.
Today, I use my day to practice falling down stairs, wondering about Goethe, and an overdue revisit to a classic.
12 minutes walk from the Three Swords through the northern suburbs of Leeds,
topiary and street library,
steep cobbles down to the Aire,
and across the bridge to a rural gem barely 10 minutes from KLF station.
1pm opening at the Abbey, but they’ve clearly opened a little early for the post-Christmas detox.
Four (4) pints of that Acorn Winter Pale already pulled, and the fifth would be my Pint of the Year.
I gave the Abbey top marks 15 years ago, but it’s not a pub you stumble across, and has lacked the reputation of the Kirstall Brewery empire to the south.
It’s a glorious pint in gloriously pubby surroundings, walkers and a low key food trade, “I’m Every Woman” your escape from Americana.
Absolute sherbet, as the kids say about an NBSS 5 pint.
retiredmartin 
Well jealous and straight onto my to do list…which gets longer every day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suspect young Will could compile a very good pub crawl through Kirstall from Leeds Station.
Kirkstall Tap, Dave’s Pies, Cardigan Arms, Kirkstall Bridge, Abbey and curry at Three Swords.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would include the Highland Laddie, and I like the Bridge at Horsforth Woodhouse (though it has too many cask ales on the bar for the amount that sells).
And if thirsty on alighting from your train at Leeds City station, the Brew Society is a two minute walk past the Wetherspoons, but not open on Sundays. But you wouldn’t be doing a crawl on Sunday, would you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve done a few of those excellent and I loved chatting with the owner of Dave’s pies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He was fantastic. Gave our group free pie slices !
LikeLike
Leeds looks so much more interesting these days .We left 30 years ago & then I would not have dreamed of drinking in Kirkstall (my husband was brought up in Headingley so was a little more au fait of the area ,whereas me as a nice Roundhay lass rarely ventured into this dark place )
Pauline
LikeLike
Are the street library books protected from the elements? It was hard to tell. Another enviable carpet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure you notice this on your own blog, Lana, so many people spot things I miss or ask the less obvious questions. I love that aspect of running a blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person