For a fantastic range of beers from all over the world and knowledgable staff to take you through them as well as simple but funky surroundings, Leeds’s North Bar is the very best the city has to offer. Since it opened in 1997 it’s received nothing but highly positive reviews and even won the Best Bar Award in the Observer Food Awards a couple of years back.
North is situated next to the Leeds Grand Theatre which may partly explain why they are able to boast some famous names as visitors to the bar. It’s nothing startling from the outside and you could almost miss it because the premises it occupies is long and narrow and therefore doesn’t have much of a frontage on the street.
Most of the seating is at the front of the pub, the bar is at the back. It’s a long bar and it needs to be because there are so many beers to cram in. North highlights that all the beers on draught are imported, nothing is brewed in the UK under licence, it’s always the genuine thing.
I had no idea where to start so the friendly female staff member on duty asked what sort of thing I normally like and, judging from this, she suggested a koeslch, a light beer from Cologne in Germany. She poured some into a very small glass for me to try first.
Beers on tap include light and dark Erdinger, Guinness, Jupiler from Belgium, Maredsous – another Belgian beer, this time brewed by monks, Dortmunder Union and two fruit beers from Liefmanns.
Tasting glasses (one third of a pint) are available so you can try lots of different beers without drinking too much.
Bottled beers are too numerous to mention but it should be noted that there are beers from Kenya, Belgium, the USA, Mexico, Germany and even as far as Tasmania! There’s a good choice with light, dark, blonde and wheat beers all being included in the selection.
Not a beer drinker? Well there are soft drinks and coffee of course but more interestingly they serve a good range of "genevers" that Dutch spirit on which gin is based. As I don’t like to mix beer and spirits I didn’t try the genevers on this occasion but I will soon.
The food menu is limited but that doesn’t mean it’s not good. Locally made pies are the dish of the day and the choice of fillings is mouth-watering. Do yourself a favour and try the Balsamic Beef and Potato with Caramelised Onions which is a taste sensation! There are meatless pies too and veggies should try the Beetroot with Horseradish and Mature Wensleydale. The pies are cooked and served in simple metal tins like camping tins, which is a nice quirky touch.
For something a bit lighter, and perhaps more conducive to beer tasting, you can graze tapas style on crusty bread and meat or cheese.
North is a good supporter of local artists and works are exhibited on the walls and are for often sale. The emphasis is on contemporary work but the pieces are quite eclectic and suit the simple decor well. The decor is very simple with wooden floor, wooden tables and simple wooden chairs. This is not your old-fashioned Yorkshire pub with comfy seats and a roaring fire but it’s fine for a contemporary bar. The music played here is hugely eclectic and rather than me list lots of artists you might here why not look at this site which tells you what’s being played there.
A brilliant choice for beer lovers and their friends.
24 New Briggate, Leeds
Monday – Tuesday: 12.00 – 01.00
Wednesday – Saturday: 12.00 – 02.00
Sunday: 12.00 – 12.00
From journal Leeds - a Citybreak Star!