My favourite music venue in Leeds. Need I say more? As a hopefully esteemed Yelp scout, I guess I…read moreshould. The Brudenell is a small, intimate venue that has played host to some of the city, county and country's greatest bands. It was where Leeds favourites The Cribs chose to host Cribsmas, a special three-gig event where they played each of their albums in full with b-sides forming the encore. The support acts - Kaiser Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand and Kate Nash - sum up the attraction and character that the Headingley venue boasts. A number of bands - including the Kaisers - have lent their support to the Brudenell, which very nearly closed a few years ago. Thankfully it didn't and it remains one of the most charismatic concert halls that Leeds has to offer, hosting breaking acts including the likes of Girls (go listen) and Johnny Flynn (same again) in the next couple of months. For full listings, go to brudenellsocialclub.co.uk. In the meantime, just pop in for a pint. They always taste nice at the Brudenell.

The best sound system in Leeds. I love live music and constantly get frustrated by the poor sound…read morein almost every venue I go to. I saw Wooden Shjips here in April 2010 and it was fantastic. What's more, despite being sold out, it wasn't over-crowded, the bar staff were efficient and prices were reasonable. Plus there is another bar so you can get away from the loud music if you want to. There's also a cab firm close by so it's not too hard to get home. Highly recommended! Updated Just to add a few further words of praise. This venue consistently stands out as the best I know of in the UK. As other reviewers have said all the people who work here are really friendly and are a lot of fun. I've never seen any trouble inside and it made me realise that I've never seen a bouncer in there either although I'm sure they know how to cope if things do get heated. At the end of the headline band's set there is no hassle to leave like so many paces (O2 Academy, Cockpit). If you fancy another drink they are relaxed and that's cool. What a refreshing attitude. I've seen so many bands here and it's easily my favourite venue anywhere - so many great memories! The thing that says it all is that if I am hesitant about seeing a band but then discover they are playing at the Brudenell my mind is immediately made up and I go. Wish it was within walking distance of my house!

I have been trying to think of a way to put this without sounding too harsh, but it is just not…read morepossible. Oracle actually makes me feel sick and scrunch up my face in disbelief. It is a bar / restaurant / night club on the waterfront of the river that unfortunately, like so many other bars and clubs, is a cattle market parading around falsely as a sophisticated night out. On a busy night, it is like drowning in a pond of glow stick fluid while bright orange practically naked women pout at you like delirious tropical fish from all angles (see photo of 'sexy santas'). Meanwhile the lazily produced monotonous drones of music repeatedly flick you in the face like an annoying little brother, provoking a tiresome and frustrating headache. Oblivious to any of this, it oozes with pretense, and goes about it's not-even-tactful patriarchal ways as grinning goofy men swagger around trying to look cool and control what's hopefully hidden in their trousers. The only valid reason for going here would be for comedy value, if you can stomach it.

So, Oracle has reopened during the day and I for one was very happy about this…read more If ever anyone would ask me where to go for a burger in Leeds i would have previously not hesitated in recommending this place. The menu however has now changed! And I'm not happy. The speciality here used the be their almighty burgers and the selection was fab,it has been cut down now to a very minimal selection on the menu. :-( My friend and I went for lunch last week and I was surprised to see 2/3 tables of people in there- all eating. As it's down Brewery Wharf it's pretty tucked away so some days I have been in and no other customers have been in the place. This makes the bar space a cavernous and very cold place. The bar is nice and airy, very light with the floor to ceiling windows and features lots of 'bling' style decor touches. Anyway, back to lunch. We were greeted cheerily and seated wherever we wanted. She explained the 'burger lunch special' only featured skinny fries and not wedges or sweet potatoes as says on the usual menu. Other than that its a very good deal. We ordered and sat back to people watch. There seems to be more staff here than is necessary and no-one doing too much. The manager was doing paperwork in one of the booths and another male member of staff seemed to be doing very little except stomping around flexing his muscles. May suit the evening ambiance of this place but not at lunchtime love- I'm waiting to eat! The food came quite quickly and as we had sat opposite the kitchen hatch we saw it was all freshly prepared. We'd ordered the BBQ Ranch burger, the chicken bacon & avocado burger and some cheesy garlic bread. The garlic bread was lovely- very soft ciabatta and cheesy cheese- not overly garlicky so very nice. The burgers were well presented and the portion of fries were HUGE! My chicken burger was minced chicken- a strange consistency really and the guacamole didn't really do much for it. Overall it was OK but I left about a third of it. The ranch burger was nicer, large fresh onion rings and a sweet BBQ sauce provided with it were a great addition. The fries were nice and crisp and overall it was a pleasant lunch. A couple of things let this place down- The dodgy background music The excess of staff doing little to nothing The coldness in the place I wouldn't say I'd now rave about the burgers there but it's going to be one of them places to keep in the back of my mind if I want a filling burger lunch.

I came here for drinks with my boyfriend because it was suggested by his friends (and we love…read morecocktails cos who doesn't!) and we wanted to try something new. Took us a while to find it actually! But when we got there it was worth it!! They have so many drinks on offer and they make them sooo well. The staff are friendly and it has a great atmosphere (tip: they have board games in the corner, such a great idea! Drunk connect 4 went down a treat!) My favourite cocktail was something to do with strawberries (it was the last one I had... Can you tell?!) the lychee mojito was insane as well! It's a kitschy, edgy and cosy place all at the same time and we had an amazing evening. Plus the cocktails are relatively inexpensive! Winners all round :)

From the owner: The East Village specialises in high end drinks in a relaxed atmosphere. Transporting you straight…read moreacross the pond to the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

There are much better clubs than Oceana in Leeds, but, unfortunately, there are few that are…read morebigger, or busier, than this sprawling establishment on the corner of the Merrion Centre. Sprawling was the only word I could think of to describe Oceana Leeds; there must be dozens of rooms in this place, all decorated differently - dancefloors, boudoirs, ski lodges - but rather than endearing you to the club, this just annoys you as you spend half your night on the move, or trying to find friends you've lost in the labyrinth. They do have a student night where some drinks are ridiculously priced (80p), but this gets overcrowded, meaning that the mazy interior becomes even more hazardous. The real gripe most people have with this place, however, is the way it can up its prices with no notice for one random evening. For example, on Easter bank holiday Monday, the entry fee went up to £9, and you struggled to find drinks cheaper than £3.50, which, for Leeds, is a bit shocking.

Ok, so essentially Oceana, in theory, when all rooms are open for the offering, provides the client…read morewith seven themed rooms, separate spaces, clubbing/bar experiences. Due to size and central location this was my buddy's reason for organising his birthday bash up here. Granted, it's definitely got size on it's side, it's easy to get to, there's plenty of dance space, and once inside and all gathered together in collective buddy solidarity, there's an actual properly DJ for you to get your groove thing on. Or down. Or jiggy with. That sounds wrong. I got change from a tenner for paying to get in, and compared to some of the places I've been to in Manchester, for a large city centre club, I didn't find that too unreasonable. Some of my Yorkshire counterparts tended to disagree, but c'est la vie right? Also, if you can grab a flyer off one of the promotions people, and you get there before 10pm, entry's fiver. So I didn't think it was too bad at all. Inside it's absolutely massive, and depending on what night you go in, you can have access to up to seven different spaces. Oceana seems to have taken some influence from the bigger clubs in Ibiza like Pacha, that have separate themed spaces for patrons to dive into and enjoy, rooms I remember were the Ski Lodge, the New York Disco, the Venetian Ballroom, and Secret Garden. Drinks weren't too hard on the wallet either, a nice bogof incentive before the night hit the midnight hour. Once you do hit the midnight hour you've got three hours of partying left, as kickout time is decent 3am. Good times were had by all, not marvellous, but not hideous either.

Having been back once again to a warm reception, great beer selection and friendly locals I feel…read morethe need to reinstate my love for this fantastic pub. There's not much more to add to what's already been declared, except that even on a Saturday night this is the loveliest place you hope to grab a pint. No louts, no fancy dress Otley runners, no hassle - just a fabulous place in which to consume your favourite tipples. If you need advice on what to sup, these guys are expert in here, even the odd person propping up the bar might chime in. Love it. Yet again, props to the wonderful bar staff who always patiently allow me to finish my beer at almost 11.30pm - it's always appreciated. Got to check out their Monday quiz sometime, I'm sure it'll be one of the best around!

Before I was of drinking age, I barely noticed Arcadia, and any notice I did pay to the place left…read moreme thinking it was a cafe for some reason. To be fair, on first glance, it does look to be more of a cafe than a classy wine bar, with its simple exterior and location amongst run-of-the-mill shops such as Wilkinsons and Sainsbury's. Once you realise it's actually a watering hole and go in, however, you are rewarded - music plays quietly, old connoisseurs and occasionally wealthy students alike sample the various continental beers (the best of which is Erdinger) and wines, a few lone readers and writers sit about with papers or notebooks, and a couple play one of the many free board games on offer. Arcadia is different from anywhere else in Headingley in terms of it's atmosphere, it's booze, and what it offers. However, it's rates are similar to some places in Headingley - the pricey ones.

How can I encapsulate the Flux Gallery in a short review? Its a funny little place that is hard to…read morefind unless you know what to look for and if you're not looking for it specifically you are unlikely to stumble across it. I know people who have lived in Leeds for years and never physically come across it before. It is many things - the physical space is a photography studio, small events venue and gallery space. It is only open when there are events or exhibitions on. But The Flux Gallery is also the name of a press that publishes poetry and in the space they have readings. I first became involved with it a few years ago when I started putting on a music/poetry/performance open mic event. It is a small room shaped like a triangular cake slice and so small that there is no need to faff around using speakers or mics. It was an amazing event as far as open mics go as the audience is uncommonly attentive, probably because of the lack of amplification and the lack of a bar! And it's an amazing venue - the size and odd objects stored there make it really homely. There's a wood-burning stove, a kettle to make an interval cuppa, fairy lights, a couple of sofas and a giant fan, amongst other things.

The Flux Gallery is a hidden gem of Leeds, providing a beautiful and intimate venue for small…read moregatherings having hosted many open mic nights, poetry readings and small exhibitions. I think Amelia described the room perfectly when saying it's shaped like a cake slice...exactly! And that's one of the key elements that make it such a magical venue, with its wooden floorboards and whitewashed walls it seems to elongate Alice in Wonderland-style with jaunty unexpected angles. It was Amelia's legendary open mic nights that brought me to this special little place. The petite space would be packed with people, many of whom had brought home-made cakes which the punters munched happily waiting eagerly for the first act to begin. In the breaks you could wander around the room (if you could find the space!) and take in the striking photography and artwork displayed on the walls. If requiring toilet facilities there is a rather large bathroom area right at the back and so you actually had to cross the 'stage' area to use it, conjuring up nightmare visions of someone managing to open the door to reveal the unsuspecting toilet user to an attentive audience awaiting the next act! I don't think this has ever happened...yet! Though I did once exit the bathroom realising the room had fallen silent for the next act and found myself 'on stage' shaking my hands dry to a round of amused applause! The room is great acoustics-wise and the perfect size to hear an intimate piece plucked out on a guitar or an intense poetry reading...the audience was often so quiet you could have heard a pin drop! For anyone looking for a small venue with character and an enchanting atmosphere I could not recommend the Flux Gallery highly enough!

Last night the hub in chapel allerton re-opened after a re-furb as the pit. I went along to the VIP…read morenight to check it out. The change is amazing, it has the 'tardis effect'. The area at the back of the bar is great, a huge open space with booths and loads of seating. The staff (as i have found with all Arc Inspiration bars) were friendly and efficient. The food menu is much the same as the Leeds pit, a good range of burgers, ribs, pulled pork etc. The cocktails are 2 for £7 monday-friday from 5-9pm, try the lemon cheesecake!

Hands down my favourite pub in Leeds. Friendly staff and customers, good beer, fun events and -…read moremost importantly - dogs! I will always go out of my way to visit the Chemic if I fancy a relaxing evening. The entertainment they put on too is top notch - local acts and some from further away, including folk music and open mic nights where anyone can join in. It's also next door to the best chip shop in Leeds (which is veggie friendly!), and you can take your chips in to enjoy with a pint. If you're looking for a lovely place to have a nice evening, you couldn't go far wrong with the Chemic.

This is a tough review…read more Not because I'm unsure if I like the pub or not but simply because I fear that my review might attract people to the place and I love it just the way it is. The Chemic Tavern is in the Woodhouse area of Leeds. Woodhouse is not known for it's excellent pubs and neither is neighbouring Hyde Park. They both mainly consist of student pubs with no soul and flat Carlsberg. Not good. The good people at The Chemic Tavern have managed to remove themselves from these other kinds of pubs and have created something bloody lovely. First things first - the beer. They always have a great selection of ales on. Timothy Taylor's Landlord is always there and then usually two or three others. You then have a selection of decent lagers, wines and cocktails - all reasonably priced and well maintained. It's just nice to walk in to a pub, stroll over to the bar, look at the options and not think to yourself 'ahh bugger. .' but instead think 'ooh, what shall I have first?'. The staff are legendary. It seems all to often nowadays that being polite and having a friendly chat with your customers is a bit too difficult for a lot of places. Not with The Chemic. On every visit I have been made to feel like a returning friend and I love that. You instantly feel welcome and relaxed. It appears The Chemic only hire nice, chatty people. This is a very clever move - albeit a very obvious one. The music is always good too. There's no jukebox but you will often hear Motown, Blues and good Indie tunes. They have live music nights there as well, come to think of it. Ska nights, Irish nights and other things will go on in the back room that also features a darts board and an array of board games (if you fancy a geeky night down the pub, playing Trivial Pursuits). The other really nice thing about the place is that everyone who drinks in there appears to be very happy. I think this is because they're all aware that it's the best pub in miles. The Chemic appears to only attract people (and lots of them at the weekend) who are there to have a nice, enjoyable drink (or six) with their mates. I could go on and on but I fear it would just end up sounding like that I was considering proposing marriage to the pub. Which is obviously a ridiculous idea. . . isn't it? Yes, of course it is. How would I fit The Chemic in a church for a start? So I will end this review by adding that the pub has an amazing fish and chip shop (Arkwright's) next door and you're allowed to buy food from there and eat it inside the pub. Good stuff. So if you haven't been here before and you like proper pubs, I urge you to check this place out. Not too many of you, mind. .

What's your West Indian Centre like? I only know mine on the basis of Sub Dub - a monthly dubstep…read morenight, held there because it's big, friendly and - probably - rather cheap to rent for an evening of bass-based fun. You get me? It's not just Sub Dub which is hosted by the WIC. The likes of Riff Raff and the notorious night Cabbage have all called the West Indian Centre home before. I'm not sure what it is about the place that makes it so special, it just is. The way the bass vibrates your rib cage like it does no where else. Going here for a night out is a different experience but one you'll always remember, that I've no doubt. It's as close to an old school rave as you'll get, trust me. Of course, by day, this is a community centre. If you're after a review of that, then isn't it.

The West Indian Community Centre has got to be the coolest community centre in the land because as…read morefar as I know it is place for indoor raving at the weekends. The first few years I lived in Leeds I never knew where it was, arriving and departing in a taxi and being transported somewhere that was not in either Headingley or the city centre. One Summer someone suggested we walked to SubDub as the night remained light for longer. And then I realised it was more than a small warehouse and lay in the West Indian community of Chapel Town - hence the Dub night we religiously flocked to once a month. Back in the day it was much less than a tenner to get in and at some point in the evening there was a bit of elbow room to dance. These days it costs a lot more but still the Irration Steppas boys boom their dub beats out. Be sure to take your earplugs as last time I went I had a ringing in my ears for days. This venue has plenty of other nights - psychedelic trance, drum-n-bass, hard house - that are usually on once a month or a few times a year. I'd rather go here than any club in town on a weekend. The vibe is an alternative one and sometimes they sell curry and chips in the venue!

The Box is usually the busiest of the late-night bars in Headingley, and the crowds usually peak…read morearound 11PM, when the (much cheaper) pubs start kicking everyone out. While it's good that it gets so busy in terms of atmosphere and banter, it can sometimes get unpleasantly overcrowded, and you get the impression that the bouncers don't really care. Thus, getting a drink at the upstairs bar (the more lively area of The Box) usually takes a fair while. The beers themselves are priced similarly to those in The Arc and Trio, but they do offer a nice selection of bottles here (Desperados obviously being the best) - although you'll be paying around £3.30 for a bottle. During the day, The Box serves reasonable food (the pizzas are probably the pick of the bunch) and is usually frequented by students playing pool and watching SkySports News, meaning there is always a good atmosphere in this place. Overall, The Box is a good venue for ending the night if you can't be bothered with town, but it is equally good as a short stop on the way to town; it's a classy bar but also student friendly, which makes for a good atmosphere, and I'd particularly recommend it to anyone who smokes, as it has perhaps the best smoking terrace in Leeds.

The Box convincingly multi-tasks as a venue. Predominantly a trendy bar, The Box also offers a posh…read morepub-grub menu and weekend "club" nights. The decor is flash, with plush leather seating and shiny black marble floors. Such decor makes The Box stand out from the mostly basic, traditional pubs on the Otley Road. Although slightly over priced, the variety of drinks is vast and serves my favorite,(a nice cold bottle of Desperado's) as well as cocktails. The clientele is mostly the richer student (surely that shouldn't be possible!), therefore the fishbowl drink is a popular and recommended drink to purchase on a weekend booze-up. The menu includes breakfast in the morning, gourmet burgers, salads, pizza and other pub meals, tarted up a bit. The food is presented as a mini art form, however portions seem rather small for what you pay. (especially as surrounding pubs offer such cheap and tasty food offers) At the weekend The Box is hoarded with students and there is often a queue at the door. The club evenings are more the definitely a hit with the locals and well dressed students. Chart hits are played until the early hours of the morning. The terrace is nicely decorated in leather also for the smokers, those with a coat and those too drunk to care! The box has a trendy, chilled out vibe during the day more suited to me. Nevertheless friends of mine live for a drink and dance at The Box at the weekend!