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    The Botanist

    3.9 (25 reviews)
    ModeratePubs
    Open 12:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

    The Botanist Photos

    THE BOTANIST ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - The Botanist

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    Aaron S.

    The Botanist on Boar Lane is a pretty cool bar and restaurant in the city centre of Leeds, right next to Trinity. The decor not only looks good, but it is unique and stands out compared to similar establishments in the city, providing the usual Botanist style (compared to their other restaurants) with a unique twist. I love the idea of an open kitchen right at the front of the restaurant, this means as you walk in, you get to see the chefs in action and the smell of food, which is inviting to passers-by on the street, drawing you down the steps (or lift) into the establishment. I came here on a Sunday, I was disappointed to hear they offer a reduced menu on Sunday, this is to make way for a selection of Sunday Roasts, as I recall it was joined by a small selection of hanging kebabs and other mains, but nothing compared to their usual menu. I ordered a Chicken and Chorizo hanging kebab, after being told they would make this as it was a last-minute addition to their menu (It wasn't even printed), the meats were cooked perfectly and seasoned very well. I liked the addition of the paprika oil to give it an extra kick, compared to the garlic oil which they usually use. I would have liked some more fresh peppers on the kebab, but it was still a delicious meal, put together very well with the fresh and well-seasoned fries. They also seemed to take allergies seriously here, which is good to see, I was asked if I had any allergies when I sat down and was given guidance on scanning the QR code to view live and up to date allergen information. I still prefer the printing of gluten-free options on the menu especially considering the mobile reception inside here is non-existent, I had to connect onto the WiFi as I had no service with EE. The staff were pretty friendly and able to answer the questions I had, quickly and in a polite manner. 4*

    The bar setup.
    Gareth L.

    After having ventured into The Alchemist (Botanist crazy scientific brother) I decided to try the latest addition to Leeds rapidly growing bar scene. Located at the bottom of Trinity Shopping Center and to the right of Trinity Church this little gem is unique in so many ways. There are two things that hit you before you even enter the premises. 1: The ample covered outside area with a bounty of patio heaters. 2: The Kitchens pass leads directly to the outside seating area. Yes a little weird but seems to generally work. Following the stairs to the entrance, the door on the left, you are faced with 2 directions. Head left and be greeted by a multitude of smiley servers or head right and face the bar. I chose the bar, no surprise there then. A Botanist, someone who likes gardening, suggests this place would be very garden orientated. You wouldn't be wrong in that surmise. Decked out to look like a worn Victorian greenhouse/potting shed the décor is tactfully done. In places there has been a tendency to fill the place with a multitude of garden paraphernalia but this luckily has not taken away from the space and led you down the garden path towards tackiness. Carefully selected pieces of equipment have been used to decorate the interior with the clever use of 6 different sized soil graders as a lighting fixture (it has to be seen to be appreciated) and traditional styled oil lamps as the lighting for the bar itself. If Alan Titchmarsh walked in he'd think he had died and gone to heaven. A Groundforcers dream. Laid in front on the bar, very similar to The Alchemist, is a cacophony of herbal delights to add to, to flavour and to enhance the many cocktails they offer. Now when I say cocktails I don't want you thinking these are any other ordinary cocktails you'd get in any other ordinary cocktail bar. No sir, these are not. Amongst the plethora of delights you will find these little beauties all aimed towards the botany side of life. Red Pepper & Porchini Manhatten Fennel Floridian Lemon, Lime & Dill Capiroska Watermelon & Sage Sling Blackberry Mojito Sitting alongside these in the menu, like a puppy and its mother all cuddled and warm, is a series of entertaining (if not overly exciting) array of bottled products. Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier is amongst the best of the bunch. But what is it that got me all excited and giddy? Well unlike The Alchemist, The Botanist has Real Ale. Laid upon the back bar, coming out of two large wooden barrels, are 4 taps all serving gravity fed ale. So while the line-up is not overly exciting it is one up for this branch of the company. Surrounding the bar area is an L shaped 'eating section' full of the smiley people trying to help you at frequent intervals. The space for seating in the bar section is limited with the main focus on getting people to sit and eat. I didn't eat this time but will be back to try the food at a later date. Generally, this is a good bar with scope for growth. The staff are attentive and seem happy in their work, the food looks good, there is ample external seating and the beer range is decent for a chain bar. I am more than happy to return to this lovely establishment.

    Matt P.

    It's a little like someone blended all the members of Mumford and Sons in a big industrial mixer, sprayed what came out of that mixer into an empty storage space and waited for it to grow. Or a scene from a 1960s mining town in middle America. But I kinda like that. For now. No doubt it's going to age about as well as The Trinity centre it's a part of, or the fantastic multicoloured arena we're all looking forwards to opening so much this year. The clientele seem to be a combination of suits and hipsters both out from work and out to prove themselves worthy; and it seems like the kind of place that jeans and tees probably works quite well next to Armani and Hugo Boss suits. Though that's only a guess based on a late Wednesday night. Drinks are as expensive as you would expect from a Leeds bar, though the addition of draught ales is a nice touch which the likes of Oporto and Call Lane Social have yet to jump on, and so set The Botanist apart; of course the place is expected to be frequented more so by cocktail lovers than ale aficionados - but it's Wednesday, and cocktails on school nights are a no-no, so their long, short and martini drink list was sadly not tried on this occasion. As for the people pouring the drinks, they seem a combination of happy, delighted and downright in love with their job - maybe it's something in the drinks? Much like the cocktails, I didn't get to try the food but those around me definitely seemed to be enjoying theirs and so if for nothing else I'm looking forwards to going back to try their scrumptious nibbles. I'll be going back to try it out more fully, but the staff, decor and not massively overpriced drinks make it a more than decent enough addition to the eateries and drinkeries of Leeds if you ask me.

    Watermelon martini
    Annabel S.

    Really enjoy the cocktails in the Botanist. Although at the weekend it is completely rammed, the drinks are always made with precision. The decor is really interesting and you feel like you're in a greenhouse (you can even have drinks in watering cans and jam jars!) I ate here for the first time this week- the food was nice but the service was slow considering it was late afternoon and we were one of three tables eating. One thing that made me only rate it at 3stars is that the restaurant was full of flies....I'm not sure if this is part of the 'botanical' atmosphere but it was quite off putting!

    Roz W.

    The hanging kebabs are delicious! Try them! Really cool vibe with lots of quirky bits and bobs to look at on the walls. I liked it!!

    honey & sage manhattan

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    Review Highlights - The Botanist

    Decked out to look like a worn Victorian greenhouse/potting shed the décor is tactfully done.

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    Three Legs

    Three Legs

    2.2(9 reviews)
    0.2 miShopping Quarter, City Centre
    £

    It's a shame that all along this street there are some lovely looking pubs which, on arriving at…read morethe bar within, you realise that they are perhaps not as inviting as you once thought. I love the actual building iteself, it has the most exciting exterior work around the windows and really looks of another age. Though it has clearly been spruced up since, I wouldn't be surprised if the design was the original building. It really is cool! However, once inside it feels distinctly less cool. Scratch that. Outside the entrance it even feels less cool. With a permanent cloud of stragglers outside each of the pubs on this street, Three Legs included, clogging the street and bus shelters, you would be forgiven for changing your mind. Far from giving off a friendly vibe these locals don't exactly meet and greet. Inside the vibe is much the same, and this is the reason so few actual pubs in the city centre are a viable option to me. I love pubs, I'm from the South West for goodness sake! But not these ones, that's for sure. Yes, sadly the less than friendly atmosphere simply means I can't enjoy a pint, no matter how cheap or how well brewed it is. They have a sign stating that it is 'under new management' so perhaps that might help to reinvigorate the place. Still, I might give it a few months before trying again.

    Dear God. No that…read moreisn't an expression of despair, it is actually a letter I've decided to write to God about The Three Legs. So here goes. Dear God, Apparently you gave us everything we would need to live well and happy on your favourite bouncy ball. I refer, of course, to this great Earth. In your munificence you gave us big oak trees to picnic under in summer, animals made out of tasty meat whose skin can be turned into attractive footwear, men with enormously large dingledangles to enable us endless nights of drinking cheap wine whilst watching comedy porn, apricot kernals so that our faces need never be flakey and you even went to the trouble to squish dinosaurs into oil so we could whizz around in metal cages and smash ourselves into interesting new shapes. But most of all, Lord, you gave us hops, grains, water and yeast. So why then, Almighty One, why, would you allow your manservants on Earth to build as BEAUTIFUL a monument to your cheery, beery generosity right in the centre of Leeds then let them fill it with the very worst human detritus scraped from the mudbanks of the Archeron itself? How can you sit back as it slowly slides down the many layers of increasing disappointment to the utterly, utterly, breathtakingly souless Barn of Banal that it so crushingly has become? Why Big Fella, why? Also, why when someone offers me from their bag of crisps do I invariably select the one bad, green crisp in the whole packet? Your disillusioned worm, Angelina x

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    Three Legs

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    Duck & Drake

    Duck & Drake

    3.9(15 reviews)
    0.2 miCity Centre, Shopping Quarter
    ££

    Biased and heavily rotarised staff. Preference of the "sensible" which is highly off-putting, as is…read moretheir language and psychological barriers. Not enjoyable to drink to at all with their lack of empathy. Yikes.

    Were a declaration of love to be made to this pub, it would only be fair that it came fully attired…read morein some kind of grunge-y dress, loose long hair, a pint of their finest ale in one hand, and possibly a banjo or kazoo in the other. That might not make much sense, but until you've snuck in through the doors, and beseated yourself at their bar, you probably won't get what I'm talking about. It's a place of excellent real ales, fantastic old school proper pub décor, the most friendly and chilled out bar staff, and some of Leeds' finest rock and acoustic music. I'll admit, I'm not even nearly regular enough to describe the range of bands that play here, but every time I hear of a gig I regret not having made it across town to sup amongst the regulars and musos. Cross Cut Saw play here, for goodness' sake. (And if you've not had the pleasure of their fine sounds, you're missing out.) They've recently (although how recent, I couldn't say) had a beer garden extension out the back, and it's a fantastic little enclosure. I mean enclosure, as you're safely gated in from the flotsam and jetsum that might wander by on Kirkgate, and safely ensconsed in a space decorated by decking, cool shaded benches, interestingly arranged architecture where old-mysterious iron stairs meet new build high rises, and a piano bursting with plant life. The old outhouse loo still remains. For real. Those with a thirst can sup on a range of local and guest ales, from dark to light, and if you're feeling fruity there's always a Southern Comfort and coke. Do not call it Soco, no one will serve you. (Well, they probably would, but you'd lose my respect - if that counts for anything.) Be wary not to make the same mistake I did, and wander into the men's instead of out the back door. That was embarrassing. On our recent visit, post Yelp supper club at Tong Palace, we were even served after last orders because the bar lady forgot we'd snuck outside to drink. There's not many a pub that'd be so kind these days. Come the winter months, when the weather turns, you'll struggle to find as cosy a spot, complete with brilliant beardy old ale-ers, students, music lovers, and general good folk. It's a keeper.

    Photos
    Duck & Drake
    Duck & Drake
    Duck & Drake

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    Whitelock's First City Luncheon Bar

    Whitelock's First City Luncheon Bar

    4.2(32 reviews)
    0.1 miCity Centre, Shopping Quarter
    £

    Comfy cosy dining area within the shopping center…read more Superb selection of roasts, I opted for Lamb. Must try when in the area. Utterly satisfying! Perfect with local brews and fresh ice cream for dessert. Excellent service as well, totally recommend!!

    Whitelocks is such a fabulous place. You can sense the heritage of the pub from the ginnel, from…read morethe old fixtures, original windows, and winding thing staircase up to the loos. You can even sense it in the crazy old Victorian looking toilet - in the ladies', at least. The bar makes me feel small, as it's raised up, and the ales make me feel happy. The Saltaire they've got on tap at the moment is nectar, but I'm sure all the current range is delicious. I came here for Sunday Lunch with the Yelp crew, and it was marvellous to spend the afternoon here. Luckily, we managed to grab a table at just the right time, since it seemed packed only a few minutes later. (Golden time to arrive must be around 2pm.) Pints have gone up in price from when I last came - over £3 - but I really did enjoy my ale, so perhaps it was worth it. It's just so darned quaint inside! Love the articles on the stairs, that's a great touch. And the alleyway tables here seem a bit roomier/cleaner than their fellow ginnel pubs. Only complaint really was the food. Don't get me wrong, it was tasty, huge, and nicely cooked, but there were just a few problems. The first being somehow our order was a little behind, so we ended up receiving ours much after other folks who'd ordered theirs after we had. The other was that the potatoes were a little underdone for my liking, and I wasn't much a fan of the Yorkshire. However, the rest of the table were delighted with theirs (perhaps I lost out there!) and the meat was cooked beautifully. (Beef with a touch of pink. Very nice.) Also, curiously, there was roasted beetroot - no complaints with that, it was really interesting! Regardless, it still remains a favourite spot, albeit a not-oft visited one. I'll certainly be back for more beer, and the service was supremely friendly. Always nice to get a smile!

    Photos
    Whitelock's First City Luncheon Bar
    Whitelock's First City Luncheon Bar
    Whitelock's First City Luncheon Bar

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    The Ship Inn

    The Ship Inn

    3.6(5 reviews)
    0.1 miCity Centre, Shopping Quarter
    ££

    Just a pub. A standard pub. No gimmicks…read more There's a selection of beers that you might expect in a pub, there's a cheap and cheerful selection of wine on offer as well. There's music - a bit loud at times if you're trying to have a quiet conversation. And there's a lot of aged regulars, who look like they've been sat on that very same bar stool for at least the last twenty years. They probably have, you know. There's food a la not carte, but your usual pub grub - spicy chicken pasta to cumberland sausage and mash. Traditional fare. Nothing extraordinary. It's often half-empty but one night worth paying it a visit is the weekly open mic nights. Tuesdays, go along go for a giggle.

    I came back for the first time in years a few months ago, and whilst it was a brief visit it…read moredefinitely was a memorable one. Sadly, not for as good a reasons as I'd hope to share, but it's not terrible either. Came here post-Yelp Whisky do, as a few folks couldn't get into Sela having just purchased booze from Gerry's to take home. We trotted along to The Ship for last orders, and all ordered a pint, and then piled into the back room snug. Service was surly, but we'd all gotten a drink, and were just about to settle in and have a natter when a bar staff came through to ask us to move into the main bar. Right, we'd just gotten served, but you want us to move? So, we moved into the main bar, after asking if we couldn't just drink our drinks quickly, with a seat. Apparently not, it was a resounding, un-budge-able no. Brusque. We sat, in two separate groups given the seating in the main bar, and continued to sup our fresh pints. Then we were asked to drink up, as they wanted to close and get home. So, I appreciate everything bar staff do. It's a tiring job, usually with long hours, plenty of customers who give you jip, and all the rest. But in my days as a bar tender, it was considered not just polite, but a matter of course, to let folks know that you'd be closing in ten minutes if that was the case - at least then on their heads be it if they wanted to down a pint. I'd have not spent the money if I knew we'd be kicked out within 10 minutes, and didn't appreciate being made to feel inconsiderate for wanting to have my whole pint. Regardless of the above, I'm certain you could have a jolly old time here under more standard circumstances. I'd not a chance to see what ales and tipples were available, but it's pretty trad here. And seemed pretty quiet too, for a Friday, so definitely worth a look if you prefer quiet conversation and a drink to the madness that a weekend can be. Staff aside (perhaps it was a bad day, or perhaps they're always short) the décor is gorgeous and the pub has a good feel. I'm a sucker for the ginnel pubs!

    Photos
    The Ship Inn
    The Ship Inn
    The Ship Inn

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    The Chemic Tavern - New beer garden

    The Chemic Tavern

    4.7(17 reviews)
    1.3 miWoodhouse
    £

    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. .

    Photos
    The Chemic Tavern
    The Chemic Tavern - Traditional pub with a selection of 6 ales and red stripe lager on tap!

    Traditional pub with a selection of 6 ales and red stripe lager on tap!

    The Chemic Tavern

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    General Elliot

    General Elliot

    3.5(2 reviews)
    0.1 miLeeds Kirkgate Market, City Centre, Shopping Quarter
    £

    Most people can recall a moment when they walk into a room, and everyone stares...but not in a good…read moreway. My experience with the General Elliot was not one I look back at fondly. Absolutely desperate for the loo once, my friends and I decided that the General Elliot was the only place close enough. We were also looking for somewhere to rest our feet after a very busy day in town. I said I'd check it out and report back in a minute. Upon entry, I was transported into a different world of bleak daytime drinking, but without a young person or student in sight. There were several people talking very loudly when I entered to nip to the loo, who automatically stopped as they were greeted with me looking around for it. I felt incredibly uncomfortable asking the barman, who just looked at me and pointed. Granted, I understand that he assumed I was not going to be a paying customer, but as I said, I was going to report to my group if it were an appropriate pit-stop. A verbal reply would have been nice, but all I got was a grunt and a finger pointing in the direction of the toilets, which, down to the bad mood that was riled in me, I want to say- could have done with a good clean.. The pub itself is in pretty bad shape, but is evidentally absolutely fine according to the regulars( and considering the time I went on a Sunday early afternoon, and the number of paying customers in there, it would suggest there are quite a few).. I wouldn't recommend disturbing the General Elliot. Particularly if you are under 40. Despite its fantastic location, I'm too nervous to go back.

    I love the stout and crisps they serve and I have not been able to find them elsewhere. Very good…read morevalue and easy-going environment. It's generally quiet, but not too quiet when I go in. Usually make a stop to charge up and have a read before I embark on the long walk home after an equally long walk into town for marketting and other sundries. Recommended.

    North Bar - Apperol in the sun!

    North Bar

    4.5(43 reviews)
    0.2 miShopping Quarter, City Centre
    ££

    It's really no surprise that North Bar was voted by the Observer Food Monthly as the 'Best place to…read moredrink in the UK'. They're not wrong. North Bar covers every single base. If you like your beer, well they've had over a 1000 on tap since opening twelve years ago. Not forgetting the 100000 various bottled beers. Got beer then, have they? Check. Don't like beer? Well how about one of cider, rum, whisky, bourbon, brandy, wine. They've got them all. And not only have they got them all, they've got the best of them all. Teetotal? Well, then, how about a coffee in the one of the funkiest interiors the Leeds bar scene has to offer? There's new art installed seeminly every month, with exhibitions from different local talent. Music? If it's good, it gets played. NOT BEEN HERE? GO. NOW.

    OK, so it may be a bit bizarre to update over a non-alcoholic drink, but North Bar wins again. With…read moreBottomless Coffee. Oh yes, that's the good stuff right there. It mightn't be a specialist brew, but for two pounds you can refill to your hearts content, pop out and back in again and still get more coffee, all the while enjoying the usage of their free wifi. There's even a table next to some power points in which you can plug your laptop in. Amazing. Whilst the likes of Brooklyn lager will cost you practically a fiver, which is a little more than I like to pay, they still offer a fantastic selection of drinks and the space itself is both large and inviting. The art on the walls is regularly renewed, offering the best in local artistry, and the staff are always full of cheer and chat. I can only hope that the newly opened Meanwood sister bar offers such delights as these! Want to escape the noise of the city? Check in for a coffee. You'll be warmly welcomed. In all, there's not much more can be said that hasn't already been penned, but if you're into your beers, music and banter you must give this place a visit.

    Photos
    North Bar - Beers for days

    Beers for days

    North Bar - The best summer beers and cocktails

    The best summer beers and cocktails

    North Bar - Late night drinks

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    Late night drinks

    Crowd of Favours

    Crowd of Favours

    3.8(8 reviews)
    0.2 miCity Centre, Shopping Quarter
    ££

    On the site of one of the cities best loved fish & chip shops Leeds Brewery has opened its 6th city…read morecetre effort, and by golly it's a far cry away from all that has come before it. The smart, clean yet pedestrian look & feel that is the signature of its other pubs is gone and instead the guys behind it have gone for what I can only describe as a younger, more bar-like feel... I was there at the opening on Friday and my first thoughts were that it reminds me a little of a combination of Call Lane Social and Jakes Bar with a smattering of The Adelphi for good measure. Unclad brickwork, wooden floors, period bookcases making up the bar... some might see it as grungy (in a bad way), I choose to see it as what it really is - a pub with personality that is striving to be different. And this doesn't end with the decor, the staff are a bunch of smiling happy young people who really add to the feel of the place; though it does appear that it may be the first bar job for a few of the guys and girls behind the bar, and I'm hoping that training and experience will square away some of the more crazy teething problems that were experienced on the opening nights (a large vodka and coke being delivered in a pint glass for example). The drinks are what you would expect and match the other pubs from the Brewery, which is to say they have some really good Leeds Brewery ales supported by guest ales from around the country, finished off with a random selection of lagers, ciders and spirits to complete the offering. Whilst I've not yet been in and tried the full food menu, if the finger food on the opening night was anything to go by then I'm expecting the usual high standard of freshly prepared grub to be coming out of the kitchen to delight the tastebuds. I'm assured that the fish & chip heritage of the site will not be followed through and that battered sausages will not be making an appearance on the menu. The only real negative about the pub is the location, it's about 3 minutes walk out of the city centre's centre, and in an area that most I've talked to have described as 'rough'... we, and more importantly Leeds Brewery, can only hope that The Crowd of Favours marks step one in having rid of this impression for the whole area - either way, the young trendy crowd that were propping up the bar on Saturday definitely seemed not to care too much about how it, as they danced to the DJs tunes until they were thrown out at closing!

    Visited Leeds from Chicago for a month, and Crowd of Favours became my favorite of the pubs I had…read morevisited. Not pretentious, the staff was very welcoming, and we had Sunday brunch twice during my visit, and all attending thought it was quite good.. Saw O Brother, Where Art Thou on a secret cinema night, and it was a great time. Came the next week and drank white Russians while watching The Big Lebowski. It's a great, warm place and I hope I get to go again.

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    Crowd of Favours
    Crowd of Favours
    Crowd of Favours

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    The Botanist - pubs - Updated May 2026

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