1871 Bar & Lounge

Was staying in the hotel but this bar can stand alone.
Pleasant service, good vibe and music. The wines were really good quality — no vinegar taste to the white wines and not harsh, cough inducing red wines.
My mate and I stayed for a few drinks before heading off elsewhere. More to come on that…
The décor is a bit of a mismatch, shame but it’s still a good watering hole.
Got to say, Milk does a body good but just how much are the men in Leeds drinking? Woo to the hoo!

As previously posted by someone else, service is atrocious, I’m not one to frequent this type of bar, but a mate wanted to go in and see cricket scores, our visit went something like this…
1, Stood at an empty bar for a few minutes whilst the bar lady talked to someone regarding nothing to do with serving, think it was her friend
2, decide to serve us, my mate says bottle of corona and a blue moon, she brought 2 coronas, no I said corona and blue moon
3, comes back with a tiger, we said blue moon, give us a dirty look and popped the cap BACK on the tiger beer and brought a blue moon
3 said to my mate do you want a lime in that, no thanks, put a lime in anyway
4 gave her a tenner, never came back with change and then disappeared, had to get change from another barman, not much change either, blue moon is an astounding £4.95 for a bottle!!!
This was definitely the worst service I’ve ever had in a bar with 3 people in, we could have had 1 – 1 service, the older lady serving was very nice but the Asian bar lady needs a kick up the a*** god knows what she’s like on a busy night, any way bad service is a good excuse not to pay over the odds prices. they do have good movie prints on the wall…

The drinks we had (Guinness, bottle of Tiger) were expensive for such standard, easily available products, the design of the place is all over the shop (a big surprise considering it’s part of a multi-​national company), and a glance at the cocktail menu didn’t merit a purchase — a shame considering there’s some decent stuff on the back bar that doesn’t seem to be utilised. The bar staff were smart, enthusiastic and chatty, which gains 1871 an extra star here.

Only been in the bar on sunday lunch time, Grab drink and watch the football on the large screen. The 1871 trendy with high table running down the centre of the room with stalls either side, round the outside comfortable seats that you feel you do not want to get out of.
We had meal yorkshire pud with Lincolnshire sausages, .mash and onion gravy. Was lovely and great price just wish they was Boston sausages. Next time in Leeds with be returning

I met up with a couple of discerning friends that were staying in the hotel the other night.
To be honest, when I got a text saying «meet you at the marriott bar for a few drinks» i thought. quick drink and on to somewhere hipper.
So i walked in through the slightly dated hotel reception (if you do come in this way say hello to the concierge and ask how he is. he is very nice chap that does seem to be a bit sad that everyone ignores him) and walked through to a really trendy bar.
Lots of glass and metal and film posters… and lots of people. perhaps I shouldn’t have seen this as a hotel bar, but more of a bar in its own right!
Anyway, lots of gin and tonics later served to the table by a love barmaid that we kept collaring ad we were all very happy customers. I did at one point try to order a cocktail, but got a little overwhelmed by the bar list that is full on cartoons and drawings and got a bit sidetracked… so stuck to the mother’s ruin!
Massive downside for me, was that the toilets were back through reception and down a flight of stairs. Not great when tottering on heels and drinking far too many rounds of drinks!

I used to catch my bus home from outside what is now 1871, but back then («back in mah day, lad…») it was John T., I think. It looked like a grotty old man pub, but I’ve no idea.
Having walked past a few times since it changed and slipped inside this weekend for a sly bowl of chips and a beer while I waited for my girlfriend and some friends on our way to a meal.
Straight away I liked the place; it made me think of a prohibition era bar. Then I looked up on the walls while I waited to be served. Shelves covered in 1950’s Americana, from toy robots to retro radios? Strange thing to see in a bar that appeared to be a modern take on, well, the year 1871. And what’s this on the other wall? B-​Movie looking posters? Doubley-​strange.
We grabbed a table with our drinks. The beer was pricey, but we got free nuts so that distracted us. I checked out the menu for my chips — it looked like the Beano.
What is this place? A pop-​culture bar? Prohibition-​era cocktail joint? COnsidering the place is tacked-​on to the side of the Marriott hotel, it feels like they’ve just gone for quick, lazy cool-​points and assumed that it will only cater to businessmen and one-​off visitors from outside Leeds.
It has to be said, the chips were amazing. The thickest steak-​cut chips I’ve ever seen, with ketchup, garlic mayo and bearnaise in modern little dipping cups. Lovely stuff. But despite that, I can’t say I’m bothered about visiting again. Pleasant enough for a quick pint, but the place feels like a half-​arsed attempt to be cool, without the passion or character to see it through.

I’ve passed this place a few times since it changed from being ‘John T’s’- and often looked in, interested, but never actually made it it.
Well, we popped in last night en route for dinner.
There was a large party in black tie who must have been waiting to go into the dining area, even still, the place is huge so they created a good atmosphere as I think on a weekday you’d struggle to fill this place.
The décor is quite unique and far different from the ‘cosy lounge’ of it’s former self.
It all looks very ‘Industrial’ with bare brickwork, lots of metal shade lights and an exposed bar area.
The seating area is a mix of high seats, cosy tub chairs and booth like tables so a bit of a mix for everyone.
Drinks promotions on weekdays for beer or house wine @ £2.50– I like it! I think i spotted 5 draught beers and Guinness and there seemed to be plenty of bottled beer in the selection. The house wine was a good one for £2.50!
Lunch food & drink promotion posters offered good value and not just usual food that everyone else is doing so i may be tempted to go back and try the food.