Bad Apples is one of those places that, as far as i’m aware, does one thing and one thing only. It also does this one thing brilliantly. Its the rock and metal bar for the non-student. Far distant from Fuel and the jukebox at Fenton or any other place you might think of. Being a bit of a metal feel you find the bouncers are bit more laid back. The staff a bit more normal(oh and theirs a skeleton with rotting apples under the floor downstairs). Its a small place but half the time i’ve been there there’s been a seat for thems that wanted it. They even did Duff beer for a little while(before old Matt caught wind and had a word). Its just that kind of place. A firm favorite for anyone of a metal disposition. Like a flaming rose rising out of the grey pop compost of call lane.
Jason H.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Otley, United Kingdom
if you think Coldplay are rock n roll then you’ll love this place. just don’t raise your voice or say anything to offend the posh students spending mummy and daddys’ hard earned in this dingy dull-hole or you’ll get thrown out by one of the arsey barmen. unless you’re displaying a bit of cleavage and they’re having a good old perv as usual.
Rob J.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Leeds, United Kingdom
Interesting place. A ‘Rock Bar’ but not a rockers only bar. Apparently they do cocktails, but I stuck with bottled beer. Can’t remember the price cos it was late and my ‘concentration’ wasn’t at its best. What I do remember is a 15%? wednesday discount as long as you are abusive to the bar staff. I accepted the challenge with glee and felt liberated afterwards. The music was a perfect volume in that you could hear it clearly but could still talk. I think the basement was shut, but ill try it out next time.
Mart B.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Leeds, United Kingdom
If you like getting stupid drunk and losing you’re memory with possibly your phone too boot… Bad Apples is the place for you. I dont know why I seem to end up here during nights out but I want it to stop. Good selection of shots and beers. To be fair its timely service and the staff dont seem to stop serving you as long as you have money on you however«shitted» you get. Great rock tunes tho, whoop whoop.
Natalie O.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Leeds, United Kingdom
A pretty random teeny tiny bar. Staff are quite alloof but serve you drinks none the less. One woman went out for a smoke then came back in and cleared our glasses — confused moment until she then went behind the bar. haha. Did get a 15% discount card and they serve Duff beer. Class. Downstairs never seems to be open but have been allowed to pop down and sit on the one sofa looking at the skeleton and rotting apples that are under a glass floor. Like I said RANDOM. Worth a pop in.
Andy W.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Leeds, United Kingdom
I managed to pay a visit to Bad Apples a good 2⁄3 months ago now, but somehow forgot the name! Fortunately a fellow Unilocaler has just submitted a review and I instantly recognised it, so it’d be rude not to throw in my 2 pence(from what I can remember anyway!)! I only nipped in for a quick couple of drinks, but I was pretty impressed while I was there. It’s done out fairly nicely, and the basement level has that fantastic skeleton in a glass coffin in the floor(yep!) for something a bit different. The girl on the bar was friendly and chatty. I spotted cans of Duff beer in the fridge(actually the same Duff from the Simpsons and not just the same name), and she told us how they’d spotted it on the internet and couldn’t resist. Much to everyone’s surprise it was actually pretty good and apparently it was selling really fast. Whether or not they got more in I don’t know though, so don’t be disappointed if it’s no longer there! The music was very much to my taste — lots of rock, some of which was obvious big hits but some of which was probably lesser known but fantastic album tracks that you wouldn’t usually hear out and about. Again, I was only there very briefly and have yet to revisit so I can’t throw in that fifth star just yet, but first impressions were very good!
Devlin O.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Leeds, United Kingdom
Nice little bar and friendly bar staff, shame there’s no draught beer but we had a good laugh in here on Saturday night. will be back soon,
Scott C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Leeds, United Kingdom
As we were winding down for the night(more like 4 or 5 the next morning) we came into bad apples for a couple of hours as it was the only place still open as did most of the crowd that had been in empire, my 1st thoughts of the interior was good, I liked it but in all honesty it is way too small and any more than about 20 people in and you’re going to be tripping over people trying to get past them, the only place you could sit without getting knocked into is in the windows but then you feel as if your on display(if you get what I mean). I haven’t been either up nor downstairs in here yet so at present cant give a full review but if I find my self in there again I will edit this review appropriately. The bouncer is like a jolly giant although if easily offended like a few people I know who can make a great night turn sour with just 1 word, then I would suggest staying away as he as a harmless joke as you walk in, which is better than having a face like thunder and making you feel uncomfortable. The atmosphere is great and they have lit candles dotted about the place(not sure what the health and safety freaks would think of it though), due to the lack of space I wouldn’t recommend going in a group larger than about 5 or 6 people. My over all opinion is that this is 1 of those places that would be good to either start off in or end up for 1 or 2 last drinks before heading home.
Joseph C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Leeds, United Kingdom
Like many of my friends, i had thought the days of decent Rock music bars in Leeds were past, with a few small exceptions,(MIlos, and Empire). then a freind told me to check out ‘Bad Apples’ and i have to admit i was very impressed, the music was excellent, the décor on ground level was sparse but right for the bar, and on closer look you notice nice touches, like the Industrial/Steampunk tables, glass surface held up with Welded chain and a solid base of engine parts, trust me nobody will be moving those easily, Then i ventured downstairs, to see the hinted ‘special feature’ and sure enough, a skeleton in a glass coffin underfloor, marvelous, it seemed people had heard about this and were venturing in to photograph this feature, and having a beer/cocktail at the same time, My only gripe would be that it’s only bottled beers, and i like a pint when sitting nattering to mates. but this is a very minor thing. I chatted to one of the manager/owners who had an infectious enthusiasm for Rock music and making ‘Bad Apples’ a cool bar to hang out in. I shall return again to down a beer whilst listening to Metallica and GnR, and being watched over by a blackend skull in the dungeon, ace!
Rowena H.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Leeds, United Kingdom
Now that I’m somewhat of a regular along this part of town, I’d noticed that a goings on was going on next door to Blue Rinse, so this Friday when the opportunity to check out new-comer Bad Apples was upon me I was loath to turn it down. I’d heard from somewhere that they were somewhat of a cocktail bar, and having recently become a convert, I was keen to see what these guys offered. The bouncer welcomed us into the folds of this beautifully brick-worked hove, the ground level area of which is all rather cosy, and my friend and I picked up a menu to take a look at what they specialised in. The bar is laid out curiously, with a few intimate window spots to sit, shelving and high stools along the wall, and candles adorned on each table. The menu revealed a number of standard cocktails, with all the usual suspects that folks enjoy, including Caipirihnas, Mojitos amongst others. I couldn’t decide, so asked the bar maid’s advice. I explained I’d been on the gin, and wasn’t sure whether it was a seaworthy idea to move to rum at this stage, but she insisted that she was a gin fan in any case –so a Bramble it was. And a very tasty one at that. The toilets are located up the stairs, but having not explored the depths, we ventured down, descending into the basement of bar. It reminded me a lot of the funky basements you can find in the many terraced houses of Hyde Park, only cleaner, better decorated, and with one key element that I’d hope never to find in a Hyde Park house: a skeleton in the floorboards. Yep. You read me right, they’ve a skeleton affixed in the flooring, complete with Red Delicious apples about the bones, darkly visible through a coffin shaped piece of glass. How flippin’ cool is that?! I’m barely over the excitement of this. Anyway, in amongst the skull lampshades, and faux fire lighting fixtures you’ll find a fabulous new rock bar. The music was loud enough to properly enjoy a bit of Pantera, Led Zep and Pearl Jam, but not so obnoxious that I couldn’t enjoy a chat with my lovely friend. Fabulous! I shall be back.