The Palace

Came in at 1pm and it was quiet, ordered a Peroni which was minging like vinegar so took it back. The barman could not have been more apologetic and sorted it right out resulting in me having a good pint.
Asides the staff testing the beer before they open I could not expect better service so credit to the guy with the long blonde hair behind the bar.
Can’t comment on food etc but the other customers seemed happy. There was a few regulars in too so if you are in the area and want a beer get stuck in. There’s a good selection of lagers and 10+ hand pulls.
(While I am editing this for spelling mistakes please may I add:
Pay rise please for the long blonde haired lad behind the bar. Unless he was the landlord.
)

It’s a nice looking cosy place. Wasn’t overly crowded on the Friday evening we went there but the cold prob kept people away. Service was mixed, there was one lass who was extremely competent and awesome, another who must have been quite new. Food was fairly good but not as nice as I’ve had at other Nicholsons pubs («crunchy slaw» drenched in mayo here, but it was a nice light dressing at the Coal Hole — wtf?). Pleasant enough.

It has been almost six months since I last went to The Palace and boy oh boy what sudden and unpleasant shift in the clientele they are experiencing at the moment!
The Palace looks great. It’s all dark wood, smoothed paving slabs and the bar is seemingly staffed by fabulous pixies (I’m not kidding). The food has always been up there at the decent end of standardised pub grub, with nods to more challenging flavours such as wild boar up alongside your usual chicken and beef– although at busy times there’s a tendency to overcooking and delay. However, their dedication to supporting small real ale and cider breweries with taster sessions, beer festivals and monthly specials is to be applauded… in a big circle… with lots of whoooping… twice.
But oh my gracious heavens who the hell were all these screeching galoots, hulking skinheads, stretch lycra teens and creosoted harridens that blocked up every single inch of the surface area trying to a) mate and b) out bellow each other at 5pm last Friday afternoon? Jeepers!
Now I’m no snob. Okay that’s a lie. I AM a snob. Swallow your food before you speak or at least cover your mouth so I don’t have to see your slobbering mastications. I’m less than a foot away from you and can hear you perfectly well without you clanging obscenities into my lugholes. Skirts have some degree of length for a reason and that’s why they are not belts. Yes it’s hot but I don’t want to see your quivvering man-​nipples and it’s perfectly acceptable to have a boyfriend you like to smash dainty parts with but you don’t have to scream out the intricacies of your latest adventures at full volume whilst I’m trying to eat my mushroom risotto.
So yes. I am a snob. If being a snob means being able to enjoy a glass of wine or a real ale in a beautiful brass and oak bar with cheery staff and friendly clientele– and I lay the blame for the squishing of hordes of hollering oiks into the once wonderful Palace, and thus the ruining of one of my favourite places, firmly at the feet of… The Etap Hotel.
Ah yes. The Etap.
I once sat next to a vaguely humanoid man thing on a bus as he conducted an extraordinarily loud conversation into his mobile phone concerning his latest stay at The Etap Hotel. Apparently ‘the boys’ were down from Newcastle for a Stag Weekend. One of them ‘banged a lass’ (by which I imagine they don’t mean playing an enchanting new wave jazz number on her Moroccan Bongos) before they’d even left the hotel. Then they got ‘smashed’ and ‘banged’ some other lass in Oceana… this lass apparently required the attention of more than one of them, that’s how ‘bang tidy’ she was. Finally they got back to The Etap but they don’t know how (I know, it’s that neon light, like brainless moths they stagger to ye false moon) where they took all their clothes off and ran around the corridors kicking doors looking for another vaguely female person to ‘bang’. There was a lot of banging going on.
At the end of this conversation this particular Bog Monkey then decided it would make perfect sense to turn to me and smile. As if, excited and enamoured by his apparent ability to have unsatisfying, drunken and no doubt unprotected sexual intercourse with the particular quality of woman who can be persuaded to remove her delicates in a toilet in Oceana would somehow send venutian shivers down my spine and make me think, ‘now HERE is a man I’d like to BED!’. Armed with my confident suspicion that he was probably, in fact, as impotent as a panda I merely turned my face to the window with a sigh that a more educated and less gill ridden man would have recognised as sorrowful despair.
I tell you this not to make that coffee taste funny in your mouth but to explain how one budget hotel stuffed full of heaving, sweating, swearing, fornicating, bellowing, screeching and let us not forget ‘banging’ social detritus can really REALLY lower the tone at the nice pub with the innocent misfortune of being but a few metres from its front door.
The Palace has stood since 1741. The Etap was vomited up a mere 8 years ago. Hopefully, like the great cholera epidemics of 1832 and 1849, this insidious moment in the history of Leeds will pass with time and we will all learn to forget it, save for a small informative plaque beside the hole where it once stood… although it’s worth noting that Death required the souls of no less than 2,700 Leodensians to satisfy those particular plague years. I’m happy to pass on the address of the Etap to him for his satnav, if any similar number be required to restore the balance now.

I used to be a regular at the Palace about 10 years ago when I used to go in pretty much every night after work. Then I changed jobs and met Mr MacDoo, so sadly the Palace and I became estranged. So I was delighted when Mr MacDoo & I found ourselves in the vicinity on our most recent date night and I got chance to become re-​acquainted with a long lost friend.
Not much seemed to have changed in there, they still serve a great selection of real ales, the staff are friendly and noise levels are such that you can hold a decent conversation, meaning all my minimum requirements for a pub have been met.
Only thing that prevents the 5^th star being awarded is that from what I remember from the good old days, the food is merely ‘ok’, but we didn’t eat there this time around so I can’t really say if that’s still the case. Perhaps that’s not entirely fair, but hey not much else looked to have changed there in the last 9 or so years so I see no reason to believe otherwise. Perhaps I’ll get the chance to return soon and eat, if so I’ll update my review of course.
In the meantime, it was lovely to see my old pal again, and I’ll not leave it so long next time!

Real ale at it’s best. this pub can go from being stupidly packed to empty in the space of minutes then fill up again… good selection of beers and decent food

After a long day, post-​launch for Unilocal’s Passport Event, I was in need of some serious sustenance. A few folk had already planned for a few pints in The Palace, so after the clean down, I bobbed along to join them and grab a drink. (Non-​alcoholic sadly, still on antibiotics.) There, gleaming on the side of the bar, was a Sunday Roast menu-​happy days! Of course, that was exactly what I desired.
We all picked our fare, from the choice of lamb, beef, chicken and nut roast. I opted for the beef, which came in at just under £8. Fortunately the kitchen was still open at 8pm –if it’s busy they’ll serve until about 10pm, but things had quietened off due to the rain. Even so, we were grand. The chicken, it has to be noted, is a whole half a chicken and the lamb (just under £12) is a lamb shoulder –so if you’re hungry, go for those options.
The service was fabulous; all the staff we dealt with were super friendly, helpful and full of smiles, which goes such a long way. The range of drinks is fantastic –there are plenty of good ales to choose from, and the pub itself is a beautiful building. They’ve tons of outdoor space for the summer months, with tables and umbrellas out front, and a sheltered space out back.
The only let down, unfortunately, was the food. I’m still a fan of this pub, as the locals seem pretty friendly, and it’s a great place for a pint, but I doubt I’ll dine here again. The ‘roast’ potatoes clearly came from some kind of Aunt Bessie’s style frozen packet, the Yorkshire was a little overly crispy, and the beef was a little tough. It was late in the day, so that perhaps accounts for the beef, but the overall standard of the food just wasn’t quite worth the £8 paid! The gravy was delicious, and I thought it was a reasonable portion, though. Somehow, if I’d have paid £5, I’d have felt it was worth it. Perhaps I’m a roast dinner snob.
I’ve not tried the quiz, so can’t comment on Hannah’s poor experience, except that hopefully no one else has had similar treatment! Regardless, this is a fabulous spot for an excelllent pint, and plenty of warmth and welcome from the lovely bar tenders –if anything, definitely go along for the range of ales and proper pub style vibe.

I’m being generous and giving this place two stars because the second-​to-​last time I went there I had some absolutely delicious fish and chips, and the interior is nice and properly ‘pubby’.
However, the last time I went there was the last in both senses of the word. Not to come over all «disgusted of Tunbridge Wells», but the way we were treated was pretty bad, even by pub standards.
We did the quiz, which was fun enough, except that some locals kept giving us the stink eye, and making snide comments about us being «too young to be in a pub». We’re a well-​behaved bunch and the youngest of us was 24, but whatever, not the pub’s fault. However, having WON the quiz by two points, the quizmaster announced that we’d ‘OBVIOUSLY cheated’ (how?) and had to do the tiebreaker.
We accepted this with a bit of grumbling but good grace, but the last straw came when the quizmaster announced over the mic that my friend who was struggling to navigate between the tables to hand our answer in was «thick as s**t». I’d brush this off in a seedy joint, but in somewhere like The Palace which fancies itself as a nice gastropub type. that just isn’t cool.
So, never going back. And we ‘lost’ the tiebreaker! (Not that I’m bitter…)

This is a really lovely Pub and a true favourite of mine.
It attracts a wide variety of Customers and is all the better for the lovely mix of faces and characters.
The Palace is a real ale pub and also offers just about every other tipple you could fancy too.
The menu is wonderful and I have enjoyed many a meal here and can particularly recommend the Sunday lunches.
Last night they were offering tasters, most welcome as my Restaurant table elsewhere was booked for much later into the Evening. I so enjoyed the salmon en croute, something I would never dreamed of ordering, certainly will now though.
Always a great atmosphere and friendly attentive Staff who are well led by a traditional old fashioned style Manager who keeps his standrds high and along with his Team takes great pride in his Pub.
Long live The Palace)

Maybe you are not the kind of person who buys into all this designer bottled beer malarkey, chrome interiors and people more beautiful than an episode of Lost. Well if you’d rather while away your time in a traditional pub which focuses firmly on real ale and real pub atmosphere then The Palace is well worth a shot.
That’s not to say you have to be ugly to drink proper ale and enjoy traditional pubs! On the contrary there is something quite refreshing about being immersed in a pub that hasn’t forgotten how they used to be and still can be.
Dating back to around 1741, it’s really steeped in history and is such a contrast to virtually anywhere you’ll find off Greek Street or the Calls. Basically it’s a great all age venue and even better if you like your drinks substance over style. I find it an ideal place to meet up with my dad and put the world to rights in. After all, that’s what you do in real pubs, talk about everything from politics to the latest scandal and you don’t have to worry about being drowned out by a dirge of mediocre (or less mediocre to be fair) music in the background.
So the beer really speaks for itself. I’m especially fond of the sumptuously named Cropton Dangleberry Ale. Fresh from the North Yorkshire Moors, it’s local ale lad and that’s how we like it. You’ll also see Yorkshire flag flying chef Brian Turner and his tipple on offer and a wide selection of quality ales to sup till your heart is content.
Fear not wine lovers you can get yourself a more than reasonable glass of white or red but let’s face it, it isn’t the main attraction and you’d be better advised to maybe swill on one of the fine single malts instead. Oh and I can’t go without mentioning the food. Great stuff, genuine pub food at its best and then some. Heart warming, comforting and tasty.

Based on the edge of the city centre the Palace pub is traditional and has a great outdoor seating area. The unique thing about this place is the lights outside which light up the beer garden and it looks great on a summer evening!
I’ve only been a few times so cannot comment much more, but I know this place has something of a cult following so it must be good!

The Palace happens to be practically a stones throw from a friends appartment, so one night we all went for a ‘pre dinner drink’. Unfortunately, it actually turned into 3 or 4, so dinner inevitably became a takeaway pizza. oh, the good intentions were there, honest.
In an area that lacks any real cultural element, (although I am told that one of the foundation stones of Leeds is illegedly in the parish next door’s garden… urban myth? maybe) it is fundamentally surrounded by a web of main roads leading in and out of town, making it difficult to be engulfed in any true form of tranquility in the lovely fairy-​lit beer garden with all the cars zooming by. Having said that, it really is a diamond in the rough, in terms of tradition, and is somewhere I would happily go again. Inside it is calm and friendly, and above all warm. It is, after all a ‘Classic Pub’ pub. The array of alcohol brands and types is impressive, and although I sadly did not sample the food, I am determined to go back and do so in the near future, as I’m sure it is just the sort of comfort food I need with the weather we’ve had of late! Avoid this pub on a Friday, as Alexandra stated, it is a favourite for city centre post work drinkers with taste, and will destroy your first impressions of such a lovely pub!

I have only been to the palace twice but both times I thoroughly enjoyed myself. As it is slightly out of the way of the neon clubs and student attractions, the clientele seem to be more young professionals or locals, which is refreshing. On a Friday it is often people who work in the area having an end-​of-​week pint (or 3). The atmosphere feels really friendly, relaxed and slightly more mature than lots of other city watering holes.
They have a fantastic selection of drinks to choose from so any fussy companions you have will definitely not go thirsty. They also have a winter ales selection you can look through on their website.
The layout of the pub holds the bar as it’s centre piece, with seating in front of it and swinging round either side. It’s warm and traditional interior makes it that little bit more comfortable somehow, with stain glass window pieces and deep red upholstery. There are lots of places to sit, but on a Friday it can be a bit squished. They do have an outside area as well though, with lots of benches and parasols in case it ever rains.

Despite them owning hundreds of pubs across the country, I had never been in a ‘Classic Pubs’ pub until a recent trip to Oxford, and once I found out that the Palace was owned by the same chain I decided to go and check it out. Normally I much prefer to frequent independent establishments, but this group’s combination of historic buildings, good food and a huge drinks selection (including six types of gin!) endears it to me greatly, and the Palace is no exception. The interior is well-​worn, comfy and traditional, with plenty of corners for holing up in with your mates, and there’s a really lovely outside area with fairy lights which must be great in summer. As my visit was in winter, I stuck to a comfy seat inside where I enjoyed a generous plate of veggie sausage and mash — kudos to the Palace for not forgetting that non-​meat eaters like hearty pub grub too — and settled into a comfortable afternoon slump. You get a real mix of people in here, from residents of the nearby posh developments to salt of the earth types, but that just seems to add to the character of the place. Plus, any pub where I can get mulled cider for dessert gets thumbs up from me.

A great local pub just outside Leeds city centre. I especially like the fact that you get a real mix of people in here — locals from Saxton Gardens and younger people that live in Clarence Dock or the other new developments down by the river.
It has as great outside area with fairy lights slung above it, which is great in the summer evenings.
Good selection of beers and ciders.

A Good pub with a lot of regulars. Prices cheaper than the trendier bars in town and they do a mean Club Sandwich.
Very popular. A large beer garden at the back especially nice on a warm Summer’s at night with a ‘ceiling of lights’.

Great local pub just off the centre of Leeds, towards the lanes. This pub, imposingly set next to a cathedral, is everything a pub should be. Simple, cheap, serving decent ales at reasonable prices and doing a good line of pub grub without the overly refined and often over-​priced nonsense, it’s a winner every time. Good outside area where you can watch the world go by, and plenty of seating inside to settle down for a natter with mates of an evening. Avoid at the weekends, though, it can get very busy.

Situated slightly out of Leeds town centre, The Palace is a good old-​fashioned CAMRA pub with an excellent selection of ales. It’s not the most stylish or contemporary establishment, but for those that like a traditional pub environment you can’t go wrong. It has a large beer garden covered with twinkling fairy lights for late night ambience and offers good value, traditional pub food. The ideal location for a cosy weekend pint with friends

I like going to the Palace, its a proper blokey mans type pub where they serve real ales and you don’t get any of the poser type people trying to outbrand each other in their designer gear. The beer is cheap and so is the food, which is your usual pub grub of pie and chips, lasagne, sausage and mash etc and always tasty good. And they have a big courtyard bit outside the back with twinkly lights to oooh and ahhhh at whilst supping your pint of Black Sheep.