Whitelock’s First City Luncheon Bar

Charmingly quaint, secluded pub in downtown Leeds.
Unlike other «oldest pub of …», Whitelocks is certainly not a tourist trap. In fact, tourists might easily miss this rather secluded pub (approachable through a narrow alleyway). Dark furniture dominates in this place, which is rather large and has a small but very nice outdoor seating area (if you can call tables and seats in an alleyway «outdoor»).
Good selection of beers, very pleasant atmosphere, recommended for small groups, too. Nice staff.
This is their own marketing: «Built in 1715, and with its current famous interior dating from the late 1800s, Whitelock’s is the oldest public house in Leeds. Under new ownership since May 2012, we have preserved the rich history and charm that has always been the cornerstone of Whitelock’s, while infusing it with new life and and our passion for great service, food and drink.
We serve a wide selection of real ale and craft beers — many from Yorkshire breweries — alongside a menu of fresh, home-​cooked and locally sourced food available seven days a week.
We have a large outdoor beer ‘garden’ (well, actually our famous Turk’s Head Yard), free WiFi, a real log fire in the winter, Sunday newspapers and we are child and dog friendly!
We also have a separate function room, located at the top end of Turk’s Head Yard that is available for hire for private events and parties, please contact us on the details below for further details or to arrange a viewing.»

Located down one of the ominous looking alleys off Briggate (the first one on your left after M&S), Whitelock’s is a great find. It’s steeped in history and doesn’t look like much has changed since opening centuries ago. The branding has recently been updated, but apart from that everything else is museum quality; from the toilets to some of the clientele.
The bar area is covered in copper. There’s a huge ledge to lean over when looking at the taps above — so much to take in and everything is reflected, so it’s quite a sight. The walls are nearly all mirrored and the toilets are up a very slim staircase at the end of the bar — I can imagine it being an interesting place to try to navigate after a few strong ales.
There’s cosy seating opposite the bar and a restaurant area over to one side. A few people were eating when we arrived — the food looked fresh and tasty. The menu featured proper pub food at very reasonable prices. A hearty main was no more than £9.
They have a good selection of ales on tap and the staff are happy to offer tasters. We chose the Acorn ale; a very dark, rich and tasty drop that came highly recommended by the very helpful barman.
The line of benches in the alley outside provides an unusual place to sit — they are really making use of the space they have available here. You can hear the hand dryers of the bathrooms through the open windows above. Being in such a confined space would usually be off putting, but here it works. It’s Leeds in a nutshell — no frills, friendly, a bit rough around the edges, honest and charming.
A cosy place with a lot of heart. The punters and the staff love it, and it shows. Don’t let the dark alley way entrance put you off.

To my shame I lived in Leeds for four years and didn’t know this place even existed. What was worse was the fact I walked up and down the main shopping street countless times and hadn’t seen the small number of side alleys leading back to hidden boozy havens like Whitelock’s — I had unknowingly been so close.
So, what can you expect from a 299 year old boozer? Well, centuries of character for a start, think low ceilings, stained glass, old beams, leather booths, copper-​topped tables and wooden screens. This place literally drips with history and I loved it.
The only slight downside was that it was extremely busy when we arrived, so we had to squeeze in together next to the bar when we’d have preferred to have a table to take the place in properly. Expect to see a lot of folk in here who plant themselves in their favourite spot and never seem to move :)
They serve some fantastic real ales — I enjoyed a ‘Dissolution IPA’ by Kirkstall Brewery. Ciders and a wine list are available for non-​beer lovers.
I was told that the loos in this place were something to behold, but in a good way — literal ceramic and wooden thrones. I’ll have to wait for my next visit to see what that means…

Despite coming here my first time in Leeds last year, it took me 20 minutes, several walks around the block, and much swearing at Google maps this time around. But, it was worth it. Oldest pub in Leeds? I have no idea, but it looks pretty legit and they have some serious properly pulled pints. One of these trips I’ll have to actually try the food, as opposed to blowing through the bags of chorizo (?) flavored chips behind the bar that taste exactly like a ballpark hot dog back home.

A most excellent Sunday lunch!
I struggle to find city centre pubs that serves a good Sunday lunch (better than I could make at home), but Whitelock’s didn’t fail to impress. Large portions with huge slabs of meat, homemade Yorkshire and plenty of gravy. Even my veggie friend was impressed with the vegetarian gravy. It is a shame that they don’t take bookings as the dining room is so small, but we were lucky enough to get in pretty much straight away.
This has to be one of my favourite pubs in Leeds, steeped in history it is like stepping back in time. The décor is amazing from the original stained glass to the brass bar. I love this place in winter as it always feels a bit Christmassy to me. But it is also nice in the summer, as there are plenty of tables outside.
There is also a great range of hand pulled ale and the guest ales are always worth sampling. Cosy and quaint — a fab little pub.

Only recently made it to this palce and glad I did.
It’s a nice central spot for a cosy drink, the interior is not huge but lots of mirrors make it feel just right and not pokey. I ahve had nice wine here and juices are grand but think their speciality is there beers — so my friends tell me.
The real treat is the Sunday Lunch, it may have taken a while to come (they may have forgotten about us) but it was worth the wait. My Chicken was so tender and from tastes the Pork and Beef were lush too. The veg was a nice mix with the addition if beetroot which was a nice touch. Only down fall was the potatoes which were a littel under cooked. You get plenty of gravy without having to ask and although the yorkshire pudding may look like a dud it was good!
I am actaully getting hungry just thinking about the roast I had last week.
I would recommend this palce for food and am looking forward to going back and trying their standard menu which had some great options. Wouldn’t describe it as cheap but I would say it is worth it.

Whitelocks is such a fabulous place. You can sense the heritage of the pub from the ginnel, from the 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 Unilocal 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!

sunday Lunch!
What a bloody awesome place.
They really do have everything just right.
Came here for Sunday lunch and it was amazing.
Huge portions!
My only gripe was that the veg was a little bit too under cooked for me. I like mine crunchy but they were on the wrong side of al dente for me.
Ok so food was brilliant but the beer was better.
I had a porter to start which was very fine but then I had a Saltaire beer which was bloody amazing. So I stayed with them all through the afternoon and they hugged me and gave me hope to make it through the afternoon of beer and game playing.
I swear that I would have sucked major-​time if wasn’t for the beer huggingly gorgeousness that was Saltaire beer.
So I came joint last! But I could have done worse without their help!
There is music, but it doesn’t intrude on the conversation.
Teeny tiny stairs up to the toilets! But I think it is a marketing ploy to entice you to come back and finish what you started reading on the stairs. (Like you need a reason to come back?“
Thank you Unilocal for reintroducing me to this place.

I’m really not a fan of reviews on here that take an hour to read and only get the point in the last two lines, I just want to know if its worth going to! So to avoid being one of them people my concise review of Whitelocks is ‘its proper good’.

Excellent choice of beer. Certainly has character, but on my late afternoon visit it very much seemed to favour the diner, leaving little room left for a comfortable pint. Somewhat claustrophobic.

I’m definitely a fan of this pub on the basis that’s it’s a ‘real pub’ but a nice one at that. It’s pretty difficult to come across some really good real pubs in Leeds or as we say ‘old men pubs’. I’m not being bias and by no means am I suggesting that it dons a reputation of being full of old men ;)
I’ve always found people to be generally chatty and friendly in this place and when you are nursing a decent pint of beer it does actually feel like your not Leeds but sat in a village somewhere. I find it to be really northern and true to it’s roots. Moving away from the ‘rah’ and designer handbags.
Good pub :)

The oldest pub in Leeds, so their website says, Whitelocks just oozes charm and character.
Now I’m a sucker for old pubs (proper pubs!) and this one is a gem, an added bonus is that they have a fabulous selection of beers that are kept and served very well.
I have yet to eat here but the menu looks good with traditional home cooked food sourced from the local market.
A little oasis of calm and past charm in the middle of all the bustle of the city center do yourself a favor and pay a visit.

Whitelocks is a well-​founded Leeds Institution and a firm favourite drinking hole. Tucked away in the Turk’s Head Yard (next to Marks and Sparks at the bottom of Briggate), many a passer-​by will walk straight past and miss this hidden gem. I suppose this adds to the attraction and allure of this quality, traditional public house/​luncheon bar.
The Victorian décor helps to create a warm and friendly atmosphere, and while one guzzles on their wheat ale, glaring at the gleaming brass fittings and etched windows, your imagination can become transfixed in a time warp. Leeds oldest pub — apparently, was founded in 1715.
Anyway enough of the historic ramble and to the important part: the food. I have drank in Whitelocks on a few occasions but have never eaten here; when a friend advised me that it has recently been taken over by new owners and said the food was «delicious and unfussy British classics», well naturally I had to drop in. We decided to sit outside and on a pub bench so that we could enjoy the summer evening air while eating but this also allowed us to admire the quaint Edwardian and Victorian brick work and sash windows.
You have to order your food at the bar, which makes it a very informal and unfussy affair. We decided to share two starters; Yorkshire black pudding with a poached egg, apple crisps and crispy bacon; and a Black pudding encrusted scotch egg. Both were exceptionally tasty and good value at £6 for what is essentially gastro pub food. For my main I decided to order the slightly over priced £9.50, Whitelocks Homemade burger with potato wedges and crispy onion rings — classic pub food — which again exceeded my expectations and in hindsight was anything but overpriced. It was one of the best burgers I’ve had in a long while and the onion rings were proper crispy, battered oniony delights. Even the beggar, who asked us for some change, couldn’t distract us from enjoying our meal.
On the whole this establishment is modestly priced and the friendly service was also welcomed. Whether you desire a quick pint to get away from the crowded shopping streets or a bite to eat; this unassuming dwelling ticks most boxes and shouldn’t be missed.

Where else in Leeds is the ladies loo bowl shaped like an elephant? Nowhere. Fact.
Whitelock’s claims to be the oldest surviving pub in Leeds and being a sucker for history, brass, narrow steps and homemade chips I’ve been snuggling into Whitelock’s for a dose of good quality EVERYTHING for over 12 years now. I absolutely love the interior, all the shiny metal, bevelled mirrors, rich green tiles and carved wood… all that is missing is a glimpse of Alice trapped behind the glass playing cards with a rabbit and, to be honest, if you stay there long enough you’ll see that too.
The staff are welcoming and chatty, the clientele are charming, the air has that slight whiff of warming bread in the oven and time seems to stop the minute you sit down.
The food is hearty, fresh and gives you that lovely sleepy feeling of being a big happy cat. A few times I’ve doubled up tables at lunch with complete strangers and had a wonderful time sharing bread with someone I’ve never met before… we once ended up sharing a table with an elderly man who had served in the Navy out of Portsmouth and been born in the same street as my mate’s grandma. Only at Whitelock’s…just sums up the place completely.

I’ve been calling into Whitelock’s longer than most mountains have been around and I have yet to have a bad experience (apart from once getting dumped there but I am trying not to blame the establishment).
This is the sort of place where you just never know who you will end up talking to over an excellent pint.
In all my time here I have never sampled the food but for me Whitelocks is very much a place to drink (and drink and drink) surrounded by the noise, bustle and brass (and copper) of a real pub

Harry Potter. you have to admit, is a bit like marmite, you either love it or hate it. personally i love it. and not for the slightly predictable story lines or the ‘interesting’ costume design. i love it for the places it takes you in your own imagination. when i watch one of those movies and read the books i dont think about the characters being portayed. for me its the places. the castles the scenery the buildings, the whole fantasy world they have painstakingly created for you to lose yourself in. and lets face it, who hasnt, even for a moment, dreamt that they could fly or do some crazy trick with lighning and bottles.
and with this, i humbly give you whitelocks. a tranquile piece of your imagination in the center of a bustling metropolis (again, yes i mean Leeds)
here is a pub in the center of Leeds that, unless you know where it is, you will not know where it is. for my first 10 years of going there i had no idea where the entrances were! i had to get friends and family to take me down there because i knew i’d never find it! but as soon as you walk through the alley inbetween the large high street shops you are instantly transported back in time. here is a place that defies the odds of a major city. it has seen precious little alteration since the 1800’s and still somehow manages to be a place of tranquility. and we are not talking 1800’s beer and food either. there is a great selection of great beers and the food is fantastic. the only minor problem is the space. whitelocks does have 1800’s space, ie, not a lot of it. but for me, it just adds to the old world charm of this gem.
so, the next time you feel overworked, stressed and tired from the 21^st century, take a walk down the little alley and back to the 19^th century. walk up to the bar where people have stood for hundreds of years and say ‘i’ll have a pint of that please’.

I enjoyed my visit here — good ale choice. The food looked good too.
We sat outside in the yard and talked to some friendly locals.
Looks lovely inside and has a dining area too. Quite a long pub with more room than you would think. One of the oldest ale houses in Leeds and well worth a visit.

The low ceilings and hazy lighting make this pub a good, old fashioned pub. Lots of wooden fittings and brass pumps to pull the ales too. There’s usually a low rumble of voices as you enter which altogether makes this pub very inviting. On top of this you have good quality ales that can be served in jugs, very good service and damn fine food.
Not the most expensive but not the cheapest either, if you want that head to Weatherspoons, this lovely place is reserved for those who appreciate a fine pint not close to its sell by date

Best pub in Leeds. Packed with character and more than its fair share of brass fittings (including an all brass bar!) The Whitelocks offers something genuinely different to most city centre pubs.
Firstly, proper ales, properly kept and served properly in proper dimpled pint pots (so long as you ask for one). Secondly, no music, allowing conversation to flow more naturally. Thirdly, I don’t think I’ve ever been in there and not ended up having a laugh with a complete stranger. Its just a fact of the weird layout that you have to rub shoulders with other people, and that coupled with beer and no musical distraction makes for good times :)

One of a smattering of pubs nestled in ‘ginnels’ between Briggate and Lands Lane, Whitelock’s is arguably the best and definitely the oldest. Licensed since 1715, you can easily believe that not much has changed in the intervening years once you step through the doors. While most old pubs are country affairs with large fires and low beams, Whitelock’s is a remnant of a different world. Calling itself a ‘First City Luncheon Bar’, the interior is all glass and brass, with a smart dark wood floor and mosiac-​tiled bar. This is where the city slickers of days gone by would have come to drink and do deals, but their modern day equivalent thankfully eschew Whitelocks in favour of more modern bars with far less character, leaving the rest of us to enjoy gems like Whitelocks in piece. That or they can’t find it.
Whitelock’s is accredited by CAMRA for its ales and mentioned in the Good Pub Guide, so you’re guaranteed a good pint and a choice of real ale, while the food is of the traditional, hearty pub grub type. I’ve had their tray pies on a number of occasions, washed down with a pint of Deuchars, and can highly recommend it as the perfect antidote to a day spent traipsing around town.