By Tony Taff
February 23 2005

Tony Taff guides the Sarries fan (and fans from any other clubs, come to mention it) through the finest watering holes offered to the weary traveller by the City of Leeds. Iechyd da! Leeds Centre:

The city station is centrally located, and whilst the concourse has both a Wetherspoon and The Duke of York, The Scarbrough Hotel (known as the Scarbrough ‘Taps’) is less than 50 yards away (having handed in/shown your train ticket, go straight on, throught the sliding doors, across the zebra crossing down the enclosed steps. When you emerge, the pub is opposite, and can be reached via two pelican crossings – or by playing ‘chicken’ with the traffic, for the wingers amongst you!) There are 8 ‘taps here, featuring a variety of ales and a real cider; there is also a real perry available, a rare sight, indeed.

To the left of the Scarbrough, as you emerge, is The Prince of Wales which includes, within its range, a house beer at a competitive price.

For the more intrepid, The Grove, is less than half a mile away – just go South under the railway bridge, past the Hilton, over the water, across the side road, past the building site and it’s a little way down the side road, Back Row. A wide range of ale is available in this unspoilt pub with many rooms, one of which is non-smoking.

Travel to Headingley

It is possible to go to the ground by train. Headingley and Burley Park stations are each about half a mile from the ground, but your correspondent has not been able to find an attractive watering-hole with which to break the journey.

Busses to Headingley are legion, and I would recommend these. Whilst the No 1 bus stops opposite the Scarbrough Taps, a shorter wait can be achieved either by going to the bus station (10 minute walk from the train station, with some pedestrian signs), or by walking up the hill to Woodhouse lane/Albion Street. [Turn right out of the Scarbrough, go uphill (gentle) along Park Row to the Headrow, turn right (Caffe Nero on the corner) continue uphill to the brow – the road crossing is Albion Street. To your left are the bus stops; all busses stopping at J3 (outside the Hard Rock Café) go to Headingley.]
Prior to getting the bus

Whilst on the Headrow, a little further on from the junction with Albion St, is The Horse and Trumpet, again with a range of ales at competitive prices, a largely unspoilt interior and a no-smoking area. SKY TV is available here, but those who are gagging for their first fix of Super-12 action may find limited enthusiasm for the union game amongst the clientele.

Those seeking coverage of the early televised game might head on up past stop J3 into Woodhouse lane where, on the other side of the road, is the Barracuda, a Southern Hemisphere styled sports bar with multiple TVs but no noteworthy beer. Bus top L3 is the one you need, from here. This is also the stop for the Stick or Twist (it’s next to the casino) on Merrion Way, a Wetherspoon outlet with a wide range of beers, at that chain’s competitive prices.

If one is using the bus/coach station, two excellent pubs are a short distance to the South, on Kirkgate. The Palace has a wide range of ales, and a number of comfortable areas, one of which is non-smoking. The Duck and Drake is a more basic pub with an excellent variety of beers - some southern ones which are not often found even in Hertfordshire, and often a real cider.

Headingley

The bus journey should not be longer than 10 minutes, even in Friday night traffic. The nearest stop for the ground is at St Michael’s church (the spire is visible from afar) where can be found both The Skyrack and The Original Oak which offer very similar drinking and TV watching experiences, aimed at the young (this is student bedsit land). A little further up the road is The Box, which advertises Paddy’s Day and Sunday’s Dublin international, but has no real ale and the Guinness has not crossed the Irish sea either – this venue is also aimed at a younger clientele.

However two bus stops further on (Dennistead Crescent) gets you to The Arcadia (inconspicuously situated in a parade of shops – the Arndale Centre, on the other side of the road from the stop that takes you out of town), this haven of speciality beers, both draught and bottled, also serves good quality food. No smoking is allowed anywhere within the venue. This recently opened hostelry provides a welcome contrast to the others in Headingley area.

To get to the ground from the Arcadia, walk back a short way toward town, and turn right onto North Lane. On your left is The Headingley Taps, a misleadingly named hostelry as it has only two ‘taps’ both serving Tetley bitter. It has multiple SKY-enabled TV screens; a relaxed attitude to smoking is taken here, including at the bar. The Arc is opposite.

If you are still thirsty as you approach the Ground, make for the South Stand entrance in St Michael’s Lane (not to be confused with St Michael’s Road). In the car park, right OUTSIDE the turnstiles is The Rugby Club (known as the ‘Supporters Club’). In here, you will find not only Tetley Bitter, but the fairly rare Tetley Mild. The prices here are extremely competitive, as befits a club, and the large turnover of the beers helps to ensure that the beer is in excellent condition.

Those who feel deprived of opportunities to discuss cross-code matters will find no shortage thereof at this venue, as it is principally, and originally, a rugby league supporters club. The club will be open in plenty of time before kick-off (8pm), and they may well put on the S12 union game, if asked, but the channel will be switched to Super League, when that coverage starts. Beer is available in plastic ‘glasses’ for those who wish to take some into the ground, and the gates, next to the turnstiles, are open at half-time, for those who wish to procure more! [Membership formalities may be required for those who wish to go into the concert room, should there be a ‘turn’ on, but these have not been needed, in the past, for the other bar].

Within the ground, there is a Carlsberg-Tetley monopoly. There is a comfortable bar to the northern end of the rugby ground, and a basic bar under the South Stand (think MadStad, then lower your expectations). Beer prices are higher than in the Supporters’ club.

TonyTaff’s top tippling tip: The Supporter’s club – if you are used to Vicarage Road prices, you’ll be embarrassed at the amount of change you’ve got left – it’s a good craic, too!

Postcodes (for input to a mapping website, if required):

Scarbrough Hotel - LS1 5DY
Grove Inn – LS11 5PL
Palace – LS2 7DJ
Duck and Drake – LS2 7DR