The New Penny in Leeds

Weird place. Aggressive clientele who tried to fight us for “looking at them”. Bar and door staff no help and also aggressive when we tried to get help.

wouldn’t recommend we came out on a monday night as we never do usually and this place seemed like a vibe but the bouncers outside was being funny with my friend all night, they told her she wasn’t allowed back in if she went outside to come over to me and she also got spiked.

Fun, very unusual venue. Strange vibe. Drinks ok. Very much a sticky floor kinda place, it's ok for a one off but definitely not repeated custom. Security very hostile towards some of the patrons.

Gone massively downhill in the last 20yrs, my advice is avoid this venue, catch the train and camp it up in the gay village in Manchester instead

Best spot for having a good time in Leeds.

I found The New Penny to be an unsafe venue. I felt that I had no choice but to leave when the door staff failed to eject an extremely aggressive person who I’d had absolutely no interaction with, until they marched over to where I was sitting, bent down, and reported, “I’m from the North East and up there we smash people like you in the face.” The door staff spoke to the person but let them back into the venue, where they continued to stare and intimidate. Threats of violence, unprovoked attacks, must never be excused or tolerated.

Can you get me zanes number please

APPALLING TREATMENT . I was dragged out by a bouncer when he had thought I had done drugs, however when he had done a rather humiliating search he found nothing. He looked rather angry after this happened and told me I still had to leave. Was rather disappointed as coming to Leeds I had assumed this was a queer friendly bar. However with the treatment I faced tonight I will NOT be returning. For reference the bouncer in question was a larger Middle Eastern looking man. I will shortly be going to the authority’s regarding this.

Lack of information and guidance. They have not correctly labeled the female toilets - this is a disappointing discovery when my friend did accidentally enter the wrong lavatories. Instead of guiding my friend to the right location, he insisted for her to leave and showed no consideration and empathy. The lack of respect towards woman is lacking at this establishment. In 2024, this needs to be reformed immediately. Thank you. The gentleman in the white showed no empathy.

Great night, good music and atmosphere

What can I say fooking fantastic get ure self down cheap drink and djs the best Queen of all time alexis Lilly Denman 💖

The New Year’s Eve female bouncer was terrible, she came down the queue and asked us how big our group was and we said 6, then we queued for another 30 mins in the rain, when we got the the end of the queue she said 6 was too many for the company policy. We’re people in the industry, just been working a nye event and this is terrible service. She could have told us that 30 minutes ago. By the time we got to the end of the queue everywhere was closed so we couldn’t enjoy our NYE. Even worse there was a group of 5 behind us that she let in.

First time going here. Lovely atmosphere and friendly staff. Great music and the drinks cost effective and went down a treat. The only one negative point of the night was a couple of guys doing drugs. But still other than that brilliant will definitely go again

Fun people, bar staff fast and pleasant. Gross, filthy and icky

Great Pub Great Tunes Friendly Staff

It's a great bar I'd have given a 5 Star but the bar staff need to smile a bit more and join in with the atmosphere.

Absolutely love The New Penny. The staff are delightful the drinks are reasonably priced and the atmosphere is fabulous. Worst part about it is that I spend an average 3-4 nights a week there and i may as well just have my wage directly sent to them 😲

Nice music and fun people treat me well very well and for sore i ll go back it s good place to have a drink and have some fun

Nice little bar. Music isn't great but at least the DJ is open to requests. Even though it's a gay bar, there are a lot of straight people there on any given night. Which isn't an issue, except for when the straight guys attempt to hit on the queer girls and they become insulting and over bearing. Saying how they can change your sexuality and constantly bothering u all night for sex even though you've made it extremely clear you're not interested. I've also had a couple of guys try and sell me drugs in there. -_- All in all not a bad bar if your looking for somewhere to chill. Most ppl are very friendly and will welcome u to dance with them. Just wish this gay bar had more gay ppl.

Average pub that collects last orders people when others closes.

Good place for weekend and weekend nights out.

Me and my friend went in on Tuesday night and spent more time being searched than we did inside. We were told that inside was lively and when I eventually got in after being strip searched, there was about 6 people inside. One of these people waved at my friend and made him feel very uncomfortable. I would never go back here if my life depended on it.

Got chucked out cos I was wearing a football top. Advertised as an “inclusive club” but don’t let people in because of what they wear. Absolute joke.

Great service and good night out

It's so bad it's fun. Very old and run out bar. Needs some refreshing. In general it's quite fun there. Everyone goes when everywhere else is closed.

The penny is a different place to most, they charge you £2 to get in. Once in there's a great dj and of course bar and drinks. It gets very busy on a Friday night but don't let this put you off. They go late and you can dance the night away till early morning.

Group of 9 of us tried to enter. 1 of the boy had a stone Island coat on got refused entry. No quite sure why a coat is a reason for none entry! We come at least once a week but after the treatment we’ve had tonight no sure we will return

my father got thrown out- they refused to say why or anything. Somebody had ratted him out when he had done nothing. Not happy.

Me and my female mate had been in New Penny for a while. We queued up at one side of the bar and both spoke to a guy who was by himself. We then got our drink went outside and then my female mate was not allowed back in for speaking to the guy by himself who had since been kicked out without us knowing. I was allowed back n. Bouncer said it was bar staff who said my mate wasn’t allowed in but I went and spoke to the bar staff and no one had an idea. Seems bourncers tried to pass the blame for their own mistakes. Completely ruined the night and we saw others who had been kicked out claiming for no reason also.

Great bar staff and really good djs

Part of the magic of the Penny is that I never actually remember being in there 😵‍💫🕺🏼🕺🏼🕺🏼

Close to £5 a pint of Amstel and tasted like white spirit. Most minging pint of Amstel ever. Folk in Amsterdam would be offended 🤣

Staff are rude, I was refused service because I encroached on someone's space whilst stood at the very busy bar 🤷‍♀️ (not sure how I could have avoided it or what made me different to everyone else) Toilets are disgusting, drinks are cheap

As a cis woman I wasn't treated very well - someone outright shoved me in the back as I was walking to the bathroom. Lots of people coming onto others without consent, my friend got grabbed and a man tried to pull her in to kiss her while she was trying to pull away. Witnessed someone sprinkling a powder into someone's drink at a bar and loads of people just openly doing poppers My male friend was made to feel really uncomfortable through unwanted physical advances, too. This place needs floor security At least the drinks were reasonably priced

Ok so late night, early morning experience,its fun and delightful. Playing a mix of modern hits and classic bangers that moves anyone nomatter the age or musical preferences. In short it may be a dingy dive to end the night but its a good end to finish on.

Wasn't too bad in Christmas ever

It's the new penny, queer bar in queer quarter

Don't bother .. doorman obnoxious..little man syndrome

Good little LGBTQ+ friendly bar

1 star is very generous. The door staff that were working on Monday night need gone ASAP!!! Never ever had a problem here and love the staff, drinks, atmosphere, music, banter everything can't fault that aspect. However the door men that worked Monday night need to be sacked ASAP. 3 forms of I'd to prove I'm overage, just for them to turn around and say I had photoshopped 3 physical forms of it. Carried on with me for a solid hour before I could get a taxi home. Just for them to then shout to the driver "don't take her she's bad too much to drink" which I calmly replied "how have I had too much to drink if you won't even let me in with 3 physical and legit forms of id" to which they then shouted "your barred" absolue joke. Unprovoked carry on just because I'm younger than some. Either they go or you lose very loyal customers and alot of them!

A Leeds legend of a place for the LGBTQ+ community. Never fails to deliver.

I don't recommend it if someone wants to have fun... the goalkeeper is a tragedy, probably with little bird complexes

Bouncers are dossers! Luckily I was in a good mood

Music-amazing Drinks-very reasonable Toilets-questionable Amazing night had by all and will definitely return!

Absolutely disgusting behaviour by a rude bouncer with an attitude problem. What started off as a brilliant night ended up ruined by the bouncer at the door who was rude and obnoxious. At one point threatening for no reason at all other than to prove his authority. At no point was there any reason given for the attitude received despite being in another bar just moments before with no problems. Yet people completely intoxicated and evidently on drugs were allowed in with no questions asked.

Love coming here on a Sunday, Jess & Liam on the bar are great and you can never beat sordid in the dj box

Love coming here on a Sunday with my Gf feel so inclusive, Sordid Jess Jeff and Liam are great 😊

Bartender put ketamine in our drinks, would not recommend🥴

A venue so devoid of class and taste that they water down the coke. A snake pit.

Liam and Jess absolutely amazing, couldn't fault them at all ❤

Good atmosphere great music and good service at the bar

Not how I remember it but OK. A little bare and drab in daylight. Awful toilets.

Very friendly staff with a smile on their faces.

Love this place with all all my heart will always recommend this place to go a credible place of the Leeds gay scene with staff door staff and entertainment !!!

Great place for a laugh staff all friendly

Quiet early doors. Lively after 9.

Bar staff are lovely, but the rough, amateur drag queen/DJ kept talking over the music and mocking everyone that walked through the door. More rude than funny. Could do with working on her jokes and investing in some half decent makeup and clothes. Total car crash.

Went there while visiting Leeds with my bf. We went inside, the place was a bit basic but the music was great. So good we couldn't stop dancing to it. Around 30 minutes in, someone who works there (or the owner?) came to us and asked if we were there just to dance or we were going to buy drinks at some point. NEVER in my life this had happened before, and I have been in LGBT venues in different cities and countries. It was such a shocking behaviour. We would have bought drinks eventually but the unwelcoming behaviour shocked so much we decided to leave almost immediately. If they treat all customers like we have been treating I can see why the place was so quiet on a bank holiday!

Friend kicked out by the bouncer for no reason that the bouncer could name

Too crowded coz they go over the 150 capacity for the venue

Door staff and dj very rude and bullying behaviour.

Quite a small venue and looking a little tired inside. Mainly middle aged punters but friendly atmostphere. Lots of cheesy pop music.

Pros: - Drinks served fast and quickly - Music and environment is great Cons: - No contactless payments for entry - 2022 and we're in a pandemic... - Toilets need updating and revamping and a clean Overall Review: Enjoy drinking there, however it's a shame you have to carry cash to get in because they refuse contactless on the door which makes 0 sense since we're in a pandemic and COVID exists. The toilets are disgusting and need updating, however the service was very fast and the music is amazing. Would I go again? Yes, but would it be my first choice? No.

Pleasant enough, the pint of red stripe was decent, looks more like a small night club then a pub tho. Was quiet when we went in, I suspect it get much louder and is good for a dance on busier nights.

Awesome place! One of the last bars to be opened. Friendly staff, great music and inexpensive drinks

Great for late night entertainment

Mr friend got spiked there last Sunday and the bouncers were very rude and useless. This would be 0 stars if I could.

Basic, locals gay bar, friendly staff, small dance area spills into the bar and entrance way. Toilets need updated and regular cleaning. Good playsuit and dj has good chat lines, keeps crowd going

Great music great night just wish the toilet door locked lol

Had a top night was nice to see old friends xx

We haven't been in for years. We were in for an hour between 10 and 11 before it got too busy. Only about 4 tables to sit at but lots of dance space. Good to hear Regina the drag artiste again. Good range if drinks and friendly staff. An inclusive space for a drink and a bit of fun

Brilliant nightclub, had a fantastic night, the dj was just fabulous! Love Betty from the flintstones 😘

In an all inclusive society I was upset to be refused a drink by the bar staff simply because of my attire after being allowed entry by the very helpful and polite door staff.

Music and clientele good. Drag queen kept telling everyone to drink up and leave... When it wasn't closing time

Amazing pub to spend the night! Starting from Freedom Day they will open for party all night 💃🥂🍻🥳

Great pub, friendly staff and locals. Dogs welcome too

Went there with my bird Shazza, top venue top bants woi oi. Keeeemon open up again I wanna get my shuffle on! #CountingDownTheDays

I understand that this is an iconic gay bar, but my visit didn't find it that wonderful. I suppose the history of the place matters more than what it is. The beer was only so-so, and bizarrely, I got hit on by a guy when here... LOL.

Friendly staff, good service, reasonable pricing for Leeds city centre

Wonderful service and the drinks price list is top notch, music is always pumping a variety for all revellers love the joint truly xx

Utterly awful and without merit unless you're high on Ket. Devoid of atmosphere, ugly, and with filthy toilets.

Do talk to people, there's a high degree of wonderfulness in here! Don't drink the penny wine. 😅

Best lgbtq+ friendly pub in Leeds x simple as that xxx

Friendly staff. We had a really good night.

Extremely busy but a great night and open till 6am

Great night good atmosphere friendly staff and nova is great

Went here with my friend Chris glover lets just say he had lots of fun 😆 he is now a regular!!

My wife went out for birthday drinks and cocktail making class and was bought a bottle of gin from a friend after that headed to New penny went in bought some drinks at the bar having a dance few more drinks from the bar looks over at our table see a big man rooting through my bag do went over to get it back turns out it's a bouncer and he claims he's doing a bag searchbut I'm sure I should have been present for this none of my things where missing but I think that's because I caught him I think that bouncer would have stolen from me if I hadn't of caught him red handed in my bag and using the excuse bag search and because I confronted him kicked me out for having a birthday gift on me still sealed and in my bag I wasn't drinking it I was at the bar when thief was looking for something to steal out my bag oh I'd been in about two hours before the search licensed to steal

Absolutely shocking service, rude bouncer on the door.

The place is a dive & the staff are rude to you. It's not the best of places to go if you want to be spoken to in a rude manner

Only a small place really. Stays open very late. Needs locks on the toilets though and bar staff need to be a tad more friendly..

Dive.....great when everywhere else is shut

This place is a hovel! It’s tired and old like the staff. You get some really dubious characters in it too,AVOID!!!

The one, the only, The New Penny pub. Yaaaaaa. Was an icon of LGBTQ long before LGBTQ was even though of. Has the potential honer of being the very start of football hooliganism. Tal started in the early 70's when the sun, or one of the popular not news newspapers, ran a huge article about the New Penny being the main pub in Leeds for gay men to meet and drink, (remember this was long before LGBTQ movement etc), which spurred a massive amount of non Leeds United football supporters to come to Leeds watch the match then make their way to the New Penny and cause mayhem n violence. Leeds supporters not wanting to let this go decided to return the favour next away match and so, legend has it, was born football hooliganism that was to sweep the nation and later the world. The New Penny keep its dignity throughout all this and is still a great place to meet friends and enjoy a drink.

An atmospheric place, it is always packed. In a local environment, it is always full.

Was a good laugh. I am straight but had a great time. No bother from anyone and friendly staff to say it shuts around 5am

Had so much fun Gay bar with plenty of entertainement right at the centre of Leeds. Drinks are good price. staff were friendly enough :)

Good night life been going here since 1973..but does need massive refurb

.Always interesting. Some of the best random nights out

Always a fab atmosphere with good range of music and drinks.