Whitelocks Ale House in Leeds

Turned down a small alley and found this gem of a place. Packed out even mid week. Nice little ornate place with copper topped bar and a good selection of real ale. I only had a drink but will be back for food and more beer

Glad I made a reservation. It wasn't full when I arrived but the restaurant part of the pub filled up pretty quick. I enjoyed the black pudding scotch egg and steak and ale pie. Service was quick too. Only complaint I had was I wished it was a bit brighter inside. Thankfully phone cameras are a minor miracle of science so I got some pictures of the food.

Such a fantastic place that the little devil inside of me considered not leaving a good review because I don't want it to become a tourist trap! However, I know that's not fair so here is my honest opinion: Absolutely bloody fantastic. Not only is the pub gorgeous and picturesque, they have a coal fire and old school coat hooks and of course, the copper bar. Everywhere you look, there is something interesting. There's pictures on the wall from patrons of the pub in 1930, or pictures of the original owner's great great grandparents. There's candles and roses on the table, lovely staff, great drinks. I didn't try the food but I saw several people ordering and the kitchen is behind the gorgeous stained glass sliding door, which is so very charming. Upstairs in the toilets, there's 2 normal toilets and 1 old toilet with a square wooden seat and a pull chord, which was quite fun. All in all, an absolute treasure that has been a staple piece in Leeds since it opened, I believe, in 1715. Super cozy and magnificently charming.

Just a must visit in Leeds our oldest bar and most traditional looking. The food here is superb and the staff are always professional. Great selection of beers and just a beautiful looking bar

Didn't eat here, but based on experience...the food is very good. A pub that hasn't changed in all the years I've been frequenting it. They cosy, crowded with a fantastic atmosphere!

Haven't been for ages and it doesn't disappoint. Absolutely packed when I went in late afternoon one Thursday before Good Friday. Great atmosphere as always. Terrific service. Bar maid even warned us of the cost of one of their more exotic pints beforehand. Thank you.

Great pub as always, a historic Leeds ale pub that is one I often visit. Ale is always kept well.

Ploughman’s lunch! Just great. Really nice. One of the oldest pubs in Leeds. Unique.

Some of the best atmosphere I've ever experienced, the bar dominated room leaves only a few tables excluding the restaurant at one end, which doesn't add much in the way of seating, but mountains of appeal judging by the line up to get in. Tables along the windowed wall opposite the bar are more than welcoming, with your choice of bench running the length of the wall or stool around 2ft diameter table that can get dicey at round change. A quirk to be aware of that also speaks to Whitelock's charm is the tight stairwell leading to the toilets upstairs, saving the already sparse mainfloor real estate. I will definitely eat the next time I visit Whitelock's.

No trip to Leeds is complete without a visit here. Had a table booked and enjoyed my Whitelocks burger.

Good selection of cask ales in this 300 year old pub

Great pub, but what really makes it great is the food and the staff. Food was fantastic, homemade soup mmmmmmmm Flat iron steak was just the best! Staff were extremely friendly in a good way, very attentive without being annoying and quick with the service. If you're in the centre of Leeds, drop in, you won't regret it!

Brilliant 18th century ale house in the heart of Leeds, tucked away down a snickleway. Well worth sussing out. Narrow pub with some extra outdoor seating in the alley. Loos are upstairs and they are steep and narrow - the stairs, not the loos, ha. NB: no cash, card payment only pub. Lovely stained glass windows and ceramic tiled bar. Huge range of handpulled cask beers being proffered: Sharp's Brewing Co's Twin Coast Pale Ale, Saltaire Cascade, Thornbridge Wild & Free West Coast Pale Ale, Kelham Island Brewery's Easy Rider Blonde Ale, Brew York Maris the Otter Bitter, Half Moon Brewery's All Day Stout, Timothy Taylor's Landlord and Kirkstall Pale Ale by Kirkstall Brewery. I had the latter and it was a great drop. Lovely to see an original soup on the menu - celeriac. You don't get that proffered often. It was good, thick, creamy and super tasty, came with a biblical portion size of white bread! Lovely fluffy bread, though I wasn't asked what preference. I noticed another couple who had ordered sandwiches both had brown bread. The soup was really good, so I bet the other courses are similarly fab. Friendly and efficient staff. Clean pub. Well run. Recommended and I would revisit.

Had the steak pie with chips and salad, pie was lovely but think the chips hadneen warmed up so weren't very nice.

Came here for a meal pre-ballet and the food was delicious. The eating area is quite small so make sure to book! The bar area was very busy but separate from the dining tables so the chatter created a nice atmosphere

They have Theakston's Old Perculiar on draught, need I say any more?

A great place to enjoy a drink & see the original old decoration. Any would-be designers could find inspiration.

The oldest pub in Leeds, a great place to meet friends, the good is very good and tasty. A very nice atmosphere in the place, I would imagine at night time it is be buzzing.

Great bar, if I'm drinking in Leeds then this is the place I'm going! Staff are lovely, atmosphere is nice and cosy, with good (sheltered & heated) outdoor seating. The only reason for 4 stars is that it's quite pricey, but it's in the city center, so I suppose that it's fair.

A classic, great food, drinks, atmosphere and service.

Very busy pub hidden in a nook in the centre of Leeds. Seating inside and out.

Gorgeous pub with heritage features. Good food and great selection of drinks, all in a fantastic location. We were there on a busy weekend and restaurant staff were friendly, efficient and helpful.

A hidden gem in the Leeds back streets. Worth the visit. The nut roast Sunday was to die for.

One of Leeds many gems very lovely

Been calling in Whitelock's occasionally since the mid 70's and it never fails to please. Sadly the amazing scotch eggs and brown sauce are no more, still love the place for a couple of beers!

Down an alley with a high bar, excellent trad pub with a better selection of beer than the other alley pubs near by.

I visited here with my two cousins on a Thursday lunch. The place was chocka but we didn't have a long wait for a table. The food was lovely and the atmosphere was nice too.

Classic pub in the City Centre. Excellent range of cask and keg beers with breweries like Kirkstall and Five Points featuring heavily. Decent prices for the City Centre and the staff are friendly too.

Great traditional pub, with all the original fittings you would expect from a building of its age, good selection of draught beers and leaders.

Really good service, friendly helpful and efficient, food great

Excellent overall selection of drinks on Leeds' oldest pub, from another era. Never disappoints.

A traditional pub in a great location. Great range of beers, great service, a lovely pub.

Drinks only, good selection of beers, quick service and a cosy atmosphere.

Less of the music, which was really Ok , but squawking customers made it very difficult to hear.

The best pub in Leeds ... nice staff, great atmosphere and never had a bad drink.

Too busy ,couldn't get a seat .

Nice boozer with an authentic atmosphere and good selection of local ales.

Always busy. Expect to wait for at least a hour if not booked before going

A nice venue, but doesn't accept cash. £6.10 for a pint of Guinness. Too expensive.

Great old pub with good beers and nice atmosphere.

Brilliant staff, in a lovely pub!

Great pub with very nice staff.

Excellent pub in the heart of Leeds and also the oldest. Always a great atmosphere and the staff are really helpful and polite.

The best bar in Leeds, hands down

Went in last Thursday evening and the whole place stank of toilets, won't be going back.

Didn't havve food but the service and atmosphere was great very enjoyable. Yasmin really made the visit very enjoyable.

Spot on pub, v good food, excellent service, wide range of beers 🍻, oldy worldy pub, definitely worth a visit.

Not as good as I remembered years ago. Theakston great though and a lot of craft beers. Best go to the ship.

Was looking forward to going to the oldest pub in City Centre Leeds. It was ok, nothing special.

Friendly staff and great food. A little loud, but that’s what we expected.

Enjoyed Sunday lunch tasty but did feel would have been better had the roasts been hand cut rather than what felt like machine sliced.

In all the years I've visited Whitelocks I've never actually eaten here. I heard good things but it was great! The food was delicious. The service was spot on and the atmosphere was cosy, charming and inviting. Everything you need for a Christmas lunch.

Good cask available at all times

Really attractive traditional pub. It was so busy at 4pm on a Thursday in January, that we had to sit outside. There were wall mounted heaters. We will go back to try and get a seat inside. Dog friendly, thanks

John Betjeman said it perfectly about Whitelock's, it being "the very heart of Leeds", so much so that there's a blue plaque outside. A brilliantly characterful pub, you can feel its history the moment you enter, serving well-kept drinks, served by friendly staff - I can't say about the food, but when I went in on the first Tuesday lunchtime of January, it was packed and there wasn't a table to be had if you had not reserved.

Amazing ales,porters & lagers , felt like I was in England 200 years ago .

Great atmosphere, warm and cozy, fair prices

Nice atmosphere and good service

Traditional friendly ale house . Great food and service .

One of the best pubs in Leeds but gets busy.

Food good, service a little chaotic

Mulled wine was so much nicer than Thor's

You have to stop in for a beer.

Went for an Xmas meal with work, really well organised despite being quite busy. The Xmas menu was splendid - an absolute treat.

Xmas day out. Love THIS pub . Merry Xmas everyone X x x

Only marked down because couldn't get a dining table due to ours popularity.

Whitelocks is always a popular spot. So much so that on this occasion we walked in turned round and walked out. No room at the Inn!

Excellent Sunday roasts with great beer and atmostphere. Very reasonable too. Would recommend!

I've been visiting this pub for years! Always friendly customers and staff and always well kept real ales. Highly recommended if you are in Leeds. 👍

Welcoming and comfortable this is a hidden gem in the heart of the city. The ideal place for a quiet drink between shops. Character by the barrel full, it is a thriving, busy and friendly pub that reminds you why we need good quality original public houses. Well worth any detour.

Busy but class, cool as shiz too

A very cosy and traditional pub. Widely considered as the oldest pub in Leeds it seems, since 1715. Definitely worth a visit. The atmosphere is great.

Beautiful old pub in the heart of Leeds, great atmosphere and service and the food was even better than expected. Definitely recommend the fish and chips and forcing a pudding in as you won't regret it!

Incredible place, oldest pub in Leeds serving delicious food in a wonderful building

Smashing food good atmosphere always packed

Didn't go in, opted for a less younger crowd. Would've taken AidAn, but he was crashed @ Hotel.

Good place for Guinness. A bit too cold in my opinion, but a good pint. Atmosphere is one of the bests.

Best roast we have ever had and service and atmosphere just exceptional. Thank you

We booked for Sunday lunch as we had heard good things. The meat and Yorkshire's did not disappoint. The veg was slightly soft for my liking but the gravy made up for that. We had parkin for dessert and it was incredible. Good range of beers on offer and the service was excellent. The interior itself is beautiful. One warning is that the stairs to the toilets are pretty steep.

Oldest pub in Leeds. Friendly service but they only allow card payments. They have a decent selection of craft ale. The pub itself was packed so I had to sit outside. They serve food also which looked quite nice. Clean toilet. Nice atmosphere. Good place to relax with a pint.

Fantastic place, great selection of beer and good food too.

Always great in here. Amazing selection of beers, friendly staff.

Perfect proper pub, great food, beer, staff and atmosphere

Alway visit here when we are in Leeds just a shame it's gone cashless!

Just a great place for a beer... Or two.

As a citizen of Leeds I have been to Whitelocks many times but the last time I had food there was many years ago. At that time there was a curtain across the dining area and the atmosphere was quiet. I had booked a table primarily to show my wife the great decor of the pub, which she had never visited before. The table was booked for 4.30pm on a saturday. It's a shame then that our experience was so negative. The dining area is now open and just an extension of the bar area. Sat right next to a small panelled divider, this was made clear to us almost immediately when a group of men sat around a tiny adjoining table; one of them basically sat right next to my wife and into our space. This meant we had to move our table about a foot away in the opposite direction for my wife to comfortably eat. We later asked to be moved because of this. Our other main problem was the sheer noise in the pub. Whitelocks now have piped music playing in the pub. This manages to be loud enough that all the other punters feel the need to raise their own voices to speak over it but to still quiet enough that the music itself is therefore impossible to identify. It could've been Brahms or Black Sabbath, I have absolutely no idea. It served no purpose except a negative one. Plus, as I said, it meant that an already small and intimate pub had it's background volume raised to ear-splitting levels. I'm not joking: my wife is deaf in one ear and we practically sat in virtual silence for the whole two-course meal, surrounded by shouting punters and ill-defined music. I had booked the table for an hour and a quarter and we left after 40 minutes. I don't think I've ever eaten a meal in such an atmosphere before, and I've eaten in north african souks. It was like being at a kid's birthday party. It's hard to make this sound like the pub hasn't insulted me personally or that other aspects of the meal were poorly dealt with. The rest of our experience - wait-staff, food etc - were absolutely fine and I'd be happy to return to Whitelocks as just a beer-drinking customer in the future. But by contrast, and finding ourselves in Town early prior to the meal, we stopped in for one pint at another alley-pub further up Briggate to Whitelocks. I would say that the age-range of the clientele was exactly the same as that in Whitelocks, yet there was a quieter atmosphere, no music playing, a good food menu and good service. Not dead, but quiet and a good atmosphere for a decent sit-down meal. Whitelocks could learn from this.

Best pub in Leeds! Just a class, you only find places like this in the UK.

Good pint and good company. Always good to relax and enjoy the atmosphere

Oldest pubs in Leeds! I went there over the weekend and had a vibrant and enjoyable atmosphere. It was also very busy. There is an outside space, a little street that is well organised with chairs, tables, benches. Depending on the vibe you're looking for, it may be worth going over the weekend or on a weekday if you're looking for a calmer environment. Good selection of beers. I'd definitely suggest it for a pint.

Lovely old world pub, real character. Worth a visit.

First time there, loved it definitely will visit again next time where in Leeds

I've happily whiled away my fair share of evenings here. It can get quite busy at times, but when the time is right, the stars align, you step into the alley, through the little door and spot an empty table tucked in the corner. I look back on those lucky evenings fondly, sitting around a little table with friends, chatting away for hours with a nice ale collected from the shiny copper bar. Just as people have done there for hundreds of years, adding to the old echos of laughs, drama, life. Lovely.

Great beer, great service and great food. It is very busy though, don't expect a table. It's a wee bit pricey but the quality overtakes that as a factor for me.

Hidden gem. Not too crowded on a Saturday night.

Got to give Whitelock's five stars for being a classic heritage city pub. Nice Victorian interior, great selection of real and craft ales. Didn't have the food, but hear it's very good. I little bit cramped when it's busy. Service always with a smile. My only complaint (actually about other Taylor's pubs) is they only serve Taylor's beers. Which are nice, but pretty mundane. Thankfully the team here realised they'd have no chance of survival, if they didn't serve a good selection.

Ales, roasts, everyone, five stars

It is quite a thing indeed to have a pint at an establishment with so much history. Cheers!

A great pub nice atmosphere and 2 gluten free beers.

One of the best pubs in Leeds this but you shouldn't go. It's only small and if you go then there's less room for me and I want to go. So it's really good. It's really nice and you'd love it if you went but unfortunately you're not able to go. If I find out that you've read this review and then I see you in there I'm going to be so miffed. You've never seen anyone as miffed as I'm going to be. The things I'm going to Mutter about you under my breath mate. You've never heard anything like it.

A bit of local history with a pub from the 1700's, tucked away out of sight in the middle of Leeds city centre. If you're a lover of draught ales then this is the place for you.