SUMMER IS HERE

And for many of us that means one thing...well a few things but one thing in particular stands out...where is the Beer garden? So this is a guide to some of the best beer gardens in Leeds. It does not necessarily mean the best pubs so please do not blame me if the alcohol isn't the best as sometimes we all have to take a hit to get what we want so without further nonsense these are a few beer gardens that I could happily spend my day.

The Calverley Arms (Calverley LS28)

Even with dramatic skies the garden looks fantastic as does the pub.

Im going straight in with a bold statement and saying that this is THE BEST beer garden in Leeds. This may be biased as I spent 18 months living in Calverley and spent many an hour in the beer garden looking down the valley towards the canal and up the other side towards Horsforth. It is a huge beer garden with the good old wooden tables and enough grassy area for the kids to run around and not bother any of the folk looking for a quiet drink. The view is second to none for a beer garden and the other great thing about the Calverley arms is the beer is very good. Usually a selection of three well kept ales and a good selection of ice cold lagers. I think the food could be better for what you pay but that is a small moan as I have eaten there a few times and always been content with what I had. I love this beer garden.

BEST WHEN: a walk along the canal from Leeds or Kirsktall and a nice stop at the pub to look back on where you have walked.




Calls Landing (City Centre LS2)

stunning views down to Leeds Bridge

Ohhhh yes. Calls Landing does not have the biggest of beer gardens but with its view towards Leeds Bridge (one of my favourite city views) and it being on the river this is a must for anyone looking for a fantastic setting and also great beer. I spend many a day or evening in Calls Landing in good or bad weather but it really comes into its own when the sun is beaming. A grace that Calls has that others dont is uninterrupted sun (save for cloud etc but we cannot hold them accountable for that) some pubs in Leeds have the misfortune of having really nice outside areas but the inconvenience of big tall building blocking the sun for sometimes hours at a time. The one that comes to mind is The Hop. A fantastic pub but The doubletree hotel really does block a lot of the sun and makes it much less of an attractive proposition. Anyway back to the Calls. my one gripe of the ale is they only have 3 pumps on when there is bar space for a couple more and  2 of these pumps are permanent fixtures which one is Theakstons Best and the Hop Studio's XP neither excite me massively but are okay.
The Lager selection is good with many of the newer Craft beers in cans and bottles holding pride of place in the fridges and with a choice of stews for around £7 Calls Landing is a permanent fixture for many in Leeds.
BEST WHEN: After work, After a shopping trip or every sunny weekend.

The Mustard Pot (Chapel Allerton LS7)

festivals, bonfire parties The Mustard Pot has it all

I must confess Chapel Allerton is somewhere I do not get to anywhere near enough and The Mustard Pot is one of the reasons I should go more often. Why? Well the beer garden mainly. very green and very nicely spaced out it is a haunt where I could sit from open til close (drinking responsibly of course) and if I did drink too much I could help myself by having some of their very respectable food. The best pint of Budvar I have ever had was in The mustard Pot and although a little pricey this does help with the people who tend to visit the pub. With Chapel Allerton becoming a go to place for young professionals and couples The Mustard  Pot is a brilliant spot for people watching and with a lot of sun but shade from some of the trees it really does feel like a perfect lazy sunday venue.
BEST WHEN: After work or on a sunday afternoon

The Original Oak (Headingley LS6)

you should find a table

The Original Oak is one of the busiest pubs in Leeds. This can be a good thing (its always good when pubs are busy) but with it being in Headingley it can often be overrun with students drinking Carlsberg as it is cheap. Regardless of your attitude to students and the quality of the pub, recently they have put in place a no fancy dress rule which has certainly has an effect on the people going in and has made it more bearable, the Beer garden is superb. row after row of old wooden tables with a covered area if the sun becomes too much
there is a bug screen up playing lots of major sporting events. The garden can get very busy and be prepared to queue for a long time for a drink but if you are there for the long haul then that is not so much of a problem. The lager choice is pretty average as you would expect in a student area but they do have a couple of good ales with one of the Leeds Brewery ales normally on. The joy is during the summer many of the students have gone home and it becomes a local pub again if only for a few months.
BEST WHEN: The student contingent have gone home.

Oracle bar (City Centre LS2) I really dislike this bar. The lager selection is awful and everything is served in straight, tall pint glasses and more than once I have had to send a beer back to the bar. But it does have a nice outside area on the opposite side of the river to Calls Landing.
BEST WHEN: You cannot fit in Calls Landing and you want to keep an eye on it to see if anything comes available.

Honourable mentions: The old Ball (Horsforth) The Hop, Cuvee and The Pour House (Granary wharf), The Cuthbert Broderick, All Bar One and Spice bar (Millenium Square)