The only pub in Leeds with a Minster in its beer garden.
You can always rely on a Nicholson’s pub to offer a variety of high quality real ales, good food, and a charming Victorian feel. The Palace is no exception. We’d never been prior to the quest, and it was a very happy discovery. It’s spacious yet cosy, and employs some of the friendliest bar staff we’ve met.
Look at all those beautiful taps.
There are ten cask ales, from the somewhat mundane (Tetley’s) to the rather exquisite (Bristol Beer Factory’s Bitter Californian). There’s also one hand-pulled cider, plus bottles of Veltins, Liefmans, Blue Moon and Sierra Nevada. Unsurprisingly the beer is well-kept and served properly, and reasonably priced at around £3.15 a pint.
They’ve hit the big time.
The food menu is Nicholson’s standard offering, and a sign outside boasts “Leeds’ best sausages.” (We shall have to investigate that claim once we have moved on to the Leeds Sausage Quest.) You could also happily enjoy a coffee and some laptop time, taking advantage of the relaxed atmsophere and free wifi. The large rooms, fireplace, and view of the Minster all make for wonderful surroundings, and there’s also an inexplicably large clock.
Fairy lights!!
Finally, it’s the only place we’ve gone to so far that has not one beer garden but two. The fairy lights covering the one in the back made us wish it had been warm enough to enjoy our pints outside. We will be back in the spring for sure, and quite possibly before that.
Tags: beer garden, breakfast, coffee, food, free wifi, quiz, sunday roasts
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It is a Nicholson’s pub and thus radiates mediocrity, though not with the same odd sense of deadness as a Wetherspoons. There are many cask ales, theoretically, although 3 or 4 always seem to be off. However there is usually one or two to find. The atmospheric is slightly inauthentic and it seems to be slightly missing a certain something that would make it a real place to seek out. You could never love it. The beer garden is nicely lit though, and the staff do seem to put in an effort.
I’ve just noticed this has a higher rating for atmosphere than Whitelock’s. You are insane.