The Best Pub Food in Leeds – Our Guide

Leeds is a brilliant city filled with absolutely loads to see and do. That includes a huge selection of places to eat serving amazing food from all over the world.

But, one of the things the people of Yorkshire can cook exceptionally well is pub grub. Fish and chips, pie and mash, apple crumble… and don’t forget the good ol’ classic roast dinner with all the trimmings.

We’ve already covered what we think are the best pubs in the city, but what about the best pub food in Leeds? In this guide, we’ll run through our picks for the best boozers in the city that serve up delicious food to help you soak up those drinks.

Our picks for the best pub food in Leeds

Leeds is a bustling city filled with plenty of things to do. While you’re out and about, you’ll probably work up a hunger that only a humble pub lunch can fill. So, to help you find exactly what you’re looking for, here’s our list of the best pub food in Leeds city centre and beyond.

The Cross Keys

The Cross Keys opened in 1802 during the time when Leeds was famous for building steam engines. As a result, it has pure Victorian charm and is a great place to relax with a drink. But, where it really shines is with its food. It serves pub classics with a contemporary twist, like Cumberland sausage with parmesan truffle mash, and fish and chips with pea puree.

We’d recommend you head down to The Cross Keys on a Sunday to try out a roast. Choose from lamb rump, roasted poussin, or the unique treacle-cured beef. There are also veggie and vegan options and some smaller plates if you only fancy a nibble.

We’d also recommend finishing with the praline chocolate brownie which is a little slice of chocolatey heaven.

Potting Shed

The Potting Shed is a great spot to spend time hanging out with family and friends, with a buzzing atmosphere and super helpful and friendly staff. It’s got great decor and a lovely outdoor area which is brilliant for enjoying a few drinks on a nice day.

Of course, the Potting Shed has a fantastic menu, and it’s much more than just flowers and veggies like the name suggests! There’s a wide range of choices, ranging from classic British grub to wood-fired pizza and kebabs.

It’s also a brilliant spot if you’re in the mood for something a little different. You could go for the black pudding stack, the pizza-filled burger or the posh fish finger sandwiches. And if you don’t fancy something like that, they’ve also got you covered with dishes like good old-fashioned scampi or a BLT.

Snug and Chatter

If you fancy venturing out of the city centre, Snug and Chatter is a great village pub you’ll find in Wetherby. It has a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, which is great because you’re going to want to spend a lot of time here.

You can start your day at the Snug and Chatter by checking out the brunch menu. They make great breakfast butties, or if you’d prefer something sweet you could go for the warm Belgium waffles.

Moving on to lunch, there’s a massive selection of hot and cold sandwiches, light bites, pub staples, pastas and salads. For something really show-stopping, we recommend going for one of their amazing hanging kebabs. Or, pay them a visit on a Sunday and enjoy a roast dinner where you can choose from nut roast, beef or pork (or both meats if you’re feeling indecisive).

The Canary

If the old-fashioned British boozer isn’t really your vibe, then The Canary might be more up your street. They have a great drinks menu and a large upstairs space for watching sport, but they’re just two of the reasons to head here. Another reason is the fantastic choice of food. Including bottomless brunch, sandwiches, loaded chips and wings, and burgers, it offers a modern twist on a range of pub favourites.

The messy chips are just as messy as the name suggests, but are a brilliant accompaniment to a beer. And the garlic butter wings are every bit as delish as you hope they’d be.

The Greedy Duck

The Greedy Duck is a celebration of Yorkshire, sourcing local ingredients to offer a huge range of home-cooked dishes. There are seven menus to choose from, including a la cart, Sunday roasts and steak night. That means, whatever you’re in the mood for, you’re guaranteed to find it at The Greedy Duck.

There’s also a lunch menu that offers smaller mains, sandwiches and grazing plates – choose three smaller plates and tuck into a bunch of different dishes like halloumi and pepper skewers, loaded fries and loaded potato skins.

The Greedy Duck is also outside the city centre, but it’s worth the trip out. If not for the rolling Yorkshire countryside, then definitely for the food that’s cooked fresh using seasonal ingredients.

The Scarborough Hotel

Everyone in Leeds has heard of The Scarborough Hotel, which is something of a landmark in the city thanks to having been there since the mid-18th century. It has everything you want to see from an inner-city pub, with a great atmosphere and helpful team of dedicated staff.

You can spend the entire day here, too. The breakfast menu starts you off for the day and the main menu includes their selection of famous pies and other pub classics. Or if you’re just a little peckish, there are bar snacks like loaded chunky chips, halloumi fries and a scrummy runny scotch egg.

The Adelphi

The Adelphi is a fantastic pub in the heart of the city, with an almost retro aesthetic mixed with touches of contemporary design. You can pop in for a well-earned drink, or sit down for a great meal at any time of the day.

The brunch menu has something for everyone, including traditional, veggie and vegan breakfasts and a range of smaller plates.

The main menu has some brilliant pub classics like pie, fish and chips and burgers. Or for something familiar but different, you could go for the bangers and mash where the mash is actually flavoured with clotted cream. Talk about naughty!

On Sundays, there are all the classic meats served with buttery seasonal veg, and you can even order a cheeky snack while you wait, like whole baked sourdough or sticky chorizo sausages.

Water Lane Boathouse

Water Lane Boathouse is a great spot to hang out and is right on the lock where the River Aire meets the canal. It has a nice relaxing atmosphere where it’s all too easy to sit and watch the passing boats while sinking a few drinks and setting the world to rights.

And then there’s the food. They have a great sandwich menu, a lovely selection of bar snacks, and specialise in pizzas and burgers to suit everyone’s tastes. If you fancy sharing something, you could go for a platter, like the veggie or meat board.

The New Conservatory

The New Conservatory is a great pub you’ll find on Albion Place which you can’t miss thanks to the array of tables and chairs that line the pedestrianised street. It’s one of the go-to pubs for a drink and a chin wag, but you definitely shouldn’t overlook the food – there are several menus including an all-day menu, Sunday menu and even a set menu if you want to indulge in a few courses and save a few quid.

There are loads to choose from, including all the famous pub classics like pie, steak and fish and chips. They also do some delicious stone-baked pizzas and jaw-stretchingly enormous burgers.

They also have seasonal menus, so if you fancy something festive during the winter you can get stuck into a slap-up turkey dinner with all the usual trimmings. 

The New Conservatory is a must-visit in Leeds. When it comes to high quality and low cost, it does some of the best pub food in Leeds city centre.

Crowd of Favours

Crowd of Favours is right around the corner from Kirkgate Market, so it’s the ideal place to drop in and grab something to eat after finding some bargains.

Food is sourced locally and it has a menu that changes with the seasons. Choose from small plates, burgers and sandwiches or loaded chips. We’d recommend the meatball loaded chips, which are every bit as messy and delicious as they sound.

They also offer an ‘off the grill’ section, where you choose your meat (vegan options are also available) and sauce, then pair it with a side such as hash browns, mash, and mac and cheese.

It’s a brilliantly cosy venue and the staff knows how to make you feel welcome. They also do a roast on Sundays or you can get a burger and fries for just £12. 

Things to do in Leeds

Leeds is definitely the place to be if you’re hungry for a pub lunch, but there’s so much more to the city than just great grub.

Roundhay Park is a mammoth 700 acres of open spaces, playgrounds, lakes, sports facilities and more. It’s even home to a train and Tropical World, where you can step into environments from around the world and meet their inhabitants.

For something quirky and different, you could try and putt a hole-in-one at Junkyard Golf Club, or try to bust out of a room in an hour or less with an escape room challenge.

If you want to catch a show, Everyman Cinema, Leeds Grand Theatre and Belgrave Music Hall are fantastic venues. There’s also the famous Elland Road, the stadium that Leeds United calls home.

For TV fans, the set of Emmerdale isn’t too far away and gives you a glimpse of where this historic soap is made. There are also plenty of museums around the city, including Leeds City Museum and the Royal Armouries Museum.

Read our guide on fun things to do in Leeds for more information on what you can get up to here in the city.

Rent in Leeds with UNCLE

If you’re looking for great pub food, Leeds city centre is certainly the place to be. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a no-nonsense classic or a contemporary dish that does something a little bit different.
Learn more about living in Leeds with UNCLE and find out just what life is like in this bustling city.