Description
Embark on a 3-hour walking tour exploring Leeds’ rich beer heritage. Learn about the history of beer, brewing, and pubs in Leeds and see a variety of notable sites in the city. Visit a total of 5 pubs, with beers included.
Duration: 3 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Language: English
Highlights
- Learn more about Leeds’ Victorian heritage
- Visit some of Leeds’ finest historic pubs
- Sample traditionally-brewed local ales
Full description
Begin your tour at The Tetley, which was the Headquarters for Leeds’ most famous brewery, Joshua Tetley and Sons. Here, learn about the history of the brewery and take a look around the site. Then, make your way to The Adelphi, Tetley Brewery’s flagship pub built in the late Victorian period. Learn about the history of the pub, other old breweries in the city, and how it compares to the modern brewing scene.
From here, make your way to the Duck & Drake via other sites of historical interest. These include the location where one of the first-ever moving pictures was recorded by Louis Le Prince at Leeds Bridge, and Leeds Minster church. Find out why the railway embankment is covered in gravestones.
Stop at the Duck & Drake on Kirkgate, Leeds’ oldest street. Learn about the dark past of this pub as well as Kirkgate’s reputation. Continue towards the fourth stop, the Pack Horse on Briggate. Find out more about the pub that claims to be the oldest in Leeds. Here, you will also learn about the brewing process on-site, as told through the operation of a Leeds-based brewery in the mid-1900s.
Finally, the tour ends at Whitelocks Ale House, also on Briggate. This is arguably Leeds’ most iconic pub, with it’s internal decor dating to the 1890s. Discover the rich history of Whitelocks and the wider Briggate area as your tour comes to an end.
Includes
✔ Guided tour
✔ Five half-pints of traditionally brewed beer (or equivalent for non-beer drinkers)
Meeting Point
Whitelocks Ale House. Arrive 10 minutes before the tour is due to start. Enter through the main entrance and head left towards the main bar. The tour guide will have a sign saying “Leeds Heritage Beer Tours” The tour guide will be wearing a blue t-shirt with the slogan “Made in Leeds”.
What to bring
- Passport or ID card
- Comfortable shoes
Not allowed
- Sportswear
Know before you go
- Some venues on the tour do not have step-free access
- A half-pint of traditionally brewed beer (or equivalent drink for non-beer drinkers) is provided at each pub stop and is included in the price of the tour
