Bar Review Glory Bar

The northern end of Leeds city centre gets another quality drinking den

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Bar Review: Glory Bar

There’s no doubt about it, the north side of Leeds city centre is a great place for going out drinking. You’ve got The Reliance on North Street, Sela and North Bar on New Briggate and, on Merrion Street, Mojo, Verve, Reform, Lounge Bar & Grill and, now, Glory Bar.

Glory Bar is a new brightly lit bar nestled underneath the revitalised Nash’s fish and chip shop and is setting itself up to be the perfect drinking hole during the World Cup. Why? Well there’s going to be a massive pull-down screen showing the games and there’s the huge floor-to-ceiling glass windows to let the sun stream through – so you can enjoy the game and sunlight at the same time.

That’s not to say that Glory Bar is a sports bar worth avoiding if you’ve no desire that watch 22 men chase a ball round a rectangle of grass. Nope, it’s got more going for it than that.

For starters, it’s a nice, airy, sizeable bar space. You’d never guess it used to be a sewing machine shop and second-hand CD seller. Now it’s bright and vibrant, all exposed brickwork, wooden floorboards, bright purple walls and, peculiarly enough, features a large sculpture of a Native American chieftain up against the wall. Why, we’re not sure.

More décor comes from some framed pictures showing off the musical side of the bar – y’know, good old classic psychedelic pop, like The Beatles’ Sgt Pepper – and even an upright piano which, we’re informed, will occasionally have its ivories tinkled (although presumably not while the footy is on).

The bar is well stocked with continental lagers, the ever-reliable Deuchars on draught and an impressively well stocked fridge full of world beers. Plus, if you’re lucky you’ll get a bowl of nuts brought over to your table to keep your stomach from rumbling.

If nuts just won’t satisfy, then don’t fret. While Glory Bar doesn’t have a kitchen to call its own, it’s taking full advantage of its position below Nash’s, so you can order some tasty fish and chips inside the Glory Bar and get it brought to your table – simple. And, as regular readers of Leeds Guide know, we think their fish and chips are pretty damned impressive.

We can see a North Street-New   Briggate-Merrion Street bar crawl happening very soon.

Posted on Friday 28th May 2010
TG

Sedgwick Avenue

Merrion Street, Leeds, LS2 7EY

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