Review The Garden Gate

We visit the Grade II* listed pub in Hunslet that's been taken over by Leeds Brewery

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Dating back to 1903, The Garden Gate is one of the most remarkable and intricate pubs in Leeds. It’s one of the few pubs in the country that can boast a Grade II* listing.

Unfortunately over recent years the pub struggled under ownership by a large company, and was put up for sale in 2009. It looked set for closure – and the shutting down of this unique architectural and historical site would have been a huge loss for pub-lovers in Leeds.

Thankfully, in 2010 the pub was saved from closure by Leeds Brewery, who have reintroduced hand-pull ales and have helped nudge the pub (very gently) into the modern world.

What really stands out about the Garden Gate upon entering is its unique layout. The door opens into a small hallway, with doors leading to the ‘smoke room’ and onto the main corridor around which the pub is based.

Walking up this corridor takes you to the entrances to the rest of the pub compartments – the dart room, tap room and games room, with the one central bar serving the pub’s two biggest spaces and the corridor.

This is a proper old pub – stained glass sits at the base of every window, there’s a huge roaring fire, there are dominoes set up and there are old men sitting around nursing their pints. In fact, it’s just about everything you want from such a place.

And of course, the Garden Gate also serves up a good pint. All three of Leeds Brewery’s regular ales are on tap – Leeds Best, Leeds Pale and Midnight Bell – and upon inspection they are kept perfectly. Served up at just the right temperature, they taste vibrant and show off what the brewery currently does best – nothing too experimental or innovative, but high-quality, reliable ales that you can pretty much guarantee you’ll enjoy. There are also a few guest ales for tasting too, alongside your more typical drinks (Carling, a draught cider and so on).

We would describe the pub in more detail for you, but these photos do the pub far more justice than we ever could.

Posted on Wednesday 22nd December 2010
TG

The Garden Gate

3 Whitfield Place, Hunslet, Leeds, LS10 2QB

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