Old Red Lion

This is a little known pub, that is easy to miss. Imagine finding shangri-​la on your doorstep. The locals were friendly and funny, the landlord was highly entertaining. The beer was the best I have tasted. In particular, there were two tough looking guys at the end of the bar who made me feel very welcome. Give it a go. You will not regret it. I have never laughed so much. Michael mackintire should retire

I feel a little unfair writing a review on this place as my experience there was SO unbelievably odd and probably entirely unreflective of the norm… but until I get down there again it will have to do.
So, we arrived my friend and I. It was a Friday night last year, about 8pm.
So far, everything in this story is going well isn’t it? We were a little aware of a sudden drop in conversation as we walked in, tiny but perceptible, the calm before the storm.
I sauntered in my most lollopy and casual way possible up to the bar and ordered a pint of cider (for me) and a glass of red wine (for him). Because that’s the way I roll People! And there is was again… another little, tiny and yet weirdly distinct drop in the conversations, *plink* and down another notch it went. By this point my friend and I had started darting a little look to eachother and said probably a bit to loudly «Shall we pull up a pew?». And someone snorted. Yep. Snorted.
Strange.
So cautiously cautiously whilst trying very hard to look bigger and more impressive than we really are, we made for a corner and found a seat. Then *thud*. Not a little notch this time, a fully whacking silence. From everyone.
So we gulped, and we talked. Loudly, fast, full on Essex blathering whilst we drank as quickly as possible and then IT HAPPENED! A small and angry yet superbly camp young man got up from his seat and in the prevailing silence went and kicked a speaker over. Then the speaker’s owner (I guess they were preparing for music later?) jumped up and the two of them had the most glorious slappy little hiss fight in front of everyone. It had clearly been brewing over the Babychams for some time, perhaps even YEARS!!!
At this point it all became too much and as factions rose up around the room, with adorable little squeaks of ‘Oh stop it boys!” and «Everyone calm down PLEASE!» I spontaneously erupted into one of the loudest and most uncontrolled belly laughs I have ever experienced. I bawled with laughter. Tears streamed down my face taking great sludges of eyeliner with them. It was so overwhelming that it triggered other attacks around the room and as I staggered to the ladies hunched over shaking with hysterical laughter to calm down (and because, I’m not going to lie, I was literally about to piss myself) I was slapped gleefully on the back by an extremely butch lady who said «F**king brilliant love, we needed that, F**KING BRILLIANT.».
I chuckled back out from the ladies to find our table surrounded by laughing people, a fresh pint for me, a fresh glass for my friend and spent an extraordinary hour or so answering questions about who I was and what I did whilst, oh wonderful glory, the two original protagonists sat silently, alone at their tables, on opposite sides of the bar glowering at each other.
As I say, I really should go back but– let’s be honest, how the HELL do you top that for an experience?

This place is rapidly becoming my favourite pub in Leeds.
A great meeting point to sink a few before the night starts, or as somewhere to spend the whole day. At those prices why not?!
The current manager is leaving this week and we hope the new one is as succsesful.

As Tim M has mentioned, this pub stands proud on the edge of the city centre as if to remind folk what a true pub is. From the outside it’s true, it’s a touch on the mucky side (perhaps being on top of the city loop road would be a big reason for that) but once you are through those doors the story is a very different one.
The entire pub is linked in a circle, revolving around the bar, which makes for a rather quirky and exciting lay out. With shining quirky windows, original stained glass, newly polished woodwork, old school drapes and comfy padded seating this place is an excellent example of a proper cosy pub. There are little nooks all over the place, as well as a comfy well lit main room, and the selection of beverages are pure Sam Smiths.
That means a few things. Number one, the cask ale was delightful as was the organic wheat beer. And number two — a round in here is seriously affordable. To top it off the wheat beer is being sold at half price in a promotional offer, that is, £1.34 for a pint. Oh yes, that’s right. So, there’s no music, plenty of rooms to have a good natter, friendly lovely staff (who talked with us a great deal as we were leaving about the place) and a selection of delicious drinks. Win all round!
The only sad thing is that is would be the perfect place for a traditional jam session. I can see those cosy rooms filled with fiddle players, guitarists and cheer in the winter months, but alas, that’s not to be. Still, there’s no reason that we can’t all go along for a pub quiz in its stead, a board game session, or even a bit of a poker match. We can be creative, but let’s do it here — the pub’s a gem.

I wonder if The Old Red Lion was placed so close to The mighty Carlesburg brewery in order to remind them what a true pub is.
When I approached I was struck by how scruffy The Old Red Lion seemed but then it is in keeping with it’s surroundings and the scruff doesn’t carry over to the interior. What I found was a comfortable and very traditional public house which has recently been refurbished and has (or is well on it’s way to) shaken off it’s old reputation. It is a veritable warren of rooms and snug corners.
The other really striking thing about this place is that it is a stones throw from the city centre and yet the ale (and good ale at that) is sold at a price that makes me think I’ve entered a time warp and slipped back a decade (if only *sigh*)
I shall certainly be drinking here again

I had heard this pub was a bit of a dive, full of slightly dubious characters. Well, I went the other day after a meal out with work and I LOVED IT!!! It is basically my perfect pub. Nice old interior (well, old looking but newly done up which is the ideal combination), no loud music, loads of seats, no television blaring football or, inexplicably, with a film on mute, something I’ve seen other bars adopting. Somewhere that thinks if someone has gone out for the evening with other people they might actually want to socialise with said people rather than standing silently with drinks having been brutalised into silence by the horrendously loud music. And the drinks! Slightly odd prices (I think one drink was £2.02!) but who can balk at £2.57 for a pint of cider.
I could go on, but it would be wasting time that you could be spending in this delightful pub. Go! What are you waiting for???

This traditional Sammy Smiths pub just opposite the Adelphi, out of the busy centre is a real old mans traditional pub. Everybody in there appears to know eachother and the couple who appear to run it are very welcoming.
Having sunk a few pints very comfortably, we moved on.
It was after we visited and had a lovely time that I read another review that surprisingly claims it is in fact a gay pub. Though it shames me to write this, I really realised that I had perhaps tarred many gay bars and pubs in Leeds with the same brush as being quirky, shiney and upbeat. I really enjoyed my drinks in The Old Red Lion, and although it is claimed that it is a gay pub, I did not feel that it is sexuality specific at all. i recommend it, particularly if you like your older drinking establishments.