The White Rabbit

Strongly recommended, it’s not your typical pub and is all the better for it. A bit off the beaten track, but it has great staff, great atmosphere — 70s /​psychedelic /​jazz /​reggae /​I don’t know but it’s great and it has a metal Spiderman!
Photo available in the link below

Well, after such an accolade from Chris, I was looking for any excuse to come along and meet the metal Spiderman in person. Indeed, who wouldn’t want such an icon watching over the bar, and chilling by the decks? Fortunately, being one of the stalwarts that promote indie music in Leeds, I didn’t have to wait long to find a gig that suited such an occasion. Their regular live music do, Purple Parallelogram, were putting on my friends’ band Egokiller — so it had to be done.
It’s on a quiet little street, away from the pretense of the banking district, but certainly not unnoticed. As we approached, folk were spilling out of the venue, chatting on the steps that lead downward to the bar, and generally giving off a vibe that I’ve not seen about Leeds since the old Dr Wu’s days. (I would say that, being as I knew Wu’s of old, but for those that used to frequent it’s a pretty solid comparison.)
As you descend the steps, a burst of 70s groove is waiting to haze over you and welcome you in, beyond the front door. The colours are psychedelic, the posters are crazy, the bar is tiny. This doesn’t mean that there’s not room for you to cosy up amongst potential new friends, regulars, music lovers and quite possibly most of the usual suspects on the Leeds music scene. And it’d be well worth your while to do so, they’re a ruddy decent lot.
In the ‘gig’ space, there are a few tables, with dangerously toppable chairs, and just about enough room to have a boogie if the music takes you. (Just watch out for Spiderman.) The bar has a few stools, but it’s a tight squeeze getting past the hoards, so you might fancy taking a seat in the cosy sofa-​style area by the door –if you’ve come early enough to grab a seat.
As for drinks, expect a range of good lagers and such on draught. Plenty of strong Belgian beer, which always goes down well, some ciders and plenty of spirits. Essentially, we’re talking way more up market than your standard pub crud, but perhaps don’t expect a French 75. That’s not what you’d come here for, regardless. The staff were as friendly as they come, and looked like they were having an absolute ball, which makes it all the more enjoyable when you’re out and about. It has to be said, in addition, that the DJ was fantastic — I absolutely loved his selection. Old school, dance orientated, psychedelic, but not repetitive or relentless. Thom York came up at one point, par example.
Essentially, I’m not adding any new information to what’s been said previously, except to assure you that your money and your time would be most well spent in this crazy, cosy hub of musicians and cool dudes alike. The carousal begins here, and it begins with some of the most awesome aural entertainment about. Win!

A little walk out of the centre of Leeds but what a hidden gem. I love this bars retro Kubrik vibe and its just cosy enough to create a really relaxed environment. Why arent more venues like this

Are you SICK AND TIRED of bars not having giant metal Spiderman statues in them? I know I am.
Well friend, our troubles are over. Baby Jupiter is the only bar I know of in Leeds that can boast a giant metal Spiderman statue in a corner. Behind the DJ stand. A bit like he’s going to spin some tunes. Quite what music a giant metal Spiderman statue-​DJ would play I can only guess at.
Baby Jupiter is a small basement-​bar on a street otherwise filled with offices (except for the curiously positioned strip club next door). It’s the sort of place you are very unlikely to just stumble across. I think it this were not the case it would be extremely popular by now, and would probably feel much closer to a Call Lane type bar. As it is, it feels a lot more intimate and special, a bit like it’s a secret club only known to a select few.
The décor is 70s retro, though it couldn’t be further from the grim abyss that is Flares — you won’t find hen parties, afro wigs or Blu WKDs here. Think more psychedelic music posters, vintage furniture and a cool, dimly lit atmosphere that is exactly what I look for in a bar. If I’m honest, the Spiderman statue is rather at odds with the rest of the place, but just go with it.
The music is always great and fits in with the feel of the place perfectly — a mixture of retro pop, blues, soul and folk generally. It gets loud-​ish late night, but you can comfortably have a conversation the rest of the time.
The bar also runs a few genre specific nights, but I haven’t had the pleasure of attending one yet.
The drinks are the usual kind you would expect to find at a classy bar — a handful of premium lagers and ales on tap, and a really good selection of bottled beers and a nice selection of spirits. As they are better quality than the kind of stuff you would get in a regular bar, it’s a little bit pricier, but definitely worth it.
Overall a great bar which I would recommend to anyone.

Really like Baby Jupiter — it’s tucked away in Leeds financial district down some steps in a very unexpected area. It’s not easy to find so it’s a bit strange the management decided on this location.
Having said that once you find the place, you do go back. I’m guessing it has a following of regulars in this area that often visit after work.
The layout is cool, with the bar being between two rooms. The music is always of the mellow-​alternative variety. The drinks on offer are quite eclectic so you’re never stuck for choice.
Overall a nice little bar in the centre of town.

Baby Jupiter to me conjures up images of futuristic baby clothing. I have no idea why, as this could be no further from the truth. Baby Jupiter is, and to my knowing, always has been, a bar. Located in the financial quarter of Leeds city centre, it really isn’t what you expect to stumble across, but it’s a nice little irony with the kitsch, retro, casual vibe, sitting in stark contrast to the pinstripe suits and self importance all accessorised with a leather briefcase. Open from midday everyday, there’s always a steady hum of people noise that inhabits Baby Jupiter, a testament to the chilled atmosphere and cosy, easy vibe that the place just seems to ooze. A meal and a beer off the menu will set you back a fairly reasonable £8 or thereabouts, and whilst the food is average, with most it’s the beers that are the pull in for my mates. One of my friends is big on trying different beers like blonde beers and strawberry beers and such and was impressed with the Framboise they had to offer. To be honest that all goes over my head, but it didn’t make the experience any less enjoyable. The transition from day to night is pretty smooth, with the atmosphere still retaining a casual vibe, especially when the nights move into acoustic sessions, which are held regularly. Definitely worth hunting out if this sounds like your thing and you’ve been thus far unaware.

A short while ago a friend of mine had some of her artwork displayed in Baby Jupiter as part of the Leeds Erotica Festival. I went down to have a peek and I fell in love with the bar that night. It is quite a small venue but it oozes a stylish type retro cool. Full of people who have a sense of good music from past eras. The drinks are slightly more expensive than usual, but they generally are in bars rather than pubs. And they serve Sailor Jerry’s and ginger beer so they are very much in my good books.

You wouldn’t expect to find a bar, a throw back to the Seventies — with posters of Bridgette Bardot and Jimi Hendrix on the wall, in the financial district of Leeds, would you?
A bit of the beaten track, Baby Jupiters is always busy — a sign that people think it’s worth heading a little out of the city centre’s hub of nightlife. It’s not a 70’s themed bar by any means — even though the sounds as purely 70s classics, from the likes of Hendrix.
It does the retro-​kitsch thing that so many bars and clubs try to do very well, you won’t be given an afro wig or advised that flares are cool. They might be these days, though? I’m not quite abreast of the new trends as I should be…
They serve decent grub at lunchtime and a range of continental beers throughout the day and night. There’s DJs on a weekend playing the 70s funk you’ll hear from the jukebox at other times which is nice; though there’s not much room for dancing.

This bar is a little hard to find, up by all the legal offices!!! But its worth the walk to find it!!! Its not been affected by all the city binge drinking culture and has a geuine nice atmosphere. The music is funky and retro and there is a great range of drinks! I wanna tell everone about this place, but hope it does not get too popular as it will spoil its charm!