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Whitelock's Ale House, Leeds

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6/8 Turk's Head Yard, City Centre, Leeds, LS1 6HB (View on Google Map)
  • Historic Interior

Described by John Betjeman as the very heart of Leeds, Whitelock's dates from 1715 and has an interior largely unchanged since 1895 with a feast of mirrors, polished metal and woodwork, stained glass and faience tiling. Time may have stood still here, but Whitelock's hosts an ever-changing array of gorgeous ales. The outside yard is shared with the Turk's Head bar and has over twenty tables, most of which are covered and have heaters. Locally sourced food is served everyday with both lunch and dinner menus. Card payment only.

Historic Interest

Grade II* Listed

Information for this venue is provided by the Leeds Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
Leeds District (B)
Last updated
15/03/2025
Last surveyed
02/03/2025
Leasehold owner
Five Points Brewing Company
Freehold owner
unknown
Pub ID
LEE/39
Asset of Community Value

Three star - A pub interior of outstanding national historic importance

Listed status: II*

Described by John Betjeman as ‘the very heart of Leeds’, Whitelock’s is one of those old-style luncheon bars that only a few cities can now boast. Tucked away up an old alley, it has been licensed since 1715 and was taken over by John Lupton Whitelock in 1867. He began to transform it in the 1880s and there was a major remodelling in 1895 by local architects Waite & Sons. In 1897 electric lighting was installed and there was even a revolving searchlight at the Briggate entrance to advertise the place. In the 1890s it became known as Whitelock’s First City Luncheon Bar and was very much an up-market establishment. A combination of long, narrow plan-form (reflecting the plot’s medieval origins) and a rich late-Victorian scheme of dark wood panelling, glittering copper and brasswork, plus a fine display of old mirrors, creates a very special environment that has changed little in over 100 years. The tile-fronted bar counter is a rarity in itself. Whitelock’s today continues in its busy role as a pub and eating place, although the rear section is no longer presented as the separate, distinctive dining area it once was. The Turks Head Bar at the top of the yard reopened in January 2016 after refurbishment and features craft keg beers.

General information about historic pub interiors

Whitelock's is something of a Leeds 'institution' and is one of that special breed of old-style luncheon bars that only a few of our biggest cities can still boast. Tucked in the heart of the city centre, it occupies a line of what were late eighteenth-century tenements built on an old burgage plot yard behind Briggate, and all this reflects in its confined setting and long, narrow plan-form. The yard itself, still a thoroughfare, acts as a drinking area for the often crowded pub.

Properly called the 'Turk's Head', this is one of Leeds' oldest drinking establishments and dates back to 1715, but the pub we see today is essentially late Victorian - the result of the extensive makeover and remodelling which the Whitelock family gave to the property soon after they acquired it in 1880. (It stayed in the family's hands for many years thereafter and the assumed name, 'Whitelock's', has firmly stuck). Internally, the combination of narrow shape, dark wood panelling and abundant mirrors (many of them celebrating old breweries) creates a unique environment. The long main bar glints with mirrors and brass fittings and the bar counter is topped with copper and fronted with coloured glazed tiles.

The seating areas, partitioned into shallow stalls with ceiling-high brass posts, are part of the original design though the coloured leaded windows are of later, possibly 1920s, date. The ambience continues through to the adjoining dining section where old-fashioned comforts like waitress-service and tablecloths are still provided. A separate bar, further along the yard, is of much more recent origin. As at December 2015 the neglected function room was being converted into a real ale bar.

General information about historic pub interiors
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Monday
Noon - 11:00pm
Tuesday
Noon - 11:00pm
Wednesday
Noon - 11:00pm
Thursday
Noon - Midnight
Friday
Noon - Midnight
Saturday
Noon - Midnight
Sunday
Noon - 11:00pm
Monday
Noon - 9:00pm
Tuesday
Noon - 9:00pm
Wednesday
Noon - 9:00pm
Thursday
Noon - 9:00pm
Friday
Noon - 9:00pm
Saturday
Noon - 9:00pm
Sunday
Noon - 8:00pm

TasteMatch

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Current beers

This Pub serves 4 changing beers and 5 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen

Theakston - Old Peculier TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Old Peculier Pump Clip
Theakston - Old Peculier Old Ale • 5.6% Spotted 10 times
Old Peculier Pump Clip
Theakston - Old Peculier

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 10 times at Whitelock's Ale House, Leeds.

ABV 5.6%
Dispense Handpump
Style Old Ale
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Timothy Taylor - Landlord TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Taylor's  Landlord Pump clip
Timothy Taylor - Landlord Session Bitter • 4.3% Spotted 12 times
Taylor's  Landlord Pump clip
Timothy Taylor - Landlord

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 12 times recently. Last spotted 3 days ago at Whitelock's Ale House, Leeds.

ABV 4.3%
Dispense Handpump
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Kirkstall - Kirkstall Pale Ale TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Kirkstall - Kirkstall Pale Ale
Kirkstall - Kirkstall Pale Ale Session Golden Ale • 4% Spotted 6 times
Kirkstall - Kirkstall Pale Ale
Kirkstall - Kirkstall Pale Ale

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 6 times at Whitelock's Ale House, Leeds.

ABV 4%
Dispense Handpump
Style Session Golden Ale
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Five Points - Railway Porter TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Five Points - Railway Porter
Five Points - Railway Porter Session Porter • 4.8% Spotted 19 times
Five Points - Railway Porter
Five Points - Railway Porter

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 19 times recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Whitelock's Ale House, Leeds.

ABV 4.8%
Dispense Handpump
Style Session Porter
Colour
Vegan Yes
Gluten Free No

Five Points - XPA TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Five Points - XPA
Five Points - XPA Session Golden Ale • 4% Spotted 9 times
Five Points - XPA
Five Points - XPA

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 9 times at Whitelock's Ale House, Leeds.

ABV 4%
Dispense Handpump
Style Session Golden Ale
Colour
Vegan Yes
Gluten Free Yes

Kirkstall - Three Swords TasteMatch Prediction

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Kirkstall Three Swords
Kirkstall - Three Swords Premium Golden Ale • 4.5% Spotted twice
Kirkstall Three Swords
Kirkstall - Three Swords

Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Whitelock's Ale House, Leeds.

ABV 4.5%
Style Premium Golden Ale
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Fell - Crag TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Fell - Crag
Fell - Crag Session Bitter • 3.8% Spotted twice
Fell - Crag
Fell - Crag

Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 3 days ago at Whitelock's Ale House, Leeds.

ABV 3.8%
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Anthology - Tony TasteMatch Prediction

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Anthology - Tony
Anthology - Tony Session Stout • 4.8% Spotted 4 times
Anthology - Tony
Anthology - Tony

Spotted 4 times recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Whitelock's Ale House, Leeds.

ABV 4.8%
Style Session Stout
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No
Changing

Changing beers typically include: Anthology (varies) , Fell (varies) , Verdant (varies)


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Facilities
Lunchtime Meals Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals Evening Meals
Garden Garden
Turk's Head Yard
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Events Events
Real Fire Real Fire
Wi Fi Wi Fi
Features
Cask Ale Cask Ale
Real Heritage Pub Real Heritage Pub
LocAle LocAle
Transport
Close to bus routes (85m)
Nearby Station (400m)
Leeds
Directions
off Briggate

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