10 Secret Things That Only Leeds Locals Know About

Like any big city, Leeds has bundles of surprises waiting for you to discover and we’ve dug out some of the best.

Leeds is the city that just keeps on giving. Just when you think you’ve got it all down, something else pops up. But fear not, we’re letting you in on a few insider secrets, so you can live like a local. From hidden drinking spots to lesser-known architectural gems and forgotten pieces of history, it’s time to get exploring and discover another side of Leeds you never knew existed – until now.

The tiny beer garden where you can sup pints and spot trains

Perhaps the most unassuming bar in Leeds, Roland’s has a very well-kept secret. Grab your drink of choice from the bar and forget the benches out on the street, we’ll one up you. Head out back and up the steps to find yourself in what might be one of the smallest, prettiest beer gardens in Leeds. Drenched in sun with benches to huddle around, it’s a prime location to enjoy those rare sunny days. Plus, you can watch the trains as they pass the tracks right above.

Roland’s, 39 Call Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 7BT.

The queer-owned bookshop tucked away on Great George Street

With so many shops around Leeds, you could easily pass by Great George Street. But if you do, you’d be missing out on one of the coolest little shops in Leeds. The Bookish Type is an independent queer bookshop, boasting countless titles spanning young adult fiction, poetry, memoirs and essays. They’re all about championing LGBTQIA+ voices and they even have a Pay It Forward scheme to make literature more accessible.

The Bookish Type, 77A Great George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3BR.

The craft brewery tap by the river

Piglove By the River is without doubt one of the best kept secrets in Leeds. Nestled on the banks on the River Aire, this is a hop-tastic escape on the outskirts of the city centre, at the heart of Citu’s Climate Innovation District. It’s popular with local residents, but it’s open to all, so head down to the water to try their latest and greatest brews, like the Minka Pale Ale, alongside a revolving door of street food vendors.

Piglove By the River, Climate Innovation District, 29 Secret Garden, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS9 8FB.

The country’s oldest surviving subscription library

Thought print was on the decline? Think again! The Leeds Library is the last remaining subscription library in the UK, founded in 1786. You can go on a self-guided or public tour of this hidden gem to explore the Grade II-listed Georgian building and its two floors of mahogany book shelves. Or, join the library and you’ll have access to over 140,000 books, periodicals, CDs and DVDs.

The Leeds Library, 18 Commercial Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6AL.

The indie film photography lab with a letterbox drop-off

Looking for somewhere to develop that roll of film you keep forgetting about? We’ve all been there, but Take It Easy make it that bit, well, easier. Simply bring your film along, drop it off (or pop it through their letterbox after-hours) and off you go. It’s a family-run indie film lab, working to bring film back. They do black and white and colour developing, negative scans, hand printing and so much more to meet all your film needs. They even offer a same-day service!

Take It Easy Film Lab, 30-34 Aire Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 4HT.

Dig into some great Tunisian food

Fancy a trip to Kirkgate Market for some of the best Tunisian food in the city? Away from the hustle and bustle of the Market Kitchen, past aisles of clothes and furniture is where you’ll find Sweet Saeeda. Their wraps are filled to the brim, their salads full of flavour, but their Tunisian plate is the clear winner. Choose from lamb, halloumi and more, which’ll be served up with salad, hummus, olives, mechouia, chips and fresh bread.

Sweet Saeeda, Unit 411, 1981 Hall, Leeds Kirkgate Market, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7JJ.

Sup beers at this cool taproom

Tartarus Brewery can be a little hard to find if you don’t know the area well, but that doesn’t mean it’s to be underestimated. This effortlessly-cool taproom is the place to find your new favourite tipple, with 11 tap lines, as well as fridges chock full with beers – the rich and indulgent Raspberry Chocolate Cake Stout is a whopping 14.5%! If hops are not your thing, they also have a stellar selection of wine, gin and prosecco.

Tartarus Beers, Unit 6 Taverners Walk, Sheepscar Grove, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS7 1AH.

Visit Leeds’ first hotpot restaurant

Climb the stairs at the back of Taste the Orient supermarket and you might just stumble upon Leeds’ first Chinese hotpot restaurant, Crown Hotpot. Not just your average meal, a trip here will be an immersive experience as well as a discovery, as you cook the food yourself at the table. Choose your soup base, then grab what you want from a huge menu of meats, seafood, veggies and more – you can even make your own dipping sauces.

Crown Hotpot, 1 Back Blenheim Terrace, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 9HJ.

Shop at a record cum plant store

Not just a witty name, Plant and Deck is the place to go if you’re a house plant and record fanatic. They specialise in house plants of all varieties and left-field leaning electronic music, and are the only shop in Leeds to do so. Want an elegant alocosia or a sprawling umbrella plant? They’ve got you covered. Fan of minimal techno, new age ambient and everything in-between? You know where to find your next new record.

Plant and Deck, The Imaginarium, 3 Church Walk, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7EG.

Feast your eyes upon a beautiful mural

Part of East Street Arts’ ‘A City Less Grey’ series, you’ll find the awe-inspiring ‘Echoes’ mural on the two-storey gable-end of a former pub in Mabgate. Artist Add Fuel took inspiration from the renowned Burmantofts pottery and included reimagined patterns from tiles that can be seen at Leeds’ most esteemed institutions – think Leeds Town Hall, University of Leeds and Leeds Grand Theatre.

The intersection of Mabgate and Argyle Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS9 7DZ.

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