SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

The following is reported in John Mayhall’s ‘Annals of Yorkshire’ vol 3:-August 16 1872. “Acting upon instructions received from the Chief Constable, the Leeds police-officers visited the various public-houses and taps in the borough, and communicated to the owners the provisions of the new Licensing Act in regard to early closing, and that “on and after” this evening they would have to close their premises at eleven o’clock and not reopen till six in the morning. By half-past eleven Briggate was comparatively deserted, and the streets remarkably clear”.Wow, they could not open until 6 a.m.!

LeoIntrigued by "pubs...>>and taps<<"?In my youth I was lucky enough to work near Smithfield Meat Markets in London. Produce was arriving by truck from all over the UK in the early hours to get food for the Capital. This was wholesale to sell early to retail.As a result the area was blessed with brilliant licensing laws and you could have a full English with lots of beer from about 5am Understand the favoured tipple of the market Porters was, Guiness, as in Porter.

Hi JogonThe use of "taps" also interested me. It's not a term that I use but I know others use it in such as calling the Scarborough Hotel (on Bishopgate Street) the Scarborough Taps. Your talk of a full English breakfast (but not with beer) has made me feel very hungry! I can mentally sense its great smell now. Mmmm, nice!