Leeds lost pubs

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Tue 22 Sep, 2009 8:58 pm

Reginal Perrin wrote: Can anyone actually make a decent living running a pub nowdays? I suspect not and whilst I have no problem with Wetherspoons and whatt hey do, if this becomes the only option it will be pretty boring and pointless to go on a pub crawl.Imagine Whitelocks as a Wetherspoons? I can't see little "local" pubs run by one person, or a husband and wife team surviving much longer.The rents charged by the Pub Co's are ridiculous and most also tie mine host into buying beer direct from them at whatever price they fancy - an article in the press earlier this year reported that being charged double the open market rate for the most popular lagers is the norm. And then the rent goes up if you make a success of it, meaning you have to earn more to maintain your income so more pressure to put prices up.This means that they can't compete on price so people get 12 cans from Tesco for a tenner and sit at home drinking.There are a few success stories - usually pubs that do decent food or are proper real ale pubs which can still attract people in, but they are getting few and far between now. The Leeds Brewery and Ossett Brewery pubs for example seem to be doing OK.

Chrism · Post by **Chrism** » Sat 26 Sep, 2009 2:52 pm

The New Inn on Dewsbury Roadhttp://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Pol ... 1396.jpWhy would a pub want a 5am licence?

Si · Post by Si » Sat 26 Sep, 2009 5:26 pm

Crazy Jane wrote: I thought Wetherspoons were supposed to be taking over the Bowling Green? Or is it both now? Or neither? :~ Whoops! My mistake. Mixed up the Woolpack with the Bowling Green. Easily done after a few in the Ring O'Bells!

johnnyg · Post by **johnnyg** » Sat 26 Sep, 2009 7:32 pm

The Shoulder of Mutton on Potternewton Lane has reopened as a Taxi Office.

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Sat 26 Sep, 2009 10:21 pm

Chrism wrote: The New Inn on Dewsbury Roadhttp://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Pol ... 1396.jpWhy would a pub want a 5am licence? And what were the boys in Blue about 200 yards away at City and Holbeck Divisional HQ doing not to notice that it was serving to 5.00am. Of course pubs near markets used to open before then to serve the Porters their breakfast of Porter ale much more likely to see them finish a shift in good health than drinking the local water at that time.Several things surprise me though. Most notably that the pub is also only two hundred yards from a fire station and there isn't much residential property immediately adjacent so who was suffering sleep deprivation through the pub alone.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Sun 27 Sep, 2009 5:59 pm

tyke bhoy wrote: Chrism wrote: The New Inn on Dewsbury Roadhttp://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Pol ... 1396.jpWhy would a pub want a 5am licence? And what were the boys in Blue about 200 yards away at City and Holbeck Divisional HQ doing not to notice that it was serving to 5.00am. Of course pubs near markets used to open before then to serve the Porters their breakfast of Porter ale much more likely to see them finish a shift in good health than drinking the local water at that time.Several things surprise me though. Most notably that the pub is also only two hundred yards from a fire station and there isn't much residential property immediately adjacent so who was suffering sleep deprivation through the pub alone. There was reference to a lot of trouble in the car park, which is presumably at the rear of the pub - and must be surrounded by houses.It's a shame to see the powers that be using the sledgehammer of a closure order rather than addressing the actual problems.All a closure order does is move the trouble elsewhere, as we've all seen many times before.

Ronnie · Post by **Ronnie** » Sun 27 Sep, 2009 7:41 pm

The pub next to the 'man on a bike' moving sculpture was the Wayfinder. This was Chaplins & The Highlander before that.

Post by **chameleon** » Sun 27 Sep, 2009 9:42 pm

Ronnie wrote: The pub next to the 'man on a bike' moving sculpture was the Wayfinder. This was Chaplins & The Highlander before that. If you mean the top of the ramp Ronnie, it was the Wayfinder before it was anything else.Here's a back-thread for a little nostalgia.http://www.secretleeds.co.uk/forum/Mess ... ighLight=1

Si · Post by Si » Mon 28 Sep, 2009 12:53 pm

Si wrote: Work is progressing apace on the old Curlew Cafe in Otley (opposite the bus-station.) I mentioned before that I'd heard a rumour that it was to re-open as a real-ale bar. Let's hope so. Are there any other "new" pubs opening in Leeds, bucking the trend of mass closure? Noticed yesterday that there is an alcohol/music licence application posted on the old Curlew Cafe, so the rumours were true, it seems. PS Since the trouble at The Yeoman in Otley during the summer, a small sign has appeared about fifteen foot up a lamp post outside the pub, proclaiming that the area is a "designated public place." Anyone seen any more of these? Is there now a Ministry for the Bleedin' Obvious? Surely most roads, footpaths, open spaces, etc, are public places??? They're gonna need a lot of signs! Also, you have to stand in the middle of the road to read it.PPS Over the road is a no waiting area marked within a designated parking space. (Yes, really.) Maybe this is where newly hired Council signage operatives practise?

stutterdog · Post by **stutterdog** » Mon 28 Sep, 2009 1:21 pm

Steve Jones wrote: It is the legendary "The Bowling Green" that Wetherspoons are doing up.Work due to start for opening next month.Incidentally whilst standing outside "The Woolpack" waiting for a friend ,a young couple were taking careful note of the pub,telephone number of the agents and walked past me dicussing staffing,so fingers crossed! My neighbour told me the other day that he had a few pints in the Woolpack in Otley?Coud he be mistaken?