
Wapentake
92 Kirkgate, Leeds LS2 7DJ
Look & Feel: 🍺🍺🍺🍺
Beer: 🍺🍺🍺
Price: 🍺🍺🍺
Toilets: 🍺🍺🍺🍺
Beer Garden: 🍺🍺🍺
Accessibility: 🍺🍺
Final Score: 🍺🍺🍺🍺
Review
Wapentake is a cool little café bar which opened in 2015 in the Kirkgate area of Leeds, named after the ancient Old Norse-derived term to denote part of a region which has remained pervasive in this area of Yorkshire. Recently it felt the threat of closure due to the collapse of some nearby buildings affecting business but was thankfully saved by outside investment.
Set within an 18th century cloth merchants home with a traditional shop front, the single ground floor space is cosy and welcoming with a well-stocked bar to one side offering four casks and two keg lines when we visited. Prices are average for Leeds city centre but with the bonus of Wapentake being in a much more peaceful area of the City.
The walls are decorated with old signs, local art and an array of pump clips of bees which previously adorned the bar. There's an upright piano and a few tables in the back section of the bar. Some rickety stairs lead up to a very pleasant first floor space with wooden floors and some more formal seating, the toilet is also upstairs so worth considering for access.
To the rear is a small secluded yard hiding away from the car park beyond by a large brick wall. All in all Wapentake really does feel like a home from home and we were made to feel very welcome. I'd certainly recommend visiting, especially if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the City centre.