Cheers! YEP readers choose Leeds's 2016 Pub of the Year

After three months of voting the Yorkshire Evening Post's Pub of the Year 2016 competition has its champion.
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Punters in Leeds have played their part to help cast their local as the top drinking spot.

And readers have chosen The Bridge Inn, in Horsforth, out of a shortlist of ten brilliant boozers.

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In second place came the Halfway House, in Morley, and the Shoulder of Mutton, also in Morley, scooped third prize.

Rachel Jenkinson and Scott Garratt from The Bridge Inn, Horsforth.Rachel Jenkinson and Scott Garratt from The Bridge Inn, Horsforth.
Rachel Jenkinson and Scott Garratt from The Bridge Inn, Horsforth.

Landlady at The Bridge, Rachel Jenkinson, said: “We’re absolutely over the moon to have won to be honest.

“It’s quite an honour to be named the city’s pub of the year.

“The fact that we have been chosen by our customers is especially good because we work hard to keep everyone satisfied.

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“We’d like to say a massive thank you to all those who voted for us this year.”

Dave Pickering from the Halfway House in Morley.Dave Pickering from the Halfway House in Morley.
Dave Pickering from the Halfway House in Morley.

The mother-of-three has been working at the The Bridge Inn for 16 years and has managed the business for the past nine.

The pub, on Low Lane, was first opened in 1868 after which it was run by landord Bill Wood for 33 years.

Since then it has had 17 different bosses. Halfway House landlord Dave Pickering said he was “very pleased” to have been voted into second place.

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He added: “I think we have done very well considering there is a lot of competition from pubs in the city centre and the likes.”

Sam Bellas from The Shoulder of Mutton in Morley.Sam Bellas from The Shoulder of Mutton in Morley.
Sam Bellas from The Shoulder of Mutton in Morley.

Mr Pickering has been running pubs for nearly 30 years and took over the Halfway House, on Bruntcliffe Road, with his wife Anita in 2013 after a large-scale refurbishment. He said: “If you give the customers what they want you will reap the rewards.

“We keep the pub clean and we offer something for everyone. You can come to the Halfway House for a fun night with friends or if you just fancy a quiet pint on your own.”

Mr Pickering added that they keep customers entertained with numerous events throughout the week, including karaoke, bingo, and pub quizzes.

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Third place Shoulder of Mutton, run by Sam Bellas, is another favourite among Morley locals.

Rachel Jenkinson and Scott Garratt from The Bridge Inn, Horsforth.Rachel Jenkinson and Scott Garratt from The Bridge Inn, Horsforth.
Rachel Jenkinson and Scott Garratt from The Bridge Inn, Horsforth.

The pub, on Howden Clough Road, offers a wide selection of fun nights with live music from a resident DJ and local bands.

Yorkshire Evening Post Editor Nicola Furbisher said: “The selection of pubs in this year’s competition was fantastic, well done to all at The Bridge Inn for a fantastic effort.

“We’d like to thank all that participated and hope that they all enter again next year to see if they can win in 2017.”

THE SHORTLIST

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Here is the YEP’s full shortlist for the city’s pub of the year:

Calverley Arms, Calverley.

Dave Pickering from the Halfway House in Morley.Dave Pickering from the Halfway House in Morley.
Dave Pickering from the Halfway House in Morley.

Commercial Inn, Morley.

East of Arcadia, Meanwood.

Halfway House, Morley.

Shoulder of Mutton, Morley.

The Bingley Arms, 
Bardsey.

The Bridge Inn, Horsforth.

The Malt Shovel, Armley.

The Three Horseshoes, Headingley.

Whitelocks Ale House, City Centre.