Sponsored by
Pub review: Adel's Lawnswood Arms
This place has seen a few changes over the years – and despite the hammer it takes from an endless stream of drinkers, diners and families it still scrubs up pretty well.
* Click here to sign up to free news and sport email alerts from Headingley Today.
The latest refit has seen the front painted up a bright cream, and floodlit to the point where it's probably visible from space. It's surely only a matter of time before a pilot approaching Leeds-Bradford attempts to put his 747 down in the car park.
* Click here for latest news in Headingley, West Park and Lawnswood.
Inside the basic shape is as it was before, though unrecognisable to that of 10 years ago, and more so to anyone who came to my wedding reception here 20-something years ago. The spot where we cut the cake and my best man made his devastatingly witty speech is now part of the Wacky Warehouse – the kids' play barn having survived the refit, despite the majority of these places being closed down years ago.
So it remains ber family-friendly, and the fact that the number of pubs pandering to this market has dwindled can only mean more trade for the Lawnswood, and one gets the impression that this is a significant part of the business. So there are play areas inside and out, kids' meals, baby-changing areas, high chairs – everything to emphasise that while under-18s have been frozen out of places like the Ember Inns, they're more than welcome here.
Tots' Time runs from 9.30am-3pm, giving mums the chance to have a coffee, a natter and a Danish pastry while their pre-schoolers burn off their excess energy.
Having said that, it was early evening on Wednesday when I called in, and though a handful of pint-sized stragglers were still clambering around the play equipment, and a few more were seeing off the last of their ice-creams, it was soon an adult-only environment. The north London derby was just kicking off on the plasma screen TV, and pints were being pulled, 10 to the dozen.
And "pulled" is the right word, because there was a surprisingly good choice of real ales on offer here. Well, three at least – Tetley's, Hobgoblin and Spitfire – big names all, but a welcome find at a pub which, if memory serves, once stripped out all the handpumps altogether, during one of the dizzying array of re-fits.
I tried the Spitfire, for no better reason than I'd just been chatting online to an old college mate who lives close to the Shepherd Neame brewery in Kent. This was good, a shade colder than I would have liked it, though a few minutes' exposure to the warm air of the Lawnswood's lounge freed up its hoppy complexity.
Much of the pub was laid out for dining, and that's precisely what the majority of the customers were doing, though there are some areas when you can escape with a pint without having to watch people tucking heartily into their steaks and pies.
A row of high tables separate the bar from the raised main dining area, and at one end there has been an attempt to create some kind of country house drawing room feel. A gas fire blazes away, surrounded by a carved wooden fireplace, while drinkers relax in deep sofas and comfy armchairs.
Heavy drapes fringe leaded windows as soft light spills from cream table lamps and there's even an attempt at a beamed ceiling.
I have to say that this look is spoiled somewhat by the plasma screen TV over the fireplace and the video jukebox, but perhaps these are standard fittings in the 21st century drawing room.
The food all comes from the Spirit Group's 'Two For One' menu, which doesn't offer cordon bleu standards, but at least guarantees plenty for your cash. Eye-catching choices include chilli beef meatballs (8.95), Kashmiri lamb curry (8.95) and the asparagus and brie tart (7.45).
If you fancy a steak, the complex ordering system means there are something like 180 different combinations available.
They start at 9.50 and go up to 15.50. But again, that's two for the price of one, which makes for cracking value, just so long as there's an even number of people dining!
Email to a friend
Print this page- Web poll: Who is to blame for Leeds United’s league position? VOTE HERE
- Leeds United: Redfearn given extended run at the helm
- Leeds United: Whites ponder next move in hunt for new manager LATEST
- Johnny Giles: Experience vital for Leeds United
- Leeds United: Billy Davies will listen if Whites come calling
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light snow
Temperature: -2 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
