Visitors to the new Headingley Wetherspoons The Golden Beam give their reaction after opening day

The company has spent £3.2 million developing the pub, on the site of the former Elinor Lupton Centre, in Headingley Lane.

It spans over two floors, with additional outdoor seating on the ground level.

The indoors is themed in pastel green and yellow and decorated with repurposed organ pipes, low-hanging lights and a glass ceiling.

Excitement was in the air as people queued to get a first look at the new pub.

Katharina Kiesel, a 20-year-old student, visited The Golden Beam with two of her friends.

She said: “There wasn’t a queue when we went at 4pm but hours later when I drove past twice, there were queues at both times.

“There were a lot of young adults - I think most people just wanted to see what it was about and it was pretty nice.

“I think it’s in a prime location because you don’t actually have to go into town and Wetherspoons is so cheap.

“The waiters were so busy that they were dropping glasses but the service was quick, they were really on it.”

Eddie Gershon, PR for Wetherspoons, said: “From opening until closing time, it was busy throughout the day.

"I was there from 9.30am to 2.30pm and there was not a seat available.

“There were mostly students but people have also come from other parts of Leeds because they wanted to see what it looked like once completed.”

Another customer had a more mixed experience.

Jessie Hughes, a 19-year-old student, went with two of her friends to the pub around 5.30pm and had to queue for about half an hour, but did not even stay for long due to a poor first

impression.

She said: “We had a bad and uncomfortable experience with the doorman which ruined the excitement of going for the first time, so we had some food and a couple of drinks (which were

nice luckily) and then left to go somewhere else.

“The rest of the staff were great and one of them actually messaged me on Facebook regarding a post I made about our experience with the doorman and he was very understanding and

helpful."

Despite this, Jessie said she understood that opening days were probably stressful, saying she would definitely give it another chance.

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