The Tetley, Leeds: stylish former factory offers more than just bitter in spacious beer garden

The Tetley a contemporary art gallery and bar housed in a former brewery, has a rare quality of being at once large and spacious while feeling like a tucked-away corner of the city.

Arriving on a beautiful bank holiday evening, the beer garden felt like a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the city centre in spite of being fully booked, while the building itself felt grand yet welcoming.

On arrival we were shown quickly to our table, which just so happened to be positioned directly in the sun. Surrounded on an outer wall by a colourful mural, with the interior of the beer garden decked out in tasteful string lights and wooden seating, the place had a laid-back, trendy atmosphere which felt the perfect spot for unwinding with a pre-dinner drink.

Ordering was done via an app which was easily accessible and quick. Having come expecting only beers on the menu, I was pleasantly surprised by the wide selection of drinks on offer, from a couple of cocktails - negroni, pimms - to a wide selection of red, white and sparkling wines. Drinks were a little on the pricey side, with a single gin and tonic coming in at £7.50 apiece.

The drinks arrived shortly after ordering, and were the perfect refreshment on the scorching day - filled with enough ice that they didn’t immediately melt and water down the drink. Background music and chatter from other tables was at a comfortable level for conversing. A breeze coming in from the nearby river, meanwhile, kept us cool even while in the direct sun.

Having not checked the opening hours before arriving, we were surprised to be asked for last orders around forty minutes after arriving, and were the last to leave, a little before 7pm. In spite of this, we didn’t feel rushed with our second order of slingsby gin and tonics, and service was friendly and quick. In a rather pleasant surprise, staff even offered customers in the garden free donuts leftover from earlier in the day, which we eagerly accepted and enjoyed.

By the time we left we were refreshed and relaxed from time unwinding in the sun, vowing to come back soon to have a gander inside or attend one of the venue’s upcoming food events. Overall, though the drinks were a little above our price expectations, they were worth it for the chilled-out, chatty atmosphere we enjoyed there.

Factfile

Address: Hunslet Rd, Leeds LS10 1JQ

Telephone: 0113 320 2323

Opening hours: Weds-Sun, 10am-5pm with kitchen open until 6.

Website: https://www.thetetley.org/

Scores

Drinks 7/10

Value: 6/10

Atmosphere: 8.5/10

Service: 8/10