Christmas shopping takes effort. We’ve all had those Saturdays trawling the city centre, gradually progressing down our mental checklist of presents we need to buy for family and friends. If you’re not the most decisive of shoppers, a quick morning shop can soon turn into a full day, so if this sounds like you, we all know you’ll need a bit of respite to recharge those batteries and have a bite to eat before heading back out there to finish the job. Here are our top suggestions for a quick lunch, or a quiet rest over a glass of wine when you’ve had just about enough of Leeds’ high street shopping madness.
Pub feel
If you fancy respite from the elements in a cosy, traditional feeling pub, rather than one of the swanks modern bars Leeds offers, then the Town Hall tavern might be calling you. Open since 1926, the pub underwent a revamp and re-launched in May 2011, leaving patrons of the tavern so impressed, that it was named runner up in Welcome to Yorkshire’s 2012 Pub of the Year competition. It might not be in the hustle and bustle of the shopping district, but you’ll be rewarded if you take the short walk off the beaten path to grab lunch at Town Hall Tavern.
Elegant lunch
Browns is a chain that can be found in almost any large city throughout the country, however that isn’t a detriment to the bar and restaurant’s high quality. On the Headrow and right on the Leeds shopping path, Browns offers classic English food, cooked to a high quality. The elegant decor provides an ambience in which you can relax and truly enjoy your food and drink. If you can’t bring yourself to wolf down a burger whilst madly rushing around shops, Browns might be your answer.
Relaxing drink
If your primary focus is to enjoy a mid afternoon drink in stylish surroundings, look no further than The Living Room, located on Greek Street. The vibrant bar takes pride of place in this establishment, and is perfect to sit at, relax and enjoy your favourite beer or cocktail to wind down from the stress of Christmas shopping. Better still, call into the Living Room once your shopping is completed in the early evening, and you’ll be able to enjoy the soothing sound of the resident pianist on the in house baby grand piano.
Convenience
Big enough to accommodate shoppers on even the busiest shopping day, the Slug and Lettuce on Park Row is one of Leeds’ most popular spots for daytime food and drink, thanks in no small part to its convenience. With a large bar, getting a round of drinks is no problem, and you won’t be waiting an age for service. Similarly, the collection of bar style meals is a great option if you want good food provided relatively quickly. Not too much of a walk from the shopping areas, take this short walk into the heart of the financial district if you want a pleasant experience in a relatively quick time-frame.
Where do you head for lunch when shopping in Leeds? Let us know your favourites.
