Rita's Beer Hall and Ballroom — Restaurant in Leeds

EDIT Based on Rita’s response:

Their response is lies. Why would someone disrespectful to a bouncer for zero reason out of the blue? If you’ve paid money for a booking, why would anyone decide to just be rude to someone and lose money? The bouncers were on a power trip, not allowing upstairs despite us having a booking. The manager states Sean - who by the way I never spoke to that night so he has no idea what happened. The staff member I spoke to was a woman, who agreed with me on the bouncer’s behaviour at the time and told me they got this complaint a lot. The reply from Rita’s to this review is to save face for the venue and company. The reply also mentions I’m having a refund but I am still waiting to receive this. Based on several of the same issues with other’s reviews, it’s clear the problem is a common occurrence. Take accountability instead of shifting blame.

Saturday 1st November 2025. I paid £20 to book a table for my and my friends. We were seated upstairs. We went out for a vape and the bouncer said we weren’t allowed back upstairs because it was closed (after having already booked a table and our friends and other people still being sat upstairs). The bouncer was rude for zero reason to my partner. I told the manager this at the bar and she agreed this was a usual occurrence with the bouncers as she had received many complaints by other customers but all she could do was apologise. Looking at many of the other reviews, it’s clear the bouncers they hire are the problem and even the staff are aware of this, so why are Rita’s still hiring bouncers that are clearly affecting their business? I’m actually disgusted and I’ve lost money due to this as my friends had ordered drinks they never received and I wasn’t able to spend my bar tab I had from my booking. I expect a refund for my remaining bar tab. And more importantly, I want this to be sorted because I loved Rita’s. I would be happy to accept this as one off if an apology is made and a refund. But until then, I’ll make sure I won’t go to Rita’s again and advise everyone I know to...

Had one of the worst experiences of my life here. I was peacefully leaving after being denied entry (despite showing documentation), and the bouncer grabbed me aggressively and physically shoved me.

I wasn’t causing a scene. I was already walking away, yet he felt the need to assert physical dominance, which was completely unnecessary and unacceptable.

Beyond that, he was rude, dismissive, and spoke to me like I wasn’t even a person. For a place that markets itself as welcoming and “vibrant,” the staff clearly don’t reflect that.

I’ve been in the UK for over 2 years, and this was one of the most blatantly disrespectful and classist encounters I’ve ever had.

If your business hires people like this to represent your brand at the door, it says a lot about how little you value your guests—especially those who don’t “fit the mould.”

Edit – No worries about me visiting again. I remember that night clearly: I showed my e-visa instead of a physical ID, and when it wasn’t accepted, I began moving away.

Due to my larger stature, I was moving carefully to avoid tripping over your small, barricaded “exit.” I even said “okay” as I was moving. By the time I was halfway through the exit, I was suddenly shoved — which was absolutely unnecessary.

Other guests’ IDs were already being checked while I was moving out, so claiming I was “refusing to move” or “holding up the queue” is simply false. I didn’t argue, didn’t get physical, and didn’t say I wouldn’t move.

What made it worse was when I tried to speak politely with your staff afterward and was completely ignored. I understand it was a busy night, but being busy is no excuse for treating guests poorly.

It’s disappointing to see you defend the situation with gaslighting instead of acknowledging even a basic level of accountability.

Thanks for confirming this won’t happen again — because I...

Walked in saw a guitar 🎸 man was so nice u I requested a song from an very lonely guitar player he knew this went down a storm as he knew of gerry cinnamon as did all the students. This made me feel found a great place although I am 46 I am not too young to enjoy favourite music of mine I asked this guitar player to play. . Sounds i woke up to . Everything I wanted in my day was a great evening out . I decided to buy the man.

Fantastic didn't try food as I had been out for the entire day.

After trying the new conservatory and found it was absolutely 💯 rubbish and staff absusulutly rude with no forgiveness as I was celebrating my home city of Leeds in the champions league . And I was spreading time at an over priced jumped up sweat shop for the wealthier people in leeds . It was so great until I spoke a a gentleman with braded head tight French platt on top of his very un smart head I the fountd my self after the rubbish service walking opersit in a great place with open fire place . What really needed a mention a blue plaque what was dated over 100 years + caught my eye this looked very much the place to be only not self explanetary neither advertised .

It served the best mohito cocktail with fresh mint and had the splendor of a 40 s or deco appearance from the early 30,s. Wonderful polite staff. Very much so place I'd revisit even with an up market clientele. Any way try get there only just opisit the rubbish rude place i had gone to with a piano not working anyway that point of call was shut at 8 however was a bank holiday Monday with no surprise any how continue to my best place I found that day this is the place I type from now . Rita's fantastic must try also another place just leading up to here was my best stumble of the day kind pleasant and humble...