The Tetley — Restaurant in Leeds

No mistake, I and my family like the venue… really do …. But …there are two issues I have with the place ….1st the auto service charge, we were their today and the server took my order and delivered the food..she was lovely but nothing else was needed from her…it’s kind of awful that it’s not your choice anymore, that not only do you pay for the meal but since they don’t call it a “tip” anymore youre paying extra for them to servicing you ????? I only knew I paid it after paying my bill… I kind of resent paying somebody for the basics that they should already be paid for …. No matter the smiles it should be reflective of service offered rather than “ here it is already calculated before we’ve even sent the order to the kitchen “ .. in all fairness we did sit out side and I understand the “ we don’t create a tab for outside chairs “ that’s fair, maybe it would have been different if I sat inside..but a service charge is a tip and it should be my choice or at least have your severs outline it before we pay….what I was told was “ the bill is £40 … tap the top ….here’s your receipt “ and it’s only then you see it

And second the food is excellent, but it’s also touching on the over price index… I had a soup, special meatball sub, beans on toast and egg on toast ( both for kids ) and it was in the £40 mark…yeah typically £10 a head is good .. but that didnt include drinks and the egg on toast … is juts egg on toast ( cabbatta bread … which is a child first choice for toast “ sarcasm” ) And beans on toast … which is just the most pretentious mix of chick peas and other stuff…. I mean it’s nice …. But what kid is sitting there thinking “ ohh beans … I hope they added chick peas “ but this time it was on rubbish white bread …. a peace of white with a dollop of beans on it …..when you see it laid out you kind of realise how little they offer for the £40

The sustainability talk we got because the menu is heavily vegetarian ( which is great ….is kind of cancelled out by the full English and beef meat balls they serve ) lots of niggles like that stand out when maybe they shouldn’t…it wins here and there but knee Capps it self over and over again….

I don’t want to put people off, support the tetley, it’s a great place, good people and nice atmosphere…but just be aware with kids you probably need a sandwich in the bag ready, check menu online or call them, the specials change and the tip is added any way …. Sorry “...

Choice/Quality of Drinks: ❤️❤️❤️❤️ 6 cask beers, 8 craft keg lines, Kirkstall Brewery plus some guests, mainly from the Yorkshire area.

Style/Décor: ❤️❤️❤️❤️ A repurposed venue, formerly Tetley Brewery's head office before their parent company closed down the site. This was reopened around 2012 by a joint venture and turned into a gallery, museum and cafe. The current operation has inherited much of that but redesigned it with the typical Kirkstall Brewery design style of recovered Breweriana festooned on the walls.

Atmosphere/Character: ❤️❤️❤️❤️ A heritage building in itself, with areas to explore, albeit slightly sterilised by the period where it was partly serving as a gallery. The new decor has elevated the natural character of the building, while on summer days the exterior is a sun trap and atmospheric place to be.

Amenities/Events: ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Food, snacks, books, heritage venue, outdoor seating, live events.

Value For Money: ❤️❤️ More expensive than the beers are sold in Kirkstall-owned places outside Leeds which is always frustrating, but consistent with what you'll find in the city centre and their other pubs like Cardigan Arms and Kirkstall Bridge.

My review: A repurposed venue, formerly Tetley Brewery's head office before their parent company closed down the site. This was reopened around 2013 by a joint venture and turned into a gallery, museum and café. Closure then followed around Covid-era.

The current operation beginning April 2024 has followed Kirkstall Brewery's takeover, and they have inherited much of that but redesigned it with the typical Kirkstall Brewery design style of recovered Breweriana festooned on the walls.

There is a clear improvement on the interior décor, the general atmosphere as well as the range of food and drinks which is all to be congratulated.

When summer comes along the terrace will no doubt be heaving. A tad predictable, but nonetheless a successful...

Such a little gem of a place, I'm not sure I should be sharing this, or keeping it to myself! What they've done is to take the head office of Leeds' iconic brewery and created an arts space inside it. So, like, they've gutted it and painted everything white, right? Well no, actually. They've kept a lot - id say most - of the internal features. The wood panelled doors, the boardroom including table & chairs, the grand entrance, even the classic open frame lift, (though sadly that's not useable). They've added a great cafe/bar and reception area and are using the remaining space creatively for exhibitions. When I visited many of the rooms were telling a sequential story, like walking through the pages of an illustrated book. Another area had a display of artefacts from the Menwith Hill protests in the 70s accompanied by a fascinating video about the whole area, it's history, archeology, oh yes and the protest too. I dare say these exhibitions will change around but honestly it's worth a visit just to see the building itself. Oh, I nearly forgot, up on the top floor there's a gorgeous little soft play area designed by an actual artist. You need to sign-up online so they know who's attending, but if I had a toddler I'd be there for an hour every time I...