Tall Boys Beer Market's Leeds favourites
As one of your favourite food and drink shops, we asked first-class bottle shop and all-round top folks Tall Boys Beer Market for some of their favourite foodie hangouts in Leeds.
Tall Boys Beer Market is a bottle shop, beer cafe and coffee spot residing in Thorntons Arcade at the very heart of Leeds city centre. With a range that boasts over 300 beers and showcases some of the most forward-thinking breweries around, Tall Boys focuses on presenting exciting and experimental new world beers alongside the age old classics.
Food, coffee and freshly baked bread is available throughout the day from The Noonshine Café, an ongoing collaboration between Tall Boys, Grub & Grog and the mighty Leeds Bread Co-op. You can take away or sit up on the second floor and enjoy a sandwich, coffee or any beer from the shelves, or a glass from one of the five taps.
In their words: "GOOD BEER FOR GOOD PEOPLE!" Couldn’t put it better ourselves, and now here are five of Tall Boys’ favourite food and drink spots in Leeds.
Favourite local brewery
"We’re big fans of a small local brewery called The Beak. It’s a one man band that started brewing in the corner of a factory on a super small setup – the definition of micro brewing. Despite the size of the setup, Beak has made some amazing beers and is constantly developing – [brewer Daniel Tapper's] most recent beer, a double IPA with Tap East, was a winner!
"The Beak Brewery is great because it does its own thing. Where most new breweries are busy developing and churning out a core range made up of pale ales and IPAs everyone has come to expect, Beak looks to more interesting and often more traditional beer styles and gives them a modern twist. There is no core range, no flashy marketing tactics and no showing off involved, just good beer."
Favourite newcomer
"The Brunswick opened their doors eight months ago on North Street, right by Reliance. They’ve got a sweet selection of beers on keg and cask with a focus on breweries based in the North alongside a brilliant seasonal menu and one of the best Sunday roasts in Leeds!
"Interesting things happen in their event space on the top floor, from exhibitions to theatre workshops, bands and markets. Jazz Club on the last Sunday of the month is a big highlight. They also have a dog, so…"
Favourite shop
"Has to be Shipley Triangle in (you guessed it) Shipley. They’re a bottle shop who have one of the best ranges we’ve seen; Gav knows what he’s talking about and is really helpful if you’re stuck choosing beers. I think they’ve just got a license to drink in, so soon it’ll be a great spot for a pint too!"
Favourite pubs
"Whitelocks is the pub we tend to frequent the most. Rumour has it that it’s the oldest pub in Leeds. They’ve got loads of great cask beers, an interesting keg lineup, amazing pork pies and one of our favourite beer gardens in the city.
"They’ve just opened up the Turk’s Head at the top of their alley which focuses on the more progressive breweries and does fancy cocktails. That’s why we go there so much – you can have a Guinness from Whitelocks or a bottle of Mikkeller Spontan from Turk’s Head, it plays to every mood!
"Sela bar is our favourite late spot, they do seriously good pizza paired with good booze and good music – what more do you need?"
Favourite cafe
"Laynes Espresso, they’re just too good. There is no messing around at that place, just amazing coffee and simple but delicious food. Laynes forever! (PS Jim makes the best flat white in Leeds hands down.)"
Tall Boys Beer Market
17 Thorntons Arcade
Leeds LS1 6LQ
tallboysbeermarket.com
@tallboysleeds
Looking for some foodie recommendations from those in the know? In The Food Chain, we ask some of our favourite food and drink venues to name the places they go for a pint, a coffee, a sandwich or whatever else it is they want to eat or drink. We'll then ask those venues to name their favourites, and so on, building up an extensive map of the best places to go in your city. Want to get involved? Email lauren@theskinny.co.uk