Smart boozing in bars you’ll actually want to spend time in
While it’s not a substitution for CBT, CBD, or that mindfulness colouring-in book you never got round to finish, combining booze and bargains is a pretty surefire shortcut to a seratonin rush.
Typically the reserve of big-name, low-charm bars who can afford to pack people in and churn out crap drinks at high volumes, the offer has spread to the kind of bars that you’d actually want to spend time in.
Here are eight places where you can live a Champagne lifestyle on a Wetherspoons budget. Tell your face.
The Wardrobe
The cause of countless “just one after work”s turning into getting in at 23:52 half-cut and with a bag of Aagrah leftovers in hand, Wardrobe’s happy hour runs from 4pm until 7pm, Monday to Friday, and offers Camden’s core range at £4 a pint, as well as house spirit & mixers for £3, and Prosecco and large glasses of wine for £5. If you’re not in their neck of the woods on a weekday, the offer also extends to Saturday midday - 7pm
The Wardrobe, St Peter's Square, LS9 8AH
Outlaws Yacht Club
As if you needed any more encouragement to sit somewhere cosy and sink a few Bloody Marys on a Sunday, they’re 2-for-1 all day at Outlaws. Not a fan of Sundays or think tomato juice belongs on a pizza? Wrong on both counts, buddy, but Outlaws has your back - all cocktails are 2 for 1 all day every Wednesday.
Outlaws Yacht Club, 38 New York Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7DY.
Distrikt
Switch on a seshometer anywhere in Leeds city centre at any time of day, and Distrikt will be responsible for having that thing beeping like a pre-watershed broadcast of Kitchen Nightmares, so don’t be surprised that their happy “hour” lasts longer than a Mr Scruff set. For 5 hours between 5pm - 10pm on Fridays there’s bargains to be had whatever you’re in the mood for: £3 Amstel, Guinness and Dark Fruits, house spirit and mixers, plus £4/£3 for 250ml/175ml house wine.
Distrikt, 7 Duncan St, Leeds LS1 6DQ
Smokestack
The veteran funk & soul bar on Lower Briggate has earned a well-deserved name for itself as one of the most reliable places to start a night out in town. Or finish one. Or just spend the entire time there - an especially attractive proposition from you consider cocktails from their Thank Funk It’s Friday menu are just £6 between 5pm and 9pm.
Smokestack, 159A Lower Briggate, Leeds LS1 6LY
Lazy Lounge
Lazy Lounge doesn’t have a happy hour, it has a lazy hour: an hour so lazy that it actually lasts four hours between 4pm and 8pm, Monday to Friday. Don’t worry though, there’s no chance of that time dragging when they’re banging out £4 G&T, £3.75 Prosecco, £3.50 wine, and £3 Kozel and Aspall.
Lazy Lounge, Wellington St, Leeds LS1 4JY
The Decanter
Park Row’s contemporary, non-wanky wine bar has a formidable list on offer which you should absolutely sit and sample while they talk you through your choices, but if you just need to unwind after work, their happy hour means you can get a small or medium glass of house wine for £3/£4, or, if it’s been one of those days, a bottle for £16. Available 4pm - 7pm weekdays (except Wednesday)
The Decanter, 17 Park Row, Leeds LS1 5JQ
The Lost & Found
The most recent L&F in the former Leeds Club on Albion Place is one of Leeds most slept-on gorgeous looking venues, and - thanks to a little quirk of the central nervous system that has no doubt done me a few favours in the past - looks even better after a few bevs. Between 5pm and 8pm Monday to Friday, those bevs can be obtained at bargain rates as well, with signature “Found” cocktails on the go for just £5
The Lost & Found Leeds Club, 3 Albion Pl, Leeds LS1 6JL
Wapentake
Kirkgate’s ode to God’s Own Country is full of drinks showcasing Yorkshire produce and decor celebrating the county’s heritage, but there’s one Yorkshire trope you won’t find here: the old bloke, tight as a duck’s arsehole, complaining about the price of a pint. Especially on Tuesdays, when cask ale is £2.50 a pint all day.
Wapentake, 92 Kirkgate, Leeds LS2 7DJ
