I went for a spontaneous night out at this award-winning Leeds bar - and it’s a credit to the city
‘Leeds will always need these spaces’
It was a Bank Holiday Sunday, and Leeds was surprisingly quiet.
After dinner with a friend, we decided the night wasn’t over and wandered the city centre in search of somewhere with a bit of life. Eventually, we settled on Viaduct Showbar, which we knew would be a safe bet.
As the only dedicated drag cabaret bar in Leeds, Viaduct is lively any night of the week, with everything from ‘Twerk B4 Werk’ Mondays and bingo Wednesdays to its flagship Viaduct Show on a Saturday.
The bar has recently scooped a Community Impact Award at our Oliver Awards 2026, in recognition of its inclusive, welcoming space for the LGBTQ+ community, and its ongoing support for local charities.
The choice in Leeds’ Freedom Quarter pales in comparison to Manchester’s Gay Village, which makes venues like Viaduct - a longstanding fixture of the scene for more than two decades - all the more important.
And on our visit, the sense of community was evident.
There were older couples, big groups of students, fancy dress, casual attire, bondage-themed outfits and party dresses - people from all walks of life, young and old, mingling, dancing and letting their hair down.
It was the Heroes vs Villains patio party, with DJs playing everything from Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande to club bangers and 80s classics. We were soon out on the dancefloor, booging away until the early hours.
At the bar, the servers were friendly and swift. You won’t find artisan gins or fine wines, but that’s not what Viaduct is about. We opted for double Gordons and slimline tonics, which were a very reasonable £7.70 each and did the job perfectly.
And to our delight, servers circled the terrace with trays of BuzzBallz and Tequila Rose - we gave in to the latter.
I only had one gripe - and it was a big one - the toilets were in a poor state. Toilets were overflowing, flooding the entire women’s facilities with a layer of brown, murky water. I had to give my boots a bleach when I got home, and watched a poor girl in open-toed heels splash her way into a cubicle. It let down an otherwise fantastic experience.
That aside, Viaduct is a credit to the city - and its role as an inclusive, safe space for the LGBTQ+ community shouldn’t be underplayed.
Leeds will always need spaces like Viaduct, and be better for having them.
Factfile
Address: 11 Lower Briggate, Leeds, LS1 6ER
Telephone: 0113 344 9552
Opening hours: Mon, 1pm-4am; Tues-Weds, 1pm-2am; Thurs, 1pm-3am; Fri-Sat, 1pm-5am; Sun, 1pm-1am
Website: https://www.viaductleeds.com/
Scores
Drinks: 7/10
Value: 9/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Service: 8/10