The Mustard Pot review: This Chapel Allerton pub boasts year-round appeal with festive tipples and open fires
Festive tipples are flowing freely at this time of year - and I’m happily in their court.
It’s taken me longer than usual to slip into the Christmas spirit. Leeds city centre, already decked in red and green before Halloween has even bowed out, feels crammed with overpriced food stalls and joyrides that promise more noise than cheer.
Chapel Allerton, however, courts a calmer kind of festivity. Here, the season feels more relaxed, more genuine. And for anyone struggling to find that cosy spark, The Mustard Pot delivers it in spades.
Perched just off the town square, the pub is perhaps best known for its sprawling beer garden - a summer haven where locals bask with pints under the blazing sun. But winter transforms the scene. Step inside and you’re met with warm lights, roaring fires, and a menu of festive sips that make the cold outside feel like a distant memory.
The Mustard Pot is cleverly laid out, with a bar area and a separate dining space. On a typical day, both are open to punters, but this Tuesday most tables are claimed by colleagues in high spirits, celebrating their annual Christmas dos.
I manage to secure one of the last remaining spots in the bar, tucked beside one of several fireplaces - the perfect court for a winter’s evening, while also avoiding the larger groups enjoying their festive dinner.
The bar is impressively stocked: a range of familiar beers, ciders, spirits, and a wine list so extensive it could take me a year to court properly. But in my search for Christmas spirit, the festive special - Kraken spiced rum with ginger beer - set things straight in an instant, its fiery ginger bite warming from the inside out.
It’s worth giving a shoutout to the bar staff, who on this occasion go out of their way to ensure both diners and drinkers are happy. Their cheer feels genuine, not forced - the kind of service that makes you want to linger longer than planned.
For round two, I stick with the theme, opting for a sweet, fruity and somewhat bitter sloe gin and tonic. Paired with a pint of cider, both visits to the bar land at between £15 and £16 - a decent price tag for a somewhat fancier boozer like this one.
What strikes me most is how The Mustard Pot manages to balance its reputation as a summer staple with its winter charm. The same walls that echo with laughter in July now glow with warmth in December, proving this isn’t just a seasonal stop but a year-round court for locals.
The Mustard Pot is not just a fantastic local boozer - it has also magically helped me find my Christmas spirit this year. And in a season where forced festivity can feel overwhelming, that’s no small achievement.
Factfile
- Address: 20 Stainbeck Ln, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3QY
- Telephone: 0113 269 5699
- Opening hours: Mon-Wed, 10am-11.30pm; Thurs-Sat, 10am-11.30pm; Sun, noon-10pm
- Website: https://www.mustardpotleeds.co.uk/
Scores
- Drinks: 8/10
- Value: 7/10
- Atmosphere: 10/10
- Service: 10/10