The Brotherhood of Pursuits and Pastimes Leeds review: I visited a city centre bar beloved by sport fans
The Brotherhood of Pursuits & Pastimes markets itself as ‘the best sports bar in Leeds and the world’.
A popular bar in the heart of the city centre, Brotherhood is a familiar haunt for those who enjoy watching live sport on TV without having to suffer the rubbish atmosphere of their own living rooms.
With screens mounted everywhere you look, it is an ideal location for those looking to enjoy the action away from the house.
I cannot support the bar’s claim it is the best in the world. Unfortunately, I have not seen enough of this big floating rock to accurately compile a ranking.
However, I am not sure there is a better place to soak in sporting atmosphere in Leeds.
Whether it is a sunny Saturday afternoon or a drizzly Tuesday, whether Leeds United are facing Manchester United or Crawley Town are taking on Barnet, there always seems to be a buzz.
My recent visit was arranged to watch Leeds face Birmingham City in the FA Cup. It was not packed - it was a Sunday lunchtime kick-off after all - but there was still a steady stream of fans heading in.
Service was friendly and efficient and the drink selection is fantastic. There is something for everyone, with all pallates catered for along a lengthy bar.
What makes Brotherhood stand out above other sport bars is the aesthetic. There can often be clumsy decor in sport-focused establishments, with neon signs and replica football shirts dominating the walls and ceilings.
Brotherhood, however, boasts tasteful Victorian architecture and a pleasingly mazy layout.
No matter where you sit, the vantage point is good, with screens somehow absolutely everywhere without causing too much disruption to the interior design.
After mulling over the drink options, I went for the Japanese lager Asahi. It was crisp and refreshing, as Asahi tends to be, and set me back £6.50.
There was a time I would have scoffed at such a price, made a snarky comment and trudged back to my local. However, in today’s climate, £6.50 for a pint in the city centre isn’t actually too bad.
Brotherhood’s beauty lies within its mastering of the basics. In a sports bar, you need to serve customers the drinks they want and make sure they are not craning their neck to catch the game. Tick and tick.
The game I went to watch turned out to be quite the endurance test, as Leeds required extra-time and penalties to beat Birmingham. However, the setting for the test was spot on.
Factfile
Address: 54 New Briggate, Leeds, LS1 6NU
Telephone: 0113 243 4060
Opening hours: Monday-Wednesday: 12pm-12am, Thursday: 12pm-1am, Friday: 12pm-3am, Saturday: 11am-3pm, Sunday: 12pm-1am
Scores
Drinks: 9/10
Value: 7/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Total: 8/10