IF YOU balked at the cost of getting the train to London to hop on the Eurostar to Paris, and you’ve managed to resist all of the Curry’s PC World adverts suggesting you put the Mother in Law out to pasture in order to make room for an 80inch, curved OLED, 4K 4D 4-kin-ell-how-much TV, you’ll be needing somewhere to watch the Euros throughout the next month.
Here you can join in the Vardy Party with pints for £2 if Jamie Vardy nets a goal
Luckily, we’ve done all the work for you. Below we’ve rounded up the best places in and around the city centre to watch the Euros, so all you have to worry about is preparing those managerial pearls of wisdom to share with the rest of the pub. After all, there’s likely to be a job or two going come July...
North Bar
Where? City Centre, Otley, Harrogate and beyond...
Why? Beer & Team Pairing, Panini Swap Shop
Rather than showing all of the matches on the big screen and making people scramble for a good view, North Bar are getting a lot of smaller screens to show matches on, for an all together more sociable experience. There’s also Beer & Team pairing, allowing you to sample some standout beers from across Europe, as well as a Panini Sticker Swap Shop, so you can snatch those last few shinies to complete your collection.
If you’re not near the city centre, don’t worry, the festivities extend to all the venues in the North Bar family, including (deep breath): North Bar Harrogate, North Bar Social in Otley, The Cross Keys, further north in Chapel Allerton, Alfred in Meanwood and Preston in Oakwood.
Brudenell Social
Where? Hyde Park
Why? For the atmosphere and lack of gimmicks
Anybody who’s been a music fan or student in Leeds during an on even numbered year knows that Brude is the place to go in Hyde Park for international football. Good beer, cheap prices and no gimmicks. They just turn their legendary gig room into a screening room for the big games, and the fans (with a little help from the best in town sound system and the acoustics of the room) do the rest.
Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen
Where? City Centre
Why? For the roof terrace
If you’re more roof terrace than football terrace, then head down to Belgrave where they’re showing all of the home nation matches as well as most others on the roof and on the big screen in the first floor music hall. Street food traders and beer bars will be joining fans on the roof as well, so don’t worry about smuggling some oranges up for half time sustenance.
As well as showing the matches, Belgrave are hosting a football quiz on Sunday 12th June to celebrate the tournament’s kick off. Questions will range from Premiership classics to the Euros themselves, with a prize pot of £250. The quiz starts at 2pm, followed by Northern Ireland vs Poland at 5pm.
Belgrave Social
Cuthbert Brodrick
Where? Millennium Square
Why? Erm, Millennium Square
Yeah that’s right, Wetherspoons. Say what you like about Spoons, but the diversity of the drinks available is commendable, ranging from the most run-of-the-mill domestic lagers to US Craft Beers, Belgian Trappist Ales and boutique gins. They also manage to keep prices down by not shelling out for expensive luxuries like football broadcast licenses. This branch in particular doesn’t need to as you can see all the action on Millennium Square’s mammoth screen, where they’ll be showing all the televised matches throughout the tournament.
Original Oak
Where? Headingley
Why? The Garden
Obviously, in an ideal world, we’d love to be at Glastonbury in a few weeks time, taking a couple of hours rest from avoiding Coldplay to go join the thousands of people watching England’s lions inevitably get knocked out on penos by the Ukraine. But we're still yet to crack that bleedin' ticket system.
Still, if it’s football al fresco you’re after, Headingley’s Original Oak is Leeds’next best thing. They’ve got the biggest garden around with a barbecue area, dozens of picnic benches and, most importantly, a massive cinema screen showing all the games. Being on The Otley Run means it also won’t break the bank, and you might just find yourself watching the match with a bloodsoaked Terry Butcher or sarong-clad David Beckham. Or just some prat in a Minion onesie. Luck of the draw.
The Brunswick
Where? City Centre
Why? for the chilled out vibe
Squeezing into an old England shirt and howling (wrongly) 'jewels remain still gleaming' (it's 'Jules Rimet still gleaming' - after the Jule Rimet trophy England won in 1966, by the way) isn’t everybody’s idea of a good time when it comes to the footy. So if you want a more refined, laid-back experience, Brunswick has got you covered. Its friendly neighbourhood pub vibe, expertly curated beer selection and distance from the nearest kebab shop means your enjoyment won’t be hindered by the braying masses. All their usual offers will be on during the matches as well, including 2-for-1 grilled sandwiches on Monday, Pie & Pint Wednesdays, and 20% off bottles and cans on Thursdays. Plus if England win the cup, there’s a round of drinks on the house for everyone in the pub. Maybe don’t hold your breath for that one though...
The Brunswick
Wapentake
Where: City Centre
Why? The beer selection
Just like Marcus Rashford, this is a newcomer looking to make a big impression in their first international tournament. Unlike Marcus Rashford though, the Yorkshire-themed bar has got a spacious first floor room where you can book tables with no deposit, get ice cold buckets of cans or bottles, and table service so you don’t have to miss a moment of action while you’re working your way through local brews from the likes of Northern Monk, Ilkley and Saltaire.
Black Swan
Where? Call Lane
Why? The food and drink offers
This Call Lane pub is laying on offers during every game like buckets of beer for £15, selected crafts for £3, beer & a burger for £10 and £2.50 pizza slices. They're stepping it up even further for England matches, with offers including: £2.50 G&Ts until Russia score against England in the opener, and £2.50 vodka & mixers vice versa, whilst English and Welsh breweries, Ilkley Brewery and Tiny Rebel, will be facing off during the England vs Wales match.
Shooters
Where? Headrow
Why? They've got more TVs than Cash Converters
This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Shooters, the city centre sports bar with so many screens you might as well be wearing a virtual reality headset. Every game will be shown on their huge 120” x 80” screen, four projectors, and 20 HD flatscreens. They’re also offering 25% discount on a drink representing each participating nation, including England’s Doom Bar Ale, the French Martini, and the Italian Birra Morretti.
Distrikt
Where? City Centre
Why? For fun & Games
Nobody has put more effort into their Euro fun & games as Distrikt. As well as showing the matches on their huge projector screen, they’re having a BBQ, free snacks, drinks prizes, Home Nation happy hours where pints and spirits are £2.50, ping pong, Fifa tournaments, and last but not least, a Vardy Party where you can get pints for £2 if Jamie Vardy puts one past the keeper.
Distrikt
