The Cardigan Arms is a real feast for the eys when you first enter, especially if a grand traditional Victorian interior that you hadn't expected, and a clientel that cannot be pigeonholed or defined by any certain agegroup, floats your boat.
Halfway down Kirkstall Road, The Cardigan Arms has created a reputation for itself as a live music venue, showcasing all sorts of musical tallent, though mostly in the way of up and coming rockbands and folk ensembles.. With a room upstairs dedicated to this, the rest of the pub is a mishmash of smaller and larger rooms, allowing groups to sit alone, encapsulated by the grand setting of their own room, or to mingle by the bar, with older pub-goers, who do not seem at all adverse to a younger crowd enjoying the venue.
Friendly, honest, and a lovely sense of tradition that breaks up the monotomy of Kirkstall Roads string of run down takeaways and DIY shops.
This place gets 5 stars from me because it's my all-time favorite place in Leeds. It was really one of my first experiences of a pub, and I've never found one like it since (disclaimer: I live in the States). I love you Cardigan Arms, especially on quiz night! Never change!
![4]( "Recensione")
A rare example of a pub that's managed to retain its character while simultaneously welcoming in the student market it needs to keep going, the Cardigan Arms is both a local's pub and a live music venue, with old boys and young indie kids mingling happily in its CAMRA-listed historic interior. I visited a few days ago having never been before, and was surprised that although I'm a fan of heritage pubs like the Adelphi and Whitelocks this one had somehow slipped me by. The well-preserved Victorian interior is similar to the Adelphi's, with small rooms, glass panels and wooden screens creating an intimate, warren-like feel, and there are even the ruins of the old on-site brewery for proper beer geeks like me to have a gawp at. That the Cardigan Arms manages to retain its sense of history while still being one of Leeds' most popular venues for up and coming bands, with live music most weekends in the upstairs room, is testament to the dedication and commitment of both its owners and its locals. My only gripe is that there wasn't any real ale on when I visited, although I failed to establish if this is the case all the time.
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