Sick of samey nights? Shake things up at the best activity bars in Leeds!
Look, I’m all up for taking slow resets, nursing a stiff Scotch like I’m the main of a noir film. That said, if you make me pick between necking pints in a sleepy pub and chucking axes in an activity bar, I’ll go with the latter.
The said haunts are just more banging. Sitting around in the same pub, pretending to care about David’s take on crypto? Nah, I’d rather play beer pong or darts with some randos from table 4.
You’ll get what I’m blabbering about if you take a swing at one or two of my go-to joints below.
The Brotherhood of Pursuits and Pastimes
– From brotherhoodleeds
Address: Grand Arcade, 54 New Briggate
Contact Details: 0113 243 4060
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Wed – 12 pm to 12 am
- Thu – 12 pm to 1 am
- Fri to Sat – 12 pm to 3 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 12 am
Necking pints while footy blares on the wall-to-wall tellies is why our gang legs it to The Brotherhood of Pursuits and Pastimes. Cocktails, whiskey, and craft beer flow freely here, made all the sweeter by artisan pies.
Once the laid-back pace no longer cuts it, there’s always a reason to get off those velvety lounges. For us, it’s a toss-up between lobbing rallies on the ping-pong table and sinking shots on the 2 pool tables, each costing £1 a game.
Tip: If you want the lowest prices, check out their Industry Deals.
Flight Club
– From jamesallcockcook
Address: Sovereign House, 1-2 S Parade
Contact Details:
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Wed – 11:30 am to 12 am
- Thu – 11:30 am to 1 am
- Fri – 11:30 am to 2 a m
- Sat – 11 am to 2 am
- Sun – 11:30 am to 12 am
The first rule of Flight Club is to always talk about Flight Club. That’s our creed when it comes to this bar, which is quite the looker, given it’s in a Grade II listed building.
As for what chiefly lures people in, we’ll hand it to their electronic dartboards. These offer an innovative take on the classic bar game, with fresh features like auto-scoring and mini-games.
Their menu and serving system are both mint, too. One press of the table buttons and out comes the bar’s famed pizza and prosecco.
Tip: Bring your blue light card to score 25% off your booze and bites.
Roxy Ball Room
– From roxyballroom
Address: Grand Arcade, 9a Merrion St
Contact Details: 0113 467 2230
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Wed – 4 pm to 12 am
- Thu – 4 pm to 1 am
- Fri – 3 pm to 3 am
- Sat – 12 pm to 3 am
- Sun – 3 pm to 12 am
Personally, Roxy Ball Room springs to mind when I think of an activity bar. Dubbed as Leeds’ ‘home of booze and ball games,’ it’s an ‘it’ spot for cutting loose with your crew.
Where you’ll spot us depends on our mood. Typically, we lob balls on the beer pong and ping pong tables.
Other times? Well, you’ll probably clock us hitting bullseyes on the tech darts section or screaming in a karaoke booth—always with a cocktail and pizza in hand.
Tip: Don’t forget to bring your student ID to grab deals like price cuts on the games.
Parkside Tavern
– From parksidetnq
Address: St Johns House, Merrion
Contact Details: 0113 467 2005
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 3 pm to 11 pm
- Fri to Sat – 12 pm to 12 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 11 pm
Honestly, I always lose track of time at the 2-storey Parkside Tavern, and the blame mainly goes to the pub’s 18 lines of craft brews and hand-stretched pizza. The terrace overlooking Merrion St. gets some, too.
For my gaming fix, it’s the Winmau dartboards I hit first. Cueing up on 1 of the 4 American pool tables follows, each costing just £4–£5 a half hour of play.
Tip: Drop by on a Tuesday if you want to join their quiz night.
Cuckoo
– From cuckooleeds
Address: 37 Call Ln
Contact Details: 0113 242 3966
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 5 pm to 4 am
- Fri to Sat – 12 pm to 4 am
- Sun – 2 pm to 4 am
Cuckoo’s owners weren’t messing around when they picked the name or when they vowed to ‘push boundaries.’ Drenched in neon lights and whimsical artwork, this place looks mental.
The activities match the vibe. Wild beer pong, giant Jenga, and rowdy photoshoots are the usual scenes going down in their 5 glittery spaces.
Even the cocktails are nuts. This is where we first tried a popcorn-flavoured martini!
Tip: Give their Boozy Brunch deal a shot. It gets you unlimited pizza and sips.
Black Cat Club
– From black.cat.clubs
Address: 35 Park Row
Contact Details: 0113 322 0763
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 12 pm to 11 pm
- Fri to Sat – 12 pm to 1 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 11 pm
Black Cat Club has binned its ‘tapa place’ identity, but the switch-up is a welcome one. New-era entertainment now energises the venue, and we’re all for it.
Our usual game plan is to test our aim at the interactive darts section. But if we roll in a large group and are feeling extra feisty, we swap the oche for shuffleboard.
The grub is also bang-on. Can’t go wrong with smash burgers and classic cocktails.
Tip: You can pre-order your drinks and food. Just give them at least a 24-hour notice.
Junkyard Golf Club
– From junkyardgolfclub
Address: The Light the Headrow, The Headrow
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Wed – 4 pm to 12 am
- Thu – 4 pm to 12 am
- Fri – 2 pm to 1 am
- Sat – 12 pm to 1 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 10 pm
Old but gold—that’s Junkyard Golf Club for you. It may be one of Leeds’ longest-running activity bars, but the madness still slaps, thanks to a quirky game they call ‘craziest golf.’
Just look at their 3 nine-hole courses. There’s a dystopian zone with murder clowns, an island with toxic volcanoes, and a 90s scrapyard that doubles as a UV rave!
Tip: Sundays to Wednesdays will get you cheaper cocktails.
The Belgrave Music Hall
– From belgravemusichall
Address: Cross Belgrave St
Contact Details: 0113 242 2066
Operating Hours:
- Mon – 12 pm to 12 am
- Tue – 12 pm to 12:30 am
- Wed – 12 pm to 1 am
- Thu – 12 pm to 1:30 am
- Fri – 12 pm to 2:30 am
- Sat – 11 am to 3 am
- Sun – 11 am to 12 am
The indie scene is alive and kicking at The Belgrave Music Hall. Across 3 floors of Art Deco glam, you’ll find live music and comedy gigs, often featuring local savants.
It’s also a top joint for art stans, with exhibitions to peruse. Movie buffs aren’t left out either, as the haunt occasionally throws on a film screening.
Of course, there’s scran and sips, primarily craft ale and canteen-style grub, like pizza and burgers.
Tip: Half-priced Dough Boys pizza slices are available from Sundays to Thursdays (12 pm to 5 pm) and Fridays to Saturdays (12 pm to 5 pm)
Carousel Bar Leeds
– From carouselleeds
Address: 117 Albion St
Contact Details: 0113 831 2122
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Tue – 12 pm to 1 am
- Wed – 12 pm to 3 am
- Thu to Fri – 12 pm to 1 am
- Sat – 11 am to 1 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 1 am
Carousel only landed in 2024, but it already has us rocking like we have lifetime memberships. No shocker there; our crew grew up in arcades, after all.
Yup, that means the place crawls with old-fashioned games, such as basketball and racing simulators.
Don’t worry, kiddos—nostalgia isn’t their only draw here. Modern bar games are open for grabs—think shuffleboard, shooting sims, and interactive darts.
Tip: They pour out 2-4-1 cocktails from Sunday to Friday—all day.
NQ64
– From nq64arcadebars
Address: Grand Arcade, 11 Merrion St
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 4 pm to 2 am
- Fri – 4 pm to 3 am
- Sat – 12 pm to 3 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 2 am
We can’t rave about arcade bars and skip the adult-only NQ64. Thirty retro arcade machines and flickering lights make this place a proper throwback.
Old-school consoles are also available, and they’re loaded with vintage games, such as Mortal Kombat 4 and NBA Hoops.
Even the drinks are game-inspired, with Street Fighter II as our usual sip. It’s a gingery and fruity spin on Jack Daniels.
Tip: The hottest and latest deals are all posted on their Insta.
Pinnacle Sports and Games
– From pinnaclesportsandgames
Address: The Pinnacle, 1 Bond St
Contact Details: 0113 322 5233
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 3 pm to 11 pm
- Fri – 12 pm to 12 am
- Sat – 11:30 am to 12 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 10 pm
I never walk out of Pinnacle sober or sad. Why would I? This classy bar has 20 local/foreign beers on top of 100 gins, headlined by Plymouth and Monkey 47.
The place is also a belter if we’re talking about pool with the lads. No need to squabble for space either, as there are 7 Sam Atlantic tables available.
Plus, there are interactive dartboards and tellies for those waiting, so no dead air!
Tip: Email [email protected] if you’re rolling with a group.
Pixel Bar
– From pixelbarleeds
Address: 25 Great George St
Contact Details: 07832 609853
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 4 pm to 1 am
- Fri – 4 pm to 3 am
- Sat – 12 pm to 3 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 1 am
Nope, Pixel Bar isn’t a mere copy of the previous arcade joints we mentioned. This one is mainly for the console bros who want to cook each other in Mario Kart while knocking back Witcher or Pokemon-inspired tipples.
That said, there are PCs and draught beers if you’re not a PS or cocktail guy. Just make sure to ring the digits above, or you’ll be fighting for a spot even before clashing in Tekken.
Tip: Avoid Fridays and Saturdays if you’re not into crowds.
Electric Shuffle Leeds
– From electricshuffle
Address: 123 The Headrow
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Wed – 11:30 am to 12 am
- Thu – 11:30 am to 1 am
- Fri – 11:30 am to 2 am
- Sat – 11 am to 2 am
- Sun – 11:30 am to 2 am
The day Electric Shuffle opened was the moment we caught the shuffleboard fever.
What’s their edge? They play a faster-paced game, as there are high-tech cameras and an automatic scoring system tracking it all.
In addition, there are 9 zones to slide those pucks, each able to host up to 16 players. Pretty convenient, too, as tables come with push-for-service buttons for ordering sourdough pizza, espresso martinis, and more.
Tip: Those into live music should rock on a Saturday. That’s when a DJ further pumps the place up.
Chance & Counters
– From chanceandcounters
Address: 6-8 Merrion St
Contact Details: 0113 487 5930
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Thu – 12 pm to 11 pm
- Fri to Sat – 12 pm to 1 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 10 pm
Not every activity bar needs booming lights to be visit-worthy—just look at Chance & Counter. Here, board games nab the spotlight, 500+ of the stuff.
That doesn’t mean it’s a snoozefest, though. Things can turn up fast, especially if you play Catan or Monopoly with craft beers on the side.
What’s sweet is they brew tea and espresso. That’s a win if you’d rather not get sloshed on a Sunday.
Tip: Book online for that 20% discount.
Boom Battle Bar
– From boombattlebar
Address: S43 Ground Floor Level and First Floor Level Victoria Gate
Contact Details: 0113 245 8000
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Tue – 12 pm to 11 pm
- Wed to Fri – 12 pm to 12 am
- Sat – 11 am to 1 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 11 am
Boom Battle Bar is all about big energy. The high-caloric burgers are served heartily, the martinis never run dry, and the games are anything but boring.
Speaking of games, they have more than enough to keep you fired up. While some joints dial in on 1–2 options, they have 5+ here, including axe throwing, beer pong, and even crazy golf.
American pool is on offer as well, which is best for those who prefer a slower-paced activity.
Tip: Consider doing your team-building here. They have tons of fun activities for corporate groups.