Outlaws Yacht Club

I'll try to order this review in an appropriate fashion, since this place has various guises -all of which I love.

The Outlaws cafe:

By day, this artfully decorated space defines relaxed. It's light and airy, given the huge windows, and the tables are spaciously laid out for groups, solo coffee drinkers, and couplets to arrange themselves. There are 60s style tables and chairs, low standing long wooden blocks, comfy cushioned benching, and groovy bar stools. Top tip: if you've a laptop, there are electric outlets abound to plug in, and naturally, free wifi. The back wall displays plentiful curious prints and paintings, there's wallpaper with pineapples on it, and even a tiled bit of wall that kids are welcomed to deface - Outlaws will even supply the pens. Delightful phrases such as 'Darwin Rules' and 'it's really hot today!' currently decorate the wall.

To eat and drink, you have an array of hot drinks (the usual suspects) and a curious menu, offering up toasted sandwiches, home made stew, sushi (from Sushiboy) and salads. If you're more into cake, the bar has a myriad of gooey goodness. My personal recommendation is the spongy raspberry offering, whose name I do not know. Get involved in a bit of that, with an Americano on the side, and you'll be a happy chap. Bored? No probs. They've all the board games you could want to while away a few hours. And don't even get me started on how cool the music is - these guys know their chill out. (I realise it's not to everyone's taste, but I'm a fan!) Also, try the home made stew, it's warming and awesome. One last thing - ask about the magic till, if you've a small child with you. They'll love it.

The Outlaws bar:

By night, this place transforms into a cosy hub of creativity, music and cool. They've a range of regular events that are most worth checking out, more notably, their DJ nights. Their Baleraric social is something to put in the diary, with world famous DJs performing fantastic sets, and of course -you can enjoy regular evenings of excellent music from Joe's Bakery and co. The monthly performance poetry night, Sticks And Stones, is another awesome event to get booked in. Expect a host of wordly musings from the open mic-ers, waxing lyrical in hip-hop style, thoughtful abandon, and hilarious commentary. Every month features a highly regarded poet, and now I've been lucky enough to have seen Mark Grist in the flesh.

The drinks are ultra cool, with a select few cocktails and spirits on offer, alongside Brooklyn Lager and Estrella on draft, Brewdog, Anchor Steam, Belle Rose and more in bottles, and a varied amount of guest beers appearing depending on the season. Prices, of course, are a little higher with such premium offerings - but, this isn't a complaint as such. I like good beer, if possible, excellent beer. I don't expect to get that for £2.50. In the evening, when the place is full, there's an interesting effect where the windows steam up - even that is cool, as it feels like you're enveloped in a secret blanket of awesome.

So, there you have it. Most of the things I love, rolled into one great big hug of a hang out. Wifi and power, check. Good coffee and lush cake, check. A range of good food for lunch, check. High end beers, check. Interesting and artful events, check. Quirky vintage décor, check. Amazing music, check. Good people? Don't even doubt it for a second.

Really chilled place! Love the "MAPerol spritz" it's delicious! Lovely staff, always polite and friendly. Would definitely recommend!

I've only ever been to Outlaws during the evening so I can't possibly comment on daytime activities, but what a cool little place this is!

The bar is small but spacious, mirrors complimenting the decor along with disco balls and bottle-storage globes dotted about the room. The seating is comfy to lounge upon, and the windows make the most of the limited light stolen by the NCP car park opposite.

The Yacht Club has an extensive selection of drinks, ranging from fruity teas to more spirits I've ever seen crammed on a shelf; apart from one snag. As a whisky drinker, I asked if they had Jack Daniels Honey Whisky in, and the bartender was puzzled, offering a cheeky quip of, "we have Jack Daniels, and honey?". The bartenders are charming lads who keep the place clean and tidy while retaining the laid-back atmosphere - one of them had Facebook open on his laptop behind the bar! The drinks are kind of pricey, but you would expect it from bars of the type.

The food is great too - I had a sandwich and it was the best I've had in Leeds; soft bread and great quality cheese resting on a crisp salad.

The only bad thing about the place is the bartender from next door's Rebel Pin-Up who storms through the bar from time to time with a look of pure anger on his face, and I promised that I wouldn't bring the Society of Young Publishers into this review! Great place!

We met here for the Yelp games night!
This is my first time here and it is very roomy and comfortable.
They had Brooklyn Lager which is an extra Brownie point!

The seating is well laid out.

There was an issue with our noise levels as there was also a literary meeting being held here.
I thought it was rather pathetic that they thought that everyone else should be quiet when someone was reading their work.
It is a pub! If they wanted that sort of noise reduction then they should hire a room.

But we had a great night. Balderdash was fun but the conversation took over the evening and Lifeboat was abandoned due to the conversation being that good!

They only downside were the toilets!
They open up straight onto the room! Quite unnerving.
So that's why 4 stars.

I will definitely come again.

What kind of people want to go to a bar in a hair dressers? Or a hair dressers in a bar for that matter.

Hipsters, that's who. And maybe people who want a drink after/before they have their hair cut/blowed/coloured/etc.

Outlaws is such a weird proposition, that it's easy to dismiss it out of hand as somewhere that could NEVER work, and that's honestly what I've done for a long time, having tried it for the first time at the end of last year and being so unbelievably unimpressed with poor drink selections, the overcrowded bar, the ridiculously bad bar staff...

Which is why my visit there last night was somewhat of a surprise. It was Yelp Board Game Night (though no boards were in attendance), and I arrived early to a near empty bar; my only company appearing to me a French speaking group of people who were on a what looked like a French Yelp event (maybe?). So the vibe wasn't the best.

But the selection of ciders? Amazi.... actually, they had 1. And some perry. And some cider with strawberry in it. But what they did have was a great beer range, including Brooklyn 10% Dark Chocolate Stout, which at £5.80 was worth every penny and yes, TEN percent. Didn't have too many of those.

The food looked yummy - if you like that kind of thing (eggs and cold food), with the other Yelpers who attended mewing at the quality and succulence... Outlaws source their grub from the Greedy Pig (http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/the-greedy-pig-leeds) apparently...

And the guys behind the bar were friendly, funny, chatty... good guys.

I just hope that the bar is this good on a Saturday night, as well as a Tuesday evening... Because if it is, it's well worth a visit.

There is a word to describe places like this, well, in actual fact there are many words (one word reviews have limited benefit anyway). The word that sprung, unbidden, to my mind on this occasion is 'comfortable'.
When I say comfortable I don't necessarily mean the seating (although it is) I also mean the general 'feel' of the place. The staff seem to amble around in a relaxed sort of way, the customers sort of lounge around and life just seems to slow down and get mellow.
When I was here there were a few 'events' happening and it was great to see a nice mixture of people enjoying the fare.
I love that this place has a stock of games for all and sundry to play and I was rather taken with some of the art work on the walls.
There are some great beers to be had and the menu seems pretty tasty although perhaps a mite expensive.

Went here with a large group for an evening out. It's good for a late group to relax.

It has an achingly small menu and closes early on a weekday making it difficult to gauge who the target audience is.

I hadnt realised i havent reviewed this place, surprising seeing as thus past few weeks it seems to have become my second home!!
Knowing where to start is difficult, it really has a variety of functions!
The space is huge with sofas running full length along both walls, with tables and chairs in the middle area.
During the day its a great place for chilling out and relaxing, the coffee/hot chocolate is lovely and the cake are all sorts of delightful.
The evening brings a different vibe to the place, with regular events, DJ nights, film nights and random performance acts. They also host social clubs, Lbcoutlaws, (book club) and yarnia, (knitting club) to name a couple.
They have a varied amount of beers and wine and some lovely cocktails.
All in all whenever you pop in here you are sure of a friendly welcome and a good time.

I immediately like this place as they have large globes dotted around!! I want one in my house.. maybe that should be my mission to steal one from here! :P

It is a lovely open space with big windows but not fish bowlesque at all.

Mainly it has big tables that are perfect for playing games, its all I ever do here!

Prices are not pricey and the food and cakes are delicious, really good value for money and high quality.
White hot chocolate Baileys is in offer, need I say more!!!?

Okey dokey,

I'll come straight out with it - I'm going to abbreviate Outlaws Yacht Club to OYC for this review. Partly because it's a long name to keep typing (and my laptop seemingly pre-dates the spinning jenny so it could take ages if I have to keep spelling it out in full) but also because OYC sounds a bit like a mid 90s pop act.

Oh wait. That was OMC. How bizarre.. : )

Anyway. OYC is a great new bar, tucked away on the main street opposite the NCP by Leeds Kirkgate Market & the main bus station. I say "tucked away" as you can easily wander past without noticing it. However, if you keep your eyes peeled & take a look inside you'll be rather chuffed that you did.

I've been there several times now & have found it to be a very relaxing little bar/cafe/hairdressers (the urge to get drunk and have my planned Flock of Seagulls hairdo become reality is rather tempting..although I may not be able to find my way out of the door afterwards..). I've not been for a haircut yet, but the atmosphere of the bar was very friendly & relaxed whenever I've been in. Whether popping in for a quick coffee (meh) or indulging in some fine craft beers (yay) it's a great place to sit, ponder and watch the world (not to mention the traffic) go by. As someone who rather enjoys pondering, sitting, world/traffic watching (not to mention fine craft beers) I would definitely recommend that it's worth a visit.

The prices are not cheap - you do pay for quality so I wouldn't recommend this as somewhere for a really wild night out (not that it has that kind of completely sozzled atmosphere anyway). However, you will be dazzled by a wide array of world beers available to the more discerning drinker (I was drinking an Argentinian beer last night - and jolly tasty it was too!). I can't comment on the food as I've not yet eaten there, but I can definitely say that they do a mean hot chocolate for a cold day. If you ask nicely they might even "Irish"* it up for you a bit ; )

* I mean add whisky. Not draw a shamrock in the top of it.

The only really serious drawback is that there are only two toilet cubicles in the bar, which does lead to queuing when it's busy (especially if, like myself you have a bladder the size of a Brontosaurus's brain). However, this is still infinitely preferable to standing in line at a rougher pub trying to avoid eye contact with someone who resembles a gorilla that's been put into a Ben Sherman shirt and then shaved in all/most of the right places. So it's still good : )

The best thing is (wait for it) - THEY'RE DOG FRIENDLY!! I don't actually own a dog (although I'm tempted to bring my rabbits Simon Le Bun & Alan Bunstard in for a swift half) but the very fact that they are dog friendly is brilliant. I've never understood why pubs are so awkward about dogs (give me a dog in a pub over screaming kids in a pub any day!) - as long as they're well behaved & kept under control I can't see the problem : )

Sadly most pubs in Leeds city centre can.

But not OYC. Good for them eh?

So, I think it's definitely a venue I'll be going back to. It's also conveniently close to the bus station if you have a journey to make - and what better way top commence your trip than a quick pint and a bite to eat?

Well, apart from having a big fluffy dog to pet whilst doing so?! ; )