New Penny

Fantastic little gay bar, attentive bar staff, cheap to average prices on drinks, efficent door staff. Fills up at weekends especially with the opening til 4−5-6am, get there before 12 and its freee, and just £2 after, bargain !!, Shame about the toilets, with only 1 cubicle for gents, and the ladies is tucked away downstairs.

Opening in 1953, The New Penny is one of the oldest gay pubs in the UK. Its located just around the corner from the central ‘gay village’ of Leeds and from the outside doesn’t look all that promising. I can’t say the inside is much better actually. However, this place is not about interior design or décor, its about atmosphere and this place has it, tonnes in fact.
This place actually has quite a pub feel to it, only without the skin head local pub types in Leeds. A range of clientele go, from students at the local universities to local gay and straight people, this mash-​up of age groups allows for some interesting conversations. I walked in a few months back with some friends to their karaōke night and had a brilliant night. In regards to prices however its not the cheapest in the city, a pint will cost around £3.10. Prices, slot machines and sticky floors aside, the true talents of this venue lie in its atmosphere which is definitely worth celebrating.
My suggestion: Go on an event night. They often have outrageous drag queens and acts to host nights along side some very reasonable drinks deals.

In an area of Leeds where try-​hard trendy bars and clubs with snooty door staff are ten a penny (no pun intended), the New Penny stands out as one of the few places you can have a drink and a dance to some fun music without worrying if your trainers are too scruffy. Laying claims to being one of the country’s oldest gay bars, this bar is unassuming from the outside and relaxed on the inside, with most of the space given over to dancing — something which happens here a hell of a lot. Open until 4am at the weekends with a mere £2 entry charge for latecomers, the clientele is a mix of young and old, gay and straight, all enjoying a night of attitude-​free frolics fuelled by the cheap shots and doubles at the bar. A good bet if you’re not ready to go home once the bars shut but not feeling up to full-​on clubbing.

Fab for a cheesy nite of pop and feel good tunes. Gets well busy on weekend nights as its open until really late!!! Get there before all the other bars kick out at ¹¹⁄₁₂ as there will be a massive queue after this time. And you will have to pay the £2.00 to get in. Weeknights are less busy but just as much of a good night !!!