The Fenton

Ahhh old reliable. Back in my college days I found myself here constantly. I can only describe this place as ‘everyones local’. The Fentons great character and cheap drinks always dragged me back. The jukebox has a great selection of music and was always playing something good. I certainly would recommend this place to anyone if you’re wanting a decent pint for a cheap price.

Called in here from work on Friday. The beer was good and cheap, did expect being cheap it would be watered down but no was really good. The only thing that’s maybe not the best is outside. We went to sit outside with our drinks and when we saw what awaited us it was like Jack Duckworths back garden in Coronation Street.

I used to frequently attend the Fenton in my uni days. It’s very close to Leeds Uni and used to attract me with cheap pints, a good rocky juke box and a quiet pool room in the daytime. It’s been a good while since I’ve been there, but I nipped in for a quick couple before 2.8 Hours Later recently.
The inside has only changed a little since I last visited, but it felt a little cleaner than I remember, which is good! The girls on the bar were very friendly and chatty whilst we were getting served, and the drinks on offer were ok, if a little sparse on the choice.
We grabbed a seat outside as it was a nice evening — there are only a few tables on offer, but it’s an alright little area while it’s quiet, although once it got busy and the smokers took control of the area I’d imagine I’d be moving inside very swiftly! The toilets were also surprisingly well maintained (they’d definitely been done up since I was last here).
I suppose the main problem with the Fenton is that whilst it’s decent in the daytime while it’s quiet, because it’s an unremarkable pub I can’t recommend it for when it gets busier in the evening. Given it’s size and small, slightly awkwardly positioned bar, it just wouldn’t be worth the hassle.
However, it does have the advantage of being one of my favourite places on the Otley Run, even if I haven’t done it in years!

What can I say, this is a pretty standard pub really.
On the plus side, there’s real ale, a reasonably decent jukebox and a pool table. The beer prices are pretty good too, with the cask ale I was drinking only £2.20 a pint. Another plus is that they regularly have live bands playing upstairs, a pub that supports local live music will always get an extra star from me.
On the downside, the layout is pretty rubbish, and it’s easy for the downstairs seating to become fully occupied without the pub actually being particularly busy. The music is a teeny bit loud for me nowadays although that might have just been my bad luck of when I went in. You could hold a conversation, you’d just have to speak up a bit.
If you’re after a decent pint that won’t break the bank and a game of pool or maybe a local band then get down here.

This place is a weird one for me. The first thing that hits you is most certainly the dank smell. I wouldn’t like to point the finger, so I’ll let you discover for yourself from whence that interminable musk originates. But anyway, that is the first item that you would notice on walking into The Fenton.
But once you get past this, if you do stick it out, you discover an oddly laid out and cozy pub with plenty of character. They have a great little outside seating area for the smokers, if you can balance holding your pint down the very steep slight of steps.
They hold regular live music events in the upstairs of the place. The bar staff are very friendly and attentive, and the drinks selection in nicely varied — which I have come to expect of a pub nowadays. Even if I stick with a pint of lager, I at least like the option to move for a more exotic spirit or cask ale.
Anyhow, I think the point is this: The Fenton is a nice, if a little pungent, place to go for a few drinks. But nothing stands out as magnificent.

Perhaps the best place to drink near the university, the Fenton is the sort of pub that combines locals and students perfectly.
The locals who do frequent it seem to warm to the students or any youngsters, an experience which will come as a shock to you if you’ve already been in the not so friendly Pack Horse up the road.
The downstairs area is split into two partitions, served by one bar full of chatty staff and one quality old school jukebox. There is also a tiny room with a pool table in but it’s hard to get on for a game sometimes as the place is usually fairly lively on an evening.
It houses live acts in the upstairs room, providing the tiny sort of venue that you can imagine a world-​famous band starting of in. Beer and food are cheap too. Basically, it’s got it all.

Excellent service the staff really do make you feel at home and looked after (Not in an over friendly in your face american style). The foods good for the price, all in all one of the best rock/​music pubs I have ever frequented. Most of the regulars are decent too.

pubs aren’t supposed to smell like roses. but that doesn’t mean they have to smell like fertilizer either. the fenton is a fine enough pub providing ample enough seating and your choice of crisps and lagers, etc. but good grief the smell of the place is like a smack in the face. by the time you get used to it, you know it’s time to leave.

I used to work next door to The Fenton, which made it ideal for post-​work drinkage. I have, however, fallen over a number of times thanks to the annoying little step into the ‘lounge’ area, so beware. The staff are super friendly, though, Wow is right. They hardly laughed at all when I fell over.
Much, much nicer than the Packhorse, but The Eldon’s still my favourite :)