Where to drink in Headingley, from the Otley Run to a quiet glass of wine

Headingley has a reputation, and most of it is earned on Otley Road. It is where the Otley Run starts, the two-and-a-half-mile student pub crawl that Discover Leeds calls a rite of passage for most Leeds students. But the area has a decent spread of pubs once you look past the crawl: a proper local, a matchday haunt, a beer bar in a former shopping arcade, and a small wine bar for when you have had enough of pints in plastic wigs.

The Otley Run end of things

Woodies Craft Ale House, 104 Otley Road, Far Headingley

This is the official starting line of the run, though the Yorkshire Post says it feels more like a local than the student haunt it could be. It is a Greene King pub with a craft slant: the paper mentioned Vocation Crush Hour and Northern Monk Faith on the bar, plus Greene King beers. Order a local craft ale, and if you are hungry, the bar snacks include a homemade scotch egg and a sticky pickle sausage roll. It used to be the Woodman Hotel, and the name changed after a 1970s refit. Good for: a sensible first pint before the run gets silly.

The Three Horseshoes, 98 Otley Road, Far Headingley

Practically next door to Woodies and the second stop on the run. Leeds List picks it as the best traditional pub in the area and calls it one of Headingley's oldest, and local directories list it as an inn from the 1830s. CAMRA lists cask ale. Tripadvisor says food is served daily from noon and stone-baked pizza is the best seller, so order that. Live music on Fridays, disco and karaoke on Saturdays. Discover Leeds mentions friendly staff and good pub games. Good for: a proper pub with a bit of noise on the weekend.

The Skyrack, 2 to 4 St Michael's Road, Headingley

A famous student pub, according to Leeds List, with a large beer garden. CAMRA describes a big pub with lots of separate areas and black-and-white photos of the city and its sporting stars. That makes it a reliable all-rounder for groups, especially if the weather plays ball. Check hours before you set off.

For matchday and for beer

The Headingley Taps, Bennett Road car park

DesignMyNight reckons it suits a cask ale before cricket or rugby, with a pub menu to go with it, and lists themed events such as disco nights. Discover Leeds and Tripadvisor give opening hours of 10am to midnight Monday to Wednesday and Sunday, and 10am to 1am Thursday to Saturday, though other listings disagree, so check before a morning visit. Good for: pre-match pints.

Arcadia Ale House, 34 Arndale Centre, Headingley Central, Otley Road

A glass-fronted beer bar at the end of a former 1960s shopping arcade, per Creative Tourist. CAMRA lists it as a Market Town Taverns pub with two ground-floor rooms and an upstairs mezzanine, opening at noon. One Tripadvisor reviewer praised the beer, wine and whisky selection, so this is the one for people who care what is in the glass. Good for: a long, unhurried beer session.

Slightly off the main drag

Bottle Chop, 14 Weetwood Lane, Far Headingley

Not a pub, and all the better for it. Discover Leeds calls it a cosy wine bar, deli and bottle shop serving natural wines, craft beer, cheese and charcuterie, with wine bottle refills. Leeds List says it comes from the people behind Fika North. Order natural wine on tap and something from the cheese board. Good for: a quiet drink for two.

The Chemic Tavern, 9 Johnston Street, Woodhouse

Strictly Woodhouse rather than Headingley, but close enough to be worth the walk. Visit Leeds calls it a historic real ale pub, established in the early 1840s and named after a local chemical works. CAMRA lists cask ale and real cider, and Discover Leeds says it is independent with events most nights. Good for: real ale and a night with something on.

A quick plan

• Starting the Otley Run: Woodies, then the Three Horseshoes next door.
• Group with a garden need: the Skyrack.
• Before the cricket or rugby: the Headingley Taps.
• Beer nerds: Arcadia Ale House.
• A calmer glass of wine: Bottle Chop.
• A short walk for real ale: the Chemic Tavern.

Opening times shift, so check each pub's own page before heading out. Woodies has its details on the Greene King site, and the full Otley Run route is mapped in the Discover Leeds guide. For a wider roundup, see Leeds List.