Our gang used to always call in this salubrious watering hole when we had a game in the West Riding,after a discussion about when it closed we thought we would ask the Leeds inhabitants.

It got burnt down in some gang drug thing or at least those were the rumours at the time.

Certainly some characters in there.

A proper hole . Was best avoided . There was however a half-decent all-nighter in the street behind it . Sonny's IIRC
What was/is the place called somewhere near opposite the Fforde Green (sp?) . It was in a cellar I think .

Quote: DABHAND "Our gang used to always call in this salubrious watering hole when we had a game in the West Riding,after a discussion about when it closed we thought we would ask the Leeds inhabitants.'" www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... 673_161482 1990 but was derelict for years after.

Quote: DABHAND "Our gang used to always call in this salubrious watering hole when we had a game in the West Riding,after a discussion about when it closed we thought we would ask the Leeds inhabitants.'" www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... 673_161482 1990 but was derelict for years after.

Probably the dodgiest pub in Leeds in its time, and that's in quite a crowded field. Didn't the Ripper pick up one of his victims there too?

Closed late '80s I think.

Yep deffo late 80s, my gran used to live just up the road from it.

That would be the Strega (sp?).

Gosh "The Strega", that brings back youthful memories..

Gaiety wasn't that bad, though it was a den of iniquity. You were usually safe in there despite the scum bags and dealers because it was usually full of off duty coppers and press!

Strangely enough me and G1 had a conversation about this place not so long ago, it was before my time so I never went but it sounded like a fun place.

I went to the Strega once, a bit intimidating, I too never thought the Gaiety was that bad and never felt particularly uncomfortable in there.

For me the scariest pub in Leeds is, or was, the Wilson Arms on the Seacroft Estate. You didn't make eye contact in there. The Royal Park, Little Park and newlands weren't great 25 years ago either.

The fatal shooting of David Nelson was the last straw for that place thankfully. Sad that it took something like that to make licencing committees sit up and take notice mind.

See also The Trotters on York Road (what is now Paws for Thought opposite the Irish Centre) which never recovered from being the centre of a gangland attack.

My Aunty & Uncle used to have the Wilsons in the early 90s IIRC. Never realised it was so bad

I don’t get this whole rough pub area thing and I've been in some right dives!