Skyrack

Located at the top of St Michaels Road, the Skyrack, with its big screen action, sensibly priced food and drink, and beautiful regulars, is one of the trendiest sports bars in Headingley.

The Venue
Ask any twentysomething in Leeds to name a Headingley pub and it would be a fair bet to assume this pub is the one they come up with first. Yes, Skyrack is a bit of an icon.

The Skyrack enjoys an enviable location in the middle of the action, in the buzzing student town that is Headingley. It's always been a decent size, but an extension has given it a fair amount of square footage to accommodate the madding crowds.

Has quality been substituted in favour of quantity? It appears to be the case. Pre-refurbishment the ambience could have been described as cool, no ifs, no buts. However, nowadays the ‘rack' isn’t what it once was, and it seems that when the new look came in, the personality went out.

The People
Due to its proximity to Headingley stadium it's a popular pre- and post-match venue for sports lovers who follow their teams religiously, and for that reason, among others, it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and there can be a tinge of aggression in the air, and the occasional fracas.

The Food and Drink
It's hardly worth mentioning what food is on offer as it's what you can get in any other pub in the area. It's cheap though.

There's a decent variety of traditional ales and bottled beers and these are definitely the drink of choice here. Four pint pitchers are also popular.

If fine wines or cocktails are more your drink of choice then it's doubtful that you'll be impressed with what's on offer, and a trip to the neighboring Arc may be in order.

The Last Word
This is definitely part of the whole Headingley experience, and if you love sports the Skyrack will almost definitely be for you. However, it's not for everyone and most find the notably more laidback Original Oak, over the road, a more attractive prospect for a relaxed drink with friends.

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