EBG Rating: 8.3/10

Choice/Quality of Drinks:
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Style/Décor:
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Atmosphere/Character:
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Amenities/Events:
❤️❤️❤️❤️

Value For Money:
❤️❤️

Description:
When The Highland closed in 2023 manager Simon Pierce predicted it would never again open as a bar.

Such was the paucity of vision, that this long neglected backstreet boozer had failed to attract new custom despite the construction of dozens of apartment blocks around it. Back then you could expect a familiar drab cast of drinks, Sky Sports hoardings and a stench of death about the place that gathers when operations are desperately trying to cut costs.

However, spin on to 2025, the owners of Empire Café in the city centre have given the place not just a spruce up but a faithful reworking to a traditional city tavern of the likes you could expect in London, or – given its name – Edinburgh.

A wedge-shaped building, now dwarfed by the high-rise around it is obscured from view, situated down a slope and round a corner. They have revived retro 1960s signage for their branding, a choice of typeface which seems more than a little like trying to hitch a ride onto the likes of The Laurieston in Glasgow, the real deal.

The tiled floor inside remains, and a red gloss ceiling with framed heritage artwork and breweriana from its Tetley’s days work brilliantly.

Beer has been given a significant upgrade with cask and keg and ales along with good quality lagers.

The atmosphere since opening has been buzzing and vibrant, deservedly too.

Perhaps the only misstep is the food where over the top pricing (for pocket sized portions to boot) pushes the tolerance level too much and doesn’t quite fit with the easy informality of the pub they’ve created. A slight adjustment price wise, even at a slight downgrade of quality will bring it into line with the likes of Whitelocks in the city centre.

Other than that, it’s a welcome addition to Leeds pub roster and much needed. Additionally, it joins up a pub crawl from Kirkstall to Burley:

Kirkstall Bridge, Cardigan Arms, Dave’s Pies & Ales, Kirkstall Brewery Taproom… and now the Highland Laddie.

Now you know where it is, what’s stopping you?

(Added May 2025)