The Victoria Hotel in Leeds — more formally known as The Victoria & Commercial — reopened its doors in December 2025 after a four‑year closure and a careful restoration by Kirkstall Brewery and Whitelock’s Ale House. This article brings together the latest verified information on the current status, history, and location of this 160‑year‑old Grade II listed pub‑hotel, drawing on official records, local journalism, and independent guides.
Last checked: 2026-09-18
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Status: Reopened December 5, 2025 · Address: 28 Great George Street, Leeds, LS1 3DL (also cited as 31-32 Park Row) · First opened: 1865 · Operator: Kirkstall Brewery (in partnership with venue owners) · Notable feature: Victorian architecture, beer and food focus · Previous closure: Closed for at least four years before 2024
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-09-18.
Sources reviewed: official venue website (thevictorialeeds.co.uk), official drinks‑menu PDF, BBC News, online development‑finance case study, Urbanite student‑accommodation project page, Yorkshire Food Guide, Leeds Living feature, Hammerson press release, Insider Media report, Leeds Beer Quest blog, Leeds‑UK history page, National Transport Trust heritage page.
We did not conduct an on‑site visit or staff interview; all claims are drawn from published sources as of the date above.
Snapshot: The Victoria Hotel Leeds
- Reopened in December 2025 after a four‑year closure, under Kirkstall Brewery’s management. (The Victoria Leeds)
- First opened in 1865, making it a 160‑year‑old Leeds landmark. (Leeds History)
- Located behind Leeds Town Hall, on Park Row and Great George Street.
- Partnership between Kirkstall Brewery and the owners of the venue.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Status | Reopened December 5, 2025 |
| Address | 28 Great George Street, Leeds, LS1 3DL (also cited as 31‑32 Park Row) |
| First opened | 1865 |
| Operator | Kirkstall Brewery (in partnership with venue owners) |
| Notable feature | Victorian architecture, beer and food focus |
| Previous closure | Closed for at least four years before 2024 |
Timeline: From 1865 to 2025
- 1865 – The Victoria Family & Commercial Hotel opens on Great George Street, built to accommodate court attendees and Town Hall visitors.
- c. 2012 – Local beer guide notes the hotel rooms are abandoned but intact, while the ground‑floor pub (known as “The Vic”) continues to prosper. (Leeds Beer Quest)
- March 2020 – The Victoria pub closes during the Covid‑19 pandemic, beginning a period of neglect.
- January 2020 – Hammerson receives planning consent for a separate 205‑bed Victoria Gate Hotel project (adjacent to Victoria Gate shopping centre). (Hammerson press release)
- 2024 – Urbanite announces plans to convert the former hotel’s upper floors into 54‑bed student accommodation, while the pub is to be revived. (Urbanite)
- 11 January 2024 – BBC News reports that Kirkstall Brewery and Whitelock’s Ale House have taken over the public house, aiming to reopen it. (BBC News)
- Planned September 2024 – Yorkshire Food Guide reports the pub is expected to reopen in September 2024. (Yorkshire Food Guide)
- 5 December 2025 – The Victoria & Commercial officially reopens to the public following restoration and modernisation. (Leeds Living)
Victoria Hotel Leeds – Spec Sheet
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Current name | The Victoria & Commercial (pub); often referred to as Victoria Hotel Leeds |
| Address | 28 Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3DL / 31‑32 Park Row |
| First opened | 1865 |
| Reopened | 5 December 2025 |
| Operator | Kirkstall Brewery (with Whitelock’s Ale House partners) |
| Listing status | Grade II listed |
| Type | Historic pub with hotel history; ground floor pub operational, upper floors converted to student accommodation |
| Notable feature | Victorian architecture, “one of the finest pub interiors in England” |
Location and how to get there
The Victoria Hotel sits on Great George Street, directly behind Leeds Town Hall. Its frontage also faces Park Row. The address is most commonly given as 28 Great George Street, Leeds, LS1 3DL. The venue is a short walk from Leeds Railway Station (roughly 10 minutes on foot) and is well served by local bus routes that stop near the Town Hall. For drivers, pay‑and‑display parking is available on nearby streets and in the Town Hall car park. The entrance to the pub is on the ground floor, with the student accommodation above accessed via a separate entrance.
What is the latest verified information about Victoria Hotel Leeds?
The most authoritative update comes from the venue’s own website: The Victoria & Commercial reopened in December 2025, about 160 years after it first opened. The official history states that the pub closed in March 2020 and fell into neglect, then Kirkstall Brewery and Whitelock’s took charge in January 2024. The reopening weekend was 5 December 2025, as confirmed by a local‑media feature in Leeds Living. Meanwhile, plans to convert the disused upper floors into 54‑bed student accommodation were approved by Leeds City Council; that conversion is now complete and the student residents moved in earlier in 2025.
What is the current status of the Victoria Hotel in Leeds?
Open and trading. The pub is fully operational, serving food and drinks under the operation of Kirkstall Brewery. The student accommodation above is also active, managed by Urbanite. The Grade II listed interior has been carefully restored, including new cellar equipment, kitchen, and toilets.
What recent developments have been confirmed?
- January 2024: Kirkstall Brewery and Whitelock’s take over the pub lease (BBC News).
- September 2024: Yorkshire Food Guide reports a planned September reopening (this target was later revised).
- December 2025: Actual reopening date, as published on the official site and reported by Leeds Living.
What should readers know first about Victoria Hotel Leeds?
The Victoria Hotel is first and foremost a historic pub. It opened in 1865 as the “Victoria Family & Commercial Hotel”, catering to people attending the courts and civic events at the adjacent Town Hall. The ground‑floor bar—known locally as “The Vic”—remained popular for decades after the hotel rooms upstairs were abandoned. Its Victorian interior is considered one of the finest pub interiors in England, according to the venue’s own drinks menu. Today, the pub is the main attraction; the hotel rooms have been permanently converted into student flats.
What type of venue is the Victoria Hotel?
A pub and former hotel, now functioning purely as a pub with a student residence above. It emphasises craft beer (Kirkstall Brewery’s own products) and food.
Why is it historically significant?
It is a Grade II listed building from the height of the Victorian era, part of the grand civic quarter behind Leeds Town Hall. Its 1865 construction places it alongside other major Leeds civic developments of the period. The pub has been a constant presence in the city for over a century and a half.
Which official sources confirm key claims about Victoria Hotel Leeds?
The most reliable sources are the venue’s own website and its official drinks menu PDF, both of which provide the foundational facts: 1865 opening, Grade II listing, closure in March 2020, and reopening in December 2025. BBC News covered the January 2024 takeover by Kirkstall Brewery, quoting founder Steve Holt. Local food and lifestyle guides—Yorkshire Food Guide and Leeds Living—corroborate the timeline, though the planned September 2024 date mentioned by the former differs from the actual December 2025 date. The development finance case study from BLG confirms the 54‑bed student conversion, and Urbanite’s own project page describes the same scheme.
What does the official website state?
The Victoria Leeds site (thevictorialeeds.co.uk) states that the pub “first opened in 1865”, “closed in March 2020”, and “reopened in December 2025”. It describes the building as “one of Leeds’ most iconic pubs”.
What do local news outlets report?
BBC News (January 2024) confirms the new operators and their intention to restore the pub. Leeds Living (December 2025) reports the “official opening” weekend of 5 December. Both are credible local‑journalism sources.
What is still unclear or unverified about Victoria Hotel Leeds?
Several details are not yet publicly confirmed from high‑tier sources. The exact number of hotel rooms in operation before the conversion is not specified; we know only that they were abandoned by around 2012. No room or pricing information for the current student accommodation has been made public in the sources reviewed. There is also a discrepancy between the September 2024 reopening target reported by Yorkshire Food Guide and the actual December 2025 date — the reason for the delay has not been officially explained.
Are there any conflicting details between sources?
Yes. An Instagram post from the venue (mentioned in research notes) suggested a September 2024 reopening, but the official history and Leeds Living both state December 2025. This likely reflects a delay during restoration, but no public statement has been made about it.
What information is not yet publicly confirmed?
- Exact room availability and hotel operations (the premises is no longer a hotel, but the term “Victoria Hotel” persists).
- Current menu prices or booking details.
- Specific architectural history before the 1865 opening.
What are the most common user questions on Victoria Hotel Leeds?
Based on search patterns and local queries, readers frequently ask about the current status, location, operators, and history. We address each below.
Where exactly is the Victoria Hotel located?
Behind Leeds Town Hall, on the corner of Great George Street and Park Row. Address: 28 Great George Street, LS1 3DL.
Who runs it?
Kirkstall Brewery, in partnership with Whitelock’s Ale House, operates the pub.
When did it first open?
1865, as a hotel and pub.
Our recommendation for readers
For history enthusiasts, pub‑goers, Leeds visitors, and local residents, the revived Victoria & Commercial offers a chance to experience a piece of Leeds’ 19th‑century hospitality in a setting that has been carefully returned to its former glory. While the hotel rooms are no longer available, the pub operation is robust and the atmosphere is genuinely Victorian. Pair a visit with a walk around the Town Hall and the civic quarter to appreciate the broader architectural context.
““The Victoria & Commercial is one of Leeds’ most iconic pubs, a Grade-II listed building which first opened in 1865.””
– The Victoria Leeds, Official pub operator statement in house literature
Frequently asked questions about Victoria Hotel Leeds
What is the current status of the Victoria Hotel in Leeds?
The pub reopened on 5 December 2025 after a four‑year closure. It is now trading as The Victoria & Commercial under Kirkstall Brewery.
Where is the Victoria Hotel located?
The address is 28 Great George Street, Leeds, LS1 3DL (also cited as 31‑32 Park Row), behind Leeds Town Hall.
When did the Victoria Hotel first open?
It first opened in 1865 as the Victoria Family & Commercial Hotel.
Who operates the Victoria Hotel now?
The pub is operated by Kirkstall Brewery in partnership with Whitelock’s Ale House.
What type of establishment is it?
It is a pub with a historic hotel background — currently a pub serving beer and food, with student accommodation on the upper floors. It is Grade II listed.
Is there a discrepancy in the reopening date?
Yes. An Instagram post earlier indicated September 2024, but the official reopening was in December 2025. The delay has not been officially explained.
What is the venue’s significance?
It is an iconic Leeds landmark behind the Town Hall, known for its Victorian architecture and status as one of the finest pub interiors in England.
Sources cited
- The Victoria Leeds (official site)
- The Victoria & Commercial drinks menu PDF
- BBC News – Victoria & Commercial pub reopening
- BLG Development Finance – student case study
- Urbanite – Great George Street project
- Yorkshire Food Guide – Victoria Hotel pub report
- Leeds Living – The Victoria is Back
- Hammerson press release (Victoria Gate Hotel)
- Leeds History – timeline 1837‑1901
- Leeds Beer Quest – The Victoria Hotel