The Arc

You have to fight to get served on a weekend, and the staff are some of the grumpiest and most miserable I have ever seen (being a fellow barman, i know it’s hard at times but cheer up). Not only that but they’re the ones that constantly serve a lovely young lady first instead of the correct order of people queuing. There cocktails are not great and way too pricey. Although it is one of the better looking establishments in Headingley, it could just do better if if had some better staff. The food side though is it’s saving grace. Quick and extremely tasty.

Went there last night for a drink after a meal in Far Headingley, it was the first place we came across that was still open after 11pm. It served a purpose, as a friend and I fancied another couple of drinks. But to be honest it’s not really my cup of tea.
I felt rather old, as the place was full of students celebrating St Patrick’s day, and a large group was there for someone’s 18^th. There was some not-​too-​bad music playing — Kaiser Chiefs, Killers that kind of thing — however part of me did wonder if it was on in a kind of ironic/​retro way…
We drank in the upstairs bar, and had some reasonably priced cocktails. A bit busy and loud to have a chat at first, but then we spotted a little ‘snug’ area with comfy seating which had some space for us to sit, and it all ended up being quite a nice hour or so.
Would I go again for late night drinks? Yes, probably, especially if it wasn’t term time. Would I go earlier in the evening? probably not, somewhere like Woodies or the New Inn nearby is much more up my street.

Great venue, good quality food and hot bar girls. A must for any students!

The two star description says everything. «Meh. I’ve experienced better» The selling point for me is the balcony. Been couple of times and I love sitting there even if it’s a bit chilly. But last night I got dissapointed. I was looking forward for the 2for1 cocktails and enjoying it at the balcony but apparently they close it after 9 which I found it stupid. My fiancé told me is due to health and safety but still i found it stupid.
Anyway the staff there are really nice although one made me feel very uncomfortable when i had just grabbed a bunch of coins from my purse and went to get a half pint of cider. I didn’t know how much it was so i asked to see if i needed to get more from my bag that i didn’t have with me at the bar. But when I asked the barman he smirked while looking at his friend who was next to me and repeating my order in a kinda ironic tone which made me feel like i was stupid to think that i wanted to order half a pint. But that was only one incident out of all the staff they have there.
And it’s true about how loud the music was. We had to scream at each other’s ears in order to have a discussion. And finally the disgusting part of last night’s ordeal was that outside the toilets was a condom on the floor and members of the staff was passing by ignoring it.
So final verdict is: If you planning of not staying to long there for a night out it’s ok, because if you want a night out in a place like that just go to a proper night club. Same feeling with the added bonus that you can dance in the loud music you listening. But if you want just a nice drink and relax go around 6−7pm when it’s not that busy and you can even sit outside with your drink at the balcony.
PS: If you are not planning of ordering 3 – 4 drinks at the time make sure you have cash with you because minimum for the card is 10 pounds.

I’ve nothing against The Arc per se, it’s just not my kind of haunt. And they won’t be missing my trade since it appears to be *the* place for students to dance the night away and get a few good deals on beer –it’s always busy, so they must be doing something right for someone. If nothing else, The Arc is definitely a popular place to go, and that’s all fair enough. However, having popped back in recently it reminded me why we’ll never be best mates.
Having been to the cinema my companion and I decided to grab a few drinks post-​film and granted, it was a Friday night so there were options away from town, but when it comes to Headingley those options thin out to the dregs. (For me, at least.) Citrus-​now-​Voodoo was just closing and The Box wasn’t our bag so we tried our luck at The Arc. My word it was the stuff of my nightmares. Imagine the scene — we’d just been to see a delightful Italian ‘papal comedy’ at Hyde Park Picture House and we wandered into Leeds’ own Benidorm local.
Basically, if you’re into the whey protein, modern pop-​dance music (the stuff that harks back to happy hardcore) and cheap deals on pints then this is your mecca. With a few barges along the way we made it to the bar and ordered a couple of pints with the, to her credit, super friendly bar staff. We hoped to sneak onto the balcony, but it became apparent it was empty because it was closed. Upstairs was rammed (more barging) and so we stood right by the door with our pints, next to the young lad who was showcasing himself on the dance floor, and all the pints that smokers had lined up whilst nipping out for a cigarette.
No real option for chatting, it was too loud. The thing is, it’s clearly a popular venue –there were tons of folk there. However, it’s just so not for me. If you’re more of a talker, or into slightly more exotic beers and cocktails, this just isn’t the spot. I’ve been told on good authority their burgers are damned good, so I may well pop back on a Sunday, but as far as the weekend is concerned I think I’ll just make sure I’ve a beer at home waiting for me. Too loud, crowded and rowdy for little old me.

The days of the student stereotype are pretty much a thing of the past. Grungy little holes, places where your feet stick to the floor and watered down beer are no longer acceptable to such a big and ever more discerning crowd. So it’s no surprise that in the heart of student-​ville lies The Arc.
It’s a venue that would probably look more at home in the city centre. It’s glass fronted and screams contemporary from every corner. It really is a class act and looks aren’t too deceptive here. It’s not just style before substance, it’s a little bit of both.
You’ve got plenty of bottled beers to get stuck into, faring from across the globe. Plus you’ve also got the Tiki cocktail bar, inspired by 1930s Hollywood and Hawaii. Think big, brash, fruity concoctions that wouldn’t look out of place in an Elvis Presley film. The one that draws me is is Hello sailor, not least because it makes me chortle to myself every time I order it and also because it’s a quite immense blend of passion fruit, raspberry purée, vodka and juice.
The food isn’t bad either. Good hearty gourmet burgers or for me it’s the quite refreshing salads, a little more inventive than your usual fare. Otherwise grab a snack, kick back and enjoy a drink or seven and remind yourself that the city centre isn’t the be all or the end all of the universe.

Beautiful place, classy… stylish…there must be a catch though right? I came here for drinks with my friends a little while ago and we were shocked when one alcopop cost around £6…needless to say, we didn’t order another drink. I could understand more if it was a gorgeous vintage wine or cocktail but a WKD or something similar? Jog on Arc…

As a student I struggle through my finances and keeping myself together money wise battling between my wants (shoes, shoes, shoes) and needs (bread, books, blah blah). However some of Headingley’s residence seem very, very wealthy for 20 year olds, driving around in mini convertibles, wearing Lipsy dresses and chanel sunglasses and always drinking expensive bottles of champers… where do they get it from… The Arc.
I find Arc a very pretentious place to drink and dine. There is nothing honest about it and there is definitely not a friendly vibe.
The décor is gorgeous with big open windows and modern contemporary designed balconies hanging off the upstairs. Aesthetically I find it very pleasing. Nevertheless I find the drinks very expensive, charging city center prices to customers who think they are local celebrities. I find it all a little sad. A small glass of wine is a fiver, which upsets me and my wallet on a night out!
On the food front the menu is very tasty and their burgers are quite tasty. A pizza or burger meal can cost up to £10 though which is extortionate I feel. You really are paying for the plush décor and wannabe WAG reputation.

I can see myself in The Arc. No, really, look. In the glass? Alright, so, that was a rubbish joke but come on — you got any better? Add them in the chat bit why dontcha.
Anyway, The Arc, isn’t it nice to look at? All curvy. Like a good woman. And glassy. Like, er, a pint glass? See what I did there?
Let’s cut to the chase, The Arc looks nice. It’s swanky on the inside too. There’s comfy seats, the usual ‘we’re an alright bar, look at us, we’re all shiny’ interior that some bars proffer.
My tip? Go for food in the day. Not at night. It’s more expensive than it’s Headingley contemporaries, which means it gets a quieter more mature crowd. It’s good to go if you’re after a quiet drink, but not on a weekend — when it’s heaving with Headingley’s young professionals. And aspirational unprofessionals.

The Arc’s most impressive feature is definitely its appearance — literally arc-​shaped and with a sleek glass exterior, the place has definite aesthetic qualities. Unlike its two younger sisters (The Box and Trio) however, there seems to be little behind the exterior. It is rarely as busy as the other two aforementioned bars, and (probably due to its location) it closes rather early — 12:30am. These two factors ensure that it draws a slightly older, maturer crowd that most of the other drinking holes in Headingley, and while it would be wrong to call the atmosphere in The Arc dead, it is certainly guilty of being flat most of the time; this lack of banter is not offset by the fact that the drinks prices are also amongst the most expensive in Headingley (perhaps to subsidise that glass exterior!).
The Arc is not an offensively bad bar in itself, but when compared to its neighbours The Box and Trio, it sinks as if Noah has abandoned ship.

Das Arc liegt in Headingley/​Leeds.
Es ist kein traditionelles Pub sondern eine Mischung aus Pub und Restaurant. Es ist sehr modern aufgemacht mit einer großen Glasfront, Galerien über 2 Etagen mit gemütlichen Ecken und Sitzgruppen und einer sehr gemütlichen Lounge und Bar. Nicht zu verachten ist auch der umlaufende Balkon in der oberen Etage, der auch bei kühlen Wetter mit Heizstrahlend gut zu besuchen ist.
Das Essen ist gut. Hauptsächlich stehen Burger und Pizza/​Pasta auf der Karte, jedoch sollte man auch immer die Spezials beachten. Der Service ist ok, nicht überragend.
Für einen lustigen Abend mit Freunden und Kollegen sehr gut geeignet. Nettes gemischtes Publikum mit vielen Studenten aber auch Geschäftsleute. Neben dem Bier/​Alé und gutem Wein sind die Cocktails sehr zu empfehlen.
Die Preise liegen in der gehobenen Mittelklasse, das Esen ist es aber wert.

I once got charged so much for a bloody mary here it made my eyes water. This place is good but the crowd can be a bit much. The toilets smell lush though. Mmm, vanilla.

Like most bars in Headingley, you may have to fight your way through the throng of students to find yourself a seat, but The Arc has something else going for it that other establishments don’t
Steak n Chicken Tuesdays. Does what it says on the tin. Steak and chips or chicken and chips for £5.95 (it went up 95p a couple of months ago and I was distraught). Bag yourself a nice bit of sirloin and some very tasty BK-​esque fries, along with a pint, for under a tenner.
Unless they’ve had new staff though, watch your boyfriends, ladies. The waitresses aren’t backward at coming forward. Cheeky bints.
UPDATE
I went here last night to bag a bargain steak and it was delicious. Cooked to perfection, with a lovely mushroom sauce for an extra quid, with yummy fries and a salad, and a glass of the house red, and some belgian waffles to follow. Can’t fault the food, it was bang on.
The service, however, was TERRIBLE! Our waitress was not only rude, but stupid! Before we’d even sat down she had mumbled the specials at us and demanded ‘so do you want a drink?’. We ordered dessert, and I’d asked for cream rather than ice cream with mine, which I didn’t get, and after the plates were unceremoniously slammed on our table we wondered quite how we were going to eat our waffles given that all we had were the knives that had been left on the table when our steak ones had been brought over.
I called the stupid/​rude waitress over and asked if we could have some cutlery, which caused her to blink a couple of times, look at our knives, say ‘cutlery? You want cutlery?’ like it was the most ridiculous thing she’d heard of, because we clearly had cutlery on our table (two knives — they’re cutlery, right?), and then when I said ‘yes, to eat our dessert with’, she stomped off and brought back a fork and spoon each, which she carried with the eating end and put her stupid/​rude fingers all over.
I enjoyed tipping with the coppers in the bottom of my purse.
Also, the place was full of ridiculously posh Headingley student people, who annoy the sh*t out of me with their ‘Well I got two Bs at A-​level, so Daddy bought me a Mini Cooper and new veneers rah rah rah snort snort’. Shut up. Seriously.

During the student time this place is heeving every night of the week so if a busy, friendly commercial place is what you want this is the place to be. During holidays it quitens down which is just how I like it. Gorgeous balcony to sit on and drink over looking headingley. Can choose to sit in restaurant too, cosy atmosphere, very nice staff. Recommend the 241 burgers on a Monday!
Funky house and chart music if you fancy dancing on a weekend and a good choice if not wanting to go into town.