City Varieties Music Hall

Alice Hiley

Visit now

City Varieties Music Hall

46 New Briggate Leeds, Leeds, LS1 6NU
01132430808
  • Monday10:00am - 6:00pm
  • Tuesday10:00am - 6:00pm
  • Wednesday10:00am - 6:00pm
  • Thursday10:00am - 6:00pm
  • Friday10:00am - 6:00pm
  • Saturday10:00am - 6:00pm

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

City Varieties Music Hall
City Varieties Music Hall by Leeds Heritage Theatres.
Book now

Established in 1865 as a room for the working class above The White Swan pub, The City Varieties Music Hall is Leeds’ hidden gem – and Guinness World Record holder for the nation’s longest-running music hall.

Despite numerous ownership and name changes, The City Varieties has remained virtually unchanged since the late 19th Century; a living, breathing homage to the music hall era. The theatre has hundreds of stories to tell – the stars who have performed on the compact stage, from Charlie Chaplin and Houdini to Russell Crowe; the prince who hid in the balcony to secretly court a music hall queen; the baby born during a pantomime and gifted free admission for life; the schoolchildren who would fire pea-shooters at the striptease acts; the renditions of Down at the Old Bull and Bush to close the BBC’s The Good Old Days; and the army of volunteers who have welcomed the people of Leeds for over 155 years.

Barring a much-needed facelift in 2009-11, and the pandemic in 2020-21, The Varieties has never closed its doors. Audiences from far and wide still flock to see the brightest stars in comedy, music, variety and pantomime perform.

Visitors can enjoy a pre-show or interval drink in the historic Circle Bar, or pop across the ginnel to The White Swan pub for a warming meal. With a capacity of just 467, The Varieties is proof the best things in life come in small packages. Audiences are guaranteed a great view of the stage from the front row of the stalls to the back of the balcony. The only surviving Victorian music hall outside of London, The Varieties provides an atmosphere that’s at once intimate and electric.

The theatre is part of the Leeds Heritage Theatres group; a registered charity united by a single cause of bringing people together and creating extraordinary entertainment.

What's on near City Varieties Music Hall

Africana and Caribbean Food Fest
FestivalsLeeds
African & Caribbean Food Fest 2025

Calling people of Leeds and beyond! The city’s favourite African and Caribbean Food Fest is back, and this year it’s turning up the heat with Harmony of Colours, a celebration…

Free entry
the band
MusicLeeds
DIIV at Project House

Emerging from a four-year crucible of creative tension and personal reckoning, Brooklyn shoegazers DIIV return to Leeds.

From £22.50
LiteratureLeeds
Chemistry at The Chemic

Leeds live literature regular Chemistry offers an exciting mix of open mic acts and invited poets – this month the headliners include Rosie Garland.

Free entry

Where to go near City Varieties Music Hall

The White Swan Leeds
Leeds
Restaurant
The White Swan

The White Swan is a charming side-street pub next to the world famous City Varieties Theatre. It serves simple hearty food and a range of continental and American beers.

drinks at Kapow Coffee Leeds
Leeds
Café or Coffee Shop
Kapow Coffee

Kapow Coffee is an independent coffee shop located in Thornton’s Arcade in the heart of Leeds City Centre, serving cakes, sandwiches and delicious coffee.

OK Comics Leeds
Leeds
Shop
OK Comics

OK Comics is Leeds’ leading comic book shop, with everything from classic items to obscurities. Their modest shop is designed with ease of use in mind.

Olive and Rye Leeds
Leeds
Restaurant
Olive & Rye

Olive & Rye is a restaurant deli in Queen’s Arcade, Leeds, specialising in top-class sandwiches.

Flat Iron Leeds
Leeds
Restaurant
Flat Iron Leeds

Relaxed restaurant in Leeds serving impressively high-quality steaks at an affordable price point.

Flat Iron Leeds
Manchester
Restaurant
Flat Iron Manchester

Relaxed restaurant in the centre of Manchester, serving impressively high-quality steaks at an affordable price point.

iStock
Leeds
Shop
Waterstones Leeds

Standing proudly on the busy shopping hub of Albion Street, Waterstones Leeds is a bookshop that also hosts a variety of events

Leeds
Gallery
Leeds Art Gallery

The city centre Leeds Art Gallery is blessed with a fine historic collection and a changing series of contemporary exhibitions.

Leeds
Shop
Artsmix

Artsmix is a arts and crafts market in the centre of Leeds that has been supporting the creativity of artists and designers for more than a decade. T

Record Shops in Leeds wall of sound
Leeds
Shop
Wall Of Sound Records Leeds

Wall of Sound is an independent record shop stocking second hand and rare Records, CDs, DVDs, Books and Memorabilia, located in the the heart of Leeds.

crash
Shop
Crash Records

Crash is a yellow beacon of taste, located on Leeds’ central Headrow. With vinyl, tickets and in-store gigs it’s a must visit for indie and rock fans.

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre in the North

Summer signals theatre festivals, world premieres and open-air spectacle - from MIF25 to comedy, outdoor circus and beyond, here’s what we’re looking forward to.

Cloudwater Production One
Tours and Activities in the North

Go forth with wild abandon to dance the pavements, dabble with the paint and down the pints in this month's tours and activities guide.

Star Nhà Ease
Cinema in the North

July's cinema highlights include spotlights on international cinema, a new cult classic, plus a visit from one of our favourite directors.

Harry Baker
Literature Events in the North

From environmental to experimental, our poetry and prose picks from around the North are focused on the unusual and the fun.

Exhibitions in the North

Captivating, urgent and intimate - we bring you our top exhibition picks, with even more art festivals, artist-led shows and new venues.

Helena Hauff
Music in the North

Shape-shifting bands, scorched-earth techno, and off-grid festivals. Our latest music picks catch the live scene at its most urgent, inventive and alive.