City Varieties Music Hall

Established in 1865 as a room above a pub for the working class, the Varieties is Leeds’ hidden gem and the 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; she is a living, breathing homage to the music hall era. You can feel it, hear it, even smell it. If you stop, take a breath and listen, she’ll tell you the story of the stars who have performed on her stage, from Houdini to Russell Crowe; the prince who hid in her balcony to secretly court a music hall queen; the baby born during 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; the funny man from Liverpool with his tickling stick; and the army of volunteers who have welcomed the people of Leeds through her front doors for over 155 years.

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

This venue is a part of the Visit Leeds Culture Around Every Corner Campaign, celebrating the diverse and vibrant culture of Leeds. Find out more at https://www.visitleeds.co.uk/culture-around-every-corner/