Otley Run

The Otley Run is a pub crawl in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The route follows the A660, also known as Otley Road at the point the pub crawl commonly begins. The Otley Run is a popular social gathering for student clubs and societies from The University of Leeds, Leeds College of Art, Leeds Trinity University College and Leeds Metropolitan University ^[1] and is also a common activity for birthdays and other celebrations ^[2] among graduates and city residents^[3]. Participants often wear fancy dress and coordinate their costumes to a particular theme.

History of the route

Initially, the route covered only Tetley pubs and started in Otley ^[4], passing the University's main playing fields at Bodington Hall and Weetwood, and many of the University's student flats. With the closure of Weetwood, Cavendish, and Tetley Hall student residences and the opening of others beyond of city centre, the modern route has moved south of the original, usually starting at Woodies in Far Headingley instead. The chosen route may also extend beyond the University bars to city centre club nights ^[5]. Inclusion of pubs away from the main road has always been regarded as optional, with followers of the extended list (known alternatively as the Headingley Mile ^[6]) often starting early to allow time to visit as many venues as possible.

The route

Depending on the route taken, the Otley Run can include 18 drinking establishments^[7], namely:

1. Woodies Ale House, Far Headingley
2. The Three Horseshoes, Far Headingley
3. The New Inn, Far Headingley
4. Voodoo Bar (Formerly Citrus), Headingley
5. Headingley Taps, Headingley^[8]
6. The Arc, Headingley^[8]
7. The Box, Headingley^[8]
8. The Skyrack, Headingley
9. The Original Oak, Headingley
10. The Hyde Park, Hyde Park Corner
11. The Library, Woodhouse Lane (formerly Feast and Firkin)^[8]
12. The Packhorse, Woodhouse Lane
13. The Eldon, Woodhouse Lane
14. The Old Bar Leeds University Union^[9]
15. The Terrace Leeds University Union^[9]
16. The Fenton, Woodhouse Lane
17. Strawberry Fields,(Strawbs) Woodhouse Lane
18. The Dry Dock, Woodhouse Lane

Rules and variations

People attempting the Otley Run may do so casually or choose to follow a specific set of rules

Gentlemen Rules: Gentlemen Rules consist of the following 1. No pointing 2. Left hand drinking only 3. Full christen names only e.g. Alexander rather than Alex 4. No swearing

If any of the above happens then that person must drink the rest of their drink on the spot.

Other rules of Otley Runs normally consist of two people in the group, one person being a ‘Time Keeper’ and another person being the ‘Grenadier’.

The ‘Time Keeper’ is a selected person throughout the Otley Run, who decides how long the group should have in each pub. This can be anything from 5 minutes to 45 minutes from when everyone in the group getting their drink. This person does not have to tell the group how long they will be in each place and does not have to give any notice on when they are leaving.

A ‘Grenadier’ is another selected person throughout the group, this person has to shout out ‘Grenade’, whether it is in a pub, bar, club or on route. When doing so everyone in the group must get onto the floor no matter what they are doing or where and the last person on the floor has to drink the rest of their drink immediately. The word ‘Grenade’ can be changed to any word to fit in with the groups Otley Run theme, such as if the theme was Pub Golf then someone could shout ‘Four’ as the well-known expression in golf which means a ball is in coming.

^[10]. For example fancy dress ^[11]

Other University Pub Crawls

• Whiteladies Road. Bristol
• Campus 14 - Nottingham
• Micklegate Run, York^[12]
• Subcrawl, Glasgow Subway
• The Claret Run, York

References

Coordinates: 53°49′14″N 1°34′37″W / 53.8205°N 1.577°W / 53.8205; -1.577