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 over 20 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 & Cocktail Lounge, Headingley
5. Headingley Taps, Headingley^[8]
6. The Arc, Headingley^[8]
7. trio Bar and Grill, Headingley
8. The Box, Headingley^[8]
9. The Skyrack, Headingley
10. The Original Oak, Headingley
11. The Hyde Park, Hyde Park Corner
12. The Library, Woodhouse Lane (formerly Feast and Firkin)^[8]
13. The Packhorse, Woodhouse Lane
14. The Eldon, Woodhouse Lane
15. The Old Bar Leeds University Union^[9]
16. The Terrace Leeds University Union^[9]
17. The Fenton, Woodhouse Lane
18. Strawberry Fields,(Strawbs) Woodhouse Lane
19. 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 ^[10]. Some examples of rules include:

• Drinking a pint in each pub
• Half pints or a single unit for women
• A "golden" Otley run starts at the Sun Inn in the town of Otley
• An alcohol-free alternative, with charity collection
• A different drink in each pub/bar
• Fancy Dress ^[11]
• Three-legged runs with pairs of people having a 'wingman' to support them
• A pint of water and a shot of alka seltzer in each pub

Other University Pub Crawls

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

References

1. ^ Leeds RAG » Blog Archive » Halloween Otley Run Challenge
2. ^ BBC - Leeds - Students - A piece of student culture
3. ^ http://www.headingleytoday.co.uk/news/Headingley39s-Otley-Run-is-as.3874215.jp Headingley Today: Otley Run as Popular as Ever
4. ^ "The Otley Run". Inter Student. http://www.interstudent.co.uk/university-guides/england/west-yorkshire/leeds-university/the-otley-run.html. 
5. ^ Jess, Edwards. "Limit Reached". http://studentblogger.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!B215AC934D095C97!505.entry. 
6. ^ "Leeds/Headingley#Drink". Wiki Travel. http://wikitravel.org/en/Leeds/Headingley#Drink. 
7. ^ "Otley Run (possible route)". www.barcrawl.co.uk. http://www.barcrawl.co.uk/pubcrawl.aspx?Crawl=19. Retrieved 29 June 2010. 
8. ^ ^{a b c d} Newer bars/pubs, sometimes omitted by the more traditionalist Otley Runners and attributed to the Headingley Mile list.
9. ^ ^{a b} Student Union buildings sometimes require an NUS or Union Life Membership card to be produced, or that you sign in as the guest of a card holder.
10. ^ http://www.itchyleeds.co.uk/article/2991.html Itchy Leeds Otley Run Guide
11. ^ http://www.otleyrunfancydress.co.uk/content/8-the-otley-run
12. ^ "The Micklegate Run Pub Crawl in York". http://www.york-united-kingdom.co.uk/pubs/micklegate-run/. Retrieved 13 January 2010. 

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