News of any bar and restaurant closure is sad to discover but some do hit that little bit harder.
As we know, money is stretched at the minute, for a variety of reasons, and we are seeing some of our best loved venues in towns and cities in Yorkshire struggling to survive. On a personal level, a recent closure which brought great sadness was that of Golaccio.
Possibly an acquired taste for some, it was an old boozer converted into a haven for 1990s Italian football. Yeah, as I mentioned, an acquired taste, perhaps.
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Walking up the street, approaching the pub, you’d see an image of Roberto Baggio hanging proudly from the hoarding above it. Stepping inside, you’d find a lifesize cutout of Paul Gascoigne in his Lazio kit and on the walls, punters would see classic football shirts from a legendary era for Italian clubs, a period where many in their 30s, like me, fell in love with football.
Once you'd bagged your pint, much of the initial conversation would focus on which shirt you’d love to take home with you. I’d probably plump for the Fiorentina one with the 7Up logo on the front.
I’d happily have that and the New Order World in Motion vinyl, placed on a shelf on the wall, although that might be greedy. While, I’m sure many reading will think this all sounds awfully hipster, and there’s no denying during its short stay in Leeds, Golaccio, earned a cult status, at its heart the venue was a spit and sawdust boozer.
Aside from the memorabilia, the pub was unapologetically no thrills. The furnishings had arguably seen better and sometimes it all felt a little ramshackle but regulars, like myself, loved it and miss it greatly.
This trait merely added to the community spirit being created in a small corner of a big city centre. Probably perfectly epitomised in those Thursday night Golaccio football quizzes…which a LeedsLive team had a habit of winning on occasion.
Quizmaster, and proprietor of the pub, Tim was worth the entrance fee alone - it was all wonderfully eccentric from start to finish. I don’t actually live in Leeds any more but a visit to Golaccio catching up with old friends always felt like a homely return at the Great George Street pub.
I also a personal debt of thanks to Tim and the team, who help add a little bit of uniquely Golaccio fun to a friend's stag I helped organise last year.
Golaccio might have only held residence in Leeds for around a year but its left an impression. To shamelessly rip off Blade Runner, ‘the light that burns twice as bright burns half as long’ and so has proven to be the case with the finest retro Italian football pub Leeds will ever have.
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There’s rumour the team might be pitching up at a new location away from Leeds. That city’s gain will be certainly our loss.
To find out the latest food and drink news in our city you can visit our Best in Leeds homepage. There you will also find a guide to great things to do in Leeds.
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