Northern Monk’s Old Flax Store: Food, Beer and Visit Planning

A visit to Northern Monk, the brewery based at the Old Flax Store in Holbeck, can mean a guided brewery tour or food and drinks in its upstairs Refectory taproom. You can combine them, but plan the meal separately: the Refectory opens Tuesday to Sunday, while its resident kitchen serves Wednesday to Sunday.[1][2]

Brewery Tour or Refectory Table?

Choose the brewery tour if you want to see the working brewery and hear about how Northern Monk makes its beer. The guided visit lasts approximately 90 minutes and includes three one-third-pint tastings selected from the brewery’s core range and newer releases. There’s also an introduction to Northern Monk’s story.[1]

For a more flexible visit, the Refectory welcomes walk-ins and offers table bookings for food and drinks. It’s above the original brewery, with a beer garden outside. Northern Monk welcomes tour visitors to continue upstairs for another drink afterwards, so leave time beyond the tour itself if that’s your plan.[1][2]

Treat the tour booking and table booking as separate arrangements. The Refectory advertises weekend tours, while the brewery’s tour page directs visitors to choose an available date. Check that date before organising the rest of your visit around it.[1][2]

Food Days and Kitchen Closing Times

Fratello’s, the resident kitchen, serves pizzas and panuozzo, folded breads made with the same dough. Its full menu starts at midday from Wednesday to Sunday. Order at the bar, and tell the team about allergies or dietary requirements before ordering. Food is also available to take away.[2]

The kitchen closes before the bar every day it serves food. Sunday needs particular attention: food finishes at 6pm, although the Refectory stays open until 9pm. On Tuesday, the taproom opens for drinks but the kitchen is closed. Northern Monk lists the following hours:[2]

[2]

Vegetarian and vegan pizzas are available, with vegan mozzarella on request. The kitchen also offers gluten-free bases, but it handles gluten and says cross-contamination cannot be ruled out. That qualification matters when choosing a meal. Discuss your requirements with the team rather than relying on the base description alone.[2]

What’s Available to Drink?

The Refectory has 16 keg lines and four cask lines, serving Northern Monk beers alongside guest pours. Its drinks information names Faith and A Little Faith among the brewery favourites, with Ayinger Helles as the house lager. The can fridge includes fruit beers and low- and no-alcohol options, giving those who aren’t drinking alcohol a separate choice from the tour’s beer tastings.[1][2]

If a particular beer is the reason for your visit, check the drinks menu before setting off. The range includes new releases and guest beers, so plan around the selection available for your visit. Bring a card or another cashless payment method: the Refectory doesn’t accept cash.[2]

Finding the Old Flax Store and Checking Access

The address is The Old Flax Store, Marshalls Mill, Marshall Street, Leeds, LS11 9YJ, in Holbeck just south of the city centre. Northern Monk estimates a seven-minute walk from Leeds station’s south entrance. Use that entrance as the reference point when planning your route.[2]

Access deserves attention before you book. The Refectory’s main bar and toilets are on the first floor, reached only by stairs, and there’s no lift or step-free access to that floor. Arrival also involves a section of cobbles, a step into the building and a small doorframe to step over. Inside, the stone floors are level but uneven in texture.[2]

One first-floor toilet has assistance rails and baby-changing facilities, but it remains accessible only by stairs. Table service is available, and the venue has no hearing induction loop. These details describe the Refectory. If you’re booking a brewery tour and need information about its route, ask Northern Monk specifically about tour access before committing.[1][2]

For food after a weekend tour, work backwards from the kitchen’s closing time, allowing approximately 90 minutes for the tour itself. Once you’ve chosen an available tour date, reserve a Refectory table if you want a seat arranged for afterwards.[1][2]