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Real ale & craft beer in Bradford

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davetheguard

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My wife & I are staying in central Bradford for three nights in March, can anyone suggest any real ale pubs and craft beer places to drink within walking distance? We'd probably want to eat some decent pub grub as well in the evening.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations.
 
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TPlanner93

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The Sparrow is the best pub for Craft Beer. The bars in Sunbridge Wells are probably worth a trip too, if a bit tacky/touristy.
 
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basfordlad

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If stopping in Bradford get over to saltaire for salts mill .found a very good craft ale bar there to. Easy from bradford
 
IanD

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Still have lots of family and friends in Bradford so have recently been to (and would visit again) Exchange Ale House, Corn Dolly and Jacobs Beer House (the erstwhile Jacob's Well). The New Beehive has quite an interior and if you're up that end of town it's not far to North Parade which seems to be a bit of a beer area, although I can't vouch for all of the establishments - I see The Sparrow was mentioned earlier..
 
gazthomas

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davetheguard said:
My wife & I are staying in central Bradford for three nights in March, can anyone suggest any real ale pubs and craft beer places to drink within walking distance? We'd probably want to eat some decent pub grub as well in the evening.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations.
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Crikey. 3 nights in Bradford ;)
 
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ChrisC

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gazthomas said:
Crikey. 3 nights in Bradford ;)
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I can beat that I’m planning on staying 5 nights in Bradford next week! The weather forecast sounds horrendous although I’m glad I’m not going until Monday having heard the forecast for Sunday.
I’m staying at the Midland Hotel next to Forster Square Station so quite central. Hoping to do some travel by train and bus around West Yorkshire and if weather allows some walking. If it rains and blows too much I may also have to spend some time drinking real ale!

I did a similar stay in Bradford at this time of year about 5 years ago. It was very cold and frosty then but some lovely walks out on the hills and by the canals. I really liked most of the centre of Bradford especially around the City Park in front of the City Hall. Also less than half the price of staying in Leeds. However, although I liked the very centre of the city I also couldn’t believe how bad some parts were once you left that small central area around the City Hall, Broadway Shopping Centre and Cathedral. I wouldn’t like to wander far from the centre after dark.
 
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route101

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I was looking a few days ago at staying in the Travelodge in Bradford , £30 for this Friday night , cheap .
 
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Spamcan81

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ChrisC said:
I can beat that I’m planning on staying 5 nights in Bradford next week! The weather forecast sounds horrendous although I’m glad I’m not going until Monday having heard the forecast for Sunday.
I’m staying at the Midland Hotel next to Forster Square Station so quite central. Hoping to do some travel by train and bus around West Yorkshire and if weather allows some walking. If it rains and blows too much I may also have to spend some time drinking real ale!

I did a similar stay in Bradford at this time of year about 5 years ago. It was very cold and frosty then but some lovely walks out on the hills and by the canals. I really liked most of the centre of Bradford especially around the City Park in front of the City Hall. Also less than half the price of staying in Leeds. However, although I liked the very centre of the city I also couldn’t believe how bad some parts were once you left that small central area around the City Hall, Broadway Shopping Centre and Cathedral. I wouldn’t like to wander far from the centre after dark.
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Pah. Did a week in Wibsey - a "posh" part of Bradford - and survived. :)
 
gazthomas

gazthomas

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ChrisC said:
I can beat that I’m planning on staying 5 nights in Bradford next week! The weather forecast sounds horrendous although I’m glad I’m not going until Monday having heard the forecast for Sunday.
I’m staying at the Midland Hotel next to Forster Square Station so quite central. Hoping to do some travel by train and bus around West Yorkshire and if weather allows some walking. If it rains and blows too much I may also have to spend some time drinking real ale!

I did a similar stay in Bradford at this time of year about 5 years ago. It was very cold and frosty then but some lovely walks out on the hills and by the canals. I really liked most of the centre of Bradford especially around the City Park in front of the City Hall. Also less than half the price of staying in Leeds. However, although I liked the very centre of the city I also couldn’t believe how bad some parts were once you left that small central area around the City Hall, Broadway Shopping Centre and Cathedral. I wouldn’t like to wander far from the centre after dark.
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Double Crikey. I hear Spain is nice at this time of year!!!
 
anti-pacer

anti-pacer

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As someone who was born in Bradford, I feel I have a right to comment on the place.

It's not the best place but has so many nice places near it.
 
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davetheguard

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Thanks for all your replies: sounds like some interesting pubs to try and like ChrisC we're staying at the Midland Hotel, so a trip to Saltaire as suggested by basfordlad will definitely be fitted in.

As an aside, we're passing on the delights of a Voyager journey and taking the only slightly longer (time wise) route via London. With such a frequent service to Leeds from Kings Cross I've not made seat reservations, we'll just turn up and catch the next one. I've not travelled on the ECML for a few months; do any of the coaches on the new Azumas have non-reservable areas in them?
 
xotGD

xotGD

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davetheguard said:
Thanks for all your replies: sounds like some interesting pubs to try and like ChrisC we're staying at the Midland Hotel, so a trip to Saltaire as suggested by basfordlad will definitely be fitted in.

As an aside, we're passing on the delights of a Voyager journey and taking the only slightly longer (time wise) route via London. With such a frequent service to Leeds from Kings Cross I've not made seat reservations, we'll just turn up and catch the next one. I've not travelled on the ECML for a few months; do any of the coaches on the new Azumas have non-reservable areas in them?
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The departures board at King's Cross shows the level of reservations in each coach, so you can use that as a pointer.
 
Neptune

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Take the train from Forster Square to Shipley (very cheap fares). The Fox is 2 minutes walk from the station. Small and perfectly formed.

Also within walking distance from Saltaire station (one station on from Shipley on the Skipton line) is Al’s Star Bar and The Salt Cellar. I’ve had nights out at them all and they are quality.
 
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Mag_seven

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I tried the Spoons in Bradford last week - for a change they actually had a decent selection of guest ales as well as the usual Doombar and Greene King IPA.
 
IanD

IanD

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Neptune said:
Take the train from Forster Square to Shipley (very cheap fares). The Fox is 2 minutes walk from the station. Small and perfectly formed.

Also within walking distance from Saltaire station (one station on from Shipley on the Skipton line) is Al’s Star Bar and The Salt Cellar. I’ve had nights out at them all and they are quality.
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If you're in Saltaire, I'd go to Osset brewery's SALT Bar and Kitchen and the SALT Beer Factory Taproom (Thu-Sun only) - both in the old bus depot/tram shed. The Cap and Collar is also worth a visit. Plenty of buses to/from Bradford as well as the train.
 
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davetheguard

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We're just back home after an enjoyable three nights in Bradford. There's some rather splendid Victorian buildings in the city centre, including our hotel: The Midland right next to Forster Square station. It was also a good base for trips out by train - we went to Todmorden & Hebden Bridge one day; and Knaresborough & York the next.

Pub wise, in Bradford we tried the Sparrow; Record Cafe; Corn Dolly; & Exchange Ale House - all very good and a short walk from the hotel. We also fitted in a visit to the Fox at Shipley one evening, and the Salt Bar & Kitchen in Saltaire on another evening, both by train of course. The Salt Bar in Saltaire, housed in an old tram & trolleybus depot, was so good we never got to any of the others in the village. Transport history, excellent real ale brewed on site, and tasty food all in one place!

Thanks again to everyone for their suggestions, unfortunately we didn't have time to get to all of them......
 
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