Live Music — Pubs in Bradford

Black Swan

74 Frizinghall Road, Bradford BD9 4LD

OPENING TIMES ARE THOSE VALID IN NOV 2021. Known locally as "The Mucky Duck" this smart traditional pub is located close to Frizinghall railway station. It comprises one large 'U' shaped room with lots of black painted beams, brass and copperware. There is a reduced menu on Mondays. A Sunday carvery is available 12-4.30pm. There is live music every last Saturday of the month.

Castle Hotel

20 Grattan Road, Bradford BD1 2LU

A traditional English pub being kept alive by an Indian landlord. The imposing stone building, built in 1898, comprises a large open-plan room with a wrap-around bar to one side. Formerly a Webster's house, it now sells a variety of beers of varying strengths in a relaxing atmosphere. It often stocks at least one ale from a local brewery. A dartboard and TV are located to one end. A variety of live music is played on a Friday night and a DJ plays on Saturday nights. It is within easy reach of the city centre transport network. There is live music on Fridays from 8.30pm. A DJ plays on Saturdays from 8pm.

Dubrovnik Hotel

3 Oak Avenue, Bradford BD8 7AQ

A privately-owned luxury hotel with a Croatian flavour and sometimes sell Croatian beer. Near Lister Park with its Cartwright Art Gallery and Museum. The bar is only open to residents and those attanding events at the hotel.

Exchange Craft Beer House

14 Market Street, Bradford BD1 1LH

This establishment is located under the Victorian splendour that is the Wool Exchange building. Formerly a well-known rock pub, it was re-opened in mid-November 2018 by the owner of Hebden Bridge's Nightjar brewery as a real and craft ale beerhouse. A mural on the back wall summarises the pub's history. Inside, the premises are open-plan with a large seating area and bar under a brick barrel ceiling with a smaller raised seating area near the entrance. Despite being a cellar bar, the pub has a light and airy feel. In good weather, a small outdoor seating area is available to the rear. The pub is not a tap house for Nightjar brewery but at least one of their real ales is usually available on the five hand-pulls. The other real ales tend to be sourced from smaller regional breweries but can be from further afield and it is aimed to provide a good variety of beer styles from light to dark. There are ten keg taps which serve one cider and one lager plus a range of craft beers. Boxed cider is also available.

Fighting Cock

21-23 Preston Street, Bradford BD7 1JE

RE-OPENED ON FRIDAY 7th MAY 2021. OPENING TIMES VALID WHEN VISITED ON 13 JULY 2021. Drinkers' paradise in an industrial area, this traditionally-styled freehouse is 20 minutes walk from city centre and close to the bus routes along Thornton Road and Legrams Lane. Multi-award winning, it was CAMRA Branch Pub of the Year 2018 and the Branch Cider Pub of the Year 2019. Its traditional, unpretentious feel appeals to a wide variety of people from loyal locals to well-travelled real ale enthusiasts. Twelve real ales are usually on sale including at least one dark beer. Real ciders are offered, comprising three regulars (sourced from Biddendens and Westons) and two guests with one of these often being a perry. Foreign bottled beers are stocked and good value lunches are served Monday to Saturday. The juke box has an extensive and eclectic choice of music. A large pub garden is located on the opposite side of the street.

Fire Brigade

238 Southfield Lane, Bradford BD7 3LT

An ex-Melbourne pub, a fact demonstrated by very nice 'Courtier' windows at the front of what was three cottages believed to have been built for firemen. Two distinct bars with photographic memorabilia of the fire brigade. Opening times were those valid when visited in Sep 2021 but the closing times may vary. Sports TV shown.

Jacobs Well

14 Kent Street, Bradford BD1 5RL

RE-OPENED ON 12 APRIL 2021. OPENING TIMES ARE THOSE VALID IN OCT/NOV 2021. Refurbished and re-opened in May 2013, this pub was formerly known as Jacobs Beer House and Jacobs Ale & Cider House. CAMRA Bradford Cider Pub of the Year 2018 & 2017 and also runner-up Branch Pub of the Year 2018. This is the only building, dating from 1811, on what is left of Kent Street. It comprises a single open-plan room but with a rustic, multi-room feel. There are nine handpulls. Up to eight of these offer a varying range and style of real ales with the other being used to serve real cider. There are numerous boxed ciders, including a regular cider by Grumpy John plus others often by Coleman's and Pure North, and perries. Foreign bottled beers are also available. An outdoor seating area in front of the pub is popular in good weather. Sit outside and watch the city bustle while supping good ale.

Ginger Goose

19 Bridge Street/ 73 Market Street, Bradford BD1 1EY

Large, open-plan pub that is just a few minutes walk from the city centre bus and train interchange. It is friendly and welcoming and has easy access throughout the ground floor for all visitors. There is a first-floor function room but the only bar is on the ground floor. The impressive gothic-styled City Hall and the nearby City Park are visible from the front of the pub. Bingo on Thursday and a DJ plays on Friday and Saturday nights. Children are permitted for families ordering meals. Facilities for the disabled are present and guide dogs are permitted.

Malt Kiln

129 Idle Road, Bradford BD2 4NG

Typical of the Tetley genre pub with bare boards and wood. It comrises a single open-plan room. Pool and dominoes league matches are held on Monday nights. A disco/karaoke takes place every Friday night. On Sundays, there is a quiz & competition. Live bands play usually once per month at weekends.

Monkey

931 Great Horton Road, Bradford BD7 4AQ

Located midway between Bradford and Queensbury, this family-run freehouse was originally two 17th century cottages and comprises a lounge and games room. There are real fires during colder periods. The real ales are from local micro-breweries and include a blonde beer and a dark beer. Bottled, imported beers are also offered. One of the outdoor areas has a BBQ and a covered, seated smoking area. The other is elevated and offers magnificent views over and beyond Bradford. The pub supports many sports and games teams. Food is often available for events. Rooms, or the whole pub, can be hired outside of normal trading hours.

New Beehive Inn

171 Westgate, Bradford BD1 3AA

RE-OPENS ON 5 AUG 2021. OPENING TIMES VALID FROM THIS DATE (BUT MAY VARY WHEN BRADFORD CITY FC IS PLAYING AT HOME). This multi-roomed, Edwardian gas-lit freehouse, built in 1901 and re-modelled by William Whitaker & Co in 1936, deserves its recognition by CAMRA as having a nationally important historic pub interior. The genuine interior comprises a drinking hallway and three rooms with wood panelling. The front room still has fittings from the original 1901 construction. Beers are almost exclusively from regional micro-breweries and the number on offer may increase at weekends when Bradford City is playing at home. Spend time looking at the impressive paintings in the back bar and see how many celebrities you can spot! Accommodation is available with fifteen rooms in the main building and two annex buildings. Although the pub does not offer food, there is no problem with this being brought in from the adjacent curry restaurants and plates and cutlery can be provided on request. Individual rooms within the pub, including the cellar room, can be hired. Closing times may vary depending upon the demand.

Swing Gate Inn

413 Idle Road, Bradford BD2 2AH

A community pub located just off Bolton junction. It comprises two rooms, a lounge and a public bar each only accessible by external doors, divided by a central bar area. Wood burning stoves are present in the comfortable lounge area. Food offers include 2 meals for £10 and a burger and drink for £6.29. A quiz night is held on Mondays. Live music features occasionally.

Top House

1023 Manchester Road, Bradford BD5 8NF

Located on a prominent position next to Odsal Top roundabout and close to Odsal Stadium, home of the Bradford Bulls rugby team. The pub can be busy on match days. There is an open-plan lounge which includes unique Bradford Bulls wallpaper. A tap room to the rear includes a pool table and darts board. A games league, including pool, darts and dominoes, takes place on Monday nights. There is a quiz on Tuesday nights and karaoke is hosted on Thursdays. Closing times may vary on a Friday and Sturday. The pub is reputed to be haunted.

Nightrain

7-19 Queensgate, Bradford BD1 1RB

Formerly a sports bar, this establishment has now become "Bradford's New Rock Bar and Live Music Venue". It comprises a large open-plan room with a long bar to one side and a separate games room. DJs usually play on a Friday and Saturday night. The jukebox contains a large variety of rock music. Live bands frequently play and details can be found on the bar's website and Facebook page. Entry is usually free except during ticketed events. The venue can also be hired for functions and other events with capacity for 400 people. Booking is required for some of the live music events and entry may be restricted for ticketed events.

Northern

Halifax Road, Bradford BD6 1JQ

Wireless

17 North Parade, Bradford BD1 3JL

Opened in March 2017, this indie, rock & blues music bar based on North Parade showcases local live music talent. A selection of up to four cask ales from local independent breweries is offered as well as wines and spirits. Like all the pubs on North Parade, it can be very busy on days when Bradford City are playing at home.

Tyersal Residents Association Community Centre

Tyersal Road, Bradford BD4 8EZ

Members club with function room

Wallers Brewery (Sunbridgewells)

Upper Millergate, Bradford BD1 1SD

Located in the lowest level, this pub was one of the first businesses to open in the Sunbridgewells complex. It can be accessed from the central core of the complex or from the Ivegate entrance. The pub comprises a bar area to one end and seating areas in two rooms with brick-vaulted ceilings. Up to three real ales are offered and are sourced from local and regional breweries. Whilst the pub does not offer food itself, this can be bought from one of the other establishments in the Sunbridgewells complex and brought into the pub. The building is reputed to have been constructed in a medieval quarry and evidence of this has been incorporated into the pub. It was previously a brewery and has also been used as an air-raid shelter in the past. Memorabilia showing the history of the building and Bradford area adorn the walls. The establishment was the 2017 winner of the LABC Building Excellence Awards for change of use / conversion of a commercial property.

Peacock Bar

25 North Parade, Bradford BD1 3JL

Opened in May 2016, this Indian-themed bar offers real ale and Indian street food with a twist. Four hand-pumps serve real ale. Thornbridge Jaipur and Bradfield Farmers Blonde are permanent beers and there are varying guest ales usually including one from Saltaire. A further tap is used to serve cider. Indian street food is prepared and sold on the ground floor. The upstairs room, with a large TV showing BT Sports, houses a pool table. Large selection of gins and rums. The pub is popular with football fans especially when Bradford City are playing at home. In the 1960s, this pub was 'Sooty's Shop'. There used to be a little upstairs window sticking out above the entrance where Sooty would turn to and fro waving his magic wand.

Boar & Fable

30 North Parade, Bradford BD1 3HZ

Opened under new ownership in September 2020, this small, modern, stylish and comfortable bar has a particular focus on continental beers. The bar gets its name from the legend of a ferocious boar that lived in the woods where Bradford now stands. It comprises a ground floor room with additional seating available in a basement area. Two hand-pulls serve a varying range of locally-sourced real ales. An extensive selection of bottled and canned beers is sourced from the UK, Europe, Scandinavia and the US. Seven keg taps also offer an additional selection of beers usually including a dark beer and a sour. Another two keg taps offer a continental lager and wheat beer. Additional seating is available outside the front of the bar in good weather.

Plonk

27 North Parade, Bradford BD1 3JL

Funky little independently owned bar in the indie quarter on North Parade. A relaxed bar serving fantastic cocktails, beers and everything in between. Open from midday on Saturdays when Bradford City are playing at home. No real ale is sold.

Al's Juke Bar

32a Darley Street, Bradford BD1 3HH

American-themed bar that opened on 24 Jan 2019 to replace the now closed Al's Dime Bar on North Parade. It comprises a single ground floor room with a modern urban style. Three keg taps dispense a beer from Seven Brothers and two varying beers. A further three taps dispense beers from Camden Town Brewery. In addition, there is an interesting range of craft beers in canned and bottled form within the fridges behind the bar. Live music is played on Friday nights and also, occasionally, on Saturday nights - check the bar's Facebook page for details. A place for the night owl. The bars opens at 12.30pm on the Saturdays when Bradford City FC is playing at home. A "Happy Hour" is offered 6-8pm every day.

Visage

14-18 Ivegate, Bradford BD1 1SW

Independent licenced performance and events venue.

Dubliner

26 Ivegate, Bradford BD1 1SQ

Opened on 20 December 2019 as the Ivegate Bierhaus, this pub has been undergoing extensive refurbishment and is due to open as the Dubliner, an Irish-themed bar, on 10 Dec 2021. Irish music, food and sports TV.

Q Gardens

Stadium Mills, 4 Stadium Road, Bradford BD6 1BJ

Q Gardens was originally created in 2006 and is a family run business. A beautiful built semi-derelict mill was refurbished to the highest of standards employing the services of top architects and interior designers. All the designs emphasised the history of the old mill whilst providing the absolute best of facilities for a diverse and discerning clientele. From the licensed bars to the restaurant all ages are made welcome. There are 2 spacious function rooms perfect for all those special occasions. There are suites specially designed for conferences and meetings. Sporting facilities including snooker and American pool in separate custom designed sections of this beautiful old mill. Whether you’re looking to enjoy the wonderful facilities or hold a special function in one of the spacious suites, Q Gardens is the family venue that can comfortably cater for all tastes. Spacious wedding reception suites are ready to cater for your every need throughout the day and evening including your own private bar with lounge area. The whole mill is flexible to meet any of your requirements. So whatever your requirements the Q Gardens management team are here to ensure your precise requirements are met and you are then served to the highest possible standards.

Underground

9 Duke Street, Bradford BD1 3QR

Live music venue featuring local & cover bands. Located in a basement. No real ale. Part of Bradford’s Indie Quarter and just a stone's throw away from North Parade.