If you enjoy reading please consider “buying me a pint”, this will help to cover my hosting and image hosting and help to ensure further trips can go ahead!
BUY ME A PINT
Pints, History and Hidden Tunnels: The Bradford Crawl
My day exploring Bradford’s pub scene was brilliant. I started at The Lord Clyde, a proper old pub with a wall full of music history, before heading to The Fighting Cock, where it felt like everyone already knew each other. Wallers Brewery and the Exchange were hidden gems underground – really cool spaces I wasn’t expecting. Jacob’s Well and The Corn Dolly felt lived-in and cosy, like you could sit there all afternoon. Northern Monk at Darley Street Market brought a totally different, lively vibe. I ended at The Record Café – great beer, good music, and the perfect finish.
Bradford started out as a small market town, then completely blew up during the Industrial Revolution, thanks to wool. At one point, it was basically the wool capital of the world, packed with mills and full of people who came here to work and build a life. When the industry died down, the city changed too, leaning more into culture, food and community. These days, it’s still evolving, with old mill buildings sitting alongside new projects and a mix of history and modern life shaping what Bradford feels like today.
The Lord Clyde
My first visit was to The Lord Clyde. The Lord Clyde on Thornton Road in Bradford has been around a long time, with its story starting back in the 19th century when it opened in 1862 under William Whitaker & Co. It later became part of the Tetley’s estate in 1959 before eventually going back to independent ownership. The pub gets its name from Field Marshal Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde, a well-known British Army figure linked to the Indian Mutiny, even though he didn’t have any real connection to Bradford. Over the years, the Lord Clyde has stayed a familiar local spot, known for its traditional feel, regular events, quizzes and live sport.
Walking into the Lord Clyde feels like stepping into a pub that’s settled into itself over time. The layout is familiar and easy, but it’s the music wall that really draws you in once you sit down. It’s packed with posters, records, photos and memorabilia, all linked by one thing: every band on there has played in Bradford or has a direct connection to the city. The frames are packed in tight, running above the leather seating in a long line, with fairy lights woven between them and the odd guitar or record breaking up the wall, giving the whole thing a warm, slightly cluttered, properly lived-in look.
Drinks wise a great line up of 4 cask ales to choose from in a range of styles. I went with “New England IPA” from Love Lane Brewery. A juicy, hoppy and tasty New England IPA, full of flavour and easy drinking.
The Fighting Cock
Next was a short walk out to The Fighting Cock. The Fighting Cock on Preston Street has been part of Bradford’s pub life for decades, sitting quietly near the old industrial stretch off Thornton Road. It really found its identity in the 1980s when it was bought and renamed by local landlord “Big Jim” Wright, who gave the place its no-frills character and loyal following. Over the years it’s built a reputation as a proper traditional pub, earning a place in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide for around 30 years straight. With its straightforward interior and long-standing regulars, it’s one of those pubs that’s simply endured by staying true to itself.
Inside, The Fighting Cock is a traditional pub with a relaxed, lived-in feel. Wooden floors, small tables, stools, and a mix of bench and loose seating fill a single main bar room, with most activity focused around the bar. The interior isn’t highly styled, but there are familiar pub touches such as framed photos, brewery signs, wall lights, and occasional seasonal decorations. A solid-fuel stove set into a stone fireplace stands out as a practical feature rather than a design statement. Seating is fairly close together, encouraging informal conversation. Overall, the atmosphere comes from regular use and routine socialising rather than recent refurbishment or deliberate interior design.
On the bar a choice of 7 cask ales, ranging in style and strengths. I opted to go with “Cherry Porter Grand Reserve” from Titanic Brewery. A fantastic Porter, stronger than the original but full of fruity sweet flavours. Delicious!
Wallers Brewery
Next was back into Bradford Centre to visit Wallers Brewery. Wallers Brewery sits beneath central Bradford in the Sunbridgewells tunnels, a maze of underground spaces first carved out through quarrying. Over the years, the tunnels were put to various uses, including storage and later air-raid shelters during the Second World War. After being closed off for decades, the site was redeveloped and reopened as Sunbridgewells in 2016. Wallers was one of the early venues to move in, helping to bring the hidden tunnels back into public use. Its exposed brickwork, arched ceilings and reused fittings give a nod to the site’s industrial past while playing a part in Bradford’s underground revival.
Inside feels like hanging out in a hidden underground space you weren’t meant to find. The rooms are set in old brick tunnels with curved ceilings, chunky stone walls and arched corners that make everything feel snug and a bit mysterious. Soft, warm lighting picks out the textures in the brickwork and stone, so it feels cosy rather than dark. Seating is a mix of benches and tucked-away spots, giving it a relaxed, informal feel. The look is industrial but unfussy, with reclaimed wood, metal details and hints of the site’s past everywhere you look.
A choice of 4 cask ales on the bar to choose from along with a range of keg options. I went with “Farmers Blonde” from Bradfield Brewery. A light, refreshing and very easy drinking Blonde Ale.
Jacobs Well
A short walk brought me next to Jacobs Well. Jacob’s Well is one of Bradford’s oldest surviving pubs, dating back to around 1830. It started life as a small beerhouse after the Beer Act made it easier for ordinary homes to sell beer, and it was originally two back-to-back houses knocked together. The name comes from an early landlord, Jacob Dawson, and there may well have been an actual well on site back when clean water wasn’t guaranteed. Tucked away on Kent Street, it’s one of the few pre-Victorian pubs left in the city centre. After plenty of ups and downs, it was refurbished and reopened in 2013, keeping its old-school character intact.
Inside, Jacob’s Well feels worn-in in the best possible way. It’s compact but characterful, with dark wood everywhere, low ceilings and walls that look like they’ve absorbed a couple of centuries of conversation. The furniture doesn’t match, the floors creak a bit, and there are plenty of nooks where you can tuck yourself away. In colder months there’s often a fire on, which adds to the cosy, lived-in feel. Nothing feels staged or overly restored — it looks like a place that’s grown naturally over time and is quite happy staying that way.
On the bar a selection of 6 cask ales, 5 craft keg lines and a brilliant choice of Real Ciders. I chose to go with “Bright Day” from Sunbeam Ales. A fantastic English Bitter, full bodied and full of flavour.
Exchange Craft Beer House
Another short walk on Saturday brought me to Exchange Craft Beer House. The Exchange Craft Beer House lives underneath Bradford’s impressive Victorian Wool Exchange on Market Street. The Wool Exchange itself was built between 1864 and 1867, back when Bradford was right at the heart of the global wool trade. As the industry declined through the 20th century, the building was gradually repurposed rather than left behind. In November 2018, the old vaulted cellars below were opened up as the Exchange, giving a new use to spaces that had sat largely forgotten for years. Today, it’s a good example of how Bradford’s trading past has been quietly woven into modern city life.
Inside, it feels like you’ve slipped into a hidden cellar beneath the city. The space is built around old brick vaults, with arched ceilings that give it loads of character without feeling dark or cramped. Lighting is kept soft and warm, so the brickwork really stands out, and the layout feels relaxed rather than formal. There’s a mix of high tables and cosy corners, plus a slightly raised area near the entrance that breaks things up nicely. It’s simple, unfussy and welcoming — the kind of place where the building itself does most of the talking.
A fantastic choice of beers showcasing 7 cask ales, along with a range of keg options and a well stocked fridge of cans and bottles to the side of the bar. I went with a cask beer from Marble Beers. “Lagonda” is a refreshing and tasty Pale Ale and was named after a classic car owned by the boss’s father.
The Corn Dolly
A 10 minute stroll out of Bradford brought me next to The Corn Dolly. The Corn Dolly on Bolton Road has been around since 1834, back when it was called The Wharfe, named after the nearby Bradford Canal that once ran past the site. Over the years it’s watched Bradford grow from a busy Victorian industrial town into the city it is today. The building has survived huge changes around it, including the loss of the canal and shifts in the city centre itself. In 1989, it became an independent, family-run place, which helped lock in its long-standing character. The name “Corn Dolly” comes from old English harvest traditions, tying a little rural history into a very urban spot.
Inside, the Corn Dolly feels warm and well-worn in a good way. It’s not polished or flashy — more comfortable and familiar. You’ve got dark wood, bits of exposed brick, and walls dotted with old photos and signs that hint at its long history. The lighting’s soft, so it feels relaxed rather than harsh, and the layout’s a mix of tables, corners, and spots by the windows. Nothing feels rushed or cramped. It’s the kind of place where people settle in, chat for ages, and feel at home pretty quickly.
A fantastic mix of cask ales with 8 available along with a range of keg options including a cask ale from a new local brewery “Whippet Brewery” which I went with. “Reet View” was a super tasty Pale Ale, very easy drinking.
Northern Monk – Darley Street Market
Next was a walk back into town to visit Darley Street Market for Northern Monk’s new bar. Northern Monk’s Bradford spot opened in summer 2025 inside the brand-new Darley Street Market, a big redevelopment that replaced the old Kirkgate and Oastler markets after years of planning by the council. The market itself is part of a wider push to bring life back into Bradford city centre. Northern Monk has proper local roots too – the brewery started back in 2013 in a cellar in Greengates, before growing and later moving most of its operations to Leeds. Opening a space in Darley Street was a bit of a homecoming, tying the newer market project to the brewery’s early Bradford story.
Inside, it feels open, modern and properly lively. The space is part of the top floor of Darley Street Market, so you’re surrounded by food stalls, long tables and people coming and going. It’s bright, with high ceilings and lots of natural light, and there’s a real food-hall buzz rather than a quiet pub feel. You’ll see groups sharing tables, couples grabbing a seat, and a steady background hum of chatter. When it’s busy it feels energetic without being chaotic, and when it’s quieter it’s still relaxed. Overall, it’s casual, social and very much designed for hanging out rather than rushing through.
On the bar a fantastic line up of 5 core lines and 5 rotating lines, along with a selection of cans. I went with their “10 Years of Faith” beer brewed in collaboration with Fyne Ales and Newbarns Brewery. A fantastic super hazy and super juicy New England Pale Ale.
Rumshackalack
I headed down towards Bradford Forster Square for my final 3 visits, the first being to Rumshackalack. Rum-shack-a-lack opened in August 2016 on North Parade, back when Bradford’s Independent Quarter was really starting to take off. It began as a relaxed, rum-focused bar with Caribbean-inspired vibes, and over time has naturallynevolved into a lively café-bar that people keep coming back to. Nowadays it’s known for its big rum selection, cocktails, craft beers and popular bottomless brunches, all wrapped up in an easygoing, no-fuss atmosphere.
Inside, Rum-shack-a-lack feels easygoing and a little rough round the edges, in a good way. It’s colourful, cosy and full of character, with mismatched furniture, plants, wall art and loads of small details that make it feel lived-in rather than polished. The bar’s the main focus, lined with rum bottles, and the rest of the space is set up for sitting back and staying a while. In the daytime it’s chilled and bright; later on it gets busier and louder without losing its laid-back feel. No dress code, no fuss, just good drinks and a relaxed crowd.
A cask line up of 3 on the bar (usually 4), in a range of styles to choose from, along with a number of keg options. “Golden Goose” from Goose Eye Brewery was my choice of beer. A smooth and refreshing English Pale Ale.
Boar & Fable
Just up the road in was to Boar & Fable. Boar & Fable opened on North Parade in Bradford in September 2020, moving into a building that had already lived a few pub lives under different names. The current name looks further back than the bar itself, though, and comes from one of Bradford’s oldest stories. Local legend says a huge wild boar once roamed the wooded valley here, terrifying villagers until a hunter finally killed it. He took only the boar’s tongue as proof, which is why Bradford’s coat of arms still shows a tongue-less boar’s head today.
Inside Boar & Fable feels warm and unfussy, with a style that’s more relaxed than polished. The main bar is compact and inviting, with wooden floors, simple furniture and soft lighting that gives it a snug, easygoing feel. Dark walls and subtle details keep things moody without feeling heavy. Downstairs there’s extra seating that feels a bit more tucked away, good for longer chats or quieter moments. It’s the kind of place that feels comfortable rather than showy — nothing flashy, just a well-put-together space that suits a laid-back pint and a proper catch-up.
On the bar a selection of 3 cask ales, a wide variety of keg options in a range of styles, along with a well stocked beer can fridge. I went for “Cats Eyes” from Bini Brew Co. A delicious English Pale Ale brewed and dry hopped with Cascade hops. Very easy drinking and tasty.
Record Cafe
My final call of the day in Bradford was to The Record Café. The Record Café opened in 2014 on North Parade in Bradford city centre and quickly carved out its own lane. It’s a pub, bar and record shop rolled into one: vinyl upstairs, beer, wine and charcuterie downstairs. The focus has always been good music, good drinks and a relaxed atmosphere, with DJs, live gigs and quizzes keeping things lively. It’s particularly known for its rotating craft beer lineup and support for independent labels and local artists. The place hasn’t gone unnoticed either, picking up Bradford CAMRA Pub of the Year multiple times, including 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2022.
Inside, The Record Café is relaxed and unfussy. Downstairs feels like a proper hang-out spot, with exposed brick, wooden tables, a long bar and shelves packed with bottles. It’s softly lit and usually buzzing, but never rowdy. Music’s always on, and it actually suits the space. Upstairs is calmer and brighter, with rows of vinyl, posters on the walls and space to take your time browsing. It doesn’t try to be slick or styled within an inch of its life — it feels real, slightly rough round the edges, and built for people who like music, good drinks and staying a while.
A fantastic selection on the bar with 4 cask ales along with a 9 keg line up showcasing a range of different styles and countries. I went with a fantastic smoothie sour from Makemake. “Spaceshake – Strawberry”, a super fruity, thick and delicious beer.
Micropub Adventures 