BRADFORD.

The pub was built in 1898 and looks like its name, a castle with ramparts. Situated in the centre of the city of Bradford, just off Westgate, it is to the west of the city near the Colour Museum. The Castle is only five minutes from the bus and train stations (Forster Square and the Interchange), ten minutes from the M62 and thirty minutes from the airport. The single bar is 'L' shaped and has two exists to the street. One has steps and the other is on street level and more accessible by wheelchair users. To step into the Castle is to step right back into the 1970s. It has a feel that time has passed it by, but it still has the warm feeling of a family front room and that is welcome in these cold times. They serve Ruddles Best plus two guests - Tower and Goose Eye this time. Both are served with the sparkler, though do try beers without them if you dare to ask - well I got a strange look. Prices are not oo back, but not as cheap as the Fighting Cock. Unfortunately there is no food served here, but the New Beehive Inn just up the road does. Accommodation here, from £28 plus breakfast.

The Corn dolly is probably the second best pub in Bradford and happens to be on the opposite side of the valley - there's no justice is there? Essentially a bit of a girls name for what ostensibly is a man's pub. It is situated out by the trading estate, but very close to the city centre and train station. Lunchtimes therefore are a busy affair with people coming in for the value lunches they do, even calling their orders in advance. Entrance is up a couple of steps and though there is a flat entrance to the side, it is still not really good for the disabled. Inside it is pretty dark with low ceilings and beams everywhere. This is a small pub with just the one room with a partition that screens off the pool table area. The long bar is at the back of the pub and has eight hand pumps on it. Four of these are regulars including their own Corn Dolly Bitter brewed by Moorhouses. The guests range from close at hand to further afield and are usually priced around the £2.10 mark. All are well kept and served without tight sparkler, which makes a change. The seating is sparse as there are only a few round/square tables around the edge of the lounge - this has a bench seat around the wall. Covering those walls are pump clips and awards from the local CAMRA branch. Note the slope up to the bar. There is food served here and although it is not a large menu, the food is good value and plentiful, served only at lunchtimes though. This pub is well worth seeking out. There is a real fire in winter, though not always lit at lunchtimes as they also have radiators. An outdoor drinking area is available, but beware, there is a dual carriageway at the rear.

The Fighting Cock is in an industrial unit area of Bradford not too far from the Castle Hotel and the New Beehive Inn. It is about 15 minutes walk from the city centre - remember Bradford is on a hill. The pub has that old feeling of a friend, warm and welcoming. There are bare floors throughout and a single bar that runs most of the length of the back wall. Some seating in the front area has benches and stools plus the face of a wood burning stove - always on at lunchtimes in winter. The second area has more usual seating plus the back of the stove to warm it and a TV (the music video channel is often on and can be loud sometimes. The far area has the fruit machine and toilets and also some bench seating (no cushions) and stools. The lighting is always dim, but friendly. The bar is a dark wood affair and has all the pumps on it you can wish for. They serve up to 12 ales on at all times. If you don't fancy that they have fruit wines, cider, foreign beers on both draught and bottled. Food is served here at lunchtimes only and is traditional and hearty/filling for the people who work in the local area. A really nice pub and well worth the short walk to find it. Bradford CAMRA pub of the year in 2004, it well deserved it. No accommodation here.

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The Golsborough is within sight of the Corn Dolly and so it also worth a stop off if visiting the Dolly. However, the beer choice is not as good, particularly during the week. It also doesn't open at the specified time of 11am in most guides but at 11.30am, so be warned. There are steps into the pub, though a rear access point is possible for the disabled. Once inside you are on a bare wood floor and the bar is at the front. In this front area there are some picnic tables which provides a little of the outside, inside. The bar is quite long and so service should be efficient. There are a number of hand pumps on the bar, but on this occasion there were only two beers on (Landlord and London Pride), served with a tight sparkler. Normally it serves four to five beers. The bar is a dark wood affair with overhang for glasses and good selection of snacks are available. The seating area to the right of the bar has a number of sofas with coffee tables and some round 'marble' topped tables and chairs for eating. Here you will also find the dartboard and a big screen TV for sporting events. Food is served here at both lunch and evening until 8pm. There are a number of specials also available from the chalkboards. Food is reasonably priced and they serve from 12 o'clock. Lunchtimes can be busy as there are a number of offices and factories around about. There is an outside drinking area here, but as with the Dolly, the dual carriageway drowns out any conversation - a car park is also available. Parking is at a premium around here and so this is welcomed. Note the later opening time on Sundays.

The Beehive has recently been taken over and they are doing some alterations in 2004/2005. The pub itself is a little slice of history as it still has the original gas lamps in the front bar, lit by a candle in a bottle. To the right of entrance is what I would call te main bar area. There is a tall bar with stools to sit at it. On the bar are a number of hand pumps, not always with pump clips on - they seem to use them in the back bar during the week. The floor is marble and tiled all the way through to the toilets at the rear. These are down a long corridor, so keep going till you get to the gents. The front bar has tables and chairs and a real fire - not lit at lunchtimes weekdays. Also note that they often do not open till 1pm during the week and food is not always served either. This may change in 2005, so do call before making a journey. The beers on at the time were all well served and were keenly priced. The rear bar is much darker than the front and has a large mural around the bar with famous faces on it in caricature. Seating is at tables and hairs on a bare floor also. The other rooms were being decorated on this visit, but there is a no smoking room and a games room as well. In addition to the real ale, the Beehive stocks a good range of Belgian beers and fruit wines plus some malt whiskeys. Accommodation is available here, though not seen on this occasion, it is also used by workmen. Music is played here in the Cellar Bar on Friday nights. Opposite Morrison's car park, though it has its own.

Also Try:

Melborne Hotel, 104 White Abbey Road, BD8 8DP. Moorhouses Premier plus guests. Accommodation, food, music.
Prospect of Bradford, 527 Bolton Road. Taylors Golden Best.