The Lord Clyde, Bradford

A surprisingly-good pub just outside the city centre with a nicely smart interior liberally decorated with music themed memorabilia. The biggest surprise is outside however, with a conventional beer garden area behind but then what can only be described as a vast 'beer field' to the side where they have annexed the adjacent vacant property. Four ales on include two regular milds: TT Golden Best and Kirkby Lonsdale Craft Mild.

I noticed this pub is now in the Good Beer Guide (2025) so a revisit was required. A bit changed from my last visit, it’s now much more music oriented especially in decor, with gig posters and tickets, singles and guitars on the wall including one signed by Ray Davies of the Kinks, and pictures of musicians. Four beers on, the fifth pump has coming next, some standard Yorkshire beers as regulars and some more interesting guests from further afield, usual keg choice. It does have screens on sport, machines and naturally music, sometimes live I think. There’s a pool table in the smaller right hand part and a nice garden at the back of the main left hand section.

Traditional pub on a main road out of the city heading towards Thornton. It is an L-shaped room, carpeted to the left of the entrance and tiled to the right. This is very much a music-themed pub with plenty of memorabilia on the walls to admire. There were a couple of TVs showing cricket and horse racing, a pool table to one side and a fruit machine. To the rear is an outdoor yard. There are 5 handpulls at the bar. 4 were clipped with Love Lane Higson's Pale Ale, Timothy Taylor Golden Best, Kirkby Lonsdale Crafty Mild & Stancill Deuce. The fifth was clipped with both Saltaire Citra & Love Lane Higson's Best Bitter. I ordered a Citra only be told by the old school barmaid that the two on the furthest pump weren't on but were coming soon. In fairness, there was a sign on them saying they were coming soon but I couldn't quite see the point of putting the clips on the handpulls. Ciders were Strongbow & Strongbow Dark Fruit. Having sat down, I soon realised that I had entered during the break in a quiz. It wasn't long before it re-started and I was caught in the middle of a competitive atmosphere and it also became obvious that there were some real characters taking part. I found it quite amusing watching the goings on but soon left as I had other fish to fry. A decent local pub with some good cask ales.

Official site of The Lord Clyde - www.lordclyde.co.uk

Official site of The Lord Clyde - www.lordclyde.co.uk

Down the hill from the city centre this is a corner pub with a modernised interior and a vaguely Irish theme in the form of a big tricolour on the ceiling and shamrock and harp motifs stuck on the windows plus two Guinness founts. A community pub, comfortable and unostentatious. Basic L shape of course, with a conservatory at one end, leather covered benchseating with tables and chairs and a bit of dark wood. Two hand pulls with Saltaire Blonde and Tetley Cask in reasonable condition plus the usual suspects. Décor in the form of sporting photographs including some of the Lord Clyde Racing Club and there was horse racing on the telly. I believe it's owned by the same people as the City Vaults who refer to it as an Irish pub.