New Beehive Inn, Bradford

On the edge of the city centre is The New Beehive Inn, an imposing stand alone Edwardian stone built building that dates back to 1901 – note the date high up in the stonework at the front. Note the impressive semi circular coloured glass canopy above the entrance, although this is a replacement for the original one, apparently It’s a traditional multi room pub with a small central wood panelled lobby leading off to the main bar on the right, a snooker room on the left and, to the back, a music room. The main bar is gaslit, has an original oak bar counter and bar back with fixed bench seating along the back wall. Note the fine framed photo of a charabanc collecting customers outside the pub which dates back to the 1900’s. There’s a rather dark, but atmospheric feel to the room. This is where the regulars meet – based on my visit, there’s a few larger than life characters, but the atmosphere is warm and welcoming to all. The snooker room on the left has fixed seating, bell pushes and is decorated with some old drinks posters and mirrors. Rather incongruously, high up on the wall, a stuffed stags head looks down on proceedings. The pub is listed in CAMRA’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors ( the only one open now in the city, with the closure at present of The Cock and Bottle). The principal feature of the back room is a series of painted murals of famous musicians – of whom even I recognised Stevie Wonder and several of the Beatles. On my visit it was Open Mic Night in this room, with the usual assortment of oddball studenty type singers and wacky poetry readers. From the main bar, a tiled corridor leads to the gents toilets with a rather bracing air. There’s a large function room downstairs, apparently. Notably, there’s 14 rooms available for overnight stays, but this is definitely a pub with rooms, rather than a hotel. On the real ale front, there’s a total of 10 handpumps in the front bar. 4 beers were on and I gather that this is the usual number of beers available at any one time. Being out of the city centre, there doesn’t appear much in the way of passing trade and I doubt there’s the volume for a more extensive range. Beers on were from Salamander, Spitting Feathers, Heritage ( which is also brewed by Spitting Feathers) and a new one to me, Landlords Friend, with prices ranging from £ 2.70p to £ 2.80p, which is a narrow price range given that the ABV’s ranged from 3.8% to 5.2%. Both beers sampled- Salamander Fiddlesticks and the Heritage Empire Ale - were in good form. The pub is a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular. It’s well worth the short walk along Westgate out of the city centre to do this one

Along with the Fighting Cock this has to be the best pub in Bradford. Always has a wide selection of real ales from micro-breweries changing regularly. Very friendly staff. FANTASTIC authentic interior listed on Camra's Heritage Register with original features such as gas lanterns and paintings of rock 'n' roll and blues stars in the function room. Four interior rooms with two bars. Two beer gardens. Cellar bar that features live music regularly. Give it a go!!

we haven`t been to this pub for a few years and what used to be a fine pub with good beer and very busy has deteriorated some what we went in last saturday night at 21 15 to find the place virtually empty ie about two people and the beer was so bad i ended up having to drink bottled budvar !!!! and that was warm will be a long time before we go back so sad to see a very good pub detiorate

Official site of the New Beehive Inn - www.newbeehiveinn.co.uk