The Record Cafe, Bradford

A bit more upmarket bistro than any sort of pub, but it does have 4 handpumps with a fair selection of beers, 2 from North Riding and 2 from Anthology on this visit. Smarter than some of its neighbours but worth dropping in.

With just enough time for one other pub/bar in Bradford, I made a return visit to the Record Cafe. The last time I was in this area pre-Covid, I really enjoyed visits to this bar and the Sparrow across the road. The latter has since closed down. The Record Cafe continues but it was not as busy as the last time I came and the cask ale range has diminished. This may have been due to it being a Friday evening (as opposed to a Saturday) but it did at least allow me to take a seat this time. As you enter, there is some rather old fashioned furniture perhaps meant to resemble your grandmother's sitting room. This area also houses blackboards listing the beers and ciders available. With the bar just beyond on the right-hand side, there are some more basic tables and chairs. The floor is concrete. At the very rear, there are some steps up to further seating. The bar itself has 4 handpulls. Just 2 were clipped on my visit with Northern Monk Old Flax Store Rakau & Anthology Best Bitter. I plumped for the bag-in-the-box cider from the fridge - Grumpy John's Sweet. Craft beers were Pastore Baroque, Fonta Flora Chip Rack, Yonder Solero, Verdant Light Bulb, Northern Monk Faith, Pressure Drop Astronomica & Brouwerij Kees Bottle Brew No. 4. Coffees and teas are also sold. Payment is by card only. The bar also has a charcuterie counter and there are menus on clipboards on each table, alongside some dried flowers inside beer cans (also witnessed in the toilets). A DJ booth can be found adjacent to the bar, whilst many pumpclips line the walls and beams. This is still a decent bar in an area of good bars. The area does seem to have declined a little since Covid and I'd now rate the Boar & Fable as a better choice if in the area. But you may as well visit both.

Record Cafe just keeps on going when others on North Parade seem to be closing down or constantly changing hands. Pretty much unchanged since my previous visits - four hand pulls for cask, all of which were in service. I was finding it pretty chilly but then I realised I was leaning back against a bare brick wall, which wouldn't have helped. Good selection of beers on cask and keg, chalk board listing the options, friendly service. One of my favourites in Bradford, and long may it continue!

In a road with many converted shops, this one is an award-winning real ale and craft beer bar. Tidily furnished and decorated with a mixture of pump clips and music memorabilia. Also has a small pavement seating area. Four handpumps offering different styles: pale, IPA, porter and bitter, with the latter being an excellent Wylam Best (£4.20). Also has seven keg taps on the bar-back and a couple more on a ceramic German fount.