The Record Cafe, Bradford

If I recall correctly this was the first of the shop conversions on North Parade and as BF says remains one of the best as the Camra awards on display will also testify. It looks to have had some redecoration since or during lockdown as the furniture has improved, other than the long bench down one side although with a lot of necessary cushions. The walls on the non-brick side have been redecorated and a lot of pump clips put up as decoration. The staircase at the back still leads up to the record shop part of the bar, represented by one of the three keynote symbols that appear in various places in the premises. All four pulls in use on my visit and quality was undiminished.

What has happened to this place we called in at 7.30 on a Saturday night to find the place empty nice beer and friendly staff but no body in maybe its because its card only all the other pubs on north parade were busy

Visited again last Friday to find it exactly the same as my previous review from three years ago. Four hand pulls for cask ale, all of which were on, complemented by an extensive keg selection. All the cask options looked interesting, including a rather dangerous (for an afternoon session!) 10% barleywine, so I opted for the more sensible Moutere (NZ Pale Ale) by North Riding Brewery, followed by Maple & Walnut Stout from the same brewery. Both very pleasant! Food and Wi-Fi both still available. A slice of normality and very nice beer too - what else could you ask for?

Official site of The Record Cafe - therecordcafe.co.uk

Official site of The Record Cafe - therecordcafe.co.uk

Visited on a weekday afternoon earlier in the month. I wasn't sure if this would really be my kind of place but I wanted to try a few places on North Parade that I had not been to before so though I would give it a go. Very pleased that I did, there is a nice café style atmosphere with music playing at a sensible volume and a small mezzanine area with a record store above. It just had a nice chilled out feel to the place. Service was friendly and welcoming. At the bar, four cask ales were on plus 7 keg lines. A mix of styles including bitter, blonde, pale, pilsner, IPA, porter, stout, sour and a DIPA. A chalk board lists everything that is available. I had a Milk Stout by Lost Industry (cask) which was 4.9% and £1.70 for a half. I stayed for another (different) drink which was also good. I could have stayed all day here, but resisted temptation and continued to explore a few other places. I may be being overly generous, but it's a 10/10 for me.

The Record Cafe is one of many new bars that have opened on North Parade in the last few years. Once inside there is a small oblong shaped room which runs to the rear,the bar is on the mid right side,there is a bench seat with no back running down the left side with chairs,there are also two normal tables and chairs to the front. There were four real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Vocation Bread and Biter which went down well,the other beers noted were Saltaire Citra,Kirkstall Black Band Porter and one from Magpie Brewery. Decent background music was playing,the pub was was also quite busy on my late Saturday afternoon visit. A good addition the Bradfords drinking scene. Pub visited 2/1/2016