The Exchange, Bradford

Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Exchange

The Exchange was probably just about my favourite pub of the day in West Yorkshire. This is a cellar bar with quite a bit of seating outdoors at the front. There is a vaulted ceiling with a few beer pictures, CAMRA award certificates and pumpclips on the walls. There was a piano at the far end. There are no TVs, but music was playing.

The owner of the pub also runs Nightjar Brewery. So, a couple of their beers were on cask - Lost In IKEA & Hermit Crab of Hope. Others on cask were RedWillow Wreckless, Brunswick The Usual, Burning Sky Plateau & Milestone Classic Dark Mild & Honey Porter. During my vist, the latter went off and was immediately replaced with Brunswick Black Sabbath.

It was only when I sat down that I noticed a beer list and 6 ciders which can be found on one of the stone pillars. Ciders on were Iford Easy Roller, Thistly Cross Scottish Fruits, Snail's Bank Orchard Dry & Lilley's Cherries & Berries, Mango Cider & Raspberry Mojito. Craft beers were Nightjar Lost in IKEA, Otherworld Slaked, Piglove Cosmo Vision & Newbarns Nitro Stout.

A CAMRA discount is offered on the real ales but not on the cider. I couldn't see anything promoting the discount and I missed out on my first round. For sustenance, Pieminster pies are served. Various music nights are promoted. Wifi is supposedly available but you perhaps have to ask behind the bar for the code.

I thought this was a lively pub with a good and revolving selection of cask ales and real ciders. It's probably not for pub purists. I believe there are still other better pubs in Bradford but the local CAMRA branch do have it as their pub of the year for the local area.

On 28^th July 2025 - rating: 7
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