City Vaults, Bradford

Slightly unusual city-centre pub with a mix of semi-traditional features in the L-shaped bar and upstairs at the far end. Also has a patio seating area covered by a conservatory. With four of the five handpumps in use on my Monday evening visit, I found the regular Tetley's Cask (£2.75), TT Boltmaker, Ossett Yorkshire Blonde and Saltaire YSB.

Official site of City Vaults - thecityvaults.co.uk

Official site of City Vaults - thecityvaults.co.uk

Visited this afternoon. It's apparently had a bit of a refurb recently so thought I would give it a try, as I last visited back in 2017. At the bar are five hand pulls, two of which were clipped for Saltaire Blonde, the others were Naylor's Yorkshire, Tetley's Cask and TT Landlord. A fairly dull line up. The Yorkshire was £1.60 for half a pint, but I wasn't that impressed with it, don't think there was anything wrong with it per se, it was just a bland watery bitter with a slight chemical taste. In terms of the refurb, it doesn't look wildly different to how I remembered it, same general layout except that the area where the gents toilets used to be has been opened out into another seating area, and the gents have been relocated upstairs. Other than that plenty of old features still remain, with dark wood and stained glass and a rather elegant looking staircase. It's mainly the décor and seating that have been renewed, and the bar itself may have had a makeover too. It seems to do good value food, which I shall bear in mind for the future, but I can't see me being back here just for beer.

Despite being in an old building, this felt very much like a designer's recreation of an old pub, with dark wood and modern stained glass features and different seating areas scattered about on different levels. Not unpleasant however. Draught ales on offer were Tetleys, Saltaire Blonde and the ubiquitous Doom Bar, with Cask Marque listing so in fair condition.