It’s so sad to see how Bradford has changed, I was born in Bradford in 1966 and loved to shop in Bradford as a teenager. I can’t see it changing sadly, but great video 😊
Hope you get to go round City Hall. I have surveyed every inch of it when I worked for the Council. From the roof to the basement,sub basement and plenum air ducts its an absolute jewel of a building
I've been in the town hall. Once for a wedding and once to give a talk on mental health. It is absolutely beautiful in there. The gents toilets on the ground floor are magnificent - all old school tiling. Bradford is a city of stark contrasts. Beautiful old buildings built by the wool barons and industrialists of old, new developments like the Broadway shopping centre and the Darley Street Market, and revamped gems like Bradford Live and Sunbridge Wells all point to the massive potential of this once great city. But Bradford does have a cancer. The plethora of phone and vape shops, the gang crime, the unsafe back streets and the driving are restricting Bradford from bouncing back. I love the developments that are currently happening, but I am concerned as to whether we're going to be ready in time for the City of Culture next year. Transport links need to be sorted and visitors will need to feel safe if they visit. Cities of culture usually see a permanent improvement as a result, so there is much work to do to ensure that we don't end up as a national joke.
Mate your content is 💯👏🏽 Im a Proud Bradford Lad born & bred, and probably from a similar era as yourself and thats probably why i connect with your opinions. I really hope Bradford gets the spark that it so badly deserves and bounces back to its former glory 🙏🏽🔥
You're right about the Alexandria Hotel, by the time I came to Bradford the hotel had closed but the Alex bar was still open as was the Vaults bar underneath, both great venues. The reason for the clean air zone was a government mandate because of Bradfords poor air quality.
Funny how at 23:43 there is Cancer Research UK right by all the "Vape" shops and Phone Shops; "Radiation Exposure?" Thanks Darren for a walk around your hometown.... mike
My dad grew up in Bradford and he used to say it was a wonderful city , alas it’s time has passed we all know why but we cannot say , haven’t been to Bradford for twenty years
24 years ago, i acquired a coffee mug that was from the 70s with the slogan "Bradford is Bouncing Back". I expect business rates are affordable in the area. There are many amazing food experiences to be found.
Driving? Parking? What you guys need is a good light rail system. Leeds to Bradford is about ten miles. I’d love to see a London Overground system linking towns and cities, running late, so you can manage without cars.
It's been planned as phase 1 a part of the West Yorkshire mass transit system. Linking Bradford and Leeds by light rail. www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/all-news-and-blogs/mayor-sets-out-plan-for-west-yorkshire-tram-system-to-better-connect-region/
Look into the West Yorkshire Mass Transit scheme, that's exactly what it is. First phase is to link Bradford and Leeds and work should commence in the near future 👍
This a great example of what most successfully binds creator and subscriber: passion. Your passion for history is one of your strengths and I share it, as do I assume all of your subscribers. I can go down the streets of Chicago and my neighborhood making the same observations that you do. Keep up the good work.
Brought back some great memories and really pleased someone really care about their city Look forward to the next video and see an update on progress Nice presentation and balanced in its approach and will help the City
Hello Darren how are you fantastic vidio of Bradford very interested did you have a good Easter me and our Elaine are going past Bradford this Thursday I am going to see my sister and family best wishes take care stay safe xx ❤😅😅
I live in Bradford, it's a bit rough and ready but it's alright if you know it well enough. It's like you say, people travel here to The Alhambra Theatre, so when Bradford live opens it'll hopefully open the gates to more visitors. I feel things are slowly changing for the better, but you're right about the barbers/phone/vape shops unfortunately. There's a lot I'm not allowed to say about that so i shall keep my thoughts to myself. Spontaneous combustion is another topic we wont discuss 😅 Last chance saloon Bradford
Well a woman pushing a pram was fatally stabbed in the centre yesterday so sadly no! It isnt bouncing back. Hasnt it been bouncing back for the last 20 plus years!
Loved this. I really like Bradford, I am in the major minority who prefers it to Leeds. A great point about it being make or break for these new developments, I do fear for the new Bradford Market on Darley Street though. It'll start off well, be fancy but will fizzle out and end up half empty. It would be great to have a Manchester style rejuvenation, but you need vision for that, and Bradford Council seem a bit to trigger happy with this "knock it down and build it" development mentality.
Another excellent and informative video. I have never visited Bradford, but it is very nice to see that money is being spent on its uplift. You speak a lot of sense with your opinions. An entertainment venue might on the face of it appear to be an extravagance, however, I agree with you that it will be the catalyst to bring in other developments. Some people bemoan coffee shops and the like, but they sure do bring folk out, and when they are out they look around, shop and spend money in the local community. It takes time but it will work. Good for you Bradford. And thank you Darren.
Thanks for this little tour mate. I get across to Bradford a few times from Sheffield each year. I know it's got its issues yet also got a load of positives that rightly outweigh them. My sister-in-law and her family are from Bradford in the area as well and would very likely agree with both you and I here on things as covered. I just also look forward to the day the science and media museum finally opens and hopefully retains a reasonable portion of what made it an essential part of almost every one of my previous day trips.
Bradford was always a great spot, its o nice to see money getting spent on revitalising it. Great video 2x👍 Some lighting on the old buildings would lift the city centre a bit. Saltburn is doing a tidy up of both promenades and resurfacing the pavements. We dont have anything as big as Bradford but we are trying to keep the town alive.
That isn't the ballroom beyond the windows on the Thornton Road side of the former Odeon, as you state in the video... This is the restored restaurant space that became an extension of the Top Rank Club after 1969. The ballroom is directly above. No films were ever shown in the restaurant area either - a third Odeon screen was installed in the ballroom above in 1988.
Never been to Bradford , some of northern places I know of are very old buildings refurbishment can only save these places. Unfortunately only the council can provide the funding
Wow, das war grandios, Bradford ist eine tolle Stadt. Jedenfalls die City in der wir uns bewegt haben. Als Ausländer bin ich unglaublich begeistert. Oh ja, das mach mal fahr im Sommer nochmals nach Bradford 😃. Thank you Darren 👋🏻👋🏻🤩
Great video and good to see. So much potential for Bradford. Consider St Georges Hall for example; much better venue than anything Leeds has to offer. Full of character and charm. They need to promote these venues, eateries, good pubs etc. Focus on the positives and drive people back to Bradford. The architecture (mainly) is fantastic in Bradford also.
It's a dump has been for many years! All those listed mills that keep setting on fire for no reason!. Yes the Alhambra may well pull in people but look at the other side of the street! Love Apple gone, Mode gone, Caverns gone. All the night life around that area gone! Glad I left in 2019!
@@nigellee9824 erm yes? Just simple ways like affordable parking, high quality well designed modern shopping centres, the area in front of the town hall, the media museum which is brilliant, the quality acts that visit the brilliant venues to perform. Have you ever been to the Teesside area in the North East of England and seen how their town centres are there? That would open your eyes and make you realise how fortunate Bradford is.
Bradford has changed immensely since I lived there. I would probably get lost if you dropped me in the middle of it now! Fascinated to glimpse what's going on with the Odeon building, I sincerely hope it all comes to fruition. Hopeful signs around, I think putting a new access to the interchange is a very good thing. Thank you for this excellent video Darren.
Great video and hopefully Bradford will begin to improve From the 14th April. They are routing the buses thru a new public transport loop. This will bring big changes to the city centre. With some streets to be pedestrianised which will be great for the city centre. It can only help the City
My daughter took part in a play against a transatlantic treaty, it was performed in the main council chambers of the town hall I’ll see if I can find a link for you
Excellent video. Just to correct about the odeon. The room you looked in was originally the restaurant. The ballroom that became Odeon three was above the restaurant. The ballroom is also being returned to original condition.
Sad to see the student quarter all but gone, we went in live apple once paid £8 and walked straight back out. "I could be risking my life here" made me chuckle 😂 Took them long enough to build Broadway. I saw Stephens video, got two fines 😂😂 bless him
Just read a BBC report that Bradford Live may not now open. "Concerns have been raised that the NEC Group, which was signed up to operate the 3,800-capacity venue, may be pulling out of its deal with the council."
At last! They are doing something with the Odeon! it’s only taken the best part of 30 years!! Thankfully the Odeon escaped the wrecking ball in that time, despite numerous intentions. Let’s hope it’s a success like Leeds First Direct arena and Let’s hope Bradford has now turned a corner, but like you say it will take a long time after 30 years of decline and neglect. Looking forward to your further videos on this once great city.
I went to Bradford last Wednesday because my car was having a security update at the Land Rover dealer. I decided to walk from there up into Bradford and to go around the university where I hadn't been for nearly 30 years. It's changed in places for the better but you only have to walk a street away to find it's still a complete shit hole with rubbish, needles and dumped cars etc. Such a shame but I can't see anything working now as it's got such a bad reputation. Only this weekend was someone stabbed to death in the city centre in the middle of the day. Very sad indeed.
Looks like the city is going through a transition and transformation indeed. A great walking tour during the process, Darren. All the best to them! 🇬🇧👍🙂🇺🇸
I visited Bradford on Tuesday last week. The traffic was terrible and the attitude of the drivers was horrendous. When we eventually got parked we were very disappointed human waste outside Waterstones and the Midland hotel. People openly dealing drugs. I could go on but I'm so glad I left Bradford over thirty years ago.
The awful driving and terrible road manners are a big reason why many people are put off driving into Bradford city centre. There's pretty much no way to drive into the centre without having to pass through areas where driving standards and attitudes are utterly abysmal, like Girlington, Manningham, Great Horton and Leeds rd. I live on the outskirts of Bradford near Pudsey, but I avoid those areas like the plague.
Was at Waterstones a couple days ago, beautiful building. Bradford is a tale of two halves... it has the most gorgeous architecture and the worst. It has very posh areas, and utter slums. But, I always feel 'at home' in Bradford.
I have to say that if I was walking around at that time of day I would’ve definitely felt intimidated as I think I would’ve done in most city or town centres.
I was in the Bradford area some months ago and thought about going into the Town Centre to see what it was like - then I saw the LEZ signs and, although my car is compliant I decided that if they don't want cars there then they won't get my business. I shall adopt a similar approach to other towns that implement selective traffic control. So good luck Bradford but I won't be joining you.
Why do councils turn a blind eye to all these empty launderettes? Because it makes the place look better than loads of empty, boarded up and often graffitied shop premises. Well, that's my take on it! lol....anyhow, Great video and shows Bradford in a more positive light than many folk would have you believe.
I'm from Croydon and have visited Bradford to syay with an old uni friend. I love the mirror pool, one was proposed in Croydon but sadly nothings happened. When The Broadway was a massive hole in the ground we had Westfield propose to redevelop our shopping mall. At the time those who opposed referred to how they had left you guys with the hole. Luckily we havent got that but they've done almost sod all since about said they made their announcement in 2012 and both our malls are now dead as Dodo's. The media and photography museum are amazing. My uni friend worked at Kahn so had to wait for him to finish work in a few hours. I didnt fancy window shopping so visited the museum and had no idea it was so big.
I used to go to loads of gigs at The Queen’s Hall. I remember the Alexandra Hotel building it was all boarded up and covered in gig posters, I think it was demolished in about 1993. I’m also pretty sure one of those derelict clubs/bars was called The Gasworks at some point in the early 2000’s it was a rock and heavy metal club and small concert venue.
Bradford clean air zone was launched on 26 September 2022. Non-compliant vans will be charged £9, non-compliant taxis £7 and non-compliant lorries, buses and coaches £50. There is no charge for private cars. Which is different to London if Walk on the wild side got a fine hes in a van. As for knowing about it its on all major roads into Bradford tells you all about it.
The charge applies to all “commercial” vehicles. These is no ANPR system to detect your licence plate and automatically bill you. You have to get on the website and pay within 7 days otherwise you are fined £65. It applies from the top of the M606. If you’re making your way to Thornbury to get to Leeds ring road without stopping, a journey of 10 mins, the charge applies. It’s a con, it’s not about clean air, it’s a road tax.
Lets get straight to the point, is it bouncing back? NO! its a s*****! Forget the city centre with the odd glass and metal fancy building, the rest of the cc is run down, most decent shops are gone, shops closed and boarded up, no investment in the city whatsoever. When was the last time a crane was up in bradford constructing a new build? Umm never but yet leeds cc down the road currently has at least 25 cranes up! Outside the city centre all the inner suburbs are basically ghettos, dirty terraced streets, council estates and mixed in with them are industrial areas with ugly warehouse type builds, the place is just horrendous in fact id say its probably the no1 worst large city in england! And end of the day i think we all know why bradford has become the way it is and what's brought it down...
I'm in Bradford and have been all my life, and I know how both good and bad it is. However worst in the country? Not sure, because if you check out the travel vlogs here on RU-vid of other major cities like Birmingham, it makes Bradford seem decent.
I live in Pudsey so have the choice of Leeds and Bradford. Seen some comments saying Bradford has more to offer... Does it really??? As much as they are trying to improve things sometimes got to think of the bigger picture. If choosing to see a show that was playing at both citys for example I would have to choose Leeds because what is around the city, where can we have a drink, food, transport etc.. and unfortunately just dont feel safe in Bradford anymore. Hopefully change in the future.
Leeds is an international city, in fact as a stand alone city its the 3rd largest in England when u look at its cc and inner suburbs, leeds has a mass boom development atm with endless skyscrapers under construction, anyone who says bradford has more to offer is clearly not right!
@@easydrive3662 completely agree. I work in Leeds in Wellington Place which is becoming a city within the city... its fabulous. Got the history and the new all in one.
Unfortunately Bradford will never turn a corner and I live in Bradford. M&S closes in May, buses and cars are no longer allowed through the city centre due to pedestrianisation, we have no bus station as it has been shut since January and looks likely to be knocked down. Museum opening has been delayed till 2025. Bradford Live looks likely delayed till 2025. The new market is no longer accessible for a lot of people due to no buses running through the centre. Kirkgate market and John Street market is becoming a small housing estate.
HI brilliant video . i love Bradford . re the media museum. unfortunately its remaining closed until next year when it will re open in 2 phase's. this is due to a new lift being installed . its complicated .
Glad they have done Bradford Live, can’t wait to see the inside. Bradford does look better, much better than Huddersfield or Dewsbury the town I was born in is shocking now. Enjoyed this very much, looking good and things to look forward to happening. Leeds did have an ice rink Silver Blades on Kirkstall Road, then it was Yorkshire Television studios. I would be about 7 or 8 when I went there, in the 60s. ( which was a very long time ago 😂) Can’t wait for the next video, keep up the good work Darren 😎
Sorry, Bradford is now pakistan. Lawless. Cant even go asleep at night hearing cars racing, fireworks middle of the night, crime of the scale... oh but we're peaceful if asked
I remember, about 30 years ago now, driving into Bradford and seeing the signs saying "Bradford's Bouncing Back" - at the time we joked along the lines of "yeah, maybe, eventually, give it a couple of decades". Now, perhaps, it may come true? I've always had a soft spot for Bradford, of sorts, because my mother took us there a lot as kids as she grew up there. City Vaults, that you passed, was always the go to pub when visiting a friend from Bradford as it seemed a good atmosphere though I haven't been in many years. I may have to visit Bradford soon and see how it it, once I take delivery of my body armour (I joke).
Make sure council makes cheap streets parking, active and aggressive police .. to catch the street crimes, shoplifters punished them and sent to remote island in the middle of the seas.
I’m Bradford born and bred and I love it here. The culture the food, yes we’ve got problems but my mate recently moved from Bradford to Cheadle Hulme and they say it’s no different there for anti social behaviour. It’s what you get when you cut funding for community centres, children’s centres, youth club, combined with crap parenting raising entitled kids. This is a national problem. The ATC is a college building only, it’s where they run some of their ophthalmic courses and other meditech courses. You’ll adore the inside of the city hall, I volunteered for a couple of open days there and it was stunning.
I lived in London when in my late teens early 20s working around Regent st area, moved back up north and i ended up working in Manchester city centre.......was never intimidated or felt unsafe and i enjoyed the variety.....however a visit back to Manchester not long since now i am nearly 60 i am sad to say i hated it for various reasons, i wudnt even bother to frequent the galleries or museums. I shall keep to supporting places where i feel safe and welcome in my own country.....a sad but true fact and when your a lone female.
Watched Star Wars in 1977 in the Odeon. I remember the mirrored globe spinning from the ceiling on the opening credits. Another interesting place is the old jail and courthouse in the town hall. I think it was £5 to have a guided tour of the jail and inner courtyard of the town hall, which is tiled with white ceramic tiles to save costs, as it cannot be viewed by passers-by
I was also there to see star wars in 77 mirror ball and all and years later the odeon showed all three in one showing i also saw that too we shall soon see what its like inside now its bradford live
I have to say the same for my home town Leeds, I use to love going to the Odeon Cinema on the Headrow, now it's a sports shop..... ridiculous, same for the old MGM Cinema on Vicar Lane it's all gone, I hold the Council's responsible for the demise of our once great Cities, but I sure do love this channel 😃👍
The opening of a new medical school at the University to link with Sheffield and make Yorkshire the centre of medical excellence for the NHS will help to restore the student vibrancy to the City.
Where are all the £ coming from for all this refurbishing and development? I thought Bradford was simply dying - glad to see all these changes and the ones you say are coming. Well done.
I'm sorry, but even as a teen living in Keighley I always disliked Bradford, they ruined the city when they pulled down the arcades & the old market which I remember visiting as a child. It also suffers from being in such a hollow, when you shop everything has to be dragged back up the hill, as for the new shopping centre I'm sorry but it’s just like any other, nothing special at all. The travel interchange was always a dismal rather threatening place especially at night, & I hear that city park place is similar now. One positive is the old cinema being done up, saw many bands there in the 1960's & I used to go to the skating rink😊. I visited the area recently but not Bradford, though I looked in on Keighley to visit relatives & was appalled how the town had deteriorated so badly...very sad.😢
Living in Keighley and u hated Bradford? Stop fkn waffling. Keighley is ten times worse than Bradford and growing up in Keighley, everyone wanted to go to Bradford. You proper waffle
Funny you should title it "Bouncing back", l recall that slogan from the 1980's, in fact Bradford has had a regeneration "something" going on my entire adult life. And yet your eyes tell you the sorry truth, every single year it gets worse and that decline has accelerated wildly over the past 20. I got my kids out & into uni knowing they're never return, now l've gone too & l'll never go back.
I hope I can follow in your footsteps by getting out too, after being here more than fifty years. The problem is that the sale of a house in Bradford, does not buy much outside of this place. Mind you I would maybe accept a modern prefab if it got me out of Bradford! (seriously!).
Phoenix rising from the industrial ashes. It certainly looks as if there is a lot of commercial and retail redevelopment, but as elsewhere, the future depends largely on the economic regeneration of the region and the opportunities this provides for its citizens. Restaurants, shops and entertainment venues have to have paying punters, So, let's hope your optimism for Bradford proves justified and it isn't only a 'City of Dreams'.
Bradford, like several other places is aiming to reinvent itself as a leisure destination along with a slimmed down retail core. Whether this all works is another matter? The Alhambra is an on-going success story, St. George's Hall however, is little more than a place for tribute acts & the National Media & Science Museum is essentially propped up on government money. Albeit a little bland, the central pond is a welcome addition to the city center. Although fancy paving won't solve the city's problems & the forthcoming pedestrianization of Hall Ings, Bridge & Market Streets will create a greener and more pleasant environment to live, work & visit. The idea to create an urban village with new apartment blocks may in the longer term only lead more poor quality housing stock with people packed in like sardines. Hence the reason for the new mini-parks I suppose? Finally, Bradford Live is an unknown quantity. Only time will tell.
Sorry to burst your bubble but Bradford from my experience was an absolutely revolting city . I personally couldn’t wait to leave and that was after spending two days there
Another great video! You didn't film on 6th April 2024 did you? There was a fatal stabbing - which might explain the police presence!!! Just another day in paradise... 😬
GDK next to Dunkin'? I just put a stone on just thinking about eating my way thru both 😂🤣😂🤣😂 Great vid as usual Duck, not neen to Bradford since my sister was at TASC uni anout a million years ago
Bradford won't bounce back until it can appeal to better people to live there. The bit you filmed is the shopping area - the areas people live are horrible mostly. In your video you can see it all around you, and people on quads and e-bikes tearing up the place. The inhabitants make a city and the inhabitants of Bradford are mostly awful now.
Hi Darren great video as always we have not been to Bradford for almost 25 years we love the market the Ice ring Like walk on the wild side the clean air zoon no will not come in Bradford
