Bradford & District | Archive | 2004 | August | 23
From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Monday 23rd Aug 2004.
One of Bradford's most historic and best known pubs could soon be serving pints again.
A pub operator has contacted the owners of the ancient Cock and Bottle pub in Barkerend Road with a view to taking-up the lease on the property.
It is owned by a locally-based property investor who bought it when it was put up for sale by Enterprise Inns last year, but has now advertised it for rent.
Sonny Sharma, director of Bradford chartered surveyors and commercial property agents Sharma Williamson, said there had been a good level of interest in the 18th Century building.
And he said there was real hope that it could reopen as a pub.
The building has stood empty since March last year when its four years as a Christian pub came to an end and it was closed down.
It brought to an end the latest chapter in the colourful history of the building which still retains many of its distinctive features.
Mr Sharma said there had been interest in using the pub for a variety of uses. When it was last on the market, there was talk of it becoming a children's nursery or offices for firms of architects or accountants.
But - with its original bar still intact - there is also a good chance that it could be serving pints again.
"It has been on the market for two weeks and, considering we are in the middle of the quiet summer period, the level of interest has been pretty encouraging," he said.
"It might be boarded up, but inside it is in fantastic condition and still has many of its original features."
Nearby Leeds Road is littered with boarded-up pubs but Mr Sharma believes the Cock and Bottle is a unique attraction.
The building is expected to attract more interest in the forthcoming weeks.
"I think that, because of its historical links and the attractiveness of the building and the internal fittings, it is a good proposition," he said.
John Bell, secretary of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) in Bradford, said he would be "absolutely over the moon" if the Cock and Bottle was reopened.
"It is one of very few pubs left in the country that are regarded as having an unspoilt interior," he said.
"There are fewer than 250 anywhere and only two in Bradford and a dozen in West Yorkshire so it is of great historical importance not just for Bradford, but for beer drinkers and for Camra.
"We have always wanted to see it retained as a functioning pub and if it does reopen we would support it as best we could.
"One of the main problems is that it had been owned for several years by a large pub company and it didn't really fit with what they wanted and it fell into a state of disrepair.
"We have been campaigning ever since to try to get it reopened. It is in need of some tender loving care."
© Newsquest Media Group 2008