Bradford & District | Archive | 2005 | October | 10
From the archive, first published Monday 10th Oct 2005.
A Bradford pub with a chequered past has scooped a national award for its historic importance.
The Cock and Bottle, on Barkerend Road, is one of just 250 pubs in the country to be awarded the Camra (Campaign For Real Ale) certificate for outstanding historical importance.
The grade II listed pub was shut down and boarded up for more than two years and only re-opened three months ago following a long campaign by real ale fans to rescue the alehouse with its stained glass and the original bar.
The pub had previously served time as a Christian pub and had also been the scene of a recent murder and an exorcism.
But it reopened in the summer, restored to its former glory.
Secretary of the Bradford branch of Camra John Bell said: "There are only two pubs in Bradford and fewer than 250 in the whole country which have this award.
"It recognises the pub as an interior of outstanding historic importance, It's a wonderful old fashioned pub with lots of little rooms. It still has a lot of little snugs and a tap room. There are lovely old mirrors, glass and wood and the kind of things you do not see in pubs these days.
"There are not many pubs like this left in the country with this sort of layout and unspoilt interiors. It's a unique pub and the fact we have it back open again is tremendous."
Landlord Peter Fell, who took over the pub when it re-opened three months ago, said: "We are delighted. It is now the oldest surviving pub in Bradford. There are not many pubs in the country that are in their original state.
"The pub actually dates back to the 1640s and the present pub was built in 1820 so it's very old for Bradford."
Mr Fell, 53, is still working on plans to brew ales at the hostelry close to Bradford city centre.
The Cock and Bottle is holding a Yorkshire beer festival with more than 30 beers from breweries across the county from Wednesday to Sunday, October 12 to 16.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008