How Brewdog could breathe new life into famous Bradford landmark - Dave Baldwin

Thirteen years ago, in an industrial estate in north east Scotland, BrewDog came howling into the world. Or so the legend goes on the corporate website.
Bradford has a vibrant economy which is attracting big corporate names.Bradford has a vibrant economy which is attracting big corporate names.
Bradford has a vibrant economy which is attracting big corporate names.

Today, the £1bn craft beer brewer claims to be the fastest growing food and drinks company in the UK and is breaking into international markets “like a shark on steroids”.

BrewDog is bringing its unique brand identity to Bradford with plans to open a branch in the city centre. The company is reported to be taking over the historic old Bradford Baths building in Randall Well Street – most recently home to the Brew Haus pub – with its exposed brickwork, steel beams and antique light fittings.

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The new opening will create around 20 new jobs across the bar, floor and kitchen in partnership with Red’s True Barbecue, another well-known catering brand.

A recruitment notice from Brewdog announces its “mission to bring amazing craft beer and awesome barbecue to the people of Bradford”.

The company has thrived by setting itself apart from the drinks industry establishment.

Taken together, they will bring a breath of fresh air to Bradford’s West End. This part of town is undergoing substantial regeneration with the transformation of the former Odeon into a world-class entertainment venue. Bradford Live is set to open in the next 12 months and is expected to bring in crowds of 300,000 people per year with an annual calendar of 200-plus music, comedy and family entertainment events.

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Across the way, St George’s Hall, recently restored to the tune of £9.5m, is attracting big names since its refurbishment – notably Paul Weller and John Lydon. The Modfather and Sex Pistol are playing on successive nights in November – that should be a lively 48 hours.

Other developments in the West End area include the £4.6m focus point of faith called Fountains Church in a former nightclub overlooking City Park.

The Church of England has said the new church will have “a strong Bradford identity: young, entrepreneurial, ethnically and culturally diverse, and confident about holding out a clear religious offer and call in the public space”.

The point being, the area is on the up. Further up, the Top of the Town is in line for new investment after Bradford Council secured nearly £1m in external funding to begin delivery of the first phase of the 1,000-home City Village project.

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The new money, which will be spent on improving public areas along North Parade, is in addition to the £2m secured from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to restore key heritage buildings in the conservation area.

And don’t forget the new Darley Street Market, a £21m food hall development which bursts into life this spring and the biggest single regeneration project at present.

This decade, the city centre will be transformed as developers commit to the district.

Back to BrewDog. Its vision is to make everyone as passionate about craft beer as it is.

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Our mission is to make everyone as passionate about Bradford as we are. I can’t promise a “shark on steroids” but it’s pretty clear something special is brewing in our district.

Dave Baldwin - Chair, Bradford Economic Partnership