Greens issue plea to stop decline of Bradford pubs

Councillors are being urged to help protect Bradford's pubs as campaigners say recent closures, demolitions and redevelopment plans are steadily eroding the number of "vital" community spaces.

Officials are due to debate the state of the district's hostelry heritage at Bradford's City Hall later today, with the Green Party tabling a motion on the topic.

The motion calls for decision-makers to use local authority planning powers to further protect pubs from conversion or demolition.

Ahead of the meeting Green Party leader Matt Edwards said: "Where pubs are no longer viable as privately run businesses, alternative models such as community ownership should be encouraged and supported."

The calls come after a number of venues in the district have closed, been converted to other uses, or face redevelopment.

Edwards said the most recent closures have included The Rose & Crown in Bradford city centre, Studio 48 & Groove Pad, in Shipley, and The Roebuck, in Keighley, although the BBC understands The Roebuck is set to re open under new management.

A number of other pub buildings across the district have also recently changed use or face uncertain futures.

In Bowling, the former Mill Lane pub has been approved for conversion into a food manufacturing business, while in Little Horton, proposals have been submitted to convert the former Venue pub into a restaurant.

In Wyke, Bradford Council has approved plans to demolish the Halfway House pub on Huddersfield Road and replace it with housing.

Elsewhere, the historic Carlisle Hotel in Manningham has been the subject of redevelopment proposals after standing empty for a number of years.

Meanwhile the Grade II listed Hare and Hounds, an 18th-century pub building, was ultimately demolished after structural safety concerns emerged during redevelopment works.

Taken together, campaigners said these cases show how former pubs can quickly disappear from the local landscape once they close.

However, there are also examples of communities stepping in to save valued local venues.

One such example is The Volunteers pub in Keighley, which reopened in 2024 after a period of closure and has since re-established itself as a popular local meeting place.

The motion to today's full council meeting adds: "Local pubs are more than commercial premises. They are pieces of social infrastructure that contribute to community cohesion, wellbeing and local economic resilience.

"The permanent loss of pubs can contribute to social isolation, reduce footfall for surrounding businesses, and undermine the success of our city and town centres."

The closures highlighted in Bradford reflect wider pressures facing pubs across the UK.

According to the British Beer and Pub Association, the number of pubs in the UK has steadily decreased every year since 2000.

Some 15,000 pubs have closed in that time, including 289 last year - the equivalent of six a week.

More recent analysis of government statistics show 366 pubs across the UK were lost in the past year, with many buildings only viable for conversion or demolition.

The Bradford council motion notes that pubs face "significant financial pressures, including rising energy costs, other running costs and decreasing disposable incomes."

The council debate comes in the wake of the government announcing new support for pubs and music venues in England, a partial U-turn on previous plans to scrap large business rate discounts.

However, campaigners say further support is needed to address both the financial pressures facing pubs and the wider loss of community spaces across the district.

Councillors at tonight's meeting will be asked to vote to write to Chancellor Rachel Reeves to call for a more radical shake up of support for the sector.

They also want local planning powers applied more rigorously to prevent pub conversions and demolitions across the district, with additional measures to further protect pubs and community social spaces.

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