Top award for new Bradford brewery

Bradford’s newest brewery has won a prestigious award just months after opening at the beginning of this year.Bradford Brewery was revealed as New Business of the Year in the annual Bradford Means Business Awards run by the local daily newspaper the Telegraph & Argus, in partnership with the West and North Yorkshire Chambers of Commerce.

The awards, now in their fifth year, recognise the achievements and successes of companies, entrepreneurs and workers across the Bradford District. The category won by Bradford Brewery was sponsored by Bradford-based Malik House Business Centres and was open to companies that have been in operation for a year or less. The award was for the new business that demonstrated the most “imagination, planning and commitment”.

Managing director Matthew Halliday received the award during a ceremony at the Aargrah Midpoint Suite restaurant in Thornbury. He is seen above (right) with fellow award winner Paul Corcoran of Pennine Cycles The event was hosted by Peter Miller, CEO of Westfield UK & Europe – who are opening their major new shopping complex in Bradford in November – and Look North presenter Charlotte Leeming.

Matthew Halliday said: “We were really proud to receive this award which recognises all the great things that are going on in Bradford right now. We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from Bradfordians since we started up which was, incredibly, just a few months ago. Our thanks go to the publicans who’ve been supporting the venture by selling our beers in their wonderful bars, as well as all the beer-loving Bradfordians coming into our pub every day to enjoy the products – and of course our staff, who work so hard to make it all happen.

“We are now well on the way to our target of getting Bradford beers on to all the great bars across the district and we’ve made a good start on our other aim, to take beers brewed in Bradford out further afield – delivering the message with them that Bradford is well and truly back on the map.”

 Beer orders have been flooding in since the brewery launched at the heart of the city’s thriving Independent Quarter in February and the attached pub, with its pie and mash shop, is regularly packed to the rafters for its quirky events and activities.

Brewing started on site just three months ago and is now being carried out three times a week. More than 100 casks of beer are being delivered weekly to bars across the Bradford district and venues in the North of England, including major cities like Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle.

A prestigious order has been made by Bradford’s Midland Hotel to permanently sell Bradford Brewery’s Odsal Top brown ale and Razorback white gold ale in its Spirit of Bradford bar. Bradford is enjoying a nightlife renaissance and the beers have proved popular with fellow newcomers who are keen to be at the forefront with the latest products. First to take Bradford Beers as a permanent listing was the recently-reopened Old Bank in Market Street and its sister pubs the City Vaults and Ginger Goose. Beers from the whole Bradford Brewery range are being rotated between the three venues.

Also on board are two more of the newcomers to the growing city centre leisure scene, The Beerhouse on North Parade, at the heart of the buzzing Independent Quarter and the recently-refurbished Library Bar at Glyde House, in the city’s West End close to the famous Alhambra theatre and the National Media Museum,

Matthew Halliday, a Bradford Bulls Rugby League club fan, was particularly pleased to see the Top House, the club’s “Local”, taking a regular order of his Odsal Top lwhich he named as a tribute to the team.

A few miles down the road in the bohemian tourist town of Hebden Bridge, Bradford Brewery beers are now being sold at West Yorkshire’s only Co-operative pub, the Fox & Goose, after being unveiled during its popular summer beer festival (above).

The Waggon & Horses in Halesowen, West Midlands, ordered 12 casks of ales for its own bar and offered to help distribute Bradford beers to real ale bars across Birmingham and the local area.

The brewery’s own pub, which also showcases the beers, has been 30% busier than expected – reflected in a 30% higher turnover than projected. As a result, the venue has recruited an additional bar supervisor and three extra bar staff.

Background

Bradford Brewery opened in February this year, as part of the current Bradford renaissance, underpinned by a City Centre Growth Zone grant from Bradford Council. Brewing started on site shortly afterwards bringing the traditional Yorkshire industry back to Bradford City Centre for the first time in more than 50 years. The beers were initially sold from the company’s own attached pub then the sales and distribution operation was launched to roll out Bradford beers across the district and gradually further afield.

In a first for Yorkshire, the brewery became the county’s first-ever Pieminister Pie Pub selling the company’s award winning pie and mash range from its own pie kitchen.