BRADFORD’S business community will be given a first-hand insight into a story behind a £1.9 million underground city centre shopping scheme at a talk later this month.

Graham Hall and Clinton Fitzpatrick’s talk, Sunbridgewells – How It Happened, will take place on Friday, June 23, between noon and 2pm, at the Cedar Court Hotel, Rooley Lane, at West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce's latest property lunch event.

The scheme, off Centenary Square, will be officially opened by Princess Anne on Wednesday, June 28, after it opened to the public in December last year.

It has welcomed more than 200,000 people through its doors since it opened, with visitors travelling from London, York and across Yorkshire to take a look.

The development has the backing of chamber members, who have dubbed it “truly visionary”.

Mike Cartwright, the chamber’s policy and representation executive, said: “Sunbridge Wells is going to be – in fact, is already – a great addition to the city centre.

“There is nothing else like it for miles around so we have something unique here.

“Graham is to be applauded for persisting with his ambition – it can’t have been easy to deliver such an unusual and challenging scheme. I’ve spoken to Graham and Clinton several times already and I know this is going to be a fascinating talk.”

Mr Hall said: “I’m looking forward to talking to the business leaders.

“We have had a good backing from the business community. It’s very important to get that.

“The talk will be from how I got started on the project and how it worked.

“The project is building momentum all of the time. But still not a lot of people know it exists in the city centre.”

Sunbridgewells’ second phase, with an entrance on Ivegate, includes the Rose and Crown pub which has a 100-person capacity and features a number of real ales from the district, including Saltaire Brewery.

The second phase of the project will also include a juice bar and steakhouse, with a combined 100-person capacity, due to open later this year.

The complex’s first phase includes bars and 14 shops, selling goods including sweets, coffee and women’s fashion. More shops are due to open later this year, when five lockable stalls begin trading.

For tickets to the talk, priced £25 for chamber members or £35 for non-members, call 01274 206660 or email events@wnychamber.co.uk and quote 23/6 lunch.