PUBS have often played host to heated debates between friends, but now the link between beer and politics is moving up a gear.

Politics in the Pub will see members of the public invited to question high-profile political figures about topical issues, while enjoying a pint or two at the Bradford Brewery.

The group was formed by Twitter users who had been debating local politics on the social networking site and had wanted to meet up in person.

One of the founders, teacher John Atkinson, who lives near Frizinghall, said: "We'd never really met in real life but wanted to keep the energy and interest the election produced and get more people engaged in politics and political discussion.

"We also saw that Twitter and other social media were an echo chamber where our thoughts and ideas were simply sent back to us - we weren't talking a lot to people with different ideas, from different parts of the political spectrum or voters of different parties.

"Politics in the Pub is meant to be fun, lively, interesting and engaging, but mainly to hear from people who disagree with us and are knowledgeable, erudite and engaging enough to change our minds."

Matt Halliday, of the Bradford Brewery, said a high-profile spat between the Brewery and former Bradford West MP George Galloway had got people talking.

He said: "Every third person that was coming into the brewery wanted to talk about politics, and that didn't stop when the election was over.

"Politics in the Pub, we feel, is really just about continuing the discussion and making politics more accessible."

The other founders of Politics in the Pub are Dermot Bolton, Machala Robinson and Richard Poole. The group aims to meet once a month, with the topic for each month's debate decided through a public vote.

The first debate, from 7pm on June 25, will be about whether people should bother to vote in elections.

The speakers will include Labour peer Baroness Glenys Thornton, former Liberal Democrat MP David Ward and Conservative councillor for Baildon Debbie Davies.

They will be joined by another of the founders of Politics in the Pub, software manager Will Robinson, who will be arguing there is little point in voting.

Entry is free and tickets are available via politicsinthepub.wordpress.com.

Mr Atkinson said future events would tackle the topics of elected mayors and devolution, with future guests including Shipley's Conservative MP Philip Davies and Labour's former Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe.

He added: "We intend not just to have politicians, though: we'd like to have academics, public servants, business people and other experts who'll tell us how they think the great issues of the day affect them, us, Bradford and the whole country.

"We've been really surprised by the interest and support the idea's generated."