A LONG empty city centre pub could soon be redeveloped into a hotel and bar, adding to the regeneration of a neglected, historic street.

Bradford Brewery will tomorrow re-open its Made of Bradford pop up bar, which was based at The Broadway Shopping Centre for its first few months, in a former charity shop in Ivegate.

And as well as the temporary shop and bar, the brewery has also taken over the neighbouring Old Crown pub, which was later an amusement arcade until it closed six years ago.

They are the latest businesses to be announced for Ivegate, the oldest street in the city centre, which has for years been plagued with empty units.

The pop up bar is expected to stay open for four months, and the unit will eventually be incorporated into the re-opened Old Crown as part of a development that will include a bar, restaurant, bottle shop and 12-bedroom hotel.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

Earlier this year the 1875 bar, Indian street food and music venue relocated from Menston to the former Gasworks nightclub in Ivegate and there are plans in the pipeline for a function space and small boutique to open as part of that business.

And later this summer the Sunbridgewells development of bars, shops and restaurants will open, with two of the entrances to the ambitious underground development being at the top of the street.

Curry house The International will open in a former hairdressers as part of the development, while the Laurel and Hardy 1920s themed bar will be based under the current Coral bookmakers. And just behind the Ivegate entrance will be the re-opened Rose and Crown pub, which has been hidden away behind other units for several decades.

The Made of Bradford will serve Bradford Brewery beers on tap, plus a range of ciders, wines and spirits, with a craft beer bottle shop.

It will open between 11am and 11pm from Tuesdays to Sundays.

Bradford Brewery managing director Matthew Halliday said. “Ivegate is the oldest and, we think, the prettiest street in Bradford city centre and it’s crying out to become a focal point for visitors.

"There is the potential for this street to return to where it was 30 years ago. In 12 months time I hope people can see a real change in the street.

"A lot of people asked us if we could open a bar on the bottom of the town, not everyone wants to walk up to the top end for a drink if they've been shopping."

"When the opportunity arose to take on an iconic building like the Old Crown that was something we simply couldn’t resist.”

Graham Hall, who is behind the Sunbridgewells project, said: "The more bars in the city the better, it brings more people into the city centre and it creates more variety."

Bradford Council leader David Green said: "I'm delighted that the brewery has been so successful they can expand, and this will form part of the work that is ongoing to link Broadway with the top end of the town.

"This is another piece of the jigsaw, and we are working with investors and developers to make sure parts of the city like Ivegate and Darley Street are re-developed."

Bradford Brewery is also redeveloping the New Pack Horse pub on Westgate. It will become the Westgate Social Club, with a target opening date of September.