A POPULAR Bradford pub is in the running to be crowned the best rugby league public house.

The Top House, in Manchester Road, Odsal, is popular with Bradford Bulls fans, who visit the ale house to warm up for away days and matches just up the road at Odsal Stadium.

The walls are adorned with Bulls-themed wallpaper and memorabilia, and the pub has games including pool and darts, and also stages karaoke and live music nights.

The nationwide search for the best-loved rugby league pubs has been held by the Rugby League Fan Club, a Facebook page providing news, statistics and community updates on the sport.

Dave Musgrave, owner of the Fan Club, said after the search 14 pubs stood out, which included the Top House.

These were whittled down to four finalists, with the Top House going up against Castleford’s Boot Room, The Centurion in Leigh, and The George in St Helens in the final vote.

The public vote will open on the Rugby League Fan Club Facebook page on Friday, April 7, at 6pm, before closing at 6pm on Sunday, April 9.

The overall winner will be presented with a commemorative framed certificate to be hung in the pub, and crowned the best rugby league pub of 2017.

Mr Musgrave said: “I think it’s going to be between the Top House and the Boot Room in Castleford.

“We always get amazing messages about the landlady at the pub, praising the atmosphere and how she puts on free food before away days.

“With the Bulls now being in the Kingstone Press Championship, I have never been to the pub, so this is a good sign of how good the pub is.

“Even though they aren’t in Super League anymore, people are still talking about it, so they must be doing something right.”

Elaine Crowther, landlady at the Top House, said she was “gobsmacked” to find out her pub had reached the final four.

She said: “It’s a nice little pub full of nice people.

“I was quite shocked at a lot of the comments when I was looking at the vote, there were so many nice ones.

“Depending on who we are playing sometimes it can be quiet and sometimes it is packed, but we always have a good laugh whether we are playing home or away.

“I’m a big Bulls fan myself, and I always head over on Sundays after working in the pub.”