Tickles in Bradford city centre is T&A's Pub of the Week

If you’re looking for a cracking night out with fantastic live entertainment, where the punters feel like your family, look no further than Tickles Music Hall.

You’ll leave feeling part of the Tickles gang and it will be your new favourite weekend haunt.

Tickles has the customer focus at heart, keeping them in mind for what it brings to its stage weekly. It’s the place to be.

Over the last few years, following Covid, some once thriving towns and cities can seem a bit tired in the evenings and lack nightlife where people feel safe. This is not the case with Tickles, which is thriving near the top of Ivegate.

Shannon Palmer enjoys a drink at Tickles (Image: Tickles Music Hall)

It has really made a name for itself, bringing top class music acts every week. From indie to reggae, ska to pop, Tickles has played it. With its vintage music hall vibe, it’s the talk of the town right now. Past concerts include ska legends Bad Manners and Irish heroes Derek Warfield and The Young Wolfetones.

Tickles is a place for all age groups to come together and enjoy the music and good company and feel safe. With the cost of living crisis hitting hard, prices are kept low. There’s rarely a door fee for acts. Relying on word of mouth and social media sharing, Tickles has a loyal group of regulars. Whenever I go, it’s packed to the rafters, whether it’s Tuesday afternoon or Saturday night.

A variety of acts take to the stage

A highlight is the popular Vintage Tuesdays. Tickles has been running afternoon sessions for older people for nine years. Known as ‘Vintage Tuesdays’ they mean so much to the older generation in Bradford and they are dementia friendly events.

Ellen Boyle, the Bradford legend who runs Vintage Tuesdays, said: “I was inspired to start it because I noticed there wasn’t anything specifically for older customers. They seemed to have been forgotten. I spoke to a few of them about it and they loved the idea of an afternoon dedicated to them where they could listen to music from their youth, meet friends, have a dance and enjoy the nostalgia.

Regulars love Vintage Tuesdays (Image: Tickles Music Hall)

“Vintage Tuesdays are the highlight of the week for many. It’s for those who love 50s and 60s music, and we often include 70s and Motown classics. It’s a real mix, with plenty of rock ‘n’ roll. People come through our doors and feel energised. Their faces light up. The age group is 45-95. People have made new friendships and caught up with friends they haven’t seen for 40 or 50 years. Tuesday afternoon is their day.

“We have acts from all over the UK. One week it might be jive, the next a singer performing Connie Francis and Brenda Lee hits. We feature Elvis songs regularly, he’s a big favourite. Occasionally on Saturday nights I put a 60s night on and there’s massive interest, as many younger people like this genre. Films like Dirty Dancing and Grease and TV shows like Call the Midwife have rekindled a passion for the music and fashion of the the 50s and 60s.

“It’s wonderful that Bradford, my home town, has this hidden gem which has so much heart and soul.”

Vintage Tuesday acts coming up are: Lisa Jayne singing hits from the 60s, 70s 80s on February 13, Steve Cesari on February 20 and Paul Stewart on February 27.

* Visit tickleslivemusichall.co.uk; Instagram @ticklesmusichallbradford; Facebook @ticklesmusichall