Pubs are put on the market (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Jacob's Well, Bradford, and The Midland, Bingley, up for sale

7:00am Monday 24th September 2012 in News

Jacob’s Well, one of Bradford city centre’s most historic pubs, has called time once again and shut its doors.

Despite talk of a £70,000 revamp earlier this year, its owner Spirit Pub Company has decided to shelve that plan and put it on the market instead.

It was only in March, after the pub had been shut for three months, that it was re-opened with a temporary landlord. At that time Spirit put out a statement that it was in the final stages of agreeing a lease with a local operator, but now the “for sale” boards are back up.

A Spirit Pub spokesman said: “We can confirm that, following a review of our pub estate, we have closed the Jacob’s Well pub and have put it on the market. We have received interest and hope to complete a sale later this year.”

But Bill Arnold, from Bradford CAMRA (Campaign For Real Ale), said his biggest fear would be that Jacob’s Well would be turned into offices or flats if no pub buyer comes forward.

He said: “It’s a nice pub. It’s such a shame it’s gone downhill, but I think trade went down when they shut the police station. Take people out of the equation and sales are going to drop.

“The problem will be if they can’t sell it as a pub and it gets a change of use, then Bradford will lose another of its pubs.”

Meanwhile, The Midland pub in Bingley ’s Main Street, which is owned by Punch Taverns, has also gone up for sale. An employee at The Midland said: “It’s not going to close, it’s just up for sale.”

Mr Arnold said: “The Midland is a big pub and I hope it does stay open with a new owner, but if a pub is chained to a pub chain nowadays, its chances of survival are slim.”