It is disappointing that another Bradford city centre pub, the Lord Clarke, in Market Street, has closed its doors, especially as a neighbouring property, the former Old Bank pub, is also still empty. However, the comments of BICLA president David Haigh, who says “Bradford has had it as far as bars go,” may be overly pessimistic.

It is certainly true that the much-maligned (but long overdue) smoking ban, the worst recession for decades and the lack of progress on regenerating the city’s core retail offer have all helped deter customers.

But this is no time to despair. Both of these hostelries are well placed to enjoy the benefits that the new City Park will bring to residents and visitors alike in a relatively few months’ time. Clues to their inability to hang on and take advantage can be found in the comments of both Mr Haigh, about the Lord Clarke’s clientele, and the property marketing company’s Jeremy Rubin, who says the departing sub-tenant “couldn’t make it work.”

In other words, it was the wrong offer for the wrong customers in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The message is: get the package right and the business will come. That’s not to say that much more could not be done by both the Government and the Council to support local retailers and bring in custom while we’re waiting for Broadway to be built.

But we have to stop talking Bradford down, and start concentrating on the very many positives that do exist, if we want this city to thrive.