CO-DIRECTOR of Bradford-based arts group The Brick Box, Eleanor Barrett, is thrilled at how well the Ivegate Mardi Gras went on Saturday.

She said: "We don't see The Old Crown and The Drum Winder on the Ivegate as competitors, they're colleagues. We want to work together.

"It got really busy later on and people were popping in and out of each venue.

"It was a bit ironic holding a Mardi Gras, in February, in the rain, but people seemed to love it."

Ms Barrett added: "I grew up in Bradford in the 70s and 80s where there was loads of venues and I miss that.

"It felt like the Bradford I remember on Saturday, with a big splash of colour and people dancing in the streets to the Peace Artistes.

"People who'd not been to the area before popped into The Brick Box Rooms and stayed for hours. They said they'd love to come back in the future.

"We were the first to open in October 2017, then the refurbished Old Crown came three months ago, and now we've got The Drum Winder.

"With The Rabbit Hole about to open up nearby on Westgate, there are real signs of growth in Bradford."