THE boss of an underground leisure complex in Bradford says he is excited to reopen after revealing the pandemic has cost them £200,000.

Sunbridgewells reopened with a special VIP event on Thursday night and now it is welcoming back members of the public after a deep clean of the site.

The underground complex, featuring a host of bars and shops, planned to reopen on June 26, but that was delayed due to a change in the government’s full easing of lockdown restrictions, which then took place last Monday.

It had previously only reopened since the first lockdown in March 2020 for a few weeks from August last year. The complex opted against reopening in July 2020, when pubs and restaurants across England were allowed to reopen.

 

This decision was made last month in the “interest of public safety”.

Sunbridgewells now has measures in place including a one-way system, customers will have to wear masks on entrance to the complex and hand sanitising stations at the complex.

The site’s attractions include a host of bars and businesses selling food and drink. These include The Gin, Rum and Champagne Bar, which was formerly known as The Gin Bar.

Sunbridgwells will also house La Caverna Pizzeria, which features a large wood fired oven.

The Waller Brewery and the Rose & Crown and a coffee booth are among those also open for business alongside the former Laurel & Hardy bar.

 

Graham Hall, of Yeadon-based developer Sunbridgewells, is looking ahead to a brighter future after a tough 18 months for the complex.

He said: “We reopened on Thursday and it all went well. It was a great night.

“It was nice to have people back in there. It’s brilliant to reopen again.

“This pandemic has cost us £200,000 since the first lockdown in March last year. The staff have been on furlough, but we’ve still got to pay them things like pension contributions.

“It is business as usual now. It’s taken us eight or nine weeks to clear the place up ready to reopen.

“We have put so much into it that we’ve got to be positive now.

“It’s all looking positive now. That’s the only way we can think. If you carried on how it was, the world would stop.

“We reopened for about four weeks last summer, but it really wasn’t worth it due to the social distancing. People couldn’t dance. Masks are now optional for people inside, we have plenty of hand sanitisers available.”

Sunbridgewells will be open from 11am to 2am every Friday and Saturday and from 11am to 11pm Sunday to Thursday.

The £1.9million complex opened to the public in December 2016, with more than 20,000 visitors in its first two weeks.

It was officially opened by the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, in June 2017.

During her visit, which lasted an hour and 10 minutes, Princess Anne was given a guided tour of the site and unveiled a plaque in Wallers Brewery.

More than 200 VIP guests, including former Bradford Council leader, Councillor David Green, attended the event. Princess Anne also stopped to have a chat to a number of owners of huts selling goods including food and flowers.