As unusual drinking venues go, Wallers Brewery takes some beating.

One of seven pubs to emerge from the discovery of long-forgotten tunnels and the jaw-dropping construction project to open them up, the venue is not one you’d forget in a hurry.

Through its brick-vaulted ceilings and stone floors, it oozes history - the tunnels are thought to have been constructed in a medieval quarry and evidence of this has been incorporated into the pub.

Located in the lowest level of Sunbridgewells - the city centre complex was later home to prison cells and an air raid shelter. Wallers was one of the first businesses to open there in 2016, alongside restaurants and shops.

The largest bar in the complex, it is named after Waller’s Brewery, whose distinctive chimneys dominated the Manningham skyline, producing ale in the late 19th and early 20th century. Wallers also had a brewery and offices in Upper Millergate, formerly Miller Gate.

Under the Bradford improvement act of 1873 Charles Waller sold a portion of the building to create Sunbridge Road. In the agreement with Bradford Corporation they agreed to build a tunnel entrance on Aldermanbury, which is now the entrance to Sunbridgewells.

Waller’s Brewery carried on trading with a bottling plant in the tunnel, with beer supplied by Bass and many other breweries in the country.

Now Wallers is back, catering for 21st century customers. With four hand pulls changing weekly, it’s a great place to sample different ales. The beer cellar is open for customers to view, with its casks, kegs and other equipment.

“It’s very unusual to be able to see into a pub’s cellar. Here you can see what is going on,” said Sunbridgewells developer and pub owner Graham Hall.

The hostelry also displays many interesting museum pieces, many relating to Bradford, including prescription bottles and pharmacy log books from Rimmington’s chemist’s shop, Kodak cameras through the ages, old soda syphons, weighing scales and antique microscopes.

“It’s an atmospheric pub, the ambience changes at night - when the lights go down, the disco lights come on,” added Graham.

From 1964 to 1965 the tunnels were used as a nightclub - The Little Fat Black Pussy Cat club. Live bands played there, including The Beatles, Rod Stewart and The Faces, and the Moody Blues. Bradford-born Kiki Dee worked in the cloakroom.

Keeping those memories alive, Wallers runs revival events hosted by DJs Franny O’Brien and Paul Welsby, the next taking place on Sunday October 3.

“It’s like turning the clock back, like walking into a time machine,” said Franny, “We get grandparents, parents and their children - three generations dancing, it’s great.”

When the pandemic struck, Sunbridgewells closed for 18 months, re-opening in July this year.  “Since then Fridays and Saturdays have been packed out,” said Graham.

Managed by John Townsend and Luke Sanderson, Wallers - which closes at 2am - has around seven staff.

While it does not offer food itself, this can be bought from eateries within the complex.

Graham would like to see better signage directing people to Sunbridgewells, which can also be accessed from Ivegate. “People have heard about it, but often can’t find it - I’d like to see that change.”

*Wallers Brewery, Sunbridgewells, Upper Millergate, Bradford BD11SD

*sunbridgewells.com; facebook.com/WallersBrewery/