THE man behind the £1.9 million Sunbridgewells underground complex says he wants more people in Bradford to know about it as the site marks its fifth anniversary.
The city centre site opened to the public on December 10, 2016, and apart from when it was shut for several months last year and early 2021 due to the Covid pandemic, has welcomed people to its mix of attractions ever since.
5 Year Anniversary Starts Today. Come and join us today into the weekend @Sunbridge_Wells pic.twitter.com/s23bAMBui6
— Sunbridgewells (@Sunbridge_Wells) December 9, 2021
The complex, off Centenary Square and built underneath Sunbridge Road, Upper Millergate and Ivegate, include a host of bars and businesses selling food and drink such as The Gin, Rum and Champagne Bar, which was formerly known as The Gin Bar.
Sunbridgwells also houses La Caverna Pizzeria, which features a large wood fired oven.
The Waller Brewery is one of its main attractions and the Rose & Crown pub 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 two years for the complex.
He said: "It's been a long, hard journey. It started in 2006 when I first looked at it.
"It's unique in every sense. There is not another place like it anywhere.
"It's about getting more people to know about it.
"The last two years have been an absolute nightmare because of Covid.
"Apart from that, things are starting to get back to normal.
"We have new up-and-coming businesses here now. It's getting back to how it was.
"Covid has severely damaged the industry. People still want to go out in Bradford, they want to let their hair down.
"We still have people coming in who didn't know that this place exists. People are coming from Manchester and Sheffield to see us.
"I'm just surprised that people who live in our own city don't know we're here."
Sunbridgewells 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 attended the event. Princess Anne also stopped to have a chat to a number of owners of huts selling goods on-site.
Developers revealed the cost of the project had risen by £1m to £1.9m after the space increased from 12,000 sq ft to 24,000 sq ft.
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