A former Edwardian swimming pool, familiar to generations to Bradfordians, will get a new lease of life - as a £3 million pub and nightclub.

Developers have taken over the city centre Windsor Baths in Great Horton Road to make it a prominent leisure scheme.

Bradford Council has given them a long lease on the building and work is expected to be completed in Autumn.

The development will include two theme pubs, each occupying half of the former swimming pool hall, and a third pub with nightclub facilities in the remainder of the building.

There will also be refurbished office space on the upper floor.

The first pub unit has been pre-let to Allied Domecq Leisure and will trade as a Firkin brand pubs It will be known as the Freestyle & Firkin.

Developer Leeds & London Holdings (Majestic Hall Developments) Ltd of Bradford is negotiating with five other national breweries said to be showing a strong interest in the remaining units.

Leeds and London recently refurbished The Belfry in Chester Street to transform it into the popular Blob Shop pub.

Many of the building's original fittings will be retained, including parts of the original public gallery which overlooked the swimming pool. They will form a centrepiece for the two pub schemes.

The building's exterior features will be preserved and the four existing shop units on Morley Street will have facelifts.

Entrances to all the units will be located on both Great Horton Road and Morley Street.

The first and second floor office space will be occupied by the Alhambra Theatre's education and outreach team and box office.

Company surveyor Peter McManus said: "This quality development will contribute to an exciting renaissance in the West End area of the city. We are pleased to be a part of it.",

Chairman of the Council's regeneration committee, Coun Dave Green, said: "I welcome this investment which will give this historic building an exciting new lease of life."

The building was closed as a swimming pool by Bradford Council in 1983 and lay derelict for 12 years.

Bradford Festival organisers persuaded the Council to allow the building to re-open and house its offices, as well as becoming a venue for live entertainment.

The building shut in March last year however after dozens of regular dance music and club events.

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