Boogie nights

With all the talk about Bradford becoming a 24-hour city, the nightclub scene is a vital part of that culture.

There are more clubs than ever for the youth culture to choose, with plans in the pipeline for more - a sign that Bradford is on the bandwagon of a growing economy.

Councillor Barry Thorne, chairman of Bradford Council's leisure services, is delighted at the new wave of nightlife.

He welcomed the upsurge in Bradford's fortunes: "The new clubs and pubs that are opening are attracting people into the city.

"In the past Bradford has been known for its heritage with all the great places to visit.

"Now it is attracting younger people and is gaining a reputation as a place for a enjoying yourself on an evening. We have some very good, reputable nightclubs, not like the seedy ones of the past."

But he warned: "We are in the early stages still, and we have yet to know how it will effect the city," he said.

"We have to make sure that crime doesn't increase. But you often find that when there is a lot of people about there is very little crime."

Sergeant Tony Llewellyn, community safety officer at Bradford Central and also the secretary of Bradford Inner City Licensees' Association, said the city was booming, but also warned it was early days.

"I was speaking to a colleague of mine in Leeds who said there were 18 premises opening up there," he said.

But Bradford is keeping pace with its neighbour in a bid to keep youngsters in town rather than travelling elsewhere for a night out.

"In Bradford we have about eight new premises to come on line, as well as nine which have opened in the last few months."

The clubs to open include the development in Vicar Lane and one in Great Horton Road.

And Sgt Llewellyn puts the boom down to the brewery business which is realising where the money is to be made.

He added: "It's not just Bradford that is booming. The breweries are throwing money at towns and cities everywhere and we are trying to compete with Leeds. And we are definitely moving forward. It is really lifting off.

"But it is early days. There might be more nightclubs, but fewer people in each club. We will have to wait and see."

Phil Lumley, manager of one of Bradford's top nightclubs Maestro's, in Manningham Lane, said having a choice of club was important.

"We try and cater for everyone," he said. "We don't play one type of music all night, but change it about. And we are busier than ever.

"All customers should have a choice. Queen's Hall is a great place to let your hair down and have a laugh. A niche is being created there with the pubs in the surrounding area.

"But the important thing is to try and cater for all tastes so you don't alienate anyone."

Telegraph & Argus telesales executive Danny Holden and his girlfriend Tracey Uttley hit the town on a typical Friday night to test out some of the top clubs in Bradford.

The Queen's Hall

Danny was full of praise for The Queen's Hall. He may not remember the music first time around, which was from the Seventies and Eighties, but he certainly was having a good time.

"It's really busy," said the 18-year-old. "It's the sort of place where you can have a good laugh.

"The drinks are typical nightclub prices, but not too over-the-top.

"There's a real mixture of people, some dressed casual and some dressed smart. It's the sort of place I would come for a night out."

Tracey, was equally full of praise.

"It's like an old theatre," she said. "The balcony overlooks the bar on the first floor and it's quite unusual.

"There's a really good atmosphere. It's the sort of place you can come with your mates."

The only complaint Tracey, also 18, had was the toilets. "There's a massive queue for the ladies' loos, and when you get there no locks on the doors."

The Boilerhouse

Danny and Tracey called in at The Boilerhouse. Tracey was impressed.

"The manager said about £200,000 has been spent here," she said. "And you can tell. It's brilliant - really smart and not what I was expecting. The music is totally different to The Queen's Hall. It's soul music and a lot of R&B."

Danny was impressed with The Boilerhouse.

"It's very good in here," he said. "They have certain DJs for different types of music. There's not really a theme for the place but it's the sort of place I would come for a night out."

Mirage

Bradford's newest club, Mirage, was described by both Danny and Tracey as "different".

"It's really wacky and weird" said Danny. "My glass is a fluorescent colour and all the staff have their faces painted in fluorescent paint. I've never seen anything like it before - especially the pineapple trees. All the seats are funky and jazzy. The music earlier on was similar to The Queen's Hall, but now it's dance music.

" This club is totally different to the others. It's very unusual. It's not really busy at the moment, but I'm sure it will take off when the word gets round. I will definitely come back."

Tracey said: "It's not a very big place. There's different levels, but I thought it would be a lot bigger.

"When people come to a nightclub they just want to dance - and they are playing that sort of music."

The pair concluded that if it's a good night out, then Bradford is the place to go. "It's better than Halifax, where I normally go," said Tracey, who lives in Shelf.

Danny said: "There's a wide variety available. You can pick and choose a nightclub depending on what music you like. Bradford is a city worth going out in."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.