23rd January 2020
This post is a bit pointless, as Duncan beat me to the press with his write-up of the magnificent Idle Draper, set in Bradford’s best named suburb.
As Duncan notes, I’d done a trial run of his West Yorkshire pubs the day before, walking from Greengates up the hill to Idle (both ways) to be greeted with, well nothing.
One of those 7 comments would have been me five years back, saying “GET BACK TO WORK YOU IDLERS”, but retirement brings a zen like harmony with the micro world, and gave me a day to look forward to its reopening.
We arrived at 3.30pm, having passed a sea of places with Idle in the title, one of which would have to entertain us for half an hour.
But as Duncan stared through the curtain, a lady popped her head out the back.
“Can’t you read the sign. 4 pm and not a moment sooner”.
“HELLO. COME IN. WELCOME”
What a welcome, and by 3.45pm Duncan had his tick courtesy of some decent homebrew.
I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Rows of gin, BrewDog signs,
and a comfortable but tiny room.

But Jim and Louise were the friendliest publicans I’ve ever met, and I hadn’t seen half of it yet.
“Come and see the brewery, COME ON!” said Jim.
“Am scared of breweries, all beer should come from Wolverhampton” I mumbled.
“COME ON !” demanded Jim.
Look at Duncan’s blog for the pics, all I’ll add is the cinema/brewery/community room is a stunning piece of design. Even if the Tiki Bar didn’t serve Bass.
The attention to detail in the old Draper’s shop is stunning.
“We wanted a place that would appeal to everyone” said Louise. Good grief. In 2020.
Rarely have I enjoyed a trip to a pub more, that Labour Club in Malta apart, and they surely weren’t prepared for the visit of the Pubmeister.
Just THINK what they’ll put on for BRAPA.
Very nice and way, way better pics than mine. All that work in the studio clearly paying off. Sorry for pinching the post before you – the coast is clear for the rest of that fine day.
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Would like to agree mine are better but it’s not true.
Hard to capture exuberance and care on camera, isn’t it? Much easier to snap a Victorian gin palace with blokes drinking pints of mild.
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Is the first picture an indication that The Donald is anticipating an unfavourable result and has already arranged alternative employment for next year?
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He is a sexy man, says most of Idaho.
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Sadly, I am not that optimistic.
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Here’s one for you Martin
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Sorry Mart, but he didn’t do one about Hallowe’en
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Did you get your Zen sensibility in Zennor?
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Yes, half price 👍
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Lots of clubs more welcoming these days but still a few put up the metaphorical shutters
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