KASHMIR, KULTURE AND KODAK

January 2026. Bradford.

2.9 miles in 37 minutes from the Crown down to the Alhambra, and a sorry tale of pub death awaits, despite a year as the UK’s Capital of Culture (and it IS a cultural giant).

This is the extract from CAMRA’s marvellous pub guide showing the area west of the ring road. Note the grey “P“s.

Fourteen (14) pubs, thirteen of them closed, and just one survivor according to CAMRA;

Honest. Look at these opening times;

That must be a micropub. Actually, I see no evidence at all that Flares has survived the cull of the Morley Street “fun” circuit.

Thank goodness there’s still curry in Bradford. Sadly, the best places (International, Sheesh Mahal) round here don’t open till later, so it’s back to the Kashmir, a Curryheute Guide perennial.

Last time here I was the only customer; 3 years later (at 3pm on a Monday in January) there’s a couple of gentlefolk and two younger mates popping in for what is a slice of proper Bratfud.

Just as people follow my every recommendation on pubs and young American songstresses, so I tend to follow Curryheute’s steer and order the Aloo Gosht with too many chapattis, which sadly is not as healthy as it sounds despite the presence of potatoes.

It’s my idea of curry heaven, the equivalent of an NBSS 4 pint of Tetley, and it came within 5 minutes of sitting down (and ordering in the same motion). Unlike Curryheute, I didn’t get free poppadoms, but for £10.80 all in I can’t complain.

It’s hard to leave the Kashmir in a hurry with curry in your tummy, as I have found out to my cost in the past. So I spent a leisurely hour in the revitalised Media Museum, genuinely one of the world’s great museums (and I’ve been to Southport’s Lawnmower exhibition).

The Kodak gallery is particularly brilliant, there’s a chance to create your own avatar (I was a rabbit, obvs),

and the science galleries pick a visitor at random to be absorbed into the internet or something.

Look, the extent of my science knowledge is Grade 4 Physics CSE, which equates to knowing thatb H20 isn’t just a Hall & Oates album.

Oooh, 2 minutes to 4, my train goes in 10.

I’ll be back for the Turner Prize exhibits, and more curry.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

13 thoughts on “KASHMIR, KULTURE AND KODAK”

  2. The saddest closure must be the New Beehive.
    I’m so thankful that I stayed a night there in May 2018, and that he opened early for us the next day.

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    1. Lana, I had a spring 1982 weekend in Bradford, returned thirty-six years later and noticed quite a difference. Yes, you really need to get up there.

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      4. Sorry Lana, No, not since the gas lit New Beehive closed.
        But in York I was well pleased staying in the Sea Horse and think that both the Waggon and Horses and the Lighthorseman might be just as good.
        While in York try to make time for pages 193 to 195 of your Heritage Pubs book.

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  5. “January 2026. Bradford.”

    (looks at photo above)
    No comment.

    “despite a year as the UK’s Capital of Culture”

    I can see the alliteration in this post is going to be absolutely amazing!

    “Fourteen (14) pubs, thirteen of them closed, and just one survivor according to CAMRA;”

    Bloody hell.

    “That must be a micropub. ”

    Or some late night weekend dance venue.

    “Last time here I was the only customer; 3 years later (at 3pm on a Monday in January) there’s a couple of gentlefolk and two younger mates popping in for what is a slice of proper Bratfud.”

    So, business has improved! 😉

    “which sadly is not as healthy as it sounds despite the presence of potatoes.”

    Um, not sure who told you potatoes are healthy but…

    “It’s hard to leave the Kashmir in a hurry with curry in your tummy, as I have found out to my cost in the past. ”

    (slow golf clap)

    “The Kodak gallery is particularly brilliant, there’s a chance to create your own avatar (I was a rabbit, obvs),”

    Nah. Shoulda been fox, you sly devil you.

    “and the science galleries pick a visitor at random to be absorbed into the internet or something.”

    (looks down)
    Obviously, never to be seen again?

    “which equates to knowing thatb H20 isn’t just a Hall & Oates album.”

    But your grammar lacks in knowing how to spell ‘that’. 😎

    “Oooh, 2 minutes to 4, my train goes in 10.”

    Quick! One more pint!

    “I’ll be back for the Turner Prize exhibits, and more curry.”

    Hopefully not to throw said curry on one of the Turner Prize exhibits in protest of something or other.

    Cheers

    PS – I’m back! Had a great week in Vancouver. I was glad I went, my darling wife was glad I went and she was glad she went (long story). Our hotel was good enough price-wise, and location-wise, that my wife said she’ll stay there again when the situation warrants it. Weather wasn’t all that great (some rain and wind) but that just meant I could sit in some bars/pubs (and one brewpub that I am fond of when there) whilst my better half attended meetings and pressed the flesh. At least a dozen of her family were there and, though I don’t usually say this, it was enjoyable with them. Met some folk I hadn’t seen in a few years and enjoyed some good food… and drink (with over half of it being paid by someone else). 😊

    Came home to find the heat pump in my man/shed pub had gone on the fritz and our gas fireplace had gone wonky (but that was merely the batteries being dead in the receiver for the remote). So I’m easing back into the regular routine as it were. 😏

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