Bradford! David Hockney! Zayn Malik! The Media Museum! What’s not to love? If you don’t have a soft spot for Bradford, I struggle to think what you might have a soft spot for.
Yeah, the city’s gone through some tough times over the years but its history and culture is a rich as any other in the UK.
Here's how...
IT USED TO HAVE THE LARGEST INDUSTRIAL BUILDING EVER
In the world! The now famous Salts Mills was designed by Lockwood and Mawson for Sir Titus Salt in 1853. Today it’s a shopping centre, art gallery and restaurant complex.
Back in the day, it served as a textile mill which didn’t shut up shop until 1986.
Telegraph and Argus
THERE’S A TON OF HEADQUARTERS BASED HERE
Bradford is home to a number of company headquarters.
Yorkshire Building Society, Morrisons, Provident Financial, Hallmark Cards, Arris and Yorkshire Water are all based in Braddy. Over 40 large companies have their HQ in the district and employ more than 370,000. Their combined turnover is around £30 billion.
CURRY CAPITAL
Don’t really need to say anything else, do I? You all know the drill. You want a great curry, you go to Bradford.
It was named the Curry Capital of Britain for five years running, in fact.
Stop reading and book a table at any curry house in Bradford right now.
THERE’S A BUNCH OF YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS HERE
The city has a young and creative workforce. Self-employment and business start-ups are on the rise like never before, which is a great thing when you’re in the youngest city in the UK, with almost a quarter of its population under 16 years old.
Things, hopefully, can only get better from here on out.
Getty
IT WAS THE FIRST CITY OF FILM
Leeds may have been home to the first motion pictures, it was Bradford that beat out Cannes, Venice and LA to become the world’s first UNESCO City of Film in 2009.
Bradford continues to host a collection of internationally renown film festivals. And did I mention the Media Museum?
WE HAVE A CLASS THEATRE
You know this one. It isn’t a secret. But how good is the Alhambra? Built in 1913 for £20,000, this much-adored theatre has welcomed a host of high-profile names including Laurel and Hardy, Morecambe and Wise, Peter Sellers and Rik Mayall onto its boards.
It was awarded Grade II listed status in 1974.
OH, AND ST GEORGE’S HALL
St George’s Hall opened its doors on August 29, 1853 and remains a firm favourite to this day. It’s both the oldest in the UK and third oldest in the WHOLE continent.
Originall built for a 3,500 capacity, it now seats 1,500. It was financed by German Jewish wool merchants who moved to Bradford for the rising textile industry.
In 2016, it was closed for an £8.5 million restoration project.
WE’RE EXPERIENCING THE BIGGEST POPULATION GROWTH
I’ve already told you about Bradford being the UK’s youngest city but it’s also the fastest growing one, population-wise.
Between 2001 and 2011 the overall population grew by 11% to 470,800. In other words, don’t worry that David Hockney and Zayn Malik are now Stateside. There’s more than enough replacements knocking about as we speak.
Bradford
Yorkshire railways to receive huge investment as government unveils £45 billion Northern Powerhouse Rail project
Regional leaders have confirmed a rail project in the North of England with first improvements taking place in Yorkshire.
The long-awaited Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) project will see a whopping £45 billion worth of upgrades.
The first phase will see the construction of a new station in Bradford followed by upgrades in Leeds, York and Sheffield.
The electrification of lines between Sheffield and Leeds, Leeds and York and Leeds and Bradford will be the first priority and is expected to be completed in the 2030s.
The scheme has been described as "a once in a generation commitment to improving transport across the North".
Announcing the scheme, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "I spent three happy years in Leeds as a university student, a vibrant city I was proud to call home, but I've seen first-hand what underinvestment and empty pledges do to cities across the North.
"This government is rolling up its sleeves to deliver real, lasting change for millions of people through a major new rail network across the North that will deliver faster, more frequent services."
"This cycle has to end. No more paying lip service to the potential of the North, but backing it to the hilt. That's why this government is rolling up its sleeves to deliver real, lasting change for millions of people through Northern Powerhouse Rail: a major new rail network across the North that will deliver faster, more frequent services."
Stage two of the plan will include upgrades around Manchester, with the final stage delivering a new railway between Bradford and Huddersfield that wouldn't be delivered until the 2040s.
In a combined statement, the regional mayors of West, South and North Yorkshire said: "The long-term commitment will transform Yorkshire's transport network and deliver improved links across our region and on to Manchester, Liverpool, and Newcastle.
"It'll mean we can deliver quicker, more reliable journeys, opening up more choice around work, skills and opportunity for everyone across Yorkshire."
SKYMAGIC, the company behind the display, has worked on previous projects for Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee and the coronation of King Charles III no less.
Here's what the website says about the event: "As darkness falls over Bradford, you’ll see extraordinary drone recreations of artworks from across Hockney’s career – from his vibrant Californian pool paintings to his more recent Yorkshire landscapes created on iPads.
"All of these classic works will be portrayed in light, flying high over Saltaire in a dynamic tribute to one of our district’s favourite sons. Don’t miss it.
"Painting the Sky will take place in the open air, so please dress appropriately for the weather."
To find out more, take a look at the Bradford 2025 website.
Josh Teal -
26th May 2021 
