You must come down to Bradford on the last Friday of the month to visit The Saltaire Brewery.’ so Ricky told me in the summer when I was last down. And it was arranged that The Friends of Hector booked well discounted rooms at the Holiday Inn Express via Expedia.
When Ricky was up in Glasgow recently he announced that he had now booked a trip to Poland this very weekend. Last weekend emails started to circulate when ?Stan! realised that entry to the Saltaire Friday night extravaganza was by ticket only and they had gone. Another classic ‘Holden Tours’ was underway.
?Stan!, Howard and Tracey would be in situ to get the available tickets at the door from 16.00. Robin, Craig, Yvonne and Hector were not due in Shipley until 20.40, what chance entry?
Jonathan texted en-route (we do not know which route he took down or when he arrived) to inform us that I was number 58 and that we could talk our way in. Eventually ?Stan! called to state that our entry was guaranteed and just as importantly, he would come to the station to meet us. Although we had Google Maps, Shipley Station is a complicated affair. Take the wrong direction and one could be walking for ages in the wrong direction.
It was a ten minute walk which was partly parallel to the stretch of railway line we had just traversed. A canal crossing, an industrial estate then the light of a fire. The Hog Roast beckoned for some. Hector knew that a Bradford Curry was the priority, the appetite must be kept intact.
The Cascade at 4.8% was the first choice. With American Hops this should set the benchmark for the evening. This was followed by the Galaxy at 5% which was darker and further away from our preferred style. It was at this point someone mentioned that they would close at 22.00.
There was time to fit in a third. Robin and Hector who have an uncanny knack of ordering the same Bier went back for more of the Cascade. The Citrus flavour was not overwhelming but this was certainly the better of the two.
There was time to take stock of the fact that we were in the working part of the Brewery. Sitting upstairs on a gantry we could see all below. There was a temporary bar erected at the door staffed by a very pleasant couple. A more permanent bar was opposite where we sat but had Ales we did not have time to contemplate. The main Chap was still serving at 22.00 so it was perceived that drinking up time would be liberal.
We finished our Bier in comfort and thanked the staff as we left. We have all resolved to return. There are few Fridays in the calendar when I could be here earlier that also coincide with the opening times. We shall see.
The last train from Shipley to Bradford proper was just after 23.00 , we caught this comfortably. Jonathan, Howard and Tracey took a taxi back to town. They no longer feature in today’s saga. The city centre was deserted. We were the only people on the streets. This highlights just how much the ethnicity of this city has changed.
Ricky took Marg and Hector to a city centre bar earlier this year, it was closed. ?Stan! insisted, this proves he is not Dr Stan, that we visit The Sparrow. I immediately recognised where he was taking us, he was certain the place would be open until midnight. This gave us time for a Bier but no time to check-in.
Hector found a table in the busy, spartan room. All expense has been spared on the décor. It was then I was told that there were seats downstairs. I saw a sign saying the facilities were downstairs, perhaps they need a new sign. Downstairs was empty I was soon to discover. Robin returend from the bar with pints of Ilkley Gold 3.9%. This simply put me in the mood.
?Stan! Decided that a bottle of Schlenkerla Marzen was to be the night cap. He fetched it, it was overpriced.
This is the part of the evening that has become legendary. Sky News just happened to have a camera truck on stand by. Their main presenter was helicoptered in to witness the next few minutes. The video clip of this has had fifteen billion hits on You Tube in the last twenty four hours. Here is what actually happened.
?Stan! brought the bottles of the very fine smoked Bier to the tables with the inverted glasses covering them. Hector casually turned the whole lot upside down and began one his Bier pouring party tricks. By carefully lifting the bottle away from the bottom of the glass the Bier will pour perfectly. It did, or rather it was. The glass was not straight sided. Somehow the bottle had become slightly wedged. Ooops, I quickly had to grab bottle and glass in each hand to release the bottle. Glass-bottle-bottle-glass. Mr Cooper would have been proud of me, that’s Tommy, not Davy. Craig was set off into one of his moments of hysteria. This is a moment that might be mentioned again, and again, and…
The Chaps at the check-in desk were determined that Hector would have his credit card swiped and pay for the pre-paid rooms again. Hector was determined that this was not going to happen. A phone-call to Expedia eventually sorted this mess. The rooms were allocated, no more money had been taken, it was now 01.30.
It was long overdue, but it was certainly time for Curry-Heute!
The Brewery and Pub visited today:
Saltaire Brewery Limited – The Brewery, County Works, Dockfield Road, Shipley,West Yorkshire, BD17 7AR
The Sparrow – 32 Northgate, Bradford, BD1 3HZ