Taste of Bradford: event aims to attract new restaurants to the city

More than 700 restaurant and food-related business heads have been invited to the ‘Taste of Bradford’ event, which will take place on 27 March at the Midland Hotel.

The event will include face-to-face meetings with property agents to discuss what premises are available in the city, and a run-down of the financial incentives being offered to restaurants that set up in the City Centre Growth Zone, worth a potential £170,000 per company.

Visitors will also be given the chance to take a tour of Bradford, sample food from some of the existing restaurants in the city and attend the gala opening of the Bradford International Film Festival, taking place at the National Media Museum in the evening.

Bradford Breakthrough​

Bradford Breakthrough is campaign run by 32 leaders of private and public sector organisations in Bradford, which are working to encourage new businesses and investment to make the city a better place to live and work

The group believes a better restaurant offer is ‘vital to the regeneration of the city’ and launched a campaign last summer to encourage more restaurants to open in Bradford city centre.

It is concentrating its efforts on bringing restaurants into currently empty units in the city centre, particularly in and around the new Westfield shopping centre. However, it said it would also be interested in talking to businesses considering setting up anywhere in the Bradford District.

Restaurants of all types are being targeted by the initiative, including English, Asian and European.

Colin Philpott, chief executive of Bradford Breakthrough, said: “We are the UK Curry Capital and we have a number of great restaurants across the Bradford District but everyone acknowledges that the city centre in particular needs more restaurants and more choice of food as a key part of developing the leisure and business economy.

“With work now underway on the Westfield Shopping Centre and some significant financial incentives available through the City Centre Growth Zone, now is the right time for people to open in Bradford.”

Council support​

The ‘Taste of Bradford’ event is being supported by Bradford Council, which last week announced plans to make it easier for businesses to apply for a change of use for premises in the Growth Zone.

This will make it easier for businesses to set up restaurants in units that were previously used as shops.

For further details on the event, contact Colin Philpott on 07791 341074 or pbyva.cuvycbgg@oenqsbeqoernxguebhtu.pb.hx​