Home > Yorkshire > Bradford > BD1 > Kings Arms Kings Arms

The Kings Arms was situated on Westgate. Present by 1822 when the publican was John Raper, this pub has been demolished. The Kirkgate Centre now stands on this site and the surrounding area.

Source: John Yeadon

My dad, Brian Whiteley, ran the saloon bar for about 6 months in 1970. I was only 5 at the time but I have vivid memories. There was a mezzanine balcony which was allegedly haunted by a woman in long skirts. Our dog would never cross it without becoming distressed. The balcony overlooked a music hall, with a full stage and small cocktail bar on the left as you entered. The changing rooms were accessed by ladders behind the stage. There was also a huge room/ dancehall with a small band stage which was big enough for us to ride small bikes around. My mum said there was a warren of rooms running from front to back and across, some of which she never accessed. The attic floor was completely closed off as the previous tenant had let his dog use the area as a toilet. I remember an old stuffed armchair in the very small yard at the back. A weird collection of rooms clearly built on as the public house evolved.

Heather Mellor (May 2020)

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