Vinyl, ale and ham: three words painted across the frontage on North Parade sum up The Record Café neatly, a Bradford city centre bar with a dedicated record shop on its upstairs mezzanine and a charcuterie counter downstairs.
Background / History
The Record Café opened in late November 2014, the idea of Bradford-born real ale enthusiast Keith Wildman, who brought together his love of beer, music and cured meats in one set of premises at 45-47 North Parade. It was his first venture into hospitality, and it arrived just as North Parade was becoming the city’s main street for small, independent bars. From the start the record side was built around new music rather than a second-hand exchange, and that focus has held. The venue has since become one of the most decorated bars in the city, named Bradford CAMRA Pub of the Year in 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022 and again in 2026, and it is a regular entry in the Good Beer Guide.
What You’ll Find
Up the stairs, the mezzanine record shop concentrates on new vinyl, with fresh releases landing every Friday alongside reissues, pre-orders and a solid run of classic albums that belong in any collection. Rock and indie titles sit prominently in the racks, from long-established names to current guitar bands, and there is usually a sale section worth a rummage. Records can be browsed upstairs until 6pm, ordered through the shop’s online store, and gift vouchers are available too. The Record Café also takes part in Record Store Day. Downstairs, the bar runs four changing cask ales, often from Yorkshire breweries, plus nine craft keg lines with an imperial stout always on, real cider, a wide range of bottles and cans with a discount for takeaway, and a good selection of gin. The counter serves Spanish hams, cheeses and tinned fish such as sardines and mussels.
Experience / Atmosphere
The ground floor is a long, narrow room lined with wood panelling, bunting and music memorabilia, with the bar and ham counter at its heart. Climbing to the mezzanine feels like stepping into a separate world: patterned wallpaper, framed pictures and wooden browsers packed with sleeves, quiet enough to dig properly before heading back down for a pint. The calendar adds plenty of life, with Thursday quiz nights including a monthly music quiz, DJ sets, readings and occasional talks on Bradford City matchdays. It is dog friendly and family friendly, has a small street-side seating area, and is a short walk from Forster Square station. Payment is by card only.
Why Visit
- A dedicated mezzanine record shop focused on new vinyl, with new releases every Friday
- Multiple Bradford CAMRA Pub of the Year wins and a regular place in the Good Beer Guide
- Spanish hams, cheeses and tinned fish to go with your beer
- Quiz nights, DJ sets and readings that keep the place busy through the week
- Record Store Day participant in the heart of Bradford city centre
Summary
Few places manage to be a serious beer bar and a proper record shop at the same time, but The Record Café has done exactly that on North Parade for more than a decade. Come for the Friday releases upstairs, stay for a carefully kept pint and a plate of ham, and you will see why it remains one of Bradford’s best-loved independents.
