Sorry for diverting from the original topic, but while we're having a go at Leeds, I seem to remember someone commenting a while ago about how the fortunes of Bradford and Leeds came to diverge so spectacularly, particularly from the early 80s onwards. I'm trying to find some information on this subject - does anyone have any references?

There are a number or reasons, to be fair. Not least the [variousgovernment decisions to 'centre' things on Leeds like road and rail transport which leaves leaves Bradford, which has around 500K inhabitants within the region, on a branch line and which gave Leeds a direct motorway link to London and left us in the doldrums for many years until the M62 joined up to the M1.

In the eighties, Thatcher made Leeds a 'development area', whilst simultaneously ignoring Bradford and clearly not caring about the effect this status for the city ten miles away, would have on its immediate neighbours. Which effectively meant many firms left Bradford for Leeds just to get all the government handouts which came with development area status.

I was in there last Friday, it's not bad. City gent has more character but then Record Cafe has more people/atmosphere. Decent ales too.

Have a go at Als Dime Bar if you're up there too. Its a friendly, fun place and they've normally got some good ales on, plus various beers from around the world and some top notch cocktails too. That creme egg martini I had last time I was in there, while not quite affirming my manliness, tasted lovely.

I'm in record cafe. It has a fresh paint smell and seems nice enough. Sparrow was ok but don't really see what the fuss is about it.

Market was pants. Bought mead. Drinking scrumpy.

Generally agreed, but the fuss is that it exists.

That makes sense. The vibe about bradford is markedly more upbeat than a few years ago in my opinion. Two little cafe bars being open close to one another is a good barometer of a modest upturn in the city's fortunes.

The record cafe had an upstairs area that sold black frisbees with writing on. Haven't a clue what they were. I preferred the layout to the cramped style of the sparrow.

Sparrow has a downstairs seating area too. Was that full as well?

Well I didn't know that!

You obviously didn't stay long, then, as that's the only route to the bogs.

More in hope than expectation I called in at the Bradford 'Christmas' Market this morning

It was barely even worthy of the term 'market' and certainly wasn't in the least bit 'Christmassy'

Just a collection of a few stalls telling cheap plastic tat and warehouse clearance items.