A NEW city centre cafe and bakery helping former drug and alcohol abusers get back into work is celebrating after being awarded a top ranking on Bradford Trip Advisor.

Just three months after opening, Forks in North Parade, run by The Bridge Project, has been ranked in 16th place out of 522 food and drink establishments in the city.

"The feedback on social networks too has been fantastic, and we would like to reiterate our thanks to everyone who has given feedback so far – without it we wouldn’t know what you love and don’t love, so thank-you!," said the charity's chief executive Jon Royle.

The idea behind Forks is to extend the help it gives to those who have been through drug and alcohol misuse treatment, as well as running a successful business and putting profits back into the community.

The £400,000 scheme, which was partly paid for with £138,000 from Bradford Council's City Centre Growth Zone fund, will give 50 people a year work experience and training.

The Bradford charity has bought the building with a mortgage and also put reserve funds into the project which has so far benefitted 23 people and created five new full-time jobs in the city centre.

As well as the cafe, which is open 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, it provides outside catering and has two function suites for hire - a Bistro evening is also on the cards, said Mr Royle.

Rave reviews have spurred on other innovative ideas for the New Year which include expanding the outside catering side of the business as well as running culinary skill classes and Barista courses for the public

Mr Royle said: "The cafe provides work placements and volunteering for people who are abstinent and have recovered from drug or alcohol dependency. These individuals often have passion, commitment and enthusiasm but lack formal skills and training and experience barriers to employment, including stigma.

"Forks provides them with structured work placements, first class training, access to a college course in hospitality and catering delivered via our partners Forster college. We are now developing links with local businesses in Bradford who can offer our graduates employment."