OVER THE past 30 years running his pub Freddie Lynn has seen it all come and go.

First the big mills and works started closing, then a lot of regulars moved away, next came the smoking ban and finally all-day drinking.

Mr Lynn, 70, took over the Bridge Tavern on Bowling Old Lane in Bradford in 1989 having already worked there for the previous decade for a relative - "pretty good going," he admits.

MORE PUB NEWS: New landlady of Boy & Barrel has had an eventful first year

And in that time he can document how things have changed in the pub trade.

Today he and his regulars are celebrating the anniversary with a party but he has no intention of hanging up his beer mats just yet.

He said: "I've been round here all my life. I still enjoy it but it's harder work.

"We've never had any bother.

"West Bowling has changed, we lost customers and rely on the travelling trade.

"I'll carry on for now but I can't stay forever. I don't get many holidays!"

Mr Lynn runs the pub with partner Samantha Eccles, 47, and the first change was to the interior when taking over by removing the bar and a wall to unite the lounge and tap room.

He said: "It's all changed, it hasn't been easy to keep going. It was just mills 30 years ago and busy as hell. But they've all gone in time.

"The people who lived round here have moved away but they still come in. The smoking ban altered it a little bit but all-day opening killed it."

SEE MORE: 34 old pictures of Bradford district pubs 

He said all-day drinking particularly affected Sunday nights as a lot of the regulars were drivers and they were worried about being breath-tested on a Monday morning at work and on the way to it.

"Things are still changing. There's Dixons now at the top of the street and we get the teachers in."

In fact the teachers have got their own rock band and they are one of the many groups who perform at the pub.

Food has been another evolution, having been popular when local NHS staff came in but not making enough money for it to be a profitable sideline.

But one thing that hasn't changed is Mr Lynn's work as a stalwart of West Bowling Football Club who play in the Bradford Sunday Alliance League.

He is the club secretary having been in at the beginning 53 years ago but he says he is the last one of the originals left.

He said the Bridge Tavern was a pub for friends and he is hoping a few he has known over the years will be there complete with disco and food tonight.

"There will be people we've known for years. We still have people in who were coming in before we took it on."

Mr Lynn, who says he is renowned for never smiling, may be laughing tonight in celebration of his 30-year milestone.