As a bunch of 'students', we weren't going to convince anyone, but thankfully the Freestyle & Firkin wasn't too fussy.

When three of us piled in to this spectacular new drinking hole for after-work refreshment, we could not believe the great-value grub on offer on the so-called 'student menu'.

For just £1.95 you can choose one of six hearty platefuls - as long as you call between 4pm and 7pm Sunday to Thursday. And the good news is, you do not have to be a student - or even studenty age.

It was barely 6pm but three of us could not resist.

Jim's choice was sausage and chips, which he pronounced 'quite edible, an unpretentious, standard British banger.'

My fishcakes and chips were bountiful if not exactly a gourmet delight. I wasn't complaining for £1.95.

Kiran made the best choice - her vegetable stew, served with hunks of bread was a delicious homemade treat. We learned that the recipe came from the chef's mum and, whoever she is, she is to be congratulated. It was a real winter warmer stuffed with all manner of tasty root vegetables and beautifully flavoured with herbs.

Also for £1.95, you could have had sausage, chips and beans; double egg, chips and beans; veggie sausage, chips and beans or macaroni cheese and chips.

The standard menu also includes all manner of snacks and hot sandwiches on offer through the day.

To wash it all down, there are a range of 'Firkin' brand real ales and an attractive choice of wines by the glass, served up by friendly and efficient staff.

The setting is really like no other in Bradford: an extraordinary, cavernous cathedral of a pub. Personally, I can live without all the cheesy swimming 'memorabilia' covering the walls but it is certainly a novelty to be quaffing in the same room that generations of Bradfordians have splashed up and down in.

Sarah Walsh

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.