A Bradford businessman is likely to get the go-ahead to turn the Old Crown Hotel back into a pub - despite claims that the city's pub scene is at saturation point.

Officers will recommend tomorrow's planning committee to approve an application for the change of use of the historic building.

The plan is a U-turn by Jack Leach, who turned it into a bingo hall three years ago in the face of strong opposition.

Telegraph & Argus readers voted by 150-1 against the bingo scheme because they said it would spoil the character of Ivegate.

But today John Pennington, proprietor of the Pennington Midland Hotel, said the city centre was now flooded out with too many pubs.

Chairman of Bradford Inter-City Licensing Association, David Haigh, has also warned that traditional pubs could be badly hit by the large number of new premises.

But planning committee member, Councillor Jack Womersley (Lab, Queensbury), said: "We want healthy competition in the city centre and we want people of all ages to come in and use the facilities."

Committee chairman Coun Sid Collard said: "It would return to its original use, which is in keeping with Ivegate."

The Old Crown dates back to the Victorian days. It closed as a pub in 1991 when the former licensees were convicted of staging a strip show without a licence.

Mr Leach paid £470,000 for the building and re-opened it as a bingo hall with amusements.

His planning application is to convert the Old Crown and an adjoining shop into a pub and restaurant.

In the past three years breweries have invested millions of pounds in Bradford city centre, opening and refurbishing at least seven pubs. Several others are also in the pipeline.

An explosion of bars

New pubs and refurbishments in Bradford in the last two years include:

Edwards Bar, Ivegate

Major improvements at Queens pub near the Interchange

The Old Court House, Manor Row

Manville Arms transformed into Scruffy Murphys

Major refurbishment of City Vaults

Former Rams Revenge transformed into Fates & Firkin

Bank premises in Market Street became The Old Bank

The Blob Shop, Chester Street.

There are also plans for a new Firkin Pub and Varsity Bar in the former Windsor Baths.

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