A publican warned yesterday that the city centre was at saturation point as Whitbread announced it was bringing a new £500,000 pub to the city.

The brewery will open a second Hogshead outlet by transforming the former Cavernes Discotheque, in Great Horton Road, in a venture opening next year which will bring 25 new jobs.

The announcement comes as millions of pounds are being spent by breweries on major refurbishments or new premises in the city centre.

But the chairman of Bradford Inner City Licensing Association, David Haigh, said he believed the unprecedented pub boom in the city centre would spell the end of the smaller traditional pubs as they struggled to compete with the big boys.

He said concerns had already been voiced to the licensing magistrates and the Council.

The new Hogshead pub follows the opening of sister premises by Whitbread at the Old Bank in Market Street last year.

Hogshead is Whitbread Inns fastest growing brand with more than 130 outlets nationwide.

Whitbread business development manager Glenn Coburn said the new pub would enhance the existing building and remain in keeping with premises in the surrounding area.

"The Old Bank has traded extremely well during its first year and we are confident that the new Hogshead venture will prove equally popular," he said.

The chairman of the Council's regeneration committee, Coun Dave Green, welcomed the new development.

He said he was delighted to see the investment in the city centre but councillors were also mindful of the need for diversity.

New pubs brought into the city centre in the past three years include the Old Court House at Manor Row. The former County Court was bought by licensing operators Highsong who spent £750,000 turning it into a pub with many of its original features.

Edwards Bar, in Ivegate, has also been opened by Bass Taverns as a cafe bar at a cost of £1 million.

Yates Wine lodges converted part of a merchants building in Chester Street to a new wine bar called The Blob Shop and Firkin Brewery continued the boost by transforming the former Rams Revenge in Ivegate into Fates and Firkin.

Another Firkin pub will also open at the former Windsor Baths and the premises will also house a separate Varsity Bar.

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