The Record Cafe Vintage Bus Trip 2026: A J.B. Priestley Tour of Bradford

Where does all the time go?

Incredibly, Saturday 20th June 2026 witnessed the 7th Vintage Bus Trip of what is now an annual fixture from The Record Cafe in Bradford (following a brief pandemic hiatus between 2020 and 2022). With past themes ranging from the lost football grounds of Bradford, a journey through Germanic Bradford to a tour of local sewage works, it is always a case of expecting the unexpected.

This year, however, the trip turned its focus toward a famous Bradford son: the legendary writer and playwright, J.B. Priestley (1894–1984).

After a swift drink or two at the Record Cafe, a shiny green 1962 Daimler CVG6 bus arrived bang on time at North Parade for a noon departure.

The 1962 Daimler CVG6 bus *(Image: Damien Wilkinson)*

The Hosts on Board

The tour was hosted by two exceptionally knowledgeable guides:

Lee Hanson: Head of English at Bradford Grammar School and former chair of the J.B. Priestley Society. Lee brought a Mastermind-level of specialised knowledge about the writer.
Dr. Dave Pendleton: Having helped organise all previous vintage bus trips, Dave needed no introduction. He brought extensive insight into Bradford's urban history, drawing from the field trips he runs for Leeds and Sheffield universities.

Stop 1: Saltburn Place

Priestley’s former home, Saltburn Place, Heaton, Bradford *(Image: Damien Wilkinson)*

In the Manningham area of Bradford, just off Toller Lane, lies Saltburn Place. I’ve passed the side street hundreds of times, without realising John Boynton Priestley grew up here (he was born at 34, Mannheim Road, Manningham).

Despite a blue plaque commemorating his time there, the neighbours seemed surprised to see a party of 25 people descend upon their quiet street. Priestley was educated at Belle Vue Grammar School a couple of miles away. Outside of school, he had a massive passion for football—photos from 1905/6 even show him in the Saltburn United team just as the sport was exploding across the country.

Bradford Playhouse

Given his legacy as a dramatist—with An Inspector Calls being his most famous work—it was only right to visit the Bradford Playhouse. After a troubled recent past, the venue is now thriving.

Lee Hanson detailed the history linking Priestley to the playhouse, while also highlighting a lesser-known Bradford stalwart and Labour politician, Fred Jowett (1864–1944). In 1892, Jowett founded a branch of the Independent Labour Party right next door to the Playhouse and spearheaded several massive reforms, including introducing free school meals to Bradford in 1904—a national first.

From here, we pivoted on a fascinating historical note regarding Winston Churchill. While Priestley admired the Premier, Churchill reportedly felt threatened by the writer. Priestley’s regular wartime wireless broadcasts on The Postscript drew peak audiences of 16 million, but they were ultimately deemed too left-wing by Churchill and the BBC and were subsequently cancelled.

Stop 2: Winston Churchill Public House

The trip isn’t complete without a lunch stop off. We’ve been spoilt in previous years with home made curries, sandwich spreads, chilli con carne and rice, pies and gravy at various local cricket grounds, and this year was no exception with pie, peas and chips at the Winston Churchill pub on Wakefield Road.

Whilst the pub is situated on a busy thoroughfare to the city and enveloped by many industrial units, it was a surprisingly appropriate sanctuary. A great range of beers, excellent food, nice beer garden and welcoming locals, made it an excellent stop off.

The landlord gave us strict instructions to return on a Sunday for "the best Sunday lunch in the whole of Bradford!"

The Winston Churchill pub, Wakefield Road, Bradford *(Image: Damien Wilkinson)*

Stop 3: The J.B. Priestley Statue

The J.B. Priestley statue from the rear, Bradford city centre *(Image: Damien Wilkinson)*

Situated right outside The National Science and Media Museum (near the Alhambra in Bradford’s West End) stands the statue of J.B. Priestley. It was erected by Bradford City Council following his death in 1984.

Eleven years earlier, in 1973, Priestley received the Freedom of the City of Bradford. He was always fiercely proud of his roots and the profound role the city played in his upbringing.

The J.B. Priestley statue from the front, Bradford city centre *(Image: Damien Wilkinson)*

Places We Couldn't Visit

The bus window view of Bradford’s The Alhambra *(Image: Damien Wilkinson)*

As is often the case on these trips, there are places a vintage bus physically cannot manage—steep hills being a major no-no! This unfortunately ruled out:

Baildon Moor: Where Priestley planned to live before his life was interrupted by service in the British Army during WWI.
Dick Hudson’s in Eldwick: A favourite pub he would call into while walking to Ilkley.

A tour like this also highlights a full itinerary of "things that used to be here." It was fascinating to hear about the lost spaces Priestley frequented, including Helm & Co in the now-demolished Swan Arcade (where he squeezed in time to write), the Royal Standard pub, the Theatre Royal on Manningham Lane, and the Spotted House.

The journey was filled with nostalgic banter, Bradford City AFC memories, and tales of a long list of legendary, defunct local pubs.

The 1962 Daimler CVG6 bus awaits departure from the pub *(Image: Damien Wilkinson)*

Final Stop: Goose Eye Brewery

Goose Eye Brewery Tap *(Image: Damien Wilkinson)*

To round off the day, we headed over to Crossflatts, Bingley, to visit the taproom of Goose Eye Brewery. While it lacked a direct connection to Priestley, it served as the perfect finale.

Originally a Keighley institution, the brewery set up this spacious site in the Castlefields Industrial Estate. It's an excellent spot to sample their range of beers and features a fantastic outdoor beer garden.

Opening Hours: Fridays and Saturdays, 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Special thanks

Days like this don’t happen by accident. They are the result of hard work, meticulous preparation, and steadfast faith. Massive thanks go out to:

Lee Hanson & Dr. Dave Pendleton for their incredible insights.
Bradford Civic Society for underwriting the costs of the programme.
Si Cunningham for his valuable input.
Paul Norcross for the brilliant cover artwork.
Keith & Pullmayra from The Record Cafe for hosting us so fabulously.
The team from Classic Vehicles of Yesteryear Yorkshire for providing the beautiful transport.

This year’s vintage bus trip brought great weather, insightful commentary, and—as always—excellent company. All in all, a truly Bright Day!