| Halifax is set into rich countryside and home | | | | situated in the town centre, the restaurant |
| to 82,000 people. With a history dating back | | | | is also popular with post-party clubbers. |
| to the twelfth century, the town is rich in | | | | |
| history and offers one of the most unique and | | | | El Gato Negro Tapas Bar serves classic and |
| popular museums in the country. | | | | contemporary tapas dishes and a variety of |
| | | | wines. |
| With a vast selection of theatres, | | | | |
| performance spaces and art galleries, the | | | | Pubs/Bars |
| town forms a cultural centre of the north and | | | | |
| offers much for a quiet weekend away. Its | | | | Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA awarded The Fox |
| busy nightlife, and variety of bars, makes | | | | and Goose 'Pub of the Year' in 2006, and also |
| for a vibrant nightlife; and there are | | | | rates The Shears Inn, with has been |
| numerous recommended restaurants to choose | | | | recommended in 10 consecutive editions of |
| from. | | | | Good Beer Guide. |
| | | | |
| The town is well connected by transport links | | | | Bar 15 is a bar and club, with seating for |
| and offers plenty of reasons to visit! | | | | 200 and showcasing rock and alternative bands |
| | | | on Friday and Saturday nights. The bar is |
| History | | | | also known as 'The Rockshack' and has a |
| | | | resident classic rock DJ who plays regularly. |
| Halifax is steeped in history and has been a | | | | |
| unified parish since the twelfth century. The | | | | The Standard of Freedom and William IV are |
| area became involved in woollen manufacture, | | | | popular, traditional bars, with long |
| and this increased the population by 25 times | | | | histories and loved by locals. |
| between the fifteenth and sixteenth century. | | | | |
| By the beginning of the Industrial | | | | Nightclubs |
| Revolution, manufacture in the area had | | | | |
| branched out into other types of textile | | | | Although there aren't a huge number of |
| materials. | | | | nightclubs in Halifax, there are a few very |
| | | | popular venues and Coliseum and Maine Street |
| The Piece Hall was built in the eighteenth | | | | is the most popular. The club presents dance, |
| century as a market for trading textiles, and | | | | r'n'b and party tunes, and opens three nights |
| remains an important work of architecture in | | | | a week. |
| the region. Bankfield Museum and Art Gallery | | | | |
| comprises 10 galleries and explores the | | | | The Tube is a house music venue, open Friday |
| region's manufacturing history. | | | | and Saturday nights. The décor is |
| | | | impressive, 70s-influenced designer kitsch, |
| Eureka! is Halifax's most famous museum, and | | | | with state of the art lighting and sound |
| an exploration of science and technology for | | | | technology, plush seating and a VIP lounge. |
| children. The museum comprises 400 | | | | |
| interactive displays and exhibits, | | | | Acapulco presents mainstream dance and house |
| documenting human biology, scientific | | | | music three nights a week, and is |
| development, ecology and the world of work. | | | | affectionately known as 'Acca'. The club is |
| | | | renowned for its exceptionally cheap drinks |
| Art Galleries | | | | and special offers. |
| | | | |
| Halifax's main art collection is housed in | | | | The Tramshed Zoo Bar is a rock club, |
| the Visitors Centre and Art Gallery in the | | | | currently closed for a license review. |
| Piece Hall, and comprises works of art, | | | | |
| craft, photography and design, with a new | | | | Shopping |
| emphasis on crafts. The gallery covers a | | | | |
| number of open-plan units, allowing browsers | | | | The Piece Hall is Halifax's most popular |
| to savour the works individually. | | | | shopping area, comprising 50 independent |
| | | | retail units and a large market square. A |
| Halifax's Bankfield Museum and Art Gallery | | | | fleamarket is held on Thursdays, and an open |
| comprises 10 galleries, and focuses on | | | | market on Saturdays. Specialist markets |
| textiles and contemporary craft works that | | | | include a Christmas Market and continental |
| document the area's manufacturing history. | | | | markets. |
| Galleries include 'World of Textiles', 'Edith | | | | |
| Durham Gallery' and 'The Toy Gallery'. | | | | Close by is The Woolshops Shopping Centre, |
| | | | home to more than 80 high street shops and |
| The Dean Clough Gallery is home to 600 art | | | | 300 parking spaces. Units are currently |
| and design exhibits, and comprises The | | | | occupied by River Island, HMV, Miss |
| Viaduct Gallery, The Design House Gallery, | | | | Selfridge, 2 coffee shops and a cafe. |
| the Crossley Gallery, the Link Gallery and a | | | | |
| number of seminar galleries on the upper | | | | The Halifax borough market is located in a |
| floor. | | | | Grade II listed, nineteenth century building, |
| | | | and comprises almost 200 stalls. |
| Theatres | | | | |
| | | | The main shopping street in the town is The |
| The Victoria Theatre stages around 165 | | | | Market Arcade; lined with charity shops, high |
| productions each year, and seats 3500 people. | | | | street stores and cafes. |
| Previous and upcoming performances include | | | | |
| comedies, musicals and dance productions. The | | | | Sports |
| theatre bar has seating for 120 people. | | | | |
| | | | The North Bridge Leisure Centre is one of |
| The Square Chapel Arts Centre is a | | | | eight in the town, and offers an extensive |
| painstakingly renovated eighteenth century | | | | programme of sports, athletics, aerobics and |
| building, staging drama, children's theatre, | | | | martial arts. There is a large sports hall |
| dance, musicals, community drama and various | | | | and Projectile Gallery, a gym and |
| lectures and talks throughout the year. | | | | Ofsted-registered creche. |
| | | | |
| The Viaduct Theatre specialises is | | | | Another popular leisure centre is Halifax |
| small-scale productions, and The Playhouse | | | | Swimming Pool, comprising a 25-metre pool, |
| has seating for 260 people. | | | | fitness studio, dance studio, 2 squash courts |
| | | | and a multimedia multi-sensory room. |
| Restaurants | | | | |
| | | | The Halifax Ski and Snowboarding Centre is |
| The Millbank is just one of Halifax's highly | | | | based in the Sportsman Inn and Leisure |
| rated fine dining restaurants, and has been | | | | Complex and offers a choice of slopes for |
| honoured with a Michelin star and | | | | beginners and the more experienced, with a |
| recommendations by Good Food Guide, The | | | | range of tuition available to suit all |
| Independent and The Times. The menu comprises | | | | abilities. |
| contemporary European cuisine with 'a | | | | |
| Yorkshire touch' and an extensive wine list. | | | | There are 10 golf courses in Halifax, |
| | | | including the notoriously difficult, 18-hole |
| The Bore is close by, serving classic British | | | | Halifax Golf Club that offers a challenge to |
| dishes, and is also highly rated. | | | | the most experienced of players. The Halifax |
| | | | Bradley Hall Golf Club is also an 18-hole |
| Meena's offers Balti, Tandoori and Bengali | | | | course, but is smaller and offers a more |
| cuisine in a traditional setting, and is | | | | relaxing game. |
| extremely popular with locals. Open late and | | | | |