The Woolpack — Restaurant in Bradford

My partner and I decided to try somewhere different for lunch today and rather than going to the tried and tested Halfway House further down the road, we opted for The Woolpack. I had been aware that this was the original pub used in the television series. We thought that it may have been a bad idea, as, due to where it is, it would be absolutely packed for Sunday lunch - how wrong we were! It was half empty and this should have rung alarm bells but, we decided to press on. On our way in, we happened to look at the people already in there who were eating and first impressions were not good, to say the least. However, we decided to give it a go. We ordered a couple of diet cokes and two meals. My partner ordered the chicken and chorizo salad with orange balsamic vinegar and I ordered a jacket potato with hot chilli. It was advertised with cheese and I asked for it without cheese or butter - a simple enough request. When the meals eventually came (I presume they were waiting for the 'ding' of the microwave, this was quite audible through the pub) I found that they had smothered the jacket potato in cheese. I pointed out that I had ordered it without cheese and butter, to which the waitress apologised and took it away. My partner started on his salad. Bearing in mind that this salad had cost £9.95, it was woefully lacking in substance and simply looked tired. I waited a further 15 minutes for another potato but was thoughtfully reminded that it must be ready by the 'ding' resounding through the pub. When the meal came, I found the chilli was not hot as promised and looked rather like a few spoons of boiled mince with the added ingredient of baked beans! Not a red kidney bean in sight. Next to the potato was, again, a tired, dry looking salad. Not at any time were we asked if the meal was to our liking. The staff seemed disinterested and untrained. Needless to say, we will not be going there again. Do not waste your time on this pub. By all means, have your photo taken outside but then drive on swiftly and...

While a little busy it was still quiet enough and fast moving to get a table at 1pm on a Saturday afternoon. The service was top notch and very friendly with a table cleaned and prepared for us as soon as someone vacated. And then the food... well the prices aren't cheap, they are not extortionate either. £12 for are burger and chips meal is about the average these days in your typical eaterie, however the food itself was sublime. Between us we ordered the burger and chips and steak in ale pie and after sampling each others meals I can confidently say they were fantastic! The steak in particular qas lean, fell apart in your mouth and the ale gravy was delicious!! The burger was beautiful and cooked just right, while the brioche bun was sweet and complimented just perfect. And the home made chips?.... well I can honestly say I haven't tasted better. Can't recommend...

We were passing through on a walk and had two wonderful pints here, sat in the courtyard in the sun at the front. It was almost perfect, as we soaked up the idyllic surroundings of Esholt. It's difficult to imagine you are surrounded by both Leeds and Bradford nearby.

There are nods to the Woolpack's Emmerdale Farm days with the pub's renaming to that used in the show, and with pictures on the wall, but otherwise it was a regular country-looking pub.

We were told it has just been taken over by new management so food was not available on our visit, though there was a plan for this in the near future (hence the one lost star for our visit.)

Staff were very friendly and the atmosphere of the place in general is very pleasant. Not overly busy when we went as it was during the day. We certainly plan to return. Tables were a clear and the...