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