A succession of pub demolitions have sparked a lively debate among Telegraph & Argus readers about the reasons for pub closures and the state of the licensing trade in Bradford.

As we reported yesterday, at least six well-known inns across Bradford and Spen Valley were razed to the ground in 2019 – the Westfield Hotel in Wyke, Kingswood Arms at Dudley Hill, The Old Pack Horse Inn at Hartshead Moor, The Gallopers on Wakefield Road in Bowling, Hare and Hounds pub in Menston, and Beacon Hotel in Buttershaw.

T&A readers were quick to respond, leaving comments on our website and on Facebook.

Six Bradford pubs demolished in 2019

Some saw the demolitions as a great shame, while others said it was a case of good riddance.

A number of observers blamed the price of beer in pubs, while several questioned the business plans of some of the largest pub companies.

Changing social habits - such as more people drinking at home or looking to enjoy food as well as just drinking - were also mentioned.

And the smoking ban was pinpointed as another possible reason.

Commenting on the T&A website, a reader with the username Gra55hopper said: "Shame and many more closed.. if the pints were reasonable priced people would still be going. When you paying over £3.30 a pint, minimum wage is £8.20 a hour plus you need to pay tax and NI on that. You are basically drinking more than you earn if you have 2 pints a hour."

A commenter by the name of They Are the Egg Men retorted: "That's assuming that you drink for as many hours as you work. Even I couldn't drink beer for 8 hours a day! I tried."

Magic Beans said: "Across the UK, 18 a week were closing in 2019 which in many cases was brought about by breweries and their business methods and people naturally looking to more cost-effective ways to enjoy a drink, such as buying from off-licences and supermarkets for home consumption. Also young people are consuming less alcohol, with 16 to 24-year-olds less likely to drink than any other age group.

"Times have changed, people want experience and good food rather than just a watering hole."

Sentry57 replied: "Not everyone... many people like a pub where you can have a drink without being surrounded by people feeding their brood."

Magic Beans replied: "It's why many of the chain pubs now have specific family areas."

yorkshirelass010 commented: "They might have family areas, but that doesn't stop the parents of some of these children allowing them to run around whilst en route to the toilet or the play area. If I'm going out for a drink (something I haven't done for over a year) I want an actual pub full of grown ups, not what is effectively a family restaurant serving beer as a sideline. I do agree with your original point though, and that's why it's the traditional "old man" pubs which are going to the wall."

hx3bantam said: "They were hovels anyway! How many times had Kingswood Arms (The Bay Horse) been set on fire? And The Gallopers. We're not losing top end pubs are we? You can knock down The New Inn up Manch Road as well for me."

Magic Beans replied: "Have to agree and unlikely to ever return to being a pub."

RUGHEAD said: "Used to go in the Beacon in the sixties ,it was a right dump then ,don't suppose it improved much over the years,good riddance I say."

George Ambrose said: "It's laughable that real ale enthusiasts would be upset at the Hare and Hounds in Menston being demolished.

"The real ale enthusiasts drink in places like the Old DomiRacer or The Junction in Otley."

basil fawlty said: "The flawed business models of the big Pub Cos have dome most damage, but many pubs have just had their day because they are stuck in a time warp and not giving the modern customer what they want. Serving cheap John Smiths and Carling alongside a few slot machines is not the way to go, not even in Bradford. Whilst many pubs have closed there are many new ones opening, especially craft ale bars and micro pubs and bars that serve interesting street food."

OLDLAD said: "Ban on smoking in pubs was the start of the end for pubs."

frozen pleas replied: "and eu mafia type owners forcing prices on products they dictate is a continuing disaster for many pubs,its a shame supermarkets don't open pubs they get alcohol much cheaper."

yorkshirelass010 added: "It's a shame to see pubs being demolished, but if people were using these pubs they wouldn't have been empty. How long had the Kingswood been empty? Years and years. I can barely remember a time when it was still trading. I was surprised about seeing the Fox & Hounds closed down, but then again the last time I was in there the food was pretty awful and the service was rubbish - it was more of a restaurant and child play area than a real pub. The local Facebook pages were awash with people angry about the Sun closing down but, when you questioned them, few had been in for years. If you want your local pubs to stay open, you need to use them regularly."