The Symposium in Idle is a gem of a restaurant, offering some of the best food in Bradford.

The Venue
The Symposium is not so much a hidden treasure, as it has a reputation that precedes it. It’s one of the Market Town Taverns, a small chain of ten venues that includes Cooper’s in Guiseley and The Narrow Boat in Skipton. Far from having identical sites, as some of the larger chains do, the Market Town Taverns offer individuality in all their venues, not least in this link in the chain. And, as a result, those who know it are happy to travel from far and wide to attend.

The Symposium has an unassuming facade, it has an understated aura amidst a block of garish take-aways, and, inside, it comes into its own for sheer cosiness. It’s all attractively fashioned from dark wood: wooden floors, panelling, tables and chairs. And it’s adorned with sepia toned photographs.

It’s an open-plan space set over two levels, from the small restaurant area you ascend a couple of stairs to the bar area, from where, if you’re lucky enough to bag one of the three small tables, you can watch all the comings and goings. The bar area is, again, small but perfectly formed, and through the back is a snug, which seats maybe 15-20 people, and serves as an overflow for the restaurant during busy periods. At quieter times it’s an intimate drinking area for smaller groups. And further beyond the snug is a lovely, sheltered outside terrace, which is raised high on stilts and flanked by trees. Depending on the weather, you can eat out here as well.

The Atmosphere
Mercifully, the bar area is too small to attract huge crowds of drinkers, and large (booked) parties of diners will be swiftly seated. It’s not one of the most spacious establishments in Bradford, which works to its advantage, as the Symposium always seems to hit the perfect balance of atmosphere, tempered with intimacy. It’s lively, yet cosy enough to make you feel as though you’re not just another face. Whatever time of day it is, the lovely staff are calm, friendly and efficient, and service is helpful yet unobtrusive. The Symposium does get busy, though - it’s advisable to book, certainly at weekends, or to check availability during the week.

The Food
The smell of wonderful things emanating from the kitchen gets the juices flowing as soon as you walk through the doors. The menu is traditional but with imaginative twists. The chefs’ plan their menus well in advance, and it’s often difficult to make a decision from the specials menu, which changes on a weekly basis.

It’s difficult to pinpoint any one dish, as the creative and enthusiastic chefs regularly tempt their customers with menu changes. The starters can vary from crab and kipper cakes with roast tomato and spring onion chutney (£4.95) to pigeon and white pudding salad with mustard dressing (£4.95). Mains also offer huge variation: venison steak with creamed spring cabbage and wild mushroom jus (£13.95), or chicken breast with goat’s cheese, rocket and pine nut risotto (£9.95). Highly recommended, at any time, is the pie of the day (£7.95), a substantial wedge of deep-filled, melt-in-the-mouth pastry, that glistens with gravy.

There are also many theme nights and offers available. A few examples include the Sunday evening feast for all, from 6pm-8pm, which at £13.50 for two people offers a different weekly sharing platter, ranging from fish, chips and mushy peas, to apricot and lamb tagine, to salmon and crayfish risotto with herb bread. There are also such themes as Tapas on the Terrace, a Mediterranean menu, and a great value early bird, with two courses costing just £10.95.

The Drink
There’s an incredible range of cask ales and guest beers. These may include Moorhouse’s Pendle Witches Brew, and Copper Dragon’s Golden Pippin. There are also continental draught beers and lagers, including the wonderful Warsteiner, and a selection of fruit beers. The wine list is thoughtfully sectioned so that you can select the perfect accompaniment to your meal. Try the aromatic Sacred Hill Colombard-Chardonnay (£12.95), or a medium-bodied Aldridge Shiraz-Cabernet (£13.75). There are even low-alcohol versions of Erdinger and Warsteiner, and a selection of bottled ciders.

The Last Word
With its inventive cooking, a great selection of ales and a friendly atmosphere, Symposium is the sort of place you’ll want to return to time and time again.

venue information venue map view bradford review user reviews (4)