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Loading Bay

A brand new pop-up arts venue for Bradford 2025.

What's onOpening timesPlan your visit

Big news: we have taken over an old storage depot and turned it into a pop-up arts venue for Bradford 2025.

Loading Bay is our very own pop-up venue in the city. We have transformed a disused storage depot into a temporary culture hub for Bradford 2025 – and it’s open now with an action-packed programme.

At Loading Bay we are presenting everything from gigs and comedy nights to exhibitions, immersive theatre shows and even live video games across two performance spaces and a gallery.

Read on to see what’s on, stay tuned for more news soon – and join us on Duke Street as we bring a true Bradford 2025 buzz to the heart of the city.

What's on

Discover what's coming up at Loading Bay.

See more →
Part of Loading Bay

3-12 Oct 2025

Life Class

509 Arts

Every body has a story.
Everybody sings a song.

FREE

18 Sep - 19 Oct 2025

OUR TURN: Practice Bradford

A group exhibition showcasing new work by four of Bradford’s most exciting emerging artists

A moody woman in a green hoodie stands in front of a sunset landscape

22 Oct - 2 Nov 2025

Elmet

The Javaad Alipoor Company

An explosive Northern drama – created especially for Bradford 2025 by The Javaad Alipoor Company.

A flag of green, yellow and red vertical sections. Three peoples faces are on the right hand side of the image.
Part of Loading Bay

7-9 Nov 2025

We Are Still ASAFO

Theatre In Flow

A theatre performance with live music and dance, that reminds us we are never truly alone.

Part of Loading Bay

14 Nov 2025

Loaded Laughs

Bradford 2025's comedy night.

A black and white photograph of a man standing in a tailor's shop, looking towards the camera. He has a tape measure around his neck.
FREE

31 Oct - 23 Nov 2025

Nisbet Road Tailor Shop

Zain Ali

Step inside an immersive recreation of a South Asian tailors.

A woman with long dark hair and wearing a pink dress stares into the camera - her background is red and she's holding a microphone.
Part of Loading Bay

28 Nov 2025

Urooj Ashfaq: How To Be A Baddie

Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer Urooj Ashfaq is back, but this time she’s different.

A red and black image of a man with short dark hair looking away from the camera.
Part of Loading Bay

1 - 7 Dec 2025

Steven Frayne: Back Home and Magical

Steven Frayne returns to his home city of Bradford for a special UK City of Culture residency.

Three women look into a mirror. They wear gold dresses and have drawings on their faces. One of them has a penis drawn on her forehead.
Part of Loading Bay

12 Dec 2025

EGGS COLLECTIVE’S DARK NIGHTS

Twisted cabaret nights at Loading Bay.

Part of Loading Bay

21 Nov - 14 Dec 2025

Built by Sound

No Ghost, Dialled In and Bradford 2025

A mixed reality experience where memory moves to a beat.

FREE

6-21 Dec 2025

OUR TURN: Bradford Art Show

A dynamic exhibition of artwork from artists across Bradford responding to the theme of Our Place.

 

Loading Bay opening hours

Loading Bay is a multipurpose venue and every day is different. For performances and events at Loading Bay, please check the event page for the most up to date start times.

Aside from planned closure times (see below) opening times for the Gallery at Loading Bay are:

  • Thursday, Friday, Saturday: open 12-6pm
  • Sunday: open 12-4pm
  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: closed

If you have booked to see an evening performance in the Theatre or Basement, the Gallery will be open up to 15 minutes before the performance start time, so that you can explore the Gallery before your event.

During planned closure times the Gallery and building will be closed. Events in the Theatre or Basement will go ahead during these times – check event pages for start times.

Gallery: see all planned closure times

The Gallery at Loading Bay will be closed on the following dates:

  • 15 – 21 May
  • Sat 24 May, from 12pm-4pm (for a private event)
  • 19 June – 2 July
  • 31 July – 8 August
  • 4 – 17 September
  • 23 – 30 October
  • 27 November – 4 December

We will keep this page up to date with planned closures so please check back before your visit in case these dates change.

Getting to Loading Bay

Loading Bay
1 Duke Street
Bradford
BD1 3QR

Use our sustainable travel planner below to find the best route to Loading Bay.

Plan your visit to Loading Bay

Find out useful information before you visit, including facilities, accessibility, parking and more.

Loading Bay theatre

Loading Bay Visual Story

This visual story has been created to help you plan your visit to Loading Bay in Bradford City Centre. It includes photographs of the venue and its facilities.