City Tastes & Tipples: Jazzy tones at Boogie Woogie Bagel Bar...

SOFt jazz sounds are filling Wakefield's newest offering on the dining out scene with a steady rhythm and smooth beat. It's hard to resist getting into the groove at the Boogie Woogie Bagel Bar, where customers are more than welcome to sing along or have a dance as they sample the food and drink on offer.

New Venture: Adrian Birden at the Northgate cafe.

True to its name, the cafe’s menu is all about the humble bagel. There’s six options for the bread itself, and a range of sweet and savoury fillings creating flavours from all corners of the earth.

Pontefract jazz lover Adrian Birden, who runs the cafe, said: “I wanted to create a space where people could come and experience something totally different to what the major chains offer.

“If you look at Yorkshire, there’s not many bagel places. Music is important to me and I wanted it to be part of the experience too.”

The cafe, on Northgate, also offers filtered coffees and teas, and a selection of cakes. And there’s gluten free options, driven by their struggle to find suitable food-on-the-go choices for their daughter Eleanor who has Coeliac.

The venue, which opened on April 30, has also taken inspiration from son Philip, who the family nicknamed the ‘Boogie Woogie Bagel Boy from Pontefract town’ for his love of bopping to jazz tunes over his breakfast bagels.

Adrian, who was also inspired by lunch at a live jazz cafe in Edinburgh, gave up his job as a teacher to open the joint, having always had an interest in catering and hospitality.

He said: “We’re about quality food, a quality environment and vibe, and quality service.”

Opening times: Monday to Friday from 7am until 3pm and Saturdays from 8am until 4pm.

Bagel selection: Plain, multi-seed, cheese and jalapeno, sun dried tomato and black olive, cinnamon and raisin, and gluten free to eat-in (with vegetable crisps and coleslaw) or take away.

Next steps: Mr Birden hopes to start an order online and delivery service.