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Site of The Badger	Picture source: Colin Price
The Badger was situated at 86-88 Manford Way. This pub closed in the 1980s and has since been demolished and replaced by flats.
It was most certainly 100% regularly open in the summer of 1977 & spring 1978. I was a Teenager & left school that same year, in July 1977. By August 1977, I was working with an 'Unordained Church Minister' named Rob' Spinks. It was he who tipped me off about the yet to be released "Star Wars" film (George Lucas). To help "time date" a visit to "The Badger", we bought a famous Rock single (45rpm). It was called "Black Betty" (by USA group named "Ram Jam") an old USA Folk song. Bought the 45rpm single at Woolworths & took it into the Pub & they also had it on the Jukebox too. I was heavily into Electric Guitar at the time & that track had heavy-rock styling. To time stamp it, it entered the U.K charts on September 10th 1977. I should also add that "Elvis" (Presley) died that summer & these are all vivid events. Each lunch break would be spent ( 1hr ) at "The Badger" at 86-88 Manford Way. Being a starving ravenous Teen, I would always order the same thing at the Bar. Two pints of "Webster's Yorkshite Bitter" with two freshly made Cheese & Onion Rolls. Honestly, might sound sad, but, it was the highlight of my working day !! Also the infamous "Never Mind The Bollocks" album was released on 28 October 1977. The Sex Pistol's album had already been out for quite some while. Duncan (Reserve Boss of mine) LOVED BEER but drove a Red 1974 V.W.Beetle. He was also the 'Tour Manager' of a British band named "Glyder" (on the Warner Brothers label) I remember laughing with him (in "The Badger") about how $hit the Sex Pistols were (!) Being an arrogant, cocky, tall (guitar playing) Teenager, my views & memory were very forceful. I actually went looking to find this old watering haven, that meant SO much to me aged 15 & 16. Yeah, I know the age is/was 18 but I was 6ft2ins (188cms) even at the age of 15 & looked 18. To be fair, we (usually) were THE only patrons during the Mon-Fri lunchtime sessions. But I feel that I needed to make this (Historical) text contribution. Even "if" to prove that "The Badger" was open in late 1977 & certainly early 1978. Again, whilst typing, some famous ABBA songs spring to mind at that same time period. My last visits to "The Badger" would've been in spring 1978 as I changed job in June.1978. But it's actual proof that this old, under-used Pub made it to around circa 1980
K.Ray.H ( October 2025)
A classic flat roof pub, which I'd reckon was most likely built when the surrounding estate went up in the early 1970s, The Badger was definitely still open in the early eighties. We lived just round the corner and I remember drinking there once or twice. All I can really remember is that it was very quiet, not very welcoming, and the beer wasn't that great. All in all, it was pretty unappealing so we never went back. Working backwards from who I was with, I'd reckon that would be 1982 at the earliest and most likely 1983. As I recall, it got levelled when the old Kingswood School site was redeveloped into houses a year or two later.
Yorkio (June 2026)
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