Pub history

The Belle Vue

For nearly 150 years, Belle Vue Zoological Gardens were ‘one of the most popular entertainment venues’ in the north of England. They opened in 1836, behind the Belle Vue pub, with a wide variety of animals and thrilling fairground rides. Speedway and greyhound-racing were added later. The pub closed in the 1980s. The new National Speedway Stadium is at the heart of the £11-million regeneration, with the new sports village also home to the National Basketball Performance Centre.