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ADAM & EVE
7 Hope Chapel Hill, Hotwells, BS8 4ND Tel: 0117 929 1508
• Attractive pub nestling at the bottom of Hope Chapel Hill, where the food gives anything found in the Garden of Eden a run for its money. Check chalkboards for weekly changing menus: Old Spot sausages, roasted butternut squash & gorgonzola risotto, Thai wild mussels with naan bread, crispy belly of pork with bubble & squeak, and the renowned 28-day-aged steak with garlic butter and handcut chips. Bar snacks and puddings, too. Food Tue-Sat 6.30-9.30pm, Sat 12noon-3pm, Sun 12noon-4pm
ALBION
Boyces Ave, Clifton Village, BS8 4AA Tel: 0117 973 3522, web: www.thealbionclifton.co.uk
• ‘Its reputation for excellence is well-deserved,’ wrote our man of a Clifton institution with Michelin and Good Food Guide mentions, where owner/congenial host Owain George is keen to stress his place’s inclusiveness. “We’re a public house – a house for the public,” our man was told. Nine new tapas dishes £3.50, three for £10. When eating more substantially, menu depends entirely on what’s available from suppliers, and uses local best produce. The periodically appearing Bath chap is a must-try signature dish for inquisitive carnivores, with turbot, samphire & palourdes, and venison rump with its own cottage pie with pickled cabbage representative mains. Leave space – a lot of it – for a tart tatin: ‘Worthy of topping any things-to-do-in-Bristol-before-you-die list!’ said our grinning-from-ear-to-ear man. Look out for some rollicking annual Yule fun. Food Dinner: daily 7-9.30pm. Brunch: Tue-Sun 11am-3pm. Lunch: Tue-Sun 12noon-3pm. Bar menu: Tue-Fri 3-10pm
ALMA TAVERN
18-20 Alma Vale Rd, Clifton, BS8 2HT Tel: 0117 973 5171
• ‘The Alma Tavern provides a unique combination of Bristol’s culinary and cultural class,’ wrote our chap of the country’s only pub/theatre west of London. He tucked into ‘pub grub bordering on gastro before enjoying an absorbing, tightly acted play. The feel is of having gone to Covent Garden’. Menu changes every two months, but the Alma burger, 21-day-aged sirloin and Sun roasts are enduring favourites, and the walnut & wild mushroom gnocchi representative of vegetarian options worthy of a standing ovation. Doom Bar among renowned beer options. Quiz every Mon, open mic every second and fourth Sun monthly. Cable and terrestrial sports on TV, and the legendary Joe Jordan, victor in some recent Champions League touchline handbags, has been known to drop in in person. Food Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10pm, Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-4pm
ANCHOR
323 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8PE Tel: 0117 924 1769
• Two main meals all day every day for £8 - some of Bristol’s most affordable dining at this atmospheric venue in the heart of UWE studentland. Traditional pub grub includes lasagne, all-day breakfasts, sausage & mash, steak & ale pie, chilli, burgers, chicken tikka masala, wraps and desserts. Mon and Thur are student nights, quiz time on Sun, and cheer-along time whenever the football’s being shown. Two outside drinking areas. Food Daily 12noon-9pm
APPLE
Welsh Back, BS1 4SB Tel: 0117 925 3500, web: www.applecider.co.uk
• ‘Pipes with attractive curvature beside rivets, girders and portholes beneath a cobalt and honey ceiling lend downstairs a funky functionality…’ wrote Venue’s man of this boat-based boozer, quite possibly serving more ciders than any other boozer on earth. In 2009 they bagged the prestigious Golden Onion as national ploughman’s lunch champion at the Great British Cheese Festival. Create your own bespoke dish from 28 different components including cheddar, Cornish yarg, pork pies, duck pate and Wiltshire ham, or choose anything from ‘Cheeseroller’s Lunch’ to ‘Farmhand’s Banquet’. Diaries out for St George’s Day 2012 – the last noon-midnight shindig featured a world apple-bobbing championship, blind cider-tasting challenge, hog roast and all-day mash-up of the greatest English music of all time. Open Regular pub hours Food Daily 12noon-10pm
BANK TAVERN
8 John St, BS1 2HR Tel: 0117 930 4691, web: www.banktavern.com
• Modestly sized 255-year-old boozer with William Morris patterns, a picture of the Queen and fake khazi door among its decor. Traditional British dishes include pie of the week, fish & chips, and ham, egg & chips, with lasagne, wraps and sandwiches, too. Sun roasts feature three kinds of meat and gravy. Live music Thur. Food Daily 12noon-4pm
BARLEY MOW
39 Barton Rd, St Philips, BS2 0LF Tel: 0117 930 4709, web: www.bristolbeerfactory.co.uk
• Given that the Dings (a dinky, 600-strong village within earshot of Temple Meads’ platform announcements) was crowned ‘community of the year’ in December by Axa Insurance, the Barley Mow, the Dings’ sole boozer, purpose-built in the 1820s, might have a claim to being the country’s most local local. Facebook page helps you keep up with festivities throughout the year, so stay fuelled-up and ready for action with bangers & mash, faggots and burgers (all homemade), plus lasagne, beef and veggie chilli nachos and baguettes. A fiver buys you a weekday lunch (often curry), and you’ll find Sun lunches and three Bristol Beer Factory ales plus guest on draught. Food Tue-Thur 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-9pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 5-9pm, Sun 12noon-3pm
BELL
Hillgrove St (off Jamaica St), BS2 8JT Tel: 0117 909 6612, web: www.bell-butcombe.com
• Classic central Bristol wooden-floored pub, in that most vibrant of contemporary and cosmopolitan areas, Stokes Croft. Hidden away just off the main strip, with a patio garden with electric heaters (perfect for smokers), it’s a haven for escaping city life’s bustle. Clientele ranges from artists/street artists to musicians, students and local residents. Local DJs play regularly 9.30pm-12midnight weekdays (1am at weekends.) Well-known for its well-priced Sun lunch (£5.95), with a choice of slow-roast pork, chicken or beef, goat’s cheese & beetroot tartlet, spinach & cream cheese lasagne or fish pie. Weekday menu includes baguettes, wraps, burgers, homemade vegetarian burgers and nachos. Food Sun-Fri lunchtimes & 6-8pm, Sat 5-8pm (sometimes 9pm)
BISHOPS TAVERN
Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5QP Tel: 0117 944 5169
• ‘A well-run operation offering something for everyone,’ wrote Venue’s reviewer of this classy biggie down by the Arches. A new summer menu arrived in April with dishes like blackened tuna steak salad for £4.99 (which will also get you a sandwich, chips & drink as part of a lunchtime meal deal). Varied burger menu plus stalwarts like lasagne and ham, egg & chips. Screens show sport year-round, but there’s also a female-friendly mood prevailing. DJs on Sat (plus DJ Derek on special occasions), free Wi-Fi and executive suite for private hire, with buffet and waiting service. Plans for a garden come summer. Food Daily 12noon-9pm
BRIDGE INN
16 Passage St, BS2 0JF Tel: 0117 929 0942, web: www.bathales.com
• Pound-for-pound (or cubic foot for cubic foot), the best pub in Bristol? Drop into this little wonder and decide for yourself. Specials at an extraordinarily reasonable £3.95 change twice weekly: bangers & mash, prawn marie rose tortilla wrap and vegetarian spaghetti bolognese line up beside pub classics like ham, egg & chips, chilli and cheesy chips. ‘These are humble, not highfalutin dishes,’ wrote our man. ‘But they come in big portions and are made and served with genuine warmth, in their own way beating anything at the Ritz.’ All ales £2.20 on Mon, with a Bounders cider offer also in place. An eclectic vinyl collection – everything from Led Zeppelin to the Wombles – is yours to spin on the record player at this lovely boozer punching way above its weight. Four front tables catch the sunshine; quiz second Tue monthly. Food Mon-Thur 12noon-3pm, Fri 12noon-3pm & 8-11pm
BRISTOL CIDER HOUSE
8-9 Surrey St, St Pauls, BS2 8PS Tel: 0117 942 8196, web: www.bristolciderhouse.co.uk
• Our chap found a ‘cosy, dinky atmospheric gem where French Cacao Lacté posters create Parisian drinking den debauchery and decadence’. The pleasures of a life led wickedly were also being celebrated when he visited on New Year’s Eve to hear a rip-roaring acoustic version of ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ prompting a gleeful sing-along. Doubtless many of the revellers were enjoying the 20-or-so different ciders on draught and in bottles served here. Food, served till 9pm, is suitably rustic: magnificent baps filled with beef, cheese or ham; similarly tasty pork pies. Smokers do their thing on the upstairs balcony under cover brought by some lovely old barrels. Weekly Sat cider festival features live bands and a scrummy hog roast. Cider-/wine-tasting evenings going down a storm. Open Tue-Wed 5-11pm, Thur 5-11.30pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-12 midnight
BRISTOL FLYER
96 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, BS7 8BN Tel: 0117 944 1658, web: www.theflyerbristol.co.uk
• Location of many a Venue gathering back in the day, and a former Venue Top Banana bronze-bagger, serving up all things to all people when it comes to food, drink and entertainment. A home from home, with comfy sofas dotted within dark nooks and crannies an invitation to relax unconditionally. Quizzes on Mon, books and board games to keep you busy at other times. Belter of a garden out back, too, where smokers can linger comfortably. Chef Bertie’s CV includes time at Giraffe in Hampstead, Beach Blanket Babylon in Notting Hill and the former Stark in Bristol. Food includes pork belly with honey-glazed apples, scampi & chips, fish & chips, falafel flatbread, and rib-eye steak sandwiches. Stunning drink selection. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-9.30pm
BRISTOL RAM
32 Park St, BS1 5JA Tel 0117 926 8654, web: www.bristolram.com
• Contemporary pub-grub classics served at this lively, welcoming pub: Riverford Farm sausages, pieminister pies, boisterous burgers and perfect chips on seasonal, freshly cooked, largely locally sourced menus alongside plenty of real ales and continental lagers. Live music every Fri/Sat even and live sporting action on big, high-definition screens keep attention levels up. Sun lunches now served, individually roasted the way you want them - something completely new for Bristol. Open Mon-Wed 11am-12midnight, Thur-Sat 11am-2.30am, Sun 12noon-11pm Food Mon-Thur 12noon-2.30pm & 5-10pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-6pm
CADBURY HOUSE
68 Richmond Rd, Montpelier, BS6 5EW Tel: 0117 924 7874, web: www.thecadbury.co.uk
• Legendary drinking institution in boho Montpelier, where the delicious homecooked food on the relatively recently changed menu comes highly recommended. Drop in for burgers, pizzas, renowned Sun roasts, mains and more. Large, enclosed garden to the rear is newly refurbished. Fine beers, ciders and spirits selection, too. A friendly vibe is always guaranteed from a clientele made up of students, locals and virtual tenants.
CAMBRIDGE ARMS
Coldharbour Rd, Redland, BS6 7JS Tel: 0117 973 9786
• ‘One of Bristol’s grandest boozers,’ reckoned our chap, ‘with its bold, imposing facade giving way to an interior where characterful fixtures and fittings create a classy vibe.’ He was mightily impressed by the housekeeping here, too, with ‘beer pumps shinier than a Buckingham Palace guard’s toecaps making an excellent first impression’. Culinary creativity, fresh ingredients and regularly changing specials have seen the food side – traditional with a modern twist - take off markedly. Ace ales from Fuller’s end up in the grub, with that lovely London Pride enhancing the steak & ale pie’s gravy, and Discovery added to the batter for a better fish (hake) & chips. Burgers and mussels, too. The service? ‘Sharp-as-a-tack barmaid Nina spotted empty glasses like a kestrel spots a vole with a broken leg,’ wrote our man. Extensive beer garden out back is an oasis of green; sun-care dispenser at bar should stop you going too red. Quiz on Sun. Food Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 6-9pm, Sat 12noon-9pm, Sun 12noon-8pm
CLIFTON
16 Regent St, Clifton Village, BS8 4HG Tel: 0117 974 1967, web: www.thecliftonbristol.co.uk
• The Clifton’s wilfully eclectic furniture now has some extra eclectic entertainment as accompaniment. Along with the enduringly popular Clifton Factor quiz (Tue) and Grab My Grapes wine promo (Wed) comes a cocktail and cinema night (Mon) and You Tunes (Sun), when a punter DJs with their iPod for free beer. Food includes homemade burgers (including lentil variety) in 8oz/10oz sizes (toppings include chorizo, goat’s cheese, onion relish), steak & ale pie with mash and veg, plus snacks and sharers. Sun roasts bring beef, pork, chicken and nut roast in epic proportions and everything’s conjured up in an open kitchen. Excellent booze options include seven draught lagers (Paulaner, Peroni, Staropramen, Amstel), with Hogan’s Cider also on draught. Doom Bar and Tribute permanent real ales beside a guest. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-9pm
COACH & HORSES
Highland Square, Clifton, BS8 2YB Tel: 0117 974 5176
• Tucked away from Whiteladies’ bustle there’s an almost continental ‘plaza’ feel to the setting at this neighbourhood pub, which enjoys a reputation for fine food and drink. Dishes like sweet chilli pork belly, lasagne, ploughman’s, half-roast chicken, baked camembert and pork in stilton sauce line up beside up to five real ales at any one time. Open mic Mon, fortnightly quiz Wed. Food Tue-Sat 12noon-2pm & 6-9pm, Sun 12noon-3.30pm
COLSTON YARD
Colston St, BS1 5BD Tel: 0117 376 3232, web: www.colstonyard-butcombe.com
• The simple but delicious pleasure of Mendip Cheddar rarebit on the menu here confirms the “not an arsey style bar” description supplied by the manager to our chap. A city-centre boozer, grill and restaurant with a rural pub’s charm, this incarnation is unrecognisable from its time as the (Smiles Brewery) Tap, but the commitment to decent beer remains, with Camra Cask Marque recognition. Superb array of beers from around the world and nearer to home. New menu on the way likely to feature dishes like soup of the day, meat/veggie nachos, Caribbean jerk chicken, burgers, steaks, ribs, salads and baguettes. Comfy sofas inside; light, stylish seating on pavement outside. Food Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 5-9.30pm, Sat 12noon-9.30pm, Sun 11am-4pm
COTTAGE INN
Baltic Wharf, Cumberland Rd, BS1 6XG Tel: 0117 921 5256
• The endearing sight of people messing about in boats enhances the homely ambience at this harbourside wonder with its traditional and homecooked food. A full menu and daily changing specials include lasagne, chilli (plus veggie option), scampi, bangers & mash, gammon steak, hunter’s chicken and jacket potatoes, with fish pie an occasional special. Beautiful spot for Sun lunch, either indoors beside the fire or outside. Friendly staff, and quizzes in winter. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-9.30pm, Sun 12noon-9pm
REOPENED CROSS HANDS
1 Staple Hill, Fishponds, BS16 5AA Tel: 0117 965 7759, web: www.thecrosshandsbristol.co.uk
• ‘Like its sister pub Horfield’s Royal Oak, the Cross Hands represents all that is good in the modern boozer,’ said our man. ‘High-ceilinged throughout, its various areas provide plenty for everyone… fat leather sofas are made for unwinding, groups can chow down on the long tables, while what is arguably Venueland’s most stylish function room has already staged 18th and 60th birthdays, plus two post-funeral gatherings, with film nights, comedy, quizzes and speed dating to come.’ Food is kept in the family way, with the same menu as Horfield due here as we go to press, with more substantial mains like braised pork belly in ale gravy, beef burgers and salmon & haddock fishcakes joined by a salad range including chorizo & black pudding and the same Thur steak deal in place. Fore and aft gardens made for balmy days. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-10pm, Sun 12noon-4pm
ELDON HOUSE
6 Lower Clifton Hill, BS8 1BT Tel: 0117 922 1271, web: www.theeldonhouse.com
• And now for something completely different! As we go to press the Eldon House is about to stage its first ‘Mrs Higgins presents…’ night wherein six acts were programmed to perform anything from comedy and circus to music, magic and poetry, with all material inspired by the pub’s history. Such charming entertainment is representative of this charming little boozer off the beaten track, where extensive refurbishments in recent years have brought a modern, glass-roofed conservatory. Cut-above traditional English food made in house and sourced locally includes swordfish steak, pan-fried chicken breast, lamb & rosemary burgers, ham hock, egg & chips, salads, ploughman’s, Sat brunch and Sun roasts. Mon quiz, Tue games night, Thur live music, sausages and curry. Food Mon-Thur 12noon-3pm & 5-10pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-6pm
FARM
Hopetoun Rd, St Werburghs, BS2 9YJ Tel: 0117 944 2384, web: www.thefarmpub.weebly.com
• Nestled between the City Farm and St Werburghs allotments, and a short walk from the M32 and Gloucester Road. The friendly and relaxed atmosphere, spacious garden, mural-covered exterior and cosy interior welcome young and old. Food reflects the clientele – drop in for a filling meal after a hard night’s partying or for Sun lunch with the in-laws. Traditional dishes (bangers & mash), a taste of the Med, the ever-popular pitta platters, homemade ‘St Werburgers’, and renowned Sunday lunches – get there early! All meat and veg is locally sourced where possible, and veggies and vegans are well catered for. Coffee machine for those who aren’t drinking. Smokers get converted pigsties and large canopy in (or under) which to spark up. Food Tue-Fri 12noon-8pm, Sat-Mon 12noon-4pm
FULL MOON & ATTIC BAR
1 North St, Stokes Croft, BS1 3PR Tel: 0117 924 5007, web: www.fmbristol.co.uk
• You never know who you’ll find yourself standing next to at this multi-functional operation with its eating, drinking backpacker accommodation and more. Friend-of-Venue JJ assures us he taught Don Letts new DJ skills when the great man was in, and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry chose the Attic Bar for his afterparty following a Bristol gig. Buffets for parties of 20-plus. Seasonally changing menus use high-quality organic and free-range ingredients: steak, chicken breast, lamb shank, bangers & mash (with vegetarian option), vegetarian lasagne, fish of the day. New for 2011 is the express ‘Backpacker’ deal (for residents and non-residents alike), bringing two courses for £6.50, Mon-Sat, 12noon-close. Entertainment includes DJs, student nights and full-on fun come bank holidays. In no fit state for the journey home? Seventy onsite beds with eco-friendly organic cotton linen await. Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2am, Sat 11am-2am, Sun 11am-10pm Food Mon-Fri 12noon-8.30pm, Sat 11am-8.30pm, Sun 11am-5pm
GOLDEN GUINEA
19 Guinea St, Redcliffe, BS1 6SX Tel: 0117 987 2034, web: www.thegoldenguinea.co.uk
• Tucked-away tavern on several levels. Food is smaller dishes (pate, cheeses) and baguettes plus three hot specials always on. Entertainment via DJs and live music. Food Daily, all day
GRAPES
2 Sion Place, Clifton Village, BS8 4AX Tel: 0117 914 9109, web: www.grapesbar.co.uk
• The food range here isn’t particularly extensive, comprising variations on chilli (including veggie) during the week and roasts on Sun, but the entertainment and decor bring plenty of diversity. Walls feature cutting-edge artwork and events range from rock’n’roll bingo and Keda Breeze’s showbiz bingo to cut-above live music most Fridays, in the hands of serious blues/psychedelic/country acts rather than plodding pub rockers. If you’re eating, keep an eye on what you’ve ordered: our man enjoyed some priceless eavesdropping as the barmaid told one punter, “Paul McGann ate your enchilada.” Food Tue-Sat 7pm-12midnight, Sun 12.30-3pm
GREEN MAN
21 Alfred Place, Kingsdown, BS2 8HD Tel: 0117 930 4824, web: www.dawkins-taverns.co.uk
• The name reflects its MO, serving only organic and natural drinks where possible. Six real ales (Dawkins Green Barrel Organic Best Bitter a permanent fixture) and a different guest arriving roughly weekly. Grub is organic, traditional English pub fare (sausage & mash, stews, pasties, cheese platter), with ‘Stewsday’ on Tue and fish & chips on Fri. Pub cats George and Mr Bingley are always gently entertaining. Organic beer fest in Sept 2011 promises 25 different brews. Formerly the Bell. Food Tue-Sat 5-9pm, Fri 12noon-2pm, Sun 12noon-4pm
HARE ON THE HILL
Dove St, Kingsdown, BS2 8LX Tel: 0117 908 1982, web: www.bathales.com
• Hillside beauty boasting bags of charm and beautiful Bath Ales brews. Delicious dining accompanies the drink, with the Hare’s legendary triple-cooked chips and toasties coming in four flavours – ham, cheese & mustard; tomato, mozzarella & pesto; cheddar & red onion; and salami & brie – and going wonderfully with a pint or two (or single malts or some fine Belgian beers). Top-notch Sun roast, board games, and quizzes and darts possibly on the Hare’s horizon. Food Mon-Thur 12noon-2pm & 5.30-10pm, Fri-Sun all day
HEN & CHICKEN
210 North St, Bedminster, BS3 1JF Tel: 0117 966 3143, web: www.henandchicken.com
• A steady stream of punters ordering drinks in French means that local language group Alliance Française is staging another of its performance nights at this Bedminster boozer with its second-floor function space. Smiling punters indicated that the Comedy Box is packing them in, thanks to a calendar of top-name comedians. If you’re here to dine, starters include hummus and flatbread mezze, with impressive choices across breakfasts, grills, pasta, pizza and salad menus. Live music on the horizon. Food Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 6-10pm, Sat-Sun 9am-10pm
HIGHBURY VAULTS
164 St Michaels Hill, BS2 8DE Tel: 0117 973 3203,
• Deceptively long boozer much beloved of the varsity crowd. Numerous darkened nooks and crannies lead out into a beaut of a beer garden. Expect tipples from Young’s plus brews like Gem and Tribute. Made the news several years ago when a Nick Walker mural appeared on one of its walls. Depicting a graffiti artist climbing up Rapunzel’s hair, it’s an image not a million miles from how some punters ended up here: this is where condemned prisoners spent their last night before finding themselves on the end of a rope. Food is sausage & mash, pies, chilli, curry, nachos and soup, with ploughman’s come summer. Most dishes start at around £5, with rolls and jackets among the bargains. Veggies catered for admirably amid the constantly changing specials. Guaranteed to be rammed come August when St Michaels Hill stages its annual Party on the Hill. Food Mon-Thur 12noon-2pm & 5.30-8.30pm, Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-8.30pm, Sat 12noon-2.30pm, Sun 12noon-4pm
HOPE & ANCHOR
38 Jacobs Wells Rd, BS8 1DR Tel: 0117 929 2987
• Tucked away beside Brandon Hill, between Hotwells and Clifton, stands this traditional boozer with its absence of TVs, games machines and pool tables. Leaded windows and bountiful Worcestershire hops, flags, wooden flooring and British racing green-and-cream colour scheme. Eclectic specials and traditional English grub - everything from pies, pancakes, soups, sarnies and breaded haddock to lasagne, lamb curry, fresh whole trout and organic falafel. Sun roasts see them queuing before opening. Equally folkloric are the ploughman’s lunches, with a tasty trio selected from a staggering 36 different potential components. Out back there’s a quirky, friendly-vibe terraced garden with ivy-covered stumps, runaway creepers and a veritable sewing-machine graveyard. Open Regular pub hours
HOPHOUSE
16 Kings Rd, Clifton, BS8 4AB Tel: 0117 923 7390, web: www.hophouseclifton.co.uk
• Tucked away off a Clifton side-street and frequented by professionals and students, this grade II listed great exudes a classy air. Upmarket food includes pork belly, lamb shank, burgers and Thai chicken, plus pies and specials. A strong reputation for wine, with ale given admirable presence amid the stylish surroundings. Food Mon-Thur 12noon-3pm & 5-9pm, Fri-Sun all day
INN ON THE GREEN
2 Filton Rd, BS7 0PA Tel: 0117 952 1391, web: www.theinnonthegreen.org
• Big, rambling old boozer that functions very much as a proper, solid community pub, and a former Camra Bristol and District Pub of the Year. The regularly changing, well-executed menu, influenced by cuisine from across the world, maintains British classics (including liver & bacon). Our reviewer wrote that the goose comprised thick slices of tender, superbly seared bird nestling against generous dollops of sweet sloe berry jelly, and that the steak was beautifully cooked and nicely blackened on the outside, with a real depth of flavour. Lunchtime sarnies come in a wide range of fillings (choose your fave kind of bread!), with bar snacks for when the kitchen’s closed. Sun roast and quiz in aid of charity, and music twice monthly. Unfortunately you’ve just missed 2011’s beer festival; this annual event features around 100 ales plus 60 ciders. Food Tue-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-9pm, Sun 12noon-4pm
JERSEY LILY
193 Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2SB Tel: 0117 973 9037
• Enduringly popular, just down from the Downs, and serving mains like ham, egg & chips, chilli, lasagne, sausage & mash, gammon, burgers. Ale and wine options above pub average – April saw a Caledonian beer festival. New management due to arrive shortly after we go to press; word on the street is they’ll be expanding food-served hours and upgrading what’s on offer. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm
KELLAWAY
138-140 Kellaway Avenue, Horfield, BS6 7YQ Tel: 0117 909 3765
• A new manager arrived around Christmas-time to continue this place’s renaissance. All food is homemade –strong fish options, plus mains like beef & ale pie and pan-fried marinated supreme of chicken. Doom Bar and Tribute among the taps. Attractive south-facing garden is perfect for alfresco eating and drinking, with a slide and frame occupying nippers while grown-ups relax. The garden is also home to the pub’s four chickens - Huey, Dewey, Louie and ‘the other one’, whose eggs make it into the kitchen here. It’s to be hoped these feathered friends stay out of the heat - the lounge and snug come with traditional fireplaces. Quiz may return. Open Mon-Thur 4-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10pm Food Tue-Thur 6-9pm, Fri-Sat 1-3pm & 6-10pm, Sun 12noon-3pm
KENSINGTON ARMS
35-37 Stanley Rd, Redland, BS6 6NP Tel: 0117 944 6444, web: www.thekensingtonarms.co.uk
• The food here has been consistently excellent since the Kensington got its tasteful refurbishment and revitalisation a few years ago. Huge dining-room picture window affords peeks into the kitchen drama. As we went to press, starters included black pudding, foie gras and apple chutney, and mains whole roasted poussin, roasted belly of pork, chargrilled chicory and Driftwood goat’s cheese with walnut salad and honey dressing. Dine leisurely or get comfy on a cheerful sofa or slinky chaise lounge with a glass of wine or pint. Outside terrace perfect for the warmer weather. Quiz nights not staged in summer but may return come winter. Open Regular pub hours Food Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 6-10pm, Sat 10am-3pm & 6-10pm, Sun 12noon-4pm
KING WILLIAM
20 King St, BS1 4ES Tel: 0117 926 8672
• Gloriously characterful and quirky historic beauty rambling through numerous rooms over five floors. Seating ranges from gentleman’s club armchairs in loungey areas to wooden booths beside the main bar. Food takes in pies, lasagne (plus veggie option), fish & chips, chilli, macaroni cheese, caesar salad, and service is impressively fast. Much-loved by punters for its easygoing air - conversation is king here. You won’t find TVs, music or multinational branding, but you will find Soil Association-approved and Fairtrade drinks on draught and in bottles, with vegan and vegetarian quaffers well catered for. Organic wheat beer, cherry beer and cola, and ale starts at an excellent-value £2.03 a pint (lager from £2.32). Dartboard, three pool tables and Fussball. Food Tue-Thur 12noon-8pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-6pm, Sun 12noon-4pm
KINGSDOWN VAULTS
31 Kingsdown Parade, BS6 5UE Tel 0117 924 9134, web: www.kingsdownvaults.com
• Two real ales, 16 wines by the glass and traditional/contemporary British cooking – burgers, steak, lamb, tapas, lasagne, pasta. A recent refurb saw the bar rebuilt and a new kitchen installed. The cosy fire remains in place for marshmallow toasting when that colder weather returns, while the landscaped courtyard garden makes for wonderful alfresco chilling. Impressive array of board games, book-exchange scheme and regular quiz nights add to the charm. Live music every Thur and Sat, and free Wi-Fi. Open Mon-Thur 4pm-12midnight, Fri-Sat 12noon-1am, Sun 12noon-10.30pm
LANSDOWN
8 Clifton Rd, BS8 1AF Tel: 0117 973 4949
• Enduring charmer steeped in character. Pub food is the order of the day: soups, calamari, handcut chunky chips, bangers & mash, chilli, renowned New Yorker hamburger, lamb burger, roast beef with stilton ciabatta. Beers from independent local breweries, and popular decking out back - marquee comes and goes with the seasons. Upstairs function room, quiz on Wed in winter, summer BBQs. Food Mon-Thur 5-10pm, Fri 12noon-10pm, Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12.30-4.30pm & 5-9pm
LAZY DOG
112 Ashley Down Rd, BS7 9JR Tel: 0117 924 4809, web: www.thelazydogbristol.com
• ‘Ales and cocktails’ is the all-encompassing philosophy behind the Lazy Dog, sister pub to the Pipe and Slippers and the Windmill, our chap told us when dropping in a while ago. He found ‘a boozer where the clean, art deco-style surroundings make for similarly wide enjoyment. Massive front windows are perfect for people watching, while intimate booths bring seclusion’. Menu details and food times not confirmed at time of going to press – check with pub.
LION
19 Church Lane, Cliftonwood, BS8 4TX Tel: 0117 926 8492, web: www.thelionclifton.com
• Cliftonwood hostelry with a decent selection of wines, cask ales and cider on tap plus homemade gastropub dining. Family-run and child-friendly, with a beer garden overlooking the adjacent children’s park. Check out the Wed quiz. Open Mon-Fri 4pm-12midnight, Sat 1pm-12midnight, Sun 12noon-11pm. Food Mon-Sat 6.30-9.30pm, Sun 12noon-4pm (booking advised)
MASONS ARMS
124 Park Rd, Stapleton, BS16 1DT Tel: 0117 939 3919
• ‘We enjoyed a flavoursome stilton ploughman’s and some filling cheesy chips in an extraordinary rear garden rivalling Babylon’s hanging version,’ wrote our reviewer of an easily missed mid-terrace marvel. ‘Its exterior promises little, but on entering you find the dinkiest of snugs and a larger main bar complete with natty model motorbikes.’ There’s even more colour, come Bonfire Night’s extraordinary fireworks. Tasty pub classics include banger & onion baps, fishcakes, chilli, spag bol and scampi. Open Regular pub hours Food Tue-Sat 12noon-2.30pm
MERCHANTS ARMS
5 Merchants Rd, Hotwells, BS8 4PZ Tel: 0117 904 0037, web: www.bathales.com
• ‘Camra have rightly recognised the decor for its bygone beauty, with wooden floors and panelling, subdued lighting and black-and-white photographs creating a cosy, inclusive space,’ wrote our man. ‘A pub as they used to be,’ down to the simple accompaniment to the serious business of drinking and conversing. Bar snacks in the shape of Split Tin Bakery pies (mmmm, steak, kidney & ale), filled rolls and pork pies go gorgeously with the Bath Ales brews - permanents Gem, Barnstormer and Spa and guest Festivity when we visited. Regulars travelling from Kingswood, Nailsea and Portishead confirm the pub’s quality, while a trip to an English National Baroque gig evinces the clientele’s cerebral credentials. Weekly quiz. Open/Food Mon-Thur 4-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm
MOUSE
Waters Lane, Westbury on Trym, BS9 4AA Tel: 0117 940 5554
• “It was one of those nights when you wanted a bigger pub!” landlord Billy said of last year’s last-man-standing chilli-tasting comp, when a daredevil dozen lined up to see who could stand the heat - a repeat is due later this year. Thankfully, eating the food here is a much more pleasurable experience - combos and pub grub include Thai fishcakes, steak & kidney pudding, hunter’s chicken, gammon steak, cumberland sausage & chips. A TV set is sometimes set up in the beauty of a beer garden when major sport is played. Poker on Wed and Sat, quiz on Thur, live music occasionally. The Mouse’s dinky dimensions add to its charm. Food Mon-Tue 12noon-8pm, Wed-Sat 12noon-9pm, Sun 12noon-6pm
OLD FISH MARKET
59-63 Baldwin St, BS1 1QZ Tel: 0117 921 1515
• Handsome city-centre biggie at premises that formerly sold the sea’s bounty. There’s still a tunnel leading from the cellar to the river, and a splendid mural depicts a bygone shipside scene. Sport shown on sizeable screens in an atmosphere that’s always passionate but never excessively so. Beer is also big, with Camra holding meetings and using the venue to sell tickets for their beer festivals. London Pride among the brews on draught and in bottles, with London Porter delighting many as we went to press. Varied food options range from westernised Thai fusion (pad Thai noodles, green curry & spicy chilli basil stirfry) to pub grub (burgers, Bangkok sirloin, fish & chips) on a regularly tweaked menu. Food Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 5-10pm, Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-5pm
OSTRICH INN
Lower Guinea St, Redcliffe, BS1 6TJ Tel: 0117 927 3774
• These days you can’t afford to put your head in the sand when it comes to eating within your budget. The Ostrich offers a half-price steak night on Mon that’s “cheaper than Sainsbury’s!” A 10oz cut is yours for a measly £3, keeping taste-buds and bank balance very happy. Curry offer comes with a free drink, and there’s free food with the Wed quiz. The attractive view across Bristol’s bustling harbourside is yours for gratis, too. English pub classics include scampi, burgers, gammon, fishcakes, bangers & mash, with veggie options, too. Food Daily 12noon-2pm, 6pm-close (in summer)
PIPE & SLIPPERS
118 Cheltenham Rd, Stokes Croft, BS6 5RW Tel: 0117 942 7711, web: www.thepipeandslippers.com
• Drink options at the Pipe have always been a cut above your average boozer and it seems the food side is now joining them. Cumberland sausage with mash, onion relish and parsnip chips was on the menu last year. Now we’ve got rolled belly of pork with purple-sprouting broccoli, mash and saffron & chorizo cream. Buffalo wings, Tom’s Pies and Pipe & Slippers burgers join the specials in a varied dining line-up, completed by mighty fine Sun roasts. Splendid real ale and cocktail options, and DJs on Sun. Open Mon-Wed 5pm-12midnight, Thur-Fri 5pm-1am, Sat 12noon-1am, Sun 12noon-12midnight Food Daily till 9.30pm
PORT OF CALL
3 York St, Clifton, BS8 2YE Tel: 0117 973 3600
• Roger and wife Carol preside over this nautically themed beauty just off Whiteladies Road, with fishing nets and lobster pots testimony to their desire to run a pub on the coast. Solid regular menu features traditional pub fare: homemade lamb casserole, chilli, pork casserole, pies, roast chicken. Four real ales are always on, with Doom Bar, Otter and Wickwar Bob regular fixtures. “Don’t write anything good about the place,” the chap in the Lundy Island sweatshirt told our reviewer. “It’s busy enough as it is.” Food Mon-Fri 12noon-2pm & 5.30-9pm, Sat all day, Sun 12noon-4pm
PORTCULLIS
3 Wellington Terrace, Sion Hill, Clifton, BS8 4LE Tel: 0117 908 5536
• Mini mid-terrace marvel that was runner-up Camra Bristol Pub of the Year 2010. Up to nine real ales on at any time, with similarly mini end-of-month beer festivals and larger fests throughout the year adding to the admirable variety. Food takes in stews, sandwiches, rolls and more. Food Mon-Fri 4.30-10pm, Sat-Sun 12noon-10pm
POST OFFICE TAVERN
17 Westbury Hill, Westbury on Trym, BS9 3AG Tel: 0117 940 1233, web: www.post-office-tavern.co.uk
• The POT at WoT to its many friends, this traditional local was originally a mail coach house - the old jail across the road is where prisoners were locked up on their way to court as the mail man and his nags got their respective nosebags. Fascinating post office imagery dotted throughout, including an old telephone box within the pub itself. Sky and terrestrial sports shown. Find pizzas famed city-wide (2-4-1 offer on Mon) plus light bites like baguettes and salad. Quiz on Thur. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-2pm & 6-9pm
PRINCE OF WALES
5 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AA Tel: 0117 924 5552, web: http://www.powbristol.co.uk/
• “It’s a squiffy building!” owner Anna Gorman told our man when he visited her boozer formed from two cottages and a former clock shop. Thankfully there’s nothing remotely squiffy about the good, rich, nourishing fare using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Traditional pub food with world influences includes fish & chips, all-day brekkies, bang bang chicken wraps, mixed pulse curry, bangers & mash. Eat safe in the knowledge that the pub adheres to the Soil Association’s Food, Service and Catering Code of Practice, requiring it to disclose the origins of anything used in the kitchen. Anna’s place doesn’t take itself too seriously though, with quizmeistress Imogen getting competitors to make things – like an Elton John costume - out of newspaper and sticky tape during the Mon quiz’s creative round. Acoustic music Wed, DJs spin all sorts on Sun. That lovely Portuguese Sagres is among the lagers, chilled to perfection and ready to be downed in the funky alfresco space to the rear. One too many, and you might end up as squiffy as the architecture. Smoking provision among Bristol’s best. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-9.30pm, Sun 12noon-4pm
PRINCE OF WALES
Stoke Lane, Westbury on Trym, BS9 3SP Tel: 0117 962 3715, web: www.princeofwales-butcombe.com
• Lovers of fascinating memorabilia will love studying the walls at this Westbury on Trym gem, where photos of former heirs, signed cricket bats and even a typewriter are among the exhibitions. Lively, friendly local with open fires, where a rugby-loving clientele scrum down for scrummy chow amid an old, classic-style pub mood. Dishes include fish & chips, lasagne, jacket potatoes, ham, egg & chips. Excellent garden with its own TV. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-2pm
PUMP HOUSE
Merchants Rd, Hotwells, BS8 4PZ Tel: 0117 927 2229, web: www.the-pumphouse.com
• Rated by The Guardian, this former Victorian pumping station housing a handsome dockside boozer makes for a place for top eating, drinking and music. Suntrap patio, too. Quite the spot for private functions: the water out front lends itself to some beautiful wedding-day snaps. It’s enjoyed great success since Toby Gritten, formerly Albion head chef, began cooking for the upstairs restaurant operation and downstairs gastropub. Renovation restored original features (brickwork, wooden beams) and brought in Victorian period colours. Good-quality, modern, British food - look out for innovative, seasonal dining using foraged ingredients: chanterelle, slippery jack boletes, autumn berries, wild apples. Booking generally advisable when dining. Food Daily 12noon-3pm & 6-9.30pm (from 6.30pm Sat)
QUADRANT
2 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BP Tel: 0117 974 1025, web: www.quadrantbar.co.uk
• ‘To paraphrase Dickens, the Quadrant is a tale of two storeys; to quote Dickens, it’s a place for the best of times.’ Our chap got all literary when visiting this chic Clifton corner pub, inspired by its upstairs main bar and downstairs cellar. ‘The look is classy and smart but the feel sufficiently pub-like for a sole chap to nurse a pint with his novel.’ The Quadrant may be among Bristol’s smaller pubs, but covers many bases admirably. With at least 35 plonks, its wine bar credentials are impeccable, but you’ll also find real-ale lovers in here regularly. Must-visit wine cellar is perfect for private parties and stages popular wine tastings on alternate Thursdays (mid April saw a Bordeaux night). Bar snacks (pizzas, nachos, homemade sausage rolls, baked whole camembert) are ideal for sharing. Open/Food Daily 11am-12midnight
NEW RICHMOND
33-37 Gordon Rd, Clifton, BS8 1AW Tel: 0117 923 7542, web: www.therichmondclifton.co.uk
• ‘My heart soars with every forkful of mash and parsley liquor, an East End favourite given a Clifton smartening-up,’ wrote our clearly delighted chap. You’d have to be Interpol to keep up with this building’s numerous identities, after being the Richmond Spring, Clifton Sports Bar, Two Magpies and Clifton Cow in recent years. ‘Paintings, parquet flooring and wooden panelling give it a classy air.’ Although ‘traditional British’ remains the style, the menu has changed since his visit, with Cornish mussels and haggis, neeps and tatties irresistible starters, spring lamb rump with champ mash, toad in the hole, calves’ livers and pie of the day among the mains, and Richmond mess the perfect summer dessert. Dining offers on Mon (steak), Wed (pie & pint) and Fri (fish), with ‘Richmond rates’ and a loyalty card bringing extra, extraordinary value. Mon brings open mic, Tue quiz, Thur comedy. The garden’s a gem, and Sunday’s six-choice roast includes venison and guinea fowl. As Chuck D might say, this place got game… Open Mon-Thur 12noon-12midnight, Fri-Sat 12noon-1am, Sun 12noon-11pm Food Mon-Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-5pm
ROBIN HOOD
56 St Michaels Hill, BS2 8BX Tel: 0117 929 4433, web: www.robinhoodfreehouse.com
• ‘A clean, cosy pub delivering exactly what the modern, discerning drinker expects of their watering hole,’ was our fellow’s summation. Pub grub-style menu boasts standards like homemade burgers, pieminister pies, ham, egg & chips, sausage & mash. The chicken wings up the ante, coming in varying degrees of spiciness, with the strongest – ‘Triple Threat Challenge’ - approaching Sheriff of Nottingham levels of malevolence. Quench thirsts with Brooklyn Beer, Erdinger Weiss, BrewDog Punk IPA, 5am Saint or one of five draught ales (Moor Revival is a permanent fixture). Four whites, as many reds and a rosé, too. Outdoor areas front and rear plus a function room ready to host celebrations such as the wetting of babies’ heads born in the hospital nearby. Our man concluded: ‘It might bear an outlaw’s name but it’s just the place to bring the in-laws.’ Food Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6-9.30pm, Sun 12noon-6pm
ROBIN HOOD’S RETREAT
197 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8BG Tel: 0117 924 8639, web: www.robinhoodsretreat.co.uk
• A Venue silver Top Banana award in 2008 followed on from a silver Top Banana in 2007 at this benchmark-setting gastropub with attractive back garden. Seasonal menu changes every 10-14 days. ‘The Shetland Island scallops were spot-on,’ wrote Venue’s reviewer, ‘paired with the bloody warmth of black pudding and a tangle of creamed leeks, shoots and cresses. For mains, evaporatingly soft and yielding organic calves’ livers and roast rump of lamb come accompanied by a separate dark and sticky pile of braised mutton with turnip and anchovy gratin.’ Enjoy Cornish pollack, steak & chips, lamb shank with mushroom & chive dumplings. Around eight real ales change on a regular basis. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm, Mon 6-9pm, Tue-Sat 6-9.30pm, Sun 12noon-3.30pm
ROSE OF DENMARK
6 Dowry Place, Hotwells, BS8 4QL Tel: 0117 940 5866, web: www.theroseofdenmark.com
• Former Venue Top Banana bagger, still at the top if its game. When God invented pubs, he created this place as a temple of excellence: a big, shouty, friendly neighbourhood boozer with bags of atmosphere, good beer and unpretentious but top-quality cooking. Expect the likes of ham, egg & chips at lunchtime, with evenings bringing ribs, Thai green curry, toad in the hole, risotto and fishcakes, and a roister of a roast on Sun. Open mic Wed, quiz Thur, music Sun 4-7pm. Food Tue-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-9pm, Sun 12noon-4pm
NEW ROYAL OAK
385 Gloucester Rd, Horfield, BS7 8TN Tel: 0117 989 2522, web: www.theroyaloakbristol.co.uk
• ‘Originally the Royal Oak (but until July 2009 the John Cabot), owners Neil and Olivia Greenwood have transformed its fortunes, restoring its old name while creating a modern mood at a friendly neighbourhood boozer,’ wrote our impressed chap. A 12-week refurb installed chandeliers, inviting leather sofas and punk-evoking Union Jack cushions, with a multi-functional rear garden making excellent use of a sizable space. New menu being introduced as we go to press - expect chorizo & black pudding salad, roast beetroot & green bean salad, Royal Oak beef burger, salmon & haddock fishcakes, braised pork belly in ale gravy. Thur steak deal brings two 8oz beauties, chips, salad and a bottle of red wine for £25. After-school club on Fri often brings a BBQ. An excellent example of how contemporary pubs can cater for all, it was rightly mentioned in Venue’s 2010 Top Bananas. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-10pm, Sun 12noon-4pm, pizzas 6-8pm or until sold out
RUMMER HOTEL
All Saints Lane, BS1 1JH Tel: 0117 929 0111, web: www.therummer.net
• An inn has stood on this site since the 1200s so the Rummer is fully entitled to be considered a Bristol institution – if not legend. Since reopening in 2005, the dear old (now modern, swanky) place has gone from strength to strength, complete with downstairs cocktail lounge, The Cellars (open Fri and Sat eves, though not serving food). Food at the Rummer proper spans brunch and smaller plates to modern English/European-influenced dining later on: pan-roast duck breast, Devonshire braised beef, pan-fried monkfish. Breathtakingly broad spirit and bottled-beer selections befit surroundings oozing class from every pore. That said, the mood is admirably relaxed – guests have been known to fall asleep on the sofas after making themselves at home. Private parties catered for; food events in the pipeline. Food Mon-Fri 11am-3pm & 6-10pm, Sat 11am-5pm & 6-10pm, Sun 1-5pm
SCOTCHMAN & HIS PACK
20 St Michaels Hill, BS2 8DX Tel: 0117 373 0138, web: www.thescotchman.co.uk
• Serving up light bites, baguette deals, jackets, dishes of the day, specials, burgers and sides, plus fish and curry options, alongside good ale and cider range. Plenty of entertainment includes pool, darts and Wed quiz. Lovely balcony, free Wi-Fi. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-9pm
SOMERSET HOUSE
11 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BX Tel: 0117 973 6831, web: www.thesomersethouse.co.uk
• Characterful Clifton Village pub featuring handsome woodwork, reclaimed slate, Brasso optic and platform clock. Rugby is particularly popular here, with free half-time Six Nations scran. A new menu may be on the horizon; as we go to press, flounce-free food made fresh in house includes breakfasts, faggots, curry, ham, egg & chips, ploughman’s, sandwiches. Open mic Tue, 80s night Thur, live music Fri, Joanna tinkling Sun. Food Daily 10am-3pm, restricted menu till 12noon, possibility of future evening dining
SPOTTED COW
139 North St, Bedminster, BS3 1EZ Tel: 0117 963 4433, web: www.thespottedcowbristol.com
• Many of us at Eating Out West have fond memories of the North, ex-of Gloucester Road, once owned by James Savage, so we’re delighted that he and fellow Bristol music scene stalwart Dave Smeaton’s Spotted Cow boasts a similarly smooth vibe. The roof garden mentioned last year is bearing fruit, with its herbs featuring in the salsa verde served with the sea bass here, and aubergines and tomatoes incorporated elsewhere in the menu. Indeed, the hedgerow salad is made entirely from its bounty. Neat touches include gold-leafed Bath stone, logo-etched frosted windows, eye-catching mirrors and a garden out back. Food changes fortnightly - expect ham hock terrine with fresh bread, West Country lamb hotpot, and butternut squash & blue cheese croquettes. One of few pubs nationally to serve a whole roast suckling pig (first Sun monthly). Quiz Tue, DJs Fri and Sat night and Sun afternoon, and exemplary disabled access. Venue bronze Top Banana winner 2008. Our man concluded: ‘You can trust this gastropub – they know what they’re doing (and they do it so well).’ Food Mon-Thur 12noon-3pm & 5-9pm, Fri-Sun 12noon-9pm
REOPENED STAR & DOVE
75-78 St Luke’s Rd, Totterdown, BS3 4RY Tel: 0117 933 2892, web: www.staranddove.co.uk
• Reopened in early April after an extensive refurbishment, with a triumvirate taking over the reigns at a pub long enjoying a reputation for cut-above dining. Food offerings are due to expand through 2011; as we go to press the emphasis is on dishes accompanying drinks. Pork scratchings are homemade, as is the organic bread that comes with the spiced sausage & cider broth. Things on toast include chicken liver pate, mackerel smokies, air-dried beef & Quickes cheddar, plus porter rarebit and gherkins. Restaurant due to open upstairs, serving reinvented 14th-/15th-century dishes in a style they’re calling ‘peasanty’. Surroundings evoke the rustic tavern of yestercentury, with a mini skittles alley among long-term plans. One of only two Bristol pubs (and 250 nationally) selling Stella Black. Six real ales always on, plus 12 whites and nine reds.
VICTORIA
2 Southleigh Rd, Clifton, BS8 2BH Tel: 0117 974 5675, web: www.dawkins-taverns.co.uk
• The wait for them to start serving main at this former Top Banana threatens to last as long as the eponymous monarch’s reign but we’re assured that the much-anticipated kitchen here remains scheduled to arrive. When it does, homemade chillies and curries plus jacket potatoes will be the order of the day. Likely to be sold from around 6pm until just before closing, they’ll also be available to take away. Until then, pork pies, Scotch eggs and olives will (just about) stop hunger setting in. ‘Endearingly dinky,’ wrote our man of a Clifton corner pub where ‘Fisher-Price dimensions currently extend to one U-shaped room’. Look out for a beer festival and horror film showing come Halloween. Landlords Paul and Dee’s selfless research trips to Belgium ensure a reliably eclectic array of 50 continental beers. Much making of mirth, including witty spoof beer ads, quizzes, ‘Crap Prize Bingo’ last Thur monthly and even a pub copy of Viz, add to the humour. We’re very much amused, but we’re also starting to get a bit peckish... Open Mon-Fri 4-11pm, Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm
NEW VICTORIA PARK PUB & KITCHEN
66 Raymend Rd, Victoria Park, BS3 4QW Tel: 0117 330 6043
• Formerly the Raymend, this, one of Venueland’s most tucked-away boozers opened to immediate acclaim in autumn 2010. A mid terrace marvel a short stroll from the wonderful Victoria Park, the menu changes seasonally here and offers a mix of locally-sourced Mediterranean and English dishes. Drop in to read the papers and enjoy one of three real ales (Bath Ales and Butcombe permanents) or join in the quizzes set to return, book club or even the mums-with-nippers singalong on Thursday morning. Outside wood-fired oven used to cook pizzas and bread, smokers get covers and heating, summer is bringing alfresco barbies. A hidden gem well worth tracking down Food served Mon-Wed 12noon-3pm & 4.30-9.30pm, Thu-Sat 12noon-3pm & 4.30-10pm, Sun 12noon-6pm
WELLINGTON
Gloucester Rd, Horfield, BS7 8UR Tel: 0117 951 3022, web: www.bathales.com
• ‘The living is easy whatever the season, with impressive port and single malt ranges giving ample excuse to linger after enjoying meals accompanied by wines from around the world. Pint glasses get filled with more locally made beverages, with Bath Ales Warmley brewery, the site of a party Venue remembers most warmly, conjuring up some sublime sups.’ Our man returned to the location of his first ever pub-of-the-issue piece to find the Wellington having added a restaurant and extensive terrace in the intervening years, with a play area set to be ready for summer 2011. Traditional British dining here includes burgers, steaks, homemade pie, fish options and goat’s cheese tart, with barbecues bringing alfresco dining: ‘Twenty rear tables (more in front) ensure all feel fine in the summer breeze.’ Back indoors, delightful touches include toddler-sized waterproof boots dotted throughout. Our man pondered, ‘How best to take care of a thirst or hunger when next seeking a night out? Give it some Welly.’ Food Mon-Fri 12noon-9pm, Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 9am-8pm
WHITE BEAR
133 St Michael’s Hill, BS2 8BS Tel: 0117 904 9054, web: www.whitebear-bristol.co.uk
• ‘A welcome as big as the eponymous, Arctic circle-dwelling carnivore awaits here, where engaging staff ensure the customer is king,’ wrote our knave. ‘Among Bristol’s five oldest pubs - dating back to 1650 – its several rooms sprawl pleasingly and offer a space for all occasions, with tucked-away areas where private shindigs swing unnoticed by those not partying. Diners and families are drawn to the front, pool players hit the table, darts player hit the doubles (hopefully), the smokers get a characterful cobbled courtyard and the society girls – knitting, that is – gather to purl contentedly. Decor is smart, clean and contemporarily traditional.’ Menu details and food times not confirmed at time of going to press – check with pub.
WINDMILL
14 Windmill Hill, BS3 4LU Tel: 0117 963 5440, web: www.thewindmillbristol.com
• As with last year’s guide, we go to press with the winner of the annual moustache competition yet to be decided. Funds raised go to a local baby unit – good work, people. At this sister pub to the Pipe & Slippers and Lazy Dog, around nine specials may include rolled pork belly, mussel, clam & tiger prawn risotto, and yassa, an African stew. Bangers and pies, too, and kids get their own wide-ranging menu - they’re welcome in the pub till 8pm, and the family room has toys and board games. Drinks selection is what you’d expect from a decent bar. Wi-Fi, and Mondays alternate with a quiz and Stitch ‘n’ Bitch. Food Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat-Sun 12noon-10pm
YE SHAKESPEARE
78 Victoria St, BS1 6DR Tel: no landline at time of going to press
• Holding management were in place at time of going to press. Drop in for food details.
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