Pubs

Bristol

ADAM & EVE
7 Hope Chapel Hill, Hotwells, BS8 4ND
Tel: 0117 929 1508
Appropriately enough, the Adam and Eve is run by a couple, with husband-and-wife team Karen and James Thompson in their third year at this attractive pub nestling at the bottom of Hope Chapel Hill. The food gives anything found in the Garden of Eden a run for its money, with dishes including 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 hand-cut chips. Bar snacks and puddings ensure all bases are covered. Monday quiz. Food served Tue-Sat 6-9pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-3pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

ALBION
Boyces Ave, Clifton Village, BS8 4AA
Tel: 0117 973 3522
Pub dining doesn’t get much better than this, as is proved by Michelin and Good Food Guide mentions. Our man sat down to a starter of British shellfish in cider, parsley and cream: “perfectly prepared and delicious”. His main of Gressingham duck breast with puy lentil puree, black figs and foie gras “tasted as good as it looked”. The menu depends entirely on what’s available from suppliers and uses local best produce. The Bath chap is a must-try signature dish if you’re an inquisitive carnivore. It appears periodically, but you might still find 35-day-aged single rib of Aberdeen Angus, stuffed roast leg of mutton or roast teal, and the fish mains are sure to tempt. Book at least a week in adv for Fri-Sun dining. Food served Tue-Sat 12noon-3pm & 7-9.30pm, Sun 12noon-3pm

ALMA TAVERN
18-20 Alma Vale Rd, Clifton, BS8 2HT
Tel: 0117 973 5171
The theatre above this well-appointed pub has seen some admirably diverse productions since opening in 1997 - absurdist plays, plays with no words, and one with words in Latvian – and the traditional pub food combined with French influences on offer downstairs is similarly varied. Mains include the likes of five-hour belly of Gloucester old spot pork, smoked mash, creamed cabbage, russet apple tatin and chocolate jus, wild local game pie, confit duck leg, 30-day dry-aged rib-eye, shepherd’s pie and Doom Bar-battered fish & chips. Tempting starters feature potted smoked mackerel, venison, pheasant and pistachio terrine, along with grilled single Gloucester and Doom Bar rarebit on malted toast with pickled shallots salad and Worcester reduction. The champagne vanilla cheesecake, rhubarb compote and oat biscuit sounds rather promising, too. Food changes weekly; pick up a menu at the pub’s entrance. Five real ales include Doom Bar and Spitfire. Sunday roasts, quiz every Mon, cable and terrestrial sports on TV. Food served Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10pm, Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 10am-5pm

ANCHOR
323 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8PE
Tel: 0117 924 1769
Atmospheric venue in which to catch the footy in the heart of UWE student land. Traditional pub grub includes lasagne, all-day breakfasts, sausage & mash, steak & ale pie, chilli, burgers, chicken tikka masala, wraps and desserts. Two selected mains are yours for £9. Mon is student night, Thur brings curry bargains, and it’s quiz time on Sun. Food served 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 our man of this boat-based boozer. There’s nothing quite like this place anywhere, stocking, as it does (quite probably) more ciders than any other pub on earth. It grabbed one of Venue’s Top Bananas in 2006 and South West Bar of the Year from the Observer Food Magazine in the same year. Last winter witnessed some scrummy pasties with deliciously amusing names: Boozy Moo (diced steak and a drop of Bath Ales beer), Bunny Boiler (rabbit in red wine), Posh Bird (free-range chicken with English Blue dumplings, cider-glazed vegetables, creme fraiche). They’re scheduled to return in winter 2009. Locally sourced and interesting ingredients like local cheeses, chutney, pickle, fruit, Tom Murray’s pork pies and Herberts bread promise quite a feast. Quayside barbecues are in the pipeline, and we’ve talked boss Ed Gibson into giving the cider ice-lollies a go this summer. Open Mon-Sat 12noon-12midnight Food served Daily 12noon-10pm

BANK TAVERN
8 John St, BS1 2HR
Tel: 0117 930 4691, web: www.thebanktavern.co.uk
Modestly sized 255-year-old boozer with William Morris patterns, a picture of the Queen and fake khazi door among its decor. Homemade pies come in flavours like steak & ale and chicken & fennel. Lasagne, burgers, steaks and salads, too. Sunday roasts feature three kinds of meat and three kinds of gravy. Quiz Mon, live music Thur. Food served Daily 12noon-4pm

BARLEY MOW
39 Barton Rd, St Philips, BS2 0LF
Tel: 0117 930 4709, web: www.bristolbeerfactory.co.uk
Almost worthy of ‘new’ being splashed above its name, so major was the transformation at this historic boozer following the Bristol Beer Factory’s arrival. Purpose-built in the 1820s with an impressive, authentic cellar, it was formerly the Duke of York but its present name came to be through an administrative error. This locale’s only surviving pub, its walls hold photographs of bygone boozers. Bar manager Andy Bridges, set to gig here with his band Mohawk as we go to press, welcomes regulars old and new: “I enjoy the challenge of building up a local venue, a place where all can socialise, eat and have a laugh.” Food is exemplarily innovative - homemade savoury tarts along the lines of artichoke & goat’s cheese, as well as salmon, bacon & horseradish, pies, sausage & mash, ham, egg & chips, and a fine Sunday roast. They’re just starting with live bands or karaoke on Sat nights as we go to press; the Tue quiz is already well-established. We don’t know whether the milk stout, currently on draught, will still be on by the time this publication hits the streets, but you’re assured a fine drop of beer, whenever you’re here. Food served Tue-Thu 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-9pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 5-9pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

BELL
Hillgrove St (off Jamaica St), BS2 8JT
Tel: 0117 909 6612, web: www.bell-butcombe.com
A Spanish chef has rung the changes at the Bell, a Stokes Croft institution where carnivores and veggies cop for excellent food choices. A tapas menu is now available lunchtime, with patatas bravas (fried potatoes topped with mild spicy tomato sauce), croquetas de queso azul y nueces (blue cheese & walnut croquettes), chorizo a la sidra (chorizo sausage slow-cooked in cider) made by someone who knows his onions. He plans to change this lunchtime menu regularly, so round up some mates and keep coming back. The evening menu features the likes of fajitas with beef or veg chilli, spinach & cream cheese lasagne, fish pie, baguettes, soup, nachos and jackets (beef or vegetable chilli varieties), plus ploughman’s, burgers and tasty salads. DJs spin 9.30pm-12midnight weekdays, till 1am weekends. Courtyard garden one of Bristol’s best-kept secrets. Food served Daily 6-10pm, Sun-Fri 12noon-2pm

BISHOPS
Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5QP
Tel: 0117 944 5169
“Regulars travel from Downend, Mangotsfield and Kingswood, passing numerous pubs en route, to join students, businesspeople, diners, and ale and wine aficionados enjoying a well-run operation offering something for everyone,” wrote our man of this classy biggie down by the Arches. Screens show sport, but there’s a female-friendly mood prevailing, a Sunday quiz and occasional spinning by DJ Derek. Choose from an 18-strong burger menu, fish & chips, sausage & mash, curries and more. Free Wi-Fi, students enjoy food and drink discounts, and there’s an executive suite for private hire with buffet and waiting service. Food served Mon-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 12noon-9pm

BRISTOL FLYER
96 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, BS7 8BN
Tel: 0117 944 1658, web: www.theflyerbristol.co.uk
A former Venue Top Banana bronze-bagger, where boss Desra Barrett and team (check the blackboard on arrival to see who’s working at any time) continue to serve up all things to all people when it comes to food, drink and entertainment. The feel is very much like being at home, with comfy sofas dotted within dark nooks and crannies an invitation to relax unconditionally. Sunday film nights, quizzes on Mondays, and books, board games and even a craft corner keep you busy. There’s a belter of a garden out back, too. The grub’s probably better than you’ll find at home - chef Bertie’s CV includes time at Giraffe in Hampstead, Beach Blanket Babylon in Notting Hill and the former Stark in Bristol. Offerings include braised lamb shank with beer & cranberry sauce with cheddar mash, beef & chianti lasagne with mascarpone & pecarino sauce, and an utterly irresistible macaroni cheese with Brue Valley vintage cheddar topped with parmesan and breadcrumbs. Lighter options include falafel and tzatziki with flatbread, chicken liver & wild mushroom pate with gherkins, and rustic bread and calamari with lime mango. Among the sarnies you’ll find a club alongside hot falafel with roasted red peppers and spicy tomato salsa. Food served Mon-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-9.30pm

CADBURY HOUSE
68 Richmond Rd, Montpelier, BS6 5EW
Tel: 0117 924 7874
Montpelier institution where the kitchen’s recently been taken over by chefs with experience at eateries including Hotel du Vin and one30. Everything (pork pies to ketchup) is made on site from scratch. Food ranges from homemade muesli with fresh fruit and honey to maple-glazed pork chops, with brunches, burgers and welsh rarebit en route. Top garden and well-kept ales, too.

CAMBRIDGE ARMS
Coldharbour Rd, Redland, BS6 7JS
Tel: 0117 973 9786
Fullers’ ace ales end up in the grub here, with that lovely London Porter enhancing the steak & ale pie’s gravy, and Discovery added to the batter for a better fish (hake) & chips. Other favourites include sandwiches, homemade burgers, pork loin, ham, egg & chips and sausage & mash with liver and onions, and mussels appearing on the specials board from time to time. Quiz on Sun. Food served Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 6-9pm, Sat all day, Sun 12noon-4pm (roasts) & 4-8pm (main menu)

CLIFTON
16 Regent St, Clifton, BS8 4HG
Tel: 0117 974 1967
Wilfully eclectic furniture, admirably diverse drink options and a neat line in punning go hand in hand with something scrummy to eat to make the Clifton well worth tracking down. Food takes in burgers, fishcakes, Moroccan meatballs, haddock battered in guest beer, and sharing plates of kebab skewers, wedges and falafel, as well as a nice chianti lasagne. An open kitchen brings theatre, and numerous bottles and draughts include Peroni and Aspall cider, with Clifton Ale from those lovely Bath Ales people appearing as an occasional guest. Tue sees the Clifton Factor quiz; Wednesday’s Grab My Grapes promo brings major discounts on bottles of wine. Live music Thur. Food served Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 5-10pm, Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-9pm

COACH & HORSES
Highland Square, Clifton, BS8 2YB
Tel: 0117 974 5176
Landlords Piers Barrow and Tony Vile are splendidly re-establishing Clifton’s Coach and Horses as a neighbourhood pub, with a reputation for fine food and drink: sweet chilli pork belly, lasagne, ploughman’s, half-roast chicken, baked camembert and pork in stilton sauce. “The local community has fondness for this pub,” says Piers. “It’s had a few landlords in recent years and no stability. We want to make a friendly, traditional, locals’ pub where an 18-year-old can have a couple of pints on a Tuesday night or a 75-year-old can have half a Bass on a lunchtime, and everyone chats to each other.” Eye-catching decor includes an impressive array of signed sports shirts, wherein Flintoff and Vaughan line up beside Dallaglio and Johnson. Up to five real ales at any one time, open mic on Mon, monthly quiz. Food served Summer: Mon-Sat 12noon-2pm & 6-9pm, Sun 12noon-3pm

COLSTON YARD
Colston St, BS1 5BD
Tel: 0117 376 3232
Unrecognisable from its time as the (Smiles Brewery) Tap, but the commitment to decent beer is enough to keep the CAMRA members happy – indeed, those lovers of real ale bestowed Cask Marque recognition upon the Colston Yard shortly before we went to press. A superb array of beers from around the world and nearer to home to be savoured. Drink a yard from the yard glass, with T-shirts for sub-minute quaffers. Grub takes in light bites and starters, jackets, baguettes and sides, burgers, fish & chips, pies, bangers & mash, mussels, liver & bacon, steaks and vegetarian options like risotto, with pizza and pasta menus adding extra variety. Lighter options like salad due to arrive in summer. Local, organic and free-range emphases keep your conscience as happy as your stomach. Live music night planned. Food served Mon-Thur 12noon-3pm & 5.30-9.30pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-9.30pm, Sun 12noon-7pm

COTTAGE INN
Baltic Wharf, Cumberland Rd, BS1 6XG
Tel: 0117 921 5256
Traditional and homecooked food enhances the homely ambience at this harbourside wonder. A full menu and daily changing specials include dishes like beef, ale & mushroom pie, cod & chips, bangers & mash, sweet and sour chicken, fish pie, vegetarian goulash and pork loins. A beautiful spot for Sunday lunch, whether eaten indoors beside the fire or enjoyed outside overlooking the water. Friendly staff, too. Food served Mon-Sat 12noon-9.30pm, Sun 12noon-9pm

CROSS HANDS
1 Staple Hill Rd, Fishponds, BS16 5AA
Tel: 0117 965 4684
Originally a coaching station, a pub has stood here for 200 years. Ten real ales quench the thirst, while some decidedly civilised food offerings prepare you for any onward journey. Expect to find dishes like lamb & lentil casserole, Toulouse sausage with onion gravy, lasagne and chicken casserole. Mon quiz, music on Thur, and the pub’s first comedy night set for after we go to press – they may become monthly. Function room and garden. Food served Tue-Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-3pm

ELDON HOUSE
6 Lower Clifton Hill, BS8 1BT
Tel: 0117 922 1271, web: www.bathales.com
Another chapter has been written in the Eldon House’s history since last year’s guide, with Pauline and Alex arriving at this charming boozer that’s endearingly off the beaten track. The pair have plans to carry out building work without changing the atmosphere much loved by regulars. A modern, glass-roofed conservatory and greater integration of front and back rooms will arrive, along with some changes in seating. All work is scheduled to be finished by June, and though there will be a period when the pub won’t be serving food, it will remain open. The couple’s quick, basic food offerings – baguettes, jackets and cakes - have already proven a hit with nearby office workers, with a coffee cake deal in place as we go to press and carrot cake always on. Drop in for more substantial offerings like gammon, cottage pie, beer-battered fish, scampi and beef & ale pie, with Pauline and Alex retaining the magnificent seven vegetables that have long been going into the Sunday roast here. Two Bath Ales beers – Gem and Barnstormer - plus guest on draught, poker on Mon, quiz on Tue. Food served Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 5-9pm (though see note above)

FARM
Hopetoun Rd, St Werburghs, BS2 9YJ
Tel: 0117 944 2384, web: www.thefarmpub.weebly.com
A laidback vibe, good food and year-round festival feel (with the Monday-morning-at-Glastonbury look favoured by many). A solid standard menu serves up ciabattas, pitta platters, retro baskets featuring scampi or calamari, homemade beef burgers, bangers & mash and veggie burgers. Specials feature the likes of white bait, jerk spiced chicken, Moroccan lamb tagine and chorizo, sausage & chicken Cajun stew. Sunday roasts come with vegetarian alternatives, and there’s the aforementioned jerk spiced chicken if carnivores want an alternative to Sunday roast. Artwork changes monthly and there are Fri-night DJs as well as monthly Bounce parties. Doing your own thing is de rigueur down on this farm. Food served Daily 12noon-3pm & 5-8pm

FULL MOON & ATTIC BAR
1 North St, Stokes Croft, BS1 3PR
Tel: 0117 924 5007, web: www.myspace.com/atticlivesessions
This multi-functional operation with its eating and drinking, backpackers’ accommodation, DJs and bands was the setting for a special occasion last year, when family and friends of Marc ‘Doc’ Crewe, Venue’s food editor, to whom this guide is dedicated, gathered to celebrate his life in a style befitting our departed mate. Glasses were raised (then downed), a buffet took a buffeting, and tales were told about a man for whom food, drink and good company were a way of life. Manager JJ was honoured to stage the shindig, despite the fact one of Doc’s review had got him fired from his first job (a story involving a cocktail made up on the spot, with a name that didn’t amuse the restaurant company’s management). On one of many visits, Doc brought wife Lesley for a meal which started with them enjoying a sharing plate before mains took a double-mutton-chop-and-pan-fried-barbary-duck-breast direction. The menu changes every three months to feature the likes of fish pie, risotto with pumpkin and walnut, and eight-hour-cooked tagines. Organic pizzas are on their way, with toppings including local cheese and local, free-range meat. If you’re staying late for the aforementioned musical acts, you might be tempted by the self-contained chalets due to arrive in the attic. And if you’re still here on Sunday, roasts range from the assuredly vegan to the decidedly carnivorous. No doubt Doc would have heartily approved of the latter. Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2am, Sun 12noon-10.30pm Food served Mon-Sat 12noon-9pm, Sun 12noon-6pm

NEW
GREEN MAN
21 Alfred Place, Kingsdown, BS2 8HD
Tel: 0117 930 4824. web: www.dawkins-taverns.co.uk
New incarnation for Kingsdown’s former Bell pub, which flung open its doors in September last year. The name reflects its MO, serving only organic and natural drinks where possible. Six real ales, with a different guest arriving roughly weekly, and Cornwall’s Organic Brewhouse among the suppliers. Neat touches include an organic Irish cream which is reportedly better than Baileys. Organic, traditional English pub fare takes in sausage & mash, stew, pasties and a cheese platter, with fish & chips on Fri. Sheepdrove Organic Farm and Tom Murray help out with the meat, and the Better Food Co sort the vegetables. Pub cats George and Mr Bingley are always gently entertaining, and the Wed eve quiz notches up excitement levels. A music licence is currently being pursued. Food served Wed-Sat 5-9pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

GREENBANK
57 Bellevue Rd, Easton, BS5 6DP
Web: www.thegreenbank.co.uk
More than a year-and-a-half of refurbishments are nearing an end, with food set to arrive at the Greenbank by the end of May. The feel is of a new building having landed upon the original, with wooden floors, 16.8mm acoustic glass and exposed brickwork creating a smart, new and almost unrecognisable look, bringing a buzzing vibe. Menu details have yet to be finalised, though we’re told that Sunday lunch is set to be a legend even before the first one has been served. Music offerings are already impressive, and include the likes of saxophonist James Morton, who’s toured with Pee Wee Ellis. Drinks, served from the island bar, maintain the high standards, with imported beers like Erdinger and Budvar, local breweries’ ales and wide spirit choices lining up beside bottled Greenbank cider. Open mic on Tue, function room and table-tennis table. Open Mon-Thur 5pm-12midnight, Fri 3pm-12midnight, Sat-Sun 12noon-12midnight Food served likely to be eves & weekends

HARE ON THE HILL
Dove St, Kingsdown, BS2 8LX
Tel: 0117 908 1982, web: www.bathales.com
Hannah and Alex have replaced Paul and Dee Tanner at this Bath Ales beauty that’s popular with discerning diners and drinkers alike. A textbook handing-over of the food baton, so to speak, sees traditional pub food ranging from delicious homemade chips for £2.50 to a delicious hot steak baguette with caramelised onions served with a side salad and homemade chips (£6.95) still going down a treat. Main meals like bangers & mash (£5.95), cheese & tomato quiche (£5.45) and a three-bean chilli with rice (£5.45) are joined on Sundays by a traditional roast with all the trimmings from £6.95. At least one dessert, served with double cream or ice-cream, is always on, with pear & chocolate brownie proving irresistible as we go to press. Mon quiz at 8.30pm, live music Sun at 9pm. Food served Mon-Fri 12noon-2pm & 5-9pm, Sat 12noon-9pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

HEN & CHICKEN
210 North St, Bedminster, BS3 1JF
Tel: 0117 966 3143
The space upstairs has been put to diverse use since last year’s guide, with ace local languages group Alliance Française staging a series of innovative learning-through-drama classes culminating in a night of performance, top comedian Mark Thomas, and the suits thinking outside of the box, thanks to some conference facilities. The food side of things downstairs includes mussels pots, pizzas, a grill menu and breakfasts. Food served Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 6-10pm, Sat-Sun 9am-10pm, pizzas till 12 midnight on comedy nights

HIGHBURY VAULTS
164 St Michaels Hill, BS2 8DE
Tel: 0117 973 3203
Made the news back in August 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 the place where condemned prisoners spent their last night before finding themselves on the end of a rope. The pub’s more recent past is much less gruesome, with 1970s Bristol University graduates set to relive undergrad days here in July as part of the university’s centenary alumni weekend. Faded varsity scarves are likely to give way to dog collars a little tighter around the neck if the early 80s punks of Facebook’s It All Began in the Highbury Vaults group have their reunion back where it all started. On the food front, think sausage & mash, pies, chilli (which has been rated by Egon Ronay), curry, nachos and soup. Most dishes start 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 served Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-8.30pm, Sat lunchtime

HOPE & ANCHOR
38 Jacobs Wells Rd, BS8 1DR
Tel: 0117 929 2987
An absence of TVs, games machines and pool tables, and the presence of leaded windows and bountiful Worcestershire hops, flags, wooden flooring and a British racing green and English mustard colour scheme lends the front bar a traditional boozer feel. Eclectic specials and traditional English grub offer up everything from pies, pancakes, soups, sarnies and breaded haddock to lasagne, lamb curry, fresh whole trout and organic falafel. A glorious celebration of our nation’s culinary treasure – the Sunday roast – sees them queuing before opening, while equally folkloric are the ploughman’s lunches, with a tasty trio (meat, cheese) selected from a staggering 29 different potential components. There’s been a pub here for more than 150 years, and a refurb last July brought some smartening-up without losing any of the character. Out back there’s a quirky terraced garden where ivy-covered stumps, runaway creepers and a veritable sewing-machine graveyard create a friendly vibe.
Open Mon-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm

HOPHOUSE
16 Kings Rd, Clifton, BS8 4AB
Tel: 0117 923 7390
Tucked away off a Clifton side-street, this grade ll-listed great exudes a classy air befitting the professionals and students frequenting it. Food options include rustic baguettes, homemade burgers, sharing boards and the full Pieminister range, plus fresh fish dishes. Enjoys a strong reputation for wine, with ale given admirable presence amid the stylish surroundings. Food served Mon-Thur 12noon-3pm & 6-10pm, Fri –Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-6pm

INN ON THE GREEN
2 Filton Rd, BS7 0PA
Tel: 0117 952 1391
A big, rambling old boozer which functions very much as a proper, solid community pub, and CAMRA Bristol and District Pub of the Year 2006. The kitchen is run by Owen Tunstall, who presides over a regularly changing, well-executed menu influenced by cuisine from across the world while maintaining British classics (including liver & bacon) and using restaurant-standard techniques. Enjoy steak and goose - thick slices of tender, superbly seared bird nestling against generous dollops of sweet sloe berry jelly. The steak is mighty fine, too: beautifully cooked, nicely blackened on the outside, with a real depth of flavour. Lunchtimes also see sarnies on a range of Herberts breads, and Sunday brings a fine roast. Keep an eye out for the annual beer festival. Sun quiz in aid of charity, music twice monthly. Food served Tue-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-9pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

JERSEY LILY
193 Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2SB
Tel: 0117 973 9037, web: www.jerseylily.co.uk
New management arrived last year to serve Lavazza coffee, starters, wraps, sandwiches and jackets as well as regular mains like ham, egg & chips, chilli, lasagne, sausage & mash, gammon and burgers, with further delights on the specials board. Beer and wine options above pub average. Mon quiz, Tue live music. Food served Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 5-9pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

KELLAWAY
138-140 Kellaway Avenue, Horfield, BS6 7YQ
Tel: 0117 924 5368
New management arrived here around a year ago, since when they’ve restored this characterful suburban beauty to its glorious best. Extensive refurbishment to the lounge and snug has seen two traditional fireplaces given due prominence, ensuring the warmest winter welcome. Come summer, the attractive south-facing garden is just lovely for alfresco eating and quaffing. Anyone for Pimms? Some choicely kept ales are gaining a strong reputation, as is the food, taking in game terrine, braised lamb shank and some gorgeous tuna steaks. Definitely one to watch, this place is on the up-and-up. Open Mon-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm

KENSINGTON ARMS
35-37 Stanley Rd, Redland, BS6 6NP
Tel: 0117 944 6444, web: www.thekensingtonarms.co.uk
There’s been a change of chef here since last year’s guide, with head chef Daniel Snelling bringing experience gained at riverstation and elsewhere to bear on food that’s been consistently excellent since the Kensington got its tasteful refurbishment and revitalisation a few years ago. The huge picture window in the dining room lets you sneak a peek into the drama going on in the kitchen, where you’ll see Daniel conjuring up delights like the Kensington burger, made from prime Gloucestershire beef, with crispy streaky bacon, Monterey Jack and triple-cooked chips. Other dishes include roast pork loin with white pudding, soused white cabbage, celeriac hash and white wine jus, as well as carpetbag steak – a sliced-open sirloin into which oysters are put before resealing and cooking. Dine leisurely or make yourself comfy on a cheerful sofa or slinky chaise lounge with a glass of wine or pint. Street parties are held three times a year, with face painting and jazz bands. Outside terrace perfect for alfresco summers, Sun quiz nights. Open Mon-Thur 12noon-11pm, Fri 12noon-12midnight, Sat 10am-12midnight, Sun 12noon-10.30pm Food served Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm, Sat 10am-3pm, Sun 12noon-4pm, Mon-Sat 6-10pm

KING WILLIAM
20 King St, BS1 4ES
Tel: 0117 926 8672
Gloriously characterful and quirky historic beauty rambling over numerous rooms over five floors. The top bar is having a refit, but should be operational by summer. Before then you’ll find plenty drawing you here, from free pool on Tue and a quiz on Mon to some extraordinarily popular grub - serving 275 meals on a Saturday is not unknown. Food takes in pies, steaks, fish & chips, lasagne (plus veggie option,) chilli, macaroni cheese and caesar salad. Conversation is king here: you won’t find televisions, music or multinational branding, but you will find Soil Association-approved and Fairtrade drinks on draught and in bottles, with vegans and vegetarians quaffing confident in the knowledge that their beer’s bona fide. Three pool tables, fussball and a dartboard. Food served Daily 12noon-8pm

KING’S ARMS
168 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2XZ
Tel: 0117 973 5094
Nick Armitage, who already owns the Picture House and more recently took over the Kingsdown Vaults, has added a third string to his bow with this expansive pub spread over two floors (which some readers may remember as the Black Bear and those with longer memories as Stark or even Babushka). In adopting the place Nick is returning some history to this part of Whiteladies Road: the King’s Arms originally opened on this very site in 1828.

KINGSDOWN VAULTS
31 Kingsdown Parade, BS6 5UE
Tel 0117 944 2528
Taken over last year by the Picture House’s Nick Armitage as a spot where people can relax away from home. You’ll find four real ales, 20 wines by the glass and excellent nibbly dishes like artisan English cheeses, cured meats and vegetable antipasti served within a small but delightfully formed pub or out in the landscaped courtyard garden. Afternoon barbecues should be added to the food offerings when the sunshine shows. Back indoors, enjoy fondue and toast marshmallows beside the fire, come winter. Open Mon-Thur 5pm-12midnight, Fri-Sat 12noon-1am, Sun 12noon-12midnight

LA DEMI LUNE
188 Hotwell Rd, Hotwells, BS8 4RP
Tel 0117 927 7112, web: www.demi-lune.co.uk
Chef Lionel Seigneur conjures up authentic French cuisine and a bistro feel reminiscent of a cosy neighbourhood Parisian joint. Lionel and partner Anna welcome all for a pint of Butcombe or Stella on draught, particularly on Sunday when Les Rosbifs can enjoy an excellent roast, and fish lovers and veggies also get options. At other times expect to find dishes like cassoulet of lamb, scallops in asparagus and mayonnaise, whole lemon sole in parsley butter, confit duck and provencal fish soup representative of the restaurant-quality fare on offer. Open Tue-Sat 5-11.30pm, Sun 12noon-5pm Food served Tue-Sat 7-9.30pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

LANSDOWN
8 Clifton Rd, BS8 1AF
Tel: 0117 973 4949
This enduring charmer on the edge of Clifton Village consistently comes up with the drinking, dining and entertainment goods. Chef Chaz cares deeply about customer satisfaction: her eclectic, modern British pub food covers everything from olives, nachos and a warm spicy sausage salad to mushroom burgers, a renowned New Yorker hamburger, Sunday roasts and a sumptuous flame-grilled chicken fillet with bacon and melted cheddar. But despite concentration on the food being gently upwards, the Lansdown does not consider itself a gastropub. Beers from independent local breweries do the business, and the decking out back is popular when the sun shines. Food served Mon-Fri 6.30-10.30pm, Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12.30-4.15pm (or until sold out)

THE LION
19 Church Lane, Cliftonwood BS8 4TX
Tel: 0117 926 8492
Legendary Cliftonwood hostelry with a decent selection of wines, cask ales and cider on tap plus top notch home-cooked grub. It’s family run and child friendly with a beer garden overlooking the adjacent children’s park. Check out the Wednesday quiz – not for the faint-hearted, we are told! Open daily 11am-11.30pm. Food served Daily; breakfasts Mon-Sat from 11am; Sun lunches 12.30-3.30pm (booking advised)

NEW
MARKET PLACE
20 St Nicholas St, BS1 1UB
Tel: 0117 929 3561, web: www.themarketplacebristol.co.uk
Decent, hearty, traditional pub food served up with a smile in the city centre. What had been the Elephant and then the Ivory became the Market Place in spring last year when joint proprietors Sam Daffin and Fiona Weir sated their hankering to run a pub of their own, discovering the premises when surfing the net 7,000 miles away. We enjoyed steak from Redhill Farm in the Mendips, after a starter of Somerset brie, garden peas and new season asparagus - a chunky, al dente delight, especially with the outer edges of the brie delicately melting through the spears. And the generous pot of smooth chicken pate with toast and red onion chutney ticked all the boxes. Their rich puddings (chocolate & hazelnut praline cake, orange & almond chocolate truffle cake) are rather moreish. Food served Mon-Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-5pm

MERCHANTS ARMS
5 Merchants Rd, Hotwells, BS8 4PZ
Tel: 0117 904 0037
Hotwells hop haven. Being part of the Bath Ales family, they naturally take their beer seriously here, with at least three of the brewery’s beers plus guest always on. The food’s top, too, with the handmade pork pies the best this side of Melton Mowbray. In fact, pastry purists have found paradise here, with steak & kidney pies and cheese & onion pasties the perfect accompaniment to a pint or two. Toasties come with fillings like cheese & onion and cheese & ham. Quiz every Thur. Open/Food served Mon-Thur 4-11pm, Fri-Sun 12noon-11pm

MOUSE
Waters Lane, Westbury on Trym, BS9 4AA
Tel: 0117 940 5554
This friendly suburban local is a mouse that roars when it comes to serving up a pleasing night (or afternoon) out. Food comprises lighter bites including potato wedges, spring rolls, buffalo wings, hot and spicy prawns, and chicken and fish combos. Beer garden boasts a cracking view of Henbury’s golf course. Wed poker night, monthly music brings the blues and sounds of acts like Fleetwood Mac. Food served Mon-Tue 12noon-8pm, Wed-Sat 12noon-9pm, Sun 12noon-6pm

OLD ENGLAND
Bath Buildings, Montpelier, BS6 5PT
The Old E, as it’s affectionately known, is a large old community pub set a little back from the health centre. The food options aren’t extensive but what they lack in frequency and variety, they more than make up for in quality. Mons and Weds from 7pm see curry and chilli nights bringing a tasty meal and drink for a bargain fiver, with roasts from 3.30pm on Sun and the prospect of summer barbecues if the weather’s good. Probably the country’s only pub with its own cricket nets, replacing ones in which WG Grace netted. WG Grace, for crying out loud! Food served Mon & Wed from 7pm, Sun from 3.30pm till late

OLD FISH MARKET
59-63 Baldwin St, BS1 1QZ
Tel: 0117 921 1515
Handsome city centre biggie at premises which, as the name suggests, formerly sold the sea’s bounty. The facade is little changed from the building’s former incarnation and there’s still a tunnel leading from the cellar to the river, while a splendid mural depicts a bygone shipside scene. The denizens of the deep are still being landed: among regular regulars’ outings are fishing trips to Watchet, with a conga eel the mightiest catch in November’s jaunt and the prospect of two boats setting off on a repeat mission as we go to press. Other events have included greyhounds and horseracing, with plans for a trip to Holland for an England football friendly. A well-up-for-it yet well-behaved atmosphere when sport is shown on the screens here. Beer is also big – CAMRA hold meetings and use the venue to sell tickets for their beer festivals – with London Pride among the brews on draught and in bottles. Varied food options range from westernised Thai fusion like pad Thai noodles, green curry and spicy chilli basil stirfry to pub grub like burgers, Bangkok sirloin and, of course, fish & chips. Food served Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 5-10pm, Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-5pm

OSTRICH INN
Lower Guinea St, Redcliffe, BS1 6TJ
Tel: 0117 927 3774
Friendly historical pub standing back from Bristol’s bustling harbourside. A daily curry club offer comes complete with a free drink while English pub classics include scampi, gammon, fishcakes and bangers & mash, with a veggie bake ensuring all bases are covered. ‘Megameals’ are just what you’d expect, with a mega mixed grill ready to take on the biggest of appetites. Chicken & bacon melts alongside burger stacks ensure you’d have to put your head in the sand to not find something you like here. Food served Daily 12noon-9pm

PIPE & SLIPPERS
118 Cheltenham Rd, Stokes Croft, BS6 5RW
Tel: 0117 942 7711, web: www.thepipeandslippers.com
The Pipe mixes local pub feel with an impressive drinks selection, ace grub and wicked DJs. Homecooked, wholesome pub grub takes in chicken, saffron & chorizo stew with homemade bread, Cumberland sausage with mash, onion relish and parsnip chips, and Thai fishcakes with dipping sauce and salad. Rammed every Sunday for mighty fine roasts, with hand-reared meat from Windmill Hill City Farm. Splendid real ale and cocktail options, plus DJs on Fri and Sat and the chance to lose the shirt off your back with Poker at the Pipe on Mon. Open/Food served Mon-Wed 5pm-12midnight, Thurs 5pm-1am, Fri 3pm-1am, Sat 12noon-1am, Sun 12noon-12.30am

PORT OF CALL
3 York St, Clifton, BS8 2YE
Tel: 0117 973 3600
Expect to find dishes like eel & parsley soup, casseroled pigeon, and haggis & cullen skink, with admirable effort made to mark national days from home and abroad. This place is only a few yards off Whiteladies Road, but when you’re strolling up the steep, narrow street on which it stands, you half expect to see the sea when you reach the hill’s brow. The nautical theme is continued within, with fishing nets and lobster pots testimony to husband-and-wife team Roger and Carol Skuse’s desire to run a pub on the coast, with son Martin starring in the kitchen. A solid regular menu features traditional pub fare like homemade lamb casserole, chilli, pork casserole, pies and half a roasted chicken. A staggering 250-300 different beers are served annually. All this adds up to an extraordinary spot - once you’ve discovered it, you’ll want to keep it to yourself. “Don’t write anything good about the place,” said the chap in the Lundy Island sweatshirt at the adjoining table. “It’s busy enough as it is…” Food served Mon-Fri 12noon-2pm & 5.30-9pm, Sat all day, Sun 12noon-5pm

PORTCULLIS
3 Wellington Terrace, Sion Hill, Clifton, BS8 4LE
Tel: 0117 908 5536
Never mind personalised number plates; the Portcullis’ BS8 4LE postcode looks like BS8 ALE - especially after you’ve had a few - which is highly appropriate given the care taken with the booze here. Couple Ned Clarke and Natalie-Jayne Tanner have enjoyed a hugely successful first year at this mid-terrace marvel just down from the Suspension Bridge. A changing array of microbrewery beers are up for supping, with an extra pump adding more choice, and three beer festivals annually keeping the variety coming. A garden, set to open this summer, will give ale aficionados the option of alfresco quaffing. Food takes in Pieminister pies, homecooked dishes and Sunday roasts. Pub Jack Russell Daisy is now fully grown and hogging the bench by the fire as we go to press. Films and sporting events can be shown by the upstairs projector, and a poker night is in the pipeline. Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 4.30-11pm, Sat-Sun 12noon-11pm

POST OFFICE TAVERN
17 Westbury Hill, Westbury on Trym, BS9 3AG
Tel: 0117 940 1233
This traditional local was originally a mail coach house. Visit today and see the old jail across the road 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 is dotted throughout, including an old telephone box within the pub itself. Find light bites, baguettes, jackets, gammon, cod, scampi, chilli and pizzas. Food served Mon-Sat 11am-2.30pm, Mon-Fri 6-9pm

PRINCE OF WALES
5 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AA
Tel: 0117 924 5552, web: www.powbristol.co.uk
Good, rich, nourishing fare as suited to the season as it is to the culinary senses. A new core menu was due to arrive shortly after we go to press, but as the core menu in general changes every two months, you’re very much advised to drop in and find out what’s been conjured up using locally sourced ingredients. Expect to find offerings like haddock goujons, chilli, confit of duck, herb & parmesan polenta and grilled goat’s cheese salad across the regular menu and seven weekly changing specials. Brunch runs Mon-Sat 10am-4pm. Adhering to the Soil Association’s Food, Service and Catering Code of Practice requires them to disclose the origins of anything they’re using in the kitchen. Quiz first Mon of every month in aid of Cherry D. Food served Mon-Sat 12noon-9.30pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

PRINCE OF WALES
Stoke Lane, Westbury on Trym, BS9 3SP
Tel: 0117 962 3715
Lively, friendly local where a rugby-loving clientele scrums down for scrummy chow amid an old, classic-style pub mood. Dishes hearty enough to feed a prop include beef & ale pie, fish & chips and ham, egg & chips, while wingers stay flight of foot with lighter dishes like Cajun-style chicken salad, Thai-style crab cakes, fresh breaded brie wedges and vegetable spring rolls. Potato skins and tortilla chips offer nibbling opportunities, with the Prince of Wales platter offering up chicken wings, onion rings, fries, salad and dips. TV in garden, summer barbecues. Food served Mon-Sat 12noon-2pm

PUMP HOUSE
Merchants Rd, Hotwells, BS8 4PZ
Tel: 0117 927 2229
A former Victorian pumping station housing a handsome dockside boozer. Bristol is blessed with many waterside watering holes, but this building’s magnificent form and suntrap patio make it somewhere to head for when it’s warm. It’s quite the spot for private functions, too: the water out front lends itself to some beautiful wedding-day photography. It’s been enjoying a successful new incarnation since Toby Gritten, formerly head chef at the Albion, began cooking for the upstairs restaurant operation and downstairs gastropub. Renovation restored original features like brickwork and wooden beams and brought in a classic British racing green colour scheme. The food is all cooked from fresh and dishes can change daily, so phone in advance to check what’s on the menu. Chances are you’ll find top-notch nosh like 8oz rump steak, Cornish mackerel, confit duck leg, crab tagliatelle, squid, lemon sole, braised mutton, fish & chips, a lovely drop of soup and mighty good Sunday roast. Food served Daily 12noon-3pm & 6-9.30pm (booking advisable for Sun lunch)

QUADRANT
2 Princess Victoria St, Clifton, BS8 4BP
Tel: 0117 974 1025, web: www.quadrantbar.com
An immaculate wine cellar restored a la Victorian period, complete with light and airy ground-floor bar. Quality bar food comes in the form of olives, sausage rolls, beef sandwiches, baked camembert and pizzas, with the kitchen closing at 11pm daily. Regular wine-tasting sessions.

ROBIN HOODS RETREAT
197 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8BG
Tel: 0117 924 8639, web: www.robinhoodsretreat.co.uk
A silver Top Banana award in 2008 followed on from a silver Top Banana in 2007, with Venue’s latest acknowledgment being: “Knocking up what’s still consistently the best pub food in Bristol.” The seasonal menu, which changes every 10-14 days comes courtesy of head chef Nathan Muir, who specialises in intensity of flavour, the result being that every ingredient not only tastes of itself, but almost as though it’s been re-injected with the essence of itself. His Shetland Island scallops are spot-on, 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. There’s always a real sense of excitement over what’s coming out of the kitchen here, not to mention around eight real ales that change on a regular basis. Food served 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
When God invented pubs, he created the Rose of Denmark as a temple of excellence: a big, shouty, friendly neighbourhood boozer with bags of atmosphere, good beer and unpretentious but top-quality cooking. The distilled essence of what a British pub should be… in an ideal world, they’d all be like this. Landlady Jess Spavins and hubby Gary take an honest approach to dining: “There’s a bloody great big rumbler for the spuds, which are then chipped and cooked.” Pub grub of the ham, egg and aforementioned chips variety is enjoyed at lunchtime here, with evening delights including ribs, Thai green curry, toad in the hole, risotto and fishcakes, and a roister of a roast on Sunday. Early-doors offer gets you a pint and food for £8.50 (Tue-Fri 5.30-7pm). Wed open mic, Thur quiz. Very belated but many congratulations to Jess and Gary on the arrival of Beatrice, the Rose of Denmark’s English rose who came into the world just as we went to press. Food served Tue-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-10pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

RUMMER HOTEL
All Saints Lane, BS1 1JH
Tel: 0117 929 0111
Rightly considered a Bristol institution for many decades now, if not a legend. Many raised a glass when the Rummer reopened in the mid noughties after a period when its future was uncertain. Food offerings span breakfast, Saturday brunch, lunch, Sunday lunch and evening menus, their seasonal nature meaning that new menus are being drawn up as we go to press. However, dishes like sharing boards, starters of cockles & mussels in cider cream & parsley, and mains like stout braised brisket and colcannon evince the calibre of cuisine. Private parties are catered for, and there’s news of a second bar opening on site around the time that this guide is published. You’ll find spirit and bottled-beer selections of breathtaking breadth, as befit the surroundings, which ooze 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. Food served Mon-Fri 9-11.30am & 12noon-3pm, Sat 11am-5pm, Mon-Sat 6-10pm, Sun 1-5pm

SCOTCHMAN & HIS PACK
20 St Michaels Hill, BS2 8DX
Tel: 0117 929 1327
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. Food served Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-9pm

SHIP INN
7-9 Lower Park Row, BS1 5BJ
Tel: 0117 929 4390
After taking on their first licensed premises – the Mail House in Staple Hill – Alan and Tracey Kershaw set about restoring the Ship to its former glory. “A tradition pub with an updated feel…” is the couple’s vision, with a smart makeover proof of the pudding. On the food front, expect to find filled rolls, burgers and chips, Doom Bar stew, Pieminister pies, bangers & mash plus Sunday roasts enjoyed by a crowd featuring students (who get a 10% discount) and office workers, among others. The aforementioned Doom Bar, Butcombe and Old Speckled Hen are on draught, with folk music Mon, open mic Thur and live Spanish tunes Sun. Open Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 12noon-11pm

SOMERSET HOUSE
11 Princess Victoria St, Clifton, BS8 4BX
Tel: 0117 973 6831
Wonderful pub, acquired and refurbished by Rose of Denmark stars Jess and Gary Spavins. Visitors to both pubs will recognise echoes like the handsome woodwork, reclaimed slate, Brasso optic and platform clock, with a similar mood prevailing. “We tolerate no nonsense and expect civilised behaviour. Kids are good - it’s the parents who are a problem!” says Gary. Doubtless the couple’s daughter Beatrice, who had her first birthday just before we went to press, will one day hear about the time her dad had a friendly encounter with a good-as-gold council official for playing the piano on the pavement, a story best told over a pint or two. Rugby’s particularly popular here, with free half-time Six Nations scran served up in 2008 and 2009. Suitably flounce-free food made fresh in house includes all-day breakfasts, kippers on toast, thick doorstep sarnies and hearty dishes like steak & ale pie, stew, curry, devilled kidneys and quiche. Open mic Tue, live music Fri. Food served Mon-Fri 10am-3pm, Sat-Sun 9am-4pm

SPOTTED COW
139 North St, Bedminster, BS3 1EZ
Tel: 0117 963 4433, web: www.thespottedcowbristol.com
Many of us here 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 south of the river. This cow got off to a flying start, with brisk business from its very first moo proof that this locale needed this traditional boozer and its modern twist. A six-week refit restored two centuries of handsomeness, with gold-leafed Bath stone outside, logo-etched frosted windows, eye-catching mirrors and a garden out back. Food changes every couple of weeks - expect dishes like ham hock terrine with fresh bread, West Country lamb hotpot, homemade faggots and butternut squash & blue cheese croquettes. Quiz Tue, DJs Fri and Sat night and Sun afternoon, diverse draught and cocktail options, and exemplary disabled access all enhance the pub’s appeal. Earned itself one of Venue’s bronze Top Banana awards in 2008. Food served Mon-Thur 5-9pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-9pm, Sun 12noon-8pm

STAG & HOUNDS
74 Old Market St, BS2 0EJ
Tel: 0117 929 1407
Comfortable, centuries-old city centre pub (complete with rumours of ghostly visitations) with a menu that offers up delights such as Pieminister pies and a fine homecooked Sunday roast, incorporating quick bites and panini for those in a hurry en route. Food served Mon-Fri 12noon-9pm, Sat-Sun all day

STAR & DOVE
75-78 St Luke’s Rd, Totterdown, BS3 4RY
Tel: 0117 300 3712, web: www.thestaranddove.co.uk
A golden Top Banana award from Venue in 2008 was just rewards for a boozer offering up everything you’d expect of a local, with a fair bit more besides, including the much-loved film showings with food. The garden is better equipped than ever, with benches, lights and heaters. Back indoors, enjoy art and music then take home some homemade bangers. Tucking into dishes like steaks, burgers, bangers & mash, pizza and pasta, you’ll find ingredients chosen and cooked with care. Mighty fine Sunday roasts, plus draughts like Bath Ales Gem and Spa, Doom Bar, Addlestones and Westons ciders. It all attracts a wonderfully diverse clientele, from art trail types and bright young things en route to town to old cider blokes and young mums. Upstairs restaurant no longer open, but the space is available for hire for parties, etc. Food served Mon-Sat 6.30-10pm, Sat-Sun 12.30-4pm

SURREY WINE VAULTS
8-9 Surrey St, St Pauls, BS2 8PS
Tel: 0117 942 8196, web: www.surreywinevaults.co.uk
A hidden gem of the Bristol pub scene. Just 200 metres from Bristol’s snazzy new shopping area, the Surrey Wine Vaults has traded as such for over 150 years and boasts the charm of a village’s much-loved local. There’s a Facebook group for previous employees, and it plays its part in the St Pauls Carnival and Bristol Do festivities. Drop in for dishes like hummus, nachos, homemade cottage pie, chilli, lamb shank, sausage & mash and stew, plus Pieminister’s finest, speciality salads in season, lasagne and panini made from Herberts bread, which can also be taken away. Emphasis is on local sourcing, so you get Bath Ales’ magnificent Gem and Spa on tap. Wine-tasting and cider-tasting experiences can cater for up to 60 in a group, with food packages available, and a nice line in wedding receptions and private parties. Resident band plays jazz every Thur. Very female friendly, and proud owner of a recent five-star mark for hygiene. Food served Lunches, eves and weekends (call for times)

THUNDERBOLT
124 Bath Rd, Totterdown, BS4 3ED
Tel: 0117 373 8947, web: www.thethunderbolt.net, www.myspace.com/thethunderboltpub
Music has been the top draw at the Thunderbolt since it reopened in October 2007 under new owners David and Sophie McDonald. Bristol stalwarts the Blue Aeroplanes are set to play as we go to press, and Miles Hunt, John Cooper Clarke and the legendary Don Watts are all due to appear before this guide hits the newsstands. A festival on 1-2 Aug will feature world, ska and reggae sounds on day one, followed by an indie day. Impressive film showings have incorporated presentations from people who were there, with the Beatles’ first manager, Allan Williams, here in person when ‘Backbeat’ was on the screen. Food details are still sketchy as we go to press, though barbecues and roasts on Sat and Sun are likely to make an appearance. Open Tue-Thur 7pm-12midnight, Fri 5pm-1am, Sat 1pm-1am, Sun 1-8pm

VICTORIA
2 Southleigh Rd, Clifton, BS8 2BH
Tel: 0117 974 5675, web: www.dawkins-taverns.co.uk
Dieters may wish to look away now. Paul and Dee Tanner have moved from the Hare on the Hill to this Fisher Price-sized old-fashioned dink, bringing a beast of baguette with them. The ‘Big Bag’ comes with bacon, sausage, black pudding and fried onions and enough calorific value to power a small town for a year. It’s one of an awesome range (available lunchtimes only) taking in bacon & stilton as well as cheese, ham & tomato. Jackets come with the usual suspects while mains include pasta, Pieminister pies, sausage & mash, curries and chillies, with veggie and outlaw options. Seasonal specials cover the likes of paella, steak & mild ale pie and piri piri chicken, with events like Halloween and National Pie and Sausage Weeks bringing themed grub. Top range of real ales, non-laddish lagers, ciders and Belgian Trappist beers. An upstairs function room, scheduled for summer completion, will stage acoustic, jazz and film nights, while Tue evenings already feature quizzes. “We’ve got good customers,” says Dee. “We wrote ‘pub copy’ on the Viz comic - someone nicked it, but they brought it back!” Food served Mon-Sat 12noon-2pm & 5-10pm (takeaway last orders 10.30pm), Sun (roasts) 12noon-4pm

WELLINGTON
Gloucester Rd, Horfield, BS7 8UR
Tel: 0117 951 3022
Stalwarts like the renowned organic Welly burger and sausage & mash represent the gastro end of English pub grub at this Bath Ales beauty. There’s a 100-strong army marching on their stomachs thanks to the century of roasts served up every Sunday. Specials change daily but always offer plenty of variety - like pan-fried mackerel, tiger prawns and Madras curry, with ciabattas and sandwiches maintaining similar standards. Everything’s fresh and homemade from locally sourced ingredients. Redevelopment work over the past 12 months has seen an extension with patio; with work ongoing, the Wellington continues to raise the bar. Parties and buffets catered for, live music Sun. Food served Mon-Sat 12noon-2pm & 6-9pm, Sun 12noon-4pm, probably all day on summer Sundays

WINDMILL
14 Windmill Hill, BS3 4LU
Tel: 0117 963 5440, web: www.thewindmillbristol.com
This place was always going to be popular, replicating, as it does, the formula of sister pub Stokes Croft’s Pipe & Slippers in a bit of Bristol craving a community boozer. The Windmill’s seasonal food offers plenty for everyone, with the hotpot making an occasional appearance on the specials board and Spanish and Greek tapas bringing bites like stuffed vine leaves and feta-stuffed peppers. Pies, risotto, curry, mezze plates and soup keep the variety coming, with summer heralding salads. Kids get their own wide-ranging menu, and they’re welcome in the pub till 8pm - the family room has toys and board games. The drinks selection is what you’d expect from a decent bar. Wi-Fi connection. Mon quiz fortnightly. Food served Daily 11am-10pm

YE SHAKESPEARE
78 Victoria St, BS1 6DR
Tel: 0117 949 7708
Famous Bristol oldie with an impressive history and some fascinating architectural quirks. Food is your standard bar faves, with panini, chilli and lasagne plus vegetarian options such as vegetable pastito - a dish resembling lasagne. Brekkies, now served throughout the working week, include beans on toast and scrambled eggs, and everything is available to take away. Food served Mon-Wed 9am-3pm, Thur 8am-3pm, Fri 8am-2pm

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