The Watershed is a welcome break on that row of bars and clubs by the waterside. Where all the…read moreother venues simply exist to be a bar where the rowdy Saturday crowd revel in, the Watershed is more focused on socialising, good food, and screenings of movies with depth and intelligence. Much like the Little Theatre is to Bath, the Watershed is a must -go for more alternative, independent films. I love coming here to watch films because you are ensured that every film being shown is a good film, and not something brainless that you might waste your money on. The cinema rooms are a fraction of the size of a big cinema like the Odeon, which just adds more charm to the movie watching. It feels much more intimate, comfortable and private. Much like you're watching a good secret. Prices are good too, if you come here for a film before 4pm, rates are £4.50 (£3.50 concessions), which is a real good price for a good film. After 4pm, prices go up to £7 (£5.50 concessions). They have movies and documentaries for children too, during their Cinekids days, where kids pay £2 for a movie, and £3.50 for accompanying adults. Plus their Cinebabies days (which I think is such an amazing idea), where parents can bring their under 12 month old babies to watch a movie! The Watershed provides great facilities like a place to change nappies, and even a bottle warming service! This is super for parents to enjoy a film with their newborns, and get to know other new mom's around. The watershed is such a great place, all the years I've been going here, it's never disappointed me in terms of the films they screen, or the friendly service they give you when you're here.

The Watershed function spaces are great for small to medium conference events. They are…read moremultifunctional; the three cinema rooms (seating 43, 102 and 198 respectively) offer comfortable, air conditioned lecture spaces and the watershed 1, 2 and 3 rooms can be used individually or joined together to create a large space. The cafe/bar/restaurant sits between the cinemas and function rooms, offering food, drink and free wireless Internet. The staff are extremely hospitable; catering for all of your needs throughout the running of the event; from setting up spaces, to catering and even running last minute photocopying or printing. The Watershed is newly refurbished, clean and welcoming and in an ideal central location.

I literally can't wait for this years' Harbour Festival, I only managed to catch bits and pieces of…read moreit last year as I had only just moved to Bristol. This year, 2010, it'll be going down 30th July - 01st August, and do you want to know the best thing about it? It's freeeeeeeee! Amazingly, it's been going for 39 years, and while I wouldn't want to bore you with trivial statistics and facts, what it means is, this weekend has been running for enough years for them to have worked out what works and what doesn't! There will be not one, not two, not three, but eight, yes eight stages with a variety of music for all tastes. It's generally a great weekend, don't miss it!

This much-loved summer festival sees literally hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Bristol…read morefor a weekend of eating, drinking and wishing we owned a boat. Many of my friends come down specifically for this weekend, usually around the end of July, beginning of August. All the boats in the harbour tart themselves up with bunting and the like and there are plenty of food stalls where you can buy everything from candy floss to wheels of cheese! There are plenty of market type stalls if shopping is your thing and all the bars and pubs around the waterfront are jam-packed with people making the most of drinks promotions and the outside seating. A fantastic weekend of entertainment, and it's all for free! Last year I spent it drinking cider and watching VV Brown play on the main stage in a packed Lloyds Amphitheatre and can't wait to do the same this year.

This review only relates to the cafe as we stopped in here for lunch as I heard it was a good place…read moreto go with kids. The cafe is a good size, spacious, good for groups and has a great little play area with toys to keep little ones entertained. The adult menu is pretty simple, breakfasts, sandwiches, burgers, salads and a few other dishes, I had Mac and cheese. The options for kids were great, there is a packed lunch station where for £4.50 you can select 5 items that go in a cardboard box. Or a hot food menu for £5.50 that comes with a drink and yogurt or fruit. My son went for the Mac and cheese too. The food was delicious but both dishes came out lava hot and when you've got a starving child the last thing you want is to have to sit and wait while the food cools down. I also thought the hot kids meals were a little over priced but then it was kind of expected considering this was @bristol. Overall great experience though and I'd recommend this to anyone with kids looking for a good lunch spot in the centre.

This is Bristol's science museum. Kids will enjoy themselves most here, but it is probably one of…read morethose places that wants to be fun for all the family. An engaging day out, and a lot more refreshing than a stuffy art museum. Aiming for that (at least for most teachers) impossible goal of making learning fun, it certainly is a fun day out but I'm not sure if too much is learnt there. The exhibits are all interactive, you can pedal to generate power for a T.V. and lift a four foot diameter globe with a very long lever (this is some sort of reference to the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes, for those that care). This means almost any kid will enjoy themselves here, and you'll see plenty of ten year olds hurtling between each thing, eager to try out everything. The staff are young and keen, and will earnestly explain the science that each exhibit is meant to teach you about. With lots of glass and primary colours it generally feels fresh, something most museums are nothing like. Go there if you've got curious kids to distract, or if you're just a bit of one yourself.

Described by the NME many years ago as "a floating toilet", the Thekla has thankfully had a few…read moremakeovers since and is now quite possibly the best club and gig venue in Bristol. The downstairs main room is fairly small and generates a great atmosphere, and there are also balconeys overlooking the dancefloor and stage, which are great for gigs. Moving upstairs, there's a decent bar which is open during day times and has a daily happy hour and food offers. On sunny days, though, you're better off taking your pint/burger out on the open air deck, which is heated, has plenty of seating and offers great views across the harbour.

A club on a boat! The Thekla (I don't know if that's the name of the boat as well as the club) is…read moremoored up in Bristol harbour with a few good nights and live music as well. There's no need to worry about sea sickness, the boat doesn't sway or anything. Its over two floors (decks?) and has an outside area at the bow of the ship. The upstairs bar is open all week and the bottom opens for club nights (Socialism, electro-indie on Saturdays is my favourite). Being on a boat, things are a bit crowded, but theres plenty of space on the bottom floor (in the bowls of the ship?) to dance. The staff (bouncers and bar staff) are friendly, and there's always a good atmosphere. There's no premium for floating whilst you drink, with the nights I've been too, priced around a fiver. A novelty that's a good night out too.

St Georges is a beautiful venue just off Park Street on the way up to Brandon Hill. Its…read moremagnificent palladian facade will prepare you well for a night of classical music. Their usual line up is classical, but they also have a really eclectic mix of Jazz and World Artists perfoming. The latter, especially, are often the type of acts who do tours of rarer artistic and cultural venues around the country. This means the acts are extremely unique, but in my experience so far, they're always utterly phenomenal and very worth knowing about and seeing. This is a venue Bristol should really be proud of - it's lesser well known than the more major music venues in the town, which is perhaps why they still have a massive degree of quality with regards to the acts they invite to perform. I strongly advise getting involved with St Georges, keeping track of the programme, and experiencing a night of music in this phenomenal venue.

A concert hall just off Park Street that puts on a lot of classical performacnes, as well as some…read morejazz and other genres. Run by the council, it offers cheap access to a bit of culture. It's quite an experience climbing the stairs and entering under the thick sandstone pillars, the building is very imposing. Opened in 1999 the interiors stayed smart since then, and they're currently celebrating their tenth birthday. If you enjoy classical music, or just want to sample it, the lunchtime concert series is a good opportunity and at only £7 (£4 for students, children and job seekers) an absolute steal. They have relaxing gardens as well, so you can bring a picnic and make a day of it. As a classical music venue it is excellent, with good accoustics and a grand open space. I've been told that St. Georges is one of the countries, as well as one of Bristol's, finest music venues.

First Great Western are doing 'buy one get one free' tickets for here which is the reason why I…read morevisited. I actually really enjoyed myself which I was not expecting as balance isn't my friend at the best of times! The reason why it drops a couple of stars is that you need a SatNav or a very good local knowledge to find the place. Once found you walk up some old rusty stairs and I did wonder at one point whether I was going to walk into an empty warehouse. Inside it is also a bit drab and dreary. However, it was packed and the music blaring out was really good fun. Although I did feel a good 5 years older than most people in there, at least it has given Bristol's youths an alternative to robbery and underage street drinking.

I can't balance to save my life, so I have a little trouble here. The first time I came involved me…read morehurting my bum, my knees, my shin, and my toes. My dignity was also bruised by watching the many seven year olds hurtling around the rink, with the odd trick just to rub it in. Right, so I'm bitter about ice skating, of that much we can sure. I haven't really told you too much about the actual ice rink, yet. It's not the prettiest of things, built long enough ago to seem a bit run down but not old enough to have a particular style. This isn't, I suppose particularly important in an ice rink, but means you certainly don't get the same experience as you would at some open air places. The flipside is that this rink is bigger and cheaper than other places. When they boom music out of stereo system it can be pretty fun here as well. They do ice hockey ('Bristol Bulldogs', I think ) and synchronised skating, so if you're slightly more talented than me there's plenty to preoccupy you at the ice rink.

For the music, the scence and the atmosphere this is one of the best bars I've been to in all of…read morethis fine country. Sure, you'll have to swim through a sea of hipsters and Klaxon-wannabees to get to the bar, but don't let that put you off as Start The Bus is one of the friendliest all around perfect bars you could visit. If you come late expect live acts of considerable talent to be banging on til the wee-est of hours. They've had Switch, MSTRKRFT and Ladyhawke play here in the past, not on a big stage, but just on a platform right by the cracking little dancefloor. If you like electro-indie which I surely do, then you'lll love the sounds here even if all the ironic T-shirts and assymetrical haircuts have you wincing. Aside from the music, the decor is sweet... with cute cartoon designs all around and a lovely red, black and white colour scheme in homeage to London's routemaster buses. There are some of the most comfortable old leather sofas and an assortment of board games for daytime timespending. It's just a shame I don't live anywhere near Bristol

Really is the best alternative bar In Central Bristol , this place really belongs on Gloucester rd…read more!! Wicked ambience for a bar in town . The bar is well stocked and the do have some interesting things on the menu , the pickled onion monster munch burger is always going to be a winner in my mind and the fish finger sandwich are awesome . Me and the Mrs "shared" a piece of salted caramel cheesecake . As any man who's "shared" a dessert with there girlfriend knows you have to get in there quick !! And the couple of crumbs she left me were amazing !! Quite often there is a band on in here , they often surprise you with a good booking such as 'fat white family ' or The horrors doing a dj set . Give it a go...you never know you might enjoy yourself

Theatre aside, the kitchen and bar is excellent. Top quality small plates and interesting local…read morebeers.

I've been coming to the old vic for many years so not only is it a great venue but for me it holds…read moremany great memories and is where my love of theatre began. The shows you get to see at the old vic are a far cry from the tacky unoriginal touring shows you get at the Hippodrome. Showcasing its own in house productions you find a lot more edgy and original theatre, so it's a must for all theatre lovers. On this occasion I took my one and half year old son to his first ever theatre production, Magic Elves. The show was in the small theatre downstairs and was perfect for small children and adults alike! He was engaged and mesmerised from the off and I hope this starts a similar love of theatre...

Away from the city centre in run-of-the-mill Southville, the Tobacco Factory Theatre is unlikely to…read morebe found out straight away by a visitor to the city. The building, in red brick, is understated, and this isn't a fancy place like the Hippodrome or the Old Vic. It's theatre in the round, with seating on all sides of the stage. Apparently the theatre started life the result of ripping out the Imperial Tobacco offices that were here and they've managed to keep a clean, sparse feel that actors and directors love. I won't venture too many opinions on what sort of performances this makes for. I will say, though, that when I went to see Richard III, things felt very intense. They put on a range of performances here, a highlight being the dedicated Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory theatre company. Don't let the culture on offer scare you off. With tickets often less than a tenner, there doesn't have to a big to-do about going out here though. It's got a fairly relaxed and informal feel to it too. The Tobacco Factory is a smart addition to Bristol's arts scene.

Named after the original use of the building, (I have actually met people drinking in here that…read moreused to work for the cigarette company), The Tobacco Factory has got that kind of industrial kudos thing going on. The steel front doors are as easy to access as the vault doors at Fort Knox, but everything gets a whole lot easier once you've grappled your way in. The lay out is simple in this cavernous space, and the bar, with its dedicated food severing area, practically stretches the full length of the room. Amply staffed to cope with the numbers that often descend on the place, the team work well together, and so there's never too long to wait at the bar. I like to call in to make use of the free wi-fi and to plug in whenever I'm in South Bristol. I always order myself some tapas, usually manchego (which comes with a selection of delicious bread) along with some olives - the servings are incredibly generous, and so this is more than enough for one person. Up Fest will take place at the Tobacco Factory on 5 and 6 June, and promises to be a blast. with live music, dj's and 250 artists exhibiting their work. Tobacco Factory has a huge beer garden with a covered section for smokers if the weather turns nasty.