Playing a game of pool at the pub is all well and good but if you want a bit more peace and quiet…read moreand a reduced risk of spilt drinks and people bumping into you then head to Rileys. They've got loads of well kept full size snooker tables, complete with the overhead lights they have on the games on the telly and a general feeling of people concentrating on their game. It's still fairly pubish though. There's a bar sky sports and this isn't a bad just to come for a drink, especially as its a bit less rowdy than most places on and around Park Street (not that this is particularly hard). Drink prices aren't bad at all either if you can find the special deals. I like Rileys, it's nice to have somewhere where you can get a decent game and I would play all the time if it wasn't for the prices and the demand of membership fee. If I'm desperate for a quiet game I'll just head to a pub on a weekday afternoon or some other quiet time.

Aha Rileys the snooker club, you old fool. I shall now write about you…read more My mate ended up working here temporarily when he first moved to our fair city. Although a temporary appointment, we inevitably ended up coming here a lot for a short period. If you're looking for a certain night, it has everything you need. There are a good twelve American pool tables in the along with a few smaller versions in the main room. This means that you always can grab a table, no matter what time of night you decide to show up. This place is open 24 hours, so if you bowl out of a club at three and are feeling competitive, this is your place. They also serve food through the night, so it's the ultimate 'after club game of pool burger and chips' in Bristol city centre. There's other things that would only interest the interested, like a snooker room, poker tables and the option for poker nights, Worzel staff, pool queues, chalk and bags for hire, locals and yocals in bifocals. Although the place doesn't deserve a top rating as it's pretty bland and chain like, it definitely doesn't deserve less than a three because it serves a purpose and I have always had good nights there if I've been looking for that sort of thing. You have to sign up as a member though, so that's worth knowing. Take an extra fiver if you wanna play.

If you like to watch live sports then this is the place for you…read more There are loads of screens and there is always some event being shown. Loads of football games spread across the various screens. Plenty of seating too. There are tons of pool and snooker tables for you to practice if you have the urge. Decent priced drinks, with happy hours and special deals. Also decent burgers and hot dogs.

Alterego is exactly how a sports bar should be, not all neon signs and cheesy American styling. It…read morehas a warm atmosphere yet has screens nearly everywhere you look. They show such a variety of games that if you team is playing then there is a good chance they are showing it. On a Saturday they will have many games on in an afternoon - when I last went they had four football games on, a rugby game and we also got Sky Sports News put on in another room. There's a good range of lagers but limited amount of ale which is a shame but only a small downside for many other pluses. There is a function room which is available for free and has its own separate bar and toilets. It's upstairs at the back so it feels nice and private. The place is a bit of a tardis and has lots of separate spaces so you can enjoy your friend's company without feeling part of one big group. On a Monday they do "toss the boss", flip a coin and if you win you only pay half price for your drink. It has certainly kept me in there longer than I planned in the past. They're also pretty flexible, I've been in with my kids when it's been quiet and we've had the top room to ourselves while watching the football - they even let us bring in our own food as they only offer crisps and nuts. Nice flexible guys running a great bar. Keep up the good work!

Despite being blatantly aimed at students, this Clifton Down-based bar seems to appeal to everyone…read morebut our soon to be learned friends. The reason I say this is that they have tons of cheap booze offers, some more quirky than others (Mondays, for instance, are 'Toss the Boss' when you can win a free round, thankfully via a toss of a coin). I only usually go here on Sundays, mainly because it's quite an agreeable place (certainly better than a chain sports bar), the booze is cheap (£2.50 for a pint of Heineken and 2-4-1 cocktails), and you can usually arrive just as the biggest of matches (Chelsea Vs Liverpool this weekend) is kicking off and still get a seat. This is partly because they have so many flatscreens TVs (four I believe) in a couple of different areas (main bar, cosy sofa back bit and upstairs mezzanine). One of the better places for a Sunday session though I've never been on an evening.

Food, service and atmosphere was great. Staff were so friendly and smiley it was really good.read more

Racks is a high end wine bar, on St Pauls road, between the heart of Clifton Village and the bottom…read moreof Whiteladies Road. It's quite a posh place - expect the real, clichéd Bristol Uni and general Cliftonite crowd in here. I'm probably a fan though - the outside seating area is a really nice place to have a drink, even in the evening as it's serviced by a good amount of patio heaters. You've got to come prepared for Clifton prices though, as a drink is going to be quite far the wrong side of £3. They do a good range of shooters - last time I was here I tried the more lethal concoction of Jagermeister, Goldschlagger and Midori, which went down surprisingly well, and at £3.50 was an adequate, but not cheap, price for a shooter like that. They do have a table service, even if you're just drinking, which is quite helpful and surprising, you really don't expect that in Bristol. Also the staff here seem to be unfailingly attractive - I'm sure the management must have some sort of ploy going on, but I'm sure there's not too many complaints. As well as a main menu of good pub type food, they do a range of set menus, including buffets, BBQs and a more gormet set menu. The food is an excellent quality, and I actually think fairly priced for the standard. The only drawback the menus other than the main are only available to large groups, but the main one is pretty wide ranging. Maybe a bit boring, but I advise the burger, a beer, a bit of sunshine and have a chill in the patio area - it'll do your soul good.

Paid a deposit of £65 for a table for 6 and entry for 1 for the Fury Usek fight and received…read moreconfirmation that the deposit was redeemable against drink or food arrived at the prescribed time shortly before the fight advised by staff that they would not honour this stating it was for entry despite producing the emai. Due to the event time reluctantly stayed.Please be aware and book elsewhere

Booked a table well in advance of an international game. Paid deposit upfront. Arrived early, but…read morebar staff unable to give me a table and confused why there wasn't one allocated. Really poor service and I won't be coming back.

- With all the hype surrounding the new Union bar, I was expecting a Mount Olympus style abode,…read moreworthy of the gods themselves. It does have everything you'd imagine a bar would need - sofas, pool table, sky sports tv and a smoking terrace, but it just lacks any kind of atmosphere or charm. The lighting is so dim that you can't see much, and the coke is always flat (a big let-down for me). It's a decent place to go if you are meeting people at the union or fancy a game of pool if you're in the building. However, there are far better places to go just round the corner.

Fabulous food and service. I recommend eating in the prisoner room. The place and cod were done…read moreperfectly.

Wowsers what a transformation! This place used to be a biker bar with techno and jungle pumping…read moreout onto fishponds high street! Now its a lovely cosy pub with a great Barr and pie minister pies! Happy helpfull service and black rat on tap! and even live bands on a weekend! 2 tvs playing sport! your sure of a warm welcome here! My new favorite pub in fish ponds! !

As the name probably betrays, this is Bristol's ultimate sports pub, with Skyed up TV screens…read moreeverywhere, including the recently refurbished garden, which means on a fine day you can enjoy the big match as God intended - out in the open air. Pool, however, is the name of the game here, with four different rooms with tables in (mainly the traditional type though there is an American one too in the bar). It's pretty reasonable, at three games for £2, and there's cheap grub of the burgers and pizza variety too. The fact that you don't have to pay membership makes this the best pool place in Bristol, and if you want to beat the crowds at weekends, you can nip out to the annexe round the back.

I have to admit I was not keen on coming to the Sportsman and had to be coaxed into coming with the…read morepromise of a free beer. But actually this is a great place for watching the footie. Inside there are loads of sofas and tables. And four bars serving very competitively priced booze. They have 4 pool tables a massive out door area and another bar hidden outside ! This is a large establishment. They have a menu full of the usual suspects burgers, chips etc. I opted for a pizza, a create your own job. With onion bahjee as a topping ! It was very tasty and perfectly cooked. I really was very happy. Obviously dont come here if you looking for music and boogie as this place dont do that. But if your after somewhere to watch the football or rugby definately consider getting yourself over to the Sportsman.