The Hatchet Inn

Great place for a stop for a spirit or two. Ambiance is…read morevery hipster and historic for its Pub. Great place to meet folks or hangout after school or work. There is a view on second floor of some of Bristol historical city. Lightening is low so not bright that sense of comfy and warm notes as music is low key floating thru the Pub. Cheers!

I've heard mixed reviews of the the Christmas Steps pub, on Yelp and word of mouth. I went with…read morearound 20 mates last night for some Christmas drinks and had a great night in there, and I'll definitely be back. What used to be called Three Sugar Loaves, has now been taken over by the guys that run Crack Magazine (it's all about magazine, you'll be pleased to hear) so it already had great credentials, in my eyes; I am a big fan of the magazine. What I like about it, is that it has several sections and it set over a couple of levels; it's really quirky. The atmosphere was great and you really felt it as soon as you walked in. The music was pumping with some great disco/house tunes and it was buzzing inside and out. Drinks wise you'll find the normal draught and top shelf options as most pubs, but that's exactly what this place is, a proper pub right in the centre of town. They do BBQ's in the summer which I missed this year, but I'll definitely be checking it out next summer.

See all

Kings Head

4.8(8 reviews)

0.6 mi

Lovely pub appears small but superb with excellent real ales. Love the team shed inner bar seating…read morearea with friendly service. Want to visit again

It may be small, but don't be fooled - this teeny tiny pub on Victoria Street is easily the best…read morepub in Bristol. Situated outside of the hustle and bustle of the city centre, the kind of crowd you'll find here is the one that loves a descent pint of beer and an evening spent with friends. It can be quite difficult to get a seat here, so it's not a great place to take someone who hates standing with a drink. The King's Head will give you a little slice of history and take you back to a time when not every pub was a chain, and when reasonable prices weren't a rarity.

See all

Colston Arms

4.0(2 reviews)

The Colston Arms, formally called Micawbers which was originally the Coltson Arms twenty odd years…read moreago, is one of Bristol's oldest pubs, tucked behind `The Scotchman on St Michael's Hill. The pub has been closed for a while for a referb but reopened in March with a fresh coat of paint and a new sign hanging over the door. Fortunately though, the same quirks are still there: Moof, the lazy bar cat, Mike, the Welsh owner who is fanatical about sports and Geri, his Bristolian wife, who makes an awesome roast lunch on Sundays. The atmosphere is a mix of old regulars and occasional student groups and the place comes alive when the rugby or football is on, shown on screens throughout the pub. There is a pool table and a lovely beer garden out the back, which can be used as an alternative entrance if arriving from Horfield Road

seems to have everything you'd want from a pub. glad that there is no minimum spend on the card and…read morethey do cashback! The pub quiz is always a laugh and the staff are lovely - i would definitely recommend. pints are the right sort of price, but the price of coke etc is expensive. once thats rectified i can't really complain. the food here is great too!

See all

They seem big on sport here

Colston Yard Bristol

3.8(12 reviews)

Pretty basic but solid boozer, this!…read more Good for respite if you've just concurred Christmas Steps or preparing yourself to tackle St Michaels Hill (2 good excuses for a beer stop, lads!) The Colston Yard is what you'd expect from a brewery pub: 3-4 ales, couple of ciders and a generic larger or two. Young staff with management out of site. I've not eaten here before, but we were there last night, looked at the menu and didn't think that much of it; Burgers, steaks, lasagne, blah blah blah! Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with the Colston Yard, there just isn't anything great/wow/different about it. It feels like a rural pub lost in an urban landscape. No reason not to go in, no reason to go out of your way! Meh!

Colston Yard can be found off the beaten track, around the corner from Colston Hall and opposite…read morethe Children's Hospital and is ideal for those seeing a show at Colston Hall or locals looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Not only is the food absolutely fabulous (rustic and generously portioned) the selection of wines, beers and spirits they have will please even the most stubborn of drinkers. Great for groups or for couples, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming as is the service.

Www.colstonyard-butcombe.com

See all

From their website

The Shakespeare Tavern

4.0(6 reviews)

The Shakespeare Tavern is a proper boozer just off the centre of Bristol and just at the back of…read morethe waterfront. It couldn't be much more different to the other pubs/bars that it's close to. You can tell from the outside exactly what it'll be like inside; a traditional English, old mans pub. It is actually a really refreshing pub to go and hide away from the horribleness of the waterfront on a Friday or Saturday night. I went on Saturday night for the first time in well over a year. I'd been drinking wine with a meal before hand, so deiced to stick to that; £8 a bottle! Boom! Drinks wise you'll find your bog standard draught lagers, ciders and ales and the usual top shelf suspects. Nothing out of the ordinary here. Apart from a few of the punters - eeeek! Don't make eye contact! If they have eyes, that is! With pub going out of business left right and centre, I can't see this one any time soon. It's serves it's purpose well!

A perfect place for a pre gig drink if you are heading to the Thekla or the Louisiana. The…read moreShakespeare is set up some steps by the floating bridge so grab a window seat and it is a great place to watch the world go by. It's quite a small pub but for some baffling reason, despite it always seeming busy, I have never struggled to get a seat in here. As with most Bristol pubs they serve good local ciders but the best bit is the food. Pieminister, mash, peas and gravy is a must on a cold winter or autumnal day. And if that day is a Wednesday you get a free drink with said meal! Bargain. This is one of those pubs which makes you feel warm and lovely inside when the nights are cold, dark and long, less so in the summer but still well worth a pre-gig visit.

See all

The Berkeley

2.9(19 reviews)

0.2 mi

I was recently served cold toast here after which somebody shouted something about substandard food…read morebeing served. They also have inconsistent and on this occasion missing prices.

I love The Berkeley Wetherspoons. Me and my friend goes there about once a month and it's great…read more The food is lovely and there's a good choice from the menu; in fact, I have difficulty in choosing what I want because there's so much to choose from. I find the staff very helpful. I also go there on my own once a week with my laptop to do some work, because it's better than doing it at home and I don't have to cook lunch. Finally, for me anyway, it's brilliant to walk into a pub and not have the smell of smoking, as it is a non-smoking pub. The only thing I don't like is having to walk up stairs to go to The Ladies! Just wish they could have it downstairs - but that is my only complaint.

Fish and chips

See all

Yum

The Old Duke

4.0(40 reviews)

This is such a lovely spot for a pub, and The Old Duke has been here for absolutely ages. They…read moreshare an outside courtyard with the Llandoger Trow opposite, and I found it so cute when I saw that they identified their pubs glasses by allocated paint spots at the bottom of the glasses. The Old Duke is a jazz pub, and they have so many nights on every week with different live acts. You get the feel of this immediately when you walk in, with all the posters and newspaper cuttings stuck to the walls. Unfortunately I've never managed to catch a live act here - I've seen them set up enough times though, but seem to have always had to rush off before the band starts! This pub is great to hang out, whether it is in the courtyard in the afternoon or sitting snugly inside at night.

This pub gets crowded, hot, and loud - but, with very good reason: everyone wants to be here…read more Located down on the waterfront just along from the Old Vic Theare, it's a classic old pub that has become legendary among jazz and live music fans. Named after Duke Ellington, the pub lives and breathes jazz music which is on offer every evening during the week and on Sunday lunchtimes. Take a trip here for the atmosphere; sit and gaze up at the ceiling papered with old concert posters, grab a drink from the extremely friendly bar staff, and hear some of the best toe-tapping blues and jazz around - free of charge. Crowds tend to spill out onto the cobbles of King Street during the interval, especially in the summer months. It's an absolute must-visit for any fan of jazz and old traditional pubs. You'll soon forget the fact that you're jammed shoulder-to-shoulder with a hundred other people all trying to get to the bar; the live music and atmosphere more than make up for that.

Old Duke Bristol

Jazzfest 2007 im Old Duke

See all

Highbury Vaults

4.2(33 reviews)

0.5 mi

After a long, cold, wet day of walking the center of Bristol, I was in the hunt for a hearty, hot…read moremeal. I stopped in to the pub Highbury Vaults which boasted a surprising menu that included my favorite food, nachos. I ordered a drink and sat in the outdoor heated patio awaiting the order. The pub was exactly as you'd expect inside, stuffy and tight with a welcome mix of white haired older men mumbling and gripping to each other over a pint, Bristol Uni students laughing raucously, and gatherings of post grads deep in discussion with their advisers. True everyman pub fashion. The bowl of nachos was good! The slow braised beef was tender and flavorful, the salsa, sour cream, and cheese sauce all mixed well with the sturdy chips. And the portion was perfect for dinner. My only request would have been a separate bowl of chips so that an optimal ratio of toppings could have been achieved. Decent price, quick service, and charming atmosphere coming with good food to ensure if definitely come back and maybe try the pie next time.

The default drinking hole for students from the university, the Vaults are rather grotty, rather…read moredark and loud, but rather fun. I've never quite understood why it's so dark inside; perhaps it's to accommodate the flinching hangovers of students hiding out here after lectures. It's quite cramped and uncomfortable inside, but has the most brilliant covered back garden which more than makes up for the dingy interior. With loads of comfortable seating, it's a really great place for drinking outside in the warmer months. Large groups of students do tend to assemble out here for smokes and loud chats of the "oh my God, I was so drunk last night" variety, so steer clear if you don't like that kind of thing. On offer at the bar are some very cheap sandwiches which are friendly to the student wallet. All in all, it's pandering to the student clientele, but that's not surprising, and doesn't seem to have put off the older locals who still come here for a cheap pint in what is essentially a traditional pub.

At about 10 one of the bar staff came round selling freshly made sausage rolls for £1.50 each - it was perfect!

See all

Bowl of nachos showing meat, salsa, sour cream, and chips.

The Woods

3.3(26 reviews)

0.2 mi

The Woods can be found just off of Park Street and is the sister bar to Elbow Street just slightly…read moredown the way. If the Elbow Room was going through puberty, drunk and passed out on the floor, The Woods has grown up, got a job and developed a taste for whisky and fine wines. This late night drinking venue is a victim of its own success and is often packed to the rafters will drunken revellers and city boys. It is a little on the pricey side, but I always find it worth the money considering what the other, unholy options are. Head upstairs if you're looking for a more relaxing atmosphere with your beer.

Set slightly away from Park Street, you'll spot this bar by its distinctive yellow front. This is…read moresomething of a specialist bar with a focus on whisky. This means behind the bar you'll find rows and rows of (pricey) whisky on display to tempt you. The focus on whisky is taken pretty seriously; they don't even serve beer by the pint, you have to buy it by the jug. Apart from the prices there isn't much too complain about here. It opens late, and this is a great place for late night drinking session. The big comfy sofas upstairs should help with this too. It's very popular, which is a blessing and curse as always. I recommend going on a week night, as you've got half a chance of getting one of those sofas then but it certainly won't be quiet. Also, it's worth knowing there's sometimes a queue to get it at the weekend.

Downstairs seating

Mezzanine

See all

Full bar

Cross House

4.5(2 reviews)