Pickle Rick

We enjoyed the Time Out market. So much food to pick from and you get live music too. Also you should experience their trams. You can get one that more or less does a tour, but make sure you’re on the first stop as it can get busy. If you want to diversify it from the city, get the train from Cais Do Sodre (in Lisbon) and head toward Cascais. You will find so many beaches and areas you can hop off and enjoy. The train runs right along the beachfront for most of the 40 min journey. Estoril is on this line and has a snazzy casino. Apparently it inspired Ian Flemming’s James Bond and Casino Royale. I went and watched Sporting Lisbon on one of my visits. It was quite an experience when they sang You’ll Never Walk Alone in Portuguese!

Although in Bath, I enjoyed a meal at a the Coconut Tree. There’s a couple in Bristol as well. Sri Lankan tapas-esq, so you get to order multiple dishes. Maybe 3 or 4 per couple. I think we ordered 5 though The majority of the food is spicy, but wonderful. Every dish ordered was great. https://www.thecoconut-tree.com/ And as for drinks, they’ve got a great cocktail menu. I went for a Yaka!

On a side note, but still relates… There’s so many people in and around the ground making videos in ‘selfie’ mode; chatting with their mates and random people. Thanks YouTube. I’m sure there’s a few decent ones around, but I find it very odd to see.

More running than Knight and Weimann combined

We couldn’t help but have a look at Garden of Easton online after seeing it! We will be going there some time for some small plates.

New one today. Went to The Journey in Easton. Superb Tibetan cuisine and chef. It’s where Swagatam used to be. What a place that was. Didn't realise it closed down, but the lady who part-owns The Journey said they shut due to juggling family commitments with running the restaurant.

I think Squeezed are the best for burgers in Bristol. Oowee make a good burger though. If you haven’t tried them, it’s got to be done! Their meals come with homemade lemonade, hence the name. https://www.bristolsqueezed.co.uk/

It’s ridiculous. Although for the first time this weekend, stewards were placed on all the doors I could see. However it’s happened more or less every game to memory this season!

A couple issues that can be simply nullified: Stewards actually check tickets when walking out the concourse and to their seats. Stewards don’t just stand there at turnstiles while people get freely let in by their mates at the fire doors. This is ridiculous. I once saw someone let in at least half a dozen people (not all at once) and then quickly scramble away into the crowd within the concourse. It’s not just customers who buy cheap tickets elsewhere, it’s those who keep getting let in for free. I see this in the Lansdown.

At first, the Southampton fans were ‘joining in’ too until they realised what the chant was That was the best bit

Mentioned Lowdens further back in this tread and I agree! The roast is amazing, as is the regular menu, cakes and coffee. Wins all round and all at a great price.

It does the job. I’ve been 3 or 4 times and don’t find it top notch. Shadin on Staple Hill is my go to. Haveli the Yard was awesome.

On the topic of pizza, I miss Pizza Provencale in Clifton Easily some of the best pizza in the area now has to be from Pizza Adorare. It’s takeaway and often pre-order only as they can fill up on orders before they open for the night. They move around location wise. https://www.facebook.com/PizzaAdorare

It was an easier game to referee, VAR or not. Could you do a better job? So easy to criticise.

Got to question what Dale Vance is thinking. The club is sinking at quite a rate. He’s letting FGR turn into a shambles.

Really don’t understand why he gets criticised. There isn’t a goalie without their flaws. The best ones who make the least errors play for the best clubs in the world. Max is very good and comes across as very focused, competent and professional. Many goalies over the years have been much worse and Max is easily one of the best in the last decade or so. Niki Maenpaa Would be the other one up there and he had nearly 10 years on O’Leary in terms of experience. I fully expect Max to maintain this level or higher for the bulk of his career.

Use AirBnb many times for both shorter and longer stays. Just do your research on reviews. I tend to look out for comments on cleanliness as that tends to set a standard (in my opinion). Sometimes it may be worth looking at the host’s profile if you find somewhere with little or no reviews as sometimes they have multiple listings. That can help gauge what sort of accommodation standards they have. Staying somewhere which has no feedback can be a bit of a gamble! Also worth looking at the ‘house rules’, check in/out times and cancellation policies as some vary largely from one to the next, should you have an unforeseen issue and have to cancel.

Check the menu. Many good things. Never had anything other than a top meal! https://www.lowdengardencentre.com/?page_id=61 I’m eastern outskirts of Bristol, so well in range

Went to Lowden Garden Centre near Melksham for a family Christmas meal (I know, not Bristol) to ‘kind of’ answer your question. Will be at home on Xmas day for a family meal though. Lowdens has the most wonderful restaurant. Been there plenty of times. The place runs like clockwork and I’d have to recommend their Sunday roast However, I especially recommend their Moroccan Lamb Flatbread if you were to go for lunch. Sorry for not directly answering your question, but had to mention

There’s a meal for two deal which covers three courses. Looks very tempting.

On the subject of steaks, has anyone been to The Falcon in Wotton recently? Not strictly Bristol, I know… but close enough for me. Been a few times, but on the last occasion I went it was disappointing for a few reasons. The recent reviews looks like it’s doing well these days. https://maps.app.goo.gl/uJQryB4e3Ra8Y6Fi7?g_st=ic

Christmas menu Porterhouse? Had the same just this week. Excellent as always. I am probably into double-figures on Pasture visits. Nothing beats it. The Sunday roast at Pasture is highly recommended.

Not sure if this restaurant has been mentioned in the thread, but me and the other half went to Chris & Jo’s kitchen on St Michael’s Hill. We had a roast there a few years back and always said we’d eventually return. We both had starters/main/drinks which were all excellent. Limited, but often changing menu. A small, intimate place. Craft/independant brewers offered in good variety . Highly recommend https://www.facebook.com/chrisjoskitchen

That’s where he could read the script. Could’ve been head height; just to make it more genuine.

Ah yes, Webster and Kalas. The thought alone is enough for me to get my Dickie out.