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Best pubs in Bristol


Jerseybean

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The boss of an independent brewery and pub chain has shut down its newest establishment – after he popped in for a pint and overheard a punter swearing.

Humphrey Smith, who runs Samuel Smith’s, was visiting the Fox and Goose in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, seven weeks after it opened.

But when the 74-year-old heard another drinker dropping the F-word while telling his wife a joke, he decided to immediately close the place, the SWNS news agency reports.

The hereditary boss of the brewery – which is based in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, and dates back to 1758 – is known for running his company with a rod of iron: he previously banned bad language and mobile phones at all 200 of its pubs to encourage conversation.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/samuel-smiths-pub-swearing-ban-humphrey-smith-fox-goose-droitwich-a9152461.html

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On 12/09/2021 at 02:59, Jerseybean said:

Concorde in Stockwood and the 002 in Yate. 

Many years ago I grew up in the Concorde and got a bashing in the 002. 

When back in 2019 had a few pints in both. They are still there and they bought back some great memories.

Any of you on here know Stockwood from the late 70s and early 80s they would know a pub called the Man In Space and in my teens drank a lager called Tubourg Gold, my other two mates drank Toby Bitter and Bass Special. Interesting too know if these brewes are still around.

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Friends down for the weekend, so last night someone arranged to meet and eat in a couple of Pubs I've only used occasionally.

The Nova is a great little place, specially if the sun shines. Proper "Pub" feel.
The Cottage was a surprise, had a meal in there which was really nice . Reasonable beers, although I never trust anything called "craft Lager" , decent IPA though .
Another well situated when the sun shines.

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9 hours ago, lenred said:

Used to work for a couple of evenings a week there when I first moved up to Bristol many many many years ago. An interesting introduction to bar work as basically I had to run the place on my own of an evening as a young 20 year old who had never worked behind a bar before. Frank Sinatra at the end of the night on the juke box to make sure regulars knew it was time to go. Getting told off for serving a ‘dockers half’. Loved it. Although a Cheddar Valley (derv in those days - not the soft stuff it is now!) drinking contest went quite badly one Saturday afternoon! Sunday cricket team as well. Bloody loved it. 

Please enlighten me.

What is a ‘dockers half’?

As you were told off for serving one, I assume it is the old trick of passing an almost finished pint glass to the ‘naive’ barman/maid and asking for a half, safe in the knowledge your glass would be filled with two thirds of a pint, but you would only pay for a half.

The trick disappeared when metered beers were introduced, but I should be interested to learn the meaning of the phrase.

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22 minutes ago, PHILINFRANCE said:

Please enlighten me.

What is a ‘dockers half’?

As you were told off for serving one, I assume it is the old trick of passing an almost finished pint glass to the ‘naive’ barman/maid and asking for a half, safe in the knowledge your glass would be filled with two thirds of a pint, but you would only pay for a half.

The trick disappeared when metered beers were introduced, but I should be interested to learn the meaning of the phrase.

Essentially unless the cider (CPS was a cider house) was overflowing over the top of the glass when you served it, regulars would call it a dockers half. Told off was a bit strong but it would be asked to be remedied immediately! Passing a glass back with only a third of a pint in it and asking it to be filled up for the cost of a half was pretty normal behaviour. Used to do it myself quite a lot come to think of it! 

Edited by lenred
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4 hours ago, City oz said:

Concorde in Stockwood and the 002 in Yate. 

Many years ago I grew up in the Concorde and got a bashing in the 002. 

When back in 2019 had a few pints in both. They are still there and they bought back some great memories.

Any of you on here know Stockwood from the late 70s and early 80s they would know a pub called the Man In Space and in my teens drank a lager called Tubourg Gold, my other two mates drank Toby Bitter and Bass Special. Interesting too know if these brewes are still around.

Used to go in Man In Space for a beer with an old mate, but the one that used to amaze me was The Venture in Knowle West. Ran a few football specials back in the 80s from there and what went on during the trip to and from away games is not for publishing on ere. Pub now gone.

Outside of Bristol, The Blue Flame is still an old skool pub worth a visit if you are ever around Chelvey, near Nailsea. Great in the summer on a weekend.

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Has anywhere changed as much, as far as pubs and bars, as Whiteladies Rd has over the years.? 

When I first moved to Redland in the early 90’s there were a couple good pubs and a couple townie pubs and a few eateries.

Within a year the place had gone nuts and was now jam packed with new bars and restaurants, there seemed to be hundreds. It was a great place to go, especially on a Friday night straight from work.

When I returned a few years ago to have a look around they’d nearly all gone again and there seemed to be more take always than bars. 
Even some of the older genuine pubs like the Blackboy Inn at the top of Whiteladies have gone. (Hope the racist filter doesn’t remove that last sentence) 

 

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On 02/10/2021 at 00:38, lenred said:

Used to work for a couple of evenings a week there when I first moved up to Bristol many many many years ago. An interesting introduction to bar work as basically I had to run the place on my own of an evening as a young 20 year old who had never worked behind a bar before. Frank Sinatra at the end of the night on the juke box to make sure regulars knew it was time to go. Getting told off for serving a ‘dockers half’. Loved it. Although a Cheddar Valley (derv in those days - not the soft stuff it is now!) drinking contest went quite badly one Saturday afternoon! Sunday cricket team as well. Bloody loved it. 

CPS is a top boozer. Type of place you’d nip in for one or two and end up chatting to one of the old boys and staying til closing! 

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On 02/10/2021 at 13:17, GasDestroyer said:

Used to go in Man In Space for a beer with an old mate, but the one that used to amaze me was The Venture in Knowle West. Ran a few football specials back in the 80s from there and what went on during the trip to and from away games is not for publishing on ere. Pub now gone.

Outside of Bristol, The Blue Flame is still an old skool pub worth a visit if you are ever around Chelvey, near Nailsea. Great in the summer on a weekend.

Despite living a few streets away from the Venture Inn in Knowle West I rarely frequented there, safer in the Fellowship on Axbridge Rd (top of Redcatch), then to the ultra cool House That Jack Built in St John’s Lane which was my second home for years..  

The Blue Flame at Chelvey Batch is a one off…..dropped in there on the annual June cycle ride from Bristol - they seemed amazed at their good fortune to have all these thirsty cyclists turning up on their doorstep, couldn’t sell the beer / cheese & onion rolls fast enough ?
 

I don’t think there’s a pub anywhere in Knowle West now? The Venture, Fighting Cocks, Inns Court, Friendship Inn all gone, only a community association bar or two available to drink in now?
Blame it all on cheap drink from supermarkets I guess but so much social interaction (skittles / darts / football /crib) has been lost it’s no wonder young lads have lost their connection and respect to older generations. 

We were so lucky to have so many great options to socialise in we could have a girlfriend in every pub ? ?..

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6 hours ago, Red DNA said:

Despite living a few streets away from the Venture Inn in Knowle West I rarely frequented there, safer in the Fellowship on Axbridge Rd (top of Redcatch), then to the ultra cool House That Jack Built in St John’s Lane which was my second home for years..  

The Blue Flame at Chelvey Batch is a one off…..dropped in there on the annual June cycle ride from Bristol - they seemed amazed at their good fortune to have all these thirsty cyclists turning up on their doorstep, couldn’t sell the beer / cheese & onion rolls fast enough ?
 

I don’t think there’s a pub anywhere in Knowle West now? The Venture, Fighting Cocks, Inns Court, Friendship Inn all gone, only a community association bar or two available to drink in now?
Blame it all on cheap drink from supermarkets I guess but so much social interaction (skittles / darts / football /crib) has been lost it’s no wonder young lads have lost their connection and respect to older generations. 

We were so lucky to have so many great options to socialise in we could have a girlfriend in every pub ? ?..

Not the Fellowship but the Friendship. My old mans local. He was a regular there every Sunday lunchtime. He was a Fishmonger and when a regular found this out he sold him a couple of pheasants, buckshot and all!

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17 hours ago, Red DNA said:

Despite living a few streets away from the Venture Inn in Knowle West I rarely frequented there, safer in the Fellowship on Axbridge Rd (top of Redcatch)

 

I don’t think there’s a pub anywhere in Knowle West now? The Venture, Fighting Cocks, Inns Court, Friendship Inn all gone, only a community association bar or two available to drink in now?
 

Too late to edit-

My mistake - I meant the Friendship not the Fellowship (that’s over by the Swamp ?‍☠️, I would have needed to be p ****d before I start to ever drink over there ?

Edited by Red DNA
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On 03/10/2021 at 10:53, CyderInACan said:

CPS is a top boozer. Type of place you’d nip in for one or two and end up chatting to one of the old boys and staying til closing! 

Loved working and drinking there. Certainly saw some interesting sights and sounds. Had a great juke box as well which is another thing I mourn the loss of across the piece.  Being from Somerset and being brought up on the stuff I thought I could drink Cider with the best of them but CPS was quite an education and quickly made me realise that I was still very much junior ranking compared to the regulars there!  

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1 hour ago, 1960maaan said:

Ended up in the Small bar on King street yesterday, good selection of beers. Definitely planning to go back for a proper session.

 

Bit on the pricey side though, isn't it?

Last time, I went in there I took a couple of mates, one of whom was Scottish. He looked at the blackboard with the prices on, said: "**** thon!" and immediately did a u-turn out of the place! :laughcont:

Used to be a regular stop for me back in the days it was called Dr Thirsty's Surgery. 

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2 hours ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

Bit on the pricey side though, isn't it?

Last time, I went in there I took a couple of mates, one of whom was Scottish. He looked at the blackboard with the prices on, said: "**** thon!" and immediately did a u-turn out of the place! :laughcont:

Used to be a regular stop for me back in the days it was called Dr Thirsty's Surgery. 

Not the cheapest, only went in as our friends stumbled in there. I did like the choices though , quite fancy working through the ones I've not tried. 
I'm more quality than quantity these days. 

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Moving out of Bristol a bit, The Black Horse in Gordano deserves a mention. Cracking pub with a large garden, sometimes live music in the summer and a roaring fire in the winter. Good selection of beers and cider too. One of my favourite boozers but unfortunately a pain in the arse for me to get to.

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On 02/10/2021 at 08:45, City oz said:

Concorde in Stockwood and the 002 in Yate. 

Many years ago I grew up in the Concorde and got a bashing in the 002. 

The 002 is about 400m from my house - The times I’ve been in there it’s been alright to be fair 

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18 hours ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

Bit on the pricey side though, isn't it?

Last time, I went in there I took a couple of mates, one of whom was Scottish. He looked at the blackboard with the prices on, said: "**** thon!" and immediately did a u-turn out of the place! :laughcont:

Used to be a regular stop for me back in the days it was called Dr Thirsty's Surgery. 

Yes it is pricey - and it’s 2/3 of a pint as well!
They do usually have a good selection of beers but I just don’t know how they can justify the price of a pint on a 2/3rds drink. 

Best of luck to them if they can get punters to pay those prices but I’ll give it a miss and choose one of the multitude of other pubs in town to drink in. 

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2 hours ago, Rob k said:

The 002 is about 400m from my house - The times I’ve been in there it’s been alright to be fair 

My brother lives about 400m from there...if he wasn't such a technophobe then I'd be asking questions. ;) 

I think I've only ever been in there once. About 20 years ago when they had a hypnotist in, we thought it'd be funny to get ourselves hypnotised but it didn't work on most of us and I suspect the couple that it did work on were just messing about.

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6 minutes ago, BS2 Red said:

My brother lives about 400m from there...if he wasn't such a technophobe then I'd be asking questions. ;) 

I think I've only ever been in there once. About 20 years ago when they had a hypnotist in, we thought it'd be funny to get ourselves hypnotised but it didn't work on most of us and I suspect the couple that it did work on were just messing about.

It reminds me of the pub in the TV program Shameless!! Had the regulars, the youngsters by the pool table and the old boy in his suit!!


I can remember asking for 2 pints of thatchers dry and the bar lady just barked at me, ‘6 and a half’ 

I had no idea what she was on about, apparently she wanted £6.50 off me for the beers ???

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53 minutes ago, CyderInACan said:

Remember that one. Wasn't it called the Bunch of Grapes prior to that very-90's style rebrand? 

 

I think you're right. Memories of many pints there before late drinkies at Renato's next door.

King St used to be great for pubs.  The "Volley" was my favourite, but us country types often used to drive up for a liquid Sunday lunch at the Old Duke. The then-Mrs R's dad had played there in his youth, and he occasionally would sit in with whatever jazz band was performing.

They've all become too popular for their own good now though. Fri/Sat day and night the street is rammed and the pubs unenjoyable. 

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9 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

I think you're right. Memories of many pints there before late drinkies at Renato's next door.

King St used to be great for pubs.  The "Volley" was my favourite, but us country types often used to drive up for a liquid Sunday lunch at the Old Duke. The then-Mrs R's dad had played there in his youth, and he occasionally would sit in with whatever jazz band was performing.

They've all become too popular for their own good now though. Fri/Sat day and night the street is rammed and the pubs unenjoyable. 

Haven't been down King St for ages TBF but there was always plenty of opportunities for a decent night out, the Old Duke is a cracker mind. I remember Bar Med in the late 90s/early 2000s was hugely popular, now the King Street Brewhouse, used to have some cracking works booze cruises ending up there in the summer. 

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If you want to try a real quirky pub - unfortunately it’s not in Bristol - try The Rose and Crown (known as Eli’s) at Huish Episcopi, near Langport. 
There is no bar in this pub!

Really strange when I first went in there, someone just wandered up and asked what we’d like to drink, then returned with the drinks and asked for money. 
This pub, which has been in the same family for over 100 years, is apparently what all pubs used to be like back in the day, and particularly before WW1? 
Bars in pubs were only put in to stop drinkers helping themselves to free drinks, somehow this one survived and may be is now unique in that sense. 
Well worth a visit for good beer and ciders. 
 

 

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Edited by Red DNA
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