Red DNA

It is indeed still there - and flourishing. Lots of extra outside seating (Covid +) and planting around to green it up in what is a concrete jungle. Many a Friday night back in the 90’s myself and two cycling friends were the only ones in there, like to think we got it through its darkest days ?.

Pie mounds aren’t forever ? - not with him around

The two places in Bath are still there ?, the blue cheese burger is to die for, especially after a few pints at the weird Star Inn almost opposite before the long cycle ride back along the B2B track to home.

002 is a reference to Concorde

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.

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.

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 ?

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 ? ?..

If you like us that much the least you could do is change your name to Red Fox ?

Having it once would be bad enough, to get another dose is terrible luck. Best wishes for a rapid recovery.

I’ve not seen Sam Smiths in a very long time around here, I think I last saw it in London a short while ago and it was quite a surprise to see it! First time I think I had it was in a pub we used to frequent on the way to home matches. I think it was called The Ship (I’ll check on that lost pubs website) and was on York Road somewhere.

‘Not too bad’ ? Not at all - Fleming is quite good I think ?

Since about 1990, myself and two friends have done detailed ‘research’ in Bristol (and surrounding areas) pubs - cycling to pubs usually on a Friday evening. It was selfless in the respect we wanted to find nice pubs with real ale - to take our wives to should we ever ask them to join us.. We have a list (nothing much more than that) of about 450 pubs and bars we’ve been into plus probably a list of about 100 we immediately walked back out off upon seeing the likes of keg John Smiths etc etc. Many a night we would visit 3 or 4 pubs testing the beer, eventually learning the lesson to go to the pubs closest to home later on ?. The Bristol to Bath cycle track was very useful as it kept us out of any traffic and therefore safe. Regards the best pub? It’s very subjective regards what condition the beer was like that night, if the landlord changes so does the pub etc etc. Some pubs - mostly the ones mentioned in previous posts above have always been very good and I hope to continue to support them all as I wobble around on my bike at 66 years of age ?.

Bents will be crazy for that shirt when he sees it!

Seventh tier Radcliffe FC have had their initiative to use ‘super heroes’ on their shirts and get kids on board buying replica shirts thus producing an income stream, but now banned by the FA. The reason? It’s blatant advertising ?, so how does that compare to all the betting advertising currently aimed at the younger generation? Dreadful over reaction from the FA to squash a bit of money making from a lower team. Sounds the guy behind it has done a ‘dark side’ goalie shirt which has been selling well. (apologies but the only link I’ve got is behind Sunday Times paywall ?)

Not able to go today but hearing all the comments on the effort made today might just make a few realise just had bad it had become when accepting the ‘effort’ from the last couple of seasons? Its what we had got used to and we almost sleep walked into relegation ?

If it upsets you that much why even bother to read the drivel he comes out with? As long as people read that sort of rubbish the EP will still invite him to give us the ‘wisdom of his knowledge’ Don't but the newspaper, done look at the website and ignore his opinions anywhere else you see it, move on.

They’re probably the same people who complain the price of a pint has gone up by 20p ?!

Merchants Arms in Hotwells is another classic real boozer. Great beers, cheese and onion rolls, pork pies, pasties and locals actually talking to each other.

It won’t be long before one of them gets a poke in the eye, and it won’t be Nige…. Gregor is in way beyond his depth with someone as slick and professional as NP, time for him to find another niche for his reporting skills other than BCFC?

Not sure how to tell you this - and your enjoyment of your evening, the result will be the same if you watch it or not. Making comments like that is almost at the low level of an opportunist ‘plastic fan’. It’s about supporting your club through thick and thin - so man up!

113 is a massive number… Jose Mourinho only played 94 professional games as a player, obviously he couldn’t cut it for Robins TV, but overall the lack of games didn’t do him much harm?

What do you mean, probably? Definitely wrong, that’s what this entire thread is about ?!

Thanks. Now you’ve answered that, I remember and can also answer my own question - the pub by the side of the M32 was The Old Fox.

Was that the place by the side of the M32 near Easton? It was one of the first real ale pubs in Bristol I think and bit of a Mecca for us despite being in the ‘wrong’ ?side of town.