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Bristol Pubs
Ever since it was the starting point for voyages of discovery to the New World, the old port of Bristol has boasted a wealth of taverns, inns, alehouses, and public houses. Most of the older drinking establishments that have survived have stories to tell – frequently quirky or surprising, but always interesting and often with nautical links. Some involve real historical figures such as Daniel Defoe and Alexander Selkirk, the model for Robinson Crusoe, while others are connected with fictional characters like Long John Silver. And some were used by smugglers, press gangs, privateers and out-and-out pirates. Local author James MacVeigh takes the reader on a fascinating journey through some of Bristol’s oldest and most notorious watering holes. He explores their histories and hidden secrets and tells of the many characters that have frequented or run the city’s public houses.
96 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2017
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September 10, 2021
Bristol is full of historical pubs. When myself and Anna moved to the city centre area last year we looked forward to exploring them all…………only to end up moving in the middle of a lockdown. A temporary setback.
Most of Bristol’s pubs date from the Georgian era (the early to mid 1700s), but a few date from even earlier. It is heavily disputed which is Bristol’s oldest pubs. In terms of being open the longest as an Inn The Hatchet on Frogmore Street has a strong claim, allegedly dating from 1606. The oldest building that became an Inn may be the White Harte, which is structurally connected to St James’ Priory which dates from the Middle Ages. It looks somewhat unassuming, being situated right next to Bristol Bus Station.
Many local influences have helped develop the character of the best known of Bristol’s pubs. A cave system connects into the Ostrich Inn on the Harbour, with a hole in the wall next to one table revealing a cave with a fake skeleton to peak the attention of drinkers. The Louisiana across the harbour was built in the early the 19th century for workers helping to expand the harbour, through the New Cut channel dug, to rest in. It’s balconies which are similar in appearance to New Orleans style buildings is what earned the pub it’s eventual name. The Shakespeare Inn, not to be confused with Ye Shakespeare, was built as a slave owner’s house. A previous landlord in the 18th century of the Seven Stars Inn opened his pub up to anti-slavery campaigner Thomas Clarkson, to provide him with space to gather evidence to present in Parliament against the Slave Trade.
The centre of course is not the only place in Bristol with pubs with stories to tell. The Miners Arms in Bedminster hails back to the time when Bedminster was a mining town that supplied the nearby city of Bristol with coal. Upriver past the gorge, some of the pubs that feature in our city’s maritime history are situated near an old Roman port which has been overlooked over the years.
Overall, this book was a nice short read. I have spent many a wonderful time in a Bristol pub. However, there are some interesting omissions. There are several pubs by the Harbourside in the Hotwells area that I believe were worth a mention such as the Mardyke (the start of my Stag Do) and the Rose of Denmark. The Steam Crane in Bedminster is famous (or infamous) for being probably the only pub in the UK where a lion was not only a resident of the pub, but also killed a bartender. Only one of the pubs on Gloucester Road got a mention, although to be fair they are generally less historical than the city centre-based pubs. My time in Bristol has led to some weird and wonderful encounters in and around Bristol pubs. I once lived on a road where a pub was closed by court order for running a finance operation for the IRA. I once went canvassing with the late Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown who strode into one of the roughest pubs in Bristol, only to leave amid cheers, roaring laughter and handshakes all round. I met the amazing woman who would become my wife at the Forresters Arms on Ashley Down Road. I seem to remember there being an Elvis Presley impersonator being there too, so it is quite appropriate that our burning love started there. So here is to more years of exploring Bristolian pubs! See below for my top 5 (not necessarily in the right order).
1. The Gryphon: A Heavy Metal pub with banging tunes, great ales and owners who care about their customers. I hope they are enjoying a good post lockdown recovery.
2. The Bag O’Nails: The famous cat pub. Several grown ups and several kittens trot around between drinkers. It’s a shame the place is just a bit too small in these times when social distancing is needed.
3. The Prince of Wales: Great food. Great location. Very friendly owners, staff and local punters. I went in there for the first time since the start of the pandemic a few weeks ago and they are doing well.
4. The Llandoger Trow- This is allegedly where a fateful meeting led to the writing of “Robinson Crusoe”. This place is a true Bristol legend, only recently being reopened after being closed down before the pandemic.
5. The Forresters Arms- For reasons outlined above. Sadly this pub is now out of business
Most of Bristol’s pubs date from the Georgian era (the early to mid 1700s), but a few date from even earlier. It is heavily disputed which is Bristol’s oldest pubs. In terms of being open the longest as an Inn The Hatchet on Frogmore Street has a strong claim, allegedly dating from 1606. The oldest building that became an Inn may be the White Harte, which is structurally connected to St James’ Priory which dates from the Middle Ages. It looks somewhat unassuming, being situated right next to Bristol Bus Station.
Many local influences have helped develop the character of the best known of Bristol’s pubs. A cave system connects into the Ostrich Inn on the Harbour, with a hole in the wall next to one table revealing a cave with a fake skeleton to peak the attention of drinkers. The Louisiana across the harbour was built in the early the 19th century for workers helping to expand the harbour, through the New Cut channel dug, to rest in. It’s balconies which are similar in appearance to New Orleans style buildings is what earned the pub it’s eventual name. The Shakespeare Inn, not to be confused with Ye Shakespeare, was built as a slave owner’s house. A previous landlord in the 18th century of the Seven Stars Inn opened his pub up to anti-slavery campaigner Thomas Clarkson, to provide him with space to gather evidence to present in Parliament against the Slave Trade.
The centre of course is not the only place in Bristol with pubs with stories to tell. The Miners Arms in Bedminster hails back to the time when Bedminster was a mining town that supplied the nearby city of Bristol with coal. Upriver past the gorge, some of the pubs that feature in our city’s maritime history are situated near an old Roman port which has been overlooked over the years.
Overall, this book was a nice short read. I have spent many a wonderful time in a Bristol pub. However, there are some interesting omissions. There are several pubs by the Harbourside in the Hotwells area that I believe were worth a mention such as the Mardyke (the start of my Stag Do) and the Rose of Denmark. The Steam Crane in Bedminster is famous (or infamous) for being probably the only pub in the UK where a lion was not only a resident of the pub, but also killed a bartender. Only one of the pubs on Gloucester Road got a mention, although to be fair they are generally less historical than the city centre-based pubs. My time in Bristol has led to some weird and wonderful encounters in and around Bristol pubs. I once lived on a road where a pub was closed by court order for running a finance operation for the IRA. I once went canvassing with the late Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown who strode into one of the roughest pubs in Bristol, only to leave amid cheers, roaring laughter and handshakes all round. I met the amazing woman who would become my wife at the Forresters Arms on Ashley Down Road. I seem to remember there being an Elvis Presley impersonator being there too, so it is quite appropriate that our burning love started there. So here is to more years of exploring Bristolian pubs! See below for my top 5 (not necessarily in the right order).
1. The Gryphon: A Heavy Metal pub with banging tunes, great ales and owners who care about their customers. I hope they are enjoying a good post lockdown recovery.
2. The Bag O’Nails: The famous cat pub. Several grown ups and several kittens trot around between drinkers. It’s a shame the place is just a bit too small in these times when social distancing is needed.
3. The Prince of Wales: Great food. Great location. Very friendly owners, staff and local punters. I went in there for the first time since the start of the pandemic a few weeks ago and they are doing well.
4. The Llandoger Trow- This is allegedly where a fateful meeting led to the writing of “Robinson Crusoe”. This place is a true Bristol legend, only recently being reopened after being closed down before the pandemic.
5. The Forresters Arms- For reasons outlined above. Sadly this pub is now out of business
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 of 1 review