The Crofters Rights - Bristol Food Review

Posted on: 2018-03-22

Our rating:

Good food, good beer and good vibes.


Having only ever been to The Crofters Rights a few times before to go to gigs, I was keen to sample their pizza and craft beers, both of which have received glowing reviews from friends in the past. What we got was perfect for casual midweek dining: great food at great prices, good music and a relaxed atmosphere.

The handmade Pizza and huge craft beer selection at The Crofters Rights earned them a great reputation among locals.

As a student it's not often that I get the chance to enjoy going out to eat on weeknights, partly because I can't afford it and partly because I rarely have time. When I do, though, I'm usually looking for a laid-back experience, not too serious with good quality food and drinks. The Crofters Rights delivered exactly that, and we ended up staying slightly longer than we expected after we ate, sat at the end of a high table in the cosy dining area.

 

On arriving, we were kindly offered a selection of The Crofters' vast craft beer menu, both local and international, ranging from a deliciously tangy sour raspberry Newport ale to a more traditional pale ale from Reading's Siren Brewery. Of the five we tried, the highlight was certainly the Revival; a hoppy bitter, brewed locally at Bristol's Moor Brewery. The friendly bar team clearly know their stuff when it comes to their beer selection, happily talking us through the details of particular beers, and discussing their personal favourites.

 

The pizza menu, featuring all-handmade pizzas from neighbouring Ray's Pizza, is short but sweet - it offers a range of classics made with fresh ingredients, and caters for vegans and vegetarians. We went for the New York Hot - a spicy blend of tomato, buffalo mozzarella, pepperoni and fresh peppers, and the Goat's Cheese Pizza - one of four vegetarian options topped with tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, goat's cheese, red onion and black olives.

The Goat's Cheese Pizza, cooked at Ray's Pizzas for The Crofters Rights. Photo: Rosa Squire

While the craft beer selection didn't last long, we were still enjoying them when our pizzas came out after an impressively short wait. I don't know if Ray is responsible for the pizzas at The Crofters, or if Ray is even a real person, but if he is, he certainly knows what he's doing. Ours were cooked perfectly, the sourdough base beautifully crispy with a perfect char. My New York Hot was just the right amount of spice, with the heat coming from the fresh chili pepper and jalapenos and the substance from the delicious thick-cut pepperoni.

 

The toppings are fresh and flavourful - I've never been much of a fan of goat's cheese or black olives, but the Goat's Cheese Pizza may well have turned me around. The goat's cheese in particular was creamy and tangy, while the olives added an interesting element to the overall flavour.

 

At around £8 a time across the whole menu - the cheapest is the marinara at £6 and the most expensive pizzas are priced at £8.50 - The Crofters Rights represents great value for money when you're looking for a relaxed meal with friends without breaking the bank. The decor largely resembles a traditional music venue, with a lot of untreated wood, art on the walls and high tables and chairs, and it works perfectly. Couple this with the spot-on selection of Hip-Hop, Jazz and Soul playing in the background and it's a real win-win.

The full pizza menu, cooked by Ray's Pizzas at The Crofters Rights.

After finally being able to find it out for myself, I now know that The Crofters Rights' reputation as a purveyor of some of the best pizza and beers in the Stoke's Croft area is fully justified. It was always an inevitability that I'd be back to check out some live music at some point in the near future, but now it's not just the music that I'll be coming back for - I'm counting down the days until I can get stuck into another one of Ray's pizzas.

 

Food: 5

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Value: 4

 

The Crofters Rights is located at 117-119 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3RW. For more information or to see what's on in the coming weeks, visit their website, check out their Facebook page or contact them on 0117 231 0079 or via email.



Article by:

Matt Robson

 

Editor - 365Bristol.com & LOUD Magazine
 

Matt is a Journalism graduate and writer, passionate about supporting Bristol music, art and independent business. Get in touch via email at matt@365bristol.com.