The Rope Walk in Bristol Sunday Roast review

Posted on: 2015-08-23

Our rating:

My ballotine of chicken (£9.50) was roast perfection personified, the three giant medallions of chicken being perfectly cooked, exquisitely moist and tender and filled with a slightly sweet but deliriously complimentary apricot stuffing.



Hungry Bristolians are now spoilt for choice when it comes to looking for a pub restaurant that serves the hearty, traditional British fave, the Sunday roast - and The Rope Walk in Bristol can proudly add itself to that increasingly impressive list. 

The Rope Walk, 5 Nelson Parade, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4JA, Tel: 0117 9661307

To say this Young's pub has had something of a chequered history over the past few decades is an unmitigated understatement, with certain periods during its turbulent lifetime attracting more rambunctious drinkers and an often unenviable reputation. 

There was a spell during the 90s when the pub's fortunes seemed to be turning around thanks to regular, popular live music nights which attracted more discriminating punters, but overall the pub's fortunes and omens have not been good. 

However, all that has changed since owner Tristan Roddy took over in 2013, and his ambitious plans to improve the pub's fortunes and make its mark on the city's pub-going map have more than paid off. Having already run various pubs in Brighton and London, Tristan and his family took on the challenge of redefining, redesigning and reinvigorating The Rope Walk.

Gone are the stale odours of cheap lager and thankfully there's not a karaoke machine in sight, and the pub is now immediately welcoming, warm and inviting with a marvelously light, traditional feel. The original features of the pub having been tastefully and sympathetically rendered with stripped floorboards, wood paneling, chunky wooden tables and chairs, an exposed brick fireplace and comfortable button-back leather Chesterfield sofas. 

When we visited, beers on offer included Young's Bitter and a tip-top condition Wells Bombardier, while cider drinkers are also well catered for with Aspalls and Stowford Press. 
Regular live music and open mic nights as well as weekly jam sessions and quizzes have also kept the punters flocking in, and it's fair to say The Rope Walk has now firmly established itself as one of the city's most social, vibrant and buzzy food and drink haunts. 

Their Sunday roasts have been proving extremely popular too, and their meat is organic and locally sourced from Adey's Farm in Berkeley, Gloucestershire. Options include rib eye of beef, leg of lamb, crispy belly pork, ballotine of chicken with apricot stuffing, and cashew nut roast Wellington. They're all plated up with roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese, honey roast parsnips, seasonal veg, homemade red wine gravy and a giant Yorkshire. 

Rope Walk comment: We'd like to point out that the meat is free range, not organic and sourced from @FineFoodCo although Adey's farm is amazing.

My ballotine of chicken (£9.50) was roast perfection personified, the three giant medallions of chicken being perfectly cooked, exquisitely moist and tender and filled with a slightly sweet but deliriously complimentary apricot stuffing. The green beans, carrots and red cabbage were tastily al dente and the honey roast parsnip was massive and satisfyingly crunchy and sweet. With four generously sized, impeccably crunchy-on-the-outside-and-fluffy-on-the-inside roasties, a large but masterfully light Yorkie and swimming in an ample puddle of intense, rich red wine gravy, in terms of portion size and value for money, it has to rank as one of the best in Bristol. 

Ballotine of Chicken at The Rope Walk in Bristol

My partner's pork belly (£10.50) was an elephantine slab of thick, melt-in-the-mouth pork topped with a thick, golden, crunchy crackling top, with accompanying veg and roasties that were equally as delectable, while generous and frequent helpings of the accompanying pungent, dreamily cheesy cauliflower cheese resulted in the sum total of a consummate, quality roast dinner. 

Pork Belly at The Rope Walk in Bedminster, Bristol

A sticky toffee pudding and ice cream and my partner's vanilla cheesecake with raspberries (£3.95 each) finished things off with sweet, satisfying, flavorsome flair. 

During our roast dinner indulgence, we were also given the background soundtrack treat of accomplished pianist Toby Field, who tinkled the ivories with a mellow selection of romantic ballads that only added to the chilled out, cosy vibe of the venue. (A keen pianist myself, I was half tempted to lunge onto the keys during his intermission, but my partner's steely stare and imminent potential for embarrassment from an impromptu rendition of the Batman theme soon vetoed any possibility of that.)

The Rope Walk, then, is in good, solid and capable hands, helped in no small part to the convivial, efficient staff, and it has been given the kind of loving care it so desperately needed for such a long time. In terms of its roast dinners, the portions are gut-bustingly big and the price tag reassuringly small, making it possibly the best value roast in the city. 

5/5

Reviewed by Jamie Caddick for 365Bristol - the leading events and entertainment website for Bristol.

The Rope Walk, 5 Nelson Parade, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4JA, Tel: 0117 9661307

Stuffed! at The Rope Walk in Bristol

Tags: Sunday Roast in Bristol, Bedminster Food and Drink, Sunday Lunch Bristol, Sunday Roast Bristol
 



Article by:

James Anderson

Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.