The 9 Best Watering Holes in Hotwells
Posted on: 12 Apr 2016What could be better than a pleasant stroll along the historic and picturesque Hotwells in Bristol, stopping off occasionally at one of the many great pubs dotted around the area? Exactly. Not much really.
Trusty servants to the people as always, here at 365Bristol we're on boozer-recommending, pint-quaffing hand to point you in the general direction of some of the best alehouses in the area...
Merchants Arms - 5 Merchants Road Hotwells Bristol BS8 4PZ Tel: 0117 907 3047
A traditional pub if ever there was one, Merchants Arms wraps you up in its cosy, warm embrace as soon as you walk in. Being a member of CAMRA there's a superb range of real ales on offer as well as a great selection of ciders and wines. If you need some food to soak up the liquid refreshment there's a tasty selection of pasties, pork pies, Scotch eggs and freshly made rolls. And if you're into your pub games (and looking for a thinly-veiled reason to stay and imbibe a bit longer) then you can have a game of cribbage, chess, draughts and dominoes. 'Thirsty Thursday' sees all draught ales at £3 too.
Bag of Nails - 141 St George's Rd, Hotwells, Bristol BS1 5UW Tel: 07941 521777
One of the reigning bastions of all things real ale related, The Bag of Nails is a freehouse jam-packed full of character and charm with a serious shaking of the head when it comes to the likes of fizzy ciders, draught lagers or Guinness. With a selection of 35 world beers, ales and ciders - as well as regular guest ales - this is a pub that serves quality quaffage and its a proud reputation it's proud to uphold. Vinyl regularly spins out some cool tunes and there are plenty of retro games to keep you entertained too, as well as the regular appearances from some of the in-house feline company.
Eldon House - 6 Lower Clifton Hill, Bristol, Avon BS8 1BT Tel: 0117 922 1271
By the time you'd climbed half way up Jacob's Wells Road - off of which this gem of a pub snugly resides - you'd have earned your right for a beer or three. Which is a bit of luck, because Eldon House serves up to five guest real ales (from near and afar) with Bath Ales and Bristol Beer Factory ales a permanent fixture. Head chef Colin Halton is a man who knows how to keep the punters satisfyingly engorged with a mouthwatering selection of pub classics including fish and chips, burgers and rib-eye steak. On Monday and Tuesday you can get a curry and pint for £7, their Sundays roasts are practically legendary, and there's live music Sunday evenings and a pub quiz every Monday.
Hope and Anchor - 38 Jacob's Wells Rd, Bristol, Avon BS8 1DR Tel: 0117 929 2987
Situated about half way up Jacob's Wells Road, Hope and Anchor is a cosy, unpretentious, inviting boozer and just the ticket to quench your thirst with a superb range of craft beers and real ales, as well as a great selection of ciders, wines and spirits. There are extensive lunch, evening, Sunday and pizza menus, and the secluded, 3-tiered garden which backs onto Brandon Hill is now legendary - the perfect spot to chill out, sup away and unwind for an hour or two.
The Three Tuns - 78 St George's Rd, Avon, Bristol BS1 5UR Tel: 0117 907 0689
Dating back to the early 1900s, The Three Tuns is one of the oldest pubs in Bristol. It's another marvelously cosy alehouse, with its stripped pine interior, terrace and, naturally, a tantalizing raft of local, regional and global real ales and craft beer and plenty of boxed, bottled and tap ciders too. There's an emphasis on local and micro breweries and an attractive discount for students and CAMRA members. Burgers, wraps and sharing platters are part of the mouthwatering menu and regular live events include Irish music sessions every Monday, beer festivals and art exhibitions.
The Bear Inn - 261 Hotwell Road, Hotwells, Bristol,BS8 4SF Tel: 0117 987 7796
This child-friendly pub ticks all the right boxes when it comes to enjoying everything that's great about a proper, relaxed, cosy urban pub. Real ales, cider, wines and spirits will whet your whistle whilst the menu is packed with traditional pub favourites. If the sun's out you can take advantage of their wonderful outdoor beer garden. Regular darts, crib, karaoke and live music events take place regularly throughout the week, and if you're a jazz fan, every Friday the pub hosts The Be-Bop Club, Bristol's longest running modern jazz club.
Grain Barge - Mardyke Wharf, Hotwell Rd, Bristol BS8 4RU Tel: 0117 929 9347
Set in a converted barge in the Floating Harbour, Grain Barge is a superb place to sup one of its many Bristol Beer Factory beers (BBF actually own it), and - if the weather's nice, of course - sit on the top deck for some al fresco supping and scan the glorious nautical panorama which takes in Brunel's SS Great Britain. There are regular live music events and exhibitions and its filling selection of pies, sandwiches, steaks and burgers mean you'll leave this unique, characterful venue indubitably well fed and watered.
The Mardyke - 128 Hotwell Road Hotwells Bristol BS8 4UB Tel: 0117 907 7499
Something of an institution amongst the city's hardened cider swiggers, The Mardyke is a lively, friendly venue with a range of ciders, beers, wines and spirits at arguably some of the most competitive prices in Bristol. If you sit one of the benches outside you can watch the world go by and look across at the beautiful Floating Harbour.
The Pump House - Merchants Rd, Hotwells, Bristol BS8 4PZ Tel: 0117 927 2229
When it comes to fabulous locations, The Pump House can claim to have one of the best spots in the city and takes sophistication to another level. This former Victorian pumping house has a superb range of local ales from Bath, Cheddar and Butcombe as well as weekly rotating guests and over - wait for it - 400 gins. Under the auspices of chef proprietor Toby Gritten, this gastropub naturally takes food very seriously and everything is prepared on site, everything sourced locally where possible and emphasising the best in seasonality. A waterside gastropub with oodles of class and style.
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Article by:
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.
