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Behind the Bar: The Prince Street Social

Posted on: 29 Oct 2018

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Situated in the heart of Bristol's downtown office district, The Prince Street Social has earned itself a reputation as the go-to spot of after-work drinks in central Bristol, and a short time at the bar on a Wednesday afternoon made it clear to us exactly why so many people choose it over the pubs and bars in the neighbouring harbourside and St Nick's areas. We had a chat with general manager Dulcie Carey last week to find out more about the history of The Social, what they've got to offer and exactly how much trial and error went into their extensive list of original, twisted and classic cocktails. 

What do you know about the history of The Prince Street Social?

"I've only been involved here for about six months, but I know that it used to be a bank back in the day. It's been open as The Prince Street Social for about two and a half years now. I think when it first opened it was more like a fine dining restaurant - that didn't work - then the next manager tried to make it more of a pub - that didn't work - and so I'm trying to get the in-between now."

 

And what's the main clientele at The Social? A lot of office types?

"We do get a lot of the office types but we've got a lot of creative companies around us too. We have a lot of regulars which is great, a pub quiz every Wednesday which is super popular - luckily Halloween has fallen on a Wednesday this year so we'll certainly be celebrating that in style at the quiz night. A few students come through too, we get a really good mix here I think."

Christmas is just around the corner - what have you got planned for the holidays this year?

"So we'll be giving people the option this year for either a sit-down meal, a buffet or just drinks, and you can get two courses for £22 and three for £27, and the buffet options range depending on how much you go for. Aside from that we're going to decorate this place like a Christmas wonderland - my birthday's a couple days before Christmas so I'm pretty into it - we've also advertised and pushed massively that we're not just about Christmas parties. We've got a few birthday bookings during the festive period, drinks parties, our bottomless brunches and bottomless roast dinners are still running, and our Christmas quiz is on the 28th November so don't miss that!"

What are your thoughts on The Prince Street Social's location compared to, say, St Nick's or Park Street?

"I think our location isn't great in that a lot of people don't know where it is, but we are central and everything is within walking distance from us, so in terms of what's nearby we're fantastic. In terms of what else is alongside us on the street, not so much - it's not like King Street where they're on a bit of a pub crawl street, people need to know they're coming here if they want to find us."

 

Your wine list is pretty extensive - how much thought goes into the selections and how knowledgeable are you and your staff about certain wines and pairings?

"I've got a wine background myself, and the staff when I started here didn't have a huge amount of expertise when it comes to wines but I do ask every new member of staff about their knowledge of wine and we do discuss wines a lot and get a little bit of freedom when it comes to the selections. The Trimbach, for example, is a beautiful wine, but it's about making the staff aware that it is a beautiful wine in order for them to be able to tell the customers that it's a beautiful wine."

 

What can you tell us about the current cocktail menu?

"We do a few twists, a few of our own and a full list of classics. We do have a few on the list that, as far as I'm aware, are completely our own. The Hazelnut Mocha is a good example - we use the base of an Espresso Martini and add a Hazelnut liqueur and a few extra flavours, a bit of extra vodka for the sharpness and take great care with the presentation."

 

And what's your personal favourite cocktail on the current menu?

"I'm not much of a sweet fan when it comes to cocktails - an Old Fashioned is normally my go-to. Here, though, I like to see what these guys can put together. The Hazulnut Mocha is unreal, and the Creme de Banane-based one is great too. I just kind of let the team run with what they want to do and see what they come up with."

Can you name one of the cocktails on the menu here that people might not be aware of that you'd recommend trying?

"The Bourbon Orchard. It's a bit different, it's a bit out there and it's served with a giant ice cube - everybody loves that! It's a short drink that lasts a long time, and it's got a bit of bourbon, a bit of Mount Gay rum to add that bit of sharpness, a little bit of lime juice to bring the flavours together and topped with ginger beer. There's loads of good flavours in there and it's got that little bit of sweetness to it as well."

 

How would you describe the evening atmosphere at The Prince Street Social?

"It's definitely a place to come and relax, it's chilled out, it's really welcoming for everyone I think - everyone from families to drinks parties, to lads nights out. It's just a lovely atmosphere - a real downtown Manhattan vibe I'd say."

 

And what do you think sets it apart from other bars or other areas of Bristol?

"What I know sets us apart is our staff. We make a point of saying hello and goodbye to everybody, which most bars do, but also to remember who they are and to make them feel like regulars before they're regulars. We'll remember something about them or remember what drink they like - the whole point is you're here to feel comfortable and come in and do you. It's an easy place to come to and that's what we'd like to keep it as."

 

The Prince Street Social is located at 34-41 Prince St, Bristol BS1 4PS and is open from 10am-11pm Monday-Thursday, 10am-11.30pm Friday and Saturday and 10am-6pm on Sundays. For more information on the bar and to see what's on, visit their website or check out their Facebook page.

 

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