Bristol’s real ale and heavy metal pub
“Beards preferred, but not essential.”
For heavy metal fans, there’s nowhere quite like The Gryphon. On the corner of Colston Street, the pub has been serving up alternative sound and dark ales since 2010. In that time, it's become an institution, known not just here in Bristol, but around the world.
What’s on offer?
As the self-proclaimed purveyors of the nation’s finest ales, The Gryphon runs a tight ship when it comes to the good stuff. It runs a strict bar policy: strictly guest ales, zero repeats.
To match its musical leanings, you’ll find darker ales behind the bar. Stouts, Porters, BIPAs and Milds sit beside an extensive library of bottled dark beers and cans.
The ales are pretty damn good, too. But don’t just take our word for it: the pub and music venue has been listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide every year since 2011.
What about the music?
Up The Gryphon's narrow staircase, musos can feast their ears on a busy gig schedule: the pub's got gigs happening every week, throughout the week.
Metal, thrash, rock, punk, ska, hummpa and more metal: bands across the alternative scene flock to play nauseatingly heavy sets on The Gryphon's intimate stage.
The Gryphon also has its very own annual festival. Gryphfest happens every September, bringing together the very best of metal.
Find out more about The Gryphon
In September 2019, 365Bristol sat down with The Gryphon's owner, John Ashby, to learn more about the internationally-known pub.
How did John describe his pub? "It’s just an extension of me, really. It’s friendly, it’s open, it’s honest - and it’s a safe space to be.” Have a read here.
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