Bristol Neighbourhood Guide: Whitchurch

Bristol Neighbourhood Guide: Whitchurch

Posted on: 11 Oct 2023

We’re back for one last time with our guide to Bristol’s diverse and vibrant neighbourhoods – with some cherrypicked spots to showcase just how much is going on in each corner of the city.

 

For our final guide, we're taking a look at the South Bristol suburb and adjoining village of Whitchurch, a community teaming with community pubs, popular eateries and home to the largest film and TV studio facility in the West of England - all just a stone's throw from the Somerset countryside!

 

Read on for our guide to all the nightlife, food, lifestyle, cultural and historical highlights of St. Philip’s Marsh…

 

Nightlife:

 

Beginning our nightlife rundown of Whitchurch is The Yeoman on Wells Road. The pub has everything you'd want from a traditional boozer, serving the communities of Brislington, Stockwood and Hengrove as well as Whitchurch, it's the perfect place to enjoy the footy, munch on a burger or simply enjoy an evening out with friends.

A traditional British pub (as shown by the sign which depicts Winston Churchill, a fighter plane and a Union Jack) with a twist, The Whitchurch is a popular eponymously named community drinking hole. Now a Greene King venue, The Whitchurch boasts a flaming grill, screened live sports, affordable drinks and more.

Another popular spot for South Bristol drinkers is the Shield & Dagger, a Sizziling Pub conversion of a 1960s estate pub offering a great drinks range, pub games, a large beer garden and live sports.

Food:

 

Lauded by locals as one of Bristol's top curry houses, the team at Blue Ginger believe in fresh, excellent and healthy Indian cuisine. Whether it's sizzling tandoori specialities you want Blue Ginger Appetizers, this popular restaurant has you covered - it's even bring your own booze and boasts a private back room for parties.

Another Indian restaurant of high pedigree, and located just a few doors away from Blue Ginger, is Paprika. A favourite for eat-in and takeaway meals in equal measure, the restaurant chef won 'BCA Chef of the Year' in 2016 and 'Restaurant of The Year' in the South West at the Bangladeshi Catering Association awards 2017.

This row of shops is also home to a Whitchurch's institution in Caffe Rosa. An eatery with community right at its heart, the family-run cafeserve delicious, good quality quality breakfasts, lunches and dinners as well as working closely with local food banks. They have provided over two tons of food via the donation box they have in the cafe, helping our communities through difficult times.

Another family run cafe that calls Whitchurch its home is Deb's Cafe and Takeaway. Open for over fourteen years, Deb's serve a range of greasy spoon classics from ‘sticks’ (baguettes) to your standard fry ups, pub classics to full English sandwiches - all at mind-bogglingly low prices.

Palermo Pizzeria is yet another community favourite located on Belland Drive. With a menu that includes a wide range of pizzas, salads, pasta dishes, and more, the restaurant features a vibrant, muraled interior and even has a BYOB policy!

Lifestyle & Culture:

 

Situated on Whitchurch Lane is Bottle Yard Studios, the largest film and TV studio in the West of England with 11 stages available and facilities including a 5,000 sq ft green screen studio plus 35,000 sq ft of furnished production offices. Productions filmed at Bottle Yard include The Outlaws (BBC), The Persuit Of Love (BBC), The Crystal Maze (Channel 4), Hellboy (film), Poldark (BBC), Broadchurch (ITV), Sherlock (BBC), The Festival (film) and more.

Whitchurch is also a hub of South Bristol sport with various local clubs operating in the area. One prominent example is Bristol Barbarians Rugby Club: a real family club currently running one senior side and boasting excellent facilities including a buzzing clubhouse. 

Next up is a the basis for a lovely Bristol walk. Whitchurch Railway Path runs along the line of the former Bristol & North Somerset Railway. The line once ran between Bristol and Frome, but closed in 1968; today, one can explore the city via little known off road cycle/walking paths.

The perfect place to satisfy all your botanical needs, Whitehall Garden Centre - Whitchurch is an immensely popular shop that deals with everything from gardening supplies and home accesories to crazy Christmas decorations and even, bizzarely, wine! This is a perfect stop off point on the way back from a nice country walk.

History:

 

The name Whitchurch was first recorded in 1230 and means, 'The White Church' , a description that is very apt to the modern suburb and adjoining village with multiple churches still based in the area. The village dates back to the twelth century and became a a civil parish in 1866 before it was split in two with the northern half being ingulfed by the City of Bristol.

Other important aspects of Whitchurch's history includes the 2005 tornado. Yes, you heard that right, August 2005 saw a 1,000 ft tornado sweep through the skies of South Bristol, almost causing serious damage to Whitchurch and surrounding neighbourhoods according to the Meteorological Office!

 

Whitchurch's most famous son is Judd Trump MBE. The former world champion and former world number one snooker player is widely regarded as one of the sport's greats and grew up in the area, attending Hartcliffe School as a child.

So, there it is, 365Bristol’s guide to Whitchurch. Please note that we have had to be loose in terms of neighbourhood borders so as to fit everything that’s amazing about Bristol into these guides. It’s also impossible to sum up everything that’s great about our city in such a short article, but please get in contact with us here and let us know your favourite neighbourhood highlights.

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Article by:

Stanley Gray

Stan is a born and bred Bristolian, recently graduated from studying English Literature in Sheffield. His passions are music and literature and he spends the majority of his time in venues all over the city, immersing himself in Bristol’s alternative music scene. A lifelong Bristol City fan, Stan’s Saturdays are spent watching his team both home and away.