Trip to Bristol

Pick-ups will be at the bus stop on the green in Knowle (where Station Road meets the High Street) at 10 am; Solihull railway station at 10:15 am, and Shirley railway station at 10:30 am.

We should get to Bristol around midday, and will depart at 7 pm, so there's plenty of time to explore the historic city.

Recommended Pubs

1. Bridge Inn [Lunch] 16 Passage Street BS2 0JF Close to St Phillips Bridge that crosses the floating harbour, this small friendly pub is also near Temple Meads station, Castle Park & Cabot Circus shopping centre. An adventurous choice of ales is served including seasonal favourites. Musical memorabilia adorn the walls and board games are available to play. 30 malt whiskies and selected vodkas, gins and rums are also served, together with Belgian bottled beers. On Sundays from about 5pm complimentary cheese and biscuits are served. Outside tables increase capacity during good weather. 4 beers

2. Christmas Steps [Dinner] 2 Christmas Steps BS1 5BS This cosy split-level pub, hidden just off the city centre, has welcomed drinkers since the 17th century and is one of Bristol's heritage treasures. The compact drinking areas reveal many original features and the top level includes a dining area. The food and drink are sourced locally where possible. At least four real ales in a variety of styles are served from the lower bar (although these can also be ordered from the upper bar), including house 'Crack' ales brewed for the pub by Twisted Oak. A number of local, regional and national craft keg beers are also available. 5 beers

3. Gryphon, [opens 4pm] 41 Colston Street BS1 5AP A shrine to dark beer and great rock/heavy metal music in which posters, guitars and many pump clips adorn the walls. Triangular in shape due to its corner plot and just a few yards up the hill from the Bristol Beacon (former Colston Hall), it has handpumps dispensing up to four rapidly changing and generally never to be seen again brews, many dark and often strong. Live bands sometimes play upstairs and there are 'MetAle' beer festivals in February and September. There are good discounts on draught or bottled beers at certain times Monday to Thursday. The pub may open earlier on Sundays and may be available for private hire before 4pm weekdays. Children and dogs are admitted at the licensee's discretion. 4pm weekdays. 4 beers

4. Lime Kiln 17 St Georges Road BS1 5UU Named after nearby Lime Kiln Dock, covered over in 1903, this unpretentious free house dispenses a constantly-changing range of six beers in a variety of styles, more during the periodic beer festivals. Beers are often unusual for the area but local breweries also feature. There is also at least one traditional cider available. You are welcome to bring your own food. There is a public car park opposite, with city centre bus stops a few minutes' walk away. 6 beers

5. Three Tuns 78 St Georges Road BS1 5UR This street corner free house occupies a relatively quiet spot close to the Cathedral, College Green and the harbourside. Four changing cask ales are supplemented by six craft keg taps and an extensive can selection, all of which put local breweries to the fore. The L shaped interior has a cosy feel, with a real fire in winter, while outside is a heated patio featuring an impressive mural by Bristol-based street artist Silent Hobo. Tuesday is quiz night. Dogs are encouraged, so this is an ideal stop off after a walk around nearby Brandon Hill. 4 beers

6. Bag O'Nails 141 St Georges Road BS1 5UW Bristol's famous 'cat pub' is a small and quirky free house in a Victorian terrace, featuring not only its many feline residents roaming free, but also glowing portholes in the wooden floor and an eclectic music mix played on a record player. Six changing cask ales are served, both from local breweries and elsewhere, usually including a dark beer. Various bottled beers are also available. No draught lager is sold. Tuesday is quiz night, and a small upstairs room hosts poker and games nights, and occasionally live music. Board games and a Lego collection are available for customers. The pub sometimes hosts tap takeovers. Due to the ever-present cats, dogs are not welcome. No children under 14.6 beers. CATS!!!

7. Cornubia 142 Temple Street BS1 6EN Originally built in 1775 this cosy traditional pub has been tastefully refurbished to give it a lighter feel, with pictures and horse brasses on the walls, fairy lights and hops that adorn the bar area. A long term Camra Good Beer Guide entry with a good range of six changing ales, usually including a dark ale, plus Cornubia house beer from Twisted Oak brewery. The attractive beer garden has an extended seating area to both the front and side of the pub, some of which is lighted and covered. Bar snacks including pies, sausage rolls and scotch eggs are usually available. 6 beers

8. Seven Stars 1 Thomas Lane BS1 6JG Historic free house tucked away in a lane a ten minute walk from the city centre and from Temple Meads railway station. Very much a beer-focused one-room pub with up to six beers of all styles and strengths and at least one real cider. Outdoors there are picnic-style benches adjacent to The Fleece music venue. Log burner in winter, and occasional live sports fixture screenings (eg Six Nations). There is a rock-oriented jukebox and Sunday afternoons feature quality live acoustic music. No food is served but you may bring in your own. See the informative plaque outside for information on how the pub featured in the 18th century anti-slavery campaign. 6 beers

9. Volunteer Tavern 9 New Street BS2 9DX Tucked away in a quiet side street, it is very close to Cabot Circus/Broadmead shops and buses, and convenient for Old Market and its buses. Over 300 years old and listed. As well as a range of changing beers, including a dark one, there is a changing cider. There are 2 annual beer & cider festivals with 25 plus ales, featuring local breweries and cider producers, held in the large fully enclosed, paved and heated garden. In the summer there are Saturday, live, Sound Sessions and Sunday DJ sessions. Monday is quiz night. Sunday roasts are hugely popular, booking recommended. Other food offerings include vegan options. The pub has, for it's own use, a small scale brewery, in an adjacent shipping container. May close earlier on Sundays if quiet. 4 beers, good range of styles

10. Llandoger Trow King Street BS1 4ER Architecturally important and impressive historic pub in which tradition has it Daniel Defoe met Alexander Selkirk, who became the inspiration for Robinson Crusoe, and which was also the inspiration for The Admiral Benbow pub in Stephenson's Treasure Island. Reopened in June 2021 after being closed for over two years it has been reinvented as an alehouse whilst retaining its dignified charm with distinct drinking areas. The opening of several rooms on the first floor has increased capacity considerably. Five changing cask ales are served along with 28 keg lines, from UK and German & Czech Republic breweries, as well as two real ciders. Tap take overs feature, & numerous events are held regularly including Sea Shanty singing, Comedy evenings & Blue Grass music. Friday & Saturday evenings feature Techno music in the Red Room. Card payments only. 5 beers

11. Shakespeare Tavern 68 Prince Street BS1 4QD Converted from a Georgian town house it is said to have the longest continuous ale licence in Bristol. Situated in Bristol’s historic docks just off the City centre and Queens Square, behind the Arnofini Contemporary Arts Centre this managed pub is less than 20 minutes walk from Temple Meads. Up to seven hand pumps offer two regular plus four or five constantly guests of varying styles from renowned breweries, some local & others from all over the UK. Seasonal beer related events are held hosted by local breweries as well as a popular October beer festival, along with a regular Wednesday night pub quiz and monthly Friday night live music. A large selection of pub classic meals are on offer. Dogs are welcome, and there are benches at the front on the terrace for watching the world pass you by. Local CAMRA Pub of the Year 2022. 7 beers. Food 12-3; 5-9

12. Zero Degrees [Microbrewery] 53 Colston Street BS1 5BA New in 2004, this was the second of four Zerodegrees sites to open, the original being in Blackheath, said to be the first Craft Brewery in the UK. Winner of the 2005 CAMRA National New Build Pub award, it underwent a major refurbishment in September 2014 which resulted in a much softer, less industrial, feel to the interior, with more seating in the bar area. Background music at sensible volume. Several balconies and outdoor seating areas are available until 10pm. All the beer is brewed on-site with the equipment visible behind the bar. As well as the three core beers, up to five ever-changing house specials are served and have become more adventurous over time. All beers are served unfiltered, unpasteurised, and cold, from serving tanks, including all the specials. Note that there is a significant mark-up on the price of half pints. Minikegs are available to take away. Wood-fired pizzas and pasta dishes are a speciality, served throughout the pub, including outside. Zerodegrees brewpubs are CAMRA accredited for serving consistently well-kept real ales, and the Bristol brewer has won several SIBA awards. 8 beers.

13. Commercial Rooms 43-45 Corn Street BS1 1HT This Grade II-listed building dating from 1810 was Bristol's first Wetherspoon pub. Centrally located it is a good start or end point for a pub tour of Bristol, with up to 9 guest beers available. Food is served from 8 am until 11pm. There is a quieter galleried room at the rear, but the Great Room does get very busy at peak times. The interior features Greek revival-style decor, a stunning ceiling with dome, portraits and memorabilia from its days as a businessmen's club. Disabled access is via the side entrance in Small Street, ring the door bell. It always gets fully involved with Wetherspoon Real Ale Real Cider and Gin festivals. For the 2 Real Ale Festivals racking, with cooling, is set up in the Great Room to serve from the cask. 9 changing bee

14. Knights Templar 1, The Square BS1 6DG Large one-room Wetherspoon's on the bottom two floors of a modern building, located just behind Brunel’s original Temple Meads Station. Popular with workers from the surrounding offices and with local residents and nearby hotel guests. Very handy for meeting friends to catch a train or a beer after leaving one. There is a train departure board displayed on a large screen in the bar. Use the station's side entrance by the booking hall. Although open at 7am for food, alcohol is not served until 8am. Four guest ales are available during the week, and six at the weekends. Wetherspoon's real ale festivals are held every Spring and Autumn. 4 changing beers

15. King Head 60 Victoria Street BS1 6DE Handy for Temple Meads station & Castle Park, this classic small pub, originally dating from around 1660, is identified by CAMRA as having a nationally important historic interior- the magnificent Mid Victorian bar back is the second oldest known to CAMRA in the UK. Now in the hands of the local Good Chemistry brewery, a sensitive refurbishment has seen the addition of William Morris style wallpaper. A narrow area around the bar leads to the 'Tramcar Bar' at the rear. The pub serves two Good Chemistry and two guest cask ales, which are chosen from far & wide, & the aim is to always have a dark beer available. There are tables and chairs for outside drinking in the warmer weather. 4 beers. Good range of styles

16. New Bristol Brewery Tap Room 20a, Wilson Street BS2 9HH Tap Room open on Friday evening and Saturday. Shop open at other times check the web site. 3 Bristol Brewery beers