Cider Pub Guide to Bristol

From Ukcider

39 pubs listed in Bristol and Clifton

Visitors to Bristol are sometimes puzzled to hear locals order 'Thatchers and slice' or 'Thatchers and dash'. These are Thatchers Traditional with a slice of lemon in it or with a small dash of lemonade put in the glass before the cider, both popular locally.

Many Bristol cider pubs have Happy Hour during weekday early afternoons, usually offering 20p or 30p off per pint.

If asked to pay more than about £2.00/pint for real cider in Bristol, you are in a posh pub or a tourist trap. Most real cider is found in the inner suburbs.

1 Bristol
2 Clifton
3 Nailsea

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Bristol

The Apple, Welsh Back, off the Floating Harbour, Bristol BS1 4SB

Outstanding new cider bar on converted Dutch barge. Seven draught ciders/perries from producers including Westons, Hecks, Thatchers, and changing smaller ones: many, many others available in bottles downstairs, some authentic, some less so (Kopparberg, Magners et al). Their 'Old Bristolian' on draught is 8% and only sold in halves.

Downstairs is a little more sedate than the open-plan, canvas-sided (but warm enough!) upstairs. Reasonable food and drink prices and a lively atmosphere upstairs make it very popular with the student crowd. 'Pie Minister' pies are sold. Opened September 2006.

Opens 5-12 Mon-Sat,12-10:30 Sun at present with possible lunchtime opening from mid-May 2007.

Interesting as a tourist attraction, but there is equally good cider at better prices a short walk away at the Long Bar or the Cotham Porter Store.

The Apple Tree, 27 Philip Street, Bedminster. Tel: 0117 966 7097

A wonderful one-room pub (probably the smallest in Bristol) full of the most amazing mix of characters and presided over by a most genial landlord, Michael Buck. Sells Taunton Traditional, which accounts for 70% of sales. Roy Bailey

Arc Bar, 27 Broad Street BS1 2HG (Tel: 0117 922 6456)

According to the Bath_to_Bristol_pub_crawl (perhaps to be taken with a handful of salt), the Arc Bar sells Thatchers until at least midnight.

Visited this and found it is a nightclub. Open evenings only. I was there lunchtime so could not verify whether it sells cider. Jon Gurney

The Avon Packet, 185-187 Coronation Road, Southville, Bristol BS3 1RF. Tel: (0117) 987 2431

Where do you start with this fascinating curio of a pub? How about the bridge across the bear pit in the back garden, or the duck pond and children's play area? Or the collection of toy buses behind the bar? Or the vintage photographs on the wall? Sells Thatcher's Cheddar Valley and Thatcher's Dry. Duncan Shine Open all day. Happy hour 5-7 Mon-Fri (30p off pints). Good and cheap food, but usually no vegi. dishes. Jon Gurney

The Beaufort Arms [1], 23 High Street, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2YF 0117 973 5906

Nicely placed near the Downs. Thatchers Traditional, Cheddar Valley and Taunton Traditional on draught. Probably the cheapest bar food in the city, but only one dish on offer at a time, usually meat-based.

The Bell, Hillgrove Street, Hillgrove Street (off Jamaica Street), Stokes Croft, Bristol BS2 8JT Tel – 01179 096612

Cosy back street pub, and despite location always trouble free. Lively at weekends with DJ's in the back bar. Ashton Press on tap and Westons Organic Cider in bottles. Aquired by Butcome Brewery 1995

The Brewery Tap, 4-8 Upper Maudlin Street, St Michael's Hill, Bristol BS1 5BD. Tel: (0117) 921 3668.

Formerly Smiles Brewery's tap. Now running as an independent. Sells Mole's (Thatcher's) Black Rat. Duncan Shine.

The Bridge Main Road, Shortwood. Tel: 0117 937 2328.

A two-roomed pub with a tiny snug between them and a veranda making it resemble a cricket pavilion or a Wild West hotel. Sells Taunton Traditional and Thatchers' Cheddar Valley, plus bottled Taunton Natch. Roy Bailey

Cornubia 142, Temple St, BS1 6EN (0117 925 4415)

Bristol Cider Works Organic Cider.

The Coronation, 18 Dean Lane, Southville BS3 1DD

Janet's Jungle Juice. Pizzas a speciality. Slightly studenty, located in a residential area on the south side of the Avon.... not to be confused with the Coronation Tap in Clifton (see below).

Cotham Porter Stores 15 Cotham Road South, Cotham. Telephone deliberately disconnected!

A long, narrow traditional pub, almost as full of characters as The Apple Tree. Probably Thatchers' biggest single outlet, selling their Dry and Cheddar Valley on draught, plus bottled Katy, Cox's and Oak Matured, and Bristol Cider Works' Organic. Also sells Westons Old Rosie and has a cider called DR10 on draught brewed specially for the pub by Rich's Cider Farm in Somerset. Happy hour is 2-5 Mon-Fri, 8-9 Sun (30p off pints). Serves pie and mash (inc vegetarian pies).

The Crown Inn, 10 All Saints Lane, St Nicholas Market, Bristol BS1 1JH. Tel: (0117) 925 4080

Now back to its earlier name after a long spell as the Freetrader & Firkin. There are two entrances via St Nicholas Market into this simply furnished one bar pub with main drinking area, a pool room and downstairs snug. Sells Addlestone's Cloudy. Duncan Shine

The Duke of York, 2 Jubilee Rd, Bristol, St Werburghs, BS2 9RS.

Friendly community pub with skittle alley, new upstairs games room and lounge bar plus outside walled terrace. Have four boxed ciders from Westons, including "Manic Organic" (Organic), "Rumpy Pumpy" (Scrumpy) and "Up Yer Arse" (Old Rosie) as well as "slap and Tickle" (Perry) (£2.40/pint 8.07). Also draught ciders - Stowford Press and Westons Ice, plus real ales and lagers plus several bottled ciders, beers, lagers and Perry (Brothers)! Unique pub in character and appearance.

The Essex Arms 237 Two Mile Hill Road, Kingswood. Tel: 0117 967 4161.

A basic traditional cider house. Best seller is bottled Taunton Natch, and there is also Taunton Traditional and Mole's Black Rat. Roy Bailey

The Hillgrove, Dove Street, Kingsdown, Bristol BS2 8LT. Tel (0117) 9444780

Real ale pub part of the Dawkins Taverns group with a choice of Weston's Real Cider and Weston's Real Perry on draught. Discount on 4-pint jugs. CAMRA Bristol & District Pub of the Year 2007. Normal opening 4pm-Midnight daily. Sunday night quiz. Glen Dawkins (proprietor)

Horts City Tavern 49 Broad St, BS1 2ES (0117 925 2520)

Recently refurbished High-St pub in the centre of Bristol. Currently selling Thatchers Traditional. Cheddar Valley will be availble from Easter Weekend. Jamie Reed

The Kingsdown Vaults, 31 Kingsdown Parade, Kingsdown, Bristol. (0117) 944 2528

One bar, street corner local which is two rooms knocked together. A basic, carpetted pub, popular with students and locals alike. There is regular live music. Sells Thatcher's Cheddar Valley and Thatcher's Traditional.

The Little Grosvenor, 3 Coronation Road, Southville, Bristol BS3 1AA. Tel: (0117) 904 4433

Set just by the river, near Bedminster Bridge, this is another Bristol pub dating back at least to Victorian times. Refurbished in late 2004 (with the word 'little' added to the name), it has a central bar serving a U-shaped drinking area. Sells Taunton Traditional. Duncan Shine.

The Lord Nelson, 61 Aiken Street, Barton Hill, Bristol. (0117) 955 8714

Feistily unspoilt estate pub in the middle of Barton Hill. Sells Thatcher's Cheddar Valley and Thatcher's Dry. Duncan Shine.

The Long Bar, 70 Old Market St, Bristol, Avon, BS2 0EJ 0117 927 6785

(between West St. & Temple Way). Handy for the railway station. Thatcher's Dry and Cheddar Valley. Very narrow pub going a long way back in, with interesting woodwork at rear. Beware of shoplifters trying to sell stolen goods to drinkers.

The Mall The Mall, Clifton, Bristol. Location Old Rosie and Westons Organic, £2.70/pt in Feb 08, pricy by Bristol stabndards.

The Masons Arms, 124 Park Road, Stapleton, Bristol BS16 1DT. Tel: (0117) 939 3919

Reopened in Autumn 2005 after a period boarded up, this is a roadside community boozer with a spectacular hidden garden overlooking the Frome Valley. Sells Taunton Traditional Cider. Duncan Shine.

The Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Place, Hotwells. Sells Thatchers Traditional. Lunchtime food. Outdoor seating beside the harbour. In April - Oct can be reached from the city centre by the harbour ferry during the day - get off at the Hotwells landing stage. Timetable.

The Orchard, 12 Hanover Place, Cumberland Road. Tel: 0117 926 2628.

A smart, one-bar pub near to S.S. Great Britain and noted for its weekday lunches. Sells Thatchers' Draught, Black Rat on handpumps and always 1 guest cider, plus 3 local real ales. Open All day from 12 noon. Happy hour 5-7 (20p off pints). Food 12-3. In April - Oct can be reached from the city centre by the harbour ferry during the day - get off at the 'SS Great Britain' landing stage, walk down the street & take the first alley on the right. Timetable

The Pipe & Slippers [2]

118 Cheltenham Rd, Bristol, BS6 5RW 0117 942 7711. A good range of cider including Westons, Thatcher's Traditional or Cheddar Valley and Addlestons on draught. A bit pricey especially the bottles!

(delist) The Port of Call Black Boy Hill, Bristol. No longer has real cider.

The Reckless Engineer [3] Temple Gate, Bristol, BS1 6PL Tel: 0117 922 0487

Addlestones on draught (close to Temple Meads railway station.)

The Robert Fitzharding (Wetherspoon) [4]

24 Cannon Street, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 1BN. 0117 966 2757 Westons Old Rosie on draught, ocassionally Westons Vintage on draught. An excellent variety of bottled ciders and Thatchers Perry bottled too.

The Rose of Denmark [5]

6 Dowry Place, Hotwells, Bristol. BS8 4QL. 0117 940 5866 Thatchers Traditional on draught.

The Russell Arms, Ducie Road, Lawrence Hill, Bristol BS5 0AT. Tel: (0117) 955 4210

A street corner local, the last remaining building from the original block. This is popular with local residents, and has a pool room at the back. Sells Thatcher's Dry and Taunton Traditional on handpump. Duncan Shine

Severnshed, The Grove, City Docks, Bristol BS1 4RB

Upmarket, modern bar and restaurant serving bottled Bayeux Cider and Brothers so-called 'Pear Cider'. Good food, though the cider's pretty expensive: food is cheaper before 7pm. (Obviously situated beside the Floating Harbour, part of the Avon, rather than the Severn!)

delisted: The Seven Stars, 1 Thomas Lane, Redcliffe,

Has changed hands. No longer serves real cider or holds Sunday cider festivals.

The Ship & Castle, 5 Ashton Vale Road, Ashton, Bristol BS3 2HA. Tel: (0117) 902 0059

Large two bar 19th century pub at the entrance to Ashton Vale Trading Estate, and just over the road from Bristol City FC. Sells Taunton Traditional. Duncan Shine

The Slow Food Market, Corn Street, Bristol, BS1 1JQ.

This takes place on the first Sunday of the month. A stall selling a range of draught and bottled ciders and perries is run alternately by Tom Oliver, of Oliver's Cider & Perry, and Keith Orchard, of Orchard's Cider & Perry Company. The market sells a wide variety of very good quality, locally produced food. Three Counties perry has been accepted into the Presidia of the Slow Food movement, thus gaining international recognition of its importance. link here link here

The Sugarloaf, 51 St Marks Road, Easton, Bristol BS5 6HX. Tel: (0117) 939 4498

Very busy community pub tucked in an out of the way part of Bristol, surrounded by some fascinating ethnic shops and near to the famous Sweetmart. Sells Addlestone's Cloudy, Thatcher's Traditional, Cheddar Valley and the sparkly version of Mole's Black Rat. Very nice occasional (good weather permitting) beer garden. Just don't bring your own food!

The Swan With Two Necks, 12, Little Ann Street, St Judes, Bristol BS2 9EB. Tel: (0117) 955 1893

One bar pub just off the Bristol end of the M32. Simple furnishings throughout, with a TV in one corner. Various types of tankard adorn the ceiling beams. Sells Thatcher's Dry Cider.

The White Swan, 70 North Street, Downend, Bristol BS16 5SG. Tel: (0117) 975 4154.

For years a popular cider pub, selling more draught cider than beer. The White Swan closed for a while in early 2006, but reopened with a reduced draft cider range. Taunton Traditional on handpump. Duncan Shine

Youth Hostel, 14 Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA (0870 770 5726; website)

Bristol is so much a cider city that even the YHA serves cider (bottled Westons Organic) in its open-to-all bar. However, the price is absurd.

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Clifton

The Albion, Boyces Avenue, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4AA. Tel: (0117) 973 3522

18th century inn tucked at the end of a pedestrian only courtyard. Completely refurbished and revamped in 2005. It sells Addlestone's Cloudy and Thatcher's Traditional on handpump. Duncan Shine

Very much a restaurant first, bar second during our lunchtime visit. Superb and unusually dry Thatchers at the bar more than compensated. Paul Shirley

The Clifton, 16 Regent Street, Clifton, Bristol, Avon, BS8 4HG (0117) 974 6321

Relaxed bar/wine bar at front, more foodie rear room. Westons Organic and Old Rosie on handpump + an unused handpump on our visit. Open daytime weekdays unlike many Bristol bars. Paul Shirley

The Coronation Tap Website Sion Place, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4AX. Tel: (0117) 973 9617

Legendary cider drinkers' pub in the heart of Clifton, a stone's throw from Brunel's famous bridge. Lively pub with plenty of atmosphere, and excellent cider on draught. Highly recommended. Paul Gunningham

On a recent visit I found that they were selling Addlestones, Thatcher's Traditional and Cheddar Valley, Taunton Traditional and Exhibition, an 8.4% cider produced specially for the pub 'by a major cider maker'. Roy Bailey

Cider prices were a lot higher than in most Bristol pubs when I last visited. This is the Bristol cider pub with media profile e.g. described by Backpackers magazine as "the pub everyone agrees is the place for cider in Bristol": an opinion not shared by regulars of the Cotham, Swan, Long Bar, Avon Packet, etc. Jon Gurney

Can be crowded, difficult to get into and excessively studenty later in the evening at weekends. Worth a visit anyway but most pleasant earlier. Good live music Sunday afternoons. Nick Skelton

Beware: opens 5pm weekdays. Paul Shirley

The Lion, Website 19 Church Lane, Cliftonwood, Bristol BS8 4TX. Tel: (0117) 926 8492

Tucked away half way up Constitution Hill, this is a popular street corner locals' pub, with log fires in the winter, and a courtyard garden for the summer. Sells Addlestone's Cloudy. Duncan Shine

The Lansdown, Clifton Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1AF. Tel: (0117) 973 4949

Several good ciders have recently been introduced to this friendly pub. Addlestone's Cloudy, Thatchers Cheddar valley, and at least one other Thatchers (will check!). Just off Queens Road. Comfortable upstairs room sometimes used for comedy, poetry and other events. Covered and heated beer garden. Somewhat studenty but not excessively so. Expensive, but then everywhere in Clifton is. Good Sunday lunches. Nick Skelton

The Victoria, Southleigh Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2BH. Tel (0117) 9745675

Hard to find, small, listed Victorian pub next to the old Clifton Lido. Take first right (Oakfield Place) off St Paul's Road, coming from the BBC end. Real ale pub part of the Dawkins Taverns group with a changing cloudy cider from the polybarrel on the bar. Normal opening 4pm-11pm Mon-Fri, 12-11 Sat, 12-10.30 Sun Glen Dawkins (proprietor)

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