please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Still a Lock up Shop and when I called in, very little on offer. Recent reports of "Dancing Ladies" at 9:30pm on a Thursday (less clothes) according to locals present!
Bottom line is it can't last!
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Closed 7pm on New Years Eve!
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A back street pub a bit off the beaten track and away from the main road, it has nonetheless managed to survive when two others pubs in the village have both closed in recent years. Having said that, I was initially unsure if it was open when we visited – the pub sign was not illuminated and the pub was in darkness other than a couple of hanging lamps above the bar. We persevered though, and found two other punters in there.
I was under the impression that this had been taken on by the team behind The Hen & Chicken in Southville a few years back, but whereas that remains a popular and buzzy place with a good range of pizzas, this seems quite the opposite and any sign of a refurbishment has now been lost. It was difficult to discern much in the gloom, but from what I could see it’s a good sized U-shape pub with a wood strip floor at the front and tatty cream paintwork on the walls. A pool table was at the rear and here there was chequered lino on the floor, whilst a dart board was on the wall. A plasma was up on one wall but this was not in use, and one of the other punters in there was making some selections from the jukebox which was just as well or it would have been deathly quiet otherwise. The most interesting feature was probably the carved wooden backdrop to the bar. There is also a courtyard garden apparently, although we did not investigate this.
Beers on tap were nonexistent unfortunately. Despite two hand pumps on the bar, both of these had run out or were not in use. One had a Doom Bar clip on it, the other nothing. Ciders fared better though with Thatcher’s Dry, Thatcher’s Gold and Blackthorn.
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Unfortunately, the Kings Arms closed on Monday 26th August, meaning this is now the only remaining pub open in Brislington for the time being.
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Called in the Pilgrim this week and there is indeed a new couple running it along the style of a "lock-up pub". The original pub flat is now bedsits and the function room is now a flat. The pub is literally run like a lock-up shop!
Beer-wise, it's difficult to judge at the moment, but there is Thatcher's Gold & Dry on draught at £3 a pint.
One of the locals said that the jukebox was being fitted, but the building owner stopped the engineers in mid flow and got them to take it away. Musical entertainment is from a mini hi-fi behind the bar. No more pool table and I did not notice whether there was a dart board either!
Good luck to the couple that have taken the pub on, but I think they are going to have a hard job on their hands?
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Just heard from a friend it's re-opened, but for how long this time?
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Sorry to say it, but the Pilgrim has closed again. The upstairs is now flats or bedsits and the "lock-up pub" is in need of a tenant. The Kings Arms nearby remains, but the future there is uncertain!
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As was the case for all the pubs in Brislington, this was a Courage house and in the 1970�s they were forced to sell it to Bass Charrington. The last two long-standing tenants, Harold Godfrey, followed by Norman Wright were superceded by Bass making this a managed house due to its success. Unfortunately, the place went downhill in the 1990�s due to mis-management.
Starting the new century, it re-opened following a mysterious fire and underwent a refurbishment in October 2007 in the hands of Punch Taverns. At that point it offered four real ales and a selection of other beers, lagers & ciders and food.
Due to further problems, the Pilgrim closed early June 2008 and did not re-open until mid September under new management. It changed hands again in May 2009. Also in May, the Pilgrim, along with the Bloomfield Inn and Sandringham Hotel had windows smashed, which was reported in the Bristol Evening Post.
The Pilgrim closed (again) on Monday 5th October 2009. It re-opened 28th of October 2009 under new management, this time by an operator that has two successful pubs in Bedminster & Clifton. It has since changed hands again, but the function room has now been converted into flats.
Check the opening hours - the last time I called here on a Saturday evening it was closed!
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Just arrived back in the area...
Why is the pub closed on a Saturday night?
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In the words of Mr Hogwallop in the film 'O Brother Where Art Thou', they appear to have R U N N O F T
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It has changed hands again and continues to be a nice place to go for a pint or two. I called in yesterday and found a reasonable pint of Courage Best for �2.90. There's also Thatchers Cheddar Valley on hand-pull. One of the locals said that the original double doors in the centre of the pub frontage are going to be re-instated - Not sure why, but no doubt all will be revealed in due course?
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Called in here on Sunday and had a very good lunch (two for �10 - special opening offer) and an excellent pint of Butcombe. Other beers on offer were Courage Best and Doom Bar (I think). Cider - Addlestones ? was also available.
The pub was quiet but very civilised, hopefully they've finally got rid of a few local nutters who spoil it for everyone else and maybe they're hoping to pick up some trade from new flats nearby. Bar staff very friendly and service was quick and polite. Be happy to spend a few hours in here just having a beer or two, lets hope this pub gets a decent following.
For what it's worth I think this place is owned by the same people who own the Hen & Chicken in North St and that is a very successful pub so lets just have a bit of patience and get in there to support it?
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The Pilgrim was always a great local pub until the lunatics took over the asylum in the last couple of years. Sadly it's gone from one extreme to the other, a sad, faceless uninviting place, locals refer to it as the library, mind you Wick Road library is a lot livelier. Come back Norman Wright, a proper village landlord.
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Popped in again today with my mate (another Sunday lunchtime) and luckily, the Butcombe Gold was on, as were the other three real ales.
When we arrived around 1pm, it was a little quiet with nearly enough staff to do a 1:1 with each customer. From what I could gather, the only food offer was the Sunday Lunch menu and at �8.00 a go, I guess the more commercial places, such as the Black Castle will clear up on the food side. (Having said that, there's no real ale at the Castle)
Nice background music while we were there too, which makes the place more inviting than the other places in the area.
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Called in here this afternoon "apr�s le d�jeuner" and thought a pint of Butcombe Gold would round things off. Unfortunately, that was off-line, as was the Doom Bar, so had to settle for the only real ale, Wadworth's 6X, which was OK.
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Perhaps the food I had previously was when the chef was having a bad day-the staff are very courteous, already met new people here with a similar desire for a decent pub in Briz, and it will take a bit of time for it to find its niche. Fingers crossed as it is so handy for myself and other locals to stroll down the hill, enjoy a pint or two without the worry of idiots ruining your evening.
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Still excellent 6X and thankfully a far friendlier (though a little deliberate at it) lad behind the bar on this visit. Alas though,there were only about 5 people in,and several of them seemed they were only having a look. Still gloomy both inside and out with low music and the hum of the kitchen fans adding to the humdrum. Hmmm I say.
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We had sunday lunch here a couple of weeks ago and it was great! The beef melted in the mouth and there was plenty of it, chocolate brownie was fab and my husband said the cheeseplate was one of the best
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Im slightly confused reading soem of these reviews. I live very close to the Pilgrim and knew fully well about the previous reputation. I thought the staff were awesome - very welcoming! The Beer was great and the range of ciders was so great to see, the prices are fair - i presume higher the price the less amount of trouble.............The food was good, portion size was small but still to a good standard..... People must respect their going through a transition stage and i reckon given a couple of months this boozer will be perfect for this area.
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There is definitely something missing about this place- there is no atmosphere or warmth about the place, too dark and cold. We had a meal in here saturday and I am sorry to say the food was dreadful, freezing cold sausages on a plate of mash with cold wet cabbage for �7.50( had tons better at O'neils in town for �2.95) and the fish and chips were the worst I have ever seen-just pure batter with no fish and peas flattened with a fork to look like mushy peas. I am desperate to support this pub and what they are trying to do- but they are not getting it right here yet in my opinion-food too expensive for the area and not up to standard.
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Starting to see a pattern here.
North Street Bedminster/Alma Vale Road Clifton attitudes towards the locals, who are not the yuppies that frequent those places. I got the impression that the way I was talked to (or not as was the case) the staff had the thought that I would, perhaps, go away and sit in a corner? Was I of a lower intellect perhaps?
Like the other reviewers have said, a bit of "Please & Thank You" would help, but if they are going to have staff that are, or appear to be "aloof" to the customers, they'll go elsewhere and take their money with them. With beer at �2.80 a pint and very expensive wine, I guess the people will vote with their feet?
Remember. It's not all that many years ago that Brislington was in Somerset. We certainly 'aint in Clifton or Southville! I doubt very much you'll get a late pint here either?
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Good job done,but for how long once the honeymoon period is over.
The food was par for the area,but there was something missing,have not put my finger on it yet.
I agree with the last comment a civil hello, how are you? would go a long way.
My partner asked for a coke and was plesantly suprised it was the dark wet stuff.Not bad though worth another visit.
Hope they keep the excess of idiots out,when the Good Intent becomes history.
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Visited more succesfully last week. A nice job but yes,far too dark. Excellent 6X for �2.80 but range could be more exciting. Civil barman and woman,but they made no engagement with me (the only punter at the time) except when taking the money.
Got busier after a while but was disappointing to note the staff's attitude-food was advertised but the kitchen was shut and 2 sets of people came in,ordered drink only to told afterwards that the food was off. One customer was told "there's a chinky up the street.....". The other lady customer got in a right strop,but only got shrugged shoulders. And no "sorry no food" sign was applied to the door just to prepare the unfortunate CUSTOMERS. It was discussed between the staff that maybe they should but no,couldn't be assed attitude applied. Just why I wouldn't go in the sister pubs the Alma or Hen and Chicken.
Would visit again but can't see it hitting the spot as a "pub".
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I called in here earlier and it appears that it was after the rush they had for Sunday Lunches. My mate went in here at the end of last week and he, like me, appreciates a good pint. Butcombe Gold, albeit at �2.80 is a stronger beer and I will relent and say that that price is probably correct? I've received very good reports from other friends, both drinkers and in the trade. Just need to try the food, which I hear is very good too?
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Picture on this site is a bit outdated. Inside it's a lot better than it used to be and the new people have managed to get the local people interested in using the place again. We used to use the Pilgrim years ago, but it went so far downhill that I thought it would close and be more flats. Nice to see that the place is now used by sensible people and not the yobs that used to hang around outside drinking cans of cider.
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Has potential to be very good and could clean up for the more discerning drinkers in Briz- could something be done about the lighting though as it is very gloomy-i thought it was closed when I went past the other night as it looked very dark inside.
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Starting to look like the only "up-together" pub in the area?
KIngs Arms is too clicky and the White Hart is nothing more than a tip nowadays. Going to be the Pilgrim for me if I'm in the Village?
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Have made a couple of trips to the pilgrim, and am very impressed and excited about havin g a decent pub to go too in brislington. we took our near 2 year old there on saturday and there was a real mixture of people which was really nice. lets hope it stays that way
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Tried the pilgrim for the first time this afternoon with my partner and baby son,
we loved it...friendly staff and a steady flow or people over the couple of hours there. Also a good selection of ale's and cider, although we didn't it eat, what we did see of the food it looked good...we'll definetely be returning for there roast diner and few more pints doombar, at last Briz has a nice local to go to.I'm optimistic but it really is the last chance for the pilgrim and probably us in Briz, lets hope it lasts, we'll certainly be making it our local.
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Seems a bit more inviting than previously-very quiet on Tuesday night but thats probably to be expected. Owner looked a little nervous and jumpy but who wouldnt! Cautiously optimistic that at last Briz has a decent boozer to frequent for the older crowd.
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Unfortunately we were let down by staff this lunchtime and were not willing to risk having only one member of staff on duty.
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Hmmm. End of week number 1 in its new incumbency and despite the sign out saying open 12-5 Sundays it was resolutely shut curtains closed no sign of life etc at 1.20pm today.
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Been in and the place is better. No local numpties when I called in and like the Stella advert, "reassuringly expensive". At least the tins of Natch have gone? On the down side, it's dark and dingy inside as it's been painted using the same pot of paint they used on the outside of the White Hart. Someone told me the food starts next week? Chip shop for now I suppose?
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Well, it's open again and real ales on offer include Butcombe Gold and Sharp's Doom Bar. Nice redecorating job too.
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The windows will be replaced before it re-opens but there is no need to do this until nearer the time.
Should re-open on Wed 28th Oct at 5pm.
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Fingers crossed for the Pilgrim. Just got to wait until the end of the month!
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cider23 and imbibers have got valid points, but this place has not been worth going into since whoever was running it let all the idiots back in.
OK, everyone in Briz knows who broke the windows, but why not get the temporary panels replaced with glass? Who in their right mind wanted to go in with it looking as it does?
Then there are the stories of having to go to the Offy up the road to get the Natch in. Sorry, I'm not going back, or my mates.
We saw this place re-open once too many times and then turn back into a Daz/Aerial fuelled house just like the Forresters in WoT. The stories about that pub are very similar to the way the Pilgrim has gone.
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I would like to say the pub is not as bad as people are making it out to be, yea ok it has some problems but what pub doesnt. I have read several comments about the windows being smashed and so the pub 'must be trouble' if you remember the same person who smashed the windows also smashed The Bloomfield and The Sandringham windows.
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Closed as of Monday 5 Oct but soon to re-open towards the end of October - a selection of real ales will return, a fire will be lit (in the fire place), some of the games & sky will be gone and a quiet pint will be had.
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Most of the windows still boarded up since the window smashing event some months ago. Not clear who's running the place at the moment, or whether there's any beer for sale.
Looking at King Sturge's website, you can buy this for �195,000 with vacant posession!
More flats methinks?
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Looks like the lunatics have taken over the asylum?
Bald bloke seems to have disappeared and someone else is running the place.
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Still Grim!
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Take a deep breath before you go here. I tried it once and won't be going back in. Phil Mitchell lookalike landlord, no proper beer, dodgy looking customers etc. Brislington's not got talent here.
Where shall I go next, cos' I won't be going here again!
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Looks even worse since 7 windows were smashed by a local nutter. Still the same idiots using the place with the same old problems!
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Don�t go here�
This is a NASTY pub and the landlord has ended up allowing all the idiots that are barred from every other pub in the area to drink here, or use the toilets in groups. Just hope the police get their finger out and see what goes on in there? I left before I needed to use the toilet.
The only good thing about this place is that there�s a For Sale sign outside, so it may end up as flats like the other closed pubs in Bristol.
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Things looked fairly promising in October 2007 when the Pilgrim re-opened after a refurbishment. Since then, there�s been all sorts of trouble, blue flashing lights and smashed windows.
The pub lease has been on the market for several months, along with the White Hart nearby, but there�s been a further development with the Pilgrim, the Freehold is now for sale.
If you have a quarter of a million or so, then this once popular local could be yours as a freehouse?
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Latest bit of modernisation here has been the smashed windows at the front of the Pub. Still the same problems!
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Still got the ongoing problems that were here before the pub closed two years ago. OK, the guy that's running it at the moment is trying, but the same group of people are allowed in and cause the same old problems.
It's on the market again, so if you have �30K+, then this could be yours, along with the problems that are associated with the place. Whoever does eventually take this pub on will need to be local and know "who is who" in the area.
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Still pretty "Grim" as the name suggests!
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After a four-month period, the Pilgrim has re-opened 12th September with a new Licensee. Unfortunately, the following day, the local idiots turned up and the blue flashing lights were not too far away!
Hopefully, and this has been said before, the new management will get this once popular pub back on its feet?
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Still Closed!
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What a surprise � Currently closed (June 6th) due to the lack of a Licensee.
Hopefully this will be a temporary measure, but with all that�s been going on here in recent months, who in their right mind is going to take this place on?
Bottom line is that this was a disaster waiting to happen, putting youngsters in charge of a pub with a recent history of problems.
One song needed for the Jukebox is White Lines (Don't Don't Do It) by Grandmaster Melle Mel and The Furious Five! If you want to use the toilets, join the queue!
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Further to previous reviews, this place has gone right down the scale since it re-opened last year.
Nearly every weekend there's trouble with PC Plod closing the place last weekend following a nasty event.
The draught beer is no longer available all the time (if at all) and a pool table has returned with the associated problems they bring. The poor state of the toilets is enough to put anyone off returning.
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Did not take long - Already been trouble in here agter it re-opened. Usual suspects that were probably banned by the previous tenant?
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The Pilgrim re-opened Tuesday 23rd October after a major refurbishment. They did a good job, but the bar is only half the length it used to be and there is no longer a dividing wall to keep the noise in the bar. Apparently, Sky TV is planned, to I guess it won�t be a place for a quiet pint when the football is on?
Not sure how long before the local yobs will wreck the place?
On a positive note, there�s a good selection of beer and it�s reasonably priced, compared to the other two pubs remaining in the centre of Brislington village.
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