please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The food choice was indeed limited, but not in a bad way. There was a range of proper pies and mash, and a few other things.
The Butcombe's went down fine, and I rather liked the bold mustard and turquoise etc. décor. You only need to see so much Farrow and Ball "Mizzle" in one lifetime after all. The leather settees were great for slobs like us too.
So have seven-out-of-ten. What harm could it do?
|
Like the last reviewer, I visited the Ostrich tonight after a long absence and found things had changed for the worse. Indifferent beer, limited food (essentially burgers and baked spuds), and one particulary sarky and offhand barmaid. Largely young and noisy crowd. The pub has so much potential from its fantastic location that is not being fulfilled.
|
Revisited The Ostrich today with a friend; the first time in over 5 years.
Didn't stay long though - the girl behind the bar was very abrupt if not down right rude.
It was lunchtime, and the server was cleaning the bar. We were ignored until I said hello, and then asked if they were doing bar snacks. Without even looking up from her chore I was asked what I meant. When I asked about Jacket Potato's she pointed to the board listing baguettes and, again without looking up, said "or crisps!"
We left and so did the couple who had followed us in, who had sat down at a table to be told "I don't do table service".
Won't be going back anytime soon.
|
Visited during the Bristol Harbour Festival - busy but managed to find a table outside in the huge dockside terrace.
Food was pleasant, and the beer (Brains SA, Rev James, and Smugglers Brew) was on top form. Although busy the service was quick and top quality.
|
The main attraction of this pub is definitely the large outside seating area. It has a square footage probably about ten times as much as the pub itself, and being adjacent to the river and a lock gets packed on warm sunny evenings. It�s also one of the stopping off points for the various booze cruises that sail around the docks. Unfortunately though it loses the sun quite early due to the tall buildings nearby, so it can get a little chilly unless it�s a really warm day. There is a good view across the water to The Thekla, Mud Dock, etc.
In spite of it being extremely busy on a recent Thursday evening with an orderly queue of about a dozen people at the bar, there were four people serving and they seemed quick and efficient.
The pub itself is a traditional affair and not unpleasant, although I didn�t note anything of particular interest the short time that I was in there. From memory there is an old cave entrance in one corner which they had made a bit of a feature of, in fact I recall there was an old skeleton in there at one time.
Beers on tap were Robinson�s Ginger Tom, Hobgoblin and Tribute. Ciders were Blackthorn and Scrumpy Jack.
|
Agree previous comments about failing to live up to its potential. This is a beautiful old building in a fantastic dockside location. I hear it's recently come under new management so hopefully things will improve. I had a reasonable pint of Hobgoblin (other beer on offer was Milk Wood, which I think is from Brain's). Shame about the extremely inebriated ciderhead at the other end of the bar (at 3.00 pm) but at least he was trying to be friendly.
|
Much improved! Friendly bar staff, pretty good ale & lager. Can get overrun by booze-cruisers, although watching them get booted out is always a fun occupation.
|
Took the long walk from the city shops with my friend who wanted to go in every pub we went past. And it was well worth it. This was our first visit for a couple of years and I was not looking forward to meeting the wasp-chewing landlady again! What a wonderful suprise.
OK, it was an autumnal day, and the place was quiet, but the staff were on the ball and the beer well presented. When we ordered some food we were pointed to a special offer so we got more food for less cash, and the food was obviously freshly prepared as we had to wait while the herb crust was knocked up for the cod, it's progress being reported to us regularly. (We've caught the cod, the crust is being crimped on it now etc.)
|
haven't been to this pub for a couple of years or more and was really surprised at how things had changed. it's minus the bar lady with the grimace who thought she was the manager and the staff now are really friendly and very upbeat. they now have a specials board and the menu has moved away from wetherspoons style grub. we both had something off the specials board and the food was fantastic and very reasonable as well. i'm not normally a fan of guest ales but they had a marstons ale which was pretty damn nice and obviously well conditioned. the whole experience was really good and nothing was too much trouble for the staff. It's nice to see this pub fulfilling its potential. we know go in at least a couple of times a week and its always just as good. only thing that would improve it, is if it was walking distance from my front door!
|
Not a bad pint of S A Brain 's "SA".
When I saw it on the bar, I asked for a pint of "Skull Attack" (that's what the people in Cardiff call it) and the Barmaid looked at me like I was from another planet!
Anyway, better than the Golden Guinea up the road, which is far to expensive and very dark and gloomy decor-wise.
|
Visited a few months ago with some publican friends and this was a lesson in how things shouldn't be done. There was Brains and a seasonal from Marstons. The latter was ok but was served with a grimace by a large lunch munching woman. The BOC cellar gas cylinder lorry arrived. There was much clinking,clanging and banging below the floor. And guess what? The next beer we got was hazy-they'd obviously knocked the barrels. My learned companion returned all 3 pints to be told they were ok(though opaque!) and that the pubs "cellar expert" was in the cellar. Needless to say the replacement Brains was offered but was also hazy. A refund was then requested and after much negotiation was granted but rudely slammed on the counter. Yes,a waste of what could be a great boozer.
|
This has long been a pub that resolutely refuses to realise its potential. Multiple changes of ownership and management have left it dull and directionless. If you can get someone else to go inside and get your drinks for you - braving the uninterested and charisma-free bar staff - you can admire the fine harbourside location while you plan your next move to a pub where your custom might actually be welcome.
|
yuk , last time i visited here it was pissing down, i'd just come out of the general on crutches ,and despite it being only about 10 mins to opening time ,was told i was not allowed in , about as friendly as friendly as turning up as baghdad airport without a passport
|
The main attraction of this pub is definitely the large outside seating area, so I'm not going to bother sayimg much about the inside. In fact last time I was there I didn't even go in.
The seating area is right next to the lock, there's a good view up the river and of The Thekla, Mud Dock, etc. over the other side. There's no grass, but quite a few trees dotted about. In can get very busy on a summer's evening even though it's tucked out the way a bit.
The only draft cider is Blackthorn.
|
What a dull place. Pedigree and (very average) Brains SA on tap, people sat around not talking to each other and landlady more interested in stuffing her Sunday roast than serving her customers. Miserable.
|
Fake brass, nautical wall coverings and "olde world" prints abound here - fake pub in a box anyone? As said, now a Marstons Tavern and the bland, inspid (You really could be drinking anything sadly, do Martsons sample their own beer outside the Midlands?), bad travelling Pedigree on draught. However, although I prefer Spa as a rule, the Bath Ales Gem I switched to after the Pedi was served in excellent condition and really went down a treat. Nice seated outside area by the docks to escape that fake pub in a box interior I am glad to say and that in itself redeems this place scoring it a fair 6/10.
|
Taken over by Marstons Taverns now so pedigree,pedigree, and gem. < to a 7/10
|
Delicious pint of Bath Ales "Gem". Friendly service, lovely building and prime location 4 the summer months, 9/10 without a doubt.
|
Good Guinness,friendly staff-but TURN ON THE AIR CLEANERS-THEY ARE NOT ORNAMENTS!!!!!!!!
|
Nice little pub great for sitting outside in the summer months and sunny winter days, ie lots of seating. Pub grub good and drinks reasonably priced.
Sam Osborne - 26 Jan 2005 12:31 |
