please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This was once my favorite Bristol pub, good to see it has reopened but it has lost some of it's old character.
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Wickwar have now been running the place for a year and I know its not been to everyones taste, but for the majority CPS is now a friendly community pub that welcomes and caters for all types of pub visitor. Theres now a regular weekly music and quiz nights and Pieminister pies on the menu.
Simon, the landlord, and his staff make every effort to make the place run smoothly and welcoming. They keep a regular changing rota of guest ales as well as Wickwar staples. They also always have a couple of ciders on.
Considering how easy it is to find poor pubs (admittedly not in Bristol where we do seem blessed) I would recommend the CPS to anyone from 18 to 90, cider, beer or G&T lover. This isn't an ad from a Wickwar rep just a happy local drinker.
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Turns out the pub has been bought by Wickwar Brewery - who specialise in ale of all things! There are so many ale pubs in this area and around st michaels hill already. Cider is what we crave around here! With the Cat & Wheel the only option for real cider in the area you would have thought someone would have capitalised on this gap in the market. Time will tell - hopefully when the Stores reopens they'll be some good cider on!
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Pub has now been sold. Hopefully it will be taken over by someone with a real passion for cider and traditional pubs who will turn this place round and reap it's true potential.
The last thing we need is losing another Bristol pub to developers - especially in this area. Any change of use must be challenged. Trendy pubs and wine bars - no more please!
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Freehold up for sale. If anybody has got 30k to lend me than I would love to get this little pub up and running properly again. :)
LukeD - 10 Apr 2013 11:41 |
Boarded up again when I passed yesterday. Enterprise Inns "To Let" notice on the wall outside. Sad to see it closed!
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The cotham porter stores reopened yesterday
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There has been some activity in this pub. a fruit machine/juke box was sen being wheeled in , and lights were on . I'M headig that way today. so may have more news later
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Passed here today and the front door has now been "boarded up", albeit with perforated steel sheet. I sincerely hope this smashing pub reopens!
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Sadly this great little local closed last night
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I use this pub on a sort of 3-4 times a month basis and have been for the last three or four years, mainly because i'm more of an Ale drinker than a Cider drinker.
The pub has changed quite a bit over the past year the manager has changed, and all of the former Bar staff seem to have gone ,and in there place seems to be a list of listless teenage girls who really don't know much about the product they're selling , although thankfully Teresa sometimes appears.
A few of the customers have gone ,sadly including one of the outstanding charachters of the pub Wilf . Despite the sad loss of Wilf and others , there still remains some great charachters, and the people here are really nice, I love the social mix you get, students locals etc etc. which you don't find often in Bristol.
I don't agree with Blackthorn that the charachter of the pub has been lost by refurshment , the red and White Decor was a disaster agreeably, but before this half the seats had been chewed up and the place looked like it was going to fall down , so something needed doing.
The name Cotham Porter stores, perhaps a rare silly point from probably the most thorough regular reviewer in Bristol on bite , remember porter also would apply to the hillgrove, which admittedly does sell some porter, but quite a large variety of other drinks as well.
But Blackthorn if you can find me a pub that only sells Porter, please tell me i'll be there.
Also if the likes of Blackthorn, the Beatles 38 and others want real ale, there are loads of great ale houses round here , the green man ,the hillgrove, the robin hood the highbury, whilst another real ale pub in the area would be great does it have to be this pub.
On my last visit, a choice as usual of about four or five ciders,nothing unusual your cheddar trad heritage etc etc , although Broadoak perry was on as well . The guest I think is weston's organic and has been for some time , I like this drink ,and there's nothing wrong with it but if your going to have a guest why not change it round now again landlord.
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To my mind this has completely lost it�s character during it�s recent refurbishment. In spite of the fact that it�s had some work done, it still manages to look somewhat tatty, but not in a good way.
If I recall correctly, the front bar has been opened out a little. There used to be a miniscule snug right at the front of the bar that you could just about squeeze in to. That�s now all open, so you�re just left with a L-shape bar counter. I found the music from the juke box to be a bit loud, especially as it was only about 7:30 on a Tuesday evening, and I didn�t really appreciate being served by a barmaid who couldn�t be bothered to take her lollipop out of her mouth.
The paint scheme is a shade of gastropub brown, although clearly that�s not what this place is. There are dark boards on the floor, some bench seating with green cushions around the edge, and a few tables and chairs dotted around. There is a tiny courtyard at the back, although it was rather noisy thanks to the chiller unit that was also out there, and it got quite packed with smokers. There is an interesting mural on the wall by the gents� loos. The rear bar has a fireplace and a plasma up above, although this was not in use on a recent visit. A scoreboard for the pub cricket team is also on the wall and a framed cricket bat.
Despite the pub�s name, there was no porter available at the bar. It really should rename itself to the Cotham Cider Stores, as they had five from Thatchers � Dry, Gold, Heritage, Traditional and Cheddar Valley as well as Natch and Weston�s Traditional Scrumpy. The solitary beer was Doom Bar.
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Revisited the pub on Monday as it was an old favorite of mine from my time in Bristol. The cider was in good knick, but what are they doing with the refurbishment? Its far to bright. Much preferred it when it was rougher round the edges, which gave the pub its character and atmosphere, now it looks like a clone pub. At least the toilets are still outside.
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A fav of mine.
Sadly the beer choice seems to be reduced to one , although a few months ago was supping the excellent station porter at �2 a pint , and there was another choice beer wise this day.
The interior of the pub has changed a couple of times over the past few months , and is not currently to everyone's liking .
That said this is a great cider puB,a good choice ,with quality , black rat perry only about �2 at 7.5 % being supped very readily does the job boys .
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not been in either due to mainly recent adventure on bhol weekend , which has been well documented by friends , good time though
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not been in either due to mainly recent adventure on bhol weekend , which has been well documented by friends , good time though
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Was a big favorite of mine when I lived in Bristol, but down for the bank holiday weekend with some friends for a pub crawl round the area. I can safely say I will never return to this pub again as the b loke who appeared to be the manager was rude and saw us as an inconvenience to a private party he seemed to be having with friends.
He has just lost 10 customers, 8 who happen to live within a two minute walk of the pub as well
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a pub full of charachters , in fact its so good its gradually converting me to having an alternative a pint from the proper stuff.reasonably easy quiz on mons , almost an mvp if your in bristol , and a applehead .
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Called in here for a pint with the lads from work and found a proper pub, decent prices and a superb jukebox!
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Was in last night for the first time in ages, and as always the pub was on top form. Excellent range of proper cider, with my pick being the cheddar valley. Fantastic atmosphere, friendly, top juke box, what more can you want for a pub.
The pub is well worth a visit if you like real cider, or how pubs should be.
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Batch to top form . i know its a cider pub ,but had station porter on , and arbor ales oyster stout . its getting there . serious r and b on yesterday , makes this a serious bs6 alternarnative , packed out , the only one out of six i went to yesterday A proper pub .
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doombar back on
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doombar back on
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First visit for over a year - pleased to see little has changed.
Choice restricted to lager/cider, though Mrs Gazebo claims Doom Bar was on recently. Good atmosphere, one of the friendliest pubs in the area.
Could be biased due to winning free pint for solving fiendish puzzle on blackboard, mind.
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this has always been one of my tt bubs in Bristol until 2 day, place hasn't changed that much , but drinks choice , reaaly disapointing . 1 real , 3 ciders ok black rat cheddar valley m, ok that's fine .but 4 hand pumps not being used . hope this is just a blip
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I'L L be in touch my argent du Provocateur
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In total agreement with Tomario 75
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One of my favorite pubs in Bristol. Has a fantastic jukebox, with a good mix of customers.
Walked passed last night and it seemed shut for a refurb. Hopefully this won't kill the character of this pub.
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Absolutely brilliant great juke box . bit disapointed about the new seating , the chomped dog eaten seating ,having been removed, has slightly decreased the atmosphere , but that said brilliant as always 9.5/10
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Walked past this pub a thousand times before plucking up the courage to go in (It's the 2 massive dogs that sit in the window I think). Had a pint with my mate and we had a great time. I put tie me kangaroo down on the juke box and the place was rocking. More of a cider pub but the beer was good too.
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As others have said, a proper decent pub/cider house, with no pretentions at all. I enjoyed a very good pint of Thatcher's Gold, although I'm sure there was plenty of other things to choose from.
It was a shame to see it very quiet on a Wednesday evening, with only three or four others in there. On previous visits it's always been packed.
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was there last night , yes great pub , must rank as one of the best , if not the best pub in bristol , harking back to a bygoe era , great cider , but also had a couple of pints of long john silver, nice to see people drinking out of mugs , good juke box , what more can I say
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Watched the FA Cup final there. The good cider made the game bearable to watch!
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An excellent pub/cider house- always friendly staff and customers, an excellent array of draft and bottled ciders and the beer is pretty good too (and all reasonably priced). Well worth a visit!
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Update on may last review.
They now serve food (pies & mash, inc. vegetarian pies)so we can't take in take-aways any more.
Cider is just as good as ever, and a warm welcome from the new puppy.
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Well-kept pints at under �2.00. They invite customers to bring in take-aways - the Chinese just down the road is good.
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Great cider and violently twitching locals. What a combination!
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Fun and rather gruff old place. Many fine sessions have started here. Forget any pretense and just sit back and lap up the unique atmosphere and odd mix of punters. Great cider - they sell so much of the stuff that the quality is always top notch - and equally well-kept ale. It shouldn't work but by jove I like the place.
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Excellent cider house. Full of characters. Also caters for beer drinkers with decent pints from Wickwar/Bath Ales.
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Real old fashioned cider house. Great atmosphere. No concessions to the 21st century. Quite rough & ready considering the affluence of Cotham.
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This is a small (sometimes smoky) single bar pub in the middle of a terrace. Sells great cider and beer - in the Good Cider and Beer Guides. The atmosphere is always fun and friendly and the mix of people definitely eclectic. A proper pub - no themes and probably should have sawdust on the floor!
Rob - 16 Dec 2006 10:54 |
The only pub where you can be at the bar with a mass murderer on one side of you and the World's Greatest Philanthropist on the other, all chatting happily.
Cracking cider, real out-houses and a blinding jukebox. Old men with red noses. Beautiful.
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Guess they're softening their line then, it used to be a choice of scrumy or scrumpy! An amazing place where blokes were playing dominoes when I used to pop in, far more an authentic place to drink the stuff then the Corrie tap over in Clifton.
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I knew the Porter Stores was perennially popular, but to rate this highly is quite an achievement. That's not to say it's entirely undeserved: for this is a cracking little cider house which in addition to selling a few well-kept real ciders, also now serves an ale or two as well, keeping devotees of the hop and apple equally happy.
It is a genuine, rough 'n' ready community place that still manages to be welcoming to visitors. I am not entirely convinced it would appeal to all; those who prefer something a bit more smoothed-off and, well, middle-class, for a spot of light lunch etc might find themselves disappointed. But if you're out for a few jars and fancy a lively down-to-earth relaxed experience, the CPS has what you need in droves.
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A pub for the professional and amateur alike. It is unique. If Nadia Comeneji scored straight tens then why not?
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Great venue to watch live sports, they have the Premiership Plus channel on a big screen as well
Joshua Roberts - 6 Apr 2005 20:50 |
A proper pub and cider house. Very relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Good real ales as well as fantastic traditional cider. You can take in your own food and enjoy watching sport on a big screen. Locals and students all rub shoulders together.
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