Bell Inn, Bristolback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Found it a good pub, decent ale and service.
|
The name change needs the update, but yes, a decent pub with some great quality range of beers.
saido - 22 Sep 2013 17:59 |
Now Green Man as many intrepid pub explorers before myself have noted with an emphasis on the green organic way of life. Good walk up steep hill from Haymarket area but well rewarded when you get there. Discreet appearance in residential area very wooden inside (in a nice traditional way) with hops hanging from the rafters. Dawkins ales, slightly smoky in terms of taste for my personal preference, but served in fine fettle. Other visitors, including a Moor Somerland Gold which was the real deal. Quiet (on a Sunday night) but nice relaxing chilled pub with friendly service.
|
Now called The Green Man. Excellent little pub pub with excellent beer. On the pricey side, but more than worth it.
|
me again . usally come in here for the Beer , but visited the recent cider and cheese festival which was excellent , and it was nice to see nearly everyone in the pub was actually drinking cider or perry.
|
Keep coming back here ,and the more I go back the more I like it, vastly improved ,and has become one of my favourite pubs , top tip for the next gbg . I like the interior of the pub ,and in this respect is probably my favourite of the 4 dawkins pubs i have visited . also a beer choice second to none . can't really fault this pub at the moment. incidentally in response to those that say that the pub is a bit pricey , i understand this small chain is operating a membership card?
|
The quality of the beer in all the dawkins pubs is very good if not exceptional , didn't try the food. nice clentele , chatty bar staff.
|
The beer at the green man might be expensive, but it's good and you'll never get a dodgy pint. I'd rather pay 10% more for each pint knowing there's a quality landlord behind the place rather than pay less and get served duff beer.
Anyway, if the beer costs too much for you, the food surely won't. The fact that this pub isn't packed every evening is frankly remarkable considering the quality and value. Food is served Wed-Sun and there's usually three things on the menu. I've eaten squirrel pie, a provencale style fish stew, roast venison, rabbit braise and fish and chips (haddock) and all have been simply off the scale in terms of quality. The chef is gifted. Mains are �7.95. I generally phone the pub to find out what's cooking. I am just a customer and have no connection with the pub other than as a punter. Beer and Food 10/10
|
I would concur with the other comments on here, a great pub, wasn't sure about the name change, and rather expensive.
I'd heard it was totally organic so I wasn't sure what to expect on the cider front, but found Westons Organic & Luscombe. Bar staff were well informed and offered a sample to try without being asked.
Avoid Wednesday's unless you want to take part in the quiz. Being a one room pub, it's a bit difficult to have a chat with that's going on.
|
Very fair review TWG. I also applaud Glen Dawkins for his sympathetic pub takeovers, keeping the good bits and expanding the beer range. But the prices are a bit much. I happen to know that at least one of the beers being sold for over �3 a pint when I visited is being supplied to the pub for under �1 a pint. I know pubs have overheads, but I can't help but feel that this sort of pricing is counterproductive, especially in the current financial climate. Great pubs, but good value?
|
When the news winged its way eastwards that the trusty Mr Dawkins now had a hand in the Bell's future, I felt a further visit was merited to find out whether his usually winsome combination of unpretentious traditional local and excellent beer house is restoring the Bell to its former glories.
On arriving at Bristol I soon discovered a name-change was planned, to "the Green Man", primarily to avoid the frequent confusion with the nearby Bell on Hillgrove Street. Fair enough I thought, although it did make me wonder what other radical, possibly unnecessary, alterations might be in the pipeline.
Pleasingly, a visit last Sunday proved I have little if anything to worry about. It seems the new incumbents are throwing themselves into things, and seem to be both pleasant, and well-informed as to the good aspects of the pub's past, and what will improve it in the future. Several casks have already appeared behind the small bar - a feat in itself - and the candles were being dished out at nightfall creating that unique mellow atmosphere. Plenty of customers arrived to try it, and seemed to be enjoying what they found, so I suspect Mr Dawkins may well have another hit on his hands here. Best of luck with the forthcoming opening of the kitchen for grub, and the switch in nomenclature - by the way, the new name also represents the fact that all products are to be organic.
The only troubling thing - the prices! Sadly for all the advantages, Dawkins Taverns must represent some of the worst value for money in Bristol, with the cheapest ale weighing in at around �2.70 and the most expensive roaming into the realms of the �3.50 bracket! Perhaps he believes his boozers are SO good the locals will always pay, but in these troubled times of credit crisis and economic implosion, one wonders. I understand some Dawkins places are leasehold, so maybe it's to cover an exorbitant rent. But come on Glen, you're good, but not THAT good! A bit more value at the bar would surely deliver even greater rewards longer-term?
|
It is reported that Glen Dawkins of the Hillgrove,Victoria and Portcullis success stories has bought this pub. Couldn't have been bought by a better bloke!!!!
|
A tasty selection of beers, friendly staff and they even put my peanuts in a bowl for me. Dark and quiet - a bit like a library, but I dare say it livens up later in the evening. Well worth a visit.
|
Happily, I was once a frequent visitor to this pub, and since leaving Bristol I always made it one of my first ports-of-call when revisiting. It was run with flair and energy by Anna Luke (the "eccentric landlady" referred to below!) for some 15 years, and she was possibly one of the most welcoming landladies I know - and I've known a few. She'd usually be found chatting with the locals, on either side of the bar, in her distinctly gravelly tones and generally keeping the bar alive. She ran a tight ship, although I never remember any rulings about hats, or swearing; Anna was known to utter some fairly fruity stuff herself!
The Bell was a well-heeled local but that didn't stop it appealing to old locals as well as young students, like me. Only 3, but very well-conditioned ales were sold (usually Abbey Bellringer, something from Wickwar and maybe Uley or RCH), always overpriced but that didn't really matter because it was the craic that would keep one returning for more. Candles in bottles would always be lit in the evenings, which created a distinct ambience especially for couples. It used to get pretty steamy in there, but again, we really didn't care!
Sadly for us, but deservedly for her, Anna retired in Dec '05. I revisited in June this year, and found essentially the same place, but simply without any life. Anna was a hard act to follow and maybe I' didn't give it a chance, but it came across as sterile, by-numbers (the ubiquitous common lager fonts had already been installed and only 2 rather obvious ales were on, for a start) place. Pleasant licensee, but none of the vim and vigour of old. All the candles in bottles had been relegated to a pile in the corner.
Somehow, it just wasn't the same. Maybe visit for a quick one, it still isn't a BAD pub, just no longer reaching its potential.
|
The eccentric landlady has moved on, sadly.
|
Interesting posh pub - they put your crisps in a bowl! But eccentric landlady and staff are friendly and beer is good - Butcombe plus another last time I was there (I think).
|
Nice, quiet afternoon pub with good beer - ale and lager. Mixed but older evening crowd - friendly, relaxed - a great place to have a beer, just dont swear or wear a hat indoors!!
Chats - 21 Jun 2005 15:52 |
|
