please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Festival on with excellent beer , nice to see station porter again
|
Disgracefull, hanging's too good for em.
|
The recent beer festival would have been better if the barman wasn't smoking behind the outside bar.
MrKiA - 23 Jul 2012 18:47 |
Another reinvention for a local boozer in these parts, and one which I approved of - not that I recall having ever visited in its previous life so in fairness I have little to compare - but in all obvious aspects surely it has to have been a big improvement.
Small, intimate, atmospheric and woody best describes the interior, which was built around a goodly number of mostly local ales. Arbor Mild West was sampled and found in a superb state. If I hadn't had further fish to fry I'd surely have spent longer trying some of the others. Service was with a friendly smile from the bar staff. I could smell the kitchen had been recently active but can't say any more on provision of grub other than there is some - sadly there pretty much has to be in the days when it's assumed wet sales lose and food triumphs.
Tucked away, one fears that similarly to the equally-fringe Phoenix down the road, that the Volunteer may not get the attention it now deserves. But if that does transpire - and I hope locals and non-locals alike ensure it doesn't - it shouldn't be down to the people who've obviously worked hard to get this pub back on the drinker's map. So many round the area have gone recently, and so those which keep a toehold should be patronised wherever possible.
Keep up the good work boys and girls - I think I'll be back.
|
four ales on , included station porter. Beer good quality. Smallish Bar, quite dark inside . worth a visit ,7+ for me .
|
An outstanding pub now it has reopened with young enthusiastic licensee and staff. Top staff and excellent dark beer, it seems to be a policy to have at least one of (Cheddar's Totty on our visit). Beats some of the better pubs in Bristol. CAMRA members welcomed and discounts offered accordingly (no additional discounts for beards though). WIll be back.
PhilR - 28 Jan 2012 20:13 |
very impressive first visit to this place,not in the most "delightful" parts of bristol but this pub is superb,four ales on incl wickwar and cheddar brews,the service was friendly and the pint of wickwar station porter @ just �2.88 with camra discount was spot on,7/10
|
Closed, sold and refurbished since my previous review, this is now a completely different pub both in looks and character. It�s still a smallish, single room affair, but the bar counter has been moved from the back to the left hand side and it�s been extensively decorated.
The paintwork is a mixture of dark grey on the lower part of the walls, and a light coffee colour up above. Other than that, the walls are mostly bare at present but that may change over time as it has only been re-open for about a week. The floors and reclaimed sanded boards and there is a courtyard garden out the back. Unusually the cubicle door in the gents loo had a frosted pane of glass in it.
There were a couple of boards with a basic food offering chalked up, and this is apparently served until 10:00 at night. There was a selection of Panini�s and sandwiches, plus a few specials such as Burgers and Bangers & Mash at around the �6 mark. Barman seemed friendly enough.
Wickwar beers dominated the bar with their Autumn Ale, Cotswold Way and BOB although this is not a Wickwar pub. In addition to this there was Potholer from Cheddar. The solitary cider was Magners Golden Draught.
|
Due to re-open 19/9/2011 according to their Facebook and Twitter pages. It has undergone a great deal of refurbishment following the demise of the previous owner and deserves a chance in the unsteady world of the pub trade nowadays?
The nearby Phoenix opened earlier in 2011 and has improved a great deal. The 'Little Volley' deserves a chance!
|
Other sites and 'Twitter' state:
"The Volunteer Tavern is a genuine free house sandwiched comfortably between Cabot Circus and Old Market. It is under refurbishment and will re-open soon".
It'll be nice to see this place re-open like the nearby Phoenix.
|
Currently closed, with a notice on the front door stating "Pedro Antas (the landlord?) passed away 17th March".
|
Walked past here earlier this evening; notices in the window "Bass �2.00 & Black Rat �2.00". Although I like both, I'm afraid it sums up the pub trade in this area, especially having the Sevenways, Sportsmans and Phoenix closed nearby.
I guess most of the people that live in the area nowadays don't drink?
|
Quite a small pub, with very limited seating. The left had room is dominated by the bar, and the right by a pool table. Three ciders on tap (Strongbow, Black Rat and Thatcher's Traditional) although the Thatcher's was off when I visited.
I would avoid this pub if you actually want to buy a drink. The guy behind the bar was far more interested in chatting to his mates than serving, and when he eventually noticed I was there I had to repeat my order three times as he was listening to his mates and not me. He then gave up and left the bar, and I had to repeat my order twice more to a barmaid who didn't really seem to have her mind on the job either.
|
A barrel of Bass on the bar was just waiting to settle when we were in this very friendly, newly taken over pub. Enthusiastic owners, wish them well.
|
Alas no ale anymore it seems. 2 rough ciders might appeal to some.
|
Looks nice on the outside, but, a little bit rough on the inside (not trouble) but, just a bit rough. Need to make another visit as the beer was good!
|
