John Cabot, Horfieldback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This is now The Royal Oak, and has been for a good few years.
There's a substantial beer garden, including a large children's play area, but don't let that put you off! It's a lovely place for a beer and they've always got a good few ales on tap.
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A good sized, street corner pub that looks as though it has had a recent makeover. From the outside it�s got a bit of a gastropub look about it, but thankfully that�s not actually the case. Whilst there is food available, it certainly doesn�t dominate and most punters were drinking rather than eating on a recent Tuesday evening visit.
The pub is split in to two halves. The left hand bar is on two levels, with a raised area up a couple of steps. There is dark wooden flooring and the ceiling paint is almost black which gives it a slightly gloomy feel. That said, there is cream paint elsewhere, and dual aspect windows so that makes up for it a little. Most of the lighting is simple downlighters, but there was also a chandelier in the rear corner and small candles on all the tables. The cubicle doors in the gents loos were painted to look like an old phone box which was an unusual touch.
A brick chimney with a wood burning stove separates the two bars. The bar to the right also has part wooden flooring, although with some slate tiles as well. This feels a little cosier with a few leather sofas clustered around a fireplace. This leads out in to a large beer garden/patio area. That patio is partly covered to keep out any inclement weather, and the garden has a colourful mural on one wall as well as a kids play area with a couple of small cars to ride around in. The only letdown was really the service, since I really don�t like being ignored when I�m stood waiting at a bar, especially when I�m the only punter waiting and the barmaid can�t fail to notice me.
Beers on tap were Doom Bar, Gem, Butcombe Gold and Timothy Taylor Landlord. Ciders were Thatcher�s Gold, Thatcher�s Heritage, Addlestones and Stowford Press.
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went in for the first time the other night since it has reopened as the Royal Oak. i can safely say this is a vast improvement on the previous incarnation.
Five real ales on tap, and only tried the Butcombe Gold, which was in top form. Didn't try the food but looks an intersting menu, and as previously stated, it is very much a gastro style menu, which I will try at some stage no doubt. The staff who were on were very friendly as well, telling us about what sort of offers that they had on.
All in all well worth a visit if you are in this part of town.
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has now reopened as the royal oak .and has gone considerably upmarket since the previous reviews . heavy emphasis on food , which I didn't try . Interior sort of wooden flooring wooden panelling all quite common in a lot of pubs , you could easily be in clifton village, that probably reflects that probably there is a lot of students living in the area ,hard to imagine it with a football crowd in it . choice of four real ales d/bar butcombe gold, bath ales gem , ttl , cider thatchers heritage . My butcombe gold .and gem were fine bar .staff were quite friendly and match not bad ,possibly too much of a gastro influence for me personally, i'm more of a pickled egg , cheese bap , cornish pasty fan myself , but that said would certainly visit again if in this area 7/10.
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You may like to know that this was once called the Royal Oak. Then it had a sunday foorball team, a good crowd of regulars and N Bristols best family garden.
Refurbished and re-named a good 10+ years ago it started of pretty OK (tho' the beer was always far too cold). However, it went downhill and is now shut (I heard there was a lot of trouble).
Rumoured to be due to re-open Feb/march 2008.
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Friendly but a bit grotty.
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Rammed on match days, other than that interesting mix of locals and students. Relaxed.
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The pub has a friendly attmoshere
cheryl woodhouse - 25 Sep 2003 12:02 |
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