Long before Stokes Croft became the city’s most bohemian neighbourhood, The Bell was widely regarded as something of a Bristol institution. Tucked away on Hillgrove Street, just off the main drag of bars, independent stores and cafés, it has long served a variety of purposes; it’s a laidback meeting place for local artists and musicians, a low-key community pub and a popular weekend pre-club boozer all rolled into one.
If you’ve been losing yourself on the Downs, getting thrifty on Gloucester Road or bathing in Bristol Lido, the likelihood is that you need to quench your thirst. So it’s good news indeed that you never need to venture far before you encounter one of Bristol’s many beloved pubs. From the so-called Beermuda Triangle on King Street to the stylish boozers around Cotham and Clifton, Bristol is filled with brilliant, brilliant boozers – and any decent night on the town here will involve stopping at a couple of them (at a minimum).
Brizzle is also at the forefront of the UK’s craft beer revolution, with many innovative brews front and centre in the city’s pubs. If you’re looking for a sweeter tipple, we should also say that Bristolians are known for being partial to cider and indeed do it very well – this is the West Country after all. So without further ado, here’s our pick of the best pubs in Bristol.
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