Roxy Lanes, Bristol

As it’s name suggests, this is very much a bowling and games venue rather than your traditional pub, but you are nonetheless welcome to just have a pint without partaking of any of the entertainment on offer. Internally it’s quite industrial in style with some sort of smooth concrete screed on the floor and a multitude of ducts, pipework and cable trays on the ceiling. Lighting levels were very low, so it might be described as either atmospheric or gloomy depending on your point of view. Much of the available floor space was taken up with the gaming areas, and these included ten pin bowling, darts, shuffleboard, curling, pool and even something called beer pong, which I believe is some sort of twist on ping pong as opposed to smelly beer. A selection of more traditional board games were also available. Seating options were limited to a relatively small area by the bar counter, consisting mostly of high tables and stools. There website says that they are “experts of booze” and have a “mad medley of bar favourites”, so I had high expectations. Unfortunately these were short lived though, the available selection certainly did not consist of my favourites. There were no real ales on tap, and just Camden Pale on keg, although on the plus side they did have Thatcher’s Gold cider. Overall, great if you want to play one of the games perhaps, but pretty useless as a pub.

Official site of Roxy Lanes - roxyleisure.co.uk/location/bristol-union-street/

Official site of Roxy Lanes - roxyleisure.co.uk/location/bristol-union-street/