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Detail Pages
The Old Station Inn, Bristol
Hallatrow
Postal town: Bristol
BS39 6EN
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Old Station Inn
As described by Blackthorn, below, it’s eclectic, eccentric and full of surprises. There is a small car park at the front which is a bit off-putting at first, but there is a much larger parking area at the back which you don’t see from the road. The Welsh landlady referred to was great fun and a superb hostess, while the TVs were turned off so people had to talk to one another. This made for a good atmosphere and the locals were a decent bunch too. The dartboard on the door looks like it could be interesting. Ales on were Butcombe Gold, which was in perfect condition, and Butcombe Original which was also a decent pint. The megakeg line-up was Bohemia Craft Lager, Fosters and Stella. A surprisingly enjoyable visit and one I shall be very happy to repeat, possibly to try the food next time which looked like good value.
On 21st February 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3289 recommendations about 3254 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Old Station Inn
A busy and popular pub just a stone’s throw from the main A37. It seems to be very much food orientated, the barmaid asking us while we were ordering our drinks if we had reserved a table (we hadn’t even said we were eating) and most tables being laid up for food, many of them reserved. Space for drinkers seemed to be somewhat limited. That said, we visited on a Saturday evening, it may well be different at other times.
The pub is certainly quirky, and worth popping in if you’re nearby. As befits it’s name there is much railway memorabilia around, such as old station signs and a model railway track suspended from the ceiling, although unfortunately the train was not running on our visit. There is also a plethora of other “stuff” around, with every square inch of the walls and ceilings covered. There are many photos on the walls, a large selection of hats hanging from the ceiling, an old post box, a set of post office scales, old radio sets, a cello and even the front half of an old Citroën sticking out of the wall.
The most interesting feature of the pub though is probably the genuine old railway carriage that forms an extension at the rear of the pub. It’s still on a set of rails but has been attached to the rear of the pub for a rather unique dining experience. Although I’ve eaten in the pub on a few occasions, I’ve never managed to get in the carriage as it’s always booked up well in advance.
The food was pretty decent on the whole, but not somewhere I’d rush back to. Most of the mains were around the £10 - £12 mark, so a step up from your usual pub grub. We mostly enjoyed what we had, but if I were to be picky I could find faults with most of the dishes – the starter of goat’s cheese tart came with far too much lettuce; the starter of smoked salmon stuffed with prawns and crab seemed over-priced at £6.75, and the chicken pie was not really a pie at all but chicken in a very runny sauce with a pastry topping – give me a PieMinister any day! It's also a shame that it was not possible to have veg with the pie instead of a side salad without being charged an extra £1.95 for the side dish of vegetables. As I said though, I’m picking faults, I’ve had far worse meals. The bar staff all seemed friendly, especially the Welsh lady that I assume was the landlady.
Beers on tap were Butcombe and Rev. James which I believe are the regulars, and on this occasion the guest was Wychwood’s Paddy’s Tout which the landlady volunteered a sample of when I mentioned that I had not come across it before. Ciders were Blackthorn and Thatcher’s Gold.
On 7th March 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1951 recommendations about 1864 pubs]