The Hare on the Hill, Kingsdown, Bristol

This is a very pleasant back street pub in a quiet neighbourhood not too far from the city centre. On arrival, the pub’s fine tiled exterior catches the eye and sets up great expectations for a proper traditional interior, which the pub is able to deliver on. You enter into a bare boarded main bar area where all the walls have been painted in simple, neutral shades. Fixed bench seating is available to the right of the entrance and all down the side wall, supplemented by a collection of low stools. To the front left, there is a screened off seating area with more tables and chairs under half panelled walls with lots of bright, modern art prints on show. The servery stands proudly in the middle of the pub, with a basic tongue and groove counter, smart pillared bar back with the keg taps mounted on it, all topped with a rugby ball and beer bottle collection. The pub opens out a bit beyond the bar, into a rear raised seating area with benches and chairs, arty prints on the walls and a dartboard. Fairy light around much of the pub help to create an unexpectedly cosy feel in even the most public parts of the room and I spotted useful bits like a rack with the day’s papers and a collection of board games here and there around the room. A folk soundtrack played throughout my stay and the clientele seemed to be several decades younger than the pub’s initial impressions might lead you to expect. There are four hand pumps on the bar and these offered a promising selection of Bristol Beer Factory Independence, Moor, Noor Hop and Arbor Blue Sky Drinking and Shangri-la. I ordered a pint of the latter, which sadly spluttered to an end with only three-quarters of the pint glass filled. The cheery barman said I could have this for free and a quick sample suggested it still tasted pretty good, but having got about halfway through it, it started to taste pretty disgusting, which was a bit of a dilemma as I was then too embarrassed to give it back and buy something else! I thought this was a nice pub that struck a good balance between maintaining a traditional feel and providing a more contemporary environment that younger drinkers will feel comfortable in. It’s a shame I had a rubbish beer here, as I would potentially have enjoyed the place even more with a well kept pint but that was purely my own mistake and no fault of the pub. Definitely one to return to and a good double-header with the nearby Hillgrove Porter Stores.

Official site of The Hare on the Hill - thehareonthehill.com

Official site of The Hare on the Hill - thehareonthehill.com