Stag & Hounds, Old Market, Bristol

It's worth wandering around the interior here,it's vast on the first floor.The ground floor has an ale house feel,a little knocked about but quite traditional.Beyond a seating area to the front the bar is to the left tucked away ,with a raised long table opposite and a raised rear snug with leather sofas and a small flatscreen.Televised sport features here but for that go to the first floor where to the front is a vast high ceiling function room with chandeliers and a drop down screen and copious seating.There is another seating area up here as well as the loos but a rear flight of steps just leads to the kitchen,so return to the bar from whence you came. Three ales on during my visit Butcombe Rare Breeds,Black Sheep Holy Grail and Bristol Beer Factory Independence (Decent,NBSS 3.5). Worth a visit with surprising interest once inside.Right at the start(or the end!) of the Old Market trail.

The Stag & Hounds is a decent looking pub that is situated at the start or end of Old Market Street. Once inside there is a long oblong shaped room which runs to the rear,the bar is on the left side,the front area is carpeted and there is a small stage to the front left where there was a live group playing,the rear area is up two steps,the floor here is stone tiled and the seating normal tables and chairs. There were three real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Taylor Boltmaker which went down well,the other beers were Purity Mad Goose and Robinsoons Wizard. I was quite happy having a drink in this pub while listening to a live group play. Pub visited 25/6/2016

I didn't find this pub in its usual guise as there was something called Stagfest taking place with a stage set for bands and happily a beer festival on the go with around 20 ales served on the upper outdoor terrace. All the seating had been removed from the front stage area, leaving a space at the back through an arch the only place to sit. It is all rather bohemian and studenty in here with black ceilings, bright green walls, stripped wood beams and picture rails. A stag's head is mounted over a fireplace. It is all really rather tatty and could do with a spruce up but given the clientele the pub seems to be pitched at it may be intentional. Three handpumps were on the bar however not in use during the beer festival so I remain in the dark as to what is normally served. Having the festival on was a bonus and made the visit worthwhile, I doubt it would be all that great an experience on a regular day.