Mackenzies, Bristol

This is not really a traditional pub, but more of a cafe/bar type establishment, although it does have draught beer available and probably has quite a different feel to it on a Friday or Saturday evening than it might at other times of the week. It’s one large, open plan room with an oval shaped wood panelled bar counter in the middle. Flooring is well worn wood boards and there is an exposed brick wall at one end. The entire front wall of the pub is made up of floor to ceiling windows which make the most of the views over the water, and there is further seating on the quayside for the warmer weather. Seating was a mixture of tables and leather covered chairs, as well as some old, and very low, leather sofa’s. Other decor touches were generic items such as lampshades that appeared to be made from scrupled paper and a large, dried floral display behind the bar. Elsewhere was some pale flock wallpaper, and a couple of plasma screens. The menu appeared to be extensive and included a good selection of burgers and pizza’s. As befits it’s cafe bar pretensions, there was a large coffee machine on the bar and a cabinet filled with a selection of pastries. Personally though I found the chef’s spilling out of the back door for a fag something of a discouragement to sampling anything. The solitary beer on tap was Doom Bar and the only cider Stowford Press. Overall whilst it’s not unpleasant, I found this to be somewhat lacking in any character and I thought there was little to recommend it other than it’s pleasant riverside setting. Be aware also that opening hours can be somewhat erratic – I have tried to buy a pint at about 10:00pm before now only to be told that they have stopped serving.

Official site of Mackenzies - www.mackenzies.co.uk