The Ashton, Bristol

Large food led pub right next to the Ashton Court estate. Lots of different areas, some more geared towards dining, but still space to sit and have a pint, including some comfy sofas and old leather armchairs. Also a conservatory and a patio/garden with a nice outlook. Although this is a chain, it somehow manages to pull off the local pub feel better than most chains do. It seems to be under new management, with several signs around saying that Sharon and her team welcome you to their pub. There's several interesting old pencil drawings of the locality, including Long Ashton as it was many years ago. There's a “fantastic new menu” which whilst we didn't try it, looked quite reasonable; a good compromise between your very basic pub grub and being too restauranty. There was also a specials blackboard to tempt you as you went in. The name was changed a few years ago from The Smyth Arms which seemed a bit unnecessary, but there is a genuine dovecote next to the pub which was a nice touch. Barmaid was very friendly – I queried if they had any other ciders on draft, and whilst they didn't, she went to great lengths to tell me about a new one that they are due to get. Loos are a bit of a hike, it's like being in a Wetherspoons. Beers on this occasion were Brain's Rev. James, Tribute and Butcombe. A notice proclaimed the guest as being 6X, but I couldn't see any evidence of this on the bar. The solitary cider was Blackthorn.