Grain Barge, Hotwells, Bristol

Set in a converted 1930’s barge in the Floating Harbour, with fine views over the water to Brunel’s SS Great Britain, the Grain Barge is a novel venture from Bristol Beer Factory. The gangplank and steps lead you into the main, street level bar with the servery in the mid section of the long room and a couple of seating areas to front and rear. Large windows run down either side of the barge, affording great views out across the harbour – you can even see the nearby Hotwells ferry stop, in case you need to dash off to catch a boat along the harbour. There is plenty of pew and standard seating to choose from, most of which is on the harbour side of the vessel. Additional seating can be found up on the top deck – not much use on a chilly November afternoon, but no doubt a popular spot on sunny days. I also noticed as I was leaving that there is another seating space downstairs in what I presume would have been the barge’s hold, but I didn’t get round to exploring down there. The main bar has modest décor, including a few painted seagulls here and there and some work by local artists. Music was playing throughout our stay – Phil Collins seemed frustratingly popular with whoever was in charge of the playlist – but this got lost for the most part in the general hubbub. Four Bristol Beer Factory beers were available on this visit – Seven, Sunrise, Independence and Nova – with Dark Star Hophead as the solitary guest ale. An eclectic range of keg products was also available including more BBF brews and beers from other local micros such as Tiny Rebel. I had a very enjoyable pint of the Nova which seemed to be in top condition. We primarily visited with the intention of grabbing a bite to eat and found a slightly pricey and limited menu from which I opted for the minute steak, which was excellent. The staff were particularly friendly, engaging customers in small chat and providing helpful recommendations for those dazzled by the beer range. I really enjoyed visiting this unusual place and was glad I managed to find a way to include it on our itinerary. I thought the place worked well and was a good spot for BBF to showcase their beer, rising above the potential novelty factor to become a destination in its own right.