Four Wise Monkeys, Bristol

It would seem that the craft beer venue known as Copper Jack’s didn’t work out after all and this is now a “Wine and Tapas Bar”. Decor wise it’s largely unchanged and certainly still has something of a gloomy/atmospheric ambience. We were greeted at the door suggesting that the tapas side of things is perhaps more of a focus than the drinks, although it was certainly not a problem for us to just go to the bar and have a drink. A large display case is now behind the bar showcasing a selection of cured hams, Spanish sausages and chillies and there was also a large selection of red wine stacked up on shelves behind the bar. Our drinks were served on a paper napkin and we were asked if we wanted to start a tab, but we declined as we were only stopping for one. Unfortunately there were no ales on tap, real or otherwise, with the only draft option being a continental lager of some sort. I had a bottle of Spanish cider, but at the equivalent of £6.88 a pint, I don’t think I’ll be rushing back, especially as I didn’t particularly like it anyway. If wine and tapas is your thing, then I’m sure this is a very nice place, and I may well return to try some of it. But as a pub, it falls woefully short.

Looks shut at present with some sort of refurb ongoing after taking an update picture this morning and noticing sign gone and place looking a mess inside. Will still need to take a new update picture once completed. At least it close to work.

One of many bars on Corn Street that has had numerous names over the years and seems to spend as much time closed as it is open, it now bills itself as a craft beer venue so hopefully may have a little more success than previous unmemorable cocktail type venues. It’s a corner building and inside it’s one single open plan room, although divided in to different areas with the rear part being up a couple of steps. The ceiling is painted black and the floor is quite a dark wood, so this together with the low ambient lighting can result in it being either gloomy or atmospheric depending on your point of view. All the tables had candles on, and there were also some very large church candles in the windows so I guess they are aiming for the latter option. The front wall was exposed stone work and the rear wall was painted a maroon colour. There were large windows along the right hand wall and counter top running along it with high chairs to sit at and watch the world go by as well as an old beer barrel to rest your pint on. At the rear were a number of leather arm chairs and there were also a couple of Chesterfield sofas at the front. The friendly barman pointed out the juke box which is apparently free to use. Beers on tap were indeed unusual options as befits their craft bar pretensions although they were all keg rather than cask. Helpfully there was a printed menu on the bar and this included a few tasting notes. On this occasion they were Cromarty Happy Chappy, Black IPA and Australia from the new local micro Wiper and True, BBF Southville Hop, Ceaser Augustus from William Bros and Moors So’Hop. There were no ciders on draught unfortunately, although there was a good selection of bottles and many of these were also from local producers such as Severn Vale. Prices seemed expensive though with a bottle of cider and a G&T costing £9.50.