The Beer Emporium, Bristol

A handy venue out front to take a photo of our PG crawlers. Have to say a lot of thought and design has been used in this establishment, with no expense spared, hence the beer prices. There was a lot of oak timber used here, which was used around the main entrance and to construct the long bar counter in the main room. There was also some cleverly crafted plywood down the staircase, which included a shaped hand rail. There was also a stained glass roof light installed above the main bar area. Seven handpumps in operation on our visit, I went for the Five Sisters Red Pale Ale, which was excellent.

Housed in an attractive stone fronted building, this certainly doesn't look like a pub inside until you go down the stairs to the exposed brick arched and vaulted drinking rooms. For a subterranean bar it's OK, but doesn't have much in the way of traditional pub character. The furnishings are functional if fairly ordinary, and the flagstone flooring reinforces the "wine cellar" feel to the place. I didn't note all the beers available (indeed, not even the beer I drank) but there were more than enough of them, and mine was in fine shape. But I don't think that this is the sort of place that I would actively seek out for a re-visit.

Any place calling itself The Beer Emporium clearly warrants closer investigation. You enter at street level to what at first looks to be an off licence with a counter and shelves full of bottles in front of you. A staircase however is soon noticed which takes you down to a brick and stone vaulted undercroft where there is a long bar down the side of one tunnel. The stairs have a highly polished light wood surround and handrail with the darker grain showing through. There is also disabled access down by virtue of a platform lift plus a sign offering assistance. There looked to be three vaults, the bar, a side room with recessed fireplace plus another occupied by the kitchen. Stone flagged floors as you'd expect, some light comes through from a stained glass borrowed light from upstairs. Bluesy type music gave a nice relaxed vibe and the beer was good, the range was as described by BF which is unsurprising as we were in there at the same time. There was additionally a clip for a "Secret Brewery Trial Beer" and I also spotted a couple of boxes of cider behind the bar, Ashridge Tricky and Devon Bloom. Seating was a bit mixed but most was of regular height at different sized tables. An interesting place with a good few beers on even if a number of pumps were unclipped mid afternoon and I thought the staff were very friendly and helpful.