Harbour Hub, Bristol

An unusual combination of pub and shop (although in separate units), this is a recent addition to the harbour side and was a popular spot on a recent sunny afternoon with it’s outside seating and views across the water. The shop has a selection of clothing and surf boards for sale (not that I’ve ever seen anyone surfing in the docks) and there were also a few bicycles as well as a couple of motor bikes, although quite why, I’m not sure. Perhaps some of these were also for sale. The pub follows the current vogue for the industrial look, and takes this to new extremes having not only a polished concrete floor, but concrete walls and ceilings too. Air condition ducting and cabling conduits are in plain view, and only an aqua blue bench seat and a few pieces of colourful local artwork on the back wall break up the grey monotony. As such, it’s clearly a new build, although the arched stone windows do soften the appearance from outside and blend in well with the old lime kiln building above. Two of the arches serve as doors, whilst the other has a shelf and some bar stools for punters to sit at and admire the view. A glass counter next to the bar housed a selection of wine bottles and cakes, and next to this was an open kitchen. We did not inspect the menu, but did notice that brunch was served until 3:00pm. Beer wise, the choice was a little disappointing with no real ales on tap, just Beerd Vigilante on keg. The solitary cider was Mortimer’s Orchard. Overall, this is certainly a pleasant spot, but it’s more of a bar/café type establishment and does little too entice in the true pub aficionado.