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Beer of the Week (w/e 15th June 2025) with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Ritorno Lounge, Bristol
Bristol
BS1 5UH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blackthorn _ left this review about Ritorno Lounge
A recent opening on the popular harbourside strip from the ever expanding Lounger’s chain in what was formerly a Pitcher & Piano, this must be one of their largest venues to date being spread across three floors. The layout is largely unchanged from previously, although the route to the top floor loos has been moved as the top floor is now used as a private function room, complete with it’s own bar counter.
Décor wise it follows the usual Loungers formula with a plethora of pictures covering much of the available wall space and plenty of tasselled lamp shades, which were supplemented with large white globe lamps. The ceiling is painted a dark blue and has been lowered in places to obscure much of the services, which makes a pleasant change, whilst other paintwork was a pale salmon colour, although with floor to ceiling windows running all along the front, there wasn’t too much of this. Flooring is some sort of dark wood strip, whilst the seating was a mixture of padded stools and chairs in various pastel colours. What might loosely be described as a snug area at the rear included a brown leather sofa and arm chairs, a low table and floral wallpaper, along with plenty more pictures, mirrors and tasselled lamp shades. A central island full of plants was something of a feature, whilst the supporting pillars were either covered in woodland wallpaper or bare concrete – perhaps they ran out of the wallpaper?
Predictably for this chain there were no real ales on the bar, although I did spot Brixton Reliance and Wiper & True’s Kaleidoscope on keg. Ciders meanwhile were Henry Weston’s Vintage and Old Mout Berris & Cherries.
On 7th October 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2070 recommendations about 1970 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Pitcher & Piano
The Pitcher & Piano is on the Waterfront and just along from the V-Shed.
Once inside the bar faces in a large oblong shaped room,it is bare boarded,there are tall tables and chairs near the bar and normal tables and chairs to the front,there is also a small area upstairs.
There were four hand pumps on a shelf behind the bar,three were in use,i had a drink of Bath Ales Jem,which went down well,the other real ales were Marstons EPA and Pedigree.
Background music was playing and a few breakfasts served to the few who were in on my pre 11am visit.
I thought this was a decent modern pub to have a drink in.
Pub visited 15/7/2017
On 22nd October 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Pitcher & Piano
One of the many waterfront bars, so a prime location and no doubt very busy later in the day than my brief mid-Friday afternoon visit. Inside, it is one of the more appealing of this chain's outlets with the modern furniture and decor suiting the light and airy feel of the main bar area. There is also another, darker bar upstairs which is reached via a small mezzanine seating area. Covered dockside terrace area at the front. Three handpumps offering Pedigree, Hobgoblin and Bath Ales Gem.
On 16th November 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8733 recommendations about 8733 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Pitcher & Piano
One of the original bars along the waterfront, it’s been here for a good few years now and has recently re-opened after a makeover. The basic layout is unchanged, but they’ve opened it out by getting rid of the various partitions that were there previously, leaving a much more flexible arrangement of tables and chairs. It’s a big pub on three levels, with a bar on both the bottom and top level. The mid level is little more than a wide corridor between the two, but does have a number of red leather button-back chairs and sofas and always seems a popular spot.
The ground floor has all wood flooring as seems to be the vogue these days, and a long bar counter running almost the entire length of the back wall. Service was a little slow with the staff seeming to be more interested in mixing cocktails than pulling pints. There are large windows on two sides and some covered outside seating which is a pleasant enough spot to sit and look at the boats in the harbour. A number of pillars are the only thing that breaks up the interior space, some with a pine type cladding, others covered with tiles in a curious green hue reminiscent of a public lavatory. Many of the others had pictures on, one of which was made at right angles and hung on two sides of the pillar! A large, colour illuminated P&P sign hung on the rear wall adjacent to the bar. At the far left of the lower level beyond a dual sided fire place is a wood panelled area that reminded me of an old hotel drawing room which is quite a contrast from the rest of the pub. I also spotted a large projection screen rolled up out of sight, which presumably gets pressed in to use for major sporting fixtures. A few trees illuminated with white fairly lights completed the furnishings.
The top level has a light and airy feel to it with further windows looking over the harbour. There is a smaller bar here, although I didn’t check to see how the range compares with downstairs. The wall coverings here are a very busy wallpaper and a number of old maps on the wall. This is a pub that in many ways tries to be all things to all people, and with it’s food menu and pleasant harbour side setting is going to have a completely different feel during the day to how it did on a Friday evening with bouncers on the door and the music getting progressively louder.
There was a surprisingly good range of real ales on for an establishment of this type, even if none of it was particularly inspiring or local. The line up consisted of Hobgoblin, Pedigree and Marston’s EPA. Ciders were Strongbow and the Swedish Rekorderlig. There was also a decent selection of continental lagers.
On 20th June 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2070 recommendations about 1970 pubs]