Bungalow Inn, Bristol

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Blackthorn _ left this review about Bungalow Inn

A slightly odd pub tucked away down a narrow country lane, it’s unlikely to get anything in the way of passing trade, and with only a couple of houses in the vicinity and the fact that it’s certainly not a destination dining pub, one wonders how it has managed to survive when so many others have closed. I think the answer maybe that it’s less than a mile from the airport, and going on our recent visit it would seem that virtually all the punters were guests staying at nearby B&B’s who have been dropped off there by minibus. With such a captive market, they can charge whatever they like, safe in the knowledge that their customers have no way of going anywhere else and are unlikely ever to return anyway.

First impressions aren’t promising with the pub sign sporting a picture of a monkey and describing itself as a fun zone. Inside it does thankfully appear a little more conventional. Presumably the fun zone was off to the left through a door marked Drunken Monkey, although we didn’t investigate this. Overall the style of the pub seems a bit strange, although it’s difficult to pin down exactly why. Probably the fact that it’s all one large, open plan room with rather bright lighting and plain white plasterwork certainly doesn’t help. It’s not a cosy old inn by any stretch of the imagination. The central area was carpeted and at either side was a raised area with wooden boards on the floor and separated off by white balustrade. Some burnt red paint on the lower part of the walls added a splash of colour, but other than that it all seemed very bland. A couple of low leather sofas just inside the door provided somewhere a little more comfy to sit if you weren’t eating.

A quick glance at the menu showed a selection of basic pub grub dishes, with prices seemingly rather high at around a tenner. For this type of pub I would have expected something more around the £6 mark, but that is explained, I suppose, by their captive audience. To be fair I didn’t try anything so can’t comment on the quality, but from what I did see I’m not likely to either. If nothing else, the smell of the pub would have rather put me off eating which was presumably some sort of air freshener, but it was rather unpleasant.

The solitary beer on tap was Butcombe, whilst another pump appeared unused. The only cider was Thatcher’s Gold. Overall, I can see no reason to come here unless it’s where you’ve been dropped off and can’t escape. The only upside as I vaguely recall from a previous visit, is that there is a beer garden to enjoy in the warmer weather.

On 3^rd March 2016 - rating: 4
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