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Submitted on Sunday, 26^th July 2015
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The Drawbridge, Bristol

14-15 St Augustines Parade
Bristol
BS1 4UT

Correct details

Pub Type

John Barras (Spirit Pubs)

Served areas

Bristol Central

Reviews of The Drawbridge (Average Rating: 6 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

E TA left this review about The Drawbridge

Still a GK pub, and still laid out as described by Blackthorn, below. It was comfortably busy during our visit, but not crowded, and the customers appeared mainly civilised. The young staff were welcoming and friendly. Two cask ales on, Tribute and Abbott, and there were 3 dry pumps. The Tribute was in good condition. Also available were Guinness, Jubel, Estrella, Cruzcampo Moretti, Madri, Level Head, Thatcher's Gold and 3 fruit cider from Thatcher's. Not the most exciting pub in Bristol, but worth a visit for a quick lunch or as part of a crawl.

On 20^th January 2026 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3696 recommendations about 3657 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Blackthorn _ left this review about The Drawbridge

Recently re-opened after an extensive refurbishment, this is a Greene King house in a prominent position on the city centre, and should be buzzing with a good trade, not least from the adjacent theatre. That rarely seems to be the case though, and from experience it is often practically deserted. Hopefully that will change now, although the refurbishment is rather generic in character and no doubt much the same as many other GK pubs up and down the country.

Whilst the layout is pretty much unchanged, it is of course now tidy and up together whilst it was looking slightly down at heel previously. It’s a good size internally and divided in to a number of separate areas. The flooring is predominantly wood strip, with some chequered tiling around the bar counter, whilst the walls are a mixture of mostly dark green paintwork and wood panelling. Some of this is quite extensive in places, and with the addition of old black and white photographs on the walls gives it an almost elegant feel, although the presence of a pool table rather negated this. A large mural of Brunel’s Suspension Bridge was on one wall, and elsewhere were old photographs of Bristol, many featuring hot air balloons for which the city is famed. There were also a number of film star pictures, including local lad Cary Grant. Some large Greene King etched mirrors completed the interior décor, although there was also a glass display cabinet with books about Bristol and a model of the Bristol bus. A TV screen was showing the darts match, but the volume was off so this was not too intrusive.

Beers on tap were Greene King IPA, Abbott Ale, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Butcombe, whilst a fifth pump appeared unused. Ciders meanwhile were a trio from Thatcher’s with Dry, Gold and Haze, along with Strongbow Dark Fruit. What had started out as a fairly relaxed pint whilst we waited for our bus soon changed at 11:00pm when there was some rather aggressive bell ringing and the background music was promptly turned off. By 11:02 the lights had been turned up, the TV and fruit machines turned off and we were told that they’d “be kicking out in five or ten minutes”. Not one I’ll be rushing back to, but I may pop in again purely because of it’s location if I find myself with time to kill before the bus.

On 1^st January 2018 - rating: 5
[User has posted 2107 recommendations about 2006 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Drawbridge

Dull John Barras pub on that part of the former quayside which is now filled in. Split-level interior with a little further seating upstairs, all with the expected corporate furniture and decor. Further annoyance is that just two of the six handpumps were in use, dispensing Courage Directors and Greene King IPA Reserve.

On 27^th December 2015 - rating: 5
[User has posted 9017 recommendations about 9017 pubs]

View more reviews of The Drawbridge (8)

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