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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Blackthorn _
Submitted on Monday, 12th August 2013
With picture contributions to 5578 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (5 more images)
Detail Pages
The Portcullis, Clifton Village, Bristol
Bristol
BS8 4LE
Served areas
Portcullis
For curry night and all things nice on the bar go to https://t.co/23NqQC7g3R
4:01 PM Jan 13th 2020 from Twitter for Android
Reviews of The Portcullis (Average Rating: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Ian Mapp left this review about The Portcullis
Ha - can see how Peter, the previous reviewer got confused. Definitely cab it there from Bristol and barrel down the steep hill on the way back. Very interesting place - downstairs bar is tiny and bar blocking is encouraged. Fortunately, menus are staggered around the venue - so at least you can see what is on Keg (Many Belgian surprises), cask (LocALE) but not bottles, which included many Belgians I had not seen before.
Further seating and a terrace, complete with escape hatch to the street, available up the death stairs. Like all mountaineering, easier to climb than descend.
I loved it and would certainly make a lot of use if I was local.
GBG 2025
On 31st March 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1563 recommendations about 1543 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Jillings left this review about The Portcullis
My first visit to this pub was confusing. I went into the front door on the top deck, to find no bar, customers, or staff! Not knowing where to go, I left. Walking back on the other side of the road, I saw a lower entrance - ah ha!
It's a good job I persevered, as I found the bar with a good selection of Dawkins beers.
On 21st October 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 59 recommendations about 54 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Portcullis
A popular Dawkins pub located just far enough out of the centre of Clifton village so that it doesn't get quite as rammed as some venues. In the past this has worked against it and it's been very quiet, but after a it's refurbishment and new ownership it now seems to have found a new lease of life. It used to be rather down at heel, and the makeover has improved it no end, without losing any of it's charm and appeal. It seems a popular community pub, and a notice advertised a regular Thursday cinema night. Food appears to be limited to a few tapas style dishes priced at £1, £1.50 or £2.50.
Unusually the pub has entrances on two levels, one from the lower pavement and one from the upper pavement. In the summer months there are usually a couple of bench seats outside the upper entrance which are a popular spot for getting the evening sun. The upper bar has less atmosphere, but besides the outside seating there's a large pile of board games to keep you amused. Downstairs is where most people gather though. The barmaid seemed a bit ditzy as Mrs. B. ordered a “red wine, perhaps a Shiraz” and got given a (white) Pinot Grigio !
It's difficult to give a definitive list of the beers on offer, as they seem to be continually changing. Even in the short while that we were there, one ran out and another promptly replaced it. However, I managed to note several from Dawkins with their Ho Ho Ho, Green Barrel, Bristol Best and Brass Knocker. These were joined by Ashley Down Vanguard, Tiny Rebel Urban IPA and Dorset Knob. There were also a couple of boards behind the bar listing the “coming soon” options as well as 20+ bottled beers. After the somewhat eclectic beer selection, cider was a little disappointing with just Black Dragon from Gwynt Y Ddraig and another of their offerings from a box on the end of the bar.
On 28th January 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2060 recommendations about 1962 pubs]
View more reviews of The Portcullis (5)
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- Official site of The Portcullis - www.theportcullisclifton.com
- Twitter - Portcullis
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Portcullis - whatpub.com
Redland, 1.88 miles, 36 min walk (show)
Parson Street, 1.91 miles, 36 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 07 August 2013 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 07 August 2013 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : Yes - May - last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 21 October 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 30 September 2015 by Jonathan Wilde
- Car Park : No - Is now in a residents parking scheme from 9am-9pm Monday-Saturday - last updated 30 September 2015 by Jonathan Wilde
- Darts : No last updated 30 September 2015 by Jonathan Wilde
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 21 October 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Function Room : No - Although upstairs could be classed as one - last updated 30 September 2015 by Jonathan Wilde
- Hot Food : Yes - Coming soon - last updated 30 September 2015 by Jonathan Wilde
- Jukebox : No last updated 30 September 2015 by Jonathan Wilde
- Karaoke : No last updated 30 September 2015 by Jonathan Wilde
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 30 September 2015 by Jonathan Wilde
- Micropub : No last updated 30 September 2015 by Jonathan Wilde
- Pinball : No last updated 07 August 2013 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 07 August 2013 by Quinno _
- Quiz Night : Yes - First and third Thursdays. - last updated 31 March 2025 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 07 August 2013 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : Yes - Boxed only on visit today - last updated 30 September 2015 by Jonathan Wilde
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 21 October 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- WiFi : Yes last updated 30 September 2015 by Jonathan Wilde
