The Robin Hood, Kingsdown, Bristol

I really liked this pub, ok the large glass door entrance is still here, which I was concerned about as I thought I was entering a Wine bar style establishment. We sat at the bar and chose a beer from their choice of six handpumps, there was also a cider on hand pump. The two locals sat along side us at the bar were friendly and chatty. They both advised us to try the Moor Brewery So' Hop, which was excellent. The beer was quite lively through the pump, so the young barman took a couple of jugs down to the cellar to bring up the beer. I don't know whether the pub has recently changed hands, as the barman was explaining to us that the pub has only just got it's license to open all week, within the last three weeks. Another beer tried was Yeovil Ales Glory.

Situated halfway up the calf-burning St Michael’s Hill, this place was revamped thoroughly in 2010 and has gone upmarket; a glass entrance door leads to the bar area with IKEA-style panelling, laminates and colours inside. Tidy, if rather characterless. The upstairs dining room is a little more grand, with a nice fireplace. There’s a tiny decked patio to rear and top-notch traps. Was excited to see an excellent ale selection (2 Celt Experience, 2 Moor, a Cotswold and a Cheddar). However…the Celt Golden tasted fine but was very cloudy (cost £1.80 for a half) and it was a similar story with the Celt Bleddyn (£1.85), someone has either not let the barrels settle or given them a hefty wallop in the cellar as I know for a fact that these are clear ales; in fact I had a Golden a couple of days later in the Nags Head, Reading and it was clear as day. Both halves were served in very dirty/sticky glasses which was pretty poor standards for any pub, let alone one with upmarket pretensions. Clientèle-wise the intellectual conversation at bar contrasted with the tattooed family sat at the front, an interesting mix. Plenty of old clips snaking along the wall beams attest to its status as a freehouse but if my visit was an indicator they need to get a grip on the basics pronto. I’d have second thoughts about going back despite the enticing ale selection. I’ll be generous and give it a 6 as the ale was at least in decent condition, taste-wise.