The Bristol Yard, Bristol

This was formerly the Tap pub for the Smiles Brewery which was closed when the brewery went under, but has fortunately since been rescued by the Butcombe Brewery who did it up and reopened it a couple of years ago I used to go to the Brewery Tap for the Smiles Brewery beers when I was a frequent visitor to Bristol some 20 years ago, so when a couple of local pub enthusiasts suggested the now Colston Yard as a place to meet whilst I was in town it seemed a good nostalgic choice. Certainly a lot different from the old rough and ready days of the Brewery Tap. It now has the ambience of a contemporary city bar with a light oak floor and bar top, plenty of brown leather sofa seating and bar stools and an olive green and red colour decor to the plain walls. There are six hand pumps all in a row on the shiny light wood bar top and these usually dispense three Buttcombe beers, London Pride and then two guests. Unfortunately three of the pumps were off on the early Friday evening of my visit which limited the choice a bit, but fortunately I like Butcombe beers and the remaining Gold was a nice pint. All in all a pleasant early evening session and due to my historical allegiance I wish this place well and long may it continue dispensing good beer to the citizens of Bristol.