Arnolfini Harbourside Bar, Bristol

Arnolfini official site - www.arnolfini.org.uk

Arnolfini official site - www.arnolfini.org.uk

This is a fairly small bar housed in a large old warehouse that also contains an arts complex and cinema. The interior has a somewhat utilitarian feel to it, and I would have thought that the main draw for most people would be the large cobbled area outside that has great views over the docks. It seems odd therefore that there were only two tables here to sit at, which strikes me as a bit of a wasted opportunity. The bar lacks much in the way of atmosphere with a screed floor, plain white walls and industrial style light fittings. A long metal topped bar counter runs along one side of the room and this had a menu chalked up on some boards up above, although I didn’t inspect this. A few scones and some artisan breads were at one end of the bar. Seating was perhaps slightly out of kilter with everything else, being red leather benches and stools. A small TV was on the wall at on end. There are a few windows along one side, but unfortunately they’re too high to be able to get a view out of them. The solitary beer on tap was Brass Knocker, and the only cider Stowford Press. We were served our drinks in flimsy plastic glasses, perhaps on the assumption that we were going outside, but it would have been nice to have been asked, since we weren’t as there was nowhere to sit.