Nettle & Rye, Clifton Village, Bristol

Given that it is situated next to the attractive Clifton Arcade, I was hoping that the Hophouse may also have some fine Victorian architecture to marvel over, but unfortunately this is a fairly modern looking, gastro-style pub. You enter directly to the main bar which sees the servery running down the right hand wall with its chunky bar counter, large overhead lights, plain mirrored bar back and fancy looking keg dispense fonts. For such a reasonably sized room there were surprisingly few seating options, with a few standard tables and chairs to the front, either side of the front porch, and one or two more at the rear of the room. We ended up perched at the end of the bar under the large blackboards listing the various drink options available and next to a pile of the day's papers and a large, bright floral display. A few paintings and pictures of the local area, including the nearby suspension bridge, line the walls and there is a fire set into the left hand wall behind a glass screen, that is probably supposed to look very stylish, but actually looks pretty stupid. Upstairs there is a similarly sized dining room with a keg only bar, exposed floorboards and lots of formal seating. Various display cabinets and wine racks can be found around the room, whilst the walls have been decorated with more old pictures and a bizarre collection of trays and chopping boards. The menu seemed like an upmarket version of pub staples, perhaps as you might expect to find in this sort of neighbourhood. Main meals clocked in at around the £12 mark and the menu lists the source of all their meat, fish and veg. There were four ales on handpull, all from relatively local micro breweries - Tiny Rebel Cwtch, Gloucester Dockyard Dark, Two Cocks Roundhead and Wild Beer Bibble - plus five ciders and a range of continental lagers, mostly from Germany. I tried the Bibble and found it was a very good pint kept in excellent condition. Despite being arguably more focussed on food than drink, this is a pretty good place to stop off for a pint if you're out and about in Clifton. The place is smart and clean and offers an interesting range of drink options. It may not have the traditional feel to it that you might expect on approach, but we found it a pleasant place to while away some time.

A large open plan bright and airy room with a modern feel. This is another pub where we were asked if we were eating before having a chance to start ordering drinks, so clearly rather food-centric but certainly not exclusively so. The main bar at ground level has a wooden floor, pale green decor, a number of high butcher's block type tables but some standard issue types too. A row of stools along the bar reminded me of the type you see in old films featuring 1950s American diners. The fire behind a glass screen was lit but this is just a feature, it certainly wouldn't keep a room of this size warm, even when needed to. Along a back wall is some shelving with a few books and board games. A large feature staircase with stainless steel wire balustrading climbs to the upper level which looked to be more for formal dining. All tables were set and some reserved; the colour scheme up here is a lightish blue now. The beer selection was decent and not at all mainstream, focusing on local micros. Moor Revival and Merlin Magic, Bristol Beer Factory Acer, Cheddar Crown and Glory and Glastonbury Hedge Monkey. Beer arrived in a jug by default. A number of ciders on too, Devon Mist, Sheppys, Orchard Pig, Cotswold Cider and Burrow Hill; these were listed by county of origin on a chalkboard. All the ales on were £3.50, the ciders £3.60-70. Certainly not your traditional pub however an excellent ale and cider choice and with a good LocAle policy. I didn't check out the food menus but saw a couple of meals being carried through which looked good. Some pavement seating to the front where the doors can fold back, all rather continental cafe style.