The Tobacco Factory, Southville, Bristol

Official pages of The Tobacco Factory - www.tobaccofactory.com

Official pages of The Tobacco Factory - www.tobaccofactory.com

A large and somewhat impersonal venue, it does nonetheless seem very popular and was the original bar in this area that kick-started the whole regeneration of this end of North Street. It’s essentially just one very large, industrial looking room crammed full of tables and chairs with a couple of odd sofa’s scattered around. The harsh acoustics means it can be quite noisy when it’s busy, which it invariably seems to be. There is a small raised section at one end which has a few bean bags on it. Unusual, but again this seems a popular spot for people to chill out and survey the rest of the pub. The décor is very industrial as previously mentioned, with a concrete ceiling and all pipes and other services on display, plus a solitary disco glitter ball which looked a little out of place. Wails are plain brick although witch a selection of artwork dotted around. There is a long bar at the back running almost the length of the room, with a food servery down at one end, plus a selection of cupcakes and the like displayed on the bar counter. There is a smaller room off to the rear, and a small courtyard area out the back. Food is of the “trendy” variety rather than your traditional pub grub. Think lentils, halloumi and roasted red peppers and you’ll get the general idea, with most of the mains being around the £9 mark and a selection of light bites at around £6.50. Beers on tap were all from the Bristol Beer Factory, with their Acer, Sunrise and No. 7. Ciders were Ashton Press and Bath Ales’ Bounders.