Four Wise Monkeys, Bristol

One of many bars on Corn Street that has had numerous names over the years and seems to spend as much time closed as it is open, it now bills itself as a craft beer venue so hopefully may have a little more success than previous unmemorable cocktail type venues. It’s a corner building and inside it’s one single open plan room, although divided in to different areas with the rear part being up a couple of steps. The ceiling is painted black and the floor is quite a dark wood, so this together with the low ambient lighting can result in it being either gloomy or atmospheric depending on your point of view. All the tables had candles on, and there were also some very large church candles in the windows so I guess they are aiming for the latter option. The front wall was exposed stone work and the rear wall was painted a maroon colour. There were large windows along the right hand wall and counter top running along it with high chairs to sit at and watch the world go by as well as an old beer barrel to rest your pint on. At the rear were a number of leather arm chairs and there were also a couple of Chesterfield sofas at the front. The friendly barman pointed out the juke box which is apparently free to use. Beers on tap were indeed unusual options as befits their craft bar pretensions although they were all keg rather than cask. Helpfully there was a printed menu on the bar and this included a few tasting notes. On this occasion they were Cromarty Happy Chappy, Black IPA and Australia from the new local micro Wiper and True, BBF Southville Hop, Ceaser Augustus from William Bros and Moors So’Hop. There were no ciders on draught unfortunately, although there was a good selection of bottles and many of these were also from local producers such as Severn Vale. Prices seemed expensive though with a bottle of cider and a G&T costing £9.50.