The Prince Street Social, Bristol

Another modern and modish bar that has infested central Bristol since the Millennium. However this one has definite plus points; it is light and bright with an almost Mediterranean feel with wood and patterned tiled floor, tongue and groove whitewashed ceiling, discrete drinking areas and a feeling that it has been planned properly. The long bar has an open kitchen to the left. The right side has a sensible range of drinks (few enough to make sure it shifts); two ales from Bristol Beer Factory - Fortitude and Future - the latter of which drank rather well. A couple of ciders also (it is Bristol!). If you're going to do a modern bar in BS1, this is currently a good exemplar of how to get it right. Run by the same people who have the King Street Brewhouse.

A new opening in a building that was just offices previously I think, this is the sister venue to the also recently opened King Street Brewhouse just around the corner. With two extensive redevelopments opening in large premises within a few days of each other, somebody certainly has some cash to splash. Going on the name, I thought perhaps it was influenced by Jason Atherton’s renowned Pollen Street Social, but having been to both I didn’t spot any particular similarities. Perhaps it’s just the philosophy which is the same – a place to eat, drink and socialise. Inside it’s all one large, open plan L shape room with an open kitchen facing you as you come in. Décor is quite contemporary, but perhaps with a slightly more rustic feel to it than many places. Flooring was a mixture of laminate and tiling, the latter being in both patterned and marble effect varieties. A long bench table was in front of the bar counter which was clad with distressed wood panelling. Glass and wood partitions broke up the interior space somewhat, and there was also some wood panelling on the walls as well as some whitewashed wooden boards on the ceiling. Beers on tap were James Street Brewery’s Gladiator and Bristol Beer Factory’s Independence. The solitary cider was Symonds Founders Reserve. There was a barrel racked up on the end of the bar, but this was far too small to be for beer unfortunately. Whether it was for something like sherry, or just decorative, I’m not sure. Overall I quite liked this and will certainly return to check out the food, but it did have more of a lounge bar type feel to it than your traditional pub so it may not be for everyone.