Friendly Records Bar, Bedminster, Bristol

A new addition to the North Street strip, this is housed in a corner plot on a site that was at one time, as it’s name suggests, an old butcher’s shop, although it has more recently been trading as an antique dealers. It is a joint venture by the nearby Old Bookshop and the local micro-brewery Wiper & True. Internally it has a very stripped back, minimalist look with what is probably the shop’s original tiling on the floor and fresh white plasterwork on the walls. Large dual aspect windows make the most of the outlook, whilst a couple of small black and white photographs were on the walls. There is further tiling behind the bar counter, some of which looks as though it may be quite old. Seating was a mixture of tables and chairs and high stools, all in a school type style of utilitarian black metal and wood. Staff all seemed genuinely friendly with smiles all round and lots of attention to detail, such as turning your glass so that the logo is facing you for example. The obligatory bearded barman was in attendance and he was enjoying playing with the sound system, including having The Clash on at a particularly high volume. Although there is a bar counter, it is apparently table service only here. Whether that’s due to licensing constraints or not, I don’t know. Furthermore all beers appeared to be keg rather than cask and only served in ⅓, ½ and ⅔ measures rather than full pints. The choice on this occasion were all from the owners and were their Kaleidoscope, In The Fines, Quintet, Small Beer and Hard Shake, the latter coming in at the equivalent of a hefty £10.50 per pint, although it is 10.7% ABV.

A new opening with only 1/3's, 1/2's and 2/3rd's available complete with table service. I suspect all the licencing laws new tick boxes have been ticked to get a licence. All in all though despite not being my sort of place it was enjoyable.