The Architect, Bristol

A new opening in a scenic spot alongside the river, the building is the office of the Design West architectural charity and the ground floor was formerly used as an exhibition space. Now though it’s been put to much better use a pub, although very much of the café/bar variety rather than your traditional boozer. Internally they’ve done a good job on the conversion, with restored wooden beams on the ceiling as well as a few chunky supporting timber pillars, and overall it has quite a rustic feel to it. Walls are mostly whitewashed stonework with dark grey panelling below, whilst the floor is primarily dark wooden boards with some black and white chequered tiling in the entrance way. Banquette style seating ran along the left hand wall with table and chairs facing, and there were also one or two high tables for vertical drinking. In keeping with it’s café/bar pretensions, a small selection of baguettes and so on were on the brass counter top. There was also an outside seating area alongside the river, and this gave good views of the boats moored up and along to the M Shed museum. Unfortunately, there were no ales on tap, real or otherwise, with the sole draught offering being Estrella. I did note some cans from the local micro Wiper & True in the ‘fridge, whilst ciders were a couple of bottle from Sandford Orchards. Prices seemed a little expensive though, with a bottle of the cider and half an Estrella coming in at £8. Overall I thought this was quite a decent spot and it certainly it somewhat more relaxing than the rather frantic strip of bars opposite, but ultimately the lack of anything in the way of a decent drinks selection is unlikely to tempt any pub aficionados.