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Chat about:
Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Quinno _
Submitted on Thursday, 23rd May 2013
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Detail Pages
The Hatchet Inn, Bristol
Bristol
BS1 5NA
Served areas
Reviews of The Hatchet Inn (Average Rating: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Hatchet Inn
No real ale on our Saturday night visit, I did notice two pump clips turned back, so maybe they had a stampede of ale drinkers in during the day. Our two pals liked this pub and held a bit of nostalgia to the place the music was also good so we stayed for a pint of Kronenbourg. The pub consisted of a small lobby entrance which led to the main bar on the right. The majority of space was at the rear and seemed to be the sought after part of the pub for their regulars. We found a table for four of us near the front entrance, which was fine. The two doorman on the entrance was a bit off-putting, especially on a Saturday night.
On 13th October 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Hatchet Inn
Located in a quiet street to the rear of the Hippodrome area, this claims to be Bristol's oldest pub (circa C17th) though despite the impressive Tudor(esque?) exterior and rambling interior only a smattering of features really provide the promised ambience. There seems to be an alternative vibe here, with clientele veering towards the rock/emo crowd. ‘Welcome all’ it says on the door but I rather felt like I was intruding on certain punters, the people who had a particular section of the pub to themselves were obviously unhappy that I’d decided to take a vacant table there (the temerity!). There are various interesting things dotted around, such as an old cigarette machine and a high-ceilinged rear room with various Bristolania wall art (reproductions of a medieval map of ‘Bristow’ and a shipping adverts). This rear room leads to a sun-trap courtyard garden. Two ales available, Doom Bar (£1.60 a half) and Courage Best served by a perfunctory barman; my Doom Bar was pretty ropey and I decided to cut my losses 2/3 of the way down the glass. Given the pubs’ age there are various tales recounted including the faintly ludicrous yarn of human flesh being present under the layers of tar on the front door. This place should really do better given its location and backstory. Could be a destination pub waiting to happen…?
On 24th May 2013
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Hatchet Inn
Located in a quiet side street close to College Green and the university campus is The Hatchet Inn, which proudly claims to be the oldest pub in Bristol ( established c1500 according to a painted inscription high up on the wall). It’s been licensed since 1606 apparently.
An attractive looking mock Tudor exterior leads into a large pub with a number of different drinking areas.
Dotted around the pub are various snippets of information on the pub. For instance we learn that the 300 year old main door is reputed to have layers of human skin under its tar coating. We also learn that an American businessman walked into the pub in 1956 and offered 1000 dollars for the door there and then. In days long gone cock fighting and bare knuckle boxing fights took place on the premises and Tom Cribb fought and trained here in the 19th century. We also learn that the pub was privately owned until 1934 when it was sold to “Trueman Handbury and Buxton” ( their spelling not mine ).
Despite retaining some attractive features such as flagstoned floors, criss cross leaded windows and elegant cornicing, the pub has clearly set its stall out for the local student trade and, on my recent Thursday evening visit, deafeningly loud rock music was the order of the day and I was probably the oldest customer by some considerable margin. Resident DJ’s feature in the latter part of the week with a clear emphasis on rock and what is referred to as “alternative anthems”. On Fridays and Saturdays the pub stays open till 2 am.
On the real ale front, the 2 pumps were serving Courage Best and Butcombe Bitter. This is the type of place where you anticipate the real ale being rather iffy, but, pleasingly, the Butcombe Bitter - £ 2.80p – was really quite good.
On its menu, the pub describes itself as a “cosy and traditional ale house”, which, I’m afraid, is not how I would describe it and I’m not marking this one down for a revisit
On 22nd November 2010
- rating: 4
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
View more reviews of The Hatchet Inn (5)
No known official website for this pub.
- Facebook - Hatchet Inn, Bristol
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Hatchet Inn - whatpub.com
Bristol Temple Meads, 1.17 miles, 22 min walk (show)
Bedminster, 1.42 miles, 27 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 05 August 2013 by Dave McNally
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 27 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 27 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 27 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 06 March 2016 by Jonathan Wilde
- Car Park : No last updated 27 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 06 March 2016 by Jonathan Wilde
- Darts : No last updated 05 August 2013 by Dave McNally
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 27 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Jukebox : Yes last updated 27 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 27 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Micropub : No last updated 06 March 2016 by Jonathan Wilde
- Pinball : No last updated 27 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Pool Table : Yes last updated 27 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Real Ale : Yes - Doombar - last updated 09 August 2013 by Dave McNally
- Real Cider : No last updated 06 March 2016 by Jonathan Wilde
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 06 March 2016 by Jonathan Wilde
- WiFi : Yes - The Cloud - last updated 06 March 2016 by Jonathan Wilde
