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Highbury Vaults, Kingsdown, Bristol
Bristol
BS2 8DE
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Highbury Vaults
A long established pub in the heart of Kingsdown, it was at one time owned by the now defunct Smiles Brewery but these days it is one of only a handful of Young’s pubs in the Bristol area. It is deceptively large inside extending back some way from the road, along with an attractive walled garden beyond this.
Décor wise, it’s quite traditional with dark wooden boards on the floor and brown painted wood panelling on the lower part of the walls with orange painted wallpaper up above. A small bar at the front of the pub is a cosy and enclosed spot and this has it’s own bar counter. Beyond this are a couple of other rooms with a table billiards game at the rear. A few black and white pictures of local sports teams were on the wall as well as some more of the locale. An unusual feature is a model train track running around much of the perimeter, with tunnels in the wall from one room to the next. Unfortunately on a recent visit it wasn’t running though, hopefully this is only temporary. The courtyard garden is again a good size and quite attractive with atmospheric lighting. A small board up on the wall listed a choice of pork pies, pickled eggs and filled rolls although whether anything more substantial was available I’m not sure.
Despite being a Young’s pub, their beers did not dominate the bar with just Bitter and London Gold being available. These were joined by Gem, Tribute, Bath Ales Dark Side and Teignworthy Beachcomber. Ciders meanwhile were Thatcher’s Gold and Addlestones. All in all with it’s traditional ambience and friendly barman I thought this was a great pub.
On 10th March 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1949 recommendations about 1862 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Highbury Vaults
I was looking forward to this pub visit, after looking it up on Pubs Galore, plus I like Youngs beers. The pub from the outside caught my attention as it is traditional in style and looks very appealing. The front snug where we sat at the small bar was very unique. The downside to here was the cleanliness, I noticed wine glasses along the rear servery sat on dirty beer towels and when Mrs Ale told me about the loos, we left sharply. I asked the manageress the easiest way to find the Green Man, but she was most unhelpful and told us she didn't really know as she drives. It turned out it was only round the corner, also the front brass handpumps were unloved, they needed a good old polish.
On 19th November 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Highbury Vaults
A Youngs-owned traditional alehouse that is bigger inside than the outside might suggest. The teeny front snug bar leads off to other areas further back which house a bar billiards table (result!) and a dart board. Décor is wood-heavily with lots of panelling and a bare floor which, with the subdued lighting scheme, can create a homely or dingy effect depending on your take. Look out for the toy train running along the back wall between the bars. The pub also boasts a beer garden which is pleasantly modern and surrounded by foliage. Unusually for a Youngs house there are six handpulls with a mix of beers; Youngs Bitter as standard with St Austell Tribute and Bath Gem usually available plus numerous guests; Bath Ales Festivity was on during Christmas. Beer quality is usually fairly good. This is an interesting, characterful place and worth a visit.
On 27th December 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Highbury Vaults
I love this 2011 Good Beer Guide pub for its off beat character and the multiroomed feel about it. You could spend a day standing at the bar looking round all the bits and bobs slotted in and around the bottles and glasses, and wandering round the different seating areas which all have interesting features. Good beer on sale and a variety too which is brilliant for what appears to be a Youngs house. We chose Plain Ales Inncognito and Bristol Beer Factory Exhibition. Lovely beer garden at the back. Have to watch the step on the way out though.
On 7th February 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about Highbury Vaults
Situated in the studenty area of Kingsdown and a short stiff climb up St Michael’s Hill from the City Centre, is The Highbury Vaults, a pub with something of an olde worlde feel, created by a bare boarded, wood panelled interior with wooden tables and chairs and rather dark subdued lighting. The pub dates back to the mid 19th century.
The main bar is pleasantly broken up into different areas. Walls are decorated with pictures of old kings and queens. There’s also several photos of the pub itself in olden days when it was branded as “a United House”. Rather incongruously in one corner is a bar billiards table, but there’s no other distractions such as fruit machines or music. Unusually, a model railway track runs the length of the pub at around head height.
There’s a small basic snug bar on the right at the front of the pub which is, so I gather, the original old part of the pub. A pleasant walled garden may be found at the rear. The toilets are down a steep staircase.
It’s a Youngs house, but one that is effectively run as a free house with an adventurous guest beer policy. In the main bar, there’s 2 banks of 4 pumps each which, on my recent lunchtime visit, were serving Youngs Gold, Bitter, Brains SA, St Austell Tribute, Bath Gem, Hop Back Crop Circle, Moor Beers Peat Porter ( sounds interesting ) and Southville Hop ( a 6.5% beer from the local Bristol Beer Factory ). The Bath Gem - £ 2.90p – was in good form. The pub is a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular.
The uphill climb to the pub seemed a bit longer and steeper than when I last came here ( probably about 10 years ago ) , but I enjoyed the visit and I’d happily do this one again.
On 22nd November 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]