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Detail Pages
Jolly Sailor, Bristol
Saltford
Postal town: Bristol
BS31 3ER
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about Jolly Sailor
The layout is much as described by Blackthorn, below, though sadly the standards seem to have slipped since then. Two Wadworth’s ales on, 6X and Henry’s, both in average condition. There were also two dry pumps. There was a large coffee machine plus taps of Guinness, Moretti, Strongbow, Thatcher’s Gold, Foster’s and Amstel. There was no cheer from the landlord, who had the uncomfortable demeanour of Jimmy Saville in a funeral director’s, or the yoof who turned out to be a sort of waiter. Both these staff members were wearing puffa jackets as it was so cold inside. There was a laminated menu of standard pub grub at over-inflated prices. There was dire pop music making it feel even more like a funeral home. The car park looks unkempt and had a decrepit horsebox making it look like a scrapyard. Despite the pleasant location there is no jollity here for the maritime community, so unless you are travelling by river or on foot and happen to be passing it’s not worth making a special effort to visit.
On 30th March 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3251 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Jolly Sailor
An attractive pub immediately adjacent to Saltford lock and overlooking the weir, it includes a good sized patio area in front of the pub as well as it’s own island opposite which must be a fairly unique pub feature. As a consequence it gets packed in the warmer weather when they have also been known to hold barbeques in the garden.
The original part of the pub is reasonably small L-shape room, although there is also a more modern conservatory extension used as a dining area. The pub has quite a traditional appearance with a couple of hefty black beams on the ceiling, black tiling on the floor and some exposed stone walling at the front with cream plasterwork elsewhere. A very large stone fire-place is off to one side, although these days all that is in there is a small wood burning stove. The wooden mantelpiece above is peppered with small holes which are apparently as a result of red hot pokers being shoved in to it many years ago. Something of a tradition among boaters I believe. A self-styled snug area at the rear was more contemporary in appearance with painted wood panelling on much of the walls and a few pew styles seats on the left.
The menu offered a decent selection of pub grub dishes such as fish & chips, ham egg & chips, chilli, curry of the day, pie of the day, etc., and these were mostly priced around the £9/£10 mark. There was also a small specials board. My Scampi and chips was actually quite a decent dish, with some meaty chunks of fish rather than the reformed stuff that you often get. A quiche of the day (tomato and basil) was also pleasant and tasty.
Beers on tap were all from Wadworths with their 6X, Swordfish and Henry’s IPA. Ciders meanwhile were Stowford Press and Thatcher’s Gold.
On 23rd April 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1949 recommendations about 1862 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Jolly Sailor
This pub has a superb location right by Saltford lock. There’s plenty of outside seating, including a few seats on the island which to get to you have to walk across the lock – not recommended after one too many. It’s a traditional free house, so you can never be sure what ales are going to be on. When I was in there on during a lunchtime they had on Butcombe Bitter; Sharp’s Doom Bar; and GKIPA. I had a couple of pints of Butcombe Bitter, which was excellent, and reasonably priced (by my London standards) at £2.65 a pint. I didn’t spend much time inside, except to go to and from the bar, but it looked pretty basic. Nothing wrong with that of course. It was reasonably quiet on a weekday lunchtime, but I bet it gets incredibly busy on a summer’s weekend. But it’s a really nice pub, and definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area on a nice day and can sit outside.
On 16th August 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Nolan left this review about Jolly Sailor
How things change! Dirty wine glasses were taken away and returned equally dirty but with complimentary water drops, starters OK, unbelievably noisy reorganisation of furniture as tables and chairs were dragged over the stone floor, mains OK but nothing special (possibly Brake Brothers?), final triumph was Brulee of scrambled egg texture and soft brown substance on the top which I assume was caramelised sugar once upon a time. We won't be returning in a hurry.
On 29th January 2007
- rating: 2
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
David Gethyn-Jones left this review about Jolly Sailor
I remembered visiting this place a twenty years ago, so decided to revisit when I needed a nice quiet place to take someone special for an informal evening meal.
The setting and ambience were exactly as I remembered, with courteous, freindly staffand 'a nice class' of customer.
The shock came when the food arrived. The menu suggested an interesting,if a tad pricey, pub meal. But placed in front of us (on stylish, pure white square plates) was pure culinary architecture. Stunningly presented, the food was sumptuously prepared from ingredients of uncompromised quality, and cooked to perfection.
This was easily the best 'pub food' i've enjoyed in ten years - what had seemed 'a tad pricey' was now acknowledged to be exceptional value!
On 15th April 2005
- rating: 10
[User has posted 4 recommendations about 4 pubs]