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Detail Pages
The Ostrich, Bristol
Bristol
BS1 6TJ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Ostrich Inn
A very lively Butcombe owned waterside pub, all beers on were from Butcombe and related breweries, nice looking place but a bit too busy and loud on my visit to really enjoy.
On 25th September 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Ostrich Inn
Now owned by Butcombe Brewery, this is a wonderfully located pub on the wharfside and close enough to be walkable from the city centre but far enough away to not be crowded and therefore have the feel of a local. Looks like two buildings knocked through via an open doorway into three distinct sections. To the left down a step is a seating area with blue paint and varnished wood plank walls, along with a restrained selection of nautical paraphernalia. The mid-section is the bar and to the right is a quasi-lounge, all lit by a fake but (decent quality and feel) sodium style lighting. Interestingly I did not note the skeleton in a cave mentioned below, so the point made about it not being well-presented is quite valid! Outside is a large dockside seating area which I imagine is a pretty big draw in the summer months. Six pumps doubled up with three ales available; Butcombe Rare Breed, Butcombe Gold (very good nick) and Liberation Ale from Jersey. Imbibed to a classic rock soundtrack at a sensible volume, which kind of fitted. I really enjoyed this one and it's worth seeking out as part of an extended Bristol crawl. 7.5
On 1st February 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5089 recommendations about 5072 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Ostrich Inn
A popular pub if slightly off the beaten track, the main attraction here is definitely the large outside seating area. It has a square footage several times bigger than the pub itself, and being adjacent to the river and a lock gets packed on warm sunny evenings. It’s also one of the stopping off points for the various booze cruises that sail around the docks. Unfortunately though it loses the sun quite early due to the tall buildings nearby, so it can get a little chilly unless it’s a really warm day. There is a good view across the water to The Thekla, Mud Dock, etc.
Internally, it’s split in to three rooms and is quite traditional in terms of décor with some wood panelling on the walls, grey and cream paintwork elsewhere, and a wood strip floor. It’s got quite a cosy ambience with candles on all the tables, low sofas and light fittings that are designed to look like old oil lamps. A small TV was up in one corner, but the volume was off so this was not too intrusive. An interesting feature is a small cave entrance in one corner which contains the torso of a skeleton along with a few other implements. Oddly though, this has not been lit which seems a bit of a missed opportunity.
Beers on tap were Rev James and Black Sheep, whilst a third pump for Smuggler’s Brew appeared to have run out. Ciders meanwhile were Thatcher’s Gold and Symonds Founders Reserve.
On 14th March 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Ostrich Inn
Dating from 1745, the Ostrich has a splendid quayside location with great views of the waterfront and uses this to its advantage with a huge outdoor seating area. I imagine this is a very popular spot in summer, but it was far too chilly and windy during my recent visit for anyone to make use of it. The main door leads into the bar area which is straight ahead, the floor is wooden in here but two flanking areas either side are carpeted, the left hand side up a step. Decor is mainly of the nautical variety, with model boats, lobster pots, framed knots, a sailor's hat and even a fishing rod on display. Additionally there is a large tin sign advertising Woodbine cigarettes. The right hand room has a gated cave in the far corner, there are plenty of these cut into the sandstone around here. A standard pub style food menu is served all day.
There were are fair few handpumps but unfortunately only one to choose from, being St Austell Tribute, which was in good nick. This was repeated over three of the pumps, a couple of others had a reversed Hobgoblin clip. Perhaps I was unlucky with my timing.
On 22nd February 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Ostrich Inn
There’s been a pub on this site for a few hundred years and according to the local historian who took us round the old parts of Bristol this pub was famous for employing a sandboy (the name given to boys who delivered sand to public houses in the 18th and 19th centuries for use on the floor to soak up spilt ale and got paid in beer, hence the saying ‘happy as a sandboy’. ) who used to collect it from the beach area at the base of the red Cliffs around the corner. On a good busy day he could do six runs and therefore be very happy.
The Ostrich is a fairly imposing building to look at from the outside, but inside it lacks any real character. Essentially it is a one room pub, with two carpeted seating areas either side of the wooden floored bar area
But the key feature of this pub is its location, sitting by the wharfside, and with a large number of external trestle tables that makes it a very pleasant spot for an outside pint on a decent sunny day or summer evening.
I believe it’s a Brains pub and has four hand pumps on the bar. Only two were on when I visited, which were Brains SA and Hobgobblin and SA was an OK pint.
On 5th September 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pete Yeates left this review about Ostrich Inn
Nicely located alongside the old lock leading to Bathurst Basin in Bristol Docks, the Ostrich is well worth a visit. Well-kept beer and a good choice of food means the place gets busy, especially in the summertime (ha ha)!
On 3rd September 2009
- rating: 10
[User has posted 99 recommendations about 92 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Ostrich Inn
The main attraction of this pub is definitely the large outside seating area, so I'm not going to bother saying much about the inside. In fact last time I was there I didn't even go in.
The seating area is right next to the lock, there's a good view up the river and of The Thekla, Mud Dock, etc. over the other side. There's no grass, but quite a few trees dotted about. In can get very busy on a summer's evening even though it's tucked out the way a bit.
The only draft cider is Blackthorn.
On 14th May 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]