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The Birkett Tap, Bristol
Bristol
BS1 1SE
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Birkett Tap
As described below, this is another lacklustre town bar that sets itself low standards and fails to meet them. On entry we experienced an atmosphere that felt like a bad day in a funeral home. All of the cider and ale pumps were dry, and the barmaid didn’t seem to care, shrugging her shoulders and pointing at the only two taps which had anything on – Camden Hells and IPA. Really not worth the effort, though I might give it another shot if the ales are ever back on or I feel like self-immolation, but at the moment it’s more die than tap.
On 1st February 2023
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3277 recommendations about 3242 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Birkett Tap
Named after the architect who designed the building, this is a large modern bar with modish decor set over a couple of levels with upper and lower bar areas. Four pumps with three ales on; Sharps Doom Bar, St Austell Proper Job (flat via an overworked aspirator, my guess) and Electric Bear. 10 craft keg taps. I also tried the Electric Bear Napoleon Complex (after asking which was the darkest- it was darkest in the sense that the man with a single hair follicle on his head is less bald than Duncan Goodhew) which was flat and tasted like scrumpy. Exchanged, with an air of resigned incredulity. So in short, this place sells upmarket beer but without any staff who give a toss. Could be half decent with some cellar skills and a bit of enthusiasm.
On 1st February 2019
- rating: 3
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Birkett Tap
Renamed and extensively renovated since my previous review, it’s a good size, split level pub that has thankfully moved away from the fake Irish theme and now has a style that probably fits somewhere between rustic and shabby chic. Certainly the beer range has been much improved and the staff seemed friendly enough, if a little ditzy.
The bar counter is located on the upper level at the rear of the pub, and this area had varnished boards on most of the floor with some smaller sections of slate style tiles inlaid with a Victorian floral design. Walls were a mixture of cream plasterwork with painted green wood panelling on the lower part, or in many places roughly hewn plans tacked on to the wall at 45° angles. The lower section was broadly similar in terms of style, and there were a few nods to the local area including a mural of hot air balloons and some artistic photographs of the suspension bridge. A couple of TV’s were dotted around, but the volume was off and these were not at all intrusive. Seating was a mixture of wooden chairs and remarkably uncomfortable metal stools.
Beers on tap were Proper Job, Doom Bar, Arbor Shangri-La and Bristol Beer Factory’s Nova and Milk Stout. Ciders meanwhile were Thatcher’s Gold, Thatcher’s haze and Rekorderlig Strawberry & Lime. All in all, I was quite pleasantly surprised by this and it’s certainly a lot better than it’s previous incarnation.
On 17th August 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1945 recommendations about 1858 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about O'Neill's
A fairly typical O'Neils no doubt, situated just off the centre. Lots of wood around the place and fake Irish stuff about, like a sign saying “Fresh Irish Sourdough Bread sold here”. What??
It was fairly quiet on a recent Monday evening, with most of the punters that were in there being left over from the quiz that had been running. I actually found the service to be fine, but then it was quiet and I assume it was probably the manager who served me, he looked a bit more sensible and wasn't dressed in the identical black t-shirts that all the other young staff were wearing. No doubt it's different on a busy Friday or Saturday, when they also have live music apparently.
There was a fairly uninspiring menu consisting primarily of steaks, burgers, sandwiches, etc. with lots of notes about how proud they are of their Irish ingredients. Prices looked reasonable with most of the mains around the £5/£6 mark, but we didn't try it so can't comment on the quality.
No real ales on unfortunately, unless you count Smithwicks Irish Ale, whatever that it. Four ciders on tap, but all broadly similar – Magners (of course), Bulmers, Gaymers and Blackthorn. Why go to the trouble of stocking four ciders, but not offer any variety?
On 13th April 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1945 recommendations about 1858 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
an_ ecumenical_matter left this review about Molloy's
Visited yesterday under sufferance because of the day that was in it. All I could say is if I owned a pancake making shop,would I choose to give my worst portayal of my business on Pancake Tuesday??? Because these misfits had to be seen to be believed. On St Patricks day in your stereotypical "oirish" pub you think they would have had enough staff,enough glasses,Guinness that had more black in the glass than white,an irish band................
Some fella even went berserk at the bar cos the barman was serving the nearest tits at all times. I was there 20,YES 20 mins. And he was there before me.
What a shambles. And the Smithwicks was £3 a pt.
On 18th March 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 39 recommendations about 38 pubs]