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Detail Pages
The Pump House, Hotwells, Bristol
Hotwells
Bristol
BS8 4PZ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Pump House
A large and prominent stone built building at the end of the floating harbour, it takes it’s name from the fact that at one time it housed the pump machinery that provided hydraulic pressure to operate the harbour’s lock gates, sluices, and so on. A few vestiges of it’s industrial past remain internally, with a small amount of pipework and gauges around the walls. These days though it’s the waterside location that is the main attraction, and the outside picnic benches soon fill up on warm or sunny days.
Internally it’s mostly one large, open plan room, although divided in to a couple of separate areas with the use of some remnants of walling, as well as a mezzanine floor used as a (well regarded) restaurant. There was much exposed stonework on the walls and quarry tiling on the floor, with pale green plasterwork elsewhere. Large arched windows along the front of the pub made the most of the outlook. A large collection of old metal advertising signs were on the walls, not only for breweries and spirit producers, but also tobacco and local Bristol businesses. Various other bits and pieces were dotted around, including an old beer engine and several ceramic jogs and bottles. A smaller area down a couple of steps to the right was perhaps a little cosier with a low ceiling and a couple of Chesterfield sofas.
Beers on tap were Bristol Beer Factory’s Independence, St Austell Cornish Best and Moor Radiance. Ciders meanwhile were Old Mout Berries & Cherries, BBF North Street and Sheppy’s Farmhouse. If gin is more your thing, there was am extensive selection with a hundred or more bottles available. Overall, whilst this somehow seems to be lacking something in the way of character despite having many of the essential ingredients, it’s nonetheless a pleasant spot and worth including in a crawl of the area, or even just stopping off if wandering around the docks.
On 1st May 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1947 recommendations about 1860 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Pump House
The Pump House looks like a new pub housed in a nice old looking building which is on the waterfront.
Once inside the bar faces in an oblong shaped room,the floor is tiled,there is bench seating and chairs on the left side,this area was set up for diners,the right side for drinkers had normal tables and chairs plus two settees.
I think the pub is a Marstons tied house,there were four real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Bristol beer Factory Fortitude,which went down well,the other real ales were Butcombe Bitter,Marstons Twisted Oak and one more i failed to read my notes of.
This is not really my sort of pub to have a drink in.
Pub visited 15/7/2017
On 22nd October 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Pump House
As indicated by the name this is the former stone pump house for the Hotwell dock basin now converted into a pub / restaurant. It benefits from a good location by the swing bridge at this end of the floating harbour with a good waterfront position and has a decent sized external drinking area to the front with plenty of tables Internally its one large room divided into a couple of sections, mainly with wooden tables for dining but then there is a smaller lounge area with big sofa’s down the end of the room. Then there is a separate dining room upstairs.
The modernistic, clean décor of this place does give it more of a feel of a food orientated gastro pub which it may well be, but I don’t know if that is the case as we only dropped in to enjoy a quick beer in the sunshine out front.
And couldn’t fault the Pump House in this respect as there were four hand pumps on the bar with Butcombe Bitter, Doombar, Everards Sunchaser available and the fourth one reversed.
And the Sunchaser was a very nice, well kept pint.
On 5th September 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Darren Bestley left this review about The Pump House
Gastro pub menu and 'moderne' interior
On 31st December 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 10 recommendations about 10 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brian McCulloch left this review about The Pump House
Expensive!
You are however spoilt for choice at this end of the harbour for outdoor drinking with fantastic waterfront views.
The pub has architectural interest as it was formerly the pumping station for the floating harbour.
Unfortunately the interior is now at the 'funky' end of the spectrum but you can see the fabric of the building and revel in it's church-like vaults. Fans of Bristols dockside history may freak out at the weird interior design aesthetics that now prevail.
On 16th August 2006
- rating: 6
[User has posted 33 recommendations about 33 pubs]