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Disappointment of the week with Tris39
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Seven Stars, Bristol
Bristol
BS1 6JG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Seven Stars
This is a former Bristol & District pub of the year, as well as being a GBG regular, and it's easy to see why. The ale selection was good, and it felt a really homely pub to me. There's a bit of a jazz feel to it, with a jazz corner featuring Charlie Parker (although what Mona Lisa was doing in there with a pint in her hand I don't know) and has a pool table at the back. It was resonably busy when I was in on Friday (I suppose that's to be expected if participating in a Pubs Galore get together), but apparently quiet in comparison to what it would be like later in the day.
This is another cracking Bristol pub, but I guess you would have to time your visit right to see it at its best.
On 17th November 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Seven Stars
A proper beer-drinkers pub, with a basic, unfussy wooden interior giving a very timeless feel. Went at a quieter time of day than my previous visit five years ago when there was a lively folk music session going on, but nothing much seems to have changed. A decent selection of real ales on from various (mostly local) breweries from six of eight handpumps, including Severn Vale Nibley (£2.90 with a Camra discount). As before, I enjoyed my brief stop - thoroughly recommended.
On 16th November 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Seven Stars
A cracking little pub situated down a narrow alley in an area that has been extensively redeveloped. The inside is a pretty basic L-shaped space, bare boarded, with conventional seating and really no frills at all. The attraction here is the range of well kept real ales with eight handpumps on the go. It was quite late when I popped in, but I recall Cheddar Gorge Best and Springhead "A Drop of the Black Stuff". There is a fairly rocky juke box, a pool table and a dartboard. No sign of meals, but there were a couple of jars of pickled eggs behind the bar. Outdoor seating in the lane.
An historic pub, the beginnings of the abolition of the slave trade were formulated in here and this is commemorated in a small plaque on the front wall of the pub.
Another great ale destination pub in this part of town, worthy of adding together with the nearby Cornubia and King's Head.
On 21st February 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Seven Stars
Everything about this pub has been said in the previous review, and it is one I always visit when in Bristol as the ale choice is superb, as is the condition of the beers. It deserves all the accolades as it is a friendly pub concentrating on what the customer wants - good beer. Keystone Porter and Plain Ales Inntrigue were our beers of choice.
Above review was Feb 2011. Revisited on Saturday.
This 2012 Good Beer Guide pub still amazes with the choice of ales and I went straight for a superb Moor Sloe Walker before realising it was 8%. Not to worry, it was so good we had another one! Others we had were Rudgate WB (Well Blathered) and East London Pale Ale. CAMRA discount is offered too which makes it a superb place to work along the pump clips and choose a style of beer. Awarded Pub of the Year 2010 and 2011. Live music and beer festivals a big attraction. Not far from Temple Meads station.
On 30th January 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Seven Stars
Maybe not the place to try and impress a bird,but if you are after a wide range of regional microbrewery ale,this place is unmissable.The eight handpumps were dispensing two from Arbor ,Bradfields Farmers Bitter,a Church End brew and Halfpenny Four Seasons while Abbeydale Contraption came on during my trip while two remained reversed.There is a helpful chalk board to the right of the entrance listing whats on,and due soon.
The L shaped interior includes a pool table with a glazed roof pannels above and a dart board mounted on a door back,which I hope is unused !A flat screen and bare floorboards complete the basic feel to the interior,but most people are just here for the beer.
I would always include this pub on any ale tour of the city centre.
On 15th October 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
I L left this review about Seven Stars
What a contrast this pub is to the Fleece music venue next door!
A great little boozer tucked down a very narrow street behind the usual offices in this area of Bristol. On our recent visit they had a Yorkshire beer festival with a list of 20 different les having been available at some point. A lively place with a mixed variety of music playing and a pool table towards the rear of this opened out one room traditional type pub. Each time we have visited the ales have been in top condition and the staff very friendly. A must do place when doing other Good ale pubs in Bristol.
On 6th August 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 287 recommendations about 284 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about Seven Stars
Situated just off Victoria Street ( the main road that runs into the City Centre from Temple Meads Station ) , in an area of many office developments is The Seven Stars, a pub that the current CAMRA Good Beer Guide describes as “one of Bristol’s premier real ale venues”.
As we approach the pub, we see on the wall a banner proclaiming the pub as “CAMRA Pub of the Year Winner 2010 – Bristol and District” and also an old Ushers of Trowbridge sign.
Outside the entrance we see a very noticeable “Cry Freedom, Cry Seven Stars” plaque and we learn of the role this pub played in the abolition of slavery. Back in 1787, one Thomas Clarkson used this pub as his headquarters where he met sailors to gain evidence of cruelty against sailors and African slaves by slave traders.
Inside is a bare boarded single bar pub with a rather Spartan feel to it. In one corner is a dartboard and a snooker table. Despite a lowish ceiling and darkened beams, it’s a rather characterless and featureless interior.
On my recent lunchtime visit, 7 beers were on- Dark Star Hophead and Espresso, 2 beers from Plain Ales, plus 1 beer from each of Moors Beers, Arbor Ales and Church End. Both ales sampled by me – Arbor Ales Brigstow and Plain Ales Innocence were in excellent condition. The friendly barman mentioned that there was a discount for CAMRA members and, although I was unable to produce my card, he was happy to split the difference as a goodwill gesture.
The pub is listed in the 2011 CAMRA Good Beer Guide and has a beer festival on the first Monday of every month.
This pub is well worth making the effort to find
On 22nd November 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Seven Stars
No surprise really that this is the local CAMRA branch pub of the year. 8 ales on hand pump, another three on gravity out the back along with an offering of Ciders and Perrys. Mainly regional and Micro brewery ales on which included Budding from the Stroud Brewery, Vale Ale and Cotswold Spa Old English Rose and Apricot Ale. The couple I tried were very well kept, but I think I will be sticking to brews that don’t have real fruit as ingredients in the future.
Yes the decor is basic but this is a no frills pub aligned to drinking and social conversation. And I was lucky enough to visit during an afternoon session of one of their acoustic weekends, so got good entertainment thrown in as well.
On 1st September 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brew Guru left this review about Seven Stars
visited last night for a quick one and ended up going back later and had far too many, 8 hand pumps with Berrow Topsy Turvey, Yeovil Spring Forward, Stonehenge Sign of Spring, Plain Innspiration, one from Jollyboat, Arbor Hornbeam and Teignworthy reel Ale. This pub has just received Bristol CAMRA's pub of the year award and I can see why. Beers were all great. No food here mind
On 19th March 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 116 recommendations about 101 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Seven Stars
This is a relatively small L-shaped pub which can get packed, particularly when there's a popular gig on at the Fleece next door. A pool table at the back wastes a lot of space. This is a basic no-frills boozer, but none the worse for that. I was struggling to get to the bar, and squeezed in between two Camra types having a very animated discussion of the various beers they were sampling. One was on the second pint of his 9% Russian Stoat and kindly offered me some to try!
The beers that I noted were Bath Ales Dark Hare, Nailsworth Mayor's Bitter, Ha'penny Ale, Wessex Russian Stout, Sharp's Abolition, Otter Head and Tudor Sugar Loaf. I think that was the lot, apologies if I missed any.
After that lot, the ciders were slightly dissapointing - Thatcher's Gold, Symonds Founders Reserve and Blackthorn. After such a good variety of beers it seems a bit odd to have three broadly similar ciders, and not a "proper" one amongst them.
On 20th February 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1947 recommendations about 1860 pubs]