The Cider Box, Bristol

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Blackthorn _ left this review about The Cider Box

A small pub located in an old railway arch and very much off the beaten track, it’s location in a rather run down looking industrial area and a dead end road can’t do anything for passing trade, and if you did happen to wander past when it was closed with the graffiti covered metal shutter covering the entrance, you’d be unlikely to be in any rush to return, I would have thought.

If you did make the effort though, you’d find a unit that although clearly industrial in nature, has had some concessions made to décor. The flooring is some sort of rough concrete, and the arched ceiling was clad with white corrugated iron, as is usual in such places to keep the rainwater out. Some trellis work had been installed to create a ceiling of sorts, and this was covered in some sort of climbing foliage. There were also a few strings of lamps hung from this. Various cider related statements were on the walls, including extracts from wassail songs and a quote from Adele at Glastonbury (“I’ve been dying for my cider, oh my days, I am going to have a few” in case you were wondering). Seating was mostly basic and rather flimsy looking tables and chairs, along with a few stools at the bar and the odd sun lounger or two. A number of picnic benches were in the street outside. A small section at the front of the pub had a couple of tee shirts for sale, and some large speakers suggest that music features on occasions. Plenty of barrels were scattered around the perimeter.

The cider choice was extensive as might be expected and consisted both of drinks on tap and straight from the box. The taps offered Truth is Light, House Cider Pt2 and Pilton Murmuration whilst the boxes offered Brislington Braintwister, Hecks Perry, Hecks Kingston Black, Pilton Labyrinth, Tricky Wizard and Slack Ma Girdle. If cider’s not your thing then your options are more limited, with the only beer choice being a small selection of cans from local micro Lost & Grounded. Overall I quite liked this, but it’s out of the way location and limited opening hours mean that I’m unlikely to be a regular visitor.

On 6^th May 2022 - rating: 6
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