The Blue Flame Inn, West End, Bristol

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Blackthorn _ left this review about The Blue Flame Inn

A completely timeless, unspoilt country pub. It’s quite difficult to describe, but if you imagine the sort of house that a ninety year old might live in, having not touched anything for the last 50 years, you probably wouldn’t be too far out.

It was presumably a residential house at one time (makes a pleasant change for a house to convert to a pub) and the layout is pretty much unchanged since. You go in through a small porch to a hallway. There’s a small snug off to the left which has a table skittles game and a couple of old benches and tables. To the right is a similarly sized room, but with the addition of a small bar counter. There are numerous old photos on the walls and an old fireplace, although I’ve never seen this in use.

Beyond this is another room that tends not to get much use, although I once saw it being used as a barbers shop! This leads down a few steps to an extensive beer garden, with an old caravan in one corner, plenty of picnic tables and a BBQ area. They usually have a big fireworks party in November which is quite spectacular; not only fireworks, but a large bonfire burning an impressive and appropriate model, e.g.; the House of Commons.

This pub won’t be to everyone’s taste. It takes being unspoilt to the extreme, and some might describe it as ramshackle. It hasn’t had a coat of paint for decades and the loos are very basic and outside. But it’s a popular place in spite of being rather remote, and there is usually a crowd of friendly regulars sat out on the benches at the front. Besides crisps, the only food offering might be a couple of filled rolls on the bar and pickled eggs. The landlord Mick is a friendly chap and quite a character.

There’s an ever changing selection of beers served directly from barrels racked up behind the bar. They usually include something from RCH and on a recent visit there was their Pitchfork in addition to Skinner’s Ginger Tosser and Butcombe. Ciders are well represented with Thatcher’s Dry, Thatcher’s Traditional, Mendip Magic and Stowford Press.

All in all a great pub, and well worth seeking out.

On 22^nd April 2011 - rating: 8
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