What to order at The Volunteer Tavern

Signature drink
A changing microbrewery cask in the walled garden
Editor tip
The garden is a genuine secret sun trap; it sits two minutes from Exchange for pre-gig pints.
CuisineCocktail bar
TypePub
Price£
NeighborhoodOld Market
HoursSun-Thu 12:00-00:00; Fri-Sat 12:00-01:00
Signature drinkA changing microbrewery cask in the walled garden
Last verified

Food program: Bar snacks and pop-ups

Tip: The garden is a genuine secret sun trap; it sits two minutes from Exchange for pre-gig pints.

Location

Address: 9 New Street, Bristol BS2 9DX

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The Drapers Arms ★ 4.2

Cocktail barMicropub£Gloucester RoadMon-Thu 17:00-21:30; Fri 16:00-21:30; Sat 14:00-21:30; Sun 16:00-21:30

The Drapers Arms is Bristol's first micropub, a one-room former draper's shop on Gloucester Road serving cask ale and conversation, nothing else.

Signature drink: Gravity-poured cask ale, no lager, no music

Food: Cheese and snacks only

Tip: No music, no phones encouraged, no lager: order a cask third and talk to a stranger, that is the point.

447 Gloucester Road, Horfield, Bristol BS7 8TZ

Snuffy Jack's Ale House ★ 4.1

Cocktail barMicropub£FishpondsMon-Fri 17:00-22:00; Sat 12:00-23:00; Sun 12:00-16:30

Snuffy Jack's pours gravity-served casks in a Fishponds micropub named after a snuff-mill ghost, east Bristol's destination for proper quiet ale drinking.

Signature drink: A gravity-served stout from the cool room

Food: Cheese boards and pork pies

Tip: It is a bus ride from the centre and worth it; card behind the bar, cheese board on the counter, no screens anywhere.

800 Fishponds Road, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 3TE

The Mothers' Ruin ★ 3.9

Cocktail barDive bar£Old CityEvenings until late, gigs most weekends

The Mothers' Ruin is Bristol's beloved St Nicholas Street dive, a gin-named grotto of band stickers, late pints and impromptu gigs upstairs.

Signature drink: A gin in the sticker-covered back room

Food: None

Tip: Seamus O'Donnell's next door swaps folk sessions for the Ruin's indie noise; crawl both in one night.

7-9 St Nicholas Street, Bristol BS1 1UE

Seamus O'Donnell's ★ 3.9

IrishIrish pub£Old CityDaily from afternoon until late; folk sessions weekly

Seamus O'Donnell's keeps trad sessions and slow-poured Guinness alive on St Nicholas Street, the Irish snug of Bristol's Old City bar crawl.

Signature drink: A properly settled Guinness during the session

Food: None

Tip: Squeeze in for the weekly folk session and mind the low beams; it is cash-friendly and conversation-first.

13 St Nicholas Street, Bristol BS1 1UE

Filthy XIII ★ 4.2

Cocktail barCocktail bar££MontpelierEvenings Tue-Sun; cocktails until late

Filthy XIII shakes award-listed cocktails behind a scruffy Cheltenham Road front, the Montpelier bar Bristol's bartenders drink at after shifts.

Signature drink: A bartender's-choice twist from the award-listed menu

Food: None

Tip: Trust the bartender's choice over the printed list; the room is small so weekend groups should come early.

208 Cheltenham Road, Bristol BS6 5QU

The Cider Box ★ 4.2

Cocktail barCider taproom££St PhilipsFri 16:30-22:30; Sat 13:00-22:30

The Cider Box ferments and pours craft cider under a railway arch on Silverthorne Lane in Bristol, the weekend-only taproom for the orchard-curious.

Signature drink: A tasting flight of craft and traditional ciders

Food: Cheese pairings and events

Tip: It only opens Friday and Saturday; book a tasting flight or cheese pairing session rather than just turning up thirsty.

Arch 5, Silverthorne Lane, Bristol BS2 0QD

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