Features / Pubs
Beer here now
Start at the Hope & Anchor on Jacob’s Wells Road, call into the Bag of Nails further down the hill, then the Three Tuns and The Lime Kiln on St George’s Road.
If a walk of less than half a mile for some of the best beer in town isn’t your thing, stick to the ‘Beermuda Triangle’ of King Street – a triumvirate made up of Small Bar, the Royal Navy Volunteer and The Beer Emporium.
Or how about staying in the Old City and environs with the Seven Stars, the Cornubia and the King’s Head the pick of the pubs here.
is needed now More than ever
Real ale, craft beer, call it what you will. Bristol’s fans of all things hoppy have never been happier.
Into the fray for its third annual shindig this month comes Bristol Beer Week, a collection of events showcasing everything beery that Bristol and the West Country has to offer.
Once again a frothy glass has to be raised to Stephen Powell, who promises that this will definitely be the last year he organises Bristol Beer Week completely on his own, with no partners or sponsorship.
Over a swift half in Small Bar, Stephen explains why he thinks that Bristol has developed such a brilliant beer scene.
“I have always thought of Bristol as being a fiercely independent city that’s incredibly proud of its arts, culture and entertainment scene. The rise in the UK beer industry, however you want to label it, is about creativity, independence, artisan products and entrepreneurship – all qualities that fit perfectly with Bristol’s ethos. We’ve always had great beer heritage and fantastic public houses, so really it’s just a natural progression for the city.”
And is it only going to get better?
“Bristol Beer Week exists because of the belief that Bristol is at the forefront of the UK beer revolution,” Stephen answers. “We have the venues and breweries to compete with the best that the other major cities have to offer. As long as the industry continues to evolve and grow, I am certain that Bristol will be up there.”
“I hope that Bristol Beer Week will continue to develop and, in a few years, will be an international draw to the city.”
Stephen points to the east coast of the USA, where Philadelphia kicked off the beer week craze in 2008. There are now more than 70 separate city beer weeks in the States, and he sees no reason why this cannot be repeated in the UK – with Bristol leading the way.
For more information, visit www.bristolbeerweek.co.uk.
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