Pubs and Bars / A-Z Bristol pub crawl
A-Z Bristol Pub Crawl: The Old Stillage, Redfield
Wednesday nights are not meant for pub crawls, but Bristol24/7 loves to take the road less taken.
Standing at The Old Stillage’s wooden door on a chilly mid-week night with a thirsty throat, there’s little one could expect. Maybe deserted chairs, empty corners and a sense of calm – something that Jolly Roger definitely aced.
But it would come as a surprise that this decade-old pub in Redfield on the route of bus 43 was buzzing with laughter, music and warmth – even on a Wednesday night.
is needed now More than ever
The Old Stillage has been popular for its Friday night events and Sunday roasts – none of which this thirsty throat could experience.
Antiques on the upper shelf and dragons captured inside a glass shelf in The Old Stillage
While there was no food to order, their selection of lagers and ciders were oozing with the Bristol spirit. From Thatchers’ classic Gold cider to picks from Good Chemistry Brewing: there was a wide spectrum to choose from.
After acquiring half a pint of Good Chemistry Brewing’s latest brew ‘All Welcome’, an exploration of the pub began. Unlike most pubs that are crammed and lack space, the Old Stillage had ample seating options: bar stools, sofas or good old chairs by tables.
The pub had three dominant spaces: one with the bar counters, a few tables and sofas; a second space with a large pool table, some bookshelves and more seating; and a third well-lit but empty seating area with another deserted bar counter.
A large pool table dominated a part of the seating area
Music of the 1970s was blaring through speakers, but conversations were still in full swing on tables filled with groups and couples, enjoying an after-work pint or two while chatting away.
For those who wandered in alone, there were books to keep company.
Neatly arranged on vintage shelves, one could pick from fictional novels to colouring books with a bag of coloured pencils and sketch pens to help fill in colour.
If one glanced through the room with curious eyes, they would spot antique cutlery arranged on shelves near the ceiling, glass bottles in the empty neighbouring room and a glass cupboard with dragon figurines having what seemed like a cold war.
It’s safe to say that the pub was filled to the brim with old-school vibes, and qualified to be a proper English pub.
Having quenched the thirsty throat with beer brewed by local Bristol women, and filled in some pages of a colouring book, it was time to bid adieu to the “house dedicated to the care & consumption of fine cask beer” – a boozy quote painted with beauty on a wooden plank just below the pub’s ceiling.
The Old Stillage, 145-147 Church Rd, Redfield, BS5 9LA
All photos: Karen Johnson
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