Pubs and Bars / A-Z Bristol pub crawl
A-Z Bristol Pub Crawl: The Wellington, Horfield
‘Bristol Rovers fans only’ says a sign in front of the Wellington.
This is the nearest pub to the Memorial Stadium and somewhere Gasheads have regularly been drowning their sorrows since the club moved here in 1996.
Bristol Rovers Women are having a much better time of it this season than the men’s team, however, with the Gas Girls’ first match of 2025 taking place at the Mem on Sunday against Abingdon United.
is needed now More than ever
A visitor to the pub had to do a double take the other day when he spotted another sign, this one inside between the bar and the pool table: ‘Bristol rebel city against all authority’
Bristol City? Surely not in a proudly blue and white establishment? – photo: Martin Booth
A second reading of the sign cleared up the confusion and attention returned to Rangers versus Celtic on the televisions, and the thought of when the Bristol football derby might take place again.
With the sound muted on the multiple screens, the noise in the Wellington on this Thursday afternoon came from the easy listening songs on the stereo ranging from It’s a Shame by the Spinners to I Love You Yes I Do by James Brown.
With the Welly being a St Austell Brewery-owned pub, there are plenty of their beers on tap including Tribute, Proper Job and Anthem; but Dry January for the visitor was assisted by a bottle of Thatchers Zero.
As a group of 20-somethings arrived and headed straight for the darts board, this corner of the Welly became a mini Ally Pally.
Meanwhile, a couple wheeled their suitcases through the pub to check out of their bedroom (there are ten en-suites upstairs).
‘You gotta learn how to disappear in the silk and amphetamine’ reads another sign; a lyric from Johnny Mathis’ Feet by American Music Club.
Once his Thatchers was finished, it was time for the visitor to disappear back home past the Memorial Stadium, not widely known for its silky football.
The Wellington sits on the corner of Horfield Common – photo: Martin Booth
The Wellington, Gloucester Road, Horfield, Bristol, BS7 8UR
www.thewellingtonbristol.co.uk
Main photo: Martin Booth
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