Pubs and Bars / Pub of the Week
Pub of the Week: The Gloucester Old Spot
As beer gardens go, The Gloucester Old Spot’s is a stand out show stopper.
Bathed in September sunshine, the scene is a riot of vibrant colour, with big, bold umbrellas casting shade over picnic tables on a recent Wednesday lunchtime.
A wooden castle in the corner awaits the weekend crowds of children and the statement mural, depicting classic Bristol scenes of hot air balloons floating above rows of rainbow houses, completes the scene. Astro-turfed ground is the only let down – a practical addition no doubt, and it certainly look the part, but no substitute for the real thing.
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Two women finish a relaxed lunch on the paved terrace, where clusters of lanterns and fairy lights hang from the wooden roofing overhead.
The garden is really just the cherry on top of a pub that has a thoroughly modern outlook, combined with good, old-fashioned service.
Formerly the Kellaway Arms, this Horfield boozer was given a makeover some four years ago when the current owners took over, re-branded it The Gloucester Old Spot, and set about fulfilling their dreams of creating an unpretentious family-friendly pub.
Just a stone’s throw from the bustle of Gloucester Road, but a bit off the beaten track – this is undoubtedly a true community venue. The evidence is in the little touches: a rack of assorted newspapers, a well-used notice board in the corner, a poster supporting Bristol’s Great British Bake Off hopeful – Briony, “a favourite regular and all time legend”.
Fairy lights are strung on the bar, where large jars of nuts are on display, along with an extensive drinks menu – serving everything from an assortment of teas, to beers and gin specials. The odd black and white photo depicts scenes of the Horfield local from back in the day.
It is quiet this early Wednesday afternoon, and each time a customer approaches, the bar tender jumps up from his paperwork, with a beaming smile to serve.
An elderly man wanders off from the bar with his pint in one hand, paper folded under his arm and rests in a corner sofa on the patio outside – he looks like he’s settled in for the duration.
Food is served from breakfast through to lunch, with an emphasis on locally-sourced ingredients. The sausage of the week is scrawled on a chalkboard (pork, garlic and leek) and simple wooden tables are laid out with cutlery and a small vase of flowers, ready for the dinner crowd.
When it’s time to go, the barman shouts a cheery “bye, see you again”. The Gloucester Old Spot has seen some changes over the generations, and its transformation into family-friendly gastropub is undoubtedly a sign of the times in the area, but it remains at heart a pub where everyone is made to feel like a local.
The Gloucester Old Spot, 138-140 Kellaway Avenue, Horfield, Bristol BS6 7YQ
0117 924 7693
www.theoldspotbristol.co.uk
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