Pubs and Bars / A-Z Bristol pub crawl
A-Z Bristol Pub Crawl: The Portcullis, Clifton
“Would you like another beer, Gus?” asked a smartly dressed bar staff member in a woollen navy suit jacket.
“I’m thinking about it,” the punter replied, patting his floppy-haired dog. “It’s tempting to have all of them, as all of them are interesting,” chipped in another.
It was clear from spending just a few minutes in the Portcullis that this is a haunt well-used by locals, with drinkers and staff known to each other on a first-name basis and genial conversation flowing across the space.
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The small pub on two levels is tucked away in a corner of Clifton at the end of Royal York Crescent, boasting sprawling views of lit-up south Bristol and a slice of the Suspension Bridge looking westwards.
Soon after 8pm on a recent evening, the sound of Bristol City playing West Ham at Ashton Gate was floating up the hill, with chants of ‘come on you reds’ just about intelligible above the hum of music and clink of glasses.
From David Bowie to Leonard Cohen, the walls of the Portcullis are bedazzled with the stars of days gone by
That night, the Portcullis had a warm atmosphere with red hues cast over the small space, from the fairy lights strung behind the bar to burgundy stools and chairs scattered around tables.
A trio of bearded friends in a corner chatted away with one another in a corner, with topics meandering from politics and Putin to the Premier League.
They were all drinking pints of Belgian beer, for which there is an impressive selection at the Portcullis as well as all the usual beverages.
Food-wise, hungry visitors can choose between Flemish stew, pork sausages and mash, BBQ pulled pork, beef burger, Mexican-style roasted peppers or Scottish mussels – all well-priced and served from Monday to Wednesday. On Sunday, there are three options for roast dinners.
A selection of black and white photos are a reminder of the area over the years
Along with hearty meals, there was a pile of well-used games and books to peruse in a U-shaped snug area at the front of the space.
One such book was a gem of a publication called Mostly Clifton, a photo-led piece by Cedric Barker who lived in the neighbourhood from the 19050s to 1980s, capturing its leafy and changeable streets as years went on.
From the then Prince of Wales’ visit to Clifton in 1927 to decaying Georgian gentility, it offers a snapshot of bygone times with car-free roads, cigarette shops and far less concrete.
It features the Portcullis too, originally a house during the time of the Georgians but took over as a pub in the 1820s.
Back inside, the clock stuck 9pm and the group of regulars ordered more pints and continued to while away the bitter night in the historic and well-loved boozer.
The Portcullis, 3 Wellington Terrace, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4LE
All photos: Betty Woolerton
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