Pubs and Bars / A-Z Bristol pub crawl
A-Z Bristol pub crawl: Ye Shakespeare, Victoria Street
Let’s try to settle a debate once and for all: what is the oldest pub in Bristol?
The contenders are the Hatchet on Frogmore Street, the Rummer in St Nick’s Market, the Llandoger Trow on King Street, and not one but two different Shakespeares: on Prince Street and Victoria Street.
There is also the Bank Tavern, whose claim to be the city’s oldest is twofold: that it is located just inside the route of the medieval wall and that it used to be known simply as the Tavern prior to the arrival of Bristol’s first bank nearby.
is needed now More than ever
In truth, we’ll never know for sure what is Bristol’s oldest pub.
What is of vital importance, however, is that we all continue to frequent pubs both old and new. The Llandoger sat empty for a few years but has since been taken on by new owners and is going from strength to strength.
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Read more: New lease of life for historic pub
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After the Annexe for an ‘X’ last week, we’re once again scraping the barrel as we reach the end of the first circuit of our A-Z Bristol pub crawl.
The Shakespeare will have to make do for ‘Y’ as it does call itself Ye Shakespeare on its Disneyfied facade which includes the date 1636.
On a recent Wednesday evening, half a dozen drinkers were sat outside the pub as the mercury continued to rise.
Was it to escape the heat inside or to escape the music on the stereo? In quick succession came Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom! by the Vengaboys and Freaks by Savage & Timmy Trumpet – enough to make anybody look for the exit.
Some subliminal advertising for Heineken – official beer of Women’s Euro 2022 – made one punter order a pint of the super chilled lager.
Gem was the only cask ale on offer from what should have been four options, but a packet of pork scratchings almost made up for the lack of decent beer.
‘Cask ales’ was advertised on an A-board propped up in one corner of the pub as if to taunt the punter supping his Heineken and now being aurally assaulted by Timber by Pitbull and remarkably the second Vengaboys song in less than half an hour.
The Vengabus was coming but it was time to leave this most historic of hostelries.
Ye Shakespeare, 78 Victoria Street, Bristol, BS1 6DR
www.yeshakespeare1636.co.uk
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read more: 19 photos of historic Bristol pubs
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