Pubs and Bars / A-Z Bristol pub crawl
A-Z Bristol Pub Crawl: The Victoria Park, Bedminster
As the sun began to set on another glorious day in Bristol, two ladies parked their bikes outside the Victoria Park in Bedminster.
They had both come from St Paul’s, cycling up steep hills, around windy bends and across the river to chase the last of the evening sun.
A sign outside the gastropub, which is set back from the bustling Victoria Park, reads ‘secret garden’. Inside, beams of light streamed through the floor to ceiling glass doors that take punters into the south-facing space.
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Families with children played games at tables, while a little dachshund ran excitedly between the legs of friends as they exchanged work stories.
Punters mingle by the bar as the sun streams through the floor to ceiling glass doors
As they stepped into the terraced garden, the girls were greeted by the sprawling neighbourhood of Bedminster below.
The sun cast its wintery rays of light over their faces, and a rush of Vitamin D flooded through their veins – the kind that prompts steadfast beer drinkers to opt for a gin and tonic on a Thursday evening just to feel the excitement of summer as it creeps timidly around the corner.
The bar here boasts an impressive selection of local brews and wines, and a simple weekday small plates menu is enough to bring a sophisticated but subtle edge to this establishment, while stone-baked pizzas are available on the weekend and Sunday roasts bring hungry customers from far and wide.
The two-tiered sun-drenched garden is a perfect spot to watch the sun set
There is something for everyone at this local: A collection of shelves hosts a miniature library while the rugby fixtures are displayed proudly on a chalkboard. A wooden wrack displays prints of work by local artists.
Nods to the staff and the pub’s most regular customers are everywhere: A sign by the bar reads ‘Chris’s cúinne’, the Irish word for corner, and a ‘Meet the staff’ collage covers the back wall of the bar. In the front room, a community noticeboard is full to the brim with events and news.
The girls finished their gin and tonics just as the sun set over Bedminster, bringing with it a frosty chill that signalled the end of a joyous evening.
They wrapped up warm and hopped on their bikes, vowing to return in the warmer months.
The Victoria Park, 66 Raymend Road, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4QW
www.thevictoriapark.co.uk
All photos: Mia Vines Booth
Read next:
- A-Z Bristol Pub Crawl: Upton Inn, Upton Cheyney
- A-Z Bristol Pub Crawl: The Sugar Loaf, Easton
- New Bedminster-based and booze-free kombucha
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