Pubs and Bars / Pub of the Week
Pub of the week: The Shield & Dagger
Nearly all of the outside seating is taken at the Shield & Dagger soon after 5pm on a recent midweek evening.
There’s a real mix of people enjoying a drink – from young men chatting over a pint and regulars sat in their favourite spot, to parents with young children who play while the adults catch up and gossip.
With its mid-century architecture and decor that doesn’t seem to have been updated since the 1980s, this unassuming Whitchurch pub remains a favourite within the local community.
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At the bar, a group of grey-haired regulars make easy conversation with the server.
One new visitor to the pub orders a rum and coke (£2.90), with a simple choice between Bacardi white rum or Captain Morgan dark rum – a refreshing change in a world of seemingly never-ending selections.
The atmosphere isn’t unfriendly, but the sight of a ‘non-regular’ definitely makes heads turn. It’s easy to ignore the glances, however, when a spirit with a mixer costs less than £3.
A handmade sign informs that there is a weekly quiz on a Monday, while the television on Wednesday shows the Championship play-off semi-final between and Leeds and Derby.
There’s also a fruit machine in one corner and charity pots for local organisations lining the bar.
The Shield & Dagger is a stalwart of the community, with an atmosphere of camaraderie among the friends and families enjoying a pint in the sunshine.
As the sun starts to set, all of the outside seating is now taken, with the sound of chatter continuing long into the night.
The Shield & Dagger, East Dundry Road, Whitchurch, Bristol, BS14 0LN
01275 892975
Read more: Pub of the week: The Colston Arms
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