Pubs and Bars / Pub of the Week
Pub of the Week: The Orchard Inn
On a recent Wednesday evening at the Orchard, a regular propped up the bar to talk about Brexit, the opiate crisis in the USA and the pub’s plans to open a co-working space.
The latter is a bold new move for a pub that is still resolutely traditional and a proud freehouse, but has also seen a few changes since the arrival at the end of last year of new leaseholders Steph Iles and Sam Marriott.
The handwritten selection of ciders – pick them for their names alone, including Slack-Ma-Girdle, Janet’s Jungle Juice and Sheep’s Nose – remains in place to one side of the bar, with Natch among the options on tap.
is needed now More than ever
And the certificates are still framed on one wall: CAMRA Regional Cider Pub of the Year 2018 following previous wins in 2009, 2010 and 2016, with it also winning CAMRA National Cider Pub of the Year in 2009.
The selection of ciders at the Orchard
But since Steph and Sam’s arrival, there have also been some subtle changes both inside and out.
“It was built in 1834 and is now seen as a real cider institution, of which Sam and I are very excited to continue carrying the torch for,” Steph said.
Alongside more than 20 still ciders and perries from various farmhouse makers across the country, an improved selection of beer is now available including Box Steam’s Soul Train, St Austell’s Cornish Best and Force of Nature from Bristol Beer Factory.
Most of the ciders and beers are served straight from casks behind the bar, with Lost & Grounded beer mats on each table a strong sign of Steph and Sam’s support for local breweries.
The food selection is also resolutely traditional, including pasties, pork pies, scotch eggs and homemade rolls.
The typography and colour scheme of a recently painted sign harks back to the days when the Orchard was called the White Horse. This is a pub firmly sticking to its roots but also looking to the future.
The Orchard Inn, Hanover Place, Spike Island, Bristol, BS1 6XT
07405 360994
Read more: Pub of the Week: The Vittoria
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
