Pubs and Bars / Pub of the Week
Pub of the Week: The Ostrich
If there was an award for the finest located pub in Bristol, The Ostrich would surely be one of the strongest contenders.
Looking out over the cobbles of Lower Guinea Street and the harbour beyond, the statuesque boozer has stood proudly in this prime waterside spot for centuries.
Like all good historic pubs, it boasts with a rich, chequered past, complete with tales of smugglers, contraband loot and spooky ghost stories. Unlike most, it actually has the physical evidence to boot in the form of a cave, hidden in the back far corner.
is needed now More than ever
Colourful heritage it may have, but the scene inside The Ostrich early on a Wednesday evening is very British and proper. An orderly queue has formed at the bar, stretching back through the long, narrow interior and a neatly typed sign by the aforementioned cave politely implores people not to pick at the rather crumbly walls.
An overpowering scent of aftershave wafts up from the front of the queue and the clientele is as varied as you might expect in centrally located watering hole at work kicking out time.
Local brewery Butcombe added The Ostrich to its ever-growing portfolio of pubs at the end of last year and the effort and investment being poured in is clear to see. The once-jaded interior has been spruced up with a lick of paint, shelves contain a collection of board games (not for outside use mind) and chalkboards advertise a host of upcoming events.
Options at the bar are plentiful, with a good array of beers on tap and a fair few options for wine drinkers too. A pint of Butcombe’s Goram (IPA) and a white wine come in at £3.85 each, with an accompanying packet of salt and vinegar crisps costing an eye-watering £1.20.
For those after more hearty fodder, a main menu of pub grub-style dishes range from £9 to £10.95, or sandwiches, served with chips and salad, from £6.50 to £10 (for the minute steak ciabatta).
Service inside is pleasant and relatively efficient, but it is not a place to linger on a sunny eve such as this, when all of the action is outside.
Out in the open air is truly where The Ostrich comes into its own – wooden picnic benches stretch almost as far as the eye can see over the expansive cobbled area, dappled with shade from big, leafy trees and the odd big, red umbrella.
At a time of year when al fresco drinking space is at a premium, it is an ideal go-to spot for many, just a stone’s throw from Redcliffe Caves, and affording waterside views. Cast an eye over the familiar outline of the majestic Thekla opposite, or further afield to where boats coast past the historic dockside area and beyond.
Right by the beating heart of Bristol’s Harbour Festival, it manages to offer an element of peace and tranquillity away from the hubbub.
The new owners even have the foresight to bring in an outdoor bar area for busy days, to ease the pain of the never-ending queue inside.
In the summer, it’s all about location, location, location and this pub has it in spades.
The Ostrich, Lower Guinea Street, Redcliffe, Bristol, BS1 6TJ
0117 9273776
www.butcombe.com/pubs/the-ostrich
Read more: Bar of the Week: Kinkajou
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
