Pints West 92, Winter 2011 - Bristol & District CAMRA

DON’T
SPILL BEER
Following a period of closure, the Volunteer pub has recently
reopened after a sympathetic refurbishment.
Where is the Volunteer, you may ask! Is it that pub in King Street?
Well, no. This Volunteer is another lovely pub in central Bristol. Given
its central location, it could be considered surprising how few people
– including many Bristolians – know of its existence. However, it is
perhaps a little tucked away – but this adds to its charm.
Time to find out where this hidden gem is maybe; the place is only
about one or two minutes’ walk from Cabot Circus! As their web site
helpfully points out:
“Located just on the edge of central Bristol is a small collection
of shops called Cabot Circus. You know it? Well, just on the
opposite side of the road from side of Cabot Circus with Harvey
Nichols, Next and House of Fraser on a road just to the right of
Future Inns car park lies our lovely little tavern in the town!”
The business is
owned jointly by two
Martins – Martin
Gibson who has run
several pubs in Bristol
over recent years and
Martin Hughes who
has very successfully
run the splendid Hope
& Anchor on Jacobs
Wells Road, Hotwells
for over 10 years.
The single-roomed
pub is quite small
inside which gives
it a lovely intimate
atmosphere. It gets
better with a delightful
partially covered
garden to the rear.
The two Martins
along with Peter
Gibbs, who manages the pub having had seven years experience at the
Hope & Anchor, want to return the Volunteer to being a friendly, community-based
pub. They want to create an environment where customers
should be able to enjoy a decent meal and drink in a safe and relaxed
environment. What better way to get away from all the hustle and bustle
of the shopping centre!
The pub usually offers four real ales. Generally there will be a Wickwar
ale or two on plus beers from other independent breweries. The pub
also offers a range of other draught and bottled products and has a focus
on single malt scotch whiskies. Additionally, as they really want to be a
part of the Bristol real ale scene, they have introduced a 10% discount
on real ale to CAMRA card holders.
In keeping with its “traditional” values, the pub does not have sports
TV or games machines. However, they do realise that the world is ever
changing and it is also important to keep up with some trends. For this
reason the pub has free wi-fi (hurrah!) for customers and a Twitter site
PINTS WEST
The Volunteer Tavern reopens
Martin Hughes, Peter Gibbs and Martin Gibson on the
opening night at the Volunteer Tavern
(photo by Richard Brooks)
(@VolunteerTavern). They are using Twitter to notify customers of
upcoming real ales and other developments such as menu changes and
specials.
Pubs like this deserve support and let’s hope both the local community
and people who really appreciate pubs can help see it into a new
era as a successful local. The food offering (which includes Sunday
roasts) is available for much longer hours than most pubs and they have
very recently hosted live music events with blues and acoustic sets on
a Friday and a ukulele duo on the Saturday. So, who knows what they
have up their sleeve next!
So, as they say locally, where’s it to? See below and maybe see you
there!
The Volunteer Tavern, 9 New Street, St Judes, Bristol BS2 9DX
0117 955 8498 – www.volunteertavern.co.uk
Twitter: @VolunteerTavern – www.facebook.com/VolunteerTavern
Opening times: 12noon to 11pm every day
Pete Bridle
WARNING
From the Management of the
Hope & Anchor
Exceptional Public House
The Bar Code
by Eddie Taberner
Page 10