Bristol, England - Do any ILXers reside in this fair city?

Things I like about Bristol

- Ashton Court festival
- The Cube
- The Watershed
- walking round the Downs/Clifton
- The Hope and Anchor
- The Bag O' Nails
- The Highbury Vaults
- The Smiles Brewery Tap

I loved Imperial Records till it closed.

If I ever get my act together, I'd think about moving to Southville.

Snnap - I must have bumped into you at the Cube at some point, I'm down there often enough. I even used to work there, before the fire.

The sandwich shop Onimo is referring to is Fantastic Sandwich on Overton Road (and handily just round the corner from me) but is Not As Good As It Used To Be.

Run by Terence Trent D'Arby?

Stuff it up your smug, patronising arse motherfucker.

such a disappointment that Imperial closed.

At the moment I live in Southville but I have lived in Bedminster, Bishopston, Horfield, Staple Hill and Fishponds. I have to say I probably like Southville the best, there are not too many students about though saying that there are maybe a few too many right-on people with enormous buggies who are completely unaware of everything and everybody around them. Fishponds is probably the worst place in Bristol I've lived in though lately I've noticed that even this shithole is being gentrified.

My favourite Bristol things...

- Ashton Court Festival
- flying kites at ashton court/the downs
- Cube Cinema
- Here Shop
- the Albert Inn, Bedminster (RIP)
- Dean Lane Skate Park
- Imperial (RIP)
- Replay, Bedminster (though the one by the bus station used to be the bestest record shop in the world before it closed down)
- Tobacco Factory
- Teohs
- Brewery Tap
- the watershed
- the Heads

- Bucky the band
- Giggsy's Barber Shop, St Michael's Hill
- Al's Tikka Grill (Greasy spoon by day, Curry house in the evening)

Good question. Not right now, but I did for three months in the summer of 2005, and a year during 2003/4. It is the weirdest city on Earth, but I love it. Venue is particularly rad.

Anyone here now?

Yeah, still here in the same place. Re-reading this makes me realise I haven't been to The Cube in maybe 3-4 years.

The Cube is great! In Bristol next weekend for a nostalgic visit to Montpellier.

Is it true the bit along the docks is now the most violent stretch of pavement in Britain? I have fond memories of it as a kid but when I went back last year it appeared to be a mess of overdeveloped luxury flats and gigantic chain pubs.

Oh yeah, it's awful. I hate it if I've gone to a film at the Watershed and am leaving just as people are starting to turn up for Lloyds, Pitcher & Piano etc.

A lot of the violent reputation came from when the FA Cup was still in Cardiff, City fans used to come across knowing 1) police resources were aimed at the final and 2) a lot of fans who couldn't stay in Cardiff would stay in Bristol and go out round the waterfront. 2-3 days of carnage and pitched battles, every year.

Must've missed this thread for the past 5 years. Moved away just last year but could see myself living there again.

I've been here a couple of years now, but mostly working away so w/o as much time to explore and settle as I would've liked. I taken a hine to it though, and it doesn't feel violent & threatening to me at all. Even in town on Saturday night, when there was more 'edge' than I've ever felt here before, it wasn't (imho) as gritty as mankfester on yr average Friday night.

Seems on the whole like a very laid-back town, and I love the hippy-dippy eco-friendly independent-shoppery of the place.

I haven't been to the Cube yet; I'll have to give it a go.

I endorse the Cube and its policy of selling double shots of Wild Turkey for (iirc) £3

hine = shine

Heading to Bristol for the first time at the end of Jan to attend the Keaton/Lloyd/Chase/etc silent film screenings at the Slapstick Festival - what's it like these days?

sunny, houses the colour of neapolitan ice cream. silent cinema the same as it ever was. the keaton programme looks good.

is that festival the thing Paul Merton used to have a hand in and then ended up falling out w/ the programmers or something?

I met a very friendly one-handed cartoonist from there once.

I will be there next weekend. Have one good hook-up who said he can point me around. What shouldn't be missed? A day trip to Bath as well.

i've never been to Bristol, but it sounds like a nice place. we're thinking of moving, a change of scene entirely at some point. any ilxors recommend it?

I LOVED Bristol. I can be pretty snobby about cities, and having lived in NYC for a long time, when I go to other cities I'm usually like "this is neat, can't see living here" and very occasionally I go somewhere where I can imagine living, and Bristol was one of them. Girlfriend blogged about the trip but we never finished writing it. Here's some photos on instagram:

http://instagram.com/p/MOwmzbNkw2/

http://instagram.com/p/MME7htNkyb/

http://instagram.com/p/MME6rvNkya/

http://instagram.com/p/MMZOOFNk-w/

Dewsbury is a very fine place as well, we only murder nauseating middle class hipsters on Wednesdays.

I love Bristol, would happily move there, not just (but not least) because it seems to have retained lots of decent pubs.

I love Bristol, would happily move there

I never thought I'd see the day you would write these words Tim! :)

What are job prospects like? Living costs etc?

lived there for 4yrs in the 90s. Great city. Two world-class arts cinemas within 200m of each other, great local band and arts scene as well as bigger hitting bands on the national/student circuit, chilled out but the large number of students keep it lively. I could certainly live there again.

Living costs wise, it's Southern expensive but not London/Oxford expensive. Clifton and Redlands are the two central desirable areas. Two large universities plus a wing of the BBC and financial and legal services centre of the SW mean there are plenty of jobs.

Moved out last year after it got progressively less like somewhere I wanted to live - been in Bristol and environs since '95. Traffic is murder (in fact, there was a C4 programme on just how bad it is last year) and Bristol is one of the cities that chose to elect a mayor - unfortunately they chose to elect a complete prick who is intent on driving through his personal policies even if councillors and local referenda vote against. Absolutely loved it for the first 10 years, but then noticed I was using the things that were great about it less and less.

Tip: live somewhere you can walk to wherever you want to go. Main routes get fairly locked up in the summer (we used to be able to walk into town faster than the traffic was moving) and there isn't a late bus service very far out of the centre, and even then only on one or two main routes; couple this with expensive taxis and living 5 miles out of the centre of town can easily cost you £25 to get home in a cab.

Everywhere I knew was shut when I left, sorry. I'm from the Revolver/Imperial days too.

I wonder if any of those places on Gloucester Rd which were just bins and bins of tat or huge amounts of unwanted dance records are still there. Probably gone or totally picked over by now

The one on Cheltenham Road is still there (can't remember the name, orange sign?).

I used to go in there (whatever it was called) and desultorily flick through the bins while avoiding studying. I'd probably find good stuff there now if I could go back in time!

Cotham Brow place is Bulrush, meant to be vv good although I've not had a chance to go.

I love Dev's Kerala but it's more like a canteen rather than tablecloths.

Souk Kitchen good for veggies too iirc (I've only been to the Southville one)

I don't really do record shops any more but you're probably thinking of Idle Hands and/or Plastic Wax.

Plastic Wax, that was it! Thanks also for restaurant advice...

Blimey, Plastic Wax.

I have bought so many 7"s over the years thanks to the combination of weekend daytime drinking and Plastic Wax's 20 for a tenner deal.

Also check out the 'Centre for Better Grooves' on Cranbrook Rd, just off Gloucester Rd for a decent collection of funk / soul / jazz and PK music for mountains of drum and bass / hip hop / house etc.

Centre For Better Grooves shut the other week :-/

Bell Diner was definitely magnificent when I went there, but I hear say it went a bit downhill of late, maybe a change in owner or something. Can't speak from experience.

For that sort of thing though, I really enjoyed this place in Clifton http://newmoontapas.co.uk

As for record shops, Idle Hands are a neat little dance specialist with a good and interesting range.
Rough Trade have just opened a very nice branch near the Lanes in town.
Plastic Wax, as people are saying, is great, along with a bunch of other indie places up Gloucester Road

pubs wise I have a list of old haunts from student days as possibilities: Highbury Vaults, Coronation Tap, Cadbury, Hope & Anchor. Anywhere newer that is worth checking out? There are a few suggestions upthread that I have noted.

Cadbury was a haunt of mine but the new owners have tried to spruce it up a bit, which of course meant sacking a bit of the life and soul out of it.
Not sure about those others.
The Bell on Jamaica Street is quite good fun
Stag and Hounds in Old Market is a fairly big pub with a good atmos and live music sometimes
St Werberghs and Easton have a plethora of decent pubs if you can be bothered to venture slightly off the beaten track. The Plough in Easton is especially good
Then there's Gloucester Road of course. A great 'audiophile bar' called Edit where they sell small plates and sometimes showcase full albums on their fancy soundsystem
The Gallimaufry is always popular but good

thanks! I know the Bell of old, always a place to go prior to Blue Mountain/Lakota/Cube etc. (showing my age again no doubt). Edit sounds like a good bet too, I think we'll be doing some hanging out round there

Bell Diner was definitely magnificent when I went there, but I hear say it went a bit downhill of late, maybe a change in owner or something. Can't speak from experience.

I was there last month and it was still very good, in my amateur estimation, which is to say I didn't notice a difference in quality from the previous time I went. It seemed unusually quiet for a Thursday night though.

sometimes happens when places switch owners, bit ropey for a bit and then gets better.

Blue Mountain and Lakota still going strong if you fancy some late-night studenty clubbing vibes. The Cube is a really good arthouse cinema now and always worth a visit.

If anyone's out at the weekend and fancies something a bit mad and different, I'm going to this: https://www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/#date=2018-04-14&event_id=44042

yeah the Cube was a thing back in the day, I'm happy it's still around. We're also planning to go to the Watershed, which was also a staple of student days and had good food. We'll probably visit the Arnolfini, I should think.

We wound up lunching at the Asian place in the boxparkish place called Wapping Wharf - it was good. I'm normally a bit sniffy about boxparks and similar but this one seemed a cut above, quality -wise. I was also pleased to be able to drop into the Wild Beer Co bar next door, though I imagine that can be irksome if packed.

That looks good, DL; frustratingly I'll be blowing past Bristol on the M5 at least twice this weekend but won't be stopping. TBF I'll have my dear old mum with me and alien punk is probably not her speed.

nice one. yeah I've been to that box place. It's not bad although I can't for the life of me remember what I had.

Watershed is a great cinema, if a little pricey. Not tried the food. Arnolfini definitely worth a visit, especially if there's an exhibition on

The Cube is a great little cinema, went there last friday for the Slits documentary and it was packed. The Cadbury has been completely ruined by the new owners imo, lost all of its charm and coziness. My favourite pub in that side of town is the Duke of York in St. Werbs.

Neil S: the Hope and Anchor has probably changed hands since you were there. I used to go there a fair bit when I lived that side of town some years ago but I've been past and it's been spruced up - not been in, though.

thanks guys, more great stuff today!

Tim: Wapping Wharf will be somewhere to at least have a look at, we'll likely go to SSGB, Science Museum etc.

Will: noted on the Cadbury, that's a pity, I enjoyed the down-at-heel feel, it used to have a really good jukebox too.

Kinder: thanks. One of the attractions of it was the lovely beer garden, which I suppose is still there. The weather is looking good so such a facility might well be a necessity!

that's still there and looking at the website they still have a Ploughman's menu as well a Sunday roasts so probably hasn't changed much at all!

The guys who run the H&A nowadays also run the Volunteer Tavern which is a decent little pub with a lively beer garden in summer and a decent selection of ales.

OT: The title of this thread is a total throwback to when people online felt compelled to speak like medieval courtiers, before the whole 'fedora, milady' stuff happened

another place to go is King Street and Welsh Back which are both chocka with olde fashionedy pubs and various converted barges. Three Brothers Burgers do a hassle-free lunch for a decent price, and if you like strong cider the Apple barge is great

The Old Duke on King St is great for live Jazz

I've been to the Apple fairly recently, it was good fun and notable for vomiting students just outside

If anyone happens to be about on the 11th May, I'm putting on a new wave disco at the Stag & Hounds in Old Market https://www.facebook.com/sciencedisco/

nice to accidentally meet Willl of this board the other day at a mutual friends' birthday party. Ilxors should have a special 77 tattoo branded onto their foreheads so we can recognise each other without a 40 minute preamble.

If any other Brizzlers happen to be about this evening, I'm putting on a little new wave, electro and disco night at the Stag and Hounds: https://www.facebook.com/events/153781205472037/

I'll be back in town for the Flipper and mclusky shows in a couple of weeks, and staying down inbetween.

What's new in Bristol? Haven't really paid attention since the container village opened behind M She'd.

Very disappointed to read that Bar Buvette closed; consoled myself that I'd still be able to drink too much delicious wine at Le Poivrot until I read that that had closed also. Anyone have any preferred places to drink excellent wine by that glass in Bristol, places that are neither loud nor snooty?

Bell's Diner gone too, I note. Small sadnesses.

loads of restaurants seem to be closing right now :(

I recognise it's a long shot but if any of you are in the vicinity of the UWE Bower Ashton campus anytime in the next month, there will be a show of some of my printing / book work in the library there (I'm setting the display up on Friday morning).

I have the privilege of having a wander around Bristol without anything to do and I’m reminded how much I love it here. It’s one of my favourite places in the world.

<3

If I'm in the campus area (not actually too likely but who knows?) I'll pop in!

Here’s a documentary about 20th Century Flicks in Bristol, somewhere I spent large amounts of time in when I was a student in the 90s, renting lots of kung fu and Hong Kong action flicks, as well as “prestige” films. It’s now the “last video shop in the world” apparently. I visited a couple of years ago and they still had my account on file (no fines thankfully)!
https://kottke.org/20/02/the-last-video-store

Yes! Saw that shop when I was in BRL recently and thought wtaf

they gave me a couple of posters, which was really nice of them! must try to get to a screening next time I'm in town.

you can rent it out for private screenings. Still not done it though. I should fix that

I used to about 20 metres away from 20th Century Flicks back when it was in Clifton, and when VHS/DVD rental was a thing. Their 'world cinema' selection was second to none and the staff were always happy to give an opinion or recommendation which was refreshing after years of browsing in faceless Blockbusters.

Also when we lived there the wine bar / club directly below our flat used to have PeeWee Ellis from the JB's playing every few weekends and we could hear him wailing 2 floors below us. This combination of facts made the insufferably posh prickishness of Clifton bearable for the year we lasted before moving back to where normal people live :)

used to *live* ...

I don't think I ever went in to the wine bar, sounds like I should have given it a go!

We never went in either as a: we were the poorest people in Clifton and b: our lounge pretty much sounded like the club once it got going.

Bristolers, I'm putting on a new free "Global Beats" type night at Cosies in St Paul's next week in case anyone's about

https://www.facebook.com/events/745232679486744

Here's where I'm playing on NYE. Really chuffed to be on the outdoor stage for 11.30-1am. just gotta think of an appropriate banger to play at midnight

https://www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/#date=2021-12-31&event_id=70061

Got to be On a Ragga Tip.

I mean, that's a good choice! They've asked me to play "High-life, afrobeat, disco, psychedelic" and indoors it's more bass-oriented stuff (i think they're trying to limit the amount of tear out shit outdoors). I was kind of thinking Angelique Kidjo's version of Once In A Lifetime could work, although I'm sure I could get away with a bit of SL2.