Going to Bristol - got a few questions

tomstickland

Don't go to Cribbs, it's a shopping mall on the out of town. You could do that anywhere.

Go to the town centre.
Look to see if the Watershed arts cinema has anything on. There's the Arnolfini arts centre on the docks. SS Great Britain. Bag of nails pub.
Park Street.
Broadmead shopping centre is a 60s/70s mess.

take a look on the knowhere guide for ideas.

Savvy_Sue

tomstickland wrote:

Broadmead shopping centre is a 60s/70s mess.

You're out of touch, tom. Broadmead shopping centre is currently a large building site with a fair number of shops tacked on at the side ... :rotfl:

When it's finished we're told it will be lovely. We'll have a Flagship Store, a thought which I haven't yet met a local who could get excited about. We'll have Piazzas and new outdoor food outlets, but not necessarily the weather to enjoy them. I can't remember if we're getting more parking to replace the unlamented Tollgate House multistory - probably not because the council seems determined to bring cars to a complete halt throughout the city, in favour of unreliable and extortionately priced buses.

But don't let this put the OP off! Bristle, we luv'ee, as they say round here! If you tell us things you particularly want to do, I'm sure between us we can suggest good ways of doing them while avoiding the worst horrors ...

Ivrytwr3

If you tell us things you particularly want to do

Well, i've planned our visit and unfortunately it's not very exciting!

We won't arrive until Friday lunchtime, so it's straight into the hotel room, open the champagne and pour the majority of it over my naked wife whilst at the same time licking it from her...........see what happens...........shower, then evening meal in the restaurant with a bottle of red.

Saturday: Lie in, breakfast, trip into Bath with lunch. Back to hotel and get ready for night out at............

Cribbs Causeway (sorry!!!) We're off to the cinema as it's something we haven't done for a long time. Not very romantic and not the part of Bristol i had in mind.

Back to the hotel for drinks in the bar and then back to the room for ......................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

acebanditcat

I'd have suggested THE BUTTERY near the SS Great Britain for the best Bacon butty and mug of hot tea in town!

As an ex Bristolian my dad introduced my boyfriend to the Buttery last year. Now every time I go back to visit my family he insists we go there too!

Slinky

If you're visting Bath the park and ride is brilliant, I think it's under £2 per person (we used it a lot when we used to live in Yate near Bristol, but moved away a couple of years ago). The Crystal Palace pub not far from the Roman Baths is a great place for lunch, they do a lovely soup and huge rolls plus lots of other good stuff. They used to do a deal buy 2 large glasses of wine and they'd throw the rest of the bottle in free, not sure if that'll still be going, but check it out.

We tried Sally Lunns once, was nice enough but pricey and full of american tourists.

If you like sausages, the Bath Sausage Shop in Green Street has the best sausages you will find anywhere. You can buy them on mail order so if you weren't able to take them with you at the time, you could have them posted to you.

I do miss Bath, we'll be back there next month doing some Christmas shopping, eating our lunch in the Crystal Palace and stocking up on sausages!

clairehas

Savvy_Sue wrote:

You're out of touch, tom. Broadmead shopping centre is currently a large building site with a fair number of shops tacked on at the side ... :rotfl:

i cant wait until they have built the new broadmead! im sure it will be great and alot better than cribbs causeway!

littlesaint

Wow! Stumbled on this post at a perfect time. Going to Bristol with some mates in three weeks time. We arrive early afternoon Saturday and leave just over 24 hours later. We are staying quite near Broadmead, in Portland Sq. the place looks nice, though I hear it's on the edge of the notorios St Paul's. hope its reputation is exaggerated.
I have even got as far as planning an itinery:
13.15 - Arrive at Temple Meads
14.30 take ferry to pump house
15.10 Arrive at pump house
Climb up to the suspension bridge
Hang out in Clifton (any suggestions of cafe, shops, places to visit appreciated)
Approx 17.30 bus into town - drinks, then back to the appartment.
20.00 meal then more drinks
3am stumble back to the appartment.

Then the next day the girls will shop, while the blokes nurse their hangover. How does this sound? I'm sure we won't stick to this!

Savvy_Sue

littlesaint wrote:

We are staying quite near Broadmead, in Portland Sq. the place looks nice, though I hear it's on the edge of the notorios St Paul's. hope its reputation is exaggerated.

Portland Square is nice. The reputation of St Pauls depends on what you've heard! The Black and White Cafe has gone, and I don't think there were any rockets fired the length of any streets this year ...

But you may be offered illegal substances, and the girls may be propositioned. If it makes you feel better, you could well be on CCTV when this happens! Since you mention an apartment, presumably whoever you're staying with knows where NOT to go alone. Feel free to PM me if you're all new to Bristol ...

FWIW I've worked round the corner from Portland Square for the last 7 years, and I've never been offered illegal substances, propositioned, or mugged. DS scores 2 out of 3, although he's always had his wits sufficiently about him for no harm to be done. My sons won't admit to anything, but I prefer to meet them closer to Broadmead than this ... :rotfl:

littlesaint wrote:

Hang out in Clifton (any suggestions of cafe, shops, places to visit appreciated)

If you google 'cafe Clifton Bristol' the one which leaps out at you is the Primrose Cafe. It's good, but it's usually packed out. However, in Waterloo Street is the Rainbow Cafe. May be less packed, but it's smaller than the Primrose, so hard to tell. If there's not too many in your group, I'd say try the Rainbow.

If the Observatory and St Vincent's Cave are open, they're both well worth a visit, but they might be summer only attractions. Go UP from the bridge ...

littlesaint wrote:

3am stumble back to the appartment.

That's when you may need to have your wits about you. Life in St Pauls doesn't stop ...

littlesaint wrote:

Then the next day the girls will shop,

The proximity of the shops in Broadmead is a definite plus for Portland Square! :rotfl:

tomstickland

No need to take a bus from Clifton to town. It's a scenic walk down hill past endless bars. There's loads of nice pubs in the Clifton area.

littlesaint

Hi people, thanks for the useful tips. Might have a couple more questions but will PM for more advice.