The Barley Mow — Restaurant in Bristol

Until yesterday I would have agreed with the five star reviews for the food and Sunday roasts. One of my favourite pubs in Bristol, the food has always been tasty and generous, with a bar serving finely kept, excellent beer. Yesterday, 9 October, I booked a table with a friend, ordered the lamb sunday roast and after a long wait, the food arrived. It was odd. The extra we paid for cauliflower cheese was a very small dish and had obviously been sitting under lights for a long time, coated with a tell-tale film and was barely warm. We had a tablespoon of cauliflower cheese each. The main event had decent roast potatoes, but the rest of the veg was a sort of carrotty cabbage mix. The Yorkshire pud was small and soggy (gravy was in a separate jug as requested so it wasn't that) and the lamb was very sparse: a few chunks and bumps of lamb scattered over the cabbage mix. I'd been telling my friend how good the food at BM was so this was hugely disappointing. We weren't asked if everything was okay. My friend didn't want to make a fuss but I should have mentioned the small amount of meat for what we paid. I heard at the bar that there were a lot of 'walk-ins' and so it felt that the food was running low in the kitchen. I asked at the bar before I ordered if there was enough lamb and was told there was. I don't see the point of booking in advance in this case if you can't cater for those who have. We both left hungry and disappointed...ended up sharing a pizza a little later in a pub close by. The two stars are for the beer, the spuds and the bar staff but I will hesitate before choosing the BM for Sunday roast...

Fantastic pub tucked out of the way but really not that far from the city centre and only a 10 minute walk from Temple Meads station. Superb selection of local craft beers on draught from many of Bristol's excellent breweries, and often something interesting from further afield. They're always changing what they have on the bar to keep things interesting and the staff are super helpful if you're struggling to make up your mind. And it's not just the beer this pub takes pride in; the Sunday roast is one of the best I've had in Bristol, three meats, vegetarian and vegan options to choose from means everybody is catered for. The menu during the week is simple but well executed with interesting combinations of flavours if you're willing to shy away from the excellent burgers on offer. Definitely worth a visit if you haven't ventured this way before, you won't be...

Always a good atmosphere, and a great selection of ales - mostly from the Beer Factory in Bedminster (which owns the pub) but also from further afield. Some decent ciders too. On my last visit, I treated myself to some halloumi fries, which were perfectly sliced and wonderfully crispy, and my first ever curry wurst which was absolutely KNOCK OUT! It was my first ever curry wurst and by Job I'll be having it again. The sausage and the sauce were just incredible. There is plenty of seating out the front, and lots more out the back - the courtyard garden is lovely in the summer, with some shade for those who prefer it. Honestly, the Barley Mow is one of my favourite pubs in Bristol. Plus - they have even started showing the rugby (Six Nations currently) on a massive screen at one end of the pub. There was a really healthy, loud but good-humoured crowd...