The Old Duke — Restaurant in Bristol

Use to love the Old Duke. I’m saddened to write that their reopening from lockdown is very disappointing.

They have very rude and abrupt security and staff who disregard duty of care to their customers. We weren’t welcomed in in any way.

We arrived to be told to prove our friends were already there and waiting at a table for us. He demanded for us to phone them. It’s like we had to prove ourselves. Very odd and just bad vibes.

Once our friends came over we then had to sign in. No worries however my friends phone had no internet connection that night so asked to sign in to which was a big problem for them. Very reluctant and bossy attitude; “it adds to the paperwork for the night” he complained at us.

I run my own business, I know about paperwork. It’s part of be job and not the problem of your customers. I come out to relax, not be told I’m part of a problem. Just extremely unnecessary bad attitude and unwelcoming.

So we get to the table, order some drinks. I’m looking around at the types of people present and there’s less fun music loving free thinkers who create joy and instead more judgmental rude obnoxious boys and girls who just wanna binge drink and be mean.

Overall, not a fun night there. Spent a good amount of money and wasn’t looked after. Didn’t meet good people there either. Not worth it.

I recommending only visiting if they have some good music on because at the moment they’re chasing money and disregarding the whole beauty of their venue and the customers they would normally attract just aren’t vibing...

THE jazz music venue in Bristol. The staff are welcoming and polite, always up for a chat if it's not too busy. The selection of ales is varied, as it's the cider, with more than the usual boring choices. Some rarely seen on tap in other pubs. It's quite a comfortable place. No fire or lounging chairs but understandably as the place can get rammed on a week end, with a varied mob of locals and tourists. All there get with the vibe, jiggle and wiggle with a grin to the fantastic line-up. Rarely have I heard a bad note or dodgy lyric. Crowds often spill out onto the historic cobbled street between the Duke and the Llandogger trow pub. There are ample tables outside and on a summers evening the whole area, down to the waterside is agong with blether and chuckles as the voices rise above the city sounds. I could go on... Yes I will. So don't miss out on visiting this fine establishment , this paragon of public houses in this perfect port city, located in a lushouse gurt corner, of a jewel of an island, floating in firtile fickle waters, separate but still a part of cultural Europe. Because no man is an island, so don't be a clod, come and join the...

We are a retired couple who were regular visitors pre covid. Our first time back last night. We met an older man un his late 80s. He was so interesting to speak to. He use to be in a band in the old juke his on one of the photos there. He has been going in the juke since the 1960s. When the blonde barmaid came to collect for the band I mentioned this to her she said "I know who you mean and i don't give a shit" I felt so shock by her nasty attitude to me for no apparent reason. I asked why she was so rude but she just turned away. As I was asking this I touched her arm and she shouted dint touch me making me jump I touched her very lightly I didn't grab her or anything. As we left I went to the the bar to report it. They again was rude to me and said they already knew and I was barred. Lol we hadn't done anything wrong. But the staff were rude. Not like the staff that use to work there before. They were very nice and engaged with the punters. So that the reason for1*. Hence we won't go back here and I am barred for no reason. Feel free to let...