The Old England — Restaurant in Bristol

The bartender that served us was basically a bully. I don't know what his problem was, maybe he got up on the wrong side of the bed that day, but the fact that somebody like that was hired and allowed to serve people says something about the management of this place.

When we ordered our drinks it was loud and my girlfriend has a quote voice, which made it difficult to talk to the bartender. This is common and usually bartenders will signal to speak up. The way this guy reacted, by shouting at her in the rudest tone, looking angry like she'd done something wrong, was totally inappropriate. Not the end of the world but already not a good start.

When it's time to pay, he pulls out the card reader but the screen is broken so I can't see how much the total is. I point this out and he demands that I just pay. Instead of explaining the issue, he simply tells me that "it's about 10 quid" and holds the card reader closer to me, looking annoyed. Apparently I should just trust him.

After I acquiescently pay, because of how pushy he was, he pulls the pints and leaves them there. Doesn't say thank you or anything. Just walks away, looking annoyed at us like we've done something wrong, again.

We quickly drank our pints outside (it smelled like a toilet...

Solid local pub that gets Bristol's music scene right. The Old England has a good selection of beers and regularly showcases both established and up-and-coming alternative acts. It's refreshing to find a venue that genuinely supports local artists while maintaining that authentic Bristol atmosphere.

The music programming is thoughtful - you'll catch everything from indie bands to more experimental sounds, and they seem to have a good eye for spotting talent before it breaks big. Beer selection covers the basics well with some decent local options.

Not the fanciest place, but that's part of its charm. It feels properly connected to Bristol's musical heritage without trying too hard. Worth checking out if you want to experience what the local scene is actually about rather than just tourist-friendly venues.

Good for: Live music, local beers, authentic...

Have been here many times and loved the music events I have been to in the past, however feel really upset at interactions with staff I have had here, had a male staff member be really rude to my sister while she was ordering a drink. At the start of restrictions I donated to a crowdfunder to help keep it around for post covid, as it is my local pub. However tried tonight to go and had another upsetting encounter with a staff member after being ignored and then accused of breaking rules which were really unclear when me and a friend were attempting to follow rules! I really want to like it here but I always end up feeling unwelcome, I get that it must be such a stressful time for hospitality workers but I feel quite upset and put off ever...