Pubs and Bars / A-Z Bristol pub crawl
A-Z Bristol Pub Crawl: The Apple, Welsh Back
A good boozer serving quality ciders and beers, with picturesque views. Is there anything else one could wish for on a sunny August afternoon?
Maybe not. At least for this punter, the whim of stopping for a pint at the Apple on Welsh Back proved rather satisfying.
A 1920s Dutch barge serves as this pub’s interior, with portholes still visible in the main bar area in the basement. While the basement was off limits on this Friday afternoon, there was plenty of seating available on the first-floor deck and in the pub’s quayside terrace.
is needed now More than ever
Portholes dominated both sides of the barge’s basement that was also the pub’s main bar area
Traditional farmhouse ciders, sparkling ciders, fruit ciders, draught and can beers, zero alcohol beverages, soft drinks, wines and spirits – there was no dearth of choice of drinks for visitors to enjoy in the sunshine.
On this occasion, the punter’s choice remained her usual: half a pint of Wiper and True’s Kaladeiscope. However, her friend who is not from Bristol, was keen to try Lost and Grounded’s Extra Nice lager.
Other than drinks, the pub also currently has a food van by Pigs Pizza stationed near their outdoor benches.
The Apple officially opened in 2006 and has since won the Great British Pub Awards in 2014 and been home to numerous food pop-ups.
Before the barge became a pub open to the public, it used to be a private members’ club. However, since its opening nearly two decades ago, the pub owner believes to have sold more than a million pints of cider – a figure that seems plausible.
While everything looked breezy and nice on Friday, it is hard to believe that not far away from here on Saturday, a group of fascists plan to protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers.
But then there are also plenty of people rallying for a counter protest that promises to “defend our refugees”.
The punters enjoyed their pints for the next 30 minutes, with plans to visit the Balloon Fiesta later in the evening: another testament to Bristol’s vibrant culture.
The Apple first opened in 2006
The Apple, Welsh Back, Bristol BS1 4SB
All photos: Karen Johnson
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