Pubs and Bars / A-Z Bristol pub crawl
A-Z Bristol pub crawl: The Independence Sports Bar, Ashton Gate
The disappointment in the low hum of conversations between Bristol City fans after a 2-3 defeat by Huddersfield is palpable.
The game of football just played was fractious, culminating in fans throwing rubbish onto the pitch in frustration.
It’s Saturday afternoon and increasingly busy at the Independence Sports Bar at Ashton Gate Stadium, where a growing line of punters separated by queue barriers thirstily wait to buy a drink.
“Pint of Gold” is uttered over and over to bar staff, who, equally dejectedly, pull pints of the golden liquid and hand them out in plastic cups.
The sports bar’s decor is heavily informed by its partnership with Bristol Beer Factory – photo by Betty Woolerton
Some stand by the bar with their eyes flickering up to any one of the dozens of TVs or massive digital screen streaming Sky Sports News, all setting off groans and cheers on cue.
Others share tables in the lesser-lit half of the pub designed for more intimate post-match socialising, including a group of well-groomed bearded fans who drink pints of beer brewed minutes away by Bristol Beer Factory on North Street.
Independence is the chosen watering hole for spectators who want to soak up the atmosphere in Ashton Gate’s own bar, and is just as updated as the refurbished stadium it is nestled in.
It’s an impressive, double-storey spaciousness and modern, minimalist decor.
Brightly-lit by an array of lighting, a glittery feature of fairy lights hang above some adverts showcasing non-alcohol and gluten-free beers.
Pints of the pale ale Independence might be the only independent thing about the bar at the stadium- photo by Betty Woolerton
Despite the trendy craft ales on offer, Independence is unquestionably a Bristol City sports bar, with the club’s memorabilia adorning the walls and the Wurzels’ Bristolian anthems emanating from the sound system.
It costs a fiver for a pint of Thatchers Gold in a plastic cup here. Blame the commercialisation of football.
However, the Independence Sports Bar is pleasant for a post-match natter and a few pints here will probably help to blur the memory of losing to Huddersfield.
The Independence Sports Bar, Ashton Gate Stadium, Ashton Road, Bristol, BS3 2EJ
Main photo by Betty Woolerton
Read more: A-Z Bristol Pub Crawl: The Hatchet, Frogmore Street
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