Pubs and Bars / A-Z Bristol pub crawl
A-Z Bristol Pub Crawl: The Old Lock and Weir, Hanham Mills
As we stumbled down a country lane with muddy boots and each breath fogging the air in front of us, The Old Lock and Weir was a very welcome sight.
Most people huddled inside out of the cold, but a brave few were sitting on the riverside seating in the misty winter sunshine.
On the bright, sub-zero Saturday afternoon, families, walkers and locals all gathered round dark wood tables in the various nooks and crannies of the pub, framed by the low beams and fireplaces that, to me, signify a true British pub.
The pub was a packed full of locals, walkers and families
Hosting a range of the standards Thatchers, lagers and Guinness, this bar is stocked full of staples. Amongst them, however, was the pleasing addition of local ciders from the Branch orchards, which I was quick to snap up.
Outside, canal boats chug quietly, steam billowing from their wood-burning stoves. Sitting next to the water, boaters talk about the winter chill, deliberating which dish from the pub’s menu they’ll pick to keep them warm.
Next thing you know, steaming plates of scampi and steak and ale pies are brought out, with echoes of ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ from those sitting near them.
The Old Lock and Weir is, in this sense, the perfect ‘everything’ pub. Respite for walkers, traditional pub grub for reuniting families, friends and locals alike and a meeting place for those living in the quiet village of Hanham.
After an hour or so watching birds on the river bank and an elderly couple playing a captivating game of rummy, we packed up our backpacks and carried on along the boggy, sinking footpath, leaving the wonderful checkpoint of The Old Lock and Weir nestled in the countryside behind us.
The Old Lock & Weir, Ferry Road, Hanham Mills, Bristol, BS15 3NU
All photos: Susie Long
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