Pubs and Bars / A-Z Bristol pub crawl
A-Z Bristol Pub Crawl: The Rose of Denmark, Hotwells
‘Quiz night Wed’ reads a board outside the Rose of Denmark.
Alas, it is not a Wednesday.
But that didn’t deter a solo drinker from venturing into this traditional boozer on a recent Friday evening.
A dark shade of green is painted over the walls and the bar, that look shinier than usual thanks to the sunlight entering the room from the pub’s rear door.
A vintage valve radio sits between two barrel decanters – one designated for Brandy another for Vodka – placed on the window sill overlooking the pub’s beer garden.
The barrel decanters, though hidden, are definitely an amusing addition to the pub
With the sun shining bright and the weather gods being kind to Bristol, beer gardens in most pubs are bustling with chatter, and the Rose of Denmark is no exception.
Two groups have taken up all the tables in the garden, but there’s plenty of space indoors with a huge television streaming a NBA game from 2024.
It was only in October 2024 that pub maestro Sam Gregory took on the reins here as a landlord, thereby expanding his ever-growing pub empire, which already includes the Bank Tavern, the Bell, the Sugar Loaf and the Crown.
Gregory, who is also one of the panellists for EatDrink24/7 2025, supported by a generous investment from Heineken-owned Star Pubs, has managed to revive this pub that had been shut for a few years.
A dusty fireplace and neatly stacked logs of wood stare at punters from the corner of the room that’s filled with wooden chairs and tables with neatly placed beermats from Old Mout Cider.
The pub is named after Edward VII’s wife, Alexandra of Denmark, who was once also the Empress of India when it was colonised by the British.
With the Western Harbour regeneration taking shape, areas surrounding the pub could see a surge of residential homes, which could push new faces to venture into the Rose of Denmark.
6 Dowry Pl, Hotwells, Bristol BS8 4QL
All photos: Karen Johnson
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