Pubs and Bars / Pub of the Week
Pub of the Week: The Rope Walk
A tantalising scent of barbecue wafts out from the gated court yard to the side of the Rope Walk, where locals are enjoying an early evening pint.
The setting is a riot of colour, with street art coating every available spot of wall that surrounds the sun trap garden of the Bedminster boozer. People of all ages are soaking up the rays, chatting and laughing over a drink or a smoke.
Having gone through many different guises over the years, the Nelson Parade pub, with its bright, welcoming feel, decent selection of beer, cider & wine options, and a food menu that caters for vegans, as well as meat lovers is now a curious mix of old and new.
Or, as one less generous punter puts it, “it’s having a bit of an identity crisis”.
The vibrant street art outside may feel slightly at odds with the more traditional interior, but there is something very genuine and joyful about the celebration of local art. More pieces adorn the walls inside and a chalk board announces that art is available to buy.
Famed locally for its live music nights in the 90s, the Rope Walk is now doing a good job of catering for a diverse clientele, and everyone, from the tables of 20-something drinkers to the older couple getting some respite from the sun inside on this warm Tuesday evening, looks perfectly at home.
The solid piano in one corner and sign advertising a spoken word night hint at a more subdued vibe than that of days gone by, but the latest landlord is certainly keeping the spirit of music very much alive with regular jamming sessions and acoustic nights.
It is also the meeting point for the incredibly popular Blood and Butchery in Bedminster walk, staged by Show of Strength theatre company, proving the pub still has a dark side, albeit a light-hearted, theatrical one.
Stained glass windows catch the light behind the clean, well-stocked bar that is neatly laden with a vast selection of drinks, as well as herbal teas, coffees and crisps.
A painter, just finished work for the day, takes his first sip of the cold pint before him.
“Go for the Plymouth Gin, that’s good and strong,” he advises, before heading out through the open door to the back yard garden beyond, where a loud exclamation can be heard as two punters toss a coin to decide on the Deliveroo option for the night.
Flowers in glasses add yet another touch of colour on the tabletops of a pub that is as vibrant, welcoming and diverse as the city it’s in.
The Rope Walk, 5 Nelson Parade, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4JA
0117 963 5124
www.ropewalkbristol.co.uk
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
