How to comment on this landmark without generating hate-mail...

It does look naff from the outside, but is most certainly clean, warm and friendly on the inside.

It is Cider Heaven. And the pasty's are brilliant.

The booze was as follows...

Gwatkins Perry. Bloody marvelous. Amongst the best I've ever drunk.

Rich's Farmhouse. This was difficult. The polypin on today was tart and sour. Not undrinkable by any means, but on the sour side.

Wilkins. Sadly, the same as above. A bit sour.

Tricky (medium). Stunning! Really lovely cider, server in perfect condition.

This is not a pub you will ever just happen to walk past. But it is a pub you should make a point of visiting.
The Orchard looks a bit naff from the outside but is clean, warm and friendly even with it's naff decor in this single rectangular room pub.
Thatcher's Chedar Valley, trad and Black Rat on handpull plus Sheppys and Thatch gold on keg cider plus Pride, Otter, Bellringer and Bath Ales Festivity were available on my visit in the main room. However the revelation was that they had 17 (yes 17) further different polypins of cider that were avaliable from pollypins they draw off in a chilled cellar room behind the bar!
The pub was quite busy on my visit on the 27 Dec 2010 (20 plus in).
Filled rolls excellent. Selling lots of pasties but can't vouch for these!
As it is a bit dark it can be an intimidating walk from the Cottage at night for those that brave the harbour path! (ish!)
7/10 (10/10 for the choice)This was was my first visit to this little pub which is just round the back of the SS Great Britain. I always like pubs which have a couple of good beers; daily newspapers; local chat and fresh rolls at the bar. I had a pint of perry which,whilst good,probably did me for the rest of the day!! I would imagine that this place once belonged to a major brewer so it just goes to show what can be done when it is becomes a proper pub again!!

Welcoming to us 'down from London' tourists and great range of beer and cider. The Janet's Jungle Juice was in perfect condition - as good as I've ever tasted. Will go back each time we revisit Bristol.Thesasaurus out , its becoming difficult to find new words to describe how good it is .A great choice , like the fact they have one strong un on as well , beer quality great. A regional beer festival usually at the start of the month . real cider also served , like the fact the bar staff when not on duty are often found drinking this side of the bar. In Beatles talk truly fabWell worth it's award as Bristol's CAMRA Pub of the Year ! Good range of beer, typical alehouse decor, friendly welcome and handy for the station as well. My Otter Bitter was just right for my first pint of the day and I shall recommend this place to my friends for our next trip to Bristol - another good example of a pub which a big brewer could not make a go of but which has been brought back to life (and thriving) under independent ownership.

Think it goes without saying one of the great bristol pubs , great choice of real ales cider etc , only critiscism ive got wish it was open a bit more especially on the weekend ,and possibly earlier on weekdays in the afternoon .still 9./10 though.This place has obviously changed hands since the days of Hidden Brewery ownership and what a difference! Great beer (and cider), very friendly and much more life in the bar than I can ever remember. Enjoyed a couple of Quantock beers. Good mix of customers with quite a few "suited and booted" drinkers enjoyed the atmosphere. A pub I shall always visit when in town.I usually end up introducing this pub to friends visiting Bristol. They always love it! and so do I. Top beer!

After a lot of delays, the Phoenix re-opened at 5:00pm on Friday 14th January 2011. It’s had serious amount of work carried out in the last few months and for many former customers, it’ll be a total contrast to the old days. In short, the place was stripped back to the brickwork and started again from scratch!

A new hardwood floor, leather sofas, piped modern "Musak", but gone are the old barrels behind the bar which many old regulars were perhaps expecting to see return along with the Draught Bass.

Handpull-wise, there’s now Butcombe Bitter, Sharp’s Doom Bar as well as Weston’s Cider. On Keg, there’s Heineken, Amstel & Moretti Lagers, Thatcher’s Gold & Draught Guinness. Prices reflect the rest of “Town” with Butcombe at £3.00 a pint. At the top end, there’s Moretti Lager at £3.80! I tried the Butcombe and can say as a Butcombe drinker it’s as it should be.First things first , good to see this pub reopened . 2nd needs to get rid of the photo , as looks nothing like the current pub , which has had a major overhaul.
Looks as though they've spent a fair bit of money on the interior /exterior of this pub, which is nice inside , though must be said is aimed at the twenty somethings.
Beer choice of only Butcombe or Doombar . I was on a glider day yesterday , and drank the real cider "Westons First Quality at 5% which was £3.50 a pint quality was alright but that is rather expensive, didn't check the beer prices.
According to the new owners, this should open 2nd January 2011 after what is now two years closed. The decor is certainly going to surprise a lot of old regulars too. Good luck to them I say!

I Think the two main cruxes over this place are one whether you like wickwar beer ,and the overall quality of the beer , although this has never been in the league of the seven stars or the bank which incidentally is only a couple of minutes around the corner ,this was always one you would visit on a saturday crawl or if you had missed the bus in the week, sadly now it doesn't have the compulsory box ticked , the quality has never been great since the big guy had it , and the quality really can compensate for the lack of choice , incidentally haven't seen the station porter around which in my opinion is wickwars best. To the boring farts drinking fosters well you can take it or leave them sometimes the place has the atmosphere of being only one step up from drinking in the park. The prissy bars on the waterfront if you can put up with the expense, no1 harbourside , the watershed bar , and the cheap lloyds v shed seems much more appealing these days If you know what you are going to this is a nice pub. I visit it a few times a year when I am in Bristol. I like the Wickwar beers and being able to sit and watch Bristol go by.
It is a tiny city pub with a small bar and room for about 15 people outside in the seating area on the street pavement. There are overhead heaters.
25 people inside would be a crowd and if you are overweight or not very nimble, then you won't easily get down the spiral stairs to the gents below street level.
It has its regulars and some do get pissed but with a pub this size, it probably needs them to keep the £'s coming in else, it will close.
If you want something more refined, the pub is on the edge of the touristy waterfront where all the branded pubs and bars are along with their uniform interiors, food and drinks. Else give this tiny city pub a go to see a bit of real Bristol. Entertaining to watch the weekend antics, but the beer is usually very warm and the floor in the urinals wet. Don't bother.

A regular haunt of mine now , probably Bristol's most improved/ transformed pub.
Much of the credit for this must of course go to Mark Farrel , who I know had to stick to his guns when establishing this as a real ale pub.
Now run by ned formerly of the Portcullis , in association with Arbor Ales, has really put the icing on the cake , the range preponderated by Arbor , but not predominated by them . the only regular is arbor Brigstow , contains a great range of beer's , and often includes something from Dark star , quality is always immaculate. Food now served , carry on with the good work

A Real Find, close to College Green and the Cathedral, great beer (arbor Ales plus loads of Guest Beer) and very friendly bar staff. Comfortable and welcoming atmosphere, only complaint - I wish it was my Local!!! I was pleased to find this pub as the nearby Bag O'Nails has now closed. Tried Arbor Ales for the first time and was well satisfied. Friendly chap behind the bar and I shall be using this place again when in Bristol.

Easily the best choice for beers ala weatherspoon in central bristol ,food- have eaten in here a few times recently ok maybe i've been lucky yeh but i have to say food was alright . Service alright as long as you accept it is wetherspoons i.e can be a bit slow. Easily the best choice for beers ala weatherspoon in central bristol ,food- have eaten in here a few times recently ok maybe i've been lucky yeh but i have to say food was alright . Service alright as long as you accept it is wetherspoons i.e can be a bit slow. If you go here on the weekend make sure you leave for somewhere else well before closing time. The door staff will harass you to drink up ten minutes before they stop serving!

How do you know I'm a fairy, are you a medium? I swear on my chin I will have you barred. That's the last birthday you'll have in my establishment.No you don't, and you should not be commenting on a pub which you don't even know.
Bugger off, there's a good fairy.I own this pub and redkeir is a liar.

You naughty boy or girl

Tut tut