Whenever I visit the Cornubia, I like to imagine what this pub was like once upon a time, when it was not marooned between faceless office blocks around the back of the fire station. You would be hard pressed to find a better pub in a more ignominious location.

Its history helps my imaginings: built for wig maker Charles Cox c. 1775, it has been a pub since 1859, was the brewery tap of the George’s brewery, and subsequently a training and hospitality pub for Courage.

Phil and Jackie, the current landlords of the Cornubia, arrived at the pub having been previous landlords of a Camra pub of the year, the Crown & Thistle in Gravesend, Kent, and they thankfully brought their love of real ale with them to Bristol.

There are always seven real ales on tap here, which when I visited last week included Stonehenge Ales Old Smokey, Dorset Piddle Leg Warmer and the Cornubia summer ale, only served in this pub.

As it was the summer, Wimbledon was being shown on the projector inside the pub, but rather bizarrely the sound could only be heard outside thanks to the speakers pointing out to the tables and chairs with a view of the fire station.

Inside, every inch of the walls are covered in beer coasters from around the UK and the world, or newspaper cuttings. There are also books to browse, and yes they are live turtles in a tank in the corner.

Food served Monday to Friday has some pub classics: homemade soup and crusty bread (£3.95); jacket potato (£4); and £5.50 specials which include ham, egg and chips; fish and chips; and omelettes.

But it’s all about the beer in this splendid pub with a fascinating history, the Cornubia is a pub well-worth finding out more about.

The Cornubia, 142 Temple Street, Bristol. 0117 925 4415.