As is often the way these days, the conversation started on Twitter: what is Bristol’s best cocktail bar? There is the triumvirate of snazzy bars in snazzy surroundings up Park Street and along Whiteladies Road, but Hyde & Co, Whitelock & Grace and Hausbar are all newcomers compared to the Rummer.
Clifton’s finest are in fact almost 800 years younger than the inn that the Rummer can trace its history back to.
A hostelry has stood on this site in All Saints Lane, to the side of what is now St Nicholas Market, since the thirteenth century.
The present building was built in 1742 on a portion of the site occupied as early as 1241 by an inn, then called the Greene Lattis. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to have a drink in the Rummer’s cellars, which were underneath the original medieval building.
Historical events to have taken place here include being the destination of the first stagecoach from London and more recently – given its long history – the site of the UK’s first Berni Inn in 1955, the chain which introduced the post-war British public to the joys of prawn cocktail, steak chips and peas, and Black Forest Gateau.
Although there is now not a Black Forest Gateau in site, the Rummer continues to serve modern British food of a consistently high quality.
The Rummer acts as a cosy cafe during the day, but by night its real raison d’etre comes into being, as more than 300 premium spirits, what they claim is is the largest collection in the South West, can begin to be sampled.
Cocktails or straight up, the Rummer can offer their huge collection of drinks whichever way you want, drinking in your own bit of history.
The Rummer, All Saints Lane, Bristol. 0117 929 0111.
I have been very much a fan of the Rummer since it reopened. It’s definitely still a favourite in Bristol, but I have noticed something has changed lately. It’s difficult to put my finger on, but it’s the little things such as care not being taken to look after the toilets in the same way. I was really disappointed when they stopped serving the charcuterie and cheese boards, they were great to share with a bottle of wine as a snack, rather than having a full meal. When I asked about this a while ago, I was told “no, we only do fine dining now”, which I think was a bit of an error on their part really, and it sounded a bit daft to say “fine dining” when it really is a pub not a restaurant.
Still, as I said, one of the best, if not the best, at the moment, and here’s hoping it’s going to stay that way..