It’s not just the fact that the Bridge Inn can lay claim to being Bristol’s smallest pub that makes it such a little gem. Other elements that make this hostelry next to St Philip’s Bridge a cut above its larger counterparts include hundreds of LPs stuffed into an alcove above an old record player and tape decks, artfully taken black and white photographs of many of its regulars on the walls, and as many beers on tap as this constricted space allows.

This week, the four ales on tap are Acer from the Bristol Beer Factory, Braydon Ales’ Galley Bagger, the Triple fff Brewery’s Moondance and Bath Ales’ Gem. Ciders on tap are Bounders and Blackthorn.

On Mondays, all real ales at the Bridge are £2.20; the second Tuesday of the month is the quiz night; while pub food is seved from midday until 3pm Monday to Friday.

When I visited yesterday afternoon, two friends were perusing a newspaper crossword, at one stage asking the barman for the pub’s crossword book. This was obviously not the first time they had tested their word skills here.

The Bridge is slightly marooned away from the action, but that’s another element to its charm. When Finzel’s Reach opens soon on its doorstep, both it and the Cornubia will have a wide new customer base, but I doubt that either of their special characters will change.

The advert in Pints West, Camra’s local members magazine, calls the Bridge “probably the smallest and friendliest pub in Bristol”. I have to agree with the first claim, and the second claim is not far off, for this is one of the few pubs in the centre of Bristol that I will happily make a detour to drink in.

The Bridge Inn, 16 Passage Street, Bristol.