The last time that I visited the London Inn was at the beginning of this year when I started an aborted attempt to document Bristol’s worst pubs. Soon after the visit, the pub closed and I decided that recounting my tales of sticky lino floors, surly landladies and surlier customers would not be continued. To use another analogy, one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.
One thing that I remember about that only previous visit was an old man talking loudly to himself on a stool at the corner of the bar.
Since then, this Bedminster pub has had a lick of paint and is under new ownership, but when I visited on Monday evening, it was like the man talking to himself had never left.
There he was, sat on the same stool, loudly offering mumbled opinions to anybody who tried not to listen and singing along to a few of the songs that appeared on the jukebox.
So what else has changed? Not much, apart from that lick of paint. Natch is still on tap, and the two real ale pumps are both unused.
The pool table looks like it has got a new baize and the stools have all been upholstered in the same shade of grey as the walls have been painted.
With only cosmetic improvements though, this is still the same pub that I visited at the beginning of this year.
The London Inn, 1 Cannon Street, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 1BH
Well, as they say, no publicity is bad publicity.
Seems quite strange to title the article “Pub of the week” then go on to slate it!
I always say that if the title of ‘Pub of the week’ was its full length, it would read: ‘Pub of the week that may or may not be good, it’s just a pub that I have visited this week’.
So who is the author of this article and what credibility does (s)he have?
That’s a shame, it looks like a lovely Victorian building from the outside…
I’ve cycled past that place 500 times, and never felt the urge to enter in. Looks like that urge will continue to avoid me
I’m the licensee of The London Inn and must correct you on a few points. We have two real ales, draught Guinness, 2 ciders and 3 lagers on tap.
We realise the grey paint is not to everyone’s taste and so we are making some changes with original artwork painted by a talented local artist.
We have recently installed Sky Sports showing all the big games live. Every Thursday we have an Open Mic Night, Live Music twice a month… No Discos or Karaoke.
Added to this no beer is more than £2.90 a pint and we have £1.95 pints between 11am and 3pm every day.
I’m sorry you didn’t like one of our customers but what local doesn’t have a few eccentrics? We love our old boys!
So to anyone who has a preconceived idea of what our pub is like please don’t judge… Come and give us a try you may like it!