Pub of the week: Bavarian Beerhouse

There is so much wrong with the Bavarian Beerhouse on Queen Charlotte Street that it’s difficult to know where to start.

Bavarian Beerhouse Bristol inside

On Friday night when I cycled by, a man dressed as Gromit was dancing on one of the long beer hall-style tables to an accordion accompaniment.

He then proceeded to almost fall down the stairs followed out by his laughing mates, commenting on the waitresses’ breasts.

The female staff uniform here is dirndl – a traditional Bavarian dress and one that shows plenty of cleavage. The stag parties can’t be drawn here for the beer alone.

Ah yes, the beer. It’s £4.50 for many of the half pints and £5.20 for a pint. Never before has Bristol seen such ludicrous pricing.

Then there’s a discretionary service charge of 12.5 per cent for being served by a woman in traditional German dress, which I paid through gritted teeth when I returned on Sunday afternoon.

The beer isn’t even that good, with nine unremarkable options from Krombacher, Fischer’s, Erdinger, Bitburger and Lowenbrau.

Turn the page from the beer and you are confronted with the shots, including the option of a “Jagertrain” with handy instructions.

“Get ready for the journey of your life” it says, a tad optimistically.

Only somebody from outside Bristol could possibly think this is a good location. It may be central, yards away from both King Street and Queen Square, but it’s practically cursed.

If you’re not on a stag do, do not visit.

Bavarian Beerhouse Bristol

Bavarian Beerhouse, 46-48 Queen Charlotte Street, Bristol, BS1 4HX

www.bavarian-beerhouse.co.uk

15 Responses so far.

  1. Da Kaiser says:

    Has that place ever lasted as a particular bar for longer that a year or so? It’s such an awful position for a bar, why don’t they learn?

  2. Bob says:

    Maybe you would have been happier in a wine bar?

  3. Josh says:

    Lol, £5.20 per pint for something generic. It won’t even outlast hooters!

    • A pint of Krombacher is £4.90
      A pint of Erdinger is £5.20

      Due to the high import taxes and alcohol duties (beer duty escalator) we are paying more UK taxes then the keg costs in Germany. Unfortunately this is beyond our control.

  4. Frankie says:

    I’m not sure why they always insist on making them “themed”…

  5. ... says:

    Its £4.90 a pint, the beers and food are lush and it does get busy, its a great place to go and really fun, maybe you should actually go in especially when they have the german band everyone loves it, not the best location but people love a good bavarian beer n food

  6. steve-oh says:

    Is the review meant to be a joke? I rode my bike past and read the menu. I don’t like people having fun.

    Yes, it’s pricey but the beer and food are imported. He was probably miffed that it wasn’t real ale. Contrary to ‘expert’ opinion, not all lagers are the same.

    I enjoyed it, and it’s probably as close as you can get to being at an Oktoberfest type event in the UK. Speaking of which – people dance on the benches all the time at Oktoberfest, young and old alike and the dirndl is what is worn by the waitresses.

    Oktoberfest isn’t highbrow, and neither is this. Eat – drink & be merry!

  7. Udo says:

    Please be aware, that Dirndl and Lether-Trousers are NOT traditional German!! It’s traditional Bavarian and Swabian, which only cover 15% (approx.) of Germans!

  8. Edie says:

    Why don’t you try going to some pubs and bars in the evening? Might get a better idea of what they are like, the clientele etc. Sunday afternoon or indeed any afternoon is hardly going to give you an accurate impression of a drinking establishment.

    Though admittedly pubs and bars won’t be as genteel as the cafes which are relentlessly covered on here. Almost given as much space as much as ‘anything to do with Wallace and Gromit’ and ‘How great is George Ferguson?’.

    • Thanks Edie, you are right.

      We are a German restaurant from Sunday – Thursday. We are not fine dining. We are not a romantic place. We serve hearty Bavarian food such as pork shanks and sausages.

      Friday & Saturday we are creating an Oktoberfest atmosphere, to get the people on the benches.

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