Top Rated Nightlife in Bristol

Its very dark, slightly musty interior, gives it a distinctly Victorian feel. Outside in the leafy garden bar, however, the rows of benches and the very welcome gas burning heaters create a slightly Mediterranean and more contemporary atmosphere. The overall effect is one of a classic ale house, and it is very popular with older locals, students and real ale aficionados alike. The pub menu includes stews, chili, salads and curries.

The Hatchet Inn is one of the city's oldest pubs. Licensed in 1606, it still retains some historical character, although it is unfortunately surrounded by concrete modern structures, and office workers and students alike enjoy the traditional village atmosphere, with the ancient pictures lining the walls. Don't expect the behavior of its patrons to be equally refined and old-world; weekend nights see the place dragged into the 21st Century with DJs and live music, and the crowd gets younger and much more boisterous. Those after a quiet pint should only venture in during the day.

If Walcot Street is Bath's bohemian center, then The Bell is its heart and soul. Perhaps we could throw in eclectic and cosmopolitan there too. And, usually, crowded. Real ales flow freely, and there's live music three days of the week. If you like loud and seriously good music, try this place for bands, the bass is gravity, the drums are solid ground and the guitar, organ and guests give an atmosphere that we live to breathe. The place has a bar billiards table, an absolute rarity plus an outside courtyard that gets seriously packed on summer evenings, a games room, chess and good company of all ages and inclinations.

Inside The Curfew, visitors will find a wooden paneled bar with a heavily beamed ceiling, fresh flowers on every table and lighted candles in the evening, a selection of daily newspapers, enough dictionaries to solve the most obscure crossword puzzle, good beer, and a warm welcome. Chess, cribbage, dominoes, monopoly, jenga and other games are available, plus a good selection of reasonably priced home-cooked food from lunchtimes until 9p. Watch out for the doorstep sandwiches that could choke a horse. All this and a proper roast lunch on Sundays. Upstairs is a pool table, a large screen TV for sports and four large sofas, which make for comfortable viewing. Outside at the rear, there's a sunny south-facing patio with more flowers and tables.

At the top of Lansdown Road on the way to Bath racetrack (for horses), this large pub has possibly the best view in the city. Situated almost on the site of the major civil war site of the Battle of Lansdown, on a clear day visitors can just about make out Roundway Hill, just outside Devizes, where Cromwell's lot got beaten again; lots of Royalists around Bath, then and now. There's a lovely garden here with tree covered lawns, and if it's raining there's a huge conservatory too so you can still admire the view. With plenty of food and drink available here, a couple of cozy bars and an air of slightly faded gentility, this is an ideal spot for viewing the world through rose-tinted spectacles.

The Apple is a unique cider bar & brewery located in the heart of old town Bristol. Originally a Dutch barge, this charming pub sits on the Bristol Quay and offers a warm atmosphere and stunning views of the surrounding area. The bar itself has over 40 different types of cider ranging from traditional apple to pear and strawberry variations. A menu of local British cuisine is also available. The staff is extremely friendly and always offer suggestions and complimentary samples to newcomers. A young and hip crowd can be found rubbing elbows here, but the ambiance is inviting and everyone is welcome to join the party.