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Heritage Pub

Nova Scotia, Bristol

1 Nova Scotia Place, Hotwells, Bristol, BS1 6XJ (View on Google Map)
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Waterside pub situated, since 1811, where the Bristol Docks meet the Avon Gorge. The single bar serves a small lounge area, a more basic strip by the bar, and the 'Captain's Room' behind a Victorian screen. Upstairs is a function room. There are a number of trestle tables situated outside on the wharf. Serves a range of sandwiches and fresh cooked food. No Food Sunday evenings. The pub features in the CAMRA Heritage Pubs of the South-West book.

Historic Interest

The pub features in the CAMRA Heritage Pubs of the South-West book.

Information for this venue is provided by the Bristol & District Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
City of Bristol (B)
Last updated
08/01/2024
Last surveyed
02/02/2023
Pub ID
AVN/219
Asset of Community Value

Two star - A pub interior of very special national historic interest

Listed status: II

A late-19th-century pub converted from a row of three terraced houses. It retains its mahogany bar-back fitting with a door to an office in the middle – imaginative legend says it was made for a ship but didn’t fit so was installed here instead. However, the remarkable survivor here is the Victorian low screen, attached to the ceiling with an iron stay, situated to the right of the public bar. This creates the small snug known as the Captain’s Cabin with etched glass stating that in previous times it was a ‘Private Bar’. Old bench seating is attached to panelled walls throughout the pub. The area on the left was once a separate room.

General information about historic pub interiors

Early 19th century row of three terraced house converted into a pub in the late 19th century.

It still retains its splendid original mahogany bar back in two sections - a large one on the left, small one on the right with a door to an office between them. Note the slender rounded edge mirrored panels running across the top and down the edges. The back fitting has a maker's label hidden behind the clock, 'Parnall's', a firm that fitted out boats. Legend has it that the bar back was made for a ship (liner?) but it didn't fit and was installed here instead!

Also retains its original bar counter with decorative brackets, all from the late Victorian times. The remarkable survivor here is the Victorian low screen which is attached to the ceiling with an iron stay situated to the right of the public bar. It creates the small snug known as the Captain's Cabin with its 'Private Bar' etched and frosted panels, which also appears in the twin entrance doors. One of the 4 panels is a transfer - can you work out which one?

Possibly before the 1920s there was no counter in the private bar as the small curved one is different in style to the main bar counter. There is bench seating attached to a dado of tongue and groove panelling throughout the pub - some, notably in the public bar and on the back wall, may date from the 1920s rather than Victorian times. On the far left is a small area that would have been a separate room in the past. Note the wooden shutters on the exterior windows.

General information about historic pub interiors
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Opening
Food
Monday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Noon - 2:30pm & 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Tuesday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Noon - 2:30pm & 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Wednesday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Noon - 2:30pm & 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Thursday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Noon - 2:30pm & 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Friday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Noon - 2:30pm & 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Saturday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Noon - 2:30pm & 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Sunday
Noon - 10:30pm
Noon - 4:00pm
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Current beers

This Pub serves 1 changing beer and 3 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen

Nova Scotia, Bristol

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Facilities
Lunchtime Meals Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals Evening Meals
Not Sunday
Garden Garden
Trestle tables on the wharf.
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Function Room Function Room
Separate Bar Separate Bar
Features
Real Ale Real Ale
Real Cider Real Cider
Real Heritage Pub Real Heritage Pub
Transport
Closest station (1800m)
Parson Street
Are these pub facilities or features correct? Let us know

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