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A Quirky Afternoon in Bristol

19/2/2017

19 Comments

 
PictureBristol Coat of Arms
I was born and grew up in Bristol but moved to Gloucester fifteen years ago, however from time to time, I am still drawn to my hometown and like to try new things as a “foreigner”.

​In the run up to leaving the UK to begin my nomadic lifestyle, I decided to visit a couple of places I had wanted to see but hadn’t quite yet ventured to.

But where is Bristol and what did I want to visit?

It’s the largest City in the South West of England 120 miles from London. It’s been a wealthy trading port since the Roman era, in fact Bristol is known in some circles as “the “Birthplace of America”. Really? Yes apparently John Cabot sailed from here to help “discover” North America in 1497 and was funded mainly by Richard Amerike, a wealthy businessman and Sheriff of Bristol, who some believe America was named after.

From the late 1600s to the early 1800s, Bristol was a massive slave shipping industry and on another note, the infamous pirate Captain Blackbeard’s original birthplace and childhood home still stands on Bristol's harbour side.

But enough of pirates and slavery, Bristol today is known as a bustling multicultural City and is the only UK city to have won the title European Green Capital for 2015.

However it wasn’t this history I wanted to see before I left.

​Lunch in an old bank

I read an article about a former bank now re-opened as a restaurant – The Cosy Club at 31 Corn Street. Corn Street “back in the day” was the banking district of Bristol so a lot of the pubs and establishments have high ceilings and beautiful artwork, so the Cosy Club intrigued me.

We hadn’t booked a table, but there was no problem rocking up Saturday lunchtime and finding a seat in a cosy corner, at the back of this stunning restaurant.

The interior didn’t disappoint. The Grade II listed building boasts a domed ceiling as high as a cathedral, a big open space with elaborate chandeliers, decorated plaster cornicing and a brass bar that looked more like a counter at a millionaire’s private bank than one to serve alcohol!
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​We didn’t plan to stay for two hours but felt relaxed and were enjoying ourselves ...  so ordered another drink! The food was delicious; they were sampling a new menu and I tried the Thai Veggie burger with sweet potato fries – ooooo yum scrum, and the salted caramel cheesecake was to die for!
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If you are looking for something a little bit different then you should check this place out!
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Enjoying a few Bristolian sights

A 10 minute walk from Corn Street, past the infamous Bristol Hippodrome is College Green, a relaxed open space where you can find Bristol Cathedral, founded in 1140. This Grade I listed building has tall Gothic windows and it was here in 1994 that the first 32 women were ordained as Church of England priests – history was made here!
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Walk up a rather steep Park Street to the top and you will find a lovely building where the University of Bristol is situated on Clifton Triangle. 
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The University of Bristol on Clifton Triangle

​Take a left at the Triangle down Jacobs Wells Road and it will take you to Hotwells… the next stop on my quirky adventure.

Enjoying a drink in a cat pub

I had read about a pub where cats live and are happy to sleep amongst the supping punters – I needed to drink there! The Bag O’Nails in Hotwells is a small establishment and as soon as we walked in we saw two sleeping moggies minding their own business on the bar – Puuuuurfect!! 
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During our time there, we discovered that this bar is much more than just somewhere to drink and smooth the kitties (“smooth” is a Bristolian localism for stroking an animal), there is a record player with around 300 vinyl albums to choose from, games at the bar for all to play, plenty of cask ales to order plus enough quirky decor and wall art to keep you looking and laughing for hours!
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To read more about this awesome place, check out my blog Cat Cafe Comparison (although please note, this isn’t anything like a cat cafe, it’s a classic old-school pub where cats happen to live).

Swing by the suspension Bridge

One of Bristol’s most famous landmarks is the Clifton Suspension Bridge and at night, it is spectacular. Spanning the picturesque Avon Gorge, you can walk or drive across the 150 year old Grade 1 listed structure and head towards the Ashton Court estate where the grounds are turned into a festival every year to launch balloons…
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Nightglow at the Balloon Fiesta

... As mentioned above, Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is held on the first weekend in August every year and entry is FREE (if you are arriving by car, parking charges do apply). Bristol is host to one of the world’s biggest displays of mass balloon ascent with around 150 participants and ½ a million spectators! Oh yes, arrive early to avoid crowds but it is totally worth it.
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​There is plenty to do during the day with fairground rides, trade stands and if it’s a nice day you can have a picnic with the family. The Red Arrows (Britain’s famous aerobatic display team) always dazzle the crowds with their amazing formations and manoeuvres – well worth watching if you haven’t seen them before!
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I love returning to Bristol, there are always new and unusual places to visit and something is always going on whether it be food festivals or St Paul’s African Caribbean carnival in summer or German Christmas markets in winter – brilliant!

Have you been to anywhere quirky or unusual in Bristol that you would like to share? Let us know, we would love to hear about it!
Disclaimer: This post contains some affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, it won't cost you any extra, the small commission we may earn will help support the FeetDoTravel community.
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​Book your Bristol trip, weekend break or any holiday hotel through our website. We always use Booking.com, and are proud to have a partnership with them. Click on the icon and search as normal.

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​This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity and download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.

If you like this post, please Pin and Share it !!
How many attractions have you visited in your own home town? If you were to leave your home town would what would you like to experience before you left? See what FeetDoTravel simply had to see before leaving their home town of Bristol
Check out these related posts on England!

My London Bucket List
Cat Cafe Comparison
​The Historic City of Nottingham
Cheese Rolling Anyone?
Top 5 UK Food Festivals To Visit This Summer
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19 Comments
Agness of Fit Travelling link
28/2/2017 09:56:56 pm

Bristol is truly amazing, Angie! You had an amazing experience!

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Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler) link
3/3/2017 03:27:48 pm

Bristol looks amazing, old world, fun and a place I need to visit. The Ballon Festival caught my eye as a fun place to visit along with the Bank Restaurant and just walking through town. I pinned this for later use. Great photos and thanks for sharing :-0

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Jenn
4/3/2017 03:11:55 am

Bristol looks beautiful! I love that you went back and export it as a " foreigner". Sometimes I think it is so good to explore our own hometown's, either past or present, from an outsiders point of view. I also love that they had the balloon glow festival. My hometown also host that every summer and I look forward to it every year. Thanks for the lovely post with the great pictures it makes me want to go explore this area even more!

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Rob+Ann @TravelLatte(.net) link
4/3/2017 04:06:46 am

Somehow, that didn't seem all that quirky. In fact, it seemed really cool! We love balloon glows and mass ascensions, but didn't know there was such a big one in Bristol. We'll have to keep the time in mind when we plan our UK adventures. And the church and restaurant are beautiful - what great architecture! Thanks for showing us around your home town!

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Tracy link
4/3/2017 08:38:52 am

Going to check out the Cozy Club next time we are in Bristol!! That food looks amazing!!! There is a travel bookshop in Bristol I like visiting and I think I am due a visit back there soon!

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Simona link
4/3/2017 01:07:27 pm

Wow! I heard about Bristol, but I didn't knew that is such a beautiful place. The Cathedral is just wonderful, it reminded me of Barcelona Cathedral, there are in the same style. Plus, a restaurant in a former bank it is such an interesting place to have lunch. I am pinning this for later, Bristol is now one of the places I want to visit!

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Midori link
4/3/2017 01:57:02 pm

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!! Looks like the perfect plan for me! I'm really thinking on going on holidays to England and visit also the countryside! I would definitely include Bristol!

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Ava Meena link
4/3/2017 06:32:36 pm

Your food looks delicious and the venues are beautiful. Looks like a great (quirky) day!

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Scarlett Begonias link
4/3/2017 08:04:07 pm

I'm a sucker for old renovated buildings, and love the restaurant in the bank. One time I went to a spa renovated from a bank in South Florida. The old money vault was their laundry room. The architecture in Bristol looks incredible and the balloon fiesta looks magical, we will certainly be visiting one day :)

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Paul and Carole link
5/3/2017 12:29:29 am

Great post about Bristol, every year we say we must do the balloon festival but haven't so must! Our friends have found a really good campsite that they were telling us about so Bristol is our next Camper Van City Break. Thanks info will pin for later. #feetdotravel

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Travel Lexx link
5/3/2017 07:07:20 pm

I actually visited Bristol for the first time a couple of weeks back and really enjoyed wandering about its streets, seeing the suspension bridge and enjoying coffee in indie cafes. Definitely somewhere I want to come back to and enjoy the highlights you mention! Thanks for sharing

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Kreete link
8/3/2017 12:24:26 am

I'm loving that restaurant in the old bank building. The food looks amazing and the things I would do right now for this dessert lol! I was already intrigued by the cat pub when I read your post about the cat cafes and this reminded me of how much I would love spending time there. The architecture in the city looks magnificent and I loved learning more about the history too! I just wish I had ventured a bit more in the UK when I lived in London. There's always next time, right?

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Sandy N Vyjay link
8/3/2017 05:24:51 pm

You surely had a wonderful lunch. The night glow of the balloons looked stunning. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the Bristol cathedral. The architecture is majestic and truly splendid.

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Anna Schlaht link
9/3/2017 02:31:03 pm

Wow, Angie, Bristol sounds like a pretty cool place to be! This entire post has reminded me that I need to explore England more (I've only been to London, Cambridge, and Greenwich, and that was years ago). I'm frankly impressed at the different sorts of eating establishments the English have. Cat bars? Bank restaurants? I also remember eating in the basement of a church in London that had graves in the floor, so.... Haha. Mr. Nerd and I will be sure to check these all out whenever I finally drag him to England. Cheers! :)

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Elisabeth Caraballo link
9/3/2017 04:08:00 pm

Bristol looks beautiful and looks like such a fun place to visit! I'll have to put it on my list of places to visit. Also, great pictures! Thank you for sharing!:)

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ThriftyTrails link
10/3/2017 03:56:11 am

The Balloon Fiesta and the bank turned restaurant look so neat! I have not been to Bristol but it looks gorgeous. I also enjoy being a tourist in my own town once in a while. Nothing wrong with that :)

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Jen link
10/3/2017 05:14:45 pm

The sights look fantastic! The bank-turned-retaurant is an interesting part of the itinerary and I would love to experience that too. Witnessing a Balloon Fiesta is in my bucketlist!! Your trip is something I would very much enjoy!

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Jo link
10/3/2017 06:41:42 pm

A lot of my favourites here! You had a great day out. Love the cat in the pub!

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David link
13/3/2017 10:29:20 am

I'd honestly never heard of anything about Bristol other than maybe the accent? Actually looks like a fun place to visit, especially the balloons. Love the photo of the colourful sky over the Cathedral by the way, what a sky! Always good being a "foreigner" in your home town ;)

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