Bristol Nightlife Tips by illumina

The Hatchet: Quaint by day, rockin' by night!

The Hatchet pub is one of the oldest pubs in Bristol, as it has been licensed since 1606. Prior to that, it was Frogmore Farm and Monastery, giving it's name to the street in which it stands. It is thought that Clifton Wood once crept right down to the edge of the Frog Moor, and that the Inn was a favourite meeting place of the woodcutters, and that it is from this association that the Inn takes its name.

The pub was kept by the Loveridge family for over a century, until 1934 when Miss Susan Loveridge sold it to the brewers Trueman, Handbury and Buxton.

It is noted for it's history of sportsmen, and a boxing ring was once set up at the rear of the pub. Jem Belcher, Tom Cribb and Tom Sayers, all champions of England in the 'bare-knuckles' days fought and trained here in the 19th century. There was also a Cockfighting ring during the 18th century, and rat-catching was apparently a popular pastime then!

During the day it's a nice, oldy-worldy kind of pub to have a quiet drink and some food; in the evening it becomes the hang-out of Bristols' goths and rockers, probably drawn by the proximity of the Academy, and the fact that regular club nights are held in the rooms upstairs. There's a shady garden out the back for smokers and when it's sunny!

Local legend has it that the 300 year old front door has human skin under the layers of tar!

(Unfortunately these photos were taken in 2007, and the decor has changed somewhat since)

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.thehatchet.co.uk/