A mum told a jury a man attacked her when she went to a pub for a Christmas drink.
Denise Williams said she went to the Criterion in St Paul's, where she was approached by Stephen Sawyers.
She said she sensed he was coming for her before he raised his hand and she heard the distinctive click of a rachet knife.
And she told Bristol Crown Court as she defended herself she was slashed in the hand, fell to the floor, and was then stabbed to the head.
Sawyers, 52, of All Foxton Road in Eastville, denies wounding with intent, GBH and having an offensive weapon in December last year.
Miss Williams told the jury she went to the Criterion between 1am and 1.30am and chatted to a friend.
She described how Sawyers, who she knew, came up to her, swore, telling her he was not in a very good mood.
She told the court: "He lifted his hand up.
"He attacked me."
Miss Williams said the force of the attack caused her to fall to the floor.
She said: "On the floor he continued attacking me.
"I got a slash in my chest and cuts to my head.
"I did not even know I was injured that badly.
"I came out, I walked across the road and I got a taxi.
"I was going home to my kids."
Miss Williams said that, when she got home, she realised she had sustained serious injuries and her son called an ambulance.
She then received hospital treatment and needed ten stitches in her hand, the court heard.
Miss Williams told the jury: "What he (Sawyers) done was a big liberty.
"I didn't want on the dirty floor of the Criterion."
Sawyers told police he had no contact with Miss Williams.
The case continues.
