Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Entertainment
Robin Murray

The Clifton pub which hosts live entertainment every night of the week

Bristol is a thriving city which welcomes plenty of fun-filled events and live entertainment, but there are areas within the city more renowned for their exuberant nature than others.

While Clifton Village has many strings to its bow, you could argue it's somewhat lacking in terms of its entertainment offering.

Of course, it's home to some fantastic restaurants and cracking traditional boozers - not to mention the fact it's one of the city's prettiest areas - but you're better off heading elsewhere if you want to catch some live music, comedy or magic.

But there is one pub which bucks the trend in the swanky area, and it does so in style.

Inside The Bristol Fringe (Michael Lloyd Photography)

The Bristol Fringe doesn't just host the odd spot of live entertainment here and there, it does so every night of the week, with top acts entertaining customers.

It's headed up by Sylvie Dagallier, who used to run the Illusions Magic Bar on the Clifton Triangle and its sister site in Manchester.

"It's so important Bristol has places which host regular live entertainment like us, especially at a time when too many venues are closing down for various reasons," said the 41-year-old.

"There are quite a few generic chain pubs out there these days but my favourite thing about this place is that we host such a wide variety of live entertainment.

Singer JanE.B at The Bristol Fringe (Michael Lloyd Photography)

"The broad mix of events in turn means we get a wide range of people in here, from the older locals to students and everyone in between, which is something I really love about the place.

"I'd say we're a bit of an all-in-one pub which people can enjoy either as a decent local or as a venue for live entertainment."

Find gigs near you:

The pub is well reviewed online with people praising its atmosphere, staff and range of live music. One visitor dubbed it 'one of Bristol's best kept secrets'.

A hub for jazz

The Bristol Fringe attracts bands or various different genre but it has predominantly become a hub for jazz music.

It regularly hosts renowned jazz artist James Morton and other top touring acts from the genre, drawing people from far and wide.

The pub has a cosy feel (Michael Lloyd Photography)

Many of the live music nights at the pub are free to attend and it also hosts jamming sessions for budding musicians to show off their talents.

"While we are well known in the jazz community, we like to showcase different types of music," added Sylvie.

"We recently launched a monthly hip hop night at the pub which has gone down really and is a lot of fun. It's amazing hearing what lyrics the performers come up with."

Not just about the entertainment

Clifton residents will no doubt tell you that The Bristol Fringe is also just a decent local - one worth visiting even when there's nobody performing on stage.

You can always expect to find a decent atmosphere in there and it has a quaint, cosy decor which lends itself to the colder months.

In terms of drinks the bar serves the likes of Birra Moretti, Guinness, Thatchers, Doombar, Pedigree and Old Rosie.

While it doesn't serve food on a day-to-day basis, it does host a monthly galette (that's delicious pancakes to you and me) night where Sylvie brings the flavours of her native France to Clifton.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.