As Isambard Kingdom Brunel gazed down disapprovingly from a portrait on the wall, I tucked into the Wetherspoon's festive dinner with gusto, momentarily forgetting we’ve still got more than two weeks until Father Christmas dusts off his sleigh.
The meal was purchased for a very reasonable sum, coming in at £9.75 for turkey and vegetables, plus a pint.
With a glass of Winter Melody pale ale to one side, I studied the contents of my plate.
Thankfully, the ‘stuffed turkey breast and winter vegetables’ dish contained few surprises.
I was served two slices of turkey with stuffing, two carrots (although one was very small), mashed potato, parsnip, peas, cranberry sauce, gravy and two pigs-in-blankets.
While nothing quite reached the heights of ‘delicious’, Corn Street’s Commercial Rooms has never claimed to offer Michelin-star fare.
However, if what you’re seeking is a cheap, unfussy and inoffensive lining of the stomach, then the pub’s festive grub will get you sorted.
Mind you, there was in fact one true disappointment - namely, the astonishing fact that the pigs-in-blankets possessed no blankets.
Blanketless pigs. Quiltless hogs. Naked swine. Whatever you wish to call them, their effect was akin to finding two little lumps of coal in your otherwise bountiful Christmas stocking.
It took a heroic swig of ale for me to muster the strength to overcome this blow, but ultimately I dutifully marched on and wiped the plate clean.
Overall, then, Wetherspoon’s festive food can be declared to be broadly satisfying.
In many ways, though, the appeal of such a visit is the opportunity to spend an hour or two in the company of friends, without your wallet taking a pounding in the process.
Even at 2.45pm on a Thursday, at the time of my appearance, the popularity of the place was plain to see - dozens of customers filled more than 25 tables, all neatly arranged within the luxurious interior of the building.
And therein lies another reason for the pub’s success - the beauty of the surroundings.
On the walls, alongside Brunel, a number of grand portraits loom large over the clientele, while huge plaques list the names of former presidents, treasurers and secretaries of Bristol Commercial Rooms, in existence from 1811-1981.
But the most impressive feature is undoubtedly the beautiful glass roof, a sight which leaves quite the impression on first-time visitors.
Amid such splendour, dishes of any standard are almost elevated several notches, the food seeming to bask in the glow of the architecture.
Then again, there’s always the risk that the strong natural light will only serve to illuminate the wretched sight of pigs with no blankets…
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