The Beehive

Nestled in peaceful leafy surroundings, yet only a minute’s walk from vibrant Gloucester Road; The Beehive is perfectly situated for the local community and for foodies venturing off the beaten path to discover more of the city’s culinary gems. 

There has been a pub on the site since 1871, and The Beehive continues to be a north Bristol institution today. It has been under new management since 2014, and the team has done a sterling job maintaining the comfortable feel of a trusty, old-fashioned inn. Friendly and ever-helpful staff make visitors feel welcome and at home as soon as they step through the door, and offer an exciting and wide-ranging menu. 

A cosy bar, adjacent to the well-sized dining area, is the perfect setting for a relaxed drink with friends or a quiet evening meal. We started our evening here, with a chilled-out drink and a perusal of the menu, before being shown to a delightful table in the window. Intrigued by the dessert special, which changes weekly, we both opted for the three-course set menu, along with a bottle of very reasonably priced house red wine. My partner’s starter of whitebait was light and tasty and my own chicken, bacon and Brie salad left us in no doubt of the kitchen team’s talent. We had asked for recommendations from our waiter for our main course, and we were well directed. A succulent, perfectly rare steak with vine tomatoes and all the trimmings was devoured with relish across the table, and my beautifully slow-cooked lamb was melt-in-the-mouth delicious. Leisurely sipping our wine, we paused before dessert to really take in our surroundings and clocked a secret garden and courtyard that we’ll definitely be returning to discover in the summer. Our dessert was divine. Creamy, sweet strawberry and vanilla cheesecake rounded our evening off brilliantly. 

It’s clear that this community pub is well loved as it was bustling with diners on our visit and there’s plenty going on. Locals stop by for the deals, such as early-bird menus and Tuesday seniors’ menus, and newbies come here to discover a new favourite. It would be a great venue for a birthday or wedding celebration, especially in the warmer weather when you can make use of the outside space, and there’s plenty of off-street parking.