Bristol / Bath and the surrounding area

[Tal]

Mr T and I are thinking about going for a long weekend break at Bath next month. I was told by someone at work that it's better to stay at Bristol as the "night life" are better and accommodation is cheaper. Does anyone know if this is true? And more importantly, does anyone have any recommendations for places to go out to in Bristol? A short google search came up with the usual "LGBT" places but a local point of view is obviously better...

[Agnetha]

Aren't you too old to care for LOCAL NIGHT LIFE?

I mean I AM, so why AREN'T YOU?

I mean you went to Colchester for a DAY TRIP.

I cannot help you with EITHER of those towns however.

[monsta]

I EXCLUSIVELY go to places with LGBT interests.

However I'm finding it all a bit restrictive at the moment. It's just all the same TIRED OLD FACES in Gran Canaria, Mykonos and Lagos.

[Diddy]

Lagos in Nigeria?

[monsta]

Lagos in Nigeria?

It has a fabulous scene.

[Agnetha]

He meant Lasgo, the Belgian techno act.

[Donna Winter]

Lagos near Berwick-upon-Tweed

[Alex]

Mr T and I are thinking about going for a long weekend break at Bath next month. I was told by someone at work that it's better to stay at Bristol as the "night life" are better and accommodation is cheaper. Does anyone know if this is true? And more importantly, does anyone have any recommendations for places to go out to in Bristol? A short google search came up with the usual "LGBT" places but a local point of view is obviously better...

Bristol will be cheaper yes and less full of Americans and Japanese.
I got a REALLY nice hotel very cheap on lastminute.com top secret hotels recently so give that a go.
Ask lolly ands Slave about the nightlife as i've not been on a night out there in an AGE.
Clifton in Bristol is v nice and if you are eating out there i'd recommend http://www.thecowshedbristol.com/ but it's a little more out of town i'm sure Lolly would have lots of fab recommendations for dining.

[Slave]

Bristol is definitely better from a nightlife point of view in terms of clubs and bars - depends what you're looking for, but there are much more diverse choices. Personally I think Bath is better as a day trip - it's dead easy to get there and back from Bristol (10 minutes on the train, direct buses).

If you're wanting to go LGBT in Bristol, Old Market has a few bars and clubs and there is a small little section of bars/clubs in the centre. Personally, I love the waterfront in Bristol - there are quite a few bars and restaurants there now in very small proximity to one another so you could easily stay around there until the early hours if you so wished.

[lolly]

Well I LIVE in Bristol, but I've not done the gay scene in an age. However I know plenty of people from Bath who moan about the nightlife (gay or straight) and prefer Bristol unreservedly in that respect. I think Bath may only have one gay pub, but again my knowledge is way out of date. Bristol has a lot more gay bars and a gay club (together with a sauna, if that floats your boat) in what is somewhat desperately claimed to be a gay village, but in reality is just a main road into the centre with no real identity.

Slave is better equipped to fill you in around nightlife and Bath specifically, but if there's anything else you want to know about Bristol, just let me know.

[Madison]

Go to the Isle of Man instead.

[lolly]

And yes, I'd agree it's better to stay in Bristol and day trip to Bath. Unless you're really into Jane Austen, anyway.

[Indie]

Go to Lundy Island

[Slave]

I wouldn't even BOTHER with the nightlife in Bath. The bars are expensive and generally close around midnight, and the clubs offer a very small range of music choices. I think Bristol is SO much better in that sense, before you even get onto the fact that most of the clubs there close at 4-6am compared to 2am in Bath.

[Agnetha]

I bet Tal won't go to Bath OR Bristol. A friends dad has HIT HIS FUNNY BONE.

[Tal]

Thanks people. Bristol it is then, with a day trip to Bath.

[Tal]

Well, I did go to Bristol and Bath and it was lovely! I'd wholly recommend the Bristol Bear Bar for a night out if you're in town

[lolly]

SERIOUSLY?

I mean I've never been, but struggled to think it was up to much.

[Tal]

SERIOUSLY?

I mean I've never been, but struggled to think it was up to much.

Well, it's nothing fancy - but they had good music, good looking and friendly staff and great atmosphere all around. Not everyone's cup to tea though, obviously. We also went to the Brass Pig (in Clifton?) for dinner and drinks before that and it was pretty good as well (though I imagine it becomes much more hen-night hell after they stop serving food).

[Slave]

The Bristol Bear Bar is alright, I used to go there (until the barman and my ex got engaged)

[lolly]

Well, it's nothing fancy - but they had good music, good looking and friendly staff and great atmosphere all around. Not everyone's cup to tea though, obviously. We also went to the Brass Pig (in Clifton?) for dinner and drinks before that and it was pretty good as well (though I imagine it becomes much more hen-night hell after they stop serving food).

I've not been to Brass Pig. It's fairly new I think, as it used to be a branch of La Tasca. But yes, looking at where it is I imagine it would be pretty much as you imagined.