The Albion in Bristol, City of

After a terrible greeting at the Somerset House pub, we were fortunate to land at the Albion. I haven’t been here for a few years but found it absolutely buzzing and a great start to the evening. Decent selection of beers, wines and spirits with lots of people serving, so even though the pub was fairly full, it was no trouble to get served. The pub itself is in really good nick and hasn’t changed much from my youth - in a good way. Will definitely recommend and look to return.

Decepcionado y decepcionado. Como grupo de amigos de trabajo siempre hemos hecho del Albion una de nuestras paradas para cenar cuando estamos trabajando juntos en el área local y en el pasado hemos tenido algunas excelentes comidas y noches. Anoche estábamos emocionados de volver. Qué decepción MASIVA. Esperamos durante más de una hora y 45 minutos para que nuestra comida llegara con muy pocas disculpas del personal cuando finalmente lo hizo. Durante la espera, a pesar de que contamos con 12 miembros del personal de pie detrás de la barra charlando entre sí, ni una vez nos preguntaron si nos gusta alguna bebida a pesar de que nos habían dicho que era servicio de mesa a su llegada. En el pasado la comida ha sido fantástica, así que esperábamos que valiera la pena la espera. Lamentablemente nos iban a defraudar ya que era mediocre en el mejor de los casos. El lomo de cerdo estaba seco y poco inspirador, el bistec estaba bien, pero un medio tomate crudo y una docena de papas fritas realmente no me trajeron una sonrisa a la cara. Cuando todo se mencionó cuando la factura finalmente llegó no se ofreció ninguna oferta de compensación, solo alguna excusa sobre nuestro pedido posiblemente se perdió en la cocina. Huelga decir que no volveremos en el corto plazo.

This was the best roast dinner (roast beef) I've had in all my life. I've had a few in my nearly 28 years and have a massive fondness for the traditional Sunday roast. I've tried many during my 4 years living in Bristol and this was, by thousands of miles, the most delicious, well portioned and visually appealing. Eating it was an emotional experience as, even after a few bites, I knew it was among the best meals I've ever eaten, which I repeatedly stated to my girlfriend, to the sniggering of the other punters seated near us, but I didn't care. I really hope the waiter passed on this message of adoration to the kitchen, but just incase, I hope this review reaches them. The best part about the roast were the best parts of any roast, just done better than any other. The Yorkshire potatoes had a little bit of crunch around the edges but perfectly silky and chewy at the bottom. The beef was perfectly tender and served in abundance. The potatoes were seasoned perfectly and such great texture. Very indulgent. And what I loved about it so much was the lack of any gimmicks or frills. Just a beautiful traditional roast dinner. I love this pub so much. Geographically, it's a hidden gem, but it's exceptional reputation is well earned and doesn't even do it justice. The experience of going there, particularly in the colder months, is second to none. The log burners are always lit, it's always so cosily lit and decorated at any time of day. And their trusting open-door policy for dogs means there are some very interesting canine locals that you can always rely on being there. Not that I want to tempt fate or risk ruining a near perfect thing, but it would be nice to have another red or brown ale or two.

Terrible service, we were pushed into an overcrowded corner with little room to move although we had pre booked way in advance. We were also asked to vacate the table after just 50mins of being sat down which spoilt our evening.

We were after a main meal rather than just a sandwich and came across this pub tucked away down a little side street. We were given a warm welcome by the lady who seemed to be in charge. We sat near the fire and the pub was decorated for Christmas which added to the atmosphere. We ordered Calamari to share for a starter and then the burgers with extra blue cheese. She suggested we order their onion ring side which she said were amazing. All the food was very nicely cooked and presented. The fries were extra crispy and she was right, the onion rings were totally lush in a very light and crispy batter! All the staff were polite and friendly. It was quote busy and there was a nice atmosphere. We enjoyed our lunch and if we are in Bristol would go back. Thank you.

Lovely pub, great staff and food. Visited on both our days in Bristol. Well worth a visit.

Always a pleasure to visit The Albion, for food its the best pub in Clifton, have a great old pub feel, but good restaurant level food and service. And now its autumn its perfect. J

Warm and covivial space to meet up with friends and have a nice meal. Food was beautifully presented. Staff were attentive. The wood burning stove warming my back was an added bonus.

Nice little quaint pub tucked away near some nice markets and shops! Check it out if in the area 👍

Went on a Saturday evening. The place was very busy, and the bar team seemed very under pressure. Food was typical pub grub, lots of fried and deep fried options. We had booked a table in advance but it was occupied when we arrived and we had to wait while they moved the group of the table- awkward .

Went there on Wednesday had a lovely food Recommend the Katsu Chicken Really nice Pub and friendly staff

Amazing roast dinner and the Yorkshire puddings are huge! Nice pint and a log fire, perfect place for a Sunday afternoon!

A very nice place. There are some stoves in the fireplaces which look welcoming in the cold weather. Good service and nice food

Best Sunday Lunch + Yorkshire Pud, Best Sticky Toffee Pud, great staff makes for heartwarming cosy eating. ❤️

A great place for dinner. The steak (rump) was unbelievable. The mood was very friendly, with some very sweet dogs hanging out. It’s also nicely decorated for a pub. Even from the outside the lighting makes it pretty.

Brilliant 21st birthday dinner for my little sister. Staff made the evening very special with complimentary Prosecco AND dessert. Attentive waiter, Such a lovely atmosphere and very reasonably priced. Tasty food and cosy pub. Will definitely be visiting again when in Clifton!

We had fantastic food here last night. Even the simple side tomato on the steak was carefully considered and not just a throwaway. Our group mostly had the flat iron and rump steaks which were cooked to perfection. The sauces to go with them were excellent, especially the peppercorn and garlic butter. The Reuben sandwich had a brilliant combination of flavours and our friend who has the panzanella salad said it was fresh and tasty. Desserts were also a real treat. The Bailey's affogato slightly offended the Italian in the group but was a delicious twist on the normal version. The salted caramel brownie really hit the spot. The staff were great, very friendly and the ambience was cosy and inviting - perfect for coming into autumn/winter. Definitely will be back for the fish nights and the incoming autumn menu!

It was alright. Only availible seating was outside, but there was table service.

Absolutely brilliant! Nothing bad to say whatsoever. Every single member of staff was happy, helpful and delightful.

We were a party of 9 people, 7 of whom were French, older people on an English speaking educational tour. Some with limited English! Nothing was to much trouble for the staff! They were friendly, patient, happy, interested in our group and how we knew each other, the food was great, atmosphere was fabulous, people were chatting to people on other tables, there was a game of cards going on (snap I think ) , it was a truly really enjoyable evening, made by the attitude of all the staff, but one person in particular. I didn’t get his name, but he was absolutely delightful! This pub is one of the free I have been in lately that I can say has got everything right, and won’t be closing soon through lack of customers

Change is not always good Been a regular here for many years. Loved the service style they implemented probably to the detriment of my wallet and my health. Now they have reverted back to at service. It’s lost the ease of sociability. Perhaps some market research would have been advisable or a willingness to accommodate both models of service outside. Currently looking for a new local

I am a local in Clifton for the last 35 years and I have frequently visited this establishment, meet friends, dine with my wife and really we call this place our local until now, there is a new management team who have not even engaged there locals who drink and eat there everyday, they have changed a successful food and drinks pub, now they seem to be focusing on wet sales, also they are closing earlier so the staff who work on the restaurants in Clifton have no where to go after the finish shift. On a positive, we will be saving a lot on money as we will no longer be eating and drinking in this establishment so much.

Having read many good reviews of The Albion, we were looking forward to our lunchtime visit last Saturday and our first impressions were good, - very friendly staff and a welcoming atmosphere. We sat down and ordered drinks and our food choices at the same time at around 1.30. From 2.15 onwards we started asking how much longer our food would be. Our waiter and another member of staff were continually apologetic and increasingly embarrassed, just saying the kitchen had been surprised by how busy it was. Incidentally it was quite busy but no more than one would expect at a weekend lunchtime. Our food finally appeared shortly before 3pm and even then was disappointing. The bacon in the BLTs was fatty and undercooked and my wife's Panzanella Salad comprised mainly green leaves and contained no tomatoes at all! (It was promoted as having "Isle of Wight Heritage Tomatoes"). By the time it came back again with a couple of chopped tomatoes added, we had to leave so the staff put it in a box for my wife to take with her. This is just pure speculation but my guess is the usual chef was not on duty and whoever took their place had very little experience or training. I should say that the front of house staff waived all charges for the food and in the circumstances could not have done anything more, - hence 2 stars rather than the 1 that would otherwise have been given. I sincerely hope this was a one-off experience that will not be allowed to happen again.

Absolutely amazing food. Had a late Sunday roast (pork). It was incredible, best roast I've ever had - each ingredient was so well done and tasted amazing. Service was incredible, all table service, which is often an inconvenience but the staff were so amazingly quick that it made you feel like you were being catered to directly, it was quicker and easier than standing at the bar.

A great relaxed place to chat and catch up with friends. Lovely, understanding service -when we’d ordered the wrong meal they fixed it for us very kindly.

Nice pub with a beer garden. Good choice of beers and the staff were really friendly.

Lovely venue, super friendly staff who are very dog friendly, water bowl and a couple of dog biscuits offered. Great human food and wine selection too!

I love the Albion! Been here for food a few times (and I’m gluten free) and it’s always lovely. The staff are really accommodating and the fairy lights inside are so cute. They have a lot of options to drink and average price for Clifton/more expensive then other places but the food is good. I’m gluten free - not celiac though - and they can do a few things gluten free which they can highlight if you ask. I shared 2 gluten free plates with my friend (I’m also pescatarian) so we had gluten free fish and chips which was lovely and gluten free grilled aubergine which was gorgeous. I’ll attach the menu that we had which was July 2024. We also had the vegan shared platter and it was gorgeous- the vegan chicken wings were lovely and very spicy! Really nice. Would recommend.

Stunning bar, table service, nice atmosphere

Lovely pub. Delicious food. Great atmosphere service. Our kids felt very welcome

This is now our favourite place to visit for a true Sunday lunch experience. The food is hard to fault and the service is on a par. Excellent tender meat cooked to perfection with a good selection of vegetables and gorgeous tasty gravy. It is busy and very informal, which we love and best of all it is not overpriced. Good solid value for money and long may they continue.

Lovely atmosphere and great food - I recommend the fish and chips and the Korean style pork

Very good experience, passing through for a weekend the dishes are very good and the products of good quality I highly recommend the fish & chips

I had the roast beef which was excellent - big portions, perfectly seasoned and cooked. All the trimmings were delicious and the Yorkshire puddings were huge. The attentive staff swiftly provide more gravy upon request. I had the sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream for dessert which was also very tasty, and also a very generous portion. The Albion is a little pricier than some roasts in Bristol, but I'd say it's well worth the extra few pounds.

Had a fantastic meal here recently. The chap serving was wonderful fun. The food was delicious, we had the steak - great! Neatly tucked away down a quiet alley. Definitely would go again. And dogs are welcome inside!

Lovely Sunday roast in here nice choice of drinks also.

Went for food tonight and it was bloody delicious 10/10 my steak was to die for but what made it even better was the amazing service special shout out to Freya super welcoming and chatted to us she was a ray of sunshine

Shocking! Ran out of classic burgers but could do a burger with cheese and bacon on top?!?! Burger was raw and cold. Steak came out on mixed grill and was like a black cube. Not the med/ rare that was requested. This was corrected however. Let down compared to the normal reliable grub we’ve had here.

We like coming here, it's always bustling and the staff are lovely. One of the dishes we ordered was the mushrooms on toast. It was £8 and was a tiny piece of sourdough with a few scattered mushrooms and a little garlic. I am amazed how they think this is an acceptable charge. Not sure whether I was given a very small portion or if this is infact the general size. Either way, totally unacceptable. Wish I had taken a photo to add to this review.

What a lovely surprise to visit this old favourite - outstanding service, great selection of drinks, lovely outside seating and doormen were delightful!

Great pub all round. Really friendly, attentive staff and excellent food. The table service creates an excellent atmosphere and is very efficient.

Great pub, one of the best in Bristol. I started going there when I was about 20, now I'm 58 and I still love it. When I started going out there in the 1980s it was a very trendy, young, pre-night club pub. Great place to go in the summer. Now, it seems a bit more sedate, but still hasn't lost its charm. Brilliant memories flood back!

Such a lovely pub, with lovely people working there, but man, the Sunday lunch servings are so, so small. I’m not a lover of a massive meal, and I hate feeling ridiculously full after a roast, but this meal left me still hungry. We’re talking about a few extra veggies and perhaps a potato; it costs you as a business next to nothing, but would make your customers a whole lot happier.

Good food and Excellent service

Great pub just off the main drag. Dog friendly and good food and beers.

This is not a pub - it's a restaurant with table service and you might get allocated somewhere to sit if you just want a drink. The staff were nice enough but we didn't get a menu, so someone came over to take our order, then we had to go to the bar to see what taps they had then sit back down again to tell them. Overall it's really annoying and spoils the vibe of a pub. It's very expensive too - £6.80 for an IPA. There is a small mercy in that they don't add service charge to the bill but I felt like I paid it anyway in the cost of the drink.

A lovely old pub in the heart of Clifton that was a spit and sawdust boozer when I was a student and is now a very classy boozer indeed. A lovely little courtyard if the sun is shining and an atmospheric interior if the weather isn’t so kind. Not cheap but a treat!

Off the main beat in a tucked away part of Clifton hides this gem of a pub. We had reserved a table for lunch as we were on a schedule. Warm welcome from the team. Cosy feel with seating outside if wanted. Good choice on the menu and the food was delicious. I ordered the cheese and pickle sandwich which is served on a ciabatta roll and served with salad and fries. Good selection of beverages.

Fantastic pub in the heart of Clifton

Always a great time, I can’t recommend this pub enough! It’s a vibey and cozy ambiance. The staff are so friendly & attentive. The Monday steak night is a particular favourite, it’s always delicious and the sticky toffee is one of the best I’ve had! Thanks guys!

Apparently according to the door staff it's a restaurant rather than a pub, book a table or don't both!

Good, Cornish themed, pub hidden away down an alley in Clifton Village. Unlike most pubs, it's seated and table service only - which you will either love or hate. The food (I had a Korean pork chop) was decent enough.

Warm and lovely place. Very good food. Staff is professional and welcoming.

Table service only for drinks as well as food which at first we thought was pretentious but on reflection it may be one of the positives that has come out of Covid. It means drinkers aren't standing around getting in the space of those eating at tables, everyone has to sit at tables, so the space is well-managed. When the tables are all taken, no-one else is allowed in. So while it may not appeal to those who like to breast the bar nursing a pint, it may be the civilised way forward.

The food was great, as was the service. Will be back!

We used the private space upstairs for some drinks after our wedding ceremony. Service was perfect, with drinks waiting for us upon arrival and never having to worry about getting another order in. 10/10 - thank you for making our special day even better.

As a Bristolian, I have been going to this pub since 1965 & have seen it in many guises & makeovers & the good atmosphere has always suited its location. However, in the last 3 years we’ve seen a gradual decline in the food standards & also portion sizes & choice of veg. Our visit today as a group of 11 resulted in the pub refunding 4 of the meals due to; 1, very chewy/tough beef (good portion though!). 2, Bland nut roast. 3, v small lamb shank. 3, Bland gravy. 4, when serving a dish of veg you expect more than 2 carrots & undercooked white cabbage! (They did give us a free sharing platter that was very good)! 3 years ago I complained to the manager about the lack of cleaning in the Gents & the fact that you can smell them as you climb the stairs to the first floor. I was told by the manager, that it was due to maintenance issues!! Last year & also today was the same & the women in our party said theirs also suffered from a lack of cleaning. This is not what you would expect when paying top dollar for eating here. Has to be said that all staff are very polite & eager to help. But after this last experience, the management are clearly not listening & acting on all the recent valid reviews & sadly, it will be our last visit to this iconic Bristol pub! Shame, as so many others are working hard to get & keep loyal customers & the problems I’ve outlined are easily & cheaply fixed! The current manager/management needs to act now to restore its reputation!

Smallest, overpriced Sunday lunch in Bristol. £21 for beef, 2 carrots, mouthful of cauliflower cheese and cabbage. Massive tasteless Yorkshire pudding and 2 random deep fried potato balls. Lack of seasoning all round. Do yourself a favour and go anywhere else but here.

Lovely, cosy pub. There was a bit of a wait with our food but the staff were attentive and the service was great, so we would definitely visit again.

Nice neighbourhood pub with heated outdoor seating. Excellent, friendly staff. Table service only, which some people find annoying (I personally don't enjoy queuing, so it's a plus in my books). Food is only so-so, though, and a bit expensive for pub grub - I'd recommend going somewhere else if you want to eat, since there are plenty of good options nearby.

A great pub. I do miss the red carpet and juke box from the late 90s though.

Just popped in for a glass of wine. Great staff! Good wine list

We love The Albion! A visitor since I was 19! The food..especially Sunday lunch is superb! Yesterday however things were not as good..but... the staff were amazing in correcting! Amazing service and generous outcomes! Thank you so much. We will obviously return!!

Lovely comfy english pub full of atmosphere, great food and drinks

Nice pub, a bit more fancy than some! Not sure I'm a fan of table service only though, ended up going up to the bar to see which ales they had which defeated the table service a little

What a lovely find. Great customer service, far beyond what you'd expect in a pub, two log fires, dog friendly, delicious food (we had sandwiches - BLT and fish goujons, both with salad and fries) excellent value, nice selection of beers. Will definitely visit again.

A country pub vibe in the middle of the city

Superb place for drinks, staff are also very friendly .

My pie and mash were very bland - I’m pretty sure the gravy was Bisto. I wouldn’t take guests here again for food. The beer was fine.

Make this location your restaurant of choice. Just the menu you would like. Good quality food at a reasonable price. Very helpful and friendly staff. We will be back.

Fantastic pub in the heart of clifton great atmosphere and service didn't have any food but I'm told they serve an amazing Sunday lunch

pretty classy place, nice roast, good vibes

Absolutely great spot for a nice classic, upmarket pub feel. Went for drinks on a Saturday evening and had a wonderful cosy vibe. Great place to take the parents. Update: Went here and took the parents for a Saturday dinner at 4pm. Wow. It was rammed but they could still accommodate a table of 10 of us on a short notice. It was a cold winters day and they had a fire going and very cosy. The food was absolutely delicious. One of the best dinners I have had all year. Will definitely be returning.

When is a pub not a pub? When it’s the Albion. We were greeted at the door & shown to a table, which was unexpected. It turns out that you can’t buy drinks at the bar, as it’s table service only. Not the most exciting selection of drinks to choose from. It isn’t a bad place, but certainly shouldn’t be calling itself a pub, as it caters mainly for diners & you can’t stand, or go to the bar. Shame as it used to be a nice, lively pub.

An unusual start to the evening, on arrival, we were stopped by the security guard and asked whether we had a booking. We did and the demeanor changed. I don't know what would have happened if we hadn't had a booking. Pleasant pub with friendly service. A typical gastro pub menu, with something for everyone. We enjoyed a cheese and charcuterie platter and my brother in law a burger, which he said was really good. Good selection of wine by the glass and lots of beers available. Our Schnauzer cross was also made very welcome with water and treats. The terrace area where the friendly security guard lurks, looks a lovely spot for a drink in the summer.

Perfect city back street boozer with well kept ale, plentiful gin and other spirit options and no noisy distractions. My spiritual home. (Eat before you travel or snack at leisure.)

Cosy atmosphere, plenty of spacing indoor and outdoors. Looking for a relaxing place to go for a few drinks, look no further.

Great cosy atmosphere for drinks, love that it’s table service.. (the door upstairs could do with some padding to stop it banging tho)

Remember when this used to be a pub? Now bookings/table service only - need to update their description to reflect that they’re no longer a public house. Another boozer lost from Clifton village, so don’t waste your time.

Asked at the bar if I could order food and drink whilst sitting outside. Told yes and told it was table service, but they would take drinks order whilst I was there and it would be delivered to table... Drink never turned up so I left... Was planning to order food but went somewhere else. Happy Christmas 🎄

Food was lovely, but Tanvir’s service was excellent! Went above and beyond for us!

Got told were "more of a restaurant than a bar" can't have a drink. Awful bar, be begging for customers come January. Never again

One of my favourite places in Clifton Great Atmosphere and a very warm welcome Food is always amazing Staff go out of their way to accommodate you and go Above and beyond with service Dog friendly ❤️

Warm, welcoming pub, always served straight away. Only gripe is it is table service as I like to have a good scan of the beers available, but that's my personal preference and it does work well for the bar and ambience.

I stopped in for Sunday lunch with my son who I was visiting in Bristol. I'd called ahead to book a table, which was necessary as it seems very popular. We both had traditional Sunday Roast; one chicken and one pork. Both meals were excellent and our waitress was very friendly and attentive. I'll definitely go again when next in the area. There were 2 nice log burners operating in the pub which gave it a lovely homely feel. Thoroughly recommended.

I ordered scampi. Cod and chips arrived with husband’s bavette (onglet originally ordered was off). Batter undercooked, needed at least another 1-2 mins in hot oil, steak v good. Fish knocked off bill. Lovely pub, great atmosphere, shame about the fish.

Delicious food, very kind and helpful staff and a fab atmosphere.

Not a pub. Can’t order a drink at the bar.

The food was not up to scratch to be totally honest. Steak was really chewy, calamari batter was damp, the steak sauce was quite cold. £5 coleslaw was literally a small cabbage salad. The chicken burger my wife had was over cooked. A nice place for a drink but I’d never eat there again

We stopped here for a bite to eat after visiting the impressive Clifton suspension bridge and were not disappointed. Great food, great service, great pub! Keep up the good work!

Vegan steak OMG! Five stars and amazing service

Omg you have to try the calamaris! Just amazing! ❤️

Great atmosphere. Me and a friend met up for lunch. My vegan burger was delicious. Service was great. Would definitely go again.

Lovely pub atmosphere with stunning food and a great monday night steak deal

We were greeted by a lovely security guard who helped us find a seat. The atmosphere at night was lovely but only gets 4 out of 5 stars due to an untasteful amount of fairy lights. The biggest issue was the chocolate brownie dessert. It was in fact not a brownie but a chocolate cake, which was incredibly dry and served without sauce. I expected more for £7.50. Never again.

Good food and service. Fun place to spend an evening

Wonderful place and evidently quite popular. The service was exceptionally polite and attentive, even though the pub was quite crowded. What was interesting was that many clients were accompanied by dogs, making it a pet-friendly place. The food was perfect, although there was a slight delay with one dish. It didn't bother us, and we didn't feel the need to complain, but the pub covered the cost of that dish. Highly recommended.

We went to the Albion to try their fish and chips and we were not disappointed!!. The atmosphere was great and our server was excellent. Definitely recommend if you're in the Bristol area and need to grab a bite to eat.

Visited for a Sunday roast dinner and have to say it was absolutely stunning. Between us on the table we had the roast beef and the pork. Both served with roast potatoes, large Yorkshire and veg (carrots, cabbage & cauliflower cheese). We also had a separate plate of crackling with apple sauce. The cost is approx £22 per roast dinner & £5 for the separate crackling side dish. The overall visit was very good as the service was fantastic from the waiter. It’s table only service at the pub. The place was very busy so booking is advised. Definitely will be returning again for a roast dinner and during the week to see what the normal menu is like.

Had a great roast meal on Sunday evening. Great food and service. Choice of beers good