The Bridge Inn in South Gloucestershire

We have walked near-to, and past, this village pub many times over the last year, and we have always promised ourselves a visit. Our expectations were that the pub would not entirely suit us. To explain: we are wine drinkers, we “don’t do” beer or cider, or spirits. We do, however, enjoy good wine, not necessarily fine wine, just dry and white with, at least, a medium complexity and subtle fruitiness. We felt that this pub would be unlikely to offer such wine. There are other drinks that we enjoy, particularly when out walking; soft drinks like lime and soda, sometimes a coffee, occasionally just mineral water. Despite expectations (and maybe some reservations) we decided we would visit and see for ourselves, and we did this at about 19:15 on a Bank Holiday Monday in late May. The bar was exactly what our mind’s eye had promised. It was clean and tidy and the landlady was very helpful and pleasant. The clientele was mostly local folk and dog-walkers (again as expected). I asked if wine was available, and indeed it was, but it was the kind of wine that is kept, if for nothing else, the occasional wine-drinker who has no particular taste for wine. Don’t get me wrong, most of the wine we buy is from supermarkets at £5-10 a bottle category. We very occasionally splash out a bit more (up to £16 a bottle), and we do go to France and bring back wine (most of what we buy is €4-12 a bottle). The wine offered here is Blossom Hill brand, and I have to admit that I have never drunk it before … well I have now! I had a glass of the white, which was not distasteful, it was inoffensive, it was light, it was cold, but there was little depth to the flavour and no complexity, being (at best) “very ordinary”. This is not a moan, it was entirely expected, and given their clientele preferences, there is no reason in the world for the pub to stock anything more elaborate or refined. The wine was cheap and we had to order a large glass plus two (half pints) of soda and lime in which to spend the minimum of £5 for card payments (we had no cash on us). We were kindly advised that the pub was due to close at 20:00, but we had previously noticed that there was a garden and so we ventured out to explore. We couldn’t stay long because of the impending closing time. Also the garden at the back of the pub was in full shade, and it really wasn’t a warm enough evening to sit out. Apparently the garden is best at lunchtime and during the afternoon. If this review offends then I’m sorry, but it is the truth. We would like to call here on occasions when it is sunny to enjoy a soda and lime, or a coffee, whilst sat in the garden in the sunshine.