The Clifton

Pub · Hotwells

The Clifton

Pub · Hotwells

1

16 Regent St, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4HG, United Kingdom

Photos

The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null
The Clifton by null

Highlights

Eclectic decor, seasonal drinks, and varied menu with sharing plates.  

Featured on Michelin
Placeholder

16 Regent St, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4HG, United Kingdom Get directions

thecliftonbristol.com
@theclifton_bristol

$$ · Menu

Information

Static Map

16 Regent St, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4HG, United Kingdom Get directions

+44 117 431 2002
thecliftonbristol.com
@theclifton_bristol
𝕏
@TheClifton_BS8

$$ · Menu

Features

wifi
payment credit card
Tap to pay
reservations

Last updated

Aug 23, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@michelinguide

The Clifton

"The trendy suburb of Clifton is home to this rustic, aptly named pub from the team behind the Hare & Hounds in Aberthin, who've crossed the border to bring the same brand of unpretentious, locally inspired cooking to England. The menu includes both small plates and larger sharing options – like braised short rib or Cull Yaw shepherd’s pie – which are generous in both size and flavour. Well-priced wines and local ales are on hand for extra refreshment, and midweek sees a particularly good value lunch menu." - Michelin Inspector

https://guide.michelin.com/en/south-gloucestershire/bristol/restaurant/the-clifton
View Postcard for The Clifton

Zack

Google
Incredibly friendly staff, very warm to us upon entry and throughout our meal. The food was amazing and portion sizes were great too - felt sufficiently full after two courses. The seasonal menu was superb and really great to hear that all the produce was sourced locally - must try if ever in Bristol.

Lee Sabrina

Google
If I didn’t reserve a table through First Table for 50%off discount, I’d be shook to the core by the portions of the small plates with such high prices. We ordered sourdough and some oysters for starters and they were amazing. However, the mains were a massive let down. Ordered pork cheek with chicory but it was served like a cold Caesar salad and I found it too greasy with bits of solid cold pork fat. The lamb was great but the portion was way too small. The dish came as four mozzarella stick-sized fingers. The leek was recommended by the waiter but we weren’t amazed by it. The quality of the whole crab was great. But, we weren’t expecting that it was served cold. It was quite a messy experience as we weren’t given a spare plate to leave the shells nor given anything to sanitize our fingers after. The highlight of the meal was the orange soufflé which I loved, I’d recommend trying it. Service was just ok as we waited about an hour from ordering our dessert and getting the bill. It was peak hour and the waitress forgot to give us our bill and we had to go to the bar to pay. Overall, I’d only visit again if I fancy a nice dessert and few drinks after meal.

Marta Nellija

Google
Honestly this for me is the best restaurant in Clifton village and one of the best in Bristol. They always use fresh produce and the menu is changing constantly depending on what’s available and in season. The way to go is to share a little small plate on the table as they are more fillers for the main, and then go for the sharer plates. We have gotten the sharer plate a few times now and every time it is way bigger than expected with comfortably feeding 3 people. It’s such good money for value I could not recommend it more. Unless you are trying the sharing plates I do not think you have had The Clifton experience. Also the service is excellent. P.S. can’t tell by the photo but the size of the plate is bigger than my arm

Dilan

Google
We've been for a Sunday roast on a few occasions. The food is always really good. The crispyness on the roast potatoes is exceptional (unless they've sat under the heat lamp for a while, in which case they might go a bit soft on the outside). The gravy is also very good, they've clearly taken their time to make it. The service is usually always good. It has a nice warm atmosphere. Good environment for a small group/family.

Martin Whitehouse

Google
We visited for a Sunday roast having seen great reviews online. We were hesitant at the £24-26 price but thought you pay for what you get. WRONG. The service felt strange it wasn't very welcoming. The toilets were poor, urinal leaking all over the floor. When staff were told they used the resturant mop to clean it up and then placed the urine covered mop back in the resturant. Our roast arrived. The look was good but we quickly notice our plates had one slice of meat, one small carrot and some cabbage. The 2-3 roast potatoes you got were the worst l have ever experienced on a roast. They were either frozen or cooked hours before. Dry and rock solid. The waiter look surprised with our feedback. Check reviews here or on Google it's a consistent issue. You cooking a roast. A potato should be spot on for £26! Yes we did receive a discount. To be honest I wouldn't risk a roast

Lexi

Google
Really enjoyed the lamb liver, artichoke and lovely sourdough bread. Plum soufflé is underwhelming but the ice cream was nice, but just to bear in mind it takes about 25 minutes. Absolutely love that it’s dog friendly and the open kitchen is lovely. Service wasn’t particularly friendly, was initially ignored when came in and when we were acknowledged it was quite dismissive and unwelcoming, in addition there was a 12.5% service charge which we paid of course as kitchen did a great job and the final waiter was very friendly.

Tamryn Stowell

Google
Delicious Sunday Roasts with Bloody Marys. Friendly staff and good service. Roast Beef was perfectly pink & roast potatoes crunchy on the outside and fluffy in the middle. Not the cheapest of places but quality of food and cooking is very good

Elisabeth Merrett

Google
Had a lovely Saturday night out at the Clifton, it’s the ideal local neighbourhood place I wish was round the corner from my house. We had Wye Valley asparagus and these deep fried lamb thingys to start - both great, then the skate wing to follow. The crab sauce the wing came in was plate lickingly good and the smokey new potatoes were very moreish. For dessert we had chocolate terrine which tasted lovely but was a bit dry for me - should have got the soufflé! The service was friendly and prompt , even on a busy Sat night. Finally they do loads of wine by the glass. Will definitely be back!

Franzi W.

Yelp
Nice food pub, delicious mussels, lovely staff, cool interior, would recommend the oysters
google avatar

Chris B.

Yelp
This is a pub with a brilliant selection of drinks. They have a huge range of Whiskies (try the Talisker or Glenlivet) and rums. They have a local guest ale every week, usually over from Bath. They also have some really great beer & lager, like Fruli (strawberry beer) from Belgium and other white beers like Hoegaarden and Erdinger. I know the company who owns this venue are very conscious that each of their pubs or bars has its own identity that reflects its location, and this certainly does that. They are also very music conscious and you can often here some of the newest up and coming bands being circulated on their playlist. The old manager (Rich) did an amazing job of giving the place an eccentric, unique and bold style ('it's like a normal pub but frilly' some people have said). There's really interesting local art and one-off pieces of furniture everywhere. The Clifton really is perfect in the winter. You can snuggle up on one of the many sofas that stretch out into the huge back section of the pub and hide away from the miserable weather outside. The staff are always cool and fun. If you see Andy tell him to eat some dinner, he's too skinny. Make sure you try the chilli puffs & wasabi peas: the ultimate in bar snacking.
google avatar

Will P.

Yelp
In deepest, darkest, poshest Clifton You will The Clifton pub. Overpriced and smartly decorated, this is just what you would expect from its name and location. The bar staff are friendly and keen to help you out with your order. If you're a bit of an alcohol aficionado then pay a visit here. Your overpriced pint also pays for a trendy atmosphere, with sharp interior décor. Worth noting that they have sky sports, as this isn't too common round here. The Clifton is worth its prices, so if you have the money pay it a visit.
google avatar

Henry N.

Yelp
It may be a little bit poncy, though that's not exactly uncommon for this part of town and this is definitely one of the best pubs (well, bars) in Clifton Village. (Indeed, before it had its makeover a few years back, this was a bit of a dive, so who am I to complain?) The back room is slightly ostentatiously attired, with attractive wooden fixtures, sofas and plenty of different section for sloping off into and chilling out. I must admit, I've mainly been here on a Sunday (the roast is very good), so am unsure as to how good it is of an evening, but on the Sabbath it's a very welcoming environment to melt into with a paper and drink off that hangover before the DJs (playing funk) get going later.
google avatar

Erik M.

Yelp
Lovely pub in a good location. Good veggie/vegan options but menu caters for all. And it was dog friendly when we visited (16:00 on a Wednesday afternoon).
google avatar

Jon B.

Yelp
Situated just off the beaten track of up-market Clifton village, the area's namesake pub is, in my opinion, a bit of a gem. Refurbished a few years ago, it's taken its old-school English pub feel and turned it into a more hip, down-with-the-kids version of the same thing. Still offering everything you would expect from a traditional pub - a good selection of real ales, cider, and hearty food, they do so within a mix of warm decoration and funky lights that give the pub its character. The abundance of welcoming sofas and hap-hazard arm chairs cannot fail to make you feel at ease in the place, and, whilst you're night likely to find a pub this opulent in any other area of Bristol, they haven't gone overboard, getting the balance just right between comfort and ponciness. Although not astoundingly cheap, the prices are no more than you'd expect for coming this end of town. It's clearly a hot spot in the area , and they do well with promoted nights. There's a popular quiz night on Tuesdays, acoustic live music on Thursdays, and a resident chill-out DJ session every Sunday night, just the ticket to wind down for the week ahead. There's quite a mix of punters, ranging from students, more elderly locals and then a younger professional crowd, but this really depends on what time of day you come in - and either way, there's many a tucked away sofa you can disappear into should you want to get away from the crowds. So if you're looking for a drink after seeing the sights of Clifton, be sure to pop in for one here on your way home.
google avatar

Briony S.

Yelp
The Clifton is a brilliant and trendy pub which has a great location in the middle of Clifton Village, and with some great surrounding bars such as the Cori Tap it's a really good place to start off the night in my opinion. The best thing about this pub is it's weekly nights, my favourite in particular being 'wine and magic Wednesdays'. Every Wednesday they have some offers on particular wines that you can taste, and there's always a local magician pulling some tricks for a couple of hours - and he really is brilliant and worth checking out! This pub also puts on a live music night every Thursday, a local pub quiz every Tuesday, and a chilled out Sunday with soul music sessions being put on by DJ's. As for the interior of the pub its very cosy and relaxing, as well as modern and fresh - a cool place to hang out with a group of friends. If you are a local, a student, or just someone visiting Bristol, then I'd recommend popping along for one of their weekly nights, the Clifton really does have something for everyone!
google avatar

Chris F.

Yelp
A modern ale pub with a lot of food options for the hungry. 3 ales, from a maximum of 5 were on. I went for a Rudgate Jorvik, the only unpredictable option. A decent pint. There were 3 cider boxes behind the bar too....as well as a lot of foreign lagers...head to the back bar for these. Someone below described the place as having a Bohemian feel and they were spot on.
google avatar

Rachel H.

Yelp
Curving round the outskirts of affluent Clifton Village, this eponymous pub serves up a laid-back interpretation of the area's trademark high-end style. Quirky yet tasteful decor includes colourful art-work, fairylights draped just about everywhere and flashes of floral print wallpaper. This being Clifton, it doesn't come cheap, but the delicious food is decently priced given the quality, and there is a wide selection of drinks. A seemingly never-ending programme of events are regularly advertised on the website and on chalk-boards parked outside, including quizzes, djs and wine nights.
google avatar

Luke T.

Yelp
A few mates and i came in here to pass the time before a birthday party, and REALLY enjoyed ourselves. The Pub has a brilliant selection of booze: spirits to beers, and the food isn't bad either. I was most impressed with the fact that they had Peroni on tap- something i have never seen before but it was pretty awesome. The place has and air of eccentricity, which only becomes more eccentric the more you drink. Thumbs up from me!
google avatar

Qype User (farawa…)

Yelp
I have only been to the Clifton once and I really liked it. It is well decorated in a really cosy way e.g. the tables are not all identical and everywher there are lots of bright colours and patterns and there was an open fire. The food I had was quite good aswell and not too expensive. This pub is different from most of the Clifton Village pubs and bars which tend to be more plush and trendy but less comfortable.
google avatar

Qype User (Bristo…)

Yelp
A real surprise. The clifton used to be a bit tatty with cheap bear and loads of students. It has had a make over and is now seems to have a wider range of people enjoying the pub and food. The atmosphere is relaxed with a pub feel - a great place to meet mates and to have a few drinks and a chat. Can't comment on the food as I have not tried it - but it seemed to be going down well with the table opposite. If you are in Clifton village and want somewhere different - try the Clifton you may find yourself stumbling out with a smile on your face.
google avatar

Qype User (jamiec…)

Yelp
Great pub/bar for drinks with friends. The beers are fairly standard, but the bar's decor is really nice and cosy. The music can be a little too loud though, so makes it tricky to have proper conversations.
google avatar

Sarah O.

Yelp
A lot of potential considering its location. One or two extremely knowledgeable staff members, but the others are fairly rubbish. The sewage smell that wafts through a place that serves both food and drink is worrying.

Mark M.

Yelp
I used to do the pub quiz here on a Tuesday night once a week and it was always a good laugh. It doesn't look like it's going to be a particularly large pub from the outside, but it's something of a tardis with a large L shapes back room that has a small open kitchen in the middle. The food here is pretty good, but being Clifton (the place, no the pub) it is a tad on the expensive side. The bar is well stocked with plenty of continental lagers and locally sourced ciders and the staff are very friendly if a bit on the slow side (service wise, not mentally). It is usually frequented by posh public school types and as there are more books than brains in the aristocracy, the quiz is quite easy to win. In a 6 week period, my small team of moderately intelligent members won 3 times and finished 2nd the other 3 times.

Marina F.

Yelp
If you walk up the hill from the bridge you may feel like you're in San Fran until you notice the wine cellars in genuine old buildings and no retail or fast food chains to speak of. You may be walking towards Clifton as we were today. You may find yourself walking in to The Clifton and suddenly coming to the realization that the place is huge. No one stops you from sitting at a long table when you are a party of two, as a ballerina it is important to stretch out. When you mistakenly find yourself ordering a henry for a Welshman and fumbling to explain what it is composed of, you may order an extra thing or two on the menu. This happens because everything on the menu sounds quite appetizing. And the beer selection is impressive. Sounding appetizing and being appetizing are two different things. And the latter exceeded our expectations. When the food came out..The burger was succulent despite the order of the tomato and lettuce to the burger meat and bun (I am american..). The onion rings were the perfect ratio of onion to batter. The garlic bread was top notch. We had been engaging in lots of sporting activities the last few days so the carbs were a welcome relief. And of course the board games we're nice touch. Highly recommended. Bartenders cute too.

Qype User (Pipste…)

Yelp
The Clifton is always filled with groups of laughter. It is unpretentious, slightly with a bohemian yet trendy feel. Suitable for casual drinks to corporate events. You can head there just for drinks, for snacks and drinks or book a table for a large group of diners. I have never had to book. If you are there by 6pm, there is always the ability to decide what you wish to do once there so for those on a budget, there is no pressure. It is quite a dark and cosy environment and time can slip away. I can't guarantee that you will always remember leaving! Loads of fun. Worth a visit.
google avatar

Stuart D.

Yelp
Top quality pub. Draft ale choice could be better, but there are plenty of other great bottled beers that overshadow this slight issue. All in all a great place to have a drink or food
google avatar

Natasha G.

Yelp
The Clifton has a great atmosphere. There's something light-hearted about the place. Perhaps this is because upon first impressions it appears to be a small traditional wood-panelled little pub. What happens when you delve deeper? Alongside the small front room is a hallway that leads you into another world. The back area is surprisingly large (well, it would be if you didn't expect it to be there) and the décor is pretty eclectic - lanterns, 3D artwork, purple walls with quirky yellow handwriting advertising the flavours of crisps or drawings of the glasses of wine sizes available. The bar sells all your standard drinks, including some pretty unique cocktails that I hadn't even heard of before (and I've heard a lot, I'm a student). The best, and perhaps underrated part of The Clifton however, is the food. It isn't your standard pub food with soggy chips and average burgers. Oh no, The Clifton has a whole lot more on offer. With various salads, sandwiches, pastas and eight different types of burger to choose from, you simply will not be disappointed. I went for the goats cheese and caramelised onion burger. After a long day, I thought nothing had ever tasted so good. My friend went for the tiger king prawns and deep fried courgettes, also very tasty. It gets better. They do a dessert platter to share - mini profiteroles, a small slice of cheesecake and a lump of brownie. This is perfect for indecisive types (like me) who couldn't possibly choose just one, instead you get the just right-sized sample of each. One of the most likeable features are the people. This is not your typical student-infested place, despite it's close proximity to the University of Bristol halls. Instead, it sees 20 and 30 somethings stopping by after work for a bite to eat or for the pub quiz (every Tuesday, and the categories change each week to keep you on your toes). Everyone is smiley and there to unwind. All in all, The Clifton makes for a fine choice - whether you're planning to get a bit smashed or you just fancy some pretty tasty food for under £15. A comfortable but fresh experience.

Qype User (maxmcc…)

Yelp
A trendy popular bar located in Clifton Village. The decor is stylish and classical. Good location and a really nice place to have a drink or a cocktail. Saturday evenings tend to get a little squashy but you'll find that anywhere nice on a saturday. My favorite bar in Clifton Village

Qype User (aime…)

Yelp
The Clifton is a great pub. Ideal for drinks and eats with mates the food menu is quite extensive and also reasonable. A modern and trendy decoration and a relaxed atmosphere means that you wont want to leave! A variety of drinks and beers on sale and staff are friendly and helpful.

Carolyn W.

Yelp
We visited this pub yesterday at 12.30. to have lunch. After ordering drinks and food, we chose a table at the front. A few minutes later I noticed it was rather chilly and put my scarf back on. There was an air conditioner above, pumping out cold air. We moved to another table, at the back- it was equally cold, as was the radiator. When I ran the hot tap in the Ladies, to warm up my hands, it stayed cold. We complained to the young woman behind the bar and were told "the radiator isn't working". I'll put this (small gas) fire on for you and you'll soon be toasty. By this time it was too late as we had almost finished eating.We are NOT a pair of daft old dearies who feel the slightest chill. We won't be returning.