The Kensington Arms

Had a fantastic time here with my parents for a quick lunch. Opted for a mix of bar snacks and starters. Everyone impressed with the quality of food and decent service

Gastro pub which deserves way more credit than it gets. This place serves British classics all year round, and always delivers the best of the best: in terms of local produce, happy hearty meals, and attentive, friendly service.

Some of the best food I’ve had in Bristol! The potatoes were absolutely fantastic – a must-try. The jus was a little on the watery side, but the flavours were still spot on. Lovely, welcoming staff made the whole experience even better. I’ll definitely be coming back!

Finn absolutely nailed the service. Kerry was a lively hostess and a real addition after switching from the pump house. The food from Josh was exemplary. A real honour to ham egg and chips. Will not be missing the event they have.

Me and partner went for Sunday lunch for the first time today and the food and service was outstanding. I had the pork belly and my partner had the beef. Both delicious and cooled to a high standard. Highly recommended and I will be returning.

Excellent pub, amazing food. Not the cheapest but you definitely get what you pay for! Lots of great looking specials, especially the fresh fish. Highly reccomend for both food and drinks.

THE best roast I've ever had... 100% a case of you get what you pay for!! Could not recommend this more. The service was friendly and attentive but also left to enjoy your food. Lovely interior and loved having the fire on, much needed on a day like today!!

Three of us walked up here from Glouster road on a Saturday evening. Upon arrival we were told it was a private wedding. Fair enough, but one of our party was desperate for the toilet after the 10 min walk. After pleading to use the toilet were were told she would ask her manager who in no uncertain terms said no. we were told there was a pub further down the road. The girl even offered to Google it for us, which we replied we're adults we can use Google maps. We were happy to go elsewhere but to not allow a lady to just use the toilet after it was advertised open on Google was well out of order.

For those not from Bristol I'll give some brief directions, just because it's a bit out of the way. From Redland train station follow the train line towards Clifton (away from Gloucester Road, keeping it on your left. You will pass a wall with a giant nose made out of wicker (no, really), and will find it on a corner on your right soon after. High end, it's been recently done up and the owners have sunk a ton of money into this place. There's stone flooring, expensive furnishings, and various other bits of interior design to convince you to part with your cash. They're asking for quite a bit (though not too much to be honest), with mains around £10.50. I'm not convinced to be honest - I can get the same beer and similar enough chips for a lot less at half a dozen places near by. I can't see them making a success out of this place. Whilst they have do make a very good posh pub, not that many people want this from a night out, even in Clifton. I'm not a business man, or a pub owner for that matter, though, so we'll see. The Kensington Arms is expensive and tries hard to justfy itself, but I'm not convinced.

Situated in a residential area in Cotham/Redland (the boundaries are very ambiguous), the Kensington Arms seems like quite a high class establishment. It's been decked out smartly inside, with the type of thick wooden tables that seem to have become standard in any bar of quality. The prices are fairly high, and it's home to a mixture of local elderly types and typical Bristol uni students (by that I mean the ones who can afford to come here regularly without blinking an eye). It's just around the corner from Chandos Road, which is a street with a hell of a lot of Kudos for what it actually is, and that kind of applies to the Kensington Arms; it's not all that great for the price. The food is good though, all be it a bit poncily described on the menu, but it certainly deserves a good reputation as a fine gastro pub. It's got a nice outdoor seating area at the front, which makes use of its quiet residential setting - you can sit out here and really not imagine that you're anyway near the centre of Bristol. Also, it's a total suntrap in the sun, which earns it a few more marks again.

I was there not more than a month after fizzpodge's review. I liked it a lot. The service was friendly but not in your face. The food was freshly prepared, cooked and presented. That much was evident from the activity we could see through the window into the kitchen! The taste told the rest of the story - wonderful. The range of drinks (wine in our case) was good too - not a dud amongst the good range to choose from. I noted that local ales and beers were also available. Overall, this gets a good rating from me. I agree about the priciness though - but that could have been the 5 bottles of wine!

Another pub that has been refurbished recently (well 2006). Previously this was as local as they came, it had a pool table, quiz machine etc and not many customers, the local populous being mostly students went to the far trendier Whiteladies road with it's large selection of drinking establishments. Now pre-refurb it's popular not just with students (admittedly Bristol uni not uwe students that enjoy spending daddy's money - yes i am bitter) but also a whole range of people from around the area. Don't be surprised to find 1 -100 year olds in here. That's not to say this is a family pub filed with screaming kids and parents, all though it is child friendly. The drinks are average with a couple of ales (which aren't well kept, i can confirm this having been poisoned here once). The high note is Perry on tap. The food here is the biggest thing with a very ecclectic mix of french dishes mixed in with local fare. The food is lovely but the chef does tend to call it ridiculous names, i guess to give the bar staff a reason to talk to the customers by explaining what the dishes actually are eg "wall fish" is actually snails, yes they serve snails. The staff are very friendly though I can not fault them on that. In terms of none drink related entertainment they have a selection of board games behind the bar and a quiz on sundays, which i've won twice so it's not that difficult. It's a tough one to call this place, it's very expenssive but you can see where the moneys gone ,the decor is gorgeous and the food warrants the prices (most of the time). The beer garden is a selection of benches which are often wet in the winter and in the summer the automatic sun shades are very tempremental. If you want to go for a romantic dinner or maybe daddy has lent you his credit card come here.

The Kensington Arms is a local pub just off Chandos Road, and even though is in an extremely studenty area, the pub isn't really a place where you will find many rotten students. The pub isn't far from a main road but is tucked away in a residential area, which means that wining and dining in the outdoor area at the front is a really relaxing, aesthetically pleasing experience. No car fumes or beeping horns to irritate you or spoil the ambiance. It is a little pricey - £2.60 just for a coke, but with the type of clientele it attracts this is to be expected. I couldn't think of a better place to spend a lazy summer evening.

Dreadful service this evening. Came in early evening asking for food at the bar, we were handed menus and ordered a bottle of wine on the basis we would be eating, then subsequently told (very abruptly and with little apology) that the kitchen couldn't take any food orders. Ruined a good evening and won't be going back to what was my local pub.

This pub is quite difficult to find if you're not looking for it. If you are after reading these reviews, it can be found by walking along the railway line. It's quite posh looking inside, with a large bar all around and fancy beer and cider on tap. The food sounds great but I don't think I could really justify buying anything on the menu. Out front, bench booths snake under hanging baskets, making you feel a little like you're on a long boat. Really a great pub to chill in in the summer or warm up in after a autumn stroll round Redland Green. I really like the chilled out vibe in the day, but count yourself lucky if there's actually someone behind the bar when you arrive.

I really like the atmosphere in this place, but be warned it's not for those on a budget. I haven't tried the food - to be quite honest I couldn't afford to - but as far as a place to go for a quiet drink, it fits the bill admirably. There's a light and airy feel to the bar area (aided by the addition of a new window, I was reliably informed), so on a sunny winters day, it's a great place to sit inside and pretend like it's summer. I went in on a weekday at lunchtime and by the time I had left it was getting quite busy, so it's obviously popular with the locals. It's a bit out of the way from the main shopping areas nearby, but at less than a ten minute walk from the Gloucester Road, it's worth making the effort to pop in for a quick drink.

The 'Kenny' is a well-dressed pub in every sense of the description, the décor is smart and clean and frankly if you aren't well dressed you feel slightly out of place. This is not meant to be a negative thing. The food is delicious although like any gastro pub it is over priced. The same can be said for the drinks there is a good range of drinks on offer however they are a little over-priced. Although your not on a budget this place is great to wile away the hours with a drink in hand they eve have board games on offer.

If you are looking for a cheap pint then the Kensington Arms is not for you. The 'Kenny' serves pints of lager around the £3.50 mark. This is to be expected from a London pub, but not a villagey pub on the corner of a residential area. That said, the interior is wonderfully decorated offering a layer of sophistication over the homely feel. I went to a 21st in the upstairs room which is even more lavishly furnished and the food was typical gastro-pub fare. The braised beef should be avoided however as it was a little dry. Start with the terrine of duck and move onto the steak and you won't be disappointed.

Don't arrive after 2pm on Sunday if you want a roast (even if you've booked) , all the food will be gone and you'll be offered whatever they have left in the kitchen. Shocking

Wonderful historic pub. Restaurant service is good, as is the food. Let down by the bar. Messy tables, disinterested staff, and over priced. Could be so much more. Lacks competition so probably resting on laurels.

I'm going to agree with the previous reviewers about the price of drinks- but then I think all prices in the city centre seem to have gone up a lot. It's a really nice pub in such a beautiful area of Redland, just off Chandos road but down a side street so it is a quiet and peaceful area. There is a lovely beer garden at the front with heaters for the winter months and the decor inside is lovely- traditional meets modern. There's a fairly good selection of drinks- they have strawberry and pear cider, which is a favourite of mine.

I agree about the prices here. Its a great pub, nice atmosphere, a few too many students but it is just off Chandos Road. However, the food and drinks are west end prices which is crazy for Bristol. They do a cracking roast dinner.

Popped in here on Sunday for lunch, luckily my husband new where we were going. He ordered Bangers and Mash which was okay but the gravy looked as if it had been made from gravy powder and hot water added, not very pleasant. I order scampi (7 pieces not good value for the money) did not want chips so I asked if I could have a side salad instead, Barman "no sorry you can have a jacket potato though". Me "so no salad, okay I will have a jacket potato". Barman "Do you want salad with that"!!!!!!!! Drinks expensive, white wine not chilled, whole place lacked atmosphere, would not return

This place is virtually impossible to find - hidden (and I mean hidden) in the residential back streets of Redland, we only stumbled across it because we were severely lost. And if you're thinking I'm some reprobate with no sense of direction I'll tell you I used to be a Scout and I have my Gold Duke of Edinburgh's award so there! Anyhow, I'm so glad we did find it. The Kensington Arms has to be one of the classiest pubs I have ever been to. It feels like you are walking into a gorgeous restaurant but it is just a really nice pub which serves food - a gastropub if you like. The solid oak tables (might be a different wood actually but oak sounds cool), the kooky salt and pepper pots and the arty chalk boards and romantic lighting prove the perfect setting for both a quiet drink and a decent meal. The bar snacks include the mouth-watering finer food selection, think olives and posh nuts. The whole place is filled with the aroma of the delicious food and the drinks are served in the classiest glasses which makes the contents taste even nicer. A great place for a date, to take your parents or catch up with a pal.

I've always only just about managed to find this pub because I navigate it by the big wicker nose on the house a few doors down. The Kenny is where I usually meet my Cliftonian friends because it's sort of a half-way point between the "village yah" and St Werburgh's. And it's posh enough for the Cliftonites not to turn pale and start sweating at their proximity to the riff-raff. Saying that though, I find it a bit too expensive to be a frequent haunt. It's got a lovely outdoor seating area, and it being the heart of Redland, it's a quiet and attractive residential area. Inside the pub is stripped wood floors, chunky tables and a friendly, cool vibe. They do pots of mixed nuts, which although exorbitantly priced make a good accompaniment to a few pints. The menu has an emphasis on poncey pub grub but it is attractively executed and really tasty. I'm not sure many friendly neighbourhood pubs can boast that they serve terrine of duck and wild boar and shitake risotto on the same menu as faggots and fish and chips. They also do a mean Saturday brunch- eggs florentine and ham and eggs being a real winner. Not that I ate them in one sitting of course. So my verdict is that yes it's a bit ra and over-priced but it gets away with it.

Nice location, sunny patio and some nice touches like games and newspapers. Friendly staff - or rather they were until I queried the price of the bar food! Yeah it might be seasonal, local, and come on a bed of rocket jus.. but £13+ for a main meal cannot be justified when what we got were mini portions that I would have been embarrassed to charge more than a fiver for. Yeah the cod might be line caught, hand reared organic blah de blah, but they werent fed on cocaine, and those Wallfish are just snails from a snail farm, not rarest caviar. In a restaurant you have the option of pointedly not leaving a tip, or having a word with the proprietor when you pay the bill, but gastropubs have free rein to take the proverbial as you have paid up front.

I used to frequent the Kenny in the days when it was a chaotic beery dive so decided to investigate the voucher in my Invitation Book (20% off) that seemed to suggest I might be able to buy nice food here. I was hugely taken with its 'new' look - spacious, modern, friendly, neat. The outside area is very superior in comparison with most - it feels like a properly constructed outside room instead of the usual selection of rickety stained beergarden tables. And inside is airy, with nice solid tables decorated with candles in bottles. The staff appeared to be particularly friendly, relaxed and obliging. Tap water came in a carafe with ice and a slice, and with no attitude problem. The menu, though short, is appealing but with not a lot of options for those of a delicate stomach or disposition. As I had a delicate stomach that day I went for the starter salad of baby spinach with pine nuts, goats' cheese and other bits (£6 I think). It was most tasty and went down very well. My friend had the 'thrice cooked' chips with fish. At £11.50 this did seem a bit steep, especially as the portion size was by no means huge, but we agreed that the food was very good - as was the house wine. Because I was driving I couldn't have more than a glass of wine - and actually fancied a nice cup of tea, which the lovely staff were happy to bring. We really enjoyed the food, drink and ambience and I will definitely be returning. I felt at home here. This is proper food, not basic pub grub though, and this is certainly reflected in the price (restaurant) and portion sizes (not for darts players or hungry truckers).