Great place but filthy Yep I know it calls itself a dive bar but ..... come on there is a limit. Flies everywhere . Loved the " lucky dip " £1.50 drink, still don't know what it was
Trip type
Vacation
Travel group
Solo
Service: 5
Location: 5
Nearby activities
Loads to see nearby. St.Nicholas indoor market which is bloomin brilliant If you are interested in crafting or sewing there is a brilliant fabric, button, silk thread etc shop. Ye olde sweetie shop is out of this world. From Hubabubba bubble gum to sherbet pips, pear drops to bonbons....... all our old favourites. I got a licorice pipe, sherbet pips & Tom thumb drops. They also have modern home made choccies. Retro record shop & 2nd hand book shop. Street food Galore Great place to go if it rains. (or just to mooch around)
Safety
I'm 54 female solo traveler with an ICD (heart monitor) I feel so at home here, not 1 bad vibe or fear. Last night I was down by the harbour and there were quite a few teens/twenties a wee bit drunk but they don't bother you they are just doing their thing. There was a great vibe. Today I'm in the Old town area. Which has now turned into tonight. Been to #MothersRuin and #TheCrownBristol around the corner, all very nice and friendly.
Walkability
It's in the old town area of Bristol so cobbled streets still which look good but can be dangerous ️
Food & drinks
Wow, you can literally have anything from around the world. Noodle bars Vegan delis, Turkish kebabs Afternoon tea Pizza
Noteworthy details
Turn left Turn right Go up Go down Modern or Antique There's lots around If you're old or If you're young I gurantee you will have fun Churches and History There's lots of Mystery Just take time to relax & Loosen those slacks
Hotel highlights
Great value

Fun bar, great price! 4 pints for a tenner and drinks generally so affordable. Good vibes here. All the staff were kind shoutout to Vince who was so nice at the bar. Ordered food on the table service app, it did go missing but eventually turned up, if a bit cold. The pizza is amazing I can't recommend enough! Everyone enjoyed the pizza. The wings were super good too. Onion rings very sad and cold, I wouldn't get those again. My pal ordered 3 chips cus it's 3 sides for 10 which is good value for money, but over an hour they never turned up, staff were helpful though and they promptly arrived after we told them. Can't wait to go back. Also dog friendly and gave us a dog bowl for my mates pooch!
Travel group
Friends
Rooms: 4
Service: 4
Location: 5
Hotel highlights
Great value

Booked a table for 5 for the quiz. We were given a windowsill barely deep enough to put our piece of paper on with 5 chairs in a row. This was pretty annoying but it was the barman that ruined this place for us. I asked is there any way we could move tables, if he'd just said no im sorry but I'm afraid that's not possible I would've accepted it but with a wide smirk on his face he said, "why, don't you like it?" Never a need to be rude like that. Also, I accept pubs keeping the option of ordering on an app, but I'll never go back to any pub that doesn't allow you to order at the bar if you want to. There's several good bars on st nicks street, this isn't one of them.

Service couldn't really fault athough they walked off with one of my drinks before I'd finished it. Location is great and easy for public transport access and other locations if you want to stop out a little later.
Trip type
Business
Service: 5
Location: 5
Food & drinks
Drinks were great. I guess I hadn't checked what to expect at the venue, so I didn't realise it was just nibbles, but there were lots of platters of sushi and other great savoury delights. It was a little cramped in that area, but managed to eat what I wanted.

Nice pub, good atmosphere and decent prices. Only issue was when ordering 3 rounds of shots we only had 1 given to our table after 40 odd mins, then took a lot of arguing with the bar staff to get the rest delivered. Spoke to the manager and she told me they were definitely given to our table. Having sat at our table the entire night, i was very sure that they weren’t. After explaining this multiple times, we finally received our drinks after a 15 minute wait but it definitely spoiled our moods on what was a v enjoyable night leading up to this

Came to the Mother's Ruin for drag brunch and had the best time. Wasn't sure what to expect, but it was a laugh from start to finish. The brunch was lush, with a good selection of different dishes. The bar staff were excellent, my glass was never dry and service was speedy. The drag queens were brilliant, who doesn't love a bit of drag on a sunny Saturday afternoon. I've had a top afternoon and will be back. Thanks guys xx
Rooms: 1
Service: 5
Location: 5

Amazing atmosphere! Felt like an old pub with with fresh vigour and style! We had a nice selection of drinks from the menu and the pricing was simple and good value. The range of drinks was impressive and the service outstanding. Great spot for a chin wag/gossip session with friends over a good drink! Next time I will be trying the food
Travel group
Friends
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5
Food & drinks
Great selection of drinks

Stopped for a quick drink on a wander around Bristol. Really interesting little place a little reminiscent of the ruined pubs of Budapest with quirky decorations and a bit of steam punk industrial feel to it. Mid Saturday afternoon when we popped in so not so busy. Ordered drinks at the bar - a couple of the Ruin Pils - which were then brought up to us. Friendly helpful staff and not a bad pint Would recommend if you want something a little out the ordinary.

The cocktails taste like orange juice. Not only this but when we ordered our drinks through the app and accidentally didn’t click on the ‘happy hour’ tab for the 241 offer, they wouldn’t honour the deal. (Even though the menus were exactly the same and there is no difference other than which menu you order it from) - really silly and confusing for customers and very petty of the managers for refusing to offer the deal after a pretty understandable mistake.

Good bar to come visit, really decent happy hour if you arrive before 7pm the outside seating is useful as the inside seating is a bit limited and cramped. The only downside would be the toilets which aren't always the nicest. Other than that the beers are good and the atmosphere is friendly, if you sit outside be prepared for lots of people to come asking for money but they're mostly friendly and can lead to good conversations!

This place is amazing Kez and Charlie at front of house can not do enough. The beer is great, a wider selection of choice for everyone, the table service is exceptional and this is a must on anyones list visiting Bristol. From The quirky decor, to the library do not pass this place with out a visit. Thank you for understanding your customers needs and getting it right guys. keep up the amazing work on behalf of 22 of us.

Cocktails UNACCEPTABLE. We ordered (via the app as this was the only way we could order) 2 Kalifornication cocktails (only table service). Alcohol was non existent (although staff claimed there was alcohol), but it was like drinking children's orange juice. Total Rip off. There was No music (at 5:00pm on a Friday), no soap or paper towels in the ladies bathroom. Staff in their own world...Never again, avoid at all costs.

This place is so full of nostalgia for me so it would have to completely change for me to dislike it in the slightest. I love it. It is grotty but soo excellent. I don't want it to change or at least for the changes to not be too drastic. It has changed but not ever enough to make me not like it. Too many happy and weird memories here. I mean if Mike ever left it wouldn't feel the same. But yeah let's not eat that.

After commenting that I may not have ordered my iced espresso martini if I'd known that there was no ice avaliable, I was surprised to find myself ejected from the bar as a result of my critique. To be fair to security, they seemed as embarrassed as I was when the bar manger insisted I leave after pointing out this inconsistency. Turns out, these days, the customer is most certainly not right.

its a nice pub with nice decor but the staff are unbelievably rude, I have never experienced staff who treat customers the way they do. The girl who wears a beanie is actually really nice, but the bloke who has bleached blonde hair has to be one of the rudest blokes I have ever met in my life, seriously the most disgraceful bar staff I have ever seen I would rate this place 0 stars if i could

Been visiting this place for years now and its a really great place for a drink. They offer their own cocktails and shooters alongside ale, larger, box cider and my favourite, Belgian beer. Multiple levels to this place with a cool interior, regularly hosting music both upstairs and in the basement. They used to only take cash, but they now also take card payment (a huge help!)

Have previously had a very good experience here but on a Tuesday night and being unable to order at the bar and only using the app made service a little slow especially when one of the apps crashed. Additionally there was a point in the night where all of the toilets were out of order. Though this was quickly rectified it didn't make for the most enjoyable experience.

If you’re looking for an unpretentious place to sink a few pints, look no further. The tacky child’s-cafeteria-style outdoor furniture provides a beautiful dose of realism and you’ll often find a 3 peace string trio dishing out some acoustic, world-healing vibes just outside. For the cider aficionados among us, you won’t be disappointed by their house Ruin Cider.

They had really nice live music outside.. by the time we grabbed our drinks the music got over:/ The staff at counter could have been nicer in the bar!
Service: 3
Location: 5
Food & drinks
They had really nice live music outside.. by the time we grabbed our drinks the music got over:/ The staff at counter could have been nicer in the bar

I've missed The Mothers Ruin! Staff are super nice (even when I got confused and messed up with the app and when I couldn't find the bogs!) Drinks are reasonably priced and served with a smile. I was lucky to have a table inside but the outside area is huge and both inside and out is covid safe. Strongly recommended! Thanks for a great night

A very unique place, looked like it could do with a good clean but maybe that adds to it's charm. It seemed to open until late and most people seemed to sit outside weather permitting mostly to vape. Drinks were ok but the toilets were a bit rough.
Trip type
Vacation
Travel group
Family
Service: 4
Location: 4

As always, a fantastic time at the Ruin. Tonight was my best friend's birthday. True reflection on the staff that the 1st person to serve us, wished him a happy birthday. Without any of us mentioning it. Made him feel very special, so huge thanks for that. Always a good time, always fab staff. You guys are doing it right. Many thanks. X

Had an awful experience here. The staff were so rude and all had a horrible attitude. Such a shame as the pub itself is decent. Seems to be a certain type of person they treat nicely (edgy student types). This was around 6-10pm on 08/07/23. Possibly the worst customer service I’ve ever received .
Travel group
Friends

It's not a type of place I personally enjoy frequenting. It has free entry late on which is great, but it means it gets quite busy. However for me it lacks any real atmosphere and it's not an easy place to relax in. I think others will enjoy the edgy feel, and the opportunity to have a bit of dance on the highest floor.

First visit since the start of the pandemic and surprised to see that they're still only doing table service. A bit inconvenient when we had to wait 10 minutes for two pints to be brought over, and it wasn't that busy either. Probably won't return any time soon, a shame as it was one of my favourites in years gone by.

I love this bar, it reminds me of home in the US. It's grungy and dark, which is why I love it. Beer on tap, cider, spirits. All in all my favorite haunt. Staff is very laid back, helpful and cool. Not a typical English pub, It's a dive in the best possible way. People of weak constitution should go elsewhere.

Usually good music if you like rock or similar. Bar manager was very tolerant of me and my group that had been partying all day and in high spirits. Worth noting that the toilets are being redone at the moment and while this is happening its a bit of a state in that area but don't let that out you off a visit.

Sat outside on the tables. Used the barcode to order but you can't order half pints which is weird. Just 4 draught lagers then took about 10 minutes to arrive and it wasn't that busy. The guy playing the guitar and singing also pestered us for a tip and yes he's even got a device to accept credit cards

The best pub in Bristol bar none! I just wish this was my local! Thanks for letting us grab a drink earlier, despite not even really being open! I hope to be back sooner rather than later, it's been too long! If you only visit one pub in Bristol make it The Mother's Ruin, you won't be disappointed! ❤️

I ordered 3 pints and they charged £15 because I missed happy hr by 1 ******* min, went up when I found out I went to ask about it an was dismissed. If I knew I would have never got it and loose £6 by 1 min
Travel group
Friends
Rooms: 1
Service: 1
Location: 2

This bar was advertised as a gin bar, unfortunately it is definitely not, hense the rating. Drinks served in disposable plastic cups??? And only a couple of gins on offer. The place has a grunge vibe going on. On the up side the staff were very friendly. One for students I think.

House beer was incredibly watery, tasted like the last run off of liquor from the tank. Very pushy about tables and had to share a tiny little table amongst 12 persons. Didn't really get to experience the alternative atmosphere and moved on pretty quickly. Probably won't return.

Late night bar/pub type venue. Has live music some nights spread out over its multiple floors. Decent range of beers and spirits, fair few drinks offers on shots and bombs. Popular with locals and students a like. This bar has an alternative feel to it although alls welcome.

Friendly staff, good prices and nice atmosphere!
Trip type
Vacation
Travel group
Friends
Service: 4
Location: 4
Walkability
Very central to the location we were staying at.
Food & drinks
Good selection of alcoholic drinks

Great place to visit for a pint, amazing atmosphere and some great homemade style tables! Amazing place to visit with a few friends. They sell some great shooter as well which are sure to get you're night started or finished.... Depending on how many you have!

Beautiful dive bar in centre of Bristol. Good deals on happy hour (£2.50 a pint on house drinks and singles). 12-8pm Recommend going fri-sun as they have a great folk band on outside usually. Otherwise recomend sitting upstairs as the interior there is great!

best happy hour in bristol with 4 pints for £10 before 8pm on weekdays, nice inside but outdoor seating isn't ideal as it's just on the road with uncomfy chairs
Travel group
Friends
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5

One of the most god-awful tasting glasses of diet coke I've been served in a pub. The pub itself is quite interesting on the inside but until they clean their syrup gun lines or replace their syrup with something else, I won't be going back.

Joe and Alfred were the most friendly and helpful bartenders we had out whole night night. We flew in from Canada and did a pub crawl all over Bristol, our last stop was The Mothers Ruin. The manager, Joe, helped us find the perfect round

Good pub! Really really cheap beer and cider! I guess if you're not into rage against the machine or heavy metal I would not recommend it but I'm not even sure as it's so easy to embrace the atmosphere and just enjoy a good time there!

Friendly atmosphere, really nice music, good beer and cider, great decoration, and geeky videos on TV... What's not to love about this place? I went after 2 years in Bristol, and left knowing I'd come back for more. It's really nice.

One of the best pubs in Bristol. Great if you need to book a table for a big group of friends and useful to have table service. Always my go to. Wish they played more metal and rock like they used to! Seems to mostly be pop nowadays.

Absolutely terrible customer service. A drink was not delivered from our order and when we went to the bar to ask about it we were accused of lying. The waitress came to our table three times to have a go at us about it.

Great metal pub
Trip type
Vacation
Travel group
Couple
Service: 5
Location: 5
Nearby activities
If you want to drink or eat, you will find many pubs and restaurants nearby

Good bar, friendly crowd worth going for the happy hour (4 pints for £10) Quiz starts late (past 9) on a tuesday and its they dont want you to have fun! (bit strict)
Rooms: 4
Service: 3
Location: 5

Pub quiz person is cring. Just doesnt read out the questions correctly and has too much attitude towards customers when they simply misshear. Also uncessecqrily political to the point it ruins the vibe of the night

I like the general ambiance, but their choice to stick with table service and not use the bar at all means you wait between 10-15 for a simple pint. Really not ideal and a shame as it let's the whole place down.

Erm.... unique is probably the best description. Fascinating building, ok beer (no, better than ok, but not awesome). Great music venue. Toilets are a bit rough, but usually seem functional - there is soap.....

Such a lovely pub with a comfy atmosphere. Staff are super nice :D Im generally quite an anxious person but both times i have been I have had a wonderful time. Will probably be a fav spot from now on :)

Great pub, and doing all they can with the state of the country and regulations. Thanks to the hot lady who made the end of the night memorable. If only we could have had that hug. Maybe one day.

Met up with a couple of friends after work.drank maybe 1 too many...but that was because we were able to sit outside and be looked after by the staff..who by the way were super friendly and fun

It's got a nice selection of drinks and deals on shots etc. More of a younger persons boozer who likes a heavy night. Recommended for stag dos. However place could do with sprucing up a little.

Served a bad pint and then wouldn't take it back. The first barman agreed with me and pulled a face when he tasted it, but the other barman jumped in and said it's meant to taste of vinegar.

Great 'dive bar' as they'd call it in the States. Good pints and a friendly service in a lively part of town. Would recommend getting there for happy hour for £2.50 pints and 241 cocktails.

Popped in for a drink on a Saturday before a gig. Lovely atmosphere, friendly bar staff, very pleasant time there. Feels like a ship, quite a cool place. Would happily return. Many thanks

Dive bar, reasonable price drinks, pretty trendy crowd. Music is often pretty decent but can definitely go down hill unexpectedly! All in all pretty decent place but can get rather warm!

Awesome cocktails, good tunes and a chill atmosphere. A nice place to go out with friends and get drunk.
Travel group
Friends
Rooms: 4
Service: 4
Location: 4

Vince is a legend, really helped us out, made the experience spectacular, thank you Vince you made our night
Trip type
Vacation
Travel group
Friends
Service: 5

One of the best places to drink. Slightly off the beaten track so I tend to find it attracts a better crowd. Well priced. Only downside is that it always seems to smell of bleach.

Great old school pub. Tired decorations, needs some maintenance, loo has "atmosphere" but great beer, live music and atmosphere. So if you want a real pub this is the place to go

Great place to have a beer and some food. They dont really advertise it, but the food is great. Cheap aswell, good pub!
Trip type
Vacation
Travel group
Friends

Had such a good night! Michael made our night and looked after us. 10/10 will be back
Travel group
Friends
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5

I mean it's aight. They'll give u a decent pint but the atmosphere is drunk 50yr old men who missed the footie/rugby/cricket game but forgot what they even turned up for.

Great pub, reminds me of some student pubs during my university time...cool atmosphere, good crowd, wide selection of beers
Service: 5
Location: 5

Great atmosphere, decent drinks…cocktails a bit weak but cheap! Good menu size
Travel group
Friends
Rooms: 4
Service: 5
Location: 5

Great service and choice of drinks. Lots of lovely quiet places to sit with a group of friends. Layout reminds me of a ship which just added to its kooky buzz.

Beautiful staff members. A barmaid was very affectionate when I ordered my gin. I will definitely return.
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5

Lovely place with good prices and lovely staff. Always seem open for a chat
Travel group
Friends
Rooms: 4
Service: 4
Location: 5

Went to watch live music in the basement which was a bit small. Decent range of mocktails.
Travel group
Couple
Service: 4
Location: 5

Just went for a pint before heading to our destination. Lots of outdoor seating. Busy Saturday but good vibes.
Service: 5
Location: 5

Quality venue with seating outside! Good range of drinks but not very accessible if you have mobility issues.
Service: 5
Location: 5

Great fun doing the quiz. Very quirky bar but had Great staff. Very fast ordering and delivery of drinks. Great night was had by all in our group.

Just as advertised... A dive bar! It really is, no frills or themes here but had a great pint. Staff could be a bit more cheerful to be honest.

A nice pub and reasonable prices for drinks during Happy hour
Travel group
Friends
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5

Chris the security guard is so lovely yet professional. He made our night out that extra bit secure and fun - he deserves a pay rise!! Legend.

This place is amazing. The decoration is great very cool and cozy. We played a quiz and we had a lot of fun. Music is very loud but great

It was nice, staff is friendly and it has good music
Travel group
Friends
Rooms: 3
Service: 4
Location: 4

Fabulous find on a sunny Sunday afternoon...not a bad brew, blues playing live on the pavement for a couple of hours...great craic

Outside and inside seating. Nice decoration and prime location. Not necessarily a rock bar music wise as we read on the internet.

Spent most of my time sat in the smoking area, which seemed nice lol. Lots of seating. Beer tastes like beer, what can I say

Funky pub/ bar. Good to find a pub with Pilsner on tap, in Bristol. Like the peacock wallpaper. Nothing ruined ‘bout that.

Decent beer and staff .... being part of sub cultures of Bristol
Rooms: 3
Service: 3
Location: 5

Have a whisky or a beer outside on a nice day! They sometimes have live music performances outside on a Saturday

I wasn’t edgy enough for this bar, even though I’m a 50yr old arts student.
Service: 2
Location: 4

Great place, awesome vibe and tea friendly staff.
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5

I like this place mid week, it's pretty chilled and reasonably priced. Usually a good soundtrack too

Cosy quirky and 'as it should be' pub. Decent and cool bar staff... Good selection of whiskeys.

Nice venue with outside seating area, good choice of beers on tap.

It was ok. Bar person could have been a little less indifferent

Unique vibe and nice decor. Open a bit later than most places.