The Windmill

Tucked out of the way in Bedminster, but a great pub, with real, quality food. I try to visit at least once each trip to Bristol.
Lunch today, on a cold miserable day was very very good.

This is another pub that’s affiliated with the Bristol Beer Factory, having ales like No. 7, Sunrise and Red on tap. I first came here just yesterday, and completely loved it the minute I walked in. The bar staff had heavy thick moustaches, which I later read that was for a moustache competition. I was sold. Any pub that welcomes kooky, fun on-​goings, has my vote.
The atmosphere here is great, and it is the sort of pub for the locals around that area, which always provides a pub so much more character, mostly due to the colourful natures of the people that come in. It is quite big, and has a little hidden-​ish room on the left of the bar, and on the right, down some steps, is another room with a fair few couches and tables, and also an outside covered patio area!
Food here is around £5 — £8 pounds, which upon initial viewing is a tad steep. However we were hungry, so we went on an ordered some anyway. You get cute porcelain animals as a table marker after you order — bonus points from me here. My mussels in a white wine and cream sauce with a basket of bread was really good, and for the £6.95 I paid for it, fully worth it.
The winning discovery of the night however, is Tom’s pies, made in Dartmoor. If you have read my Pieminister review, you will know how big a fan I am of them. but Tom’s pies blows Pieminister out the water! The lamb moussaka was absolutely divine. The flavours inside really made you go ‘aaaah’.
I will most certainly be coming back here again, and although it is not exactly very close to where I live, it is definitely worth the trip.

Great pub, great atmosphere, great food, great staff! What can I say other than great

I love the Windmill and used to go there far too often when I moved to Bristol for its good cider on tap and pieminster pie. I love how when you order, you are given a kitch ornament to bring to your table so the staff know who you are. I found the staff very friendly and helpful, very unlike the rude service you get at its sister bar The Pipe and Slippers.
My fave spot are the cosy armchairs beside all the games to bring the Sunday papers to and have a nice quite pint and pie. On a busy evening, the family room is a good place to chat to others.
During the day you can still spot the odd aul fella though they tend to escape in the evening when the crowd becomes more ‘young professional’ than original local.
Sadly however, no more Pieminster Pie :-(I miss you Heidi Pie! Instead there is a broader range of food from the kitchen, a tad pricy for what you get I think. But never fear Pie lovers, they do serve Tom’s pie which is also extremely munchable.

I can understand why people like this pub: it serves good food, is aesthetically pleasing, spacious etc. However, I get the impression it’s a little bit too aware of its apparent greatness. I’ve only been here twice, but both times I’ve felt distinctly uncomfortable in the place. Its agenda is undoubtedly in line with middle class wine drinkers and it lacks a certain spontaneity. What’s more, prices here are pretty extortionate. You could purchase a good quality bottle of wine from your local off license for the price of one small glass at The Windmill. Food is also expensive, although the Pieminister pies are definitely worth sampling if you’re willing to fork out £7.
Basically though, if you’re not one for conservative pubs, I’d suggest you steer clear of The Windmill.

I haven’t been in every pub or bar in Bristol, but in my opinion this is in the top five.
It has everything I look for in a great local and what’s so surprising about it is the location. Situated at the foot of Windmill Hill and a stones throw from Bedminster train station, to say the area is a little dodgy wouldn’t be doing it a disservice, but there it is with it’s odd mix of yokels and young professionals enjoying locally sourced ales and broadsheet newspapers, board games and a retro jukebox. The décor is contemporary and stylish with a mishmash of different chairs and tables, high patterned wallpaper and weather warn Chesterfield sofa’s.
Added to all this is the fantastic food. Being a Pieminister pie pub you know what you’re going to get when you go in. Great pies! But they also do wonderful light bites, in the form of tapas and mezzes. Again, supplied locally by the Real Olive Company.
Hard to find a fault so I won’t even try.

While I really don’t get their sister pub, the Pipe and Slippers on Cheltenham Road, there’s a lot to like about the independently owned Windmill.
It’s very relaxed here, though more the sort of place I’d nip to for a pint or for a bite to eat than sit down for a whole evening. They do an interesting range of booze here — including Peroni, ciders, ales and fruit beers — which are perfect for washing down a Pieminister which costs about £7 for a meal.
It’s all very family friendly, with baby changing facilities and board games, and a quieter room away from the jukebox (which takes retro coins that have to be purchased at the bar). Definitely a cut above your average ‘locals’ pub, the only fly in the ointment is the slightly limited outdoor seating.

Fact — this is my favourite pub. That’s not a hyperbole, but the plain old-​fashioned truth. My feet love the wooden floorboards, my ears love the well-​stocked jukebox, my tastebuds love the summery tapas and wintery pies ‘n’ gravy and my soul loves the cosiness of this pub. Best spot is settling down in a leather Chesterfield with your mates slurping booze or elderflower cordial and wiling away the day with newspapers and conversation. Outdoor area and tons of games from your childhood — Connect 4 included!

I’ve been here a couple of times and I can say that the food is good and
so the atmosphere inside. Good selection of beers and wine.

The Windmill really is a breath of fresh air in an area of Bristol so scummy that cars break down in the centre just to not go there. The décor inside a mixture of dark woods and patterned wallpaper and the crowd is a mix of Bristol Yokals and Yuppies. Surprisingly, it works without trouble. The pub offers a range of ciders, including the popular West Country Brothers (available in original, peach and strawberry flavours) and is an official Pieminster pub — meaning the menu is good, if a bit samey. A rare reason to go to Bedminster.

Proper modern day boozer with decent selection of real ales. Piemnister Pies have to be the best bought in food you can get in a pub.

Windmill Pub
My favourite pub in the whole of Bristol. I recommend you try it out I guarantee you will love it. It has a lovely feel to the place when you go in. Old wooden tables and chairs (not a matching chair in site!), nice wallpaper, large windows. There is an outside covered smoking area. A family area with a big box of toys and books to keep the kids happy (and the batteries are regularly renewed in the toys). There are also lots of different board games dotted about the pub and tables are often filled with people enjoying a drink and a game. On the weekends there are lots of different newspapers to help yourself to. They really do seem to have thought of everything. But I haven’t even mentioned the food or drinks yet. There is a good selection of bottled beers from a range of different countries. The beer on tap includes 3 beers from the Bristol Beer Factory, which is a micro brewery based in nearby Ashton, if you haven’t tried these yet then you must. There is also an Organic Lager from Bath Ales and Lowenbrau.
There is a nice selection of wines and comprehensive selection of spirits.
The best bit I have left for last. The food! The menu consists of Pieminster Pies, the full selection and also any seasonal specials. Tapas and Meze supplied by the Real Olive Company and mixed platters of either cheese, seafood or meat as well as some yummy traditional puddings (cant say I have tried these as I am always stuffed from the pie, mash, minty peas and gravy.) Food is served all day as an added bonus for when you need your Pieminster fix. Make this the next pub you visit you wont be disappointed!