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The Rummer — Historic Cocktail Pub in St Nicholas Market

A cozy, spirit-focused pub in the medieval heart of Bristol—fireside rooms, hundreds of gins and a distilled approach to cocktails.

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Tucked into All Saints Lane beside St Nicholas Market, The Rummer is a centuries-old Bristol pub turned award-winning cocktail bar and distilling outpost. Housed in vaulted medieval cellars and snug rooms, it combines a dark, fireside pub character with an experimental spirits focus—home to hundreds of gins, rums and whiskies and regular in-house tastings and small-plate offerings.

A brief summary to The Rummer

  • All Saints Ln, Bristol, Avon, Bristol, BS1 1JH, GB
  • +441173703300
  • Visit website
  • Duration: 0.5 to 2 hours
  • Mid ranged
  • Environment icon Indoor
  • Mobile reception: 4 out of 5
  • Tuesday 12 pm-11 pm
  • Wednesday 12 pm-11 pm
  • Thursday 12 pm-11 pm
  • Friday 12 pm-12 am
  • Saturday 12 pm-12 am

Local tips

  • Book ahead for evenings and weekend slots—space is limited and tastings often sell out.
  • Ask about gin or spirit flights to sample a range of local distillery products in small measures.
  • Try to secure a seat by the fireplace for a warmer, quieter ambience during cooler months.
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The Rummer location weather suitability

  • Weather icon Any Weather
  • Weather icon Mild Temperatures
  • Weather icon Cold Weather

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Discover more about The Rummer

An enduring city pocket with layered history

The Rummer occupies a compact site beside St Nicholas Market in Bristol’s old city quarter, its timbered frontage and vaulted cellar spaces hinting at a long past of urban trade and hospitality. Records associate a public house on this site since the 18th century; the present arrangement preserves low-beamed rooms and stonework that give the interior an intentionally intimate, slightly secretive feel.

Character and interior: intimate, seasonal and spirit-forward

Inside, the mood is warm and quietly theatrical: small tables, leather sofas, an open fire in colder months and a long polished bar displaying an exceptionally broad spirit collection. The Rummer’s atmosphere balances traditional pub comforts with the precision of a cocktail bar — bartenders work with house-made infusions, smoked ingredients and locally distilled spirits to compose classic and inventive serves.

Drinks culture and the distilling connection

The venue is known for a very large selection of gins, rums and whiskies and for hosting tasting sessions and collaborations with local distillers. Expect tasting flights, demonstrations and cocktails that reference local produce and contemporary craft techniques; bottles on display range from regional small-batch labels to internationally sourced rarities, arranged so the bar feels part cabinet, part theatre.

Layout and visiting experience

The Rummer is compact rather than sprawling: small ground-floor rooms and a vaulted cellar give it a layered feel, with quieter corners for a conversational drink and busier spaces around the bar. The scale makes it well suited to couples and small groups; seating is cosy and often arranged around the fireplace or against exposed stone walls, giving each table a sense of enclosure and privacy.

Food, events and seasonal touches

Food offerings are concise and designed to pair with drinks rather than to serve as a full restaurant menu—expect elevated pub plates, sharing snacks and seasonal small dishes. The pub also programs gin tastings and spirit-focused events with local producers; these are typically limited-capacity evenings that emphasize tasting notes, production stories and guided sampling.

Local context and practical character

Set in the medieval street pattern around St Nicholas Market, The Rummer sits within a lively market quarter of independent traders, food stalls and historic streets. Its location rewards those exploring Bristol’s Old City: outside, the noises of market trade and stone-paved lanes offer a sharp contrast to the bar’s hushed, fireside interior, making a visit feel like stepping into a distinct, convivial pocket of the city.

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