With the clocks going back an hour this weekend, a visit to The Sportsmans seems timely. After all, this pub – also known as Bristol County Sports Club – has a backwards clock by the bar, the hands moving in an anti-clockwise direction past numbers printed in reverse order.
Such a backward-looking approach to time seems quite appropriate here. Established in 1892, the Bristol County Sports Club is one of the oldest members’ clubs in Bristol although these days it welcomes pretty much anyone over the threshold, whether you’re a member or not.
Such an easy entrance wasn’t always the case. Until a few years ago, I remember having to be signed in by friends who were members but times are tough in the pub industry and nowadays they are probably just pleased to see anybody walk through the door.
This large pub and function room on Colston Street is a traditional, no-frills boozer with sport on the several large screens and snooker, pool and darts for those who want to be slightly more active.
The walls are plastered with sporting memorabilia, from team photos for United Bristol Hospitals RFC to framed rugby shirts. One section of the wall is dedicated to signed photos of Welsh rugby teams and signed England shirts.
A huge wooden honours board lists past captains for the UBH RFC – established 1946. Other walls are plastered with black and white photos of bygone Bristol.
A sign on one wall notifies drinkers that Bristol-made Clarks pies are available to soak up the booze. And the Bristol theme extends to the drinks on offer, including the Courage Directors (£4.80 a pint) – once brewed in the city.
There’s also Butcombe Original, draught Red Stripe, Guinness, various premium lagers and a large selection from Thatchers as well as Blackthorn for the more old-school cider drinkers.
After so many years of being a members-only bar, most locals probably still think The Sportsmans isn’t open to everybody. That in itself makes this ‘proper’ Bristol pub a special find for those in the know.
The Sportsmans, 40 Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 5AE. Tel: 0117 9273534.