Tucked away on Temple Street, The Cornubia occupies a building that dates back to 1775 when it started life as the home and workshop of a wigmaker. It has been a pub since 1859 and was once the brewery tap of the nearby George’s brewery, as well as a training pub for Courage brewery.
One of the few buildings in the area to have survived the bombings of the Second World War, this Grade II-listed backstreet pub sits in the shadows of modern office blocks. It also boasts a beer garden – the only one in the area – with artificial grass and plenty of covered seating for all-year-round drinking.
Inside, there are plenty of original features, horse brasses on beams and a ceiling plastered with beer pump clips documenting the numerous ales served over the years. They include such rarities as Quantock Nightjar, Salopian Hop Twister and Goldmark Pitch Shifter – for beer-spotters, it’s a sight for sore eyes, or perhaps livers.
Often namechecked by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) as one of Bristol’s go-to pubs for serious beer drinkers, the range on offer is phenomenal. The beer is also kept in perfect condition, too, and I’ve never been served a sub-standard pint in all the years I’ve been drinking there.
On my most recent visit, ales on tap included the Coventry-brewed Byatt’s Gone Rogue red IPA, By The Horns Classic from Wimbledon and Twisted Oak Dodger, a dark ale from Wrington, North Somerset.
Twisted Oak also makes the pub’s own-label Cornubia SO beer, which is the cheapest pint on offer at a reasonable £4.40. The most expensive pint when I dropped in last week was the Lenton Lane Explorer from Nottingham, which was £4.60 but then it did also have a 5.5% ABV.
I went for the Twist and Stout, a dark and malty alternative to Guinness (which is also served), also from Lenton Lane brewery, and it was a bargainous £4.50.
Cider drinkers are treated as well as the real ale fans. All still ciders are £4.60 and include Taunton Cider and, for fans of fruity ciders, Broadoak Twisted Lime. There are also three Thatchers ciders on tap – Gold, Haze and Dry.
With food limited to cling film-wrapped rolls and pies served from a small pie warmer perched at the end of the bar, this is a no-frills gem of a pub that doesn’t have to rely on gimmicks and attracts a crowd of serious and appreciative beer drinkers all year round.
The Cornubia, 142 Temple Street, Redcliffe, Bristol, BS1 6EN.