Bristol drinks cider. Here’s where to drink it properly

Exhibition at the Coronation Tap comes in halves only. It is the house cider, it is 8.4%, and Visit Bristol’s cider guide calls a first glass of it a rite of passage. That is the place to begin, because Bristol’s claim to cider is not orchards, which are out in Somerset, but pubs: a handful of rooms where cider gets the range and care other cities give to cask beer.

The argument for Bristol is depth. The Orchard Inn keeps more than twenty ciders on at once, and The Apple around thirty. Bristol & District CAMRA gives cider pubs a Pub of the Year award of their own, and this year it went, again, to a backstreet local on Spike Island. Order from the barrel or the bag-in-box rather than the fridge, and ask what is still and what is sparkling, because the range runs from strong scrumpy to perry.

How we chose: CAMRA’s Bristol listings and Bristol & District CAMRA’s 2026 cider award, Visit Bristol’s September 2026 cider guide, and the venues’ own sites.

The Coronation Tap

The real-ale campaigners call the “Cori Tap” Bristol’s most famous cider house, dating back at least to the start of the 19th century, a few yards from the Suspension Bridge. Order a half of Exhibition, the house cider at 8.4%, and stop at one or two. It is a live music room as well, and in term time it fills with students. It opens late: 5.30pm on weekdays, 7pm at weekends. Sion Place, Clifton Village · Exhibition in halves only · evenings only · walk-in

The Orchard Inn

Bristol & District CAMRA named the Orchard its Cider Pub of the Year on 16 June 2026, one of a long run of wins that includes the national cider pub award in 2009. Around 15 still and 7 sparkling ciders come from Rich’s, Ashridge and others, and the house cider is made by Hecks, so start there. Food is locally made rolls, pasties and pork pies until they run out. It sits near the SS Great Britain; dogs are welcome, and children until 9pm. Monday night is a blues jam. Hanover Place, Spike Island · house cider by Hecks · opens 4pm Mon · walk-in

The Apple

A 1920s Dutch barge moored on Welsh Back has been The Apple since 2006, with a large quayside terrace, part of it covered. Around 30 ciders are sold in bottle, can and on draught, some straight from the barrel. The one with a reputation is Old Bristolian, also 8.4%, so the same rule applies as at the Cori Tap. There is no kitchen: bring your own food or have it delivered to the quayside. Welsh Back, harbourside · around 30 ciders · opens 4.30pm Mon–Thu · walk-in

The Cider Box Tap Room

The Cider Box began in 2012 selling independent, not-from-concentrate cider by subscription, and it now ferments small batches under a railway arch on Silverthorne Lane with local cidermakers. The tap room pours that fresh cider alongside rotating guests, and runs cider-and-cheese tastings and cider bingo. Drink what was made on the premises. It opens only on Friday from 4.30pm and Saturday from 1pm, so plan around it. Silverthorne Lane, St Philips · cider made on site · Fri–Sat only · walk-in, book tastings

Checked October 2026.