I tried the cheapest pint in a Bristol pub and had to stay for a second

It’s 10.30am and I’m already ordering my second pint of the morning. Well, when it costs just £1.49 a pint, why not, especially when it’s all in the name of work.

‘Drink the cellar dry’ says the sign stuck to a wall close to the main entrance of the WG Grace pub. There’s another on the bar next to the long line of handpumps.

But apart from that, it has to be said that this Wetherspoon doesn’t exactly shout about this Thursday-only offer of guest ales at £1.49 a pint.

Having done plenty of research into this important matter - we even published a round-up of the cheapest pubs this week - it’s fair to say that this Whiteladies Road pub is serving the cheapest pint in Bristol at the moment.

Two pints for £3 with change left over when many pubs nearby are charging £6 a pint - no wonder this WG Grace deal is becoming so popular.

Apart from a few builders and scaffolders having cooked breakfasts in the rear restaurant area, The WG Grace isn’t too busy despite it being a sunny Thursday morning.

But there are few like-minded souls at high tables near the bar and sitting outside in the sun - many of them also supping £1.49 pints.

The bargain beers change each week but I’ve struck gold on this Thursday as the two guest ales in the deal are from Bristol’s very own Hop Union brewery, which I know well due to visiting its excellent brewery tap on a Brislington trading estate.

The two beers on tap at the WG Grace are the Alpha Centauri golden ale and the Maiden Voyage best bitter, both usually £2.99 at the Wetherspoons pub but each knocked down to £1.49 on this occasion. I can’t remember what I paid for these in the brewery’s own bar but it was certainly at least £3 more than this per pint.

And the beers at the WG Grace are in perfect condition, crystal clear and as fresh as can be. What a result. What a bargain.

On my way out, I chat to a couple of WG Grace drinkers taking advantage of this Thursday-only deal.

Student Sam has popped in for a quick mid-morning pint as he’s trying out a few local pubs in preparation for the start of term.

He said: “I didn’t actually know this deal was on until I came in and spotted the poster but it’s incredible. Where else can you get a local beer for that price these days? I’ll definitely be coming back with my mates when they get back to Bristol for the term.”

On an early lunch break between jobs, decorator Shaun is enjoying his pint of Maiden Voyage, too.

He says: “They haven’t been doing this offer very long but it seems to be getting more popular as the word spreads. I don’t think I’ve paid £1.49 for a pint since the 1990s!”

Terry has come down to the pub on the bus from Sea Mills to meet a couple of mates but he’s sticking to the IPA (which is 50p more expensive) simply because he hadn’t seen the poster when he arrived at 9.30am.

“They must have put the poster up late as I’d already started on the IPA - I like to stick to the same beer once I’ve started, but it’s a great deal and why would anybody drink in other pubs charging £5 or more for a pint?

“I don’t usually come here on a Thursday, more Tuesdays and Saturdays, but a lot of people say this is the cleanest Wetherspoons too. I don’t have any pubs in Sea Mills where I live so I can get the bus to the doorstep and back!”

Quite how long the WG Grace will carry on with this £1.49 offer is unknown but it’s the cheapest pint in Bristol I’ve come across and fantastic news for the city’s ale drinkers. Well done, Spoons, I’ll certainly raise a glass or three to this unbeatable deal.