The Colosseum: Landmark Bristol city centre pub goes up for sale

One of Bristol’s landmark pubs is up for sale. The Colosseum on Redcliff Hill stands in the shadows of St Mary Redcliffe church and is on the market for £60,000 for the leasehold.

A large, detached 1960s-built pub with two spacious outside seating areas plus two owners’ apartments above, estate agents Christies are marketing the pub as having ‘Airbnb/letting potential’.

Close to Temple Meads, Bedminster and Harbourside, The Colosseum occupies a prime location, with a large hotel and restaurants nearby. The pub is well known for its cheap drinks prices - last year you could still get three pints for £10 - and for screening live sport.

The sale material for the property describes the area as having ‘high footfall and passing trade’ and being ‘ideally positioned next to the Mercure Hotel’.

The rear bar has pool tables and dart boards, with a small outdoor seating area for ten people. There is also a fully fitted trade kitchen. It is understood that all trade fixtures and fittings will be included in the sale price. In the past, the pub has also been used as a venue for events including record fairs.

Christies say: “The Colosseum benefits from regular customers, as well as new, and has been very well established by the current owners. However, in our opinion areas where the business could be further enhanced to maximise returns.

“The current owners offer breakfast but there is significant scope to further develop the food offering into lunch, dinner and bar snacks as the business benefits from a 24-hour licence.

“Subject to the right consents, there are also opportunities to increase letting or Airbnb accommodation in this city centre location. The owner’s accommodation was previously B&B rooms which provided an annual income of approximately £20,000.”

Turnover at the pub is said to have been in excess of £170,000 for the last trading year and the property has a free-of-tie lease, which expires in September 2026. The passing rent is £39,000 per annum.