We have a pint in the homely pub near Bristol with free roasties and a ‘grumpy hour’

A cheery welcome is virtually assured at The Grapes but should you feel particularly crabby late in the afternoon, this Chipping Sodbury pub is just the place to put the world to rights.

Rather than the usual ‘happy’ hour favoured by pubs offering cut-price drinks, Grapes owners Tracy and Sam run a special ‘Grumpy Hour’ from 5pm to 6pm every day. 

The tongue-in-cheek blackboard advertising this dedicated hour for Chipping Sodbury's curmudgeons and complainers informs any potentially grumpy customers that the prices stay the same as normal but you can ‘moan all you want’.

Not that I could find anything at all to moan about at this homely little pub on historic Rounceval Street.

Formerly known as the Tudor Bar, the pub at the top end of the town’s High Street dates back to the 1700s.

For a time, the entire pub was turned into an Indian restaurant but the Tudor Raj now occupies one half and The Grapes is on the other side of the passageway leading to the toilets.

On the Saturday afternoon I visited, the pub was busy with rugby fans crowding around the TV and the atmosphere was friendly and convivial. Tracy and Sam are genial hosts and they have built up a loyal local following.

Like the excellent Horseshoe pub across the road, The Grapes takes great pride in the range and quality of its real ales.

On this occasion, they included Sharp’s Doom Bar, Courage Directors and Butcombe Original but I went for the guest beer - Weetwood Cheshire Cat, a citrussy blonde ale that’s rarely seen outside its Cheshire motherland. And it was in tip top condition - as fresh and clear as can be.

A blackboard next to bar lists forthcoming guest ales - they were about to add the Southsea Brewing Co’s Seas The Day and Sharp’s Sea Fury - and all ales are available to take home in containers of two, four or eight pints.

The pub runs occasional live music and a quick look at its Facebook page reveals recent performances from Meatloaf and Neil Diamond. Well, their South Gloucestershire lookalikes anyway.

As I left, I spotted another sign - they like their blackboards at The Grapes - advertising free roasties on Sundays.

Free hot roast potatoes to soak up perfectly kept pints of interesting beers in a friendly atmosphere? This is one pub that ensures nobody leaves in a bad mood.

The Grapes, 49 Rounceval Street, Chipping Sodbury, BS37 6AS.