We have a pint in the tucked away Bristol pub with an all-day happy hour, free nachos and a dozen ciders

Bristol is lucky to still have plenty of thriving neighbourhood pubs but few match the loyal customer base of The Shakespeare.

This Totterdown corner pub - known affectionately by the locals as simply The Shakey - is a true survivor and it hasn’t really changed that much in the 30 years I’ve visited it.

Of course, the area itself has changed quite a bit over that period, as have the house prices - a ten-minute walk from Temple Meads, this corner of south Bristol is highly sought after and the estate agents invariably mention the area’s pubs when trying to lure househunters.

But the essence of the pub is the same and the fact it’s not visible from the main road means it’s still very much a place you need to know about as you’re unlikely to walk or drive past by accident.

On Mondays, there’s a happy hour all day, with two-for-one cocktails on Fridays. Visit on a Thursday and you can enjoy a burger and pint for just £12 and if you fancy a proper Sunday roast, you’ll need to book well in advance as it’s often fully booked.

A huge blackboard in the bar lists the food on offer the rest of the week and it includes jerk chicken, curry goat and West African peanut and vegetable stew, all £9 and served with rice and peas, salad and slaw.

There’s also slow-cooked bourbon and BBQ ribs (£9), slow cooked BBQ pulled pork burger with jerk BBQ, Cajun fries, salad and slaw (£12) and sharing plates of baked nachos with salsa, guacamole, sour cream and cheese (£5.50).

On the day I visited, the pub was packed by 6pm and many customers were being tempted by the teetering pile of sausage rolls on the bar.

There were three draught ales including Wiper and True Kaleidoscope and Butcombe Original. I went for the Bristol Beer Factory Drop The Pressure (£4.90 a pint) and it was in perfect condition. Other beers and lagers on tap include Moretti, Beavertown Neck Oil, Amstel, Guinness and Offshore Pilsner.

But it’s the huge range of ciders that draws the eye most. There are a dozen on tap or served from boxes on the bar, including several from Frome-based Lilley’s and Thatchers, as well as Orchard Pig and Aspalls. 

With small beer gardens front and back, live bands and DJs at weekends and a Tuesday quiz with free nachos to nibble, it’s the quintessential pub for locals and still one of the best in Bristol.

The Shakespeare, 1 Henry Street, Totterdown, Bristol, BS3 4UD.