Bristol peeps....I need your help

[IainB]

Im up in Bristol for a company christmas do on Tuesday (over at the Passenger Shed) and my company have booked me into the Mercure Bristol Holland House Hotel

Look out for the idiot in the Tuxedo following the rest of T-Mobile IT to a drinking session (after our first Orange/T-Mobile IT meeting....)

So....apart from it looking like its in staggering distance can anyone let me know what the parking is like and....is it still snowing there? (the last time I was there I remember Bristol as being a bit of a nightmare)

[Knipples]

Does the hotel not have a carpark?

Theres a car park about 5 mins walk from the hotel which is fairly reasonable. (go look at the map its just over the roundabout where it says welshback) failing that if you can head towards St Mary Redcliffe (church) theres a bit of street parking round there. Dont park in the NCP round the corner from Welsh back, its extortionate!

As for weather, there was snow last Friday, it was all gone by Monday and we've had nothing more since, just rain and now ice where thats frozen, but the main routes are fine.

If you are driving to Bristol the evening of the do, the centre of town (which isn't a million miles away from where you are staying) can get pretty snarled up, so allow for a bit of extra time.

Anything else you need a hand with, just shout.

[IainB]

Muchos Gracious

Now to find somewhere for a large lunch - need to get some food into the old stomach, leaving mine at 8 / 9 - get to Bristol for lunchtime, then a meeting at 2...then parteeeeeeeee

[Knipples]

Do you want somewhere recommending? I can give you a couple of places by the hotel?

[IainB]

That would be awesome if you could

There are a few of us getting in early and I can show off my inside knowledge of where to eat

[Knipples]

Bar aqua (on Welsh back) is lovely, gimme a mo and I'll remember the other.

[Matblack]

We ended up eating at a place very close to that for an OcUK meet once

MB

[Knipples]

Theres a place called "the hole in the wall" which does kind of pub grub, or theres Cathay Rendevous, which is a fab chinese/oriental type place.

http://www.cathay-rendezvous.com/ (it looks massive but its not)

http://www.theholeinthewallbristol.co.uk/

http://aqua-restaurant.com/

Thats the three i've mentioned. All about a 5-10 min walk from your hotel depending on what you fancy.

[Jingo]

+1 for hole in the wall if you fancy a pub with some basic snacky lunch bits.

If you really want to show off your 'Bristol Knowledge' then I'd head over to the Prince Street Ferry Bridge (about 5 minutes walk from your hotel), catch the water-taxi through Bristol's historic floating harbour (going past the SS Great Britain) and arrive at The Grain Barge.

Here you'll find a fine selection of locally produced ales and ciders, with a nice variety of locally sourced fuds (Pies to die for) that will fill bellies of all apetites

If you need a pub close to the hotel then The Golden Guinea in Guinea Street (right next to your hotel) serves local various ciders, often has live music and has good capacity for stumbling home! Literally!

If you're peckish midday then head over to Redcliffe Rolls (Prewett Street, opposite your hotel) where you'll get a "gert tasty sandwich my loverrrr" from the very small but equally lovely young lady

If all above fails, Go Explore! Bristol = fun

[IainB]

Thank you both

Hopefully this should be a lovely trip out....I have a feeling it will be carnage later on though

Thanks for the suggestions - very much appreciated