
Quick info
About Grain Barge
Grain Barge is a pub on Hotwell Rd in Bristol, run as a floating bar and restaurant on a river barge in Bristol Docks with views of the waterfront. The Hold Bar below deck hosts live music and jazz, and the space can be hired for private events. The kitchen serves locally sourced dishes alongside craft beers, ciders, wines and hot drinks. The Sunday roast comes as roast beef, pork belly or a vegetarian version, with roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, carrots, greens and gravy, and sides such as mustard mash and cauliflower cheese can be added. Gluten free options are available. Reservations are taken, including group bookings that can be paid for remotely. The barge is open daily.
Advertisements
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sunday roast, pork belly, river and dock views and calamari fries.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sunday roast, pork belly, river and dock views and calamari fries.
Customer Review Summary
The Sunday roast is what reviewers raise most, and opinion splits sharply. One diner calls the roast beef the most incredible of the year, and another enjoyed a flavourful vegetarian version, though the portions struck them as too huge. Two others describe a very different roast: cold food including cold gravy after a wait of about half an hour, pork belly with uneven crackling, roast potatoes that tasted pre-cooked, a tasteless Yorkshire pudding, and a side that never arrived yet stayed on the bill. One of them also had no menu or water brought to the table after booking. Close behind is the setting, with the top deck and harbour views praised repeatedly. Reviewers also single out calamari fries, a side salad, iced coffee, good beer and the jazz bar downstairs. Staff are called friendly and helpful, including with a group booking and remote payment, and even the harshest review says the two staff working were trying their best. Fish and chips needed more seasoning for one diner, who also found the toilets a bit smelly.
Customer Review Summary
The Sunday roast is what reviewers raise most, and opinion splits sharply. One diner calls the roast beef the most incredible of the year, and another enjoyed a flavourful vegetarian version, though the portions struck them as too huge. Two others describe a very different roast: cold food including cold gravy after a wait of about half an hour, pork belly with uneven crackling, roast potatoes that tasted pre-cooked, a tasteless Yorkshire pudding, and a side that never arrived yet stayed on the bill. One of them also had no menu or water brought to the table after booking. Close behind is the setting, with the top deck and harbour views praised repeatedly. Reviewers also single out calamari fries, a side salad, iced coffee, good beer and the jazz bar downstairs. Staff are called friendly and helpful, including with a group booking and remote payment, and even the harshest review says the two staff working were trying their best. Fish and chips needed more seasoning for one diner, who also found the toilets a bit smelly.
Featured reviews
- Adam Pearce
“Went here today and ordered the Sunday roast. It was not that busy but we waited approx 30 minutes for our meal to arrive. We ordered the Sirloin roast which comes with 2/3 roast potatoes, a Yorkshire pudding, 2 small carrots, a few greens and some gravy. I ordered the mustard mash, cauliflower cheese and extra gravy as extras. The roast on its own was £23.95, the mash was £2.95, the cauliflower cheese was £4.25 and extra gravy was £1.75. The fact we had to wait 30 minutes for the food was no problem however when it arrived it was cold. The portion of cauliflower cheese was small for £4.25. The portion of mash was ok but everything was cold including the gravy. Given that we had already waited 30 minutes for the food there was no point saying anything to the staff who we didn’t find very accommodating in the first place and we would of had to wait another 30 minutes for the next meal and we didn’t have time. We thought the meal was expensive but heard the roasts here were good so decided to give it a try. The least we expected was for it to be hot/ warm. Cold gravy is something else. Great location right on the river but sadly that was all I was impressed with today. Have been here before but never had the roast and very unlikely to again.”
- callum bignall
“I'm going to be generous and give this a 2 because the 2 girls working there were, But everything sucked, we had a booking on Sunday we went and sat down at our table, and noone brought a menu or water over, we sat for over 30 minutes without anyone communicating with us, we went to the bar and ordered drinks and asked for some menus, no table check at all, we had to flag the girl down to take our orders, food came out really quick but wasn't hot, 2 of us ordered pork belly and they couldn't have looked more different, 1 had no crackling at all but the other had alot, not seasoned either, Roast potatoes were inedible, think they were wholesale pre cooked spuds and were just browned off and tasted bad, the braised cabbage was good and the 1 carrot was also nice, Yorkshire pudding was tasteless, Had to take salt and pepper off another table, This was like if Greggs made a roast dinner and for roughly £20 a roast you would be better going to Gregg's, we also ordered sides and 1 of them never showed up yet it was still on the bill. The staff were nice and they were obviously struggling which is why I'm giving 2 points the 2 girls were trying there best and did it graciously, maybe it was a bad day maybe they were understaffed but honestly bad experience, I wouldn't recommend”
- Julie Boyd
“Stopped for drinks on a hot day & sat out on the top deck. I had an iced coffee & my husband a beer. Both very good & excellent value. We were pleasantly surprised with the bill of around £7.50”
- James Bant
“A Delicious Roast I had in Bristol Docks just now, the most Incredible Roast Beef I've had this Year so far 😋 🐄 👍 with a Glass of Cider on the side of course 🍺 and an excellent view of the Docks too "Bonus!" The Staff were very friendly and helpful too, thank you all very much, I really enjoyed it, definitely worth visiting with Friends and Family! 😎 ⛴️ 👍”
- Elise Townsend
“Had lunch here on a Saturday. It was a nice location in the sunshine. They had gluten free options, I had fish and chips which were nice but could have done with more seasoning. Toilets were a bit on the smelly side”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Good to know
“We're a relaxed and friendly bar and restaurant serving locally-sourced dishes and a range of craft beers, ciders, wines and hot drinks. Grab a table below deck and enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the harbour - or sit up-top and watch river life glide past.... down below in our Hold Bar you can also catch live music or hire out the cosy space for your private event!”
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible car park · Wheelchair-accessible entrance · Wheelchair-accessible seating
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
Location
Bars near Grain Barge
- 0.4 mi£10–20ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
bottomless wings, dads eat free offer, burgers and fries
- Par 59 Bristol4.91,8800.4 mi£30–40ReservationsWheelchair accessibleWi-Fi
bottomless brunch, mini golf, chicken strips
- Somerset House Clifton4.23730.5 mi£1–10ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
sunday roast, cauliflower cheese, small plates selection
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grain Barge | 4.42,499 | — | — | sunday roast, pork belly, river and dock views |
| BrewDog Bristol HarboursideReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.3912 | 0.4 mi | £10–20 | bottomless wings, dads eat free offer, burgers and fries |
| Par 59 BristolReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Wi-Fi | 4.91,880 | 0.4 mi | £30–40 | bottomless brunch, mini golf, chicken strips |
| Somerset House CliftonReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.2373 | 0.5 mi | £1–10 | sunday roast, cauliflower cheese, small plates selection |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
Similar Bars nearby
0.6 miThe White Harte Bristol
0.6 miThe White Lion
0.8 miThe Famous Royal Navy Volunteer
0.8 miThe Milk Thistle
0.9 miBlame Gloria - Cocktail Bar in Bristol
0.9 miKing Street Brew House
0.9 miSeamus O'Donnells
0.9 miHighbury Vaults
More to explore in Bristol

Pubs
30 places
4.7 · Cappadocia Restaurant BristolRestaurants
134 places
4.5 · Mrs. Potts Chocolate HouseCafes
54 places
4.7 · Luxury Nails BristolBeauty
20 places