
Quick info
About Seamus O'Donnells
Seamus O'Donnells is an Irish pub in Bristol, at 13 St Nicholas St, serving Guinness and a pint of the black stuff, with Guinness 0.0% also available. Quiz nights run regularly and live music plays every week. Karaoke is on offer, and a DJ takes the decks in the evenings. Drag performers appear regularly, with upcoming drag events advertised on a screen. An LGBTQ+ comedy night brings a compere and a line-up of acts to the room. Security staff work the door. The pub opens Monday to Saturday and closes on Sundays. Dogs are welcome inside.
Good to know
- ParkingParking
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, seating
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention pint of Guinness, drag performers, karaoke nights and LGBTQ+ comedy night.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention pint of Guinness, drag performers, karaoke nights and LGBTQ+ comedy night.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often point to the lively atmosphere, built around weekly karaoke, drag performers and an LGBTQ+ comedy night with a great compere. Guinness comes close behind, one pint described as poured with real care, and Guinness 0.0% gets a mention too. Several call the staff friendly, and one visitor stopping in after St Nicholas Market describes a relaxed spot that felt safe. Minor notes include an old pub where things may not be new, a beer selection one reviewer finds not the best, and a screen advertising drag events that distracted from the comedy acts. Security draws the sharpest split. One reviewer reports a bouncer grabbed a woman by the collar, refused her group entry and photographed them, and another describes a guard making misogynistic remarks about women, while a third says security handled every situation respectfully. One diner ends on spotless toilets after a couple of Guinness 0.0%.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often point to the lively atmosphere, built around weekly karaoke, drag performers and an LGBTQ+ comedy night with a great compere. Guinness comes close behind, one pint described as poured with real care, and Guinness 0.0% gets a mention too. Several call the staff friendly, and one visitor stopping in after St Nicholas Market describes a relaxed spot that felt safe. Minor notes include an old pub where things may not be new, a beer selection one reviewer finds not the best, and a screen advertising drag events that distracted from the comedy acts. Security draws the sharpest split. One reviewer reports a bouncer grabbed a woman by the collar, refused her group entry and photographed them, and another describes a guard making misogynistic remarks about women, while a third says security handled every situation respectfully. One diner ends on spotless toilets after a couple of Guinness 0.0%.
Featured reviews
- Ian Jones
“Seamus O’Donnell’s, Bristol – 5 stars Called in for “just the one” after walking around St Nicholas Market and ended up staying for two because it was so lovely and relaxing. It’s a proper friendly pub where you instantly feel safe, welcome and at ease. The Guinness is poured with real love and care – one of the best pints I’ve had in Bristol. A cosy, genuine little spot that makes you slow down, breathe out and enjoy the moment. Ideal place to rest your feet after the market and soak up a bit of proper Bristol charm.”
- Jonathan Lidster
“Impromptu weekend in Bristol, and stumbled across this bar, and OMG what a great atmosphere. We did move on to another bar after, but to be honest wished we had stayed here as would have been a much better night overall. Will definitely be coming back here again when visiting the city”
- lissy Knight
“Absolutely unacceptable and deeply concerning experience. The bouncer’s behavior came across as blatantly misogynistic and completely unprofessional. After the girl in front of me made a harmless comment, he escalated the situation by physically grabbing her by the collar and forcing her out (not even an exaggeration!) an aggressive and inappropriate response, especially toward a girl who posed no threat. It felt like he singled her out and handled the situation with unnecessary force and hostility, which raises serious concerns about how women are treated at this venue. Things only got worse from there, he then refused entry to the rest of the group without any clear reason, despite them being calm and cooperative, then proceeded to allow me and my husband in. Outrageous, and we obviously refused, offering comfort to the startled young adults! While we were standing outside as instructed, he took photos of them without their consent and openly said he was sending them to a “group chat” to prevent them from getting into other venues. That felt intimidating, invasive, and frankly vindictive. No one should be treated with that level of aggression or disrespect on a night out. This wasn’t just poor service; it was behavior that crossed multiple lines. I would strongly urge others to think twice before supporting a place that allows this kind of conduct. We hope this is dealt with before our return as we love the Irish gay bar. -pictures not good but all I could get without causing a stir”
- Shea Huggins
“Absolutely love this venue, and as a woman I feel very safe with the security staff that are working here. Specifically this guy (pictured), didn’t get a chance to get his name, but from what I witnessed throughout the night he dealt with every situation respectfully (even when the people were a nightmare!!) and kept the door under good control. Will definitely be back here any chance I get!”
- OD
“recently had a very unpleasant experience with one of the security guards on duty. He was wearing rectangular glasses and appeared to have slightly ginger hair. As a 65-year-old, I was genuinely shocked and disturbed by the language he was using while speaking to other staff members. His comments about women were deeply inappropriate and openly misogynistic. He spoke about women as though they were objects, making crude remarks within earshot of young women who were simply there to enjoy their evening. It was uncomfortable to witness and completely unacceptable in a professional setting. I am extremely disappointed in the lack of standards shown in hiring and supervising security staff. Behaviour like this reflects very poorly on the company. If this individual is representative of your staff, it raises serious concerns about the safety and wellbeing of guests—particularly women. I would strongly urge the company to address this issue immediately. No one should feel uneasy or disrespected by the very people responsible for ensuring their safety. I’ve attatched a picture I found of him for reference…”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
- Closed
Highlights
“Welcome to Seamus O'Donnells, the best pub in Bristol! If you are looking for a great selection of drinks, as well as a genuinely friendly atmosphere, look no further! We regularly host quiz nights which are very popular among regulars and newcomers alike, and we also have live music every week! So why not pop in and say hello, have a crisp pint, and make some new friends?”
- Great beer selection
- Karaoke
- Live music
- Live performances
- Sports
- Trivia night
Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Parking
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Dine-in
Show more amenities
- Alcohol
- Cozy
- Beer
- Dancing
- Food
- Sports
- Highlights· 5
- Great beer selection
- Karaoke
- Live music
- Live performances
- Trivia night
- Accessibility· 1
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Crowd· 4
- Groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Tourists
- Transgender safespace
- Offerings· 3
- Cocktails
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Dining options· 1
- Seating
- Atmosphere· 1
- Casual
Location
Bars near Seamus O'Donnells
- 0.1 mi
drag queen entertainment, bottomless cocktails, music bingo
- King Street Brew House4.27430.1 mi
house-brewed beers, burgers, brew house brat
- The Milk Thistle4.59860.1 mi£30–60
doorbell hidden speakeasy entry, creative signature cocktails, non-alcoholic mocktails
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seamus O'DonnellsWheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating · Wi-Fi | 4.3987 | — | £10–20 | pint of Guinness, drag performers, karaoke nights |
| Blame Gloria - Cocktail Bar in Bristol | 4.81,153 | 0.1 mi | — | drag queen entertainment, bottomless cocktails, music bingo |
| King Street Brew House | 4.2743 | 0.1 mi | — | house-brewed beers, burgers, brew house brat |
| The Milk Thistle | 4.5986 | 0.1 mi | £30–60 | doorbell hidden speakeasy entry, creative signature cocktails, non-alcoholic mocktails |
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