Gloucester – 21st March 2011

Gloucester Cathedral: This 900-year-old Norman Cathedral is the centre point of the City and has a number of Royal connections as well as being one of Europe's enduring architectural beauties.  Visit the Cathedral and see the world's first fan-vaulted Cloister.

Outside Photo: 

Inside Photo:                   

The cloisters – used in one of the Harry Potter films 

Gloucester dock:  The collection of warehouses within the docks owe their existence to the corn trade of the nineteenth century when huge quantities of wheat, oats , barley and maize were shipped into the port from Ireland, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.  These warehouses are still visable in their entirety today.

Bristol city review – 18th – 20th March 2011

Eating Out (7/10) – lots of options being a big city, some nice looking places to try along the river, in particular around Watershed. Several high quality food places such as the Mint Hotel City Inn. 

Nightlife (8/10) – lots of nice bars along the river, but with it is higher prices for a drink, plus it seems a draw here for the Hen/Stag parties as seen with Nottingham. Lots of other nice smaller pubs around to avoid the crowds

Outdoors (6/10) – nice for attraction within old town and up around the suspension bridge, nice for walking along the river front

Romance (3/10) – more for a modern young crowd going out than for romance, but still nice on a sunny evening eating a meal along the river

Shopping (8/10) – very good range, from old town shops, to the very modern range within the new shopping development

Sight- seeing (6/10) – a range of activities, most notable the Cathedral, around Millennium square and the suspension bridge

Hotel (6/10) – very nice hotel, but given the choice the cheaper option turned out to be the one of better value

Communication/attitude (8/10) – all very nice people that we came across

Transport (4/10) – the city is not too large so the main old city and new town shopping area are both easy to walk to. Sites further out require a bus or car, the parking is a lot cheaper than Bath. We also tried out the city bus tour which once on took us on a 1 hour 30 min tour of the sites.  However this was meant to be a hop on hop of services for 24 hour period (£10 per ticket), but since we waited an hour to get on we decided best not to get back off the tour and be stranded for ages.  

Value for money (7/10) – lots to see and do for very little money, good shopping and cheaper hotel than other cities

Overall 63/100 = 63%

Chophouse Restaurant – 20th March 2011

Restaurant Address: Chophouse Restaurant and bar, Bond Street South, Bristol, BS1 3EN

Web Site: http://www.futureinns.co.uk/restaurant-bar-bristol

Decor (6/10) – a mix between American New York dinner and modern English deco

Atmosphere (6/10) – relaxed, like a lounge, however the Jazz music playing on live below was not quiet to our taste

Food (7/10) – American style with portions to fit that style, for starter Dan went with the Nacho option, while I had BBQ baby back ribs with garlic bread. For mains we both had grilled chicken burger with bacon topping and side of corn, chips and onion rings. This was not fancy food, but nor was it priced as such. It was very filling thou and tasted good.

Service (7/10) – welcoming and efficient

Value for money (8/10) – Total price £40 with starter and mains and beer for two it was very good value for the quality and quantity

Overall: 35/50 = 68%

Future Inn Hotel – 20th March 2001

Address: Bond street south, Clifton East, Bristol, Bs1 3EN

Web site: http://www.futureinns.co.uk/bristol-hotels

Grounds (7/10) – very close to the central new shopping complex (Cabot circus) and just a 15 minute walk from the old town and riverside areas, but squeezed in between a main road and housing

Reception (4/10) – clean and simple, fast service, however they forgot to mention about how to pay for hotel parking which was meant to be free in the main Cabot circus car-park.

Bedroom (7/10) – family sized room (x2 double bed) making this one of the largest room we have stayed in within a city centre. Standard room features, TV, ironing board, Tea/Coffee but extra for using internet. Bed very comfortable, nice and soft, but being near the main road meant the traffic could be heard a bit during the night.

Hotel facilities (5/10) – standard basic hotel facilities, room, reception, bar and then steakhouse restaurant (reviewed separately)

Value for money (8/10) – Excellent at £64 per night, although this was the rate on Sunday night

Overall – 31/50 = 62%

Bristol day 2 – 20th March 2011

Brunels SS Great Britain: Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s maritime masterpiece was the world’s first ocean-going, propeller-driven iron ship, built and launched in Bristol in 1843. After a life as a luxury liner, troop ship, cargo vessel and floating warehouse, Brunel’s ss Great Britain was abandoned in the Falklands Islands in 1937. However, she was thankfully salvaged in 1970, towed back to Bristol and has now been fully restored to her former glory.

The historic vessel is being conserved for future generations under a ‘glass sea’ in the very dockyard where she was built. Visitors are encouraged to experience what life was like for her Victorian passengers and crew, including a visit to the three-storey-tall moving engine. Tickets to Brunel’s SS Great Britain allow free and unlimited return visits for a year from the date of purchase.

Stroll along the river:

Beware the seagull:

 

St Mary Radcliffe Church: St Mary Redcliffe is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, which has stood on this site for some 800 years. Within its hallowed walls, you will find a superb collection of carved bosses, elegant 18th century ironwork, beautiful stained glass and a world famous organ. The church is sited on the red cliffs, above the floating harbour, and was originally at the very centre of shipping and industry, which is the key to its history. The merchants of the Port of Bristol began and ended their voyages at the shrine of Our Lady of Radcliffe.

Banksy – freehand graffiti artist