Cross Hands

The Cross Hands is one of my favourite pubs in Bristol. I might be slightly biased as its a family run pub but I’m sure everyone who knows this place would agree what a lovely homely atmosphere it has.
Situated in a small village you would class it as abit of an old mans pub but they have clientele of all ages. Although it is popular with older gentleman on a Saturday afternoon (same group without fail) it is also extremely popular with families with children. Everyone is always made to feel welcome weather local or not.
They have 2 big gardens at the back of the pub with lots of different toys and a big climbing frame in one and the other has a marquee with a BBQ. They offer this out for DIY BBQs in the summer or if you wanted all the work done for you then the landlady will provide the food.
Not only do they offer the DIY BBQ but they also have a license for parties. They hold birthday parties, funeral wakes & they have even had a wedding party before.
The best thing about The Cross Hands by far is the dog Rosie. She’s an adorable little staffie with the loveliest temperament I have ever witnessed in a dog. She has her own seat in the pub and she is loved by absolutely every person that goes in there.
In the winter they have their log burning fire lit in one of their back rooms and with their Christmas lights up it’s like being in a cosy little cabin.
Definitely worth a visit if you are near the area. You won’t be disappointed!

The cross hands is what I would call an old man’s pub but actually it has clientele of all ages. It has such a lovely, cosy, local feel to it and the landlord and lady are amazing!
For the winter there’s a log fire and for the summer there’s a huge back garden with plenty of benches and even a kids climbing frame. They host events such as cider festivals, you can hire it for parties and in the summer there’s a marquee in the garden, they have live music sometimes and even a DJ. But my favourite is in the winter, all the gorgeous Christmas decs up, sat on a red Chesterfield having a nice quiet vino! Lush!
This is definitely the only pub you need to visit in Winterbourne, in my eyes!

The Cross Hands in Winterbourne Down is a bit of a special pub to me. I’ve been propping up the bar for the last 14 years and more. Even though I don’t visit as much as I’d like to these days and it’s no longer in walking distance, I still consider it to be the local.
The Crosser is ran by 2 legends Pete & Les who run a no nonsense cosy country boozer. There is a great selection of West Country ciders and guest ales on tap and if you’re after a lite bite the ham/​cheese & onion crusty roles are amazing!
In the summer you can rock up with your own burgers and steaks and use the DIY bbq’s in the vast back garden which is great. A load of friends and I did it for my birthday a couple of years ago and I can highly recommend it for an easy to organise celebratory event.
There are 2 annual events which are staple must do’s for the surrounding residents and those in the know — the Boxing Day Mummers folk dancing and the May Day carnival, complete with barrels of cider out the front and a hog roast. Both are full of local West Country merriment and for me there’s always plenty of blasts from the past and loads of mates.
Friday night drinks after work are my personal fav at the crosser which I’ve not done for ages. The pub is a lot of fun and gets quite lively! I’ll DEFO be getting there soon.
What a legendary pub!

A great local pub full of character. This place is fantastic.
The cross hands offers so much from a local cider or ale to DIY barbecues in the back garden.
This place has great space for parties, fun days etc.
The rear garden is a real gem to this pub, it is certainly unexpected. The garden offers a lot, great in the sun for a quick pint, relax and even let the children loose.
Has a climbing frame and children’s toys all year around.
Dog friendly pub and there is plenty of space for them. Drinking water etc is on offer to !
A great pub is a brilliant location, take a visit I’m sure you won’t be disappointed !

Lovely local pub.
The cross hands is right at the centre of the village of Winterbourne Down and is the hub of the community, in this pub, rich mix with poor, old mix with young and there is absolutely no pretence whatsoever. They sell a very good range of real ale, ciders as well as the normal boozes and they have a very good selection of bar snacks including scampie fries (a must in my opinion)
In the winter they have a lovely open fire and in the summer you can sit in the garden and let the kids play on the climbing frame, kids and dogs are welcomed and you won’t find a more honest boozer than this.

This is my local boozer! I HEART this pub! The locals, the staff, the ‘proper pub’ atmosphere. Great in the summer for the events such as charity events, cider events, and the May Day annual carnival…
You can have DIY BBQ for large group events, with marquees and childrens playgroud. Also my dogs are welcome which is perfect when taking my dogs out for walk in the summer… The garden out back is big and has plenty of benches!
There are some good ciders avaliable on tap in here! And the annual cider festivals brings out the good old rough un’s! And prepare you for a good old knees up with some local bands and disco’s! :)

They dont do food here mate ! But you can bring your own and cook it up on one of the complimentry free bbqs ! This place has tons of character and a great choice of beers ciders and ales all at a very reasonable price.
There is a beautiful big garden out back or benches out front if you fancy just sitting and watching the world drift by.
Pete the barman is one of lifes winners always there with a warm welcome and a joke or two for you to enjoy. Stick a lepord print thong on him and marvel at the way he transform into Peter Stringfellow oh yeah !
All in all a class bozzer in the country.

A lovely local pub in Winterbourne Down.
This has been my family’s local pub for around 20 years and it hasn’t changed one bit. It’s still as charming, still has the same locals, still the same landlord and, I think, still the same roaring log fire.
The Cross Hands doesn’t do food, but it does do lots of guest ciders, ales and a brilliant atmosphere. The landlord and landlady (Pete and Lesley) are great (Pete is the spitting image of Peter Stringfellow — with open shirt and hairy chest) and make you feel like part of the furniture — which can make leaving quite difficult at times!
Friday nights are good fun. Typical local pub style. A bit of cheese on the jukebox and a good mix of young’ens and old’ens to keep it interesting from one end of the pub to the other.
But the best thing about this pub isn’t its huge back garden. It isn’t the fact you can use one of their massive BBQ’s and bring your own meat/​food. It isn’t even the regular events they hold in the summer with live bands and cider in boxes. The best thing about the Cross Hands is the pub dog. A beautiful Staffordshire Bull terrier who has the gentlest demeanour and wonderful personality. She’ll pin her belly to the ground and wiggle her way over to say hello. All the while snorting like a little pig. She has her own arm chair and sits with the locals who play cards on the big round table from 4pm every day.
This is a lovely little boozer that has a huge garden for the summer and wonderful warm log fire for the winter. As it is out of town, you can knock 40−80p off the price of pint.
A must if you’re in the area.