Star & Garter

I have been here last night for the first time and I wasnt drunk when arrived, I was scared at the beginning, I was like: what the hell !? Where am I ??? Once I got in, it was amazing, great music, genuine people, could not stop dancing, love it big time !!! :)

the star and garter is a little gem, that many people would shy away from due to the way it looks. It looks a mess, covered in Grafitti, windows covered and scruffy outside. Inside its still rough around the corners but has the nicest vibe you could wish for. Slow paced atmosphere with similar music. Awesome pool table, just pop your name on the board and you’ve made a new friend immediately. I urge people to give it a go

The Star and Garter has got the same kind of thing going on as the Prince of Wales around the corner, except it is a little bit friendlier. Yes, they have a coffin for a table in one of the small rooms, but that’s ‘art’ don’t you know. They have a big green felted table in the other room, which i find equally curious… considering the scale of the pub (tiny), and the volume of people that attempt to frequent it (huge), it seems an odd thing to keep a large scale pool table in a room that can barely accommodate it.
I love this place, and have enjoyed a few all nighters that I’m unsure they had the license for. When the place gets too full, people find themselves making their way up the stairs, and before you know it, you’re drinking in someone’s kitchen…
The fact that I’m writing this review in Holland seems to be somewhat appropriate. The Star And Garter is the kind of place that the Dutch would take to like a duck to water.

There’s something comforting about knowing that whatever the time of night, the Star & Garter is probably open for business. Often visited as a last ditch attempt to get an unsuccessful party started after mediocre club nights prove not worth the effort, the Star & Garter can be relied on to serve strong and cheap drinks all night, be filled with a clientele of the most curious persuasion and playing some great reggae tunes.
The reggae pub has an eerie atmosphere, with the hatch for a bar, coffin-​shaped table, odd décor and odd people. Whether it’s middle aged hippies enjoy a quiet trip to god knows where, St Pauls locals, students or dreadlocked rasta grandfathers, the clientele is always eclectic and always intriguing.
But it’s a great atmosphere nonetheless, with an infectious spirit of fun and consistently upbeat tunes.

Well, this pub is certainly unique. Reggae music is blasted out into the early hours of the morning, cans of Red Stripe are served through a hatch, rather than a bar — a bit like the kind you’d find at a youth centre — and everybody in the place is super chilled out, if you know what I mean. Coming here is quite an experience, it has to be said, but the vibe is very, very cool and within seconds you’ll find yourself surrounded by friendly faces, all ready to strike up a discussion on the meaning of life, the universe and everything, at the slightest push. It’s a great place to come late at night if you’re feeling, erm… philosophical.

The Star and Garter is a classic Bristol pub, with an atmosphere very uniquely its own. If you’re a fan of reggae you really need to know about this place — they love it here, and play it loud and long every night, but most especially on the weekends.
The interior is fairly quaint, and arguably could benefit from a bit of updating, but the old fashioned vibe just adds to its atmosphere. I think the owners are happy the way it is and would rather spend their time nodding their heads to a slow skanky beat. It’s well loved in the neighbourhood, and is an excellent stop off for a late night drink on the way home. They may also be slightly partial to turning a blind eye to any red eyed drinkers.

Like literally walking into someone’s front room, I had to do a double take when I stumbled into the Star & Garter late one Saturday night after a few bevvies in the nearby Cadbury. Carpeted and curtained in chintz and roses, with an old gal singing show tunes at the bar and a dude tapping out reggae beats with his feet the atmosphere is so sub-​relaxed its like not even going out! It’s super close to Montpelier train station, and is kitted out with a (scruffy) pool table, jukebox, darts, and reggae and old ska evenings a-​go-​go.
Like a great old uncle, the pub is known and loved throughout St. Pauls for its no frills approach to beer and its musty cosiness!

The Star and Garter used to be shut down a lot due to it being open till 6 in the morning, but now that it’s legal, it’s open most of the time.
When I first went there… a timid cliftonite student… I was slightly scared of this very st. pauls pub, especially since people kept looking at me funny when I said «excuse me please» to go past. Despite it’s first appearances however, it is not a scary place, and although the regulars tend to keep themselves to themselves, and may look slightly intimidating to the fresh-​out-​of-​clifton variety (oh how naïve I was), it’s a really nice and refreshingly different place to go.
Dub and reggae is the music of choice, and there’s usually a DJ there, and although it’s a small place, dancing regularly breaks out. Check out the night when Jonah from the Zen Hussies DJ’s — his music is amazing… and as I remember… mostly about trains?
There’s also a dart board and pool table… but be warned that it’s winner-​stays-​on, and don’t be worried about putting your money on the table if someone’s already playing.
So be brave. Don’t jump to conclusions. Don’t be too scared of St. Pauls (I lived there after Clifton… and it is much, much better). And go to the Star and Garter. You’ll probably thank me.