Bristol Folk House
WHERE
Bristol
What it’s like
An adult education and events venue on Park Street with author talks, live music and comedy, plus a scratch-cooked café.
This one's built around grown-up courses and evening events rather than anything aimed at children. The programme runs to languages, leatherwork and other adult education courses by day, then live music, author talks, stand-up comedy and photography socials in the evenings, with darkroom access for anyone doing the photography side properly. None of it is pitched at kids, so if you're after somewhere to bring younger children this probably isn't it, but if you've got an older teenager keen on a specific subject or a gig, it's worth a look at what's on.
The café runs Monday to Thursday 9:30am to 7:45pm and Friday and Saturday 9:30am to 3:30pm, closed Sundays unless there's a workshop on, in which case it opens 9am to 3:30pm. Food's cooked from scratch and locally sourced, and they say they can handle most dietary needs, from bread and butter through to a full three-course meal. On weekend evenings the bar opens at 7pm and runs until the event finishes, for anyone holding a ticket.
Worth knowing before you set off: there's no parking on site, the nearest option is a five-minute walk away at the Trenchard Street multi-storey, and three Park and Ride services run into the city if you'd rather not drive right in. The building itself is a 1960s multi-level one and currently has no level access or accessible facilities. A new entrance area with an accessible toilet was added in 2022 as the first stage of a longer accessibility plan, but lift access is still some way off, so it's not a straightforward visit if anyone in your group uses a wheelchair or has mobility needs.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Nearest car park 5-minute walk away on Trenchard Street (multi-storey)
- Getting there by bus or train
- Three Park and Ride services (A4 Portway service 902, Long Ashton service 903, A4 Bath Road service 904)
- This is an adult education and events venue, not a children's attraction
- Bar opens at 7pm on weekend evenings for ticket holders only, running until the event ends
- Gift vouchers cover courses, workshops and live music tickets but can't be spent in the café
- No onsite parking, so budget five minutes to walk from Trenchard Street
Plan your visit
Is this suitable for young children?
Not really. Everything on the programme, courses, talks, music and comedy, is aimed at adults, so it suits an older teenager with a specific interest more than younger kids.
What are the café hours?
Monday to Thursday 9:30am to 7:45pm, Friday and Saturday 9:30am to 3:30pm. Sundays it's closed unless a workshop is running, when it opens 9am to 3:30pm.
Is there parking?
None on site. The Trenchard Street multi-storey is a five-minute walk away, and there are three Park and Ride services into Bristol if you'd rather leave the car outside town.
Is the building accessible?
Not fully. It's a 1960s multi-level building with no level access currently, though a new accessible entrance and toilet were added in 2022 as the first stage of an ongoing accessibility plan. Lift access is still to come, with no firm date yet.
What food is on offer?
The café cooks from scratch using local suppliers, covering most dietary needs, anything from bread and butter to a full three-course meal.
Can I book by phone?
Yes, phone lines run Monday to Thursday 9am to 9pm and Friday to Saturday 9am to 4pm in term time, and Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm outside term time.
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