Grain Barge
WHERE
Bristol
What it’s like
A floating pub and restaurant on the harbourside where you eat on deck and let the kids poke around below.
It's a barge, moored on the harbourside, and that's most of the appeal before you even order anything. The site lists music and art below deck, which is a decent way to fill twenty minutes while you wait for food, and there's something about eating on a boat that kids find more interesting than eating in a normal restaurant, even when the menu isn't that different.
The food side is proper, not an afterthought. It's a restaurant serving locally-sourced, seasonal dishes, with craft beers, ciders and wines for the grown-ups. That pushes it more towards a nice family lunch than a quick chips-and-a-run-about stop, so it suits a table booking mindset rather than turning up mid-tantrum.
One thing worth knowing before you go: it's not wheelchair accessible, with access via a narrow walkway and a flight of steps. That's a faff if you've got a buggy too, so factor in carrying it rather than wheeling it straight on.
If you fancy arriving by water rather than on foot, the Hotwells ferry runs from the city centre to Mardyke Wharf, but only in summer and school holidays. Opening hours stretch late on Fridays and Saturdays, right up to midnight, though a family visit is obviously an earlier-in-the-day plan.
What’s on here
Facilities
Need to know
- Food
- Restaurant serving locally-sourced seasonal dishes
- Getting there by bus or train
- Hotwells ferry from city centre to Mardyke Wharf in summer and school holidays only
- Steps and a narrow walkway on the way in, so it's not buggy-friendly without a carry
- The Hotwells ferry to Mardyke Wharf only runs in summer and school holidays
- Late licence on Fridays and Saturdays until midnight, though that's not really family visiting time
Plan your visit
What is there for kids to do?
The site mentions music and art below deck to explore, so it's more of a look-around-while-you-eat visit than an activity-based one.
Is it accessible with a pushchair or wheelchair?
Not really. It's not wheelchair accessible, and you get on via a narrow walkway and a flight of steps, so a pushchair means carrying it.
What's the food like?
A proper restaurant menu of locally-sourced, seasonal dishes, plus craft beers, ciders and wines if you fancy one while the kids eat.
Can we get there by boat?
The Hotwells ferry runs to Mardyke Wharf from the city centre, but only in summer and school holidays.
What are the opening hours?
Midday to 11pm Monday to Thursday, midday to midnight Friday and Saturday, and midday to 10pm on Sunday.
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