BEARWEST scene

Considering the size and populous of the City, the Bristol scene is a little odd and takes in two small pockets - one in the City Centre with The Pineapple, Queenshilling, The Griffin and Clone Zone. The other focuses on the Old Market area which is set to become Bristol's Gay Village - with venues along Old Market street and up into West Street and beyond. There are some very well established venues and others which seem to come and go. Generally though, it is an up and coming area with a vast amount of investment including new office complexes and hundreds of houses and apartments.

Stag & Hounds is back - after loads of support initially from the previous landlord the Stag seemed to change it's policy and no longer wanted to promote it's gay friendliness. Now under new management - it's back! A fantastic pub with a very welcoming atmosphere for everyone - needs to find it's feet again but the potential is great! Low bear paw rating at the moment, but we'll be reviewing the listings regularly so watch this space!

Castro's. A mixed club, but on the first Sunday of each month "Hard" is held there. It's a strict dress code leather, rubber, fetish sex club night. Open from 7:30 - 9:30 for entry then the bar is open until around midnight. It's been on a break but re-opens again for March 2008, so check the website link for the latest details. Also at Castro's - this time on the third Sunday of each month is "Gear" - pitched somewhere between Come To Daddy Extreme and Hard - it's a fetish night with play areas - not a strict dress code, but dress to impress and go along to play! It's £6 to get in so won't break the bank either.

Old Market Tavern. Traditional pub which was the mainstay of the bear crowd for a few years, but now it attracts a very mixed crowd, Not really recommended if you are out on your own, but in a group you can make your own entertainment on an evening. Open until 2am on Friday and Saturday. Great garden area - attracts the local office crowd for lunches through the week.

The Lounge - Small trendy bar which attracts a regular crowd not really a bearish place to be - but could make for a pleasant beer or two betwen other venuesif there's a few of you out and about.

BBB Bristol Bear Bar Brand new bar (opened August 9th 2008) giving bears something more in Bristol - modern, clean and very professional with a great atmosphere and fantastic music video system! Look out for the specials and events coming up on the website link above. Bearpaw rating a very definate 5.

Cottage Sauna. It attracts a good regular crowd and is open weekdays from 11am to midnight and all weekend from 11am Friday to 12 midnight on Sunday as well as every other day - full details can be found on their website. It has a large hot tub, sauna and steamroom, lounges and the "suckatoruim" (bet you can't guess what that is). They have a Wet Fur Bears Day twice a month (2nd and 4th Sunday) with concessionary entry price if you have the BearWest Members Card. We'll be bringing you more information as we get it on this regular bears sauna day and any other furry fun events here.

Flamingo's. Bristol's main nightclub, attracts a very mixed gay/straight crowd. It has regular PA's but it is also the current home for Come To Daddy, which you'll find on the second Saturday of each month in the upstairs VIP lounge. Entry to Come To Daddy is £3 and it's there from 9pm through until 3am. Watch the diary page for latest details as there are various drinks promotions and theme nights as well as special price entry to the main club after C2D has finished.

The bearpaw rating is for Come To Daddy.

The Retreat. Work has started on this venue and it's due to open in October 2008. It's spread over two floors and will be the new home of Come To Daddy, giving bears so much more space to spread out than the VIP lounge does. Bearpaw rating is for the Come To Daddy nights!

Old Castle Green. Just round the corner from Flamingo's, it's quite an unusual bar with a large window at the front and narrow bar with small chillout area towards the back, can be a great atmosphere in there when there's a group of you. Open until 4am on Friday and Saturday. Attracting a few bears lately in it's mixed (straight and gay) crowd - it's one of the main venues for the BearWest monthly gatherings, keep an eye out in the diary for when we'll be there.

Starbooks. A very relaxing atmosphere, fun and friendly staff and great drinks (the coffee is superb and the hot chocolate divine!). You can get cake and other goodies or hot dogs for something meaty! Buying a hot drink gets you free time on the internet too - oh and if coffee and cake isn't enough you can browse and buy second hand books (very wide selection) and trade them back when you've finished with them. Highly recommended for just chilling out.

Come To Daddy Extra at Club O. On the 4th Saturday of each month this event is the furthest out of the area, but still within walking distance of the main venues - there's also a car park. It's a great venue which is in three sections. The main bar/dancefloor area, the comfy lounge and adult cinema area and the play area - great for everyone really because you don't even have to go through the play area to get to the loo's - there's a certain kind of atmosphere in there which if you are of a certain age reminds you of clubs as they used to be - slightly seedy but so much fun!
Club O is going through management changes and this entry will be updated soon.

IN TOWN!

The Queenshilling and the Pineapple don't attract bears
so we have decided not to include all the details on this site.
The Griffin has just re-opened under new management. No
website yet but you can call them on 0117 927 2421.
However one place not to be missed is CLONE ZONE.
Not listed on the map, but if you click the text link
you'll find the map on the Clone Zone website.
If you want to call the shop for information
or directions then the number is
0117 929 7666.



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		Considering the size and populous of the City, the Bristol scene is a little odd and takes in two small pockets - one in the City Centre with The Pineapple, Queenshilling, The Griffin and Clone Zone. The other focuses on the Old Market area which is set to become Bristol's Gay Village - with venues along Old Market street and up into West Street and beyond. There are some very well established venues and others which seem to come and go. Generally though, it is an up and coming area with a vast amount of investment including new office complexes and hundreds of houses and apartments. Stag & Hounds is back - after loads of support initially from the previous landlord the Stag seemed to change it's policy and no longer wanted to promote it's gay friendliness. Now under new management - it's back! A fantastic pub with a very welcoming atmosphere for everyone - needs to find it's feet again but the potential is great! Low bear paw rating at the moment, but we'll be reviewing the listings regularly so watch this space! Castro's. A mixed club, but on the first Sunday of each month "Hard" is held there. It's a strict dress code leather, rubber, fetish sex club night. Open from 7:30 - 9:30 for entry then the bar is open until around midnight. It's been on a break but re-opens again for March 2008, so check the website link for the latest details. Also at Castro's - this time on the third Sunday of each month is "Gear" - pitched somewhere between Come To Daddy Extreme and Hard - it's a fetish night with play areas - not a strict dress code, but dress to impress and go along to play! It's £6 to get in so won't break the bank either. Old Market Tavern. Traditional pub which was the mainstay of the bear crowd for a few years, but now it attracts a very mixed crowd, Not really recommended if you are out on your own, but in a group you can make your own entertainment on an evening. Open until 2am on Friday and Saturday. Great garden area - attracts the local office crowd for lunches through the week. The Lounge - Small trendy bar which attracts a regular crowd not really a bearish place to be - but could make for a pleasant beer or two betwen other venuesif there's a few of you out and about. BBB Bristol Bear Bar Brand new bar (opened August 9th 2008) giving bears something more in Bristol - modern, clean and very professional with a great atmosphere and fantastic music video system! Look out for the specials and events coming up on the website link above. Bearpaw rating a very definate 5. Cottage Sauna. It attracts a good regular crowd and is open weekdays from 11am to midnight and all weekend from 11am Friday to 12 midnight on Sunday as well as every other day - full details can be found on their website. It has a large hot tub, sauna and steamroom, lounges and the "suckatoruim" (bet you can't guess what that is). They have a Wet Fur Bears Day twice a month (2nd and 4th Sunday) with concessionary entry price if you have the BearWest Members Card. We'll be bringing you more information as we get it on this regular bears sauna day and any other furry fun events here. Flamingo's. Bristol's main nightclub, attracts a very mixed gay/straight crowd. It has regular PA's but it is also the current home for Come To Daddy, which you'll find on the second Saturday of each month in the upstairs VIP lounge. Entry to Come To Daddy is £3 and it's there from 9pm through until 3am. Watch the diary page for latest details as there are various drinks promotions and theme nights as well as special price entry to the main club after C2D has finished. The bearpaw rating is for Come To Daddy. The Retreat. Work has started on this venue and it's due to open in October 2008. It's spread over two floors and will be the new home of Come To Daddy, giving bears so much more space to spread out than the VIP lounge does. Bearpaw rating is for the Come To Daddy nights! Old Castle Green. Just round the corner from Flamingo's, it's quite an unusual bar with a large window at the front and narrow bar with small chillout area towards the back, can be a great atmosphere in there when there's a group of you. Open until 4am on Friday and Saturday. Attracting a few bears lately in it's mixed (straight and gay) crowd - it's one of the main venues for the BearWest monthly gatherings, keep an eye out in the diary for when we'll be there. Starbooks. A very relaxing atmosphere, fun and friendly staff and great drinks (the coffee is superb and the hot chocolate divine!). You can get cake and other goodies or hot dogs for something meaty! Buying a hot drink gets you free time on the internet too - oh and if coffee and cake isn't enough you can browse and buy second hand books (very wide selection) and trade them back when you've finished with them. Highly recommended for just chilling out. Come To Daddy Extra at Club O. On the 4th Saturday of each month this event is the furthest out of the area, but still within walking distance of the main venues - there's also a car park. It's a great venue which is in three sections. The main bar/dancefloor area, the comfy lounge and adult cinema area and the play area - great for everyone really because you don't even have to go through the play area to get to the loo's - there's a certain kind of atmosphere in there which if you are of a certain age reminds you of clubs as they used to be - slightly seedy but so much fun! Club O is going through management changes and this entry will be updated soon. IN TOWN! The Queenshilling and the Pineapple don't attract bears so we have decided not to include all the details on this site. The Griffin has just re-opened under new management. No website yet but you can call them on 0117 927 2421. However one place not to be missed is CLONE ZONE. Not listed on the map, but if you click the text link you'll find the map on the Clone Zone website. If you want to call the shop for information or directions then the number is 0117 929 7666.