While areas around Bristol are losing their pubs, the Shield and Dagger is bucking the trend.
Pubs on Bristol’s fringes have suffered more than most with the challenges of the 21st century - many have closed in the past decade or so, with areas losing an essential glue that binds the social fabric of a community together. Some estates or areas of the city have lost all their pubs, converted to curry houses or HMOs, or knocked down completely to make way for housing development.
But there is at least one post-war South Bristol pub that is bucking the trend, while remaining the kind of traditional, welcoming place our grandparents would still recognise - the Shield and Dagger in Whitchurch.
“THE SHIELD IS ALWAYS BUZZING”
In the 2010s, the pub had been in a bit of a decline - it offered little more than ping food, cheap lager and tatty decor. But then it was taken over by the Black Rose pub chain and has undergone a heartening rejuvenation - with a renaissance that sees the place packed out at the weekends, and pretty full on almost every night of the week too.
The pub was built in the early 1960s as one of the focal points of the housing estates that grew to the west of the Wells Road, at the foot of the Dundry Slope, completing the community hub that still includes the church, the primary school and the run of local shops and businesses on East Dundry Lane.
“THE TRADITIONAL ESSENCE OF THE PUB WAS RETAINED”
BlackRose saw the opportunity as the world came out of Covid for a major refurbishment and now, inside and out, the pub has been transformed into a modern, smart, clean and comfortable community pub.
Some new owners or refurbishments can take the heart out of a pub, and the regulars suddenly feel that they’ve lost something. But with the Shield and Dagger, the opposite was the case - because the traditional essence of the pub wasn’t just retained, it was made better, it allowed the pub to thrive once again.
And thrive it has. Inside, the pub feels roomy, even though the tables filled up as the evening wore on. The tables are pretty big too - which is an under-rated quality to a pub, as too many pubs have you hunched around small tables leading to a cramped feel.
“NOW IT’S BRIGHT AND INTERESTING”
The smart new blue baize pool table was always occupied, the dart board taking a hammering too. And there’s plenty of TVs dotted around for the sports fans to watch the Six Nations or the Premier League - and there’s always a match to be seen most evenings.
But, crucially, the Shield has got the balance of that just right - too many pubs which put on the football will allow it to dominate the entire pub, but the placing of the screens is well-thought out, meaning it’s perfectly possible to have a night out in the Shield without feeling like you’re in a sports bar.
Back a few years ago, the Shield’s food was not great, but now it’s actually pretty decent. They do pizzas, burgers, toasties - just the kind of thing you want for a proper meal, without worrying you’re not going to like whatever pretentious thing the chef has tried this week. There’s a good kids menu too, and the desserts are a must.
The Shield is always buzzing, colourful and friendly. From being a tired bar it’s now bright and interesting - the centre piece behind the pumps are the colourful bottles of spirits and a range of cocktails just as good as anything you’d find in town. There’s always something going on - every weekend has at least one live music act, and that alternates between Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights to mix things up a bit, which is a great idea.
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Bristol Live
10 Feb 2024