Colosseum

Our Take

Brutalist 1960s icon opposite St Mary Redcliffe Church, recently reinvented by the World Famous Dive Bars group — the team behind Mother's Ruin and The Crown — into Bristol's most characterful late-night drinking destination. The covered terrace gazing out at one of England's finest Gothic churches provides a backdrop that no amount of interior design budget could replicate, while the Mediterranean-inspired tapas and handcrafted cocktails make afternoon sessions genuinely pleasurable. A 24-hour licence means sessions can theoretically continue until 4am, making this the rare afternoon drinking spot with serious staying power. The iconic yellow lettering has been preserved, the dive bar soul maintained, and the roof garden plans promise even more outdoor drinking to come. Bristol's most architecturally distinctive afternoon venue.