Begins approximately at 9:00 p.m., and finishes at 12:00 p.m.
An alcove near the front window is reserved for the sessioners, but be aware that this area is quite small - there is only room for about a dozen musicians.
The beer is very reasonably priced for central Bristol, and very well kept (at least it was, when I was there).
Very friendly landlord, who deserves more support from the general drinking public. There was hardly anyone else in the pub on the evening that I went. So if you know anyone who appreciates the music, but is not a musician, please recommend this pub to them.
Although close to the centre of Bristol, (at the time of writing) free on-street parking is available closeby - if you search for it!
Finally (before some irate Scotsman berates me for my spelling of "Scotchman"), the name of this pub has nothing whatsover to do with a backpacking male originating from Caledonia.
The "Scotchman and his Pack" is on the side of a very steep hill. In yesteryear, chocks of wood were placed under the wheels of carts to prevent the carts running away downhill.
These chocks of wood were called "scotches". And (you've guessed it!) the guy whose job it was to place those scotches under those wheels was called "the Scotchman".
And (in these days when the names of pubs get changed every five minutes), it's refreshing to note that this pub has held its current name for 150 years ...
An enterprising professor of psychology from the nearby Bristol University, Tom Troscianko, skied down St Michael's Hill after a heavy overnight snowstorm last February. You can see his run on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIxOSwwGleY.
The Scotchman and his Pack pub can be glimpsed on the left at a road junction near the bottom of the hill, about 20 seconds into the video.
Ooh. my driving instructor made me practise hill satrts on this (a looooong time ago) - if you could reliably start on this road, you should be able to start on the piffling slope they used on the test.
I got to move back to Bristol! A session at the Scotchman's as well now.
My wife and I first met at the afore mentioned public house, her first words were "what can I get you?";
I played a gig there once, sat in the corner by the door along with my pipe playing friend and a melodian-player. That was Twenty something years ago - not too many places for traditional music in Bristol back then
The Scotchman and his Pack
Irish session - fairly high standard.
Begins approximately at 9:00 p.m., and finishes at 12:00 p.m.
An alcove near the front window is reserved for the sessioners, but be aware that this area is quite small - there is only room for about a dozen musicians.
The beer is very reasonably priced for central Bristol, and very well kept (at least it was, when I was there).
Very friendly landlord, who deserves more support from the general drinking public. There was hardly anyone else in the pub on the evening that I went. So if you know anyone who appreciates the music, but is not a musician, please recommend this pub to them.
Although close to the centre of Bristol, (at the time of writing) free on-street parking is available closeby - if you search for it!
Finally (before some irate Scotsman berates me for my spelling of "Scotchman"), the name of this pub has nothing whatsover to do with a backpacking male originating from Caledonia.
The "Scotchman and his Pack" is on the side of a very steep hill. In yesteryear, chocks of wood were placed under the wheels of carts to prevent the carts running away downhill.
These chocks of wood were called "scotches". And (you've guessed it!) the guy whose job it was to place those scotches under those wheels was called "the Scotchman".
And (in these days when the names of pubs get changed every five minutes), it's refreshing to note that this pub has held its current name for 150 years ...
# Posted on August 5th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
The Scotchman and his Pack
Shakespeare used a related meaning of "to scotch" - meaning to immobilise - in Macbeth III, 2: "We have scotch'd the snake, not killed it."
# Posted on August 8th 2009 by Trevor Jennings
The Scotchman and his Pack
An enterprising professor of psychology from the nearby Bristol University, Tom Troscianko, skied down St Michael's Hill after a heavy overnight snowstorm last February. You can see his run on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIxOSwwGleY.
The Scotchman and his Pack pub can be glimpsed on the left at a road junction near the bottom of the hill, about 20 seconds into the video.
# Posted on August 8th 2009 by Trevor Jennings
The Scotchman and his Pack
The optimum size for a session should, in my view, be no more than a dozen at the most, so the session at The Scotchman is usefully self-limiting.
# Posted on August 8th 2009 by Trevor Jennings
St Michael's Hill
Ooh. my driving instructor made me practise hill satrts on this (a looooong time ago) - if you could reliably start on this road, you should be able to start on the piffling slope they used on the test.
# Posted on August 10th 2009 by spindizzy
Another old favourite pub now with a session
I got to move back to Bristol! A session at the Scotchman's as well now.
My wife and I first met at the afore mentioned public house, her first words were "what can I get you?";
I played a gig there once, sat in the corner by the door along with my pipe playing friend and a melodian-player. That was Twenty something years ago - not too many places for traditional music in Bristol back then
# Posted on August 19th 2009 by stripthewillow
Session terminated
This session no longer takes place - water has been leaking from the roof into the area reserved for the musicians!
My information is that an alternative venue is being sought.
# Posted on May 15th 2011 by Mix O'Lydian