Bristol Splunch 13. May 17th, 2014.

[Mike Nomic]

The thirteenth Bristol Splunchwill take place on Saturday, 17th May 2014from 2:00pm – 7:00pmin Horts Bar, 49 Broad Street, Bristol, BS1 2EP, and for those who are still peckish/thirsty later at some eatery/watering hole elsewhere in or near the city.

This is a vanilla meet; all over 18 from anywhere are welcome, and entry is free – I might even buy your first drink.

How do I get there?

Broad Street is about twenty minutes walk from Bristol Temple Meadsrailway station, easily accessible from almost anywhere in the country, and there are several car parks nearby.

From the railway station exit, turn right along Temple Gate to the roundabout, cross over onto Victoria Street, continue over the river bridge into High Street, and bear gently left into Broad Street as High Street turns to the right into Wine Street. Horts Bar is about one hundred yards down on the right.

From the bus/coach station, exit onto Whitson Street, left into Lower Maudlin Street, cross Lewins Mead to Rupert Street and turn right. After about two hundred yards, turn left into Christmas Street, cross Quay Street and through the stone archway into Broad Street. Horts Bar is about fifty yards up on the left.

For those driving, at the bottom of the M32/Newfoundland Street, turn right onto Bond Street, take the first exit at the roundabout into The Haymarket, turn left into Bridewell Street, left into Nelson Street, right into Halifax Street and into the multi-storey on All Saints' Street - only £5 for the whole day, and closer than any other one. Map below.

To get to the bar, from All Saints' Street, turn right into Pithay, right into Tower Lane, left into Newmarket Avenue, and right onto Broad Street - the bar is a few yards down on the right. (Politically correct notice – other car parks are available in Bristol.)

For those flush enough (or subsidised) flying into Bristol (Lulsgate) Airport, take the 331 bus service to the bus/coach station and proceed as above from there.

Hotels – the usual chains are readily available: Premier Inn, Haymarket (next to the bus station, approx ¼ mile – from £86); Premier Inn, King Street (approx ½ mile – from £49); Hotel Ibis, Temple Quay (approx ½ mile – from £75); Hotel Ibis, Anchor Road (approx ½ mile - from £89); Travelodge, Anchor Road (approx ½ mile – from £85); Travelodge, Mitchell Lane (approx ½ mile – from £74); Holiday Inn Express (approx ¾ mile – from £92); Holiday Inn (approx 1 mile – from £118); Future Inn, Cabot Circus (approx ½ mile – from £109); Novotel, Victoria Street (approx ½ mile – from £85); and Mercure Brigstow (approx ½ mile – from £99). For those hotels that are not available for Saturday only, rooms seem to be readily available for two-night stays, either Friday/Saturday or Saturday/Sunday nights at very reasonable rates. Other hotels are available – check laterooms.com or similar sites.

I’ll be hoping to do an outdoor mud shoot on the Sunday (always subject to the bl**dy weather and availability of sober drivers), but I’ll have to see how I feel much nearer the time.

If you have any further questions, post them here or pm me.

Mike Nomic

Normality is subjective.