The Social Bar & Cafe Info
Amenities
Service options
-
Outdoor seating
-
Dine-in
Health and safety
-
Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Highlights
-
Great cocktails
Accessibility
-
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Offerings
-
Alcohol
-
Beer
-
Wine
Atmosphere
-
Casual
-
Cosy
Crowd
-
Groups
Payments
-
NFC mobile payments
Best PlaceJuice Reviews
The social is a great versatile space. I come here to get work done during the day as they've got decent coffee (however, the wifi isn't always very strong!) There's live music some nights and the brunch is delicious! Shown here is the Veggie light breakfast.
Great meal in the back courtyard at the Social on Cheltenham Road Stokes Croft Bristol. I had smoked makers with summer vegetables and a creamy sauce and lemon. My friend had poached eggs on toast with spinach and smoked salmon ,both dishes were delicious and just the meal for a hot September day
I spent last weekend in Bristol and was looking for a brunch place with a few friends on Sunday, about 90 minutes prior to our coach departure. Our first impression of The Social was a nice one, as it is a cosy space with nice furniture and ambience. Placing our orders went fairly quickly. But then our experience became quite bad.
We waited for more than an hour. During that time, no one gave us an update on our order. No one even bothered checking on tables. I know this because by the time we left the cafe, our table (located at the front window) still had the dirty plates and cups from the PREVIOUS visitors on it. No one ever bothered to clear them!
We kept looking at the bar where some of the staff were busy wiping the counter multiple times, or mixing drinks. It needs to be said that, for a Sunday, it was not too busy. So, there really is no excuse why the staff would ignore visitors that way. We also asked them several times about our order, which did not help speed the process up, and our table remained full of dirty plates.
We had entered the cafe at around 1:35pm, and by 2:40pm we had become very restless as our coach was leaving the station at 3:15pm. So, we asked them to please put our food in takeaway boxes. This took almost another ten minutes!
Thanks to the oblivious staff of the Social, we had to eat our food in the waiting room of the coach station. I cannot recommend this place and it almost ruined our Sunday afternoon – luckily, the rest of our stay in Bristol had been a nice one. Won't be back to this cafe.
Went for a night out with a large group of people from all around Bristol. Staff there were friendly. Plenty of seating mixed between sofas and large tables. Didn't get any food but my mates liked it. There was this amazing jazz group playing throughout the night and a really great atmosphere. Clean unisex toilets. Heaters in the outdoor smoking area.
The Social cafe is a mid-range priced breakfast menu (served until 5pm) in a dimmed setting. You order at the counter and they bring your food to the table. I wouldn’t call their portions generous but sufficient enough. Their Social had a poached egg, rather than sunny-side up. The buttermilk fried chicken bap was crispy and succulent. Not too sure what sauce they used in it. My friends’ orders were delayed, however, they were quite happy to give them a discount. Ample seating and good service otherwise. Very relaxed atmosphere.
Location 5
Food and drink 5
Staff 5
My only issue is the appeal these sort of places have to the snowflake/hipster/gentrification types. I asked for a coffee and was asked “do you want milk from a cow?”….. as opposed to some sort of organically ethically sourced gender neutral non binary lookalikey non udder produced powdered arse biscuit milk” ????. Alas we are living in crazy times but funnily enough I enjoy sipping from the good old udders. Anyway I just find the chinstroking hipster types grating but then again that’s what has happened to The Croft and Montpelier and countless other areas - the common folk get gentrified out.
But staff and food and all that stuff were fab. ????????
Nice buzz around brunch time, good atmosphere and coffee with a good menu for breakfast and lunch. I had a tasty haddock kedgeree for a very reasonable price and my mum and sister had sausage sandwiches, one vegan and one pork. Both were impressed.
The menu changes, but I've never had a meal there that wasn't excellent. The fish finger sandwich for lunch is delicious!
Quick Facts About The Social Bar & Cafe
The Social Bar & Cafe is a popular and versatile space that offers a range of positive experiences for its customers. The strengths of The Social include its versatile space, decent coffee, live music nights, and delicious brunch. However, there are also weaknesses that need to be addressed, especially regarding the service and cleanliness of the cafe.
One of the strengths of The Social is its versatility as a space. Customers can come here to get work done during the day, thanks to the decent coffee provided. The cafe also hosts live music nights, providing entertainment and a lively atmosphere for its visitors. Additionally, the brunch menu is described as delicious, with options such as the Veggie light breakfast and the haddock kedgeree receiving positive feedback.
Another strength of The Social is its ambience and furniture. Customers have noted that the cafe has a cozy and nice atmosphere, making it an inviting place to spend time. The seating options, including large tables and sofas, provide ample seating for different group sizes and preferences. The clean, unisex toilets are also mentioned as a positive aspect.
In terms of food and drink, The Social receives positive comments for its menu options. Customers have praised the quality of the meals, such as smoked mackerel with summer vegetables and a creamy sauce, or poached eggs on toast with spinach and smoked salmon. The food is described as delicious, with some dishes like the crispy and succulent buttermilk fried chicken bap standing out. The pricing of the mid-range breakfast menu is also seen as reasonable.
The staff at The Social also receive positive feedback from customers. The friendly and helpful nature of the staff is appreciated, contributing to a good overall service experience. The service provided is seen as good, with the staff accommodating delays in food orders by offering discounts.
Despite these strengths, there are weaknesses that need to be addressed at The Social. One of the main issues highlighted by customers is the poor service experience they encountered. Multiple customers reported having to wait for a long time for their orders without receiving updates or assistance from the staff. In one instance, the customers had to ask for their food to be put in takeaway boxes as they were running late for their coach departure. This lack of attentiveness from the staff in clearing tables and updating customers on their orders is a significant weakness that should be addressed.
Another weakness mentioned by a customer is the inconsistency in cleanliness. It was noted that their table still had dirty plates and cups from the previous visitors, which remained there throughout their visit. This lack of attention to cleanliness is a negative aspect that can affect the overall customer experience.
Additionally, one customer expressed their frustration with the cafe's appeal to a particular demographic, referring to them as "snowflake/hipster/gentrification types." While this comment does not reflect the overall quality of the cafe, it represents a weakness in terms of how the cafe may be perceived by some customers.
In conclusion, The Social Bar & Cafe offers a versatile space with decent coffee, enjoyable live music nights, and delicious brunch options. However, weaknesses such as poor service, inconsistency in cleanliness, and the perception of catering to a specific demographic need to be addressed in order to improve the overall customer experience. By addressing these weaknesses, The Social can continue to build on its strengths and provide a more enjoyable and satisfying experience for its customers.
Place Pictures
Today
Opening Hours
| Monday | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
| Thursday | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
How to go there
Location
Places
