Start The Bus

This arty music venue brought a welcome & long-overdue injection of cool to Bristol’s city centre when it opened back in 2008. Like its offshoot in Bournemouth, Start the Bus regularly brings in decent DJs & live acts, keeping its entry prices low into the bargain. The whole place is filled with clubby artwork, comfy sofas, fairy lights, colourful walls & a few banquette booths in one corner overlooking the dance floor; regularly changing exhibitions highlight the work of local artists & illustrators, who are often allowed a free hand to re-fashion the exterior. To eat, there’s a surprisingly long bar menu featuring sandwiches made with artisan bread, platters of mezze, pies, bangers & mash, burgers & Sunday roasts.