7 min readGone are the days when opting for a low or no alcohol drink meant sticking to the same old fizzy drinks. An alcohol-free revolution is underway and Bristol’s pubs, bars and restaurants are embracing it, with mocktails and low ABV spirits and beers for anyone cutting back on booze.
Here are some of the best places to find palate-pleasing, alcohol-free tipples around the city.
Wiper and True
New for 2024, Bristol brewery Wiper and True have released 0.5% pale ale Kaleidoscope, the second in their range of low alcohol beers, which also includes 0.5% lager Tomorrow. Order a case online or try it in their brewery taproom near Old Market. Cans are also available at their Barrel Store bar and shop in St Werburghs, as well as at selected stockists across the city.
- Many of Bristol's breweries now do alcohol-free beers, including Run Free from Left Handed Giant, Zero Gravity from Good Chemistry Brewing and Wish Your Were Beer from Arbor. Lost and Grounded Brewers stock Cawston Press fruit juices, Karma soft drinks as well as low/no alcohol beer brewed locally. Read more about Bristol's Brewery Tap Rooms
Image - Wiper and True
Harbour House
This harbourside restaurant has a page in their drinks menu dedicated to No/Low drinks. Including cans of beer from local stalwarts Bristol Beer Factory and Good Chemistry, spirit alternatives and a non alcoholic version of everyone's guilty pleasure, Passionfruit Martini-No.
Image - Harbour House
The Wellhead
This cosy cocktail bar overlooking the river in Finzels Reach has a dedicated section of its menu for no and low alcohol drinks, including the Zobo Iced Tea (Hibiscus, black tea, pineapple, ginger cordial and bitters), Placebo Paloma (Caleño Light & Zesty, pink grapefruit, salt, lime, soda) or a Bloody Shame (Big Tom spiced tomato, Henderson’s relish, Tabasco, lemon).
Image - The Wellhead
Butcombe Brewing Co.
Based just outside Bristol, Butcombe have developed a delicious alcohol-free ber, Goram Zero. This refreshing ale has all the aroma, taste and flavour of a normal IPA but with none of the alcohol it’s the perfect beer for those looking for a non-alcoholic drink.
You can try Goram Zero in several of the brewery's pubs in and around Bristol: The Ostrich, The Cottage, The Langford and The Whitmore Tap.
Image - Butcombe Brewing Co.
Racks Bar and Kitchen
There’s a cracking selection of alcohol-free bevs at Racks in Clifton, including beers and mocktails. Savour a few pints while you tune into sport on the big screens or with their excellent pub grub – check out the Sunday roasts and the £7 weekday lunch deal.
Image - Racks, credit Evoke Pictures
6 O'clock Gin
For all the flavour of their usual London dry gin without the morning-after headache, local distillery 6 O’clock Gin has perfected a low alcohol, low sugar gin and tonic, with a hint of orange peel and elderflower. Cans of Light & Low comes in crates of 12, ready to enjoy at home or on the go - order online or pick up from the 6 O'clock Gin Glassboat.
Image - 6 O'clock Gin
COR
This relaxed neighbourhood restaurant in Bedminster has a range of non-alcoholic tipples which you can pair with their small plates, including a spritz with Lyre’s Italian bittersweet liqueur, ‘prosecco’ and soda, or a French Connection with Bristol Syrup Co. orgeat, cranberry and lime. Cheers!
Image - COR
Brozen Bar
Brozen specialise in delicious frozen cocktails - made to order with liquid nitrogen! Try one of their alcohol-free concoctions such as the Flint Knap with foraged ingredients, including rosehip and rowan syrup, blackberry vinegar and lemon verbena, or an Ocean Avenue with grapefruit, orange, almond orgeat and coconut water. Or ask the bar tender to mix something special up for you!
Image - Brozen Bar
The Ivy Clifton Brasserie
There’s more mocktail action at The Ivy Clifton Brasserie. Part of the stylish chain and based in a grand former bank building decked in Art Deco interiors, there’s a fittingly classy selection of coolers and booze-less cocktails on offer, shaken or stirred with leading non-alcoholic spirits of the moment.
Among those you can try are a Forest Picante with Everleaf Forest, honey and a dash of chilli bitters, topped with tonic water. Or try an Pink Petal Elixir Everleaf Mountain, with cherry blossom and grape juice, crowned with cotton candy.
Image - The Ivy Clifton Brasserie
Bocabar
Bocabar has 2 locations in Bristol, Paintworks and Finzel Reach. From cocktails to specialist gins, and local craft beers to wines, Bocabar offers something that suits all tastes and budgets. You can treat yourself to a mocktail made using Bristol Syrup Co. ingredients, as well as a range of non-alcoholic beers.
Image - Bocabar
The Milk Thistle
The big brother of Bristol’s hippest prohibition bar, Hyde & Co, housed over four floors in one of the finest historic buildings in the city, The Milk Thistle incorporates a cocktail bar, lounge & private function rooms. Featuring a wide range of cocktails, which can all be made into mocktails, you are bound to find a tipple or two to enjoy.
Image - The Milk Thistle
The Strawberry Thief
Take a trip around the world at this multi award-winning independent beer bar in Bristol's old city. Inspired by continental style bars, The Strawberry Thief stocks over seventy of the most famous and revered Belgian and UK craft beers and ciders, plus a selection of low and no alcohol beers.
Image - The Strawberry Thief
King Street Brew House
This city centre pub has its very own micro-brewery, creating an amazing range of both cask and keg beers, plus a selection of low and no alcohol beers and spirits. This eclectic range is complemented by an ever-changing array of guest craft brews from the local area, UK and the USA. The King Street Brew House also offers a handful of mocktails featuring locally-made, alcohol-free spirit Caleño.
Image - King Street Brew House
Bristol Hippodrome
If you're taking a trip to the theatre, then you can still enjoy non-alcoholic drinks with your favourite show at Bristol Hippodrome. From award winning Days Brewing alcohol-free lager and pale ale to light and fresh CBD drinks.
The Railway Inn
The Railway Inn, just off the Strawberry Line is the perfect place to grab a pint or a pint if you are cycling along the strawberry line, or visiting the Mendips. The pub has the award-winning Thatchers Zero from Thatchers Cider on tap, or you can pop next door to buy from the Thatchers Farm Shop.
Image - The Railway Inn
The Cow & Sow
Both locations of this popular chophouse in Clifton and Queen Square offer a low and no alcohol cocktail menu to pair with their steaks. Will you opt for a Passionfruit Nojito, a Peach Sangria spritz or a Virgin Pina Colada?
Three Brothers Burgers
Opt for a fruity low alcohol Radler beer with your burger, or choose from their menu of non-alcoholic beers, including Lucky Saint, Paulaner Weissbier and Zero Gravity by Bristol's very own Good Chemistry Brewing.
Bristol Beer Factory
Give back to charity by ordering Bristol Beer Factory’s Clear Head low alcohol IPA. 5% of profits from this beer for good go to Talk Club, a Bristol-born organisation building an empowering mental health community for men. This tasty 0.5% IPA is stocked at pubs and shops across the city, or you enjoy it at Bristol Beer Factory's brewery taproom on North Street in Bedminster, or their bar Junction in Wapping Wharf.
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