The Hatchet Inn is a historic pub in the English city of Bristol. It is a Grade II listed building.[1] The name is thought to originate from the axes/hatchets that the local woodsmen used in Clifton Woods.[2]
| Hatchet Inn | |
|---|---|
 The Hatchet Inn | |
  Location within Bristol | |
| General information | |
| Town or city | Bristol |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°27′14″N 2°36′01″W / 51.45389°N 2.60039°W} |
| Completed | 1606 |
| Website | |
| www | |
The building dates from 1606, but has undergone significant alteration since[3] and is a grade II listed building.[1] It is the oldest still operating pub in Bristol, though while it was still operating the Llandoger Trow was of a similar age.[4]
Since the 1980s the Hatchet has been known as one of Bristol's few alternative pubs hosting rock music upstairs.[5][2] The pub has a pool room located upstairs as well as a venue which is used for clubs and can be hired for private bookings. There is a beer garden located on the side of the property, facing the O2 Academy venue.[6]
Located behind the pub was the old Cannon Cinema, which closed down in 2000. The building is now an Academy Night Club/gig venue where many well known bands have played.[7]
In the 18th century there was a rat pit at the rear of the building.[8] In September 2006 the Hatchet celebrated its 400-year anniversary. The streets nearby were closed, staff and some regular customers dressed up in historic costumes.[citation needed]
The Hatchet was acquired by the Liberation Group (owners of Butcombe Brewery) in 2017[9] but was shut in March 2020 due to the first nationwide COVID-19 lockdown. Jon Bassett, owner of JW Bassett Pubs, signed a 20 year lease in May 2021 and spent £500,000 on renovations, before reopening The Hatchet to the general public on 28th June 2021.[10]
In Popular Culture
editThe Hatchet Inn is one of the locations in which the novel The Fair Fight by Anna Freeman is set. The Hatchet Inn is also the palace from where the pirate Samuel Bellamy started his trip from England to Cape Cod in Alexander De Chastelaine's novel Black Sam.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1372291)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
- ^ a b "Pub of the week: The Hatchet Inn". Bristol Culture. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
- ^ Burrough, THB (1970). Bristol. London: Studio Vista. ISBN 0-289-79804-3.
- ^ Murray, Robin (5 October 2019). "Bristol's oldest pub The Hatchet has gone vegan". Bristol Post. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ "the hatchet inn in bristol". Skiddle. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
- ^ "Pub Profile: The Hatchet Inn". The Night Shift. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
- ^ "The Hatchet Inn". Time Out. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
- ^ "Brigstowe, Bristol and beer" (PDF). CAMRA Bristol. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
- ^ Clensy, David (25 July 2017). "Bristol's oldest pub has been bought by Butcombe Brewery owners". Bristol Live. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ Murray, Robin (25 June 2021). "First look inside Bristol's oldest pub after £500k renovation". Bristol Live. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ De Chastelaine, Alexander (2022). Black Sam (1st ed.). Amazon. p. 9. ISBN 9798322095491.