ah the old barrel, home of my student drinking days. these days a bit quieter, however music is top…read morenotch, especially with the live bands. bar staff are fantastic, helpful and friendly. loves it :)

After visiting the Stones at Stanton Drew, you may as well visit their pub at the same time. This…read morebeautiful historic country inn is positioned next to the Stanton Drew prehistoric Stone Circles in the wonderful Chew Valley south of Bristol. They also have three large stones in their pub garden called The Cove. Here is some information re these three stones - On the other side of the village, between the church and the Druid's Arms Inn is the mysterious Cove, this comprises of two standing stones, one looking like a huge prehistoric golf flag and a third recumbent slab lying between them. The purpose of these stones is unknown but a survey in 2009 sought to shed light on the suggestion that they formed part of the facade of a long barrow. Although the results were inconclusive, the theory could not be ruled out and if correct would mean the Cove was the founding monument of Stanton Drew and could predate the stones circles by as much as 1000 years. Interestingly there is an alignment from the Cove through the centres of the Great Circle and the Northeast Circle while a second alignment exists through the centres of the Southwest Circle and Great Circle towards Hautville's Quoit on the other side of the River Chew. Sites like Stanton Drew always attract their share of legends and stories. It is said that the stone circles are a petrified wedding party who danced on into the Sabbath due to the mischievous Devil's fiddle playing. The bride, groom and parson tried to escape but they too were turned to stone, and now stand as The Cove. This story is similar to many other associated with circles and standing stones throughout the country, and like other sites, the stones of Stanton Drew are said to be uncountable.

To be honest, the clientele are far from druid-like in nature. Old men in wax jackets and dogs…read more Don't let that put you off. The proximity to Stanton Drew Stone Circle means that a hippy vibe does emanate from the place - mainly in that it's relaxed and they serve decent scrumpy from the barrel! Around solstice time, pagans and freespirits are of course attracted to the site - it can get extremely busy, but a fun, festival atmosphere fills the place, people bring along their lutes and guitars and impromptu sing-a-longs break out all over the place. On a day-to-day bais there is one bar, a separate dining room (doing proper pub grub and a reasonable Sunday roast) a roaring fire, and a lovely beer garden overlooking the stone circle.