The Apple

Yummy cider — tastes exactly like juice. A great alternative for those who dislike beer!

As a raging cider head you can guess my opinion on this place… Absolute gem.
All the best ciders in the world, local faves and an extensive array of guest ciders.
Students get drinks for 1quid, and the prices are very competitive for its location. if I have the time I’d happily walk in… And fall out !

I really like the Apple, epically on a summers day. This place has great vibes and served some really good cider !
I don’t get to go here often but when I do I soak up the atmosphere and great surroundings and indulge in a cider or two !
In the summer they have big benches outside which are in a great position to chill in the sun.
You can sit upper deck or lower. This gets really busy but adds to the great vibes and atmosphere.
Overall a great place to visit for a cider or drink, catch up with mates or just chill.

If I had to pick one bar that captured Bristol culture, ethos and character — it would definitely be The Apple!
Sat on the river, The Apple is a bar on a boat that specialises in cider. They have a really nice upper deck that is covered and has patio style heaters for the winter. The lower desk has another bar with a great tables and sofas to chill out on.
But The Apple comes into its own during the summer when you can sit outside. They have loads of big benches on the cobble pathway outside and when it’s busy the atmosphere is awesome.
Cider wise they have the lot. There’s so much to choose from, but one of my favourites is Katy; it’s really refreshing!
But if you’re feeling adventurous, go for an Old Bristolian. They only sell it in half pints, and for good reason, it’s 8.4% — oof!
This is definitely one of my favourite places in Bristol!

A barge that sells cider and lots of it! My fiancé doesn’t realise this place has a name — he calls it the cider barge. In fairness, it is just that.
It’s a lovely setting on the water, especially when the sun is shining. Although later in the day, the seats out on the pier can be cold when the sun is behind the buildings and they are all in the shade.
There is a great selection of cider, both on tap and by the bottle. There are one or two beers as well.
There is a great buzz to the place. Definitely going to the The Apple again when I am back in Bristol next.

Hmmm let me see.
A barge dedicated to selling Cider. Should I go there. Hell yes,
FERMENTED APPLE HEAVEN!
I love cider, I love boats, I love water and I love the sun! All in all this was a great day out!

Ahoy !
A very nice place with a great student feeling to it, I felt we were served well, yet not over-​friendily, by the Cider Captain (a quiet weeknight, you’d expect more enthusiasm from the staff…).
Yet it did its job: great ciders, very cheap prices, tasting sessions ahead of the big choice, etc.
What’s not to like ?!?

Grubby boat for students run by equally grubby students. Cold, staff sitting around unprofessionally. Won’t be back!

I’m not the cider drinker in our house, in fact I’m not a big fan of the drink in general. It looks and smells like pi$$.
So why the 5 stars I hear you ask? One word… Ploughmans. Holy Christ on a bike they’re good here.
If you’ve got a spare afternoon and the sun is out, you could do worse than whiling away an hour or so parked up at the Apple… They’ve got bottles of Gem if you share my abhorrence for appley based beverages.
One odd thing I noted… All the staff working there, at least when we went seem to indicate the owner might have a penchant for young attractive alternative looking ladies… I’m pretty sure he could be hauled over the coals under the Equality Act 2010. But I for one applaud you sir.

The Apple is such a lovely place — it’s a cider house on a boat. How can you not like that? They serve up a huge range of ciders — 40 different ones to be exact, all proper ciders; don’t expect to find Natch in here.
It is a wonderful setting really, the atmosphere inside is warm, cosy and lively and this continues outside to their courtyard next to the boat. It does feel sometimes like you’re in Holland somewhere, sipping on some delish cold cider.

Beloved by just about everyone in Bristol for purveying the South West’s tipple of choice in large quantities and just about every variety under the sun, The Apple is a great place to while away an afternoon.
Extensive outdoor seating outdoors, inside this bar on a barge manages to look trendy without falling into the abyss of pretension. They have have Dyson hand dryers (how terribly modern) in the toilets, an abundance of shiny steel and leather couches… it’s a pretty cool place.
What you really come to the Apple for is the cider though. All the usual names are here in force, along with a huge variety of types you’ve never tried. So come with an open mind and select something a little bit different.

The first thing to say is that this bar is on a boat! What a brilliant idea and something a bit different — this is what attracted me to the place and made me try it out!
The Apple is a cider bar which specializes in different types of cider — one brand to make sure you try out is the Old Bristolian, this cider is around 8% and will have you feeling tipsy after a few drinks! Because it is stronger than most, they only serve this in half pints, but the price is fairly good at £2 per drink. Another worth trying is Brother’s Strawberry cider — this is one of my favourites!
The bar itself is well decorated and quirky — you go down some steps to get onto the ‘boat’ and then there is an upstairs and a downstairs. Downstairs there are some really comfy sofas and chairs to relax in, and upstairs there are several more tables — it even has those circular windows that you always get on boats which add to the feel! There is also an outside seating area, which is definitely needed because this bar gets very busy and it’s often still hard to find somewhere to sit!
One point I would make is about the toilets — for those of you who aren’t lovers of uni-​sex toilets, perhaps try to go before you come here! The bar has one bathroom with a few different cubicles — they are labelled boys and girls, however no-​one takes any notice of this! But apart from that, I love this bar and I would definitely recommend it to someone wanting to try out something a bit different! It is especially great in the summer months when the atmosphere is even more buzzing!

When I first moved to Bristol and mentioned I was developing quite a fondness for the local cider, I was directed to the Apple. Needless to say, I wasn’t disappointed. The range of tasty ciders is astounding! Some of the ciders are quite strong so you have to not go overboard or you may literally fall overboard, powerful stuff! The Apple also has a good range of rum. The cheese boards here are also delectable.
Cider, rum, cheese, friendly staff, atmospheric and on a boat — what’s not to love!

A trip to The Apple is the perfect ingredient (possibly the only ingredient you will need) for a wonderful evening out. The Apple is your-​one stop pub where you can simply sit and soak up the atmosphere. The décor is wooden, the cider is so fruity and the pub is situarted snugly on the river so it feels like you’re in the heart of nature. The Apple is always packed with happy cider drinkers yet the place is never uncomfortable or rowdy. The staff are really friendly and they know their cider.

I used to live just a stones throw away from The Apple which meant I was a regular! I was drawn to the huge variety of ciders on offer, which although at the time I wasn’t a fan of, has solely managed to convert me to a cider lover. I especially liked the fact that it is on a boat (little things please little minds!).
Downstairs can be a little claustrophobic but there is a good atmosphere and it is almost always buzzing with people. I have many good memories on a summer’s night dangling my feet over the edge of the harbour with a half pint of ‘Old Bristolian’ in my hand… mmmm perfection!

Cider in the sun.
The Apple is a perfect summer evening bar, situated in the busy and highly popular Welshback area of the harbour side. They have a wide selection of ciders which are for the most part locally sourced. (the most famous of these being the Old Bristolian, which at 8% is served in half pints only) There is usually a good atmosphere on board and you can either enjoy the seated and heated street level sitting area or the sofa’s on board the boat itself. But be warned. The bar on board is very small and during the summer months you will find yourself queuing for quite some time to get served.
If you don’t like cider then this really isn’t the place to go as they don’t really serve anything else. You might find they serve a few wines and bottled beers but the selection is pretty limited. This is after all a cider bar, so if it’s wine and beer you’re after, you might want to go someplace else.

The Apple sailed into Bristol just at the right time, as the Magners boom was making the rest of the world (other than us hardcore west country folk) wake up the joys of passing out to cider.
Set on a boat, it’s quite a novelty, though in fairness when you’re below deck you’d barely know it anyway (which does also tend to smell a bit feisty when it gets busy). The upstairs deck scores bigger as it’s got better views and is more efficiently, er, ventilated.
There’s also a large court out the front which is always busy and a decent menu which is designed to go well with their huge range of ciders and perries (the ploughman’s especially). A decent addition to the centre, it loses a few points for the crowds, and the fact that it always seems to be full of tourists.

When I first moved to Bristol the first recommendation I was given, other than to play a game of find-​the-​Banksy, was to go to The Apple. I was promised ‘great vibes’ and ‘every cider you could ever want’ — I wasn’t disappointed. After just one visit it’s clear to see why it’s been given accolades by everyone from The Evening Post to The Guardian.
The Apple is just a stroll away from Bristol’s busy centre, but it’s just as fun as the heart of the city. This unique venue has happy, helpful staff, a laid back atmosphere and a great mix of punters. I have taken nearly everyone I know there from my friends to my parents — each one leaving with a smile on their face and a drunken swagger in their step.
Among their range of 40 ciders I’d recommend the local Black Rat or better still one of their legendary cider cocktails. (My personal favourite being Bristol Pimms) Even my cider-​hating friends love The Apple, choosing to opt for one of the equally enjoyable beers or wines.
But the best thing about The Apple is the crowd. It’s the place to be if you want to strike up conversation with a stranger, see some street performers playing nearby or simply relax with your nearest and dearest. Just one drink and you’ll be an Apple convert.

You’ll find The Apple moored up at the end of King Street. The phrase ‘cider barge’ pretty much sums it up. It’s basically bar that focuses on cider that you’ll find on a boat. Only in Bristol… Come here for the the famous ‘Old Bristolian’. At 8.4% abv there’s a reason they only sell it by the half pint.
The bar staff are fun, as are the sort of crowd it gets (it seems mostly young people want to drink cider on a boat). At the moment they’re running a student night Monday through Wednesday, so head down for cheap drinks (there’s wine and Sailor Jerry rum on offer if cider’s not your tipple). Also, be aware that the boat does tour in the summer months, so it might not be there July/​August time. With tasty cider and a great atmosphere, The Apple is a good bar as well as an unusual one.

Bristol’s riverside is one of the nicest locations for a bit of a pub crawl and The Apple has to be one of the most popular places in the vicinity, particularly for cider drinkers as the name clearly suggests.
Not only does it have a comprehensive selection of local ciders, including the infamous Old Bristolian, which is only served in half pints, but it has outdoor seating and serves amazing ploughmans lunches to help soak up the good stuff.
A pint of Happy Daze and traditional ploughmans with a giant hunk of cheese is perfect for an afternoon venture. At night, the place attracts more of a crowd of laid back unpretentious older young folk (mid to late 20s). Understandably, the kind that drink cider rather than Lambrini. Though the latter is technically a perry… interesting.