The Hatchet Inn

The Hatchet Inn is a historic public house at 27 Frogmore Street in Bristol, England, widely described as the oldest still-operating pub in the city. The building dates from 1606 and is a Grade II listed structure; its name is thought to derive from the axes or hatchets used by local woodsmen in Clifton Woods. Over four centuries the pub has served as a tavern, an alternative music venue and a local landmark, and in September 2006 it celebrated its 400-year anniversary with street closures and staff and regulars dressed in historic costume. Since the 1980s the Hatchet has been known as one of Bristol's few alternative pubs, hosting rock music upstairs. It has a pool room and a hireable upstairs venue used for clubs and private bookings, plus a beer garden on the side of the property facing the O2 Academy. The pub sits behind the site of the old Cannon Cinema, which closed in 2000 and became an academy nightclub and gig venue. In the 18th century there was a rat pit at the rear of the building, and a long-running Bristol urban legend holds that the wooden front door is wrapped in human skin beneath layers of paint. Ownership has changed hands in recent years. The Hatchet was acquired by the Liberation Group, owners of Butcombe Brewery, in 2017, but it shut in March 2020 during the first nationwide COVID-19 lockdown. In May 2021 Jon Bassett, owner of JW Bassett Pubs, signed a 20-year lease and spent £500,000 on renovations before reopening the pub to the public on 28 June 2021. Under JW Bassett the Hatchet operates as a food-and-drink-led community pub with a large range of cask and craft beers, a Sunday carvery, function and dining areas for hire, DJ and live music zones, and late licensing. It is part of a small Bristol and South Wales pub group that also includes The Queens Vaults, The Golden Lion, The Carpenters Arms, The Four Elms, The Pen & Wig and the Stow Hill Rooms. The Hatchet also appears in popular culture: it is one of the settings of Anna Freeman's novel The Fair Fight, and in Alexander De Chastelaine's novel Black Sam it is the palace from which the pirate Samuel Bellamy is said to have set out from England to Cape Cod.

The Hatchet Inn is a historic public house on Frogmore Street in Bristol, England, and is generally described as the oldest still-operating pub in the city. The building dates from 1606 and is a Grade II listed structure. Its name is thought to originate from the axes or hatchets used by local woodsmen in Clifton Woods. While the Hatchet has remained in operation, the nearby Llandoger Trow was of a similar age. In the 18th century there was a rat pit at the rear of the building, a reminder of the rougher entertainments once associated with historic taverns. Over the centuries the pub has undergone significant alteration, and its long history has made it a Bristol landmark. In September 2006 the Hatchet celebrated its 400-year anniversary; nearby streets were closed and staff and some regular customers dressed in historic costumes. Since the 1980s the Hatchet has been known as one of Bristol's few alternative pubs, hosting rock music upstairs. The pub has a pool room located upstairs as well as a venue used for clubs and available for private bookings. There is a beer garden on the side of the property, facing the O2 Academy venue. Located behind the pub was the old Cannon Cinema, which closed in 2000; the building is now an academy nightclub and gig venue where many well-known bands have played. The Hatchet also has a place in local culture and literature. It is one of the locations in which Anna Freeman's novel The Fair Fight is set, and in Alexander De Chastelaine's novel Black Sam it is the palace from which the pirate Samuel Bellamy started his trip from England to Cape Cod. In Bristol, there is an enduring urban legend that the wooden front door of the establishment is wrapped in human skin, under hundreds of years of paint. Ownership changed in the 21st century. The Hatchet was acquired by the Liberation Group, owners of Butcombe Brewery, in 2017, but it was shut in March 2020 due to the first nationwide COVID-19 lockdown. In May 2021 Jon Bassett, owner of JW Bassett Pubs, signed a 20-year lease and spent £500,000 on renovations before reopening The Hatchet to the general public on 28 June 2021. Under JW Bassett the pub is marketed as "the oldest pub in Bristol, circa 1606 with an incredible history," offering great food including a Sunday carvery, a huge range of cask and craft beers, a beer garden and terrace, and three function and dining areas for hire. Food is served all day until 9pm, and the pub is licensed until late, with DJ and live music zones. It is one of a group of JW Bassett pubs that also includes The Queens Vaults, The Golden Lion, The Carpenters Arms, The Four Elms, The Pen & Wig and the Stow Hill Rooms function rooms and nightclub.

• 2021

  Jon Bassett signs a 20-year lease in May 2021 and spends £500,000 on renovations; The Hatchet reopens on 28 June 2021.

• 2020

  The pub shuts in March 2020 due to the first nationwide COVID-19 lockdown.

• 2017

  The Hatchet is acquired by the Liberation Group, owners of Butcombe Brewery.

• 2006

  In September 2006 the Hatchet celebrates its 400-year anniversary with street closures and historic costumes.

• 2000

  The old Cannon Cinema behind the pub closes; the building later becomes an academy nightclub and gig venue.

• 1606

  The building dates from 1606; it is the oldest still-operating pub in Bristol.

Historic, food-and-drink-led community pub and live-music venue; marketed as the oldest pub in Bristol.

• Sunday Carvery

  Carvery from £13.49 per person, with hand-carved slow-cooked meat and all the trimmings.

• Hot Buffet

  Hot buffet from £14.95 per person for functions and events.

• Cask and craft beers

  A huge range of cask and craft beers, with guest ales and leading brands.

• Function room hire

  Room hire at £100 plus deposit, with DJ and live music zones, licensed until late.

1. 1JW Bassett | The Hatchet Innjwbpubs.com
2. 2JW Bassett About Usjwbpubs.com
3. 3JW Bassett Drinksjwbpubs.com
4. 4JW Bassett Menusjwbpubs.com
5. 5Wikidata: The Hatchet Innwikidata.org
6. 6Wikipedia: Hatchet Inn, Bristolen.wikipedia.org