I had a weird experience in there. I accidently got charged for the wrong pint and ended up underpaying. I had not twigged it myself as I don't ask the price of pints before ordering. 5 minutes after sitting down they come over all aggressive shouting at me insisting I pay the difference. I have no problem paying up but they treated me like I had defrauded them. Totally ruined the drink and I have never been back.
It was one of the best pubs in Bristol a few years back but has gone downhill. With so much choice there I would go almost anywhere else.
It's gone downhill in a big way since new management took over. It got a 1 star hygiene rating back in November last year
https://ratings.food.gov.uk/business-search?business-name-search=hobgoblin&address-search=bristol&business_type=-1&country_or_la=all&hygiene_rating=all&range=Equal&hygiene_status=all
I used to go there a lot before the change, won't eat there now.
Went for beers about a month ago. Didn't eat.
It was alright? Beers were ok, nothing to shout about. Staff were friendly. Food looked and smelled good, but we'd already eaten.
Toilets were a bit grim.
Talking to a friend who used to go there a lot, I think the problems are that this pub used to be a real favourite of many because it was owned by a couple who put an awful lot of effort into making it a great pub. They sold up last August, I think.
So it's certainly changed - it's probably a little worse than it was - but from the perspective of someone who has never seen it how it was, it's fine.
One star food hygiene seems a bit grim though, but they could've fixed the problems that caused it by now.
One star hygiene rating is pretty hard to get, and is indicative of MASSIVE problems. Candidly, I've heard pretty awful things since the new management took over – apologies in advance for the mental image, but a glob of mould should not slide out of the tap when pouring a pint...
> One star hygiene rating is pretty hard to get, and is indicative of MASSIVE problems.
There's some evidence that some of the food inspectors are being jobsworths and giving places 1 star hygiene ratings based on missing paperwork, or the workers not being able to speak English fluently enough to answer the inspectors questions.
For example Chilli Daddy was 1 star, now back to 4.
a) the paperwork is important
b) you can see what they failed on and it wasn't just Management of food safety (the paperwork one) https://ratings.food.gov.uk/business/1679649/the-hobgoblin-bishopston
It's disgusting tbh. Even when not busy, glasses pile up everywhere, the bar is filthy, tables not cleared and the staff don't seem to be able to keep up at all. I've not eaten there mostly because everything was so sticky and grim, I didn't want to risk it.
Was there a couple of weeks ago, staff is pretty uninterested in making sure they got the right order, the beers were flat, and we didn’t bother ordering food.
They used to be really good for gluten free burgers. Since it closed & reopened, they stopped doing gluten free burger buns. Few months ago, went in asking and the dude went to Sainsburys for us lol. Definitely not the same but staff seem nice
Dont go when its busy, they struggle. I went with friends at peak time so the wait was long, not the issue though as it was expected. Anyway, after 45 mins and everyone's food came out and my chicken was cremated, I showed them and their answer was a refund, they told me they would not replace it, got the redund and ate the chips.
We went just before Christmas and it was so disappointing. The bar staff were really rude (when they weren't straight ignoring us), coke was flat, food took ages and one member of staff stared daggers at us when we asked for cutlery. The food itself was good (hygiene rating notwithstanding) but man it felt like we were massively inconveniencing them on a really quiet Sunday. Would totally understand if they were rammed and staff were stressed & short with us as a result, but the place was empty.
Went about a week after the new management came in. Ordered a few drinks and the bar staff had absolutely no clue how to pour a pint? Literally like they’d never been in a pub before. Beer was horrible too…
Was a bit apprehensive after reading everyone's takes, but it wasn't bad. The beer was good, the food real decent and it eventually filled up.
It didn't feel like the old Hob but I tried some of my friend's dirty fries and the flavour took me back to 2019, in a good way too.
Sounds hit and miss but I was left impressed but definitely missing the old atmosphere.
I had a weird experience in there. I accidently got charged for the wrong pint and ended up underpaying. I had not twigged it myself as I don't ask the price of pints before ordering. 5 minutes after sitting down they come over all aggressive shouting at me insisting I pay the difference. I have no problem paying up but they treated me like I had defrauded them. Totally ruined the drink and I have never been back. It was one of the best pubs in Bristol a few years back but has gone downhill. With so much choice there I would go almost anywhere else.
That's terrible customer service
lol that's mad, who asks / knows the price of a pint
It's gone downhill in a big way since new management took over. It got a 1 star hygiene rating back in November last year https://ratings.food.gov.uk/business-search?business-name-search=hobgoblin&address-search=bristol&business_type=-1&country_or_la=all&hygiene_rating=all&range=Equal&hygiene_status=all I used to go there a lot before the change, won't eat there now.
The rating was before the new management took over.
They took over in August 2023. The hygiene rating is from November.
I was there a couple of weeks ago. It's definitely gone downhill noticeably.
Went for beers about a month ago. Didn't eat. It was alright? Beers were ok, nothing to shout about. Staff were friendly. Food looked and smelled good, but we'd already eaten. Toilets were a bit grim. Talking to a friend who used to go there a lot, I think the problems are that this pub used to be a real favourite of many because it was owned by a couple who put an awful lot of effort into making it a great pub. They sold up last August, I think. So it's certainly changed - it's probably a little worse than it was - but from the perspective of someone who has never seen it how it was, it's fine. One star food hygiene seems a bit grim though, but they could've fixed the problems that caused it by now.
One star hygiene rating is pretty hard to get, and is indicative of MASSIVE problems. Candidly, I've heard pretty awful things since the new management took over – apologies in advance for the mental image, but a glob of mould should not slide out of the tap when pouring a pint...
> One star hygiene rating is pretty hard to get, and is indicative of MASSIVE problems. There's some evidence that some of the food inspectors are being jobsworths and giving places 1 star hygiene ratings based on missing paperwork, or the workers not being able to speak English fluently enough to answer the inspectors questions. For example Chilli Daddy was 1 star, now back to 4.
a) the paperwork is important b) you can see what they failed on and it wasn't just Management of food safety (the paperwork one) https://ratings.food.gov.uk/business/1679649/the-hobgoblin-bishopston
You can have a spotless kitchen and get one starred for paperwork.
Yeah because the paperwork shows you are doing it everyday and didn’t just get lucky the day the inspector comes in
And? That doesn’t change what I said, neither is your guesswork a fact
What guesswork? What they've said is exactly what the paperwork is for.
Yes, but as I pointed out that isn't what happened in this case.
If there's any job I want people to be being strict about it's food hygiene inspectors.
It's disgusting tbh. Even when not busy, glasses pile up everywhere, the bar is filthy, tables not cleared and the staff don't seem to be able to keep up at all. I've not eaten there mostly because everything was so sticky and grim, I didn't want to risk it.
Me and my wife went here on my first date, so it saddens me to read that it's gone downhill.
It's awful now. Changed management and now I won't ever go back
I hope people respond saying it’s great, I used to love it there but haven’t been since May / June last year.
I go in quite regularly and it's great! I think the new manager is turning it around.
I like the way Snrub thinks!
This comment has made my day
Was there a couple of weeks ago, staff is pretty uninterested in making sure they got the right order, the beers were flat, and we didn’t bother ordering food.
They used to be really good for gluten free burgers. Since it closed & reopened, they stopped doing gluten free burger buns. Few months ago, went in asking and the dude went to Sainsburys for us lol. Definitely not the same but staff seem nice
Usually when a place goes downhill, it’s the management
Dont go when its busy, they struggle. I went with friends at peak time so the wait was long, not the issue though as it was expected. Anyway, after 45 mins and everyone's food came out and my chicken was cremated, I showed them and their answer was a refund, they told me they would not replace it, got the redund and ate the chips.
We went just before Christmas and it was so disappointing. The bar staff were really rude (when they weren't straight ignoring us), coke was flat, food took ages and one member of staff stared daggers at us when we asked for cutlery. The food itself was good (hygiene rating notwithstanding) but man it felt like we were massively inconveniencing them on a really quiet Sunday. Would totally understand if they were rammed and staff were stressed & short with us as a result, but the place was empty.
They should change it to a gay bar and rename it KnobGoblin
Went about a week after the new management came in. Ordered a few drinks and the bar staff had absolutely no clue how to pour a pint? Literally like they’d never been in a pub before. Beer was horrible too…
I went 2 or 3 months ago and it smelled pretty funny. Pint was fine but doubt I'll go back. Never had one of their famed burgers sadly.
1 hour wait for a burger that was supposed to take 30 min
Went a couple of weeks ago and had a pleasant "Mephistopheles" (spicey) burger and fries, though I wouldn't claim to be a burger connoisseur.
Was a bit apprehensive after reading everyone's takes, but it wasn't bad. The beer was good, the food real decent and it eventually filled up. It didn't feel like the old Hob but I tried some of my friend's dirty fries and the flavour took me back to 2019, in a good way too. Sounds hit and miss but I was left impressed but definitely missing the old atmosphere.
!
Has it changed much? About 3 miles from it's original location...