Our walls have many stories to tell. From being the location of one of British TV’s most beloved Only Fools and Horses scenes, to hosting many famous artists and bands such as Thin Lizzy, Dire Straights and Phil Collins in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
1869
Wait and James' Granary
The Granary, also known as Wait and James’ Granary is a remarkable building designed by Archibald Ponton and William Venn Gough (an architect responsible for a number of prominent buildings in Bristol, including Cabot Tower) and is recognised as their masterpiece and as the most striking monument of the high Victorian age in Bristol. It was built for K.K.Wait, benefactor of the city’s cathedral and for many years has been a listed building. It has been called the apotheosis of the Bristol Byzantine style, as potent a symbol of the city as St. Mary Redcliffe.
The building was built in 1869 as a granary, used to dry large quantities of grain, so it had to be strong, stable and warm, with good ventilation through it’s ten storeys and one hundred feet of height.
1968–88
The GRanary NightClub
Between 1968 and 1988, this building housed a nightclub, also known as The Granary.
Initially opened as a jazz club by Ted Cowell under the guidance of Acker Bilk in 1968, it started hosting regular rock nights in 1969, when a collective called Plastic Dog, whose club night had become too busy for the Dugout club on Park Row, took over the poorly attended Monday nights.
By early 1970 they had removed ‘Old’ from the title of the venue, which completed its transition to an all-rock club by 1978. Many well-known rock acts played there, including Yes, Genesis, Status Quo, Motörhead, Iron Maiden, Thin Lizzy and Dire Straits, amongst many other household names.
1989
TV HISTORY
“Play it nice and cool, son, nice and cool. You know what I mean?”
Although set in London, many scenes from Only Fools & Horses were filmed here in Bristol, with what has been voted the most iconic British sitcom moment of all time filmed right here in our downstairs bar.
Cited as the TV show’s greatest episode, ‘Yuppy Love’ featured the sitcom’s most popular scene ‘Del Boy falls through the bar’.
The scene was also named the 7th Greatest Television Moment of all time in a 1999 Channel 4 poll, beating the likes of John F. Kennedy’s assassination, the Queen’s coronation and Winston Churchill’s funeral.
1968–88
The GRanary NightClub
Between 1968 and 1988, this building housed a nightclub, also known as The Granary.
Initially opened as a jazz club by Ted Cowell under the guidance of Acker Bilk in 1968, it started hosting regular rock nights in 1969, when a collective called Plastic Dog, whose club night had become too busy for the Dugout club on Park Row, took over the poorly attended Monday nights.
By early 1970 they had removed ‘Old’ from the title of the venue, which completed its transition to an all-rock club by 1978. Many well-known rock acts played there, including Yes, Genesis, Status Quo, Motörhead, Iron Maiden, Thin Lizzy and Dire Straits, amongst many other household names.
1989
TV HISTORY
2023
New ideas for an old venue
The Granary and The Granary Club offer a unique blend of history, sustainability, and modern design.
Housed in a 200-year-old building, the restaurant serves seasonal, sustainable dishes inspired by the flavours of Byzantine trade routes. Meanwhile, The Granary Club, located underground, is a cocktail bar that combines innovative drinks with a commitment to sustainability. The venue also hosts music and events, earning a spot in The Times’ “Top 20 things to do in Bristol”.
The renovation emphasises female craftsmanship, with every element inside created by women. The design incorporates upcycled materials, such as a 100-year-old butcher’s block repurposed as a chef’s table.
This revival of a much-loved Bristolian venue beautifully juxtaposes the building’s historic exterior with modern, natural tones, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
