We visit the 400-year-old Bristol pub with a real fire, traditional food and ‘silly price’ steak nights

On a chilly day, there’s nothing quite like walking into a cosy pub with a proper fire and the welcome at The New Inn at Mayshill was as warm as the crackling wood-burner in the 400-year-old fireplace.

Next to a field of horses on the road between Frampton Cotterell and Yate, The New Inn was originally built as a coaching inn for weary travellers to rest on the road north of Bristol. 

Although there have been modernisations over the years, the pub still has the look and feel of a venue that has been welcoming guests for more than 400 years.

There are beer pump clips and horse brasses on the low beams, the floors and ceilings are uneven and a plaque bears the date 1655 although the sign outside says the pub dates back to 1550 which would make it 16th century.

These days, it’s more of a food destination rather than a pub for drinkers, although staff were more than happy for me to stand at the bar with my pint.

Every table was booked for diners and a number of people without reservations were politely turned away.

‘We’re crazy busy,’ said one of the bar staff, who was taking bookings for two months’ time on the phone. 

Food is served all day, from 12pm through to 9pm and the menu changes from lunch to dinner.

Next to the bar was a blackboard listing the day’s specials. These included faggots with onion gravy, mash and vegetables (£15.95) and steak and kidney pudding with chips and salad or potatoes and vegetables £15.95.

On Monday to Saturday lunchtimes, there’s a 'snacks and lite bites’ menu with all dishes priced at £10.95 including homemade beef lasagne, cod and chips or 5oz gammon, egg, chips, salad and peas. There’s also a menu of freshly filled baguettes (from £7.25-£8.50) and jacket potatoes (£7.25).

In the evening, the choice includes Gloucestershire chicken (chicken breast stuffed with crisp bacon and Gloucester cheese served with cheese sauce) for £17.95 and 10oz gammon steak with fried egg and pineapple (£17.95).

There’s also a range of steaks and a belt-straining £29.95 mixed grill comprising 8oz rump steak, 4oz gammon steak, chicken breast, butcher’s sausage, lamb chop, black pudding and fried egg.

And on Tuesdays from 5.30pm, there’s the Silly Steak Night when you can enjoy ‘any two steaks at silly prices’. The 8oz rump is just £12.95, the 10oz sirloin £17.95 and the 16oz T-bone is £22.95, all served with chips, salad or potatoes and vegetables with onion rings, mushrooms, peas and grilled tomato.

A former winner of CAMRA pub of the year for its beer, the choice when I visited was Bath Ales Gem or Old Speckled Hen. Also on tap were Old Rosie cider, Thatchers cider, Guinness, Amstel, Moretti and San Miguel.

In the 17th century, The New Inn would have been a place where horse-drawn coaches would bring travellers to rest, eat and drink.

Although there are no longer bedrooms for guests, the pub certainly has the eating and drinking side of things covered.

The New Inn at Mayshill, Badminton Road, Frampton Cotterell, Bristol, BS36 2NT.