Dirty Duck

You'll find yourself at the water's edge on Waterside, watching the Avon drift past while nursing a pint that actually tastes like something. The Dirty Duck has that rare thing: it's genuinely popular with locals, not just RSC ticket-holders killing time before curtain up. The timber-beamed interior feels lived-in rather than staged, and the bar staff know what they're doing. It's the kind of place where you can settle in with a decent Greene King ale or cider, grab some proper pub food that doesn't pretend to be something it isn't, and actually have a conversation without fighting your way through a sea of selfie sticks. The riverside location is the real draw though—grab a spot by the window and you've got the best free show in town.