Discovering Bristol’s Pirate Past - Bristol Quayside

[@flydriveexplore]

Since making this video a few weeks ago we have just found out that the Llandoger Trow pub, inspiration for the Admiral Benbow pub in Treasure Island, is closing down this Easter. It has been serving beer for over 350 years, hopefully it will reopen in the near future. #LlandogerTrow #Bristol

[@martinshepherd8041]

As an ex Paranormal Investigator I had the pleasure of doing the Trow..... More than three spirits and most linked to smuggling /Piracy apart from the lady and the young boy.

[@flydriveexplore]

@@martinshepherd8041 It's a very interesting building as is much of that part of Bristol

[@dj858]

as far as im aware it is open still and still pouring pints, and also in your video you say the orange pub is Bristol's oldest pub, not sure if the tour told you that or not but i've lived here all my life and i was under the impression the hatchet inn on Frog more street is Bristol's oldest pub, ironically the hatchet inn also has stories of black beard drinking there on occasions

[@flydriveexplore]

@@dj858 Thanks for the info. Yes, the details I was quoting were from the audio guide I was following.

[@dj858]

@@flydriveexplore i mean i could be wrong, as if you were to visit the two pub's the hatchet inn definitely has that wonky old style to it, either way both are historic and old and only about a 15 minute walk from each other

[@Inditales]

Love those half-timber houses in black and white, with triangular tops. They remind me of some of the English villages I visited. Waterways have been killed so badly.

[@flydriveexplore]

Unfortunately, that old pub closed a few days ago after nearly 400 years of serving beer. Hopefully, it will reopen in the future.

[@haydnwheeler583]

Admiral Benbow is between the Kings Head and The Naval Volunteer. The street you are on is known as “piston broke” street, because of the number of bars that are were there. As I remember in order The Saracen Head, Hobgoblin, kings head, Admiral Benbow, Navel Volunteer, Theatre bar, Llandogger Trow, The Duke and the Lightship. If you were able to a short walk across Baldwin street up the steps behind the church and into the market with all its pubs then back down to the centre.

[@flydriveexplore]

Cheers, thanks for that information, very intersting 👍

[@bearded653]

wow i just stumbled across you amazing video,this is going to open the door to my adventures in bristol with my family.i have subscribe so i can look forward to more of your adventures.your very professional at kalking,,,

[@flydriveexplore]

Welcome aboard!

[@travelpockets]

I love how that pub looks - the Llandoger. All pubs claim they have ghosts? Had no idea! Thanks for taking us on a tour of Bristol Quayside. Learned so much about the area and the book, Treasure Island :)

[@flydriveexplore]

Unfortunately that pub closed down a week after I was there. It had been serving beer since 1664, hopefully it will reopen soon.

[@MastMaulaPuran]

Super cool, Its really looks amazing place to explore. thanks for taking us along. thumbs up!

[@samshaw3657]

Real nice Sunday watching. Thanks sir

[@flydriveexplore]

Cheers.

[@TravelingWellForLess]

OMG, how cool is this tour! Love the connection with Treasure Island. What a cool concept of the sailor retirement homes. Love the pressgang windows in the bars.

[@flydriveexplore]

Bristol was once a very rich port, however must of the money came from very dubious sources. Those old pubs, with their quirky features are really interesting.

[@davidfrodsham4822]

The Company I worked for in the 1980's NEM had their Office in a fine old building in Queen Square just a couple of minutes walk from the Llandogger Trow.

[@flydriveexplore]

That old square is very nice and has many stories.

[@johnryan2193]

Treasure island was one of the best adventure books I ever read even in this day of great movie making there is something special about a good story written well . Brilliant tour , I love to visit Bristol and you are so lucky to live in that beautiful City.

[@flydriveexplore]

I love that book as a kid too, still love the old film too.

[@niksgee]

You made this look so pretty. Did you also notice customs house? Where the privateers had to pay tax for their legal pirateering. Am fairly sure that the tunnels go all under, right up to temple church and the crusadors.

[@robj057]

Thanks for this! I'm part way through the book at the mo :)

[@geegleed1636]

I am gonna visit this place our pirate past is really interesting

[@flydriveexplore]

Have fun 👍🏴‍☠️

[@Hotmamatravel]

I love history and I found this video so interesting. I would have to have a drink in all those pubs...maybe chat with some ghosts haha. I didn't realize that Bristol had such a pirate past, but I love it.

[@flydriveexplore]

I started the walk quite early so the pubs were closed. It would be great to do it as the sun was going down to get some 18th century atmosphere (and the pubs would ne open!!)

[@martinshepherd8041]

The Hole in the Wall is allegedly the pub that Daniel Defoe wrote part of Treasure Island, the Trow was where he first met Alexander Selkirk.

[@joemartin6549]

Is that the same one where the mafia hid in?

[@kamalaharriswalz2025]

Staying in Bristol a few nights. From Cardiff. Really good info here.

[@BuddyTheTravelingMonkey]

That's so cool! I've done audio tours, but never one based on a book. Love the architecture in Bristol!

[@authenticfoodquest]

How cool to have such interesting and thematic tours on the Visit Bristol website. I really enjoyed your tour of the highlights from Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe. Love the wide open Queen Ann Square and interesting to learn about the 2 businesses of the day! Great video as always.

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks, Bristol have a few audio tours you can just download from their website which is a great idea.

[@martinshepherd8041]

Blackbeard the Pirate (Edward Teach) was born opposite Welsh Back on the Redcliffe side.

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks for the info

[@martinshepherd8041]

@@flydriveexplore as a Bristolian I have always had a fascination with my home city' and its history.... I'm happy to help should you have any further questions' if I can answer them!

[@flydriveexplore]

@@martinshepherd8041 Thanks, we love visiting Bristol and it's not that far away from us. Hopefully, we'll get to visit later in the year.

[@puppy1584]

Thank you . As a Bristolian I rather enjoyed it. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@flydriveexplore]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!

[@SaraMartinez-kz5qs]

Our class loves your video! :) :) :)

[@flydriveexplore]

Thank you! Bristol is a great city for pirate stories.

[@thomascartwright2775]

great vid 👌

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks!

[@robnewman6101]

Interesting.

[@pure2706]

I live in Bristol and only knew about one thing

[@MrDaiseymay]

how to spell Brissle

[@mansoureh]

Love the idea of an audio guide. It is so helpful when you want to explore a city or town by yourself. Love the white buildings with red doors.

[@flydriveexplore]

The Visit Bristol website has some good tours you can download to your phone.

[@matthewphillips9938]

I looked up Bristol because I heard that is where eddy teach was from then you show Woods Rodgers house and it is to my understanding that Rodgers is the one that killed my good buddy Ed... interesting. And which is better bristol or Cardiff

[@flydriveexplore]

Which is better? Well I think I stay out of that discussion 🤪

[@PillSharks]

5 miles down stream is the ancient maritime village of Pill which produced many a fine sailor and the press gangs were fully aware of this! Pill had a lady called Nancy Carey who worked in the lamp lighters pub across the river and would listen out to the press gangs so she could inform the locals of Pill when a raid was happening. There’s a story of the navy boys turning up to press the local sailors and a mass fight broke out in Pump Square in Pill and after much bloodshed the Pill men sent the navy boys running! Pill never liked outsiders turning up and meddling…

[@MrDaiseymay]

They were also engaged in navigating large modern ships up the Narrow Avon River, into Bristol Docks.

[@PillSharks]

@@MrDaiseymay they were indeed.. it was a Pill man called James Ray who piloted the Matthew to sea in 1497! It’s most probable that the Matthews last port was Pill rather than Bristol as the river couldn’t be navigated on one tide and they would have probably waited at Hung Road in Pill before taking her out into the channel. The last Bristol Pilot related to the Ray family retired around 25 years ago and was also from Pill… over 500 years of history… the only ones left now with any links to Pills maritime history is the Pill Hobblers and boatman who still provide the mooring service to the Ports!

[@mikelane4896]

Used to drink underage in the ostrich pub, it was an old cider house and the land lady was very old too. The seating consists of old bus seats, spent many a good time there listening to the tales of the older generation that drank there. After two pints of Kingston Black and a dash of black current I would stagger out side and try to make sure I didn't fall into the Quay ! The pub was sold and refurbished and now to my mind Has lost its charm.

[@tpont5177]

My uncle worked there

[@robnewman6101]

Muppet Treasure Island 1996.

[@robnewman6101]

18th Century Georgian Era. Bristol.

[@robnewman6101]

DORLING KINDERSLEY DK EYEWITNESS GUIDES Book of PIRATE. Discover the world of pirates - from the barbarous corsairs of the Mediterranean to the bloodthirsty buccaneers of the Spanish Main. In association with THE NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM.

[@pauljones1350]

A lock on a door or a chest is only a little obstacle to a pirate .many many videos over many moons you get around matey

[@flydriveexplore]

Yep, we try to get around (when we can!)

[@raynarks]

Trow is pronounced like in Trojan not like in trousers.

[@mikelane4896]

Well yer I am a brisle lad born n bred now at the age of sempty plus, ask anyone from brisle and day would pronounce the pub as Trow as in trousers! Perhaps dees went to som posh school!

[@robnewman6101]

DORLING KINDERSLEY DK EYEWITNESS GUIDES Book of PIRATE. Discover the world of pirates - from the barbarous corsairs of the Mediterranean to the bloodthirsty buccaneers of the Spanish Main. In association with THE NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM.