The beloved boozer is in the running to be Bristol Live Pub of the Year
We’re on the search for Bristol’s pub of the year in 2025(Image: Getty)
Amy Devenish always dreamed of running her own pub. In 2014, the opportunity arose for her to take over and fully refurbish the former Kellaway Arms in Bishopston, and her dream became a reality.
Now called the Gloucester Old Spot, the pub – which is shortlisted for Bristol Live’s Pub of the Year – has gone from strength to strength under Amy’s management.
“Ten years on, the pub has become a thriving hub for locals, families, and visitors alike, known for great food, a warm welcome, and spaces that bring people together,” she said.
In a past life, The Kellaway Arms is rumoured to have been a favoured watering hole of Bristol-born Hollywood icon Cary Grant on his occasional trips back to his home town.
Cary Grant(Image: PA)
In its new guise as the Gloucester Old Spot, the pub was part of some slightly more bizarre modern history.
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“Back in August 2015, a customer ordered ham, egg, and chips (normally served with two eggs),” Amy said. “Our kitchen cracked them open and found one with a triple yolk and the other with a double yolk – five yolks on one plate! It caused such a stir it made the news and was even featured on a blog all the way in Las Vegas.”
The ‘quintuple yoker’ has since passed into pub folklore, but Amy said what made the Old Spot most special was a more everyday essential component of a great boozer – the people.
The Gloucester Old Spot in Bristol(Image: Google Street View)
“We believe a pub is more than just a pub – it’s a home from home,” Amy said. “A place can look beautiful and have a great atmosphere, but it’s the people who truly make it special. From our dedicated team to our loyal locals, it’s their warmth, character, and community spirit that give the Old Spot its heart.”
The Old Spot doubles as an event space, having hosted more than 50 weddings in its 11-year history. It has housed birthdays, christenings and the odd wake.
“Being trusted to play a part in those milestones is truly incredible, and it’s what makes our pub so special,” Amy said.
The pub keeps in simple with food and drink: Thatcher’s Gold is the bestselling option from the tap and fish and chips the most popular item from the kitchen.
The Old Spot has been shortlisted by Bristol Live readers for our Pub of the Year, an award which Amy says would “mean the world” to her and her hard-working staff.
“We strive to serve the best food, create the best atmosphere, host the best parties, and employ the best people — a team who genuinely love what they do,” she said.
“To be recognised for that would be incredible, and we’d be absolutely over the moon.”