Locals were worried the pub may not return – but it’s back just in time for Christmas
The Miners Arms(Image: Google )
A beloved Bristol pub has reopened after closing its doors back in August with no confirmed reopening date at the time. It left locals and regulars concerned that the local boozer could be sold for redevelopment.
But in a social media post on December 22, the team at The Miners Arms in St Werburghs said: “The Miners is back! It’s been great to have everyone back! If you haven’t already, then pop in and see us for a pint, game of pool or to party the night away on NYE!” It also confirmed it would be open on Christmas Day, 12-2pm.
The pub closed back in August, with the team sharing another message to social media to say they hoped the closure would be “only for a short time”. Glen Dawkins, the pub’s owner at the time – and who has been known to own other Bristol pubs including the Portcullis and Victoria in Clifton, and the Hillgrove and Green Man in Kingsdown – urged locals to visit the pub “as it might be a minute” in his post on August 22.
He said: “Times have been unbelievably tough for The Miners. The worst in our 23 years here. Despite the incredible hard work of Donnie, Jacob and the brilliant team we have been laid low by the current climate for the pub trade in general and changes to our trading terms.
“We have put everything we can into the pub. It is overwhelmingly sad and frustrating. I am so sorry it has come to this. It is clear we cannot continue in the current form. Work is carrying on apace behind the scenes, but for the moment we need to pause and say thank you and goodbye, for a bit. Hopefully, only for a short time.
“So please, drink the pub dry… We’ll be closing when we’ve basically got nothing left, but do hope to see you when we reopen. Watch this space.”
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This led to a petition to save the pub, which was started on public petition site 38 Degrees and called for Bristol City Council to publicly state that any potential application for change of use (from pub venue to housing and the like) will be refused.
The petition said: “The legendary Miners Arms in St Werburghs suddenly closed its doors on Friday 22 August 2025 and was boarded up on Friday 10 October 2025. The community has been left in the dark as to its future.
“We are concerned, and have been advised, that the owners intend to run the building into the ground, seek a change of use, and eventually sell the site to be redeveloped into housing. We refuse to let this happen and request help from our representatives and Bristol City Council Planning officers to ensure this historic pub reopens.”
Following this, in a series of updates posted to social media, it was confirmed that Punch Taverns (now Punch Pubs & Co) would be taking over from Glen. An initial reopening was set for December 1, however a further post said that work being done to the electrics still hadn’t been completed, so this opening date was pushed back.
Finally, on December 4, The Miners Arms posted: “So….We have good and bad news. The bad – we won’t be able to get everything certified until December 18 and we can’t open until that’s done. The Good – that gives us time to get some extra heating installed, so it will be nice and toasty over Christmas. We will be opening on Friday, December 19, at 3pm.”