The Star and Garter is one of Bristol's best-loved pubs. Straddling the border of Montpelier and St Pauls, its legacy was ripened by the pub's previous landlord Dutty Ken who was behind the bar for 24 years, helping it to become a focal point for the surrounding community.
When Ken - whose real name was Louis Hayles - passed away suddenly at age 76, the community was stunned and many questioned what would happen to the pub after his passing in 2017. The pub continued to operate until his family called last orders a year later after a quarter of a century.
Fortunately, a new chapter arrived for The Star and Garter soon after in the hands of Malcolm Haynes who has been involved in Silver Hayes at Glastonbury Festival for years and helped curate the 2018 edition of St Pauls Carnival. In June 2019, thousands of people attended the pub's reopening - including famous faces Dave Chappelle, Roni Size and Damian Marley - after a community bid to save it, prompting a new dawn for the venue.
Read more: St Pauls Carnival 2023's line-up, road closures, timings and after-parties
Malcolm and the team have kept the venue's roots at the heart of the pub. The inside continues to be filled with reggae and ska memorabilia from days gone by. The pub has been the inspiration to music icons over the years including Massive Attack, Roni Size and DJ Derek.
There are a few markers of change, however. In particular, the fairly new beer garden offers comfortable, covered outdoor seating.
Food and music remain at the pub's core. At the time he took over, Malcolm said he wanted to be known for serving the best Jamaican patties in Bristol.
On a visit to the pub in 2022, BristolLive rated the food five stars and heralded it as some of the best Jamaican food in the city, including a flavoursome beef patty, cooked during a residency by The Family Firm.
Today, the Star and Garter operates a reduced menu but it's still known for its food. Customers can snack on a chicken or vegetable patty or pair it with a side of piping hot mac and cheese, also made from scratch.
On top of its food, the pub is continuing its long heritage as a music venue with a strong programme of DJs and bands often playing from Thursday to Sunday each week. Reggae, dub, ska, hip-hop, drum and bass and more provide the soundtrack to The Star and Garter, an eclectic mix that reflects the spirit of the pub.
The mantra of 'One Love. One Life. One Pub' will never change for this Bristol pub. After several decades, it continues to keep the community, music and food at the heart of what it does.
One of the main stages ofhttps://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife/st-pauls-carnival-2023s-line-8555125
, Albany Park stage, is located right next to the Star and Garter for the event's big return on July 1. The pub will be serving cocktails and food from midday until 9.45pm alongside a whole host of local music talent.
The Star and Garter, 33 Brook Rd, Montpelier, Bristol BS6 5LR, UK. Open seven days a week
