Ashton Gate

Ashton Gate Stadium has undergone some major transformation recently with the building of two new stands and the refurbishment of a third. The most recent and largest edition is the new Lansdown Stand on the West side of the ground. Opened in August 2016 this huge stand has a capacity of around 11,000, spread over two tiers. It has a large lower tier, with a smaller one above, whilst in-between the tiers there is a row of corporate boxes stretching across its middle. The stand has quite a high roof with a strip of perspex running across the top of the upper tier just below, to allow more light to get to the pitch. The upper tier also has large transparent windshields to either side. At one end is another new stand. The South Stand was opened in August 2015 and has replaced the former Wedlock End. This new South Stand is a good sized single tiered stand, having a capacity of just over 6,000 seats. It extends around both corners of this end of the stadium. It has perspex panels built into the front of the roof, to allow more sunlight onto the playing surface.

Of the remaining parts of the ground, then the Atyeo Stand at one end of Ashton Gate is a handsome, covered all seated single tiered stand, albeit now the smallest stand at Ashton Gate. It was opened in 1994 and is named after former playing legend John Atyeo. On the remaining side is the Dolman Stand which was opened in 1970. It is a two-tiered all seated stand that has a large upper tier and a smaller lower tier. As part of the development works at the ground, its roof was further extended to meet the new stand in the South East corner and the stand itself was refurbished. Ashton Gate Stadium is shared with Bristol Rugby Club.

Away fans are housed at one end of the stadium in the Atyeo Stand, where around 4,200  fans can be accommodated. The stand is free of supporting pillars and offers good views of the playing action. The stand is also located quite close to the pitch and with good stand acoustics, a good atmosphere can be created.

Entrance to the ground is gained through the use of electronic turnstiles, whereby your ticket needs to be inserted into a bar code reader. Normally fans are searched on entry. Unless there is a large following then the seats are unreserved, so if you want a particular view then make sure you get into the ground early. Inside the stand the facilities are adequate. Although don’t make the mistake that some fans do and queue at the first refreshment kiosk located inside the turnstiles. If you proceed up the stairs and through the double doors, then this leads to a larger area that has a number of refreshment outlets. Refreshments available include; Steak & Ale Pies (£3.70), Cheese & Onion Pasties (£3.70), Steak Pasties (£3.70) and Sausage Rolls (£3).

There are also a number of food stalls dotted around the outside of the stadium, but mostly behind the home end (the Rude Hot Dogs Stall has been well recommended to me). There is also a KFC outlet located just outside the main entrance to Ashton Gate.

The Club often places a small beer bar and catering unit outside the visitors turnstiles for away fans to use, which is a good idea. Alcohol is also normally made available to away fans inside the ground. these include; Fosters, Butcombe Bitter, Guinness and Thatchers Cider (all £4).

Alex Webber recommends the Nova Scotia for away supporters by the waterfront but adds that pubs nearer to the ground such as the Hen & Chicken and the BS3 Bar should be given a wide berth. Not far from the Nova Scotia near the A4 flyover is the Rose of Denmark pub which is also popular with visiting supporters. Both these pubs are around a 15 minute walk away from the Ashton Gate Ground. Scott Grimwood a visiting Ipswich Town fan informs me; ‘ The Cottage Inn, is a nice pub situated on the river front and has good real ale (from the Butcombe Brewery). On my visits both set’s of fan’s mixed pleasantly’.  Domenic Brunetti a visiting Nottingham Forest fan informs me; ‘Before kick off we were directed by a club steward to the ‘Tobacco House’ bar which is a five minute walk from the road behind the Atyeo stand next door to an Aldi store. On route we passed several pubs which clearly have signs saying Home Fans only. When we got in the Tobacco House we found the bar friendly and trouble-free and the food was good too.’

Nick Prince a visiting Peterborough United fan informs me; ‘Visiting supporters are welcome at the Bedminster Cricket Club, which is located about a 15 minute walk away from Ashton Gate, on Clanage Road (A369). There is a bar there and you can also park at a cost of £5 per car.’

Chris Gill a visiting Leeds United fan adds; ‘Near Temple Meads station there is the Knights Templar pub, a Wetherspoons outlet, that seems friendly enough. It’s a two minute walk straight ahead from the station into the Temple area and off to the left in the square’.

Matt Greenslade recommends; ‘The Orchard pub is about a ten minute walk from the ground at Hanover Place on Harbourside. At one time it was voted Britain’s top cider pub and has a huge sampling of local brews for anyone who wants to try the infamous cloudy stuff’. This pub is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide and apart from having a number of ales on offer, it also has up to 24 different ciders available. The question is though if you visit this pub before the game, will you still make the kick off?

King Street Brew House

The King Street Brew House is a city centre pub & microbrewery located on the cobbled street corner of King Street and Welsh Back waterside. It is handily placed if you are arriving at Bristol Temple Meads railway station or going into the city centre before or after the game. The bar has up to 18 different beers on tap, some of which are produced on site & serves food from lunch time until late. In addition, the pub is family friendly, shows Sky/BT sports & has lots of space inside and out.
Address: King Street Brew House, Welsh Back, Bristol, BS1 4RR
Tel: 01174 058 948. Location Map.
Website: King Street Brew House

Leave the M5 at Junction 18 and travel along the Portway (A4) following signs for the Bristol Airport/Taunton (A38). As you go over the swing bridge (Brunel Way), branch left into Winterstoke Road, and you will see the ground on your left.

Parking at the ground is for permit holders only. Mitch Ford informs me and there is little if any street parking available nearby. There is the Bedminster Cricket club on Clanage Road (A369) that offers parking, but at a pricey cost of £10 per car. It is then around a ten minute walk to the stadium. There is also the option of renting a private driveway near Aston Gate via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.  Otherwise, it is a case of finding some street parking.

Post Code for SAT NAV: BS3 2EJ

The redevelopment of Ashton Gate was finished in 2016. There are no immediate plans for any further stadium improvements.

However there are plans for a world-class Sporting Quarter just 500 metres from the stadium. This will include a home for the Bristol Flyers basketball team and an urban village.

Bristol City’s stadium history is one that is brief in comparison to many. Well, at least it is in terms of how many places they’ve called home. They started life at St John’s Lane before moving to Ashton Gate a decade later; that is where they have stayed ever since. The stadium itself, however, has been through a variety of developments. There have been a total of six ‘proper stadium renovations’ completed over the years with the first happening in 1928 and the latest coming between 2014 and 2016; it was the latter that was the biggest revamp with the club opting for mass changes. Stands were demolished and rebuilt, others were expanded and the pitch was even relocated; it all came off the back of a new stadium request being blocked.

The nearest railway station is Parson Street which about a mile away from Ashton Gate, or a twenty minute walk away. Normally there is an hourly service from Bristol Temple Meads mainline station, but on Saturday afternoons for a couple of hours before kick off, the frequency is increased to two per hour. It is then only a four minute journey to Parson Street.

Bristol Temple Meads station itself is at least two miles from the ground and hence too far to walk, so best to jump in a taxi (around £8). Derek James informs me; ‘On matchdays, a special shuttle bus service runs from near Temple Meads railway station to Ashton Gate. It leaves one hour before kick-off and buses return after the match has finished. The pick up point for the bus is located across the main road at the bottom of the station approach road outside the exit to Temple Meads station and returns after the game from Winterstoke Road (the main road running past the ground with KFC/Wickes along it). The bus which is operated by ‘A bus’ and costs £2 return. Home supporters also use the service, but this shouldn’t be a problem for away fans. The main drawback with the service is that there are only three buses allocated and they fill up very quickly.’

Neil Le Milliere a visiting Exeter City supporter adds ‘don’t try and walk it from Temple Meads railway station unless you really have to and then allow at least 45 minutes for the journey’.

Adam Hodson informs me; ‘We arrived at Parson Street Railway Station after catching a train from Bristol Temple Meads. Trains are bound for Weston-Super-Mare and run every hour, coming back the train is bound for Bristol Parkway, again one train per hour. It’s around a five minute train journey and then around a 20-25 minute walk to the ground.’

You can find comprehensive travel advice on the club website at  https://www.bcfc.co.uk/travel/

Like a number of Clubs, Bristol City operates a category system (Gold and Silver) for the pricing of matchday tickets, whereby the most popular games cost more to watch. Gold prices are shown below with Silver tickets in brackets:

Home Fans*

Dolman Stand (Centre):
Adults £39 (£34) Over 65’s/Under 25’s £36 (£31) Under 22’s £33 (£28) Under 19’s £18 (£17) Under 12’s £13 (£11)
Dolman Stand (Wings):
Adults £35 (£30) Over 65’s/Under 25’s £32 (£27) Under 22’s £29 (£24) Under 19’s £16 (£16) Under 12’s £10 (£10)
Lansdown Stand (Centre):
Adults £42 (£37) Over 65’s/Under 25’s £39 (£34) Under 22’s £36 (£31) Under 19’s £23 (£21) Under 12’s £17 (£15)
Lansdown Stand (Wings):
Adults £39 (£34) Over 65’s/Under 25’s £36 (£31) Under 22’s £33 (£28) Under 19’s £20 (£19) Under 12’s £15 (£13)
South Stand:
Adults £33 (£28) Over 65’s/Under 25’s £30 (£25) Under 22’s £27 (£22) Under 19’s £16 (£16) Under 12’s £10 (£10)
Family Area:
Adults £33 (£28) Over 65’s/Under 25’s £30 (£25) Under 22’s £27 (£22) Under 19’s £16 (£16) Under 12’s £10 (£10)

Away Fans

Atyeo Stand:
Adults £33 (£28) Over 65’s/Under 25’s £30 (£25) Under 22’s £27 (£22) Under 19’s £16 (£16) Under 12’s £10 (£10)

* Home fans can gain a further discount of £5 on these ticket prices if they become club members.

Official Programme – Free (Online only)
One Team In Bristol Fanzine £1.20.
Cider’ed Fanzine £1.

Bristol City vs Bristol Rovers rivalry

When you’ve got two clubs in the same city, it’s hardly a surprise that there can be a little bit of rivalry born. For the Bristol duo, it’s more than just a tad of rivalry though; most people place it amongst the 10 biggest in the UK. Bristol City are the dominant side though and owing to playing in different leagues for a while now, the teams haven’t met since 2013.

Bristol City vs Cardiff rivalry

Bristol and Cardiff might be in located in different countries but, actually, they’re not all that far apart with just the River Severn separating them hence the Severnside derby tag this game can get. The whole England vs Wales element brings extra spark to the fixture too whilst both teams have had hooligan firms in the past, which has led to scenes of violence.

Record Attendance

43,335 v Preston North End
FA Cup 5th Round, 16th February 1935.

Modern All Seated Attendance Record For Bristol City

26,088 v Manchester United
League Cup Quarter Final, 20th December 2017.

Stadium Attendance Record

26,399 Bristol Bears v Bath
Rugby Premiership, 18th October 2019

Average Attendance

2019-2020: 21,810 (Championship League)
2018-2019: 20,850 (Championship League)
2017-2018: 20,953 (Championship League)

If you require hotel accommodation in Bristol then first try a hotel booking service provided by Booking.com. They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy to use. Just input the dates below that you wish to stay and then select from the map the hotel of interest to get more information. The map is centered to the football ground. However, you can drag the map around or click on +/- to reveal more hotels in the City Centre or further afield.

Bristol City FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website)

For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the  Level Playing Field website.

Mike a visiting Swindon Town fan adds; ‘The away coaches are parked about 300 yards away from the entrance, there are disabled car spaces closer. The stewards were very helpful in showing us to the wheelchair spaces close to the corner flag in the Wedlock Stand. There was a steward on hand all through the game and the disabled toilet was close to where we were seated. The only drawbacks were the disabled ramp was a little steep and view of the other end of the pitch was hampered by the safety rail. Also the seating arrangements could have been better spaced, as all the helpers seats were placed in one rather than one wheelchair one seat.

Outside Ashton Gate is a statue of former Bristol City player John Atyeo. He joined the Club in 1951 and stayed until his retirement in 1966. During that time he was to make 645 appearances for Bristol City scoring 351 goals, making him the Club’s all time leading scorer and most appeared player. He passed away in 1993.

The statue was sculpted by Tom Murphy, who also produced a the statue of Bill Shankly outside Anfield Liverpool. Costing around £70,000 it was largely funded by the Bristol City Supporters Trust. It was unveiled outside Ashton Gate on November 5th 2016, before the home league match against Brighton.

Thanks to Oliver Howse for providing the photo the John Atyeo Statue above.

If you’re into historical ships then the first iron hulled, screw propeller-driven steamship, the SS Great Britain is moored at the historic docks. The area around the docks is quite pleasant with some good pubs. Pete Smith adds; ‘The Clifton Suspension Bridge that overlooks Ashton Gate, is quite an amazing sight. It was originally designed by Brunel and it goes over the Avon Gorge. As it is very high up the views are superb.’ Chris Gill a visiting Leeds United fan tells me; ‘I walked from Temple Meads to the SS Great Britain and it’s not a bad walk if you’re not worried about a bit of exercise! That took about half an hour. From there it’s another 10-15 minutes to the ground’.

Official Web Site: www.bcfc.co.uk
Unofficial Web Sites:
Bristol Post
One Team in Bristol

If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at contact@footballgroundguide.com and I’ll update the guide.

Special thanks to Jason Brewer for providing a photo of the new South Stand and to Keith Farrow for providing the other photos of the Ashton Gate Stadium Bristol City.