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Help us tell the story of Quay Head House
One of the most interesting buildings in central Bristol, and we know surprisingly little about it. Here is what we have found, and where you come in.
Stories
Photos, finds and key moments from the life of the building.
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The distillery (2026 onwards)
A distillery in the attic
In July 2026 the building took on a new job. The Spirit of Bristol now makes gin on the top floor.
The Milk Thistle (2011 onwards)
Ring the bell: the Milk Thistle years
No sign, no menu in the window, just a doorbell. For more than a decade, Quay Head House was one of the best hidden bars in the country.
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Before the building (to 1884)
When ships came up to Quay Head
The road outside used to be water. For six hundred years, this was the end of the line for ships sailing into Bristol.
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Bristol Municipal Charities (1884 to 1938)
Reading the front of the building
Quay Head House was built to impress. Its brick, terracotta and crests tell you exactly who paid for it and why.
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Bristol Municipal Charities (1884 to 1938)
1850 or 1884? Help us settle it
Some sources say this was a merchant’s house built in 1850. The official listing says 1884 charity offices. Here is what we think, and why we want proof.
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The squat and Cloak & Dinner (around 2009 to 2011)
The red door opposite the war memorial
In January 2010, while the building was a squat, it hosted a secret pop-up restaurant. Guests found out where it was the day before.
Were you ever inside?
An office job, a night out, a sleeping bag on the floor, a photo in a family album. Whatever your connection, it belongs in the archive.
- Photos of the inside or outside, from any decade
- Memories of working, drinking, eating or living here
- Letters, menus, adverts, plans or anything with the address on
Takes about five minutes. You choose if and how it is published.