How to survive a trip to the West Country.

Ashton Gate is situated to the South West Of the city centre and on three sides is a typical pre 1970 football ground with modifications, the exception being behind one end, where a new stand was erected in 1994.

Getting There

By Car

There are two options if you are driving, for those who like to keep moving, North to the M4 at Newbury, then head west on the m4 signposted Bristol, Cardiff etc, stay on this motorway till junction 19, exit onto the M32 into Bristol, follow signs into the City Centre and then on the ring road follow signs to A370, the ground is then approximately 1 mile and well signposted.

Alternatively you can take the road via Salisbury and Bath, you will enter the City via the M4 and again follow signs for the A370 and the ground.

Parking

Parking at the ground is by Permit only although there is plenty of street parking, but be careful to check for restrictions on matchdays 

By Train

Bristol Temple Meads is around a 25 minute walk from Ashton Gate or to be more exact about 1 3/4 miles, for the return journey there are special buses that leave from the road behind the home end that can take you back to the the station, if there is a group of you then a taxi is recommended.

Engineering works mean that trains from Southampton are being diverted via Eastleigh thus adding around 25 -30 minutes to the journey 

The Away End

This used to be the old home end in days gone by but is now half home and half away fans, its basically a low roofed terrace where the seats have been bolted on, it has great acoustics but the view is pretty abysmal for several reasons, the first being the rake of the terrace isnt very steep, meaning that even if you are near the back you arent that high above the pitch and secondly the farther to the back you get the view becomes narrowed by the low roof, it has been desribed as watching the game through a letter box.

Drinking Eating Etc

There are plenty of pubs right by the ground although they tend to be home fans only so if you are wearing colours or not speaking like a member of the Wurzels then you are unlikely to get in. The Hen & Chicken & BS3 bar are to be avoided.

A short walk away near the river are the Pumphouse and Nova Scotia both of whom welcome away fans.

By the station there are a few pubs, incluuding a Weatherspoon outlet and a couple of others of dubious quality.

If you head to the watersheds about 10 minutes from Temple Meads, there are a number of good pubs both independent and of the chain variety, but you will probably need to get a cab to the ground.  

Ashton Gate

Capacity: 21,479 (all seated)Away Shirt Sponsors: Bristol City Community Trust

Address: Ashton Road, Bristol, BS3 2EJ

Main Telephone No: 0871 222 6666

Fax No: 0117 963 0700

Ticket Office: 0871 222 6666

Team Nickname: The Robins

Year Ground Opened: 1904

Home Shirt Sponsors: RSG

Kit Manufacturers: Adidas 

Home Kit Colours: Red & White

Away Kit Colours: Yellow & Black

Official Web Site: www.bcfc.co.uk

Unofficial Web Sites:

Photo: Action Images

Bristol Rovers Polls