5 things you’re unlikely to see in Bristol

There are many great sights to be seen in Bristol. For some this may be seen in the city centre on a busy Saturday night, or maybe even the local businesses that are just as busy. The landscape, sporting life, and numerous other attractions are a big hit in bristol. However, let’s look at five things that at this point in time, you may not see in the city.

Bristol Rovers in the Premier League

As controversial as this may sound, at the current stature, Bristol rovers do not seem to be in a position to play in the premier league. However, sports fans are an optimistic bunch, and will always hold onto hope as do fans of any team - and Bristol do have some promising factors. Bristol Rovers are one of the two major-league football teams in bristol. Playing in the FA cup, and EFL championship they have been promising and eager to push for a promotion to League one - where they previously played before their unfortunate relegation. With their striking play it is likely this promotion will keep them in the two major leagues.

It has been many years since the Rovers have been in the second flight of English football in 2001, however it would be an amazing opportunity for fans to see them take promotions and end up against more widely known teams such as Arsenal and Liverpool. Fans are hoping for a favourable cup draw next season.

A Bristol Bears play-off place

Another sporting event that takes place in Bristol is Rugby, which to some, is arguably as popular as football. Bristol bears are a professional rugby team that play in the premiership which is the top division of rugby in England. Unfortunately, after some high finishes in recent years, they have had an unbearable season this time around. 15 losses in 22 matches and 10 out of 11 away games lost. However, as fans may know, the club's motto is ‘Together We Rise’, so there's hoping that next season, they will make a great comeback as things can change quickly in sports.

However, as it stands, it may be unlikely to see a play off place, but as previously said, things can change rapidly, and surely fans of the game will be happy to watch the games unfold and see if this can happen. 

A Royal Flush at a local casino

When you visit one of the Bristol casinos, it is best to play games with which you have a decent chance of winning. Those of you who enjoy playing poker will know that the chances of getting a royal flush, like you might see in the movies, are extremely rare. However, this doesn't take away from the popularity of some casinos in Bristol - making it another appealing attraction of the city. 

The odds of a royal flush (10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace all the same suit) are 1 in 2.6 million, but we must admit that a royal flush can sometimes happen, just ask Scotsman Peter Ferguson, who recently bagged one in a game in Las Vegas for £213,000, but still it’s incredibly rare.

Like with many gambling games, it’s always better to find games where you have a better chance of winning anything. For example, you can stream popular games with live dealers at some gaming platforms, so you can play favourites like blackjack, where the odds are much better although still in the house’s favour.

Someone wearing a Cardiff City shirt

Sometimes in life, you have to be brave, like wearing a Cardiff City shirt in Bristol - as fans of the sport may see it! 

Those who support the Welsh side do not tend to receive many greetings cards from either City or Rovers fans. There is a great rivalry between the clubs, that is for sure. To compare to more popular teams - you may think of a rivalry between liverpool and everton. Friendly competition, that is highlighted by how close the teams live to each other. City plays them a great deal more often than Rovers due to their success. They did the league double over Cardiff this season. That’ll put the Welsh fans in a good mood for their next visit to Bristol. Andreas Wiseman scored three goals in those two games but surprisingly hasn’t received many invitations to go to Cardiff.

The friendly competition makes for a lively day at the stadium, and adds to the already lively nightlife in bristol. 

A statue of Edward Colston

For many years, Bristol was the home to the statue of Edward Colston. Dating back to 1895, the statue was erected as a memorial to someone that was greatly respected at the time. However, like many other things, with time and knowledge, this opinion changed for many. So as it stands, if you were to visit the site of the statue - it would no longer be there. Many Bristolians think the toppled statue of slave trader Edward Colston should be displayed in one of the city's museums and understandably this is a controversial topic. As said, Colston was a trans-Atlantic slave trader, making him as popular in the city as a bragging Cardiff fan - referencing back to our previous statement on the rivalry between the two cities football teams. His statue has been the subject of many discussions and was unceremoniously rolled into the harbour waters by protestors. It has since been salvaged and placed in storage.

Politicians were quick to comment on the damage to the statue in June 2020. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he understood the “strength of feeling” of those who had committed the act.

The statue has since been replaced by one of a black lives matter protesters - Jen Reid, and it's still unknown what will happen with the statue of Edward Colston.