DIRECTIONS AND CAR PARKING
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; 'Parking around Ashton Gate has been severely hindered recently in that many streets now have double yellow lines. There is the Bedminster Cricket club on Clanage Road (A369) that offers parking at a cost of £5 per car. It is then around a 5-10 minute walk to the stadium'. Otherwise it is a case of finding some street parking.
Post Code for SAT NAV: BS3 2EJ
BY TRAIN
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 opposite away supporters exit in the Atyeo Stand. 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.'
PUBS FOR AWAY FANS
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. 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'. Scott Grimwood a visiting Ipswich Town fan informs me; ' The Cottage in Baltic Wharf, 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.'
Matt Greenslade recommends; 'The Orchard pub is about a ten minute walk from the ground at Hanover Place on Harbourside. Voted Britain's top cider pub in 2009 with 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?
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.' Alternatively, alcohol is made available to away fans inside the ground. Brands available include; Heineken (£4.50), Fosters (£4), John Smiths (£4), Butcombe Bitter (£4), Guinness (£4.50) and Thatchers Cider (£4).
WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR VISITING SUPPORTERS?
Away fans are housed on one side of the Atyeo Stand at one end of Ashton Gate, towards where the new Lansdown Stand. Approximately 2,500 fans can be accommodated in this area. As this stand is shared with home fans, then this makes for a good atmosphere. The stand is free of supporting pillars and inside the facilities are good. Entrance to the ground is gained through the use of electronic turnstiles, whereby your ticket needs to be inserted into a bar code reader. 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. For cup games then the whole stand can be allocated to visiting supporters, it has a capacity of 4,200.
Refreshments available inside include; Steak & Ale Pies (£3.70), Steak Pasties (£3.70) Cheese & Onion Pasties (£3.70) and Sausage Rolls (£3). There is also a KFC outlet located just outside the Ashton Gate entrance.