AA rosette pub with sunny beer garden in quaint village near M5 has pretty terrace

Those familiar with the local roads will likely recognise Almondsbury, thanks to the bustling interchange where the M4 meets the M5. This was Britain's first four-level motorway junction when it opened in the 1960s, but the village itself boasts a rich history that stretches back to Saxon times. Even today, Almondsbury is home to historic buildings such as St Mary's Church, which was reportedly consecrated by four bishops in 1148.

Its modern patterned lead spire remains a prominent feature of the village skyline, along with some impressive residences. According to my envious perusal of Rightmove records, thirteen houses here have sold for over GBP1m in the past two years, as we enjoyed a sunny stroll around the village on Sunday afternoon. We were drawn in by the highly-rated pub lunch at The Bowl, which earned an AA Rosette for Culinary Excellence in 2024 following a significant refurbishment a few years prior.

We parked in the pay-and-display car park opposite, which is free for customers provided you remember to validate your registration number at the bar. With vibrant flowers spilling from the hanging baskets at the front, it's no surprise that some patrons chose to sit on picnic tables at the pub's charming entrance, enjoying views of the church. We ventured into the paved beer garden at the back, where the absence of grass is compensated for by the view of a vast field just beyond the fence.

As part of the Butcombe portfolio, expect familiar local brews on tap such as Rare Breed and Butcombe Gold.

Sadly there was no Ashton Press but cider lovers could instead try a Thatchers Juicy Apple. I enjoyed a crisp, refreshing half pint of Underfall lager, which was all the better for being enjoyed on the pretty terrace. It felt very European with the fringed sun umbrellas and the Aperol spritz on the drinks menu, along with other tempting cocktails and trendy small plates.

I didn't fancy a roast dinner beneath the beaming sunshine, so ordered a slightly eclectic mix of picky bits - a mackerel pate starter (GBP8.20) with sides of aioli potatoes (GBP5.50) and a small Caesar salad (GBP5.90).

It was all delicious but there were a few bits missing compared to what was promised on the menu - no crispy onions on the potatoes nor Pecorino cheese on the salad, as far as I could detect. Everyone else at my table had a Sunday roast, which range from GBP17.90 for the veggie option to GBP24.50 for the trio of roasted meats. The beef was not medium-rare as advertised but the rest was really tasty, especially the fluffy Yorkshires and flavourful gravy.

We'd previously tried to book another pub elsewhere but were told they had no high chairs, which immediately raised a red flag about whether or not we'd be welcome. Thankfully there was no such issue at The Bowl, where there were a few other babies and children around and lovely smiling staff who seemed to enjoy waving at our one-year-old.

Although the pesky wasps did their best to derail our experience, we still enjoyed a relaxing lunch in the sunshine and set off afterwards to walk it off around the village. There is a high point near the pub which surprised us with distant views of both Severn bridges, leaving us wishing we had brought binoculars for a closer look.

After a pleasant stroll, looping round to pass the community shop and village hall, we made the short drive up the hill to Almondsbury Garden Centre.

It's a massive place with a drive-through facility for heavy items like soil bags and stones, and an on-site cafe that always seems to be busy.

On any other day I would have been keen for a piece of their homemade cake, but there is currently no outdoor seating there as building works begin for the cafe's expansion.

Instead we grabbed some ice creams and fancy-looking biscuits from the shop and ate them in the sunshine outside, with a view of the nearby playing fields.

The burr of motorway traffic was barely audible in the background - Almondsbury itself is a world away from the busy junction that most people will know it for, offering a peaceful day out within easy reach of the city.