This week we pick over the carcass that was the massacre in BS3 and we’re not talking about the hammering of Falcons at Ashton Gate last weekend.  No, we’re talking about the first ever live pod at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom. We look back on an evening of structured chaos, discuss the learnings and then move quickly on to more pressing matters such as the fantastic victory yesterday away at Welford Road that keeps play off hopes firmly in our own hands. 19- zip down on 69 minutes and...

It's a carnival atmosphere down at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom this week as having constantly 'talked about' doing a live pod the lads actually execute one straight after the 13-try massacre of Newcastle Falcons at Ashton Gate. It's raw and it's raucous but the lads try their best to analyse the game despite 10% off the beers and 50% of the champagne. They also look towards Tigers and beyond and dare to believe. Back in the top four from no-where. Can we? You bet we can...  We also...

In this week's episode we formally announce our first ever live pod, in the sense that we are inviting an audience to the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom post Falcons at 6.30pm next Sunday. If you are interested in finding out more, and even contemplating joining us, then complete the Eventbrite registration below (it's free but it helps us get an idea of numbers) as well as the Google form where you can submit a question in advance and provide us with answers to a few short questions about the...

You’re listening to Bears Beyond the Gate, a Bristol Bears podcast made by fans for fans. We’re two and a half season cardholders at Ashton Gate who love the club, the game and all things Bears. Well, Miles is happy as Pat listens to his selection advice from the ski slopes of France and moves Max to full back, Noah Howard to the wing and gives Gengey the starting berth at loosehead. And it works, as Bristol retain the Rifles Cup by winning at Kingsholm for only the third time since...

In this week’s episode Pete and Miles dial in from their respective ski resorts  whilst Lee shakes his head at the whole middle classy-ness of it all. That said, it was worth the effort as the boys chew over the fantastic victory against Saints on Friday and give their thoughts on what was very close to being the elusive 80- performance. They discuss various key moments in the game, reflect on the myriad quality performances and celebrate the atmosphere down at the Gate. When it comes to...

In this weeks's episode we preview the return of the Prem with help from the Telegraph's Charlie Morgan. It's been a long break but there's all to play for and as we're only three points off 6th and six points off 4th can we dare to dream? We also comment on Pat's interview on Bears TV this week and then try and pick the team for Friday. With a lot of players seemingly available it's actually quite a pleasurable task. Finally we also revel a piece of news that will send shockwaves around...

In the second of our occasional 'doc-pods' we head towards the end of this long fallow period by hearing from Paul Morgan, who is  the Communications Lead of PWR and previously Communications Director at Premier Rugby and before that editor of Rugby World. He talks about the rebranding of the PRW this season, his thoughts about Bears Women team and offer some more general thoughts on where domestic rugby union is going given the challenges that is has faced in recent times.  Sit back, relax...

In this week's slightly delayed pod (technical difficulties) we hear from Bristol legend and current Galway resident Joe Joyce . He gives us some insight into what it's like getting  a bit of niggle going with some of your best mates in the European Cup, speaks candidly about why he left his home town for pastures new and 'talks about' his future aspirations as well as revealing a surprising candidate for 'hardest man' in the Bears camp. We also review the excellent Bears' Women victory...

It's only Pete and Lee this week down at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom supping a couple of cheeky beers, as Miles calls in sick at the last minute. However, they still manage to fill the time, with help from listener posts, discussing the Bears Women victory against Loughborough Lightening in particular and how their season is hotting up more generally, as well as intertwining their thoughts with other subjects as wide ranging as Super League netball and the importance of not doing well...

In this week's BUMPER episode we hear from Dave Attwood about: His life since retirement...His time at the Bears and what it was like working under Pat...THAT semi final defeat and why it all went wrong...What he thinks about Bristol's season so far AND how we are not 'a million miles away from clicking' and finally...His answers to some incredibly searching short sharp questions, including one that is on every fan's lips i.e what might be considered appropriate attire at rugby matches...We...

In the first ever Bears Beyond The Gate 'docu-pod' we hear from Kiera, Kaye and Sophie about the work of the Bears Together Supporters Advisory Committee (SAC)  an initiative  that was announced at the start of the season as a way of the club being able to gather more direct feedback from fans about off-field matters. They talk about who they, and other members of SAC are, how the first meeting went and their aims of for the future. They are there to represent US so if you have any comments...

As the Premiership takes a mid season break for the Six Nations, we review the monumental banger at Ashton Gate as Bristol maintain their seven-game home town winning streak against Bath. Basically it was just a mental game of rugby. Multiple line breaks, gorgeous offloads and 14 tries AND virtually no box kicks or scrums. It was rugby played the way it should be! As well as hearing from both sets of fans before and after the game thanks to our brand new audio recording device and Miles...

In this week's episode we welcome work experience fella Reg to deputise for Lee who is still in witness protection after his new year Bristol Post article - or is he just taking the Christmas Tree down? We discuss the poor result and performance against Connacht which essentially saw us dumped out of both European Cups in one go and debate what this means in terms of goals and targets for the rest of the season and beyond. Is change needed and if so, what should it look like? That said...

Vote for us at the Sports Podcast Awards 2024 and help us bring home some silverware for the Bears! Click on the link below... https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/sports_category/best-rugby-podcast/ And in other news, the Bears lose to a decent Bulls outfit who out-muscle them in the scrum and generally look a bit better all round. Hear our thoughts and then those of Alan and William from Connacht's 'The Craggy Rugby Podcast' as they help us preview the final pool game from gorgeous Galway....

In this week's show we prepare, bake and scoff large amounts of humble pie after the surprise Bears' victory away at Sale Sharks. How can we be so bad and so good all in one week? We get the views of regular social media followers and also hear from yet another roving reporter who saw the game live, as well as throwing in our thoughts and opinions for good measure. The last time a South African side game to the Gate a whole nation was disappointed but this time we welcome the Bulls in the...

Crocodile Dundee returns to chew the Christmas cud with a somewhat unstructured ramble thought the festive period culminating in a long discussion about the impacts of last Friday's hugely disappointing defeat against Exeter 2.0 in front of sell-out crowd. Despite leading 14-12 at the break the Bears were bageled in the second half at the hands of a young, hungry and well drilled outfit leaving many fans wondering were we go from here. You'll have to put in a big oral shift to find out what...

In this week's episode we relish the record breaking 51-26 victory over Gloucester and the retention of the Rifles Cup. After five losses on the bounce this was as a cathartic an experience as you are likely to get and the relief flowing around the Gate on the final whistle was palpable. We read and hear the thoughts of our listeners and then briefly discuss what this means for our chances against Lyon and Bordeaux as we head for a brief diversion to the group stage of the Champions Cup...

We slip to a fifth defeat in a row at the Stone X but battle hard for a cheeky try bonus point which was the least we deserved. We may have scored a couple of worldies but we also shipped seven and if Owen Farrell had put his boots on the right way round it could have been a lot worse. We review the game with help from a few listeners and the Chair of the Supporters Club and then look forward to the Rifles Cup on Saturday which really, really, really is now a must, must, must win game. We...

In this week's episode - our 150th - we chew over the agonising last ditch defeat at the Rec with help from our listeners and reflect on how we really need to start getting on the right side of 'fine margins' otherwise the season is going to slip away. That said, there were plenty of positives to take from the game and we pray that they might be somehow converted into points, cheeky or otherwise, at the Stone X stadium on Saturday. On that note we hear from Jez Denton from Saracens' Fezcast...

WARNING - THERE IS THE SOUND OF RAIN FALLING AT VARIOUS POINTS DURING THIS RECORDING BUT WE WERE TRYING SOMETHING NEW SO BE PATIENT WITH US! 😩 So, our unerring ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory  continues with a second frustrating result in a week down at Sandy Park. To be fair it was a gritty performance at the place where both Sarries and Sale have recently been humbled and a hat trick of cross field kick tries for Rich Lane was a delight to behold but ultimately, we came...

So, the brief winning run is over thanks to a last gasp penalty for Quins at the death on Saturday. It was family day at the Gate but unfortunately the Bears were unable to keep all the kids happy with a mixed display that included some very good but also some frustratingly sloppy bad. Ultimately we were the architects of our own downfall and our decision making under pressure and sometimes not under pressure came back to haunt us. We look back at the game with help from our listeners again...

It's the first time in three years that we have won away at Franklin’s Gardens although after going 18-9 down early in the second half it was great to see the boys ‘dig’ themselves out of a hole and ‘sow the seeds’ of a victory with a penalty and a converted try before the break ultimately making Miles ‘soil’ his pants at the death by efficiently managing the game out in the second half. We revel in this bonus point 33-27 victory and continue our strategy of involving our listeners in the pod...

Well, the waiting was over and after an extended pre-season the Premiership finally returned to Ashton Gate with the visit of Leicester Tigers. With both teams missing international players, it was an opportunity for new signings and squad players to impress, and impress they did, albeit mainly for Bristol. At 25-0 up and cruising some of us were wondering whether we were going to get that magical 80-minute performance in game day one. However, the second half was more of a battle but...