QPR open their campaign at one of the newly promoted sides for the second time in three seasons. Last time we travelled to Ashton gate it wasn't a nice experience on or off the pitch, here's some tips for those planning on braving it again.

Ground Name: Ashton Gate
Capacity: 21 479 (all seated)
Address: Ashton Road, Bristol, BS3 2EJ
Main Telephone No:0117 963 0630
Ticket Office: 0870 112 1897

By Car:
On the map the most obvious route looks to be leaving the M4 at Junction 19 and heading into Bristol on the M32. However if you'd like to cut out the city centre, and frankly that's a sound idea, all the advice points you towards the M5. So that's M4 Junction 20 onto the M5 southbound down to the needlessly complicated Junction 18 where the M5, M49 and A4 all sort of collapse into one another. You need to be on the A4 from there following signs for Bristol Airport/Taunton A38. After passing the suspension bridge you need to be ready to join the A3029 which crosses the river on a swing bridge immediatelyafter leaving the A4. The ground should then be obvious on the left hand side after going through the underpass. Not particularly easy this one I'm afraid.
Distance from Loftus Road - 117 miles
Journey time at spped limit - 2 hours 26 minutes

Map:

Click map to visit Multi Map site and zoom in/out or tour round.

Parking:
Ashton Gate is very much like a red version of Loftus Road in many respects, including the parking. Street parking only and it's likely to be few and far between for their opening Championship match so arrive early or prepare to park quite a way away and walk in.

By Train
Bristol Temple Meads station is approximately two miles from Ashton gate and is served by Great Western mainline services from Paddington.
Paddington - 0930
Bristol TM - 1110

Bristol TM - 1830
Paddington 2014

This journey is currently (25/7/07) available for £30.50 by purchasing a First Minute Leisure D class single ticket for the outward journey and a First Minute Leisure C class single ticket for the return trip. This price will not be around for long. Your walk up Saver Return fare is £49.

Temple Meads is a good 45 minutes walk from the ground and all the guides advise a taxi trip out there which will set you back £7 or thereabouts. After the match buses to the city centre run from behind the main stand. The guides say away fans shouldn't have a problem on this service but it was tasty the last time we visited here and likely to be so again so I certainly wouldn't recommend marching round to the bus stop in full QPR colours. In fact, after our last visit here, colours not recommended at all.

I've noted the 1830 train here deliberately because it can be a right pain to get back into town after the match so you'll need plenty of time. Don't book yourself on the 1730 service unless you're planning on leaving at half time or know for sure you can get a cab sorted at 5pm.

Pubs:
As just mentioned our last visit here was played out in a hostile, unwelcoming and intimidating atmosphere and their mood probably hasn't improved much in the meantime - wqhat with all the hilarious play off failures and all. Displaying colours outside the ground is not advisable and the pubs in the immediate vacinity of the ground are said to be unfriendly for away supporters. The Hen & Chicken and The Rising Sun are named in the guide as particular ones to avoid and The Robins pub, previously a favourite of away fans, is also now home fans only. There is also no alcohol on sale in the ground. Christ welcome to bristol, it's like stepping back in time writing this, bet the locals though Life on Mars was a spin off of The Bill.

Many Rangers fans headed for the waterfront last time and are likely to do so again. The Nova Scotia comes highly recommended.

Nova Scotia

Tickets and Club Travel
Here we are just 16 days before the match and with all summer to organise themselves QPR are still to release any tickets for sale for this one. We have been allocated 2000 tickets in the Wedlock Stand behind the goal priced at £23 for adults, £18 seniors and £13 students and kids. Disabled supporters are admitted for £13 with a carer free. Seating is unreserved and views are restricted. Sounds lovely. Tickets are on sale for season ticket holders (one per season ticket) from Monday July 30, members from Thursday August 2 and general sale from Friday 3. This has been left ridiculously late and with postal strikes planned is a real inconvienience for supporters - we would encourage the club to extract their finger from their arsehole to ensure this doesn't happen again this season.

Links:

Detailed fans' guide to Ashton Gate

Official website

Photo: Action Images

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