How are you all enjoying the final glimpses of summer?

I have to say that I’m quite enjoying the onset of autumn, bringing with it robust stews, comfy jumpers and, hopefully, the return of pumpkin beer! I tried quite a few varieties last year, and they were all lovely. More vegetable beers please, and don’t go easy on the allspice either.

Festive antics

Before we’ve had time to recuperate from Bristol Beer Week, we find ourselves swarmed with a fresh array of boozy good times in the shape of Bristol Cocktail Week 2014. From 20-26th of October, Bristol’s best cocktail bars and purveyors of premium beverages will be hosting a multitude of events and special offers, from awards ceremonies to tasting evenings to special cocktails. Check out the website for more details nearer the time.

If you’re more partial to Pilsner than you are Pernod, don your best pair of Lederhosen or your snazziest Dirndl, and head to Brunel’s Old Station next to Temple Meads for their Oktoberfest celebrations on 10th and 11th October. Tickets are priced at £15.50 for the Friday, or £17.50 for the Saturday (excl. booking fee).

For Bath folk and Bristol daytrippers, October also sees the return of The Great Bath Feast – from 1st-31st there will be a vast number of talks, workshops, street parties and tasting events. Highlights include the Winter Beer Festival at The Bath Brew House, a History of Bath on a Plate at The Garrick’s Head, a Pizza Show at Yammo!, Game Night with beer matching at The Malborough Tavern, a Cheese festival from The Fine Cheese Co., Steak and Malbec at Raisin Wines, AND a three course meal at Culture & Cure, including beers from Wild Beer Co and cheeses from Westcombe Dairy. Check out the website listings for more information and prices.

Street Food and Bollywood Parties

Just because the evenings are getting darker and crisper doesn’t mean that Bristol is slowing down at all. This autumn sees the infamous Beermuda Triangle turn 1 year old, not long after the Bristol Pound turned 2! The food and drink scene in Bristol has never been more vibrant and diverse – so here are some of the best events coming up in the next four weeks…

Wednesday 1st & Thursday 2nd October is Game Night at Wilks, with 7 courses of wild game matched with wines, which should be an incredible way to see in the new season!

Friday 3rd marks the trying out of a new venue for street food collective Bristol Eats, as they pitch up at Roo Bar next to Clifton Down Station from 6pm – stalls will include Moorish, Pastilla House, Viet Vite, Gopal’s Curry Shack, The Feastie Boys and Ah-Ma’s Dumplings. I’ve raved about the Bristol Eats events in the past, and have also recommended many of their vendors in other posts, so make sure you check out some of what’s on offer!

Roll For The Soul welcomes The Ugly Plum & VegeFreque on Sunday 5th for their first Vegan Pop-Up Dinner. There will be 3 courses of African-inspired dishes, and the event is BYO.

If you like your dishes with a bit more dairy, pop along to Arch House Deli in Clifton on Wednesday 8th October for their Cheese and Wine Tasting evening, which will give you the opportunity to sample 6 different cheeses, each of which is matched with wine.

Mid month brings a bit of luxury to central Bristol, with The Flavour Smith and Weber & Tring’s partnering-up for A Tale of Two Trades on 17th &18th October. In addition to canapes and 4 decadent courses of food, you will also get a cocktail matched to each dish. The event will also be hosted in a historic church in central Bristol, which should make it extra special.

For those of you wanting to learn a new flashy skill, on Saturday 18th October Extract Coffee will be running a barista training workshop at their premises in central Bristol, teaching you how to make the perfect coffee at home. The following day on Sunday 19th sees the return of Party in my Pans to The Library on Cheltenham Road. They’ll be serving up seafood and wine with some extra treats – check out their website for further details and tantalising menu listings!

Later in the month, you can venture along to Paintworks for Love Food Festival on Sunday 26th for treats such as mulled cider (and an apple press for you to use!), cheeses from Godminster, a Hallowe’en fancy dress competition, and a selection of great street food vendors and local producers for you to grab some snacks.

See out October by partying at Thali Cafe in Southville on Friday 31st – their Big Bollywood Parties are already very popular, which is no surprise, seeing as you can dance along to some live music whilst you tuck into some of their tasty grub. Or if you’re in the mood for something a bit more sedate, check out the Paleo night at Source in St Nick’s.

New in Town

It wouldn’t be Bristol if there wasn’t a bunch of new businesses to welcome to the city. First up is Bristol Skipchen, which will be operating at Crofters Rights from Monday 6th October. This pop-up will be serving surplus food in creative ways and operating on a pay-what-you-like basis, so go along and lend your support!

Other exciting additions to the centre includes the imminent opening of a permanent base for burger maestros Chomp – their premises on Nicholas St should be fit to welcome meat-hungry guests soon. Nearby on St Stephens Street, new cocktail bar The Doghouse is a new cocktail bar just a hop, skip and a jump from other favourites Pata Negra and Milk Thistle.

Moor Beer have also helpfully moved their brewery a bit closer to their fans, setting up behind Temple Meads. The new brewery is equipped for tours and will also soon boast a shop – keep an eye to their website for updates.

Also be sure to keep Thursday 16th October free to pay a visit to Small Bar – they’ll be hosting the launch of new vegan foodsters The Mighty Food Fight; they’ll be offering tasters of their wares (their balls and doughnuts look gooood), what better way could there be to get acquainted with the finer side of vegan dining?

What are you most excited about in October? Did I miss anything off? Let me know in the comments 🙂

Dates for the diary:

• Wed 1st & Thu 2nd – Game Night at Wilks
• Fri 3rd – Bristol Eats at Roo Bar
• Fri 3rd-Sat 4th – Oktoberfest at The Beer Emporium
• Sun 5th – Tobacco Factory’s 10th Anniversary Food Market & Street Food
• Sun 5th – The Ugly Plum & VegeFreque Vegan Pop-Up Dinner
• Mon 6th – Bristol Skipchen opens at Crofter’s Rights
• Tue 7th – Veg Out at River Cottage Canteen
• Wed 8th – Cheese & wine tasting at Arch House Deli
• Thu 9th – Dessert Wine Masterclass at Harvey Nichols
• Fri 10th & Sat 11th – Oktoberfest at Brunel’s Old Station
• Thu 16th – Mighty Food Fight launch at Small Bar
• Thu 16th – Riverford Supper Club at Yurt Lush
• Thu 16th – Bristol Wine School Shiraz & Syrah Tasting at Bodeaux Quay
• Fri 17th – Murder Mystery Dinner aboard the SS Great Britain
• Fri 17th & Sat 18th – A Tale of Two Trades
• Sat 18th – Barista training at Extract Coffee
• Sat 18th – Bristol Wine School Port,Cheese & Chocolate at Bodeaux Quay
• Sun 19th – Party in my Pans seafood dinner at The Library
• Mon 20th – Start of Bristol Cocktail Week
• Thu 23rd – After Hours @ Bristol – Brains
• Thu 23rd – Jinzu Gin Ball at Milk Thistle for Bristol Cocktail Week
• Thu 23rd – Bristol Wine School Cheese & Wine Tasting at Bodeaux Quay
• Fri 24th – Cuban cocktail party at The Mauretania for Bristol Cocktail Week
• Sat 25th – Autumn Food & Drink Market at SS Great Britain
• Sat 25th – Gin through the Ages at Averys as part of Bristol Cocktail Week
• Sat 25th – Brewdog’s 2nd Birthday; food pop-ups, DJs and beer!
• Sat 25th – Bakery classes at Joe’s Bakery
• Sun 26th – Love Food Festival at Paintworks
• Thu 30th – Wiper & True launch new beer Dr Strangelove at Boston Tea Party
• Thu 30th – World Tour of Autumn Stews at Bordeaux Quay
• Fri 31st – Thali Big Bollywood Party
• Fri 31st – Prom Night at Brewdog; live music, pumpkin carving & face painting
• Fri 31st – Paleo Night at Source

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