We’re in peak summer now – barbecues, cider festivals, Shaun the Sheep trails, the lovely sight of hot air balloons over town and pirate pub crawls in the harbour.

As well as the Intenational Balloon Fiesta to look forward to, we’ve also got lots of food events and festivals to enjoy throughout August, as well as some excellent new businesses to try out.

Ready your foldable camping chair and top up your tanning lotion – here’s how you should be spending the next few weeks…

Get your munch on

If you want to kickstart your month in the best (well, meatiest) way possible, book a place at The Rummer‘s nose to tail pork evening on Wednesday 5th, where you can expect goodies such as honey glazed rib sandwich (!) and chorizo ice cream (!!) as well as several other exciting courses from incredible chef Andrew Clatworthy.

If beef is more your thing, The Bank Tavern are doing the next of their Adventurous Eats events on 17th & 24th, with four cow-based courses – I thought the last event was excellent, so it comes recommended!

A Taste of Portugal returns to the Perry Boathouse on Friday 7th, so if you missed out on treats such as piri piri chicken, fish stew and the infamous custard tart first time round, now is the time to book a ticket!

If you’re more in the mood for a casual munch in a beer-tastic setting, head along to to Brewdog on Sat 15th for their Tiny Rebel tap takeover. You’ll get a chance to meet the brewers from this fantastic Welsh brewery, hear about their brewing process and taste some great beer. Pizza will also be available from Bertha’s.

The Bristol Eats street food collective will be stationed at Moor Beer brewery near Temple Meads on 22nd Aug, so you can have your fill of tasty beer with the choice of eating from some of Bristol’s best street food, including Gopal’s Curry Shack and The Mighty Food Fight, yumm!

Another street food favourite, Feastie Boys will be serving up their incredible sub rolls (and maybe a beef doughnut or two) at The Hillgrove from Tue 11th-Sat 23rd, excluding Sunday & Monday, and Japanese treats will be available at The Crofters Rights from 14th-29th August courtesy of Kansai Kitchen.

International IPA Day – apparently that’s a thing, and a good excuse for some of our best beery establishments to have a good old shindig. The Beer Emporium will be launching their new collaboration beer with Gloucester Brewery on Sat 8th, whilst Brewhouse Bar & Kitchen will be brewing their own special IPA. Customers can come along from 12 to watch brewing process and get free samples.

Finally, if you want to do your bit for charity this month, Pata Negra are donating all profits from their lunchtime menu to Penny Brohn Cancer Care, so get yourself along for some tapas with your colleagues soon!

Classes & Workshops

If you want to better your boozy knowledge, choose from either the Bourbon & Rye whisky tasting event at Weber & Tring’s on Wednesday 5th, or the Introduction to Japanese whisky at Goldbrick House on Thursday 6th.

Source are running a couple of basic butchery courses this month on the 12th and 26th – spaces tend to fill up quite quickly so be quick if you want to reserve a space!

Sadly you’ve already missed out on a place at Foozie’s bao making course at Baowow on 13th Aug, but you can RSVP via Foozie to hear about the next one, so get involved!

Birthdays and Newbies

Some Bristol favourites celebrated birthdays recently, including local deal app Wriggle turning 1 year old, as did cake maestros Ahh Toots – although both have a way to go before they manage 25 years like local Italian restaurant Europa!

Gloucester Road wine bar The Library also celebrate their 1st birthday on the 14th & 15th August, so pop in that weekend to sample their new food menu, wish them a happy birthday and get a flight of 3 of their favourite wines for £5 (they also do an excellent Aperol Spritz).

In terms of new places to visit, where to begin? Haymarket Walk next to the Bearpit welcomed yet another excellent food business with the opening of seasonal vegetarian restaurant Flow (I’ve already been in 3 times for their tartines and stupidly good cocktails), Aron’s Jewish Delicatessen opened on Chandos Road (I’m obsessed with their Reuben sandwiches) and we also saw the arrival of popular Mexican chain Wahaca to the Triangle, phew!

For those needing a caffeine hit and snack in the centre, Ironworks Supply Co. are the latest top notch cafe to open in the old city on Broad St, whilst around the corner on Baldwin St you can check out new ping pong cafe (I refuse to use their term ‘noshery’) Wiff Waff.

For those of you disappointed to see the departure of Charlie’s Bar next to Clifton Down station, be reassured that the new cocktail bar in its place, Her Majesty’s Secret Service, is a more than acceptable successor. I’m particularly keen to try their cocktail which comes served in a Chinese takeaway box.

If you want a few more pro Bristol tips, how about…

– Bristol’s Best Pub Gardens
– The Quest for Bristol’s Best Roast Dinner
– Bristol’s Top Brunches
– Bristol’s Best Burgers

Dates for the Diary

• Mon 3rd-Wed 12th – Mexican pop-up at The Runcible Spoon
• Wed 5th – Pork nose to tail menu at The Rummer
• Wed 5th – Bourbon & rye whisky tasting at Weber & Tring’s
• Thu 6th – Introduction to Japanese whisky at Goldbrick House
• Thu 6th-Mon 10th – Cider festival at The Portcullis in Clifton
• Thu 6th – Mon 10th – Beer Festival at The Hope & Anchor
• Fri 7th – Rocket Science tap takeover at The Steam Crane
• Fri 7th – A Taste of Portugal supper club
• Fri 7th – Moroccan cookery class at Little Kitchen
• Sat 8th – Bank Tavern summer fete
• Sat 8th – Eat, Drink, Dance at Motion
• Sat 8th – International IPA Day, events at Beer Emporium, Moor Beer Brewery, Brewhouse etc
• Tue 11-Sat 23rd – Feastie Boys pop up at The Hillgrove
• Wed 12th – Vegetarian cookery course at Little Kitchen
• Wed 12th – Basic butchery course at Source
• Thu 13th – Foozie’s bao making course at Baowow (sold out, RSVP for next event)
• Fri 14th- Sat 15th – The Library‘s 1st birthday
• Fri 14th-Sat 29th – Kansai Kitchen pop-up at The Crofter’s Rights
• Sat 15th – Tiny Rebel tap takeover & meet the brewer at Brewdog
• Mon 17th – Adventurous Eats: Bovine Dining at The Bank Tavern
• Tue 18th – Pig Out at River Cottage Canteen
• Fri 21st – Middle Eastern mezze & screening of Aladdin at Falafel King
• Fri 21st – Cuisine + Colour at The Watershed
• Sat 22nd – Bristol Eats at Moor Beer brewery
  
• Mon 24th – English winemakers tasting at The Library (£10 for 5 tasters)
• Mon 24th – Adventurous Eats: Bovine Dining at The Bank Tavern
• Wed 26th – Basic butchery course at Source
• Thu 27th – Thai street food class at Little Kitchen