Welcome back gang! I’ve missed updating you all on the tasty goings-on around town, and even more than that I’ve missed cold pints on the Harbourside, hearing chatter in pubs and over-ordering at restaurants.
It’s been a difficult few months for us all, but now more than ever we need to support our local businesses, whether it’s ordering online, grabbing a takeaway, drinking in a beer garden or dining in a social-distanced restaurant. Bristol’s businesses are working harder than ever to keep us safe and well-fed/watered, and you’ve definitely earned a treat or two, so let’s get to it!
Without further ado, here’s what you should be munching and supping this month…
Main events
The first big announcement of summer – a huge socially distanced dining event is coming to The Downs from next month! Breaking Bread will be housed in several teepees, featuring a pub from The Pipe & Slippers and special menus from local restaurant teams, starting with Pasta Loco and The Pony and Trap. It’s pretty much sold out but keep an eye out for resales and dropouts, or you can still book tables for the pub.
There’s a new pay-what-you-feel community cafe on Stokes Croft, set up by PRSC and based at Jamaica St Stores. By buying lunch or donating to The Stokes Croft Food Project, this will allow the project to provide a free lunch for those who can’t afford it. The food looks bangin’, go check it out!
Yoga Brunch Club has moved online for the moment, their next event is on Sunday 9th August, featuring brunch delivered to your door from Hummusapiens, and a Q&A with the founder Jasper.
A few doors down, you’ll find brunch maestros Ceres doing a limited run brunch pop-up on Saturdays and Sundays in August at The Spaghetti Incident. Walk-ins welcome, don’t miss this one.
The Bristol institution that is Thali is reopening on St Marks Road in Easton on 14th August, and has also announced an environmetally-friendly bike delivery service.
Eatchu will be bringing their delicious gyoza to the Bristol Beer Factory Tap Room every Thursday and Friday in August. Their shop in St Nicks is now open Tue-Sat lunchtimes.
Another big announcement was that Bristol Craft Beer Festival will be going ahead in September on the Harbourside, with added health and safety measures. You can find out more about their safety plans here.
Eat Out to Help Out
You’ve probably heard of the government’s interestingly-named scheme to get us out there spending money with food & drink businesses. The basic gist is that you’ll get 50% off the food and non-alcoholic drinks you order (a maximum of £10 per diner). The offer is valid Mon – Wed from 3rd – 31st August, and here are a few of the Bristol establishments taking part (check the opening hrs of the restaurant before you go, mind)
You can find out more about the scheme here, or see a full list of participating restaurants in Bristol and across the country here.
Casual Restaurants
- Seven Lucky Gods, Wapping Wharf
- The Burger Joint, Whiteladies Rd & Southville
- Pipal Tree, Easton
- Woky Ko, Wapping Wharf
- Beirut Mezze, Old City
- Urban Tandoor, Old City
- Pieminister, Broad Quay & St Nicholas Market
- Bambalan, Centre
- Canteen, Stokes Croft
- Mud Dock, Harbourside
- Dhamaka, Old City
- Eat a Pitta, Broadmead & St Nicholas Market
- Sergio’s, Park Street
- No.1 Harbourside, Harbourside
- Lona, Gloucester Road
- Cargo Cantina, Wapping Wharf
- Quay Street Diner, Old City
- The Clifton Sausage, Clifton
- Burger Theory, Old City
- Eatchu, Old City
- North St Standard, Bedminster
- Suyuan, Queen Square
- Gambas, Wapping Wharf
- Izakaya, Park Street
- Three Brothers Burgers, Welsh Back
Fine dining
- The Ox, Old City
- Lido, Clifton
- Box-E, Wapping Wharf
- Adelina Yard, Welsh Back
- Hotel du Vin, Centre
Pubs
- The Ostrich, Redcliffe
- Beerd, St Michael’s Hill
- The Famous Royal Navy Volunteer, King Street
- The Knowle, Knowle
- The Cottage, Harbourside
- The Alma Tavern, Clifton
- Bar Humbug, Whiteladies Road
- The Greenbank, Easton
- The Westbury Park, Henleaze
- Nettle & Rye, Clifton
Cafes
- Chance & Counters, Christmas Steps
- Taste of Napoli, Broadmead
- Swoon, Park Street
- Spicer & Cole, Queen Square & Gloucester Road
- Mrs Potts Chocolate House, Park Street
- Woodes, Park Street
- Friska, Queen Square & Victoria Street
- Cloakroom Cafe, Park Row
- 404 (Not Found), St Michael’s Hill
- Boston Tea Party, Park Street
New places
We may have recently seen the closures of local legends such as Flour & Ash, Amoeba, Birch and Wilks, but here are some new faces you can look forward to visiting:
Ahh Toots have opened their cafe-shop at the bottom of Christmas Steps and are now taking bookings for afternoon tea, or you can just pop in to browse their gorgeous cakes.
Harbour House is opening in early August in what was Severnshed. a relaxed bar and lounge offering a range of local goodies from Pinkmans, Lost & Grounded and Bristol Cheesemonger among others. I’m so excited to make use of their waterside terrace for what’s remaining of summer!
Jigaraki will soon be bringing Middle Eastern treats to central Bristol, while Purezza are bringing their famed plant-based pizzas to Gloucester Road any day now.
The Cider Box is now open just behind Temple Meads, and I can’t wait to visit for a pint or three. The Ill Repute on Old Market also looks great, and Thekla have just announced a dockside bar while the main venue is closed. If you’re looking for a drink of something caffeinated, Wogan Coffee have now opened a Brew Bar and Bean Shop in their roastery just by Cabot Circus.
Some restaurants are having a change of scene while closed, with Chomp relocating to a trailer at Bristol Distiling Co. in Bedminster for you to enjoy their amazing burgers with your G&T, and Little French in Westbury-on-Trym moving al fresco to a picturesque church courtyard.
If you’re in the mood for dim sum or bubble tea, Sai Kung is now open on Park Street, serving a range of Chinese dishes including roasted meats and noodles. Their sister restaurant in Little Chinatown on Nelson Street is brilliant, so I have no doubt this will be too.
The food at The Cloak and Dagger on Cheltenham Road is also getting a lot of love at the moment, this venue is host to ABOE by Sebastian Merry, a Michelin-trained chef who is knocking out some next level brunches, small plates and roast dinners. See for yourself.
The Pasta Loco team currently popping up as Pizza Bianchi at the new Lakota Gardens, one of two new beer gardens in the city, the other being Bridewell Beer Garden.
Order in
Not ready to venture out yet? There are still tons of brilliant home delivery options available. I’d recommend checking Best of Bristol or Bristol Food Union for their extensive delivery listings (this guide from BoB about those not on delivery apps is worth a read, especially once you know about the insane commission Deliveroo takes from every order). Otherwise here are some other extra special options:
- Bishopston Supper Club – a high quality three course set menu, available for home delivery. The menu changes every week but always looks delicious!
- Dine at Home Bristol – fine dining delivered to your door, whether you opt for something from the menu, or request a private chef to come and cook in your kitchen!
- Coexist Community Kitchen – weekly community suppers cooked by a cook from the Migrateful community. These sell out quick, so keep an eye to their Instagram for the latest menu.
If you’re looking for other meal kits, booze or groceries, it’s worth having a gander at The Bristol Pantry, WeAreBS3 or GoodSixty, both have a great selection of local suppliers.
That’s it from me for this month. Who knows what September will bring, but hopefully more tasty food and things to look forward to. If you’ve made it this far you obviously like reading quality content, so I can highly recommend reading two new food newsletters – one is Scoop, created by locals Natalie Brereton & Jess Carter and featuring local food thoughts & news. The other is Vittles, which has one brilliantly-written general food article each week. Subscribe to both and your inbox will immediately be improved, I promise.
In the mean time, you can keep up to date with the latest food & drink news by following A Life Less Organised on Facebook, or say hi to me on Twitter, or see what I’m eating on Instagram. I’m always open to suggestions for guides and other stuff to mention, so message me on social media with your ideas. Thanks for reading, you’re all lovely legends!
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