It’s a bumper bank holiday month, so you’ve got even more time to spend on fun days out!

Here’s what I’ve managed to dig out from the the next few weeks, whether you want to go to a buzzing market, sample some wines in a local vineyard, have a cream tea on a boat or want to find a street party.

News

St Nick’s Night Market is back for summer! One of my event highlights of the year, you can catch it on the first Friday of every month (5th May, 2nd June, 7th July and 4th August), with the stalls in St Nicholas Market open late, plus lots of extra stalls from local bars and restaurants, live music, DJs, street entertainment, late night shopping and lots more. Get the dates in your diary now!

If markets are your thing you’ve got a ton to choose from this month, including some new arrivals! BS5 Market makes a welcome return on Sunday 7th (more info below), Ardagh Market will be on Horfield Common every 1^st Saturday of the month, as will East Street Market in Bedminster, and Fishponds Community Market at the Old Library on Sat 13th (it will usually be every 1^st Saturday of the month – thanks to the lush team at Gingerbeard’s Preserves for the heads up!). Of course you can still grab some great street food and locally made bites at Finzels Reach Market every Wed + Fri, Temple Quay Market on Tues + Thurs, Whiteladies Road Market on Saturday mornings, and Tobacco Factory Market on Sundays.

There are a couple of new pop-ups and kitchen residencies arriving this month, including Lonely Mouth at Kitchen by KASK for the whole of May, and Apocalypse Bao at The Old Bookshop.

Buskers Banquet has returned for their spring season, with six events in May combining live music and fantastic food, including Big Nath’s BBQ, Roti Shack, Jikoni and TNT Tacos. Tickets for each event are £45 per person, including all of your food and an evening of entertainment.

Enjoy some food and drink on boats this month, from Gin Cruises with Bristol Ferry (£20 including two drinks) on Thursdays throughout May, Fish & Chips on The Matthew on the 31st (£33) or a Cream Tea Cruise with Bristol Packet on dates throughout the month.

ABOE on Whiteladies Road start their Sunday Sessions on 21st May to coincide with the Cotham Hill Street Party nearby, with roasts until 3pm then small plates until 9pm, which you can choose to enjoy in their new garden if the sun is shining!

Coronation bank holiday weekend

Still making plans for the middle bank holiday weekend of the month?

If you’re on the hunt for a street party, you’ll find celebrations in and outside The Coronation pub in Southville and The Bank Tavern in the city centre on Sat 6th, or in Clifton Village and on St Stephens Street with Cotto & Wiper and True on Sunday 7th.

For general celebrating across the long weeekend, the Brandon Hill Beer Festival runs from Fri 5th until Mon 8th, the Inn on the Green host their beer festival on Sat 6th & Sun 7th, and Racks are also holding their Party Under the Pergola on Sunday 7th with a Cuban-inspired BBQ, cocktails and live music.

There are also plenty of coronation-themed afternoon teas to choose from, including at SS Great Britain, Steam, Clifton Observatory, Harvey Nichols, and if you’re looking for a non-royal theme, Budapest Cafe in Clifton are lauching their new Hungarian-themed afternoon tea on the 6th and 7th.

If you’re looking for a chilled addition to the weekend, head to the newly-revived BS5 Market at the Beehive Centre in Whitehall on Sunday 7th May. The market will include a range of indoor stalls selling produce and makes, food trucks in the courtyard, workshops and wellbeing sessions, and a fully stocked bar from Espensen Spirit. The market will take place on the first Sunday of the month for the rest of the year.

Late May bank holiday

See out the month with a long weekend of food and drink frolics, starting with the return of the Bedminster Beer Trail from Friday 26th until Sunday 28th May, with even more BS3 pubs, breweries and bars taking part in the trail this time round!

Dinners & festivals

Treat yourself to something special this month…

• Buskers Banquet: Roti Shack at Left Handed Giant Taproom (Thu 11th, £45)
• Buskers Banquet: Maddie John at Coexist Community Kitchen (Fri 12th, £45)
• Foodies Festival in Little Stoke Park (Fri 12th – Sun 14th), tickets from £18, £6 for young adults and £3 for children
• Fire in Your Soul – fire cooking and live music festival (Sat 13th – Sun 14th, adults £30, childen £10)

• Buskers Banquet: TNT Tacos at The Scrandit (Sun 14th, £45)
• Local Wine Tasting at Harbour Hub with Andy Clarke (Mon 15th, £24.50)
• Wild Foraged Feast at Poco (Tue 16th, £45)
• Basement 17 Tacos at Starlings in Clifton (Fri 19th)
• A Spring Happening at Lost & Grounded Brewers (Sat 20th)
• South Glos Food & Drink Festival (Sat 20th – Sun 21st)
• Cotham Hill Street Party (Sun 21st)
• Buskers Banquet: Greenhouse Plant-Based Dining at The Scrandit (Wed 24th, £45)
• Buskers Banquet: Big Nath’s BBQ (Thu 25th, £45)
• Buskers Banquet: Jikoni East Africa at The Coach House (Sat 27th, £45)
• Cocktail tasting & pizza at Bertha’s Pizza (Wed 31st, £55)
• English Wine & Food Festival at Avon Valley Railway (Fri 2nd June, £15)

Classes, tours and tastings

Try something new this month…

• Wed 3rd – Circumstance Whisky lauch
• Thu 4th – Lost and Grounded tap takeover at The Famous Royal Navy Volunteer
• Sun 7th – Limeburn Hill vineyard tour and tasting (£20)
• Tue 9th – Wines of Spain tasting at Cave (£35)
• Tue 9th – She Drinks Beer at The Good Measure
• Wed 10th – Circumstance whisky tasting at Spirited (£25)
• Wed 10th – Averys May virtual wine tasting (£60)
• Thu 11th – Wine O’Clock walking wine tour (£40)
• Thu 11th – Whisky Lover’s Masterclass (£30)
• Fri 12th – Wine and cheese tasting in the Cheddar Valley (£89)
• Sat 13th – Street Food Tour (£20)
• Sat 13th – Bristol Cider Tasting Tour (£34)
• Sun 14th – Delicious Desserts Tour (£35)
• Tue 16th – Yoga and wine tasting at Averys Wine Cellars (£40)
• Wed 17th – Circumstance spirits tasting at BANK (£20)

• Thu 18th – Wine O’Clock walking wine tour (£40)
• Thu 18th – Pasta from Scratch at Coexist Community Kitchen (£55)
• Thu 18th – Orange wine tasting at KASK (£35)
• Fri 19th – Sauces, Stocks & Emulsions Masterclass at Cooking It (£65)
• Sat 20th – Wine tasting at Winterbourne Medieval Barn (£20)
• Sat 20th – Learn to forage in the Chew Valley (£40)
• Sat 20th – Bristol Craft Beer Experience (£70)
• Sun 21st – Full Day Masterclass at Zara’s Chocolates (£130)
• Sun 21st – Seitan workshop at The Community Farm (£25)
• Tue 23rd – Wines of Spain tasting at Cave (£35)
• Wed 24th – Syrian cookery class at Coexist Community Kitchen, (£35)
• Wed 24th – She Drinks Beer at The Kings Head as part of Women On Tap Festival 
• Wed 24th – Averys Bodeaux Cellar Tasting (£40)
• Wed 24th – Discover Three Italian Dishes at Cooking It (£65)
• Wed 24th – Pour Decisions £5 wine tasting at KASK

• Thu 25th – Whisky Lover’s Masterclass (£30)
• Thu 25th – Cider vs Cheese at The Cider Box (£19)
• Thu 25th – Attic Brew Co. tap takeover and meet the brewer at The Good Measure
• Thu 25th – Wine O’Clock walking wine tour (£40)
• Thu 25th – Bourbon and Blues with Buffalo Trace at The Milk Thistle (£30)
• Fri 26th – Gin Lover’s Masterclass (£30)
• Fri 26th – Thai Cooking & Fish workshop at Coexist Community Kitchen (£55)
• Fri 26th – Wine and cheese tasting in the Cheddar Valley (£89)
• Sat 27th – Street Food Tour (£20)
• Sat 27th – Cheese Making Course at Coexist Community Kitchen (£105)
• Sat 27th – Hyde & Co summer foraging workshop (£30)
• Sat 27th – Bristol Cider Tasting Tour (£34)
• Tue 30th – Ghanian cookery class at St Werburghs Community Centre (£35)
• Wed 31st – Blind Date wine tasting at KASK (£35)
• Wed 31st – Sudanese cookery class at Coexist Community Kitchen, (£35)

Food News & Events in Bath

For those of you in or near Bath, or happy to make the short hop across on the train/bus, there are some fun events to make the trip worthwhile…

• Thu 4th – Star Wars Day Pop Up at Independent Spirit of Bath (Free to attend)
• Thu 11th – Vina Leyda wine tasting dinner at Clayton’s Kitchen (£75)
• Sun 14th – Foraging workshop at Newton Park Estate (£20)
• Wed 17th – Wine for Beginners at Burdalls Yard (£20)
• Thu 25th – Whisky & Cigar Evening with Havana House at Sub 13 (£35)
• Mon 29th – All-American BBQ at the American Museum and Gardens (included in museum admission)

Latest openings

Now open are Lamaya in Finzels Reach, Chance & Counters on Gloucester Road and Authentic Hot Pot & Hand-Pulled Noodles in Redcliffe.

Houria Cafe is also now open in Easton – based in Easton Community Centre from Tuesday to Friday, 9am tom 3pm, there will be daily specials and hot cooked food drawing on influences from across the world, including Turkish Eggs, loaded fries, dal, and jollof rice. Houria support and offer employment to female survivors of slavery and do amazing work as well as great food, so definitely a project worth sypporting!

Opening in early May are Noah’s seafood restaurant on 4th May, an Asian BBQ place on St Nicholas Street, and Catley’s bakery in Clifton, set up by Hannah Catley, who you might know as Lockdown Loaves!

That’s it for this month, let me know what you get up to from this guide, or tell me what you think – I’m over on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and post lots of local food updates on those too.

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