That cold twang is in the air, we’re on the way out of summer already. Although I’m happy with slightly chillier evenings as long as the rain stays away – I’m more of a cosy corner person than a sunseeker anyway. Roll on the red wine and comfort stodge!

This month sees a bunch of Oktoberfest events, foodie festivals and a hoard of new openings, so get your stretchy trousers on, and let me know what you get up to over on the Threads or Instagram!

Festivals & Celebrations

There’s a festival for all tastes this month, whether you like spicy wings Bavarian beer or lots of caffeine.

First up is Bristol Wing Fest from 6th-8th September, featuring 15 food traders and BBQ teams serving up a range of tasty chicken wings – your ticket includes all entertainment (live music, axe throwing, games and eating competitions – the hot wing challenge is always a highlight!), and all wings are £1.25 each so you can try as many different types as you like. Tickets are £19.50 for the Friday session or £22.50 for the weekend sessions.

Wapping Wharf are throwing an End of Summer Party on Friday 6th with live music, family entertainment and late night shopping/dining, and on the same evening Friendly Records in Bedminster are hosting a Block Party with DJs, street food and good beers, with £1 from every pint sold going to Feed the Homeless.

South Glos Summer Food & Drink Festival is at Bristol And Bath Science Park in Emersons Green on Sat 7th and Sun 8th, tickets are £3 for anyone aged over 16 (some free tickets are still available if you’re quick). The lineup includes plenty of food traders, live entertainment and family activities.

On Friday 13th September, head to The Crafty Cow on Gloucester Road for their beer festival, featuring beers from local and national breweries, plus live music.

Bristol Coffee Festival takes over Bristol Beacon on Saturday 14th September, with talks, tastings and latte workshops. If coffee isn’t your thing, the same day also sees a Caribbean & Reggae Party at Beeses in Brislington, and a Vegan Festival at Left Handed Giant’s brewery in St Phillips.

Wild West Cider are hosting a Family Fun Day at their cider farm in Failand on Sunday 15th, where you can take tours of their vineyard, orchard and cidery, sample their drinks and keep the kids busy with fun activities.

She Drinks Beer is back at The Good Measure in Redland on Tue 3rd Sept, and they’re celebrating the 3rd anniversary of their events with a All Welcome open brewday at Good Chemistry’s brewery in St Phillips on Sat 21st. See how they make their beers, get involved with the process and hear from inspiring women, including CAMRA BAD Ladies, Bristol Feminist Book Club and Katy from Spirited in Southville talking about Women’s+ Whisky Night.

Oktoberfest celebrations kick off at the end of this month, with Lost and Grounded Brewers launching their Festbier and hosting a German oompah band on Saturday 28th. Cheddar Ales are also hosting an Oktoberfest party at their taproom on the same day, with German food, German beers and a live brass band.

A few other Oktoberfest parties have been confirmed for October already, including at Prospect, Zero Degrees, Bakesmiths and The Full Moon, but I’ll have more details about those in the next guide.

Line your stomachs, Bristol Cocktail Weekend is back! Nab yourself a wristband which will entitle you to £6 cocktails at over 30 participating bars and restaurants across the city from Thursday 26th – Sunday 29th September. Tickets are priced at £10 for earlybirds and £12 after that, which is a bargain considering how much money you’ll save throughout the weekend!

Dinner events

Treat yourself to a memorable meal this month…

• Croatian Dining at Beeses (Thu 12th)
• Bottomless Brunch with live music at The Granary (Sat 14th, £42)
• Foda Dinner at The Pony Chew Valley (Mon16th, £50)
• Ubuntu Supper Club at OAK Restaurant (Fri 20th , £48)
• Rioja Wine Tasting Dinner at The Clifton Sausage (Thu 26th, £75)
• Fiver-course Supper Club at Thornbury Castle (Thu 26th, £145)

Tours, tastings & classes

Learn something new and impress your pals, whether you opt for a cookery class or teaching yourself all about wine!

• English wine tasting at Cave (Tue 3rd, £35)
• A New England cheese & wine tasting at KASK (Wed 4th, £35)
• Mezcal & Tequila Tasting at Independent Spirit of Bath (Fri 6th, £25)
• Wine and Cheese Tasting Tour in Cheddar Valley (Fri 6th, £120)
• Persian Cuisine cookery class at Cooking It (Fri 6th, £70)
• Gin Lover’s Masterclass (Fri 6th, £30)
• A Taste of Japan cookery class at Little Kitchen (Sat 7th, £85)
• Wapping Wharf Street Food Tour (Sat 7th, £30)

• Farrington Gurney Portuguese Wine Tasting (Sat 7th, £25)
• Dinner in 30 Minutes cookery class at The Pony Chew Valley (Sat 7th, £95)
• Wapping Wharf Gourmet Food Tour (Sat 7th, £60)
• Bristol Cider Tasting Tour (Sat 7th, £34)
• Latte Art 101: How to Pour Like a Pro (Sun 8th, £60)
• A Taste of Magari: Italian Food & Sicilian Wines (Sun 8th, £38)
• Cheese and wine matching at The Scrandit (Tue 10th, £45)
• ‘Matawhero’ Meet The Winemaker at Le Vignoble (Wed 11th, £20)
• Cheese & Beer tasting at Hop Union (Wed 11th, £20)
• Foursquare Rum Tasting at Spirited (Wed 11th, £25)

• Oyster shucking class and shellfish tasting at The Pony Chew Valley (Thu 12th, £115)
• Sudanese Cookery Class at The Mazi Project (Thu 12th, £25)
• Bordeaux Masterclass at Harvey Nichols (Fri 13th, £50)
• Cook the perfect steak class at The Pony Chew Valley (Fri 13th, £75)
• Ethiopian Cookery Class at Coexist Community Kitchen (Fri 13th, £25)
• Gin Lover’s Masterclass (Fri 13th, £30)
• Paint and Wine Evening at Averys (Sat 14th, £55)
• Hotspots & Hidden Treasures food tour (Sat 14th, £60)
• Truffles & pralines workshop at Zara’s Chocolates (Sat 14th, £55)

• Rivers of Europe wine tasting at Corks (Wed 18th, £35)
• Negroni Masterclass with The Aperitivo Co at Spirited (Wed 18th, £25)
• A History of Averys with Mimi Avery (Wed 18th, £35)
• Cider vs Cheese at The Cider Box (Thu 19th, £18)
• Kurdish Cookery Class at The Mazi Project (Thu 19th, £25)
• Uruguay cheese & wine tasting at KASK (Thu 19th, £35)
• Cheese & Wine Tasting at Averys (Thu 19th, £35)
• Middle Eastern Feast at Little Kitchen (Fri 20th, £65)
• Cooking with spices with Angela Ardron (Fri 20th, £95)
• Cheese & Beer tutored pairing at Wiper and True Barrel Store (Thu 26th, £20)

• Cider tasting evening at Winterbourne Medieval Barn (Fri 20th, £20)
• Sri Lankan Street Food class at Little Kitchen (Sat 21st, £75)
• Wapping Wharf Street Food Tour (Sat 21st, £30)
• Bristol Cider Tasting Tour (Sat 21st, £34)
• Wapping Wharf Gourmet Food Tour (Sat 21st, £60)
• El Dorado Rum Tasting at Spirited (Wed 25th, £25)
• Sri Lankan Cookery Class at The Mazi Project (Thu 26th, £25)
• Mexican Street Food class at Little Kitchen (Thu 26th, £75)
• Chateau De Messey Tasting (Thu 26th)
• Single Malts of the World Tasting at Independent Spirit of Bath (Fri 27th, £30)

• Tempering and bar moulding workshop at Zara’s Chocolates (Sat 28th, £55)
• Hotspots & Hidden Treasures food tour (Sat 28th, £60)
• Cooking fish & seafood class at The Pony Chew Valley (Sat 28th, £95)
• Macaron Masterclass at Little Kitchen (Sat 28th, £70)
• Saturday Introduction to Wine with Lunch at Hotel du Vin (Sat 28th, £110)
• Riesling tasting at Cave (Tue 1st Oct, £35)
• Peruvian cookery class at Cooking It (Tue 1st Oct, £75)
• Women’s+ Whisky Night with Ardray (Wed 2nd Oct, £25)

New places to visit

The lovely team behind Bella Vista Italian restaurant next to Bristol Bridge are opening Buonissima Cafe just a few doors down on Victoria Street on 2nd September. Expect fresh sandwiches, freshly baked cakes and pastries and good coffee!

Over in St Werburghs, Fisk and Frite will be serving up some traditional fish and chips with a twist – they’re almost done renovating their restaurant on Mina Road (check out their Instagram for the amazing mural on the front!)

A restaurant specialising in the food of Bombay is opening soon from the team behind from Nutmeg, Nadu and Kal Dosa. Bombil will be arriving on East Street in Bedminster from mid September, and bookings are open now.

Cibomatto are now in residence at St Anne’s House, bringing their Italian flavours from Tuesday to Saturday.

Packed Sandwiches are one of the newest street food traders to appear in the city – you can nab one of their mega beef sandwiches at St Nick’s street food market on Tuesdays.

And finally, coming soon to Bedminster is Other, a small neighbourhood restaurant serving up small plates, bigger plates, snacks and desserts, drawing from a range of influences and inspiration. I’m intrigued!

Thank you to the people who have bought me a coffee to say cheers for the blog, or signed up as a subscriber – every guide takes a good while to put together so it’s lush to be able to get myself a treat at the end of each one courtesy of someone’s generosity!

That’s it for this month, let me know what you’re planning on booking over on Threads, see what I’m eating on Instagram or see the latest local food news by following A Life Less Organised on Facebook.

If you like this, you’ll also like:

• Bristol’s best date locations
• The best brunches in Bristol
• Food & Drink Offers (set menus, bottomless brunch and more)
• Country Pubs Near Bristol

I’ve also got a few travel guides in case they’re handy, including Fowey, York, Malaga and Nice.