It’s the first bank holiday weekend of the year, and we’ve had the first few evenings of folks sat out on the quayside in the sunshine, so I hope you’re all feeling energised for spring!
Read on for Easter events, wine festivals, big anniversaries and a sneak peek at the May bank holiday…
News
The Pony in Chew Valley are celebrating their 20th anniversary with a series of events and special activities, starting with a limited run of perry, made in collaboration with Wilding Cider, and they’re also releasing a Cook Book! The restaurant will host an Anniversary Garden Party on Monday 4th May over the bank holiday weekend, and will also launch a special anniversary menu that same week – ‘The Pony from the Archives’ – will run Wednesdays-Saturdays from 6th May until 26th September and feature a regularly-changing selection of their most popular dishes.
Speaking of anniversaries, The Scrandit celebrate their 5th birthday with a special BBQ from Choribandits on Sunfay 26th, and Wiper and True are celebrating the 10th birthday of their bestselling beer Kaleidoscope with a ‘Beer Safari’ across 55 venues in the city. Scan special QR codes when you’re there for a chance to win cool prizes!
Looking for something a bit different to do? The Independent Crisp Tasting Championships take place at The Robin Hood Sat 18th – it’s free to attend and no tickets are needed, just turn up and vote for your favourites!
The WineAlive wine festival returns to Paintworks on Sat 25th April – tickets are still available and priced at £35 for unlimited wine tasting.
The first wave of restaurants have been announced for this year’s Feast On festival in July: COR, Ragu, Gurt Wings, Pasture, Bianchis and Spiny Lobster. You can expect more announcements soon, plus live music, a marketplace, demos and tastings.
EatClub has launched in Bristol, with up to 50% off at selected restaurants and bars during their quieter times, including Bambalan, Cappadocia Restaurant Bristol, Starlings, Restore Cafe, Little Bagel Co. and more.
If you want a sneak peek at some events on the early May bank holiday weekend (2-4 May), there’s the return of the East Bristol Brewery Trail, EAT:Bedminster, and a special ‘Dinner with the artist’ at Harvey Nichols.
Easter weekend
GingerBeard’s Preserves is running Great Bristol Pickled Egg Hunt from Good Friday 3 April to Easter Monday 6 April 2026. Visit the pubs on the trail, and check in at each one by posting on Instagram with the hashtag #GingerBeardTrail and tagging Ginger Beard’s Preserves – anyone who checks in at five or more different venues over the long weekend is entered into a prize draw to win a jar of Ginger Beard’s pickled eggs. They’ve also released a limited edition Cocoa Pickled Eggs, which you can order from their online shop!
No.1 Harbourside has launched a brand-new seafood and small plates menu and are hosting a Harbourside Hootenanny on Thursday 2nd April, with sea shanties, free tasters, and a free pint for the first 100 guests.
You can also book on to a special Jazz Brunch (£37) at The Bristol Hotel on Saturday 4th, or an Easter Afternoon Tea at Clifton Observatory on Easter Sunday (from £15).
Dinners & Pop-ups
Treat yourself to a special dinner this month,,,
- Tue 7th – Sizzling Seafood Over Coals at Noah’s
- Wed 8th – Sake tasting dinner at Kibou, £45
- Thu 9th – At The Table x Root, from £38
- Sat 11th – Bottomless Burger Club at Burger Theory, £15
- Sun 12th – Greek Easter Set Menu at Lido Restaurant
- Tue 14th – Buskers Banquet & Ramen at Carouse
- Sat 18th – Fish and Chips Trip with The Matthew, adults £36
- Thu 23rd – Sat 25th – Crispy Rice Club Pop-Up at The Glassboat
- Thu 30th – Spring Supper Club and wine tasting at Old Market Assembly,£49
Tours, classes and tastings
Try or learn something new this month!
- Fri 3rd – Wapping Wharf Street Food Tour, £35
- Sat 3rd – Gin Lovers Masterclass, £30
- Sat 4th – Old City food & drink tour, £63.50
- Sat 4th – Bristol Cider Tasting Tour, £38
- Sat 4th – Introduction to Japanese Whisky, £35
- Wed 8th – Whisky, Wine and Casks with Bushmills, £25
- Thu 9th – Spring Forward wine tasting at KASK2, £35
- Fri 10th – Gin Lovers Masterclass, £30
- Sat 11th – Spring Wine Celebration at 1B Coffee House, £31.50
- Sun 12th – Coffee Brewing Masterclass, £60
- Wed 15th – Myth Busters Wine Tasting at Le Vignoble, £20
- Wed 15th – Whisky Tasting with Artful Dodger, £25
- Wed 15th – Mountain Wines tasting at 1B Coffee House with Corks,£35
- Wed 15th – Intro to Wine Tasting at Carouse, £25
- Wed 15th – Spring Forward wine tasting at KASK North St, £35
- Thu 16th – Cheese & Wine Tasting at Averys, £37.50
- Sat 18th – World of Wine at The Square Club, £99
- Sat 18th – Bristol Cider Tasting Tour, £38
- Tue 21st – Cheese and Wine Matching at The Scrandit, £45
- Wed 22nd – Earth Day Terrarium Workshop and Sustainable Spirit Tasting, £30
- Wed 29th – Italian Wine & Pizza Night at Le Vignoble, £35
- Wed 29th – Cognac and Cheese with Speciality Brands, £30
- Thu 30th – Old City food & drink tour, £63.50
- Thu 30th – The Ultimate Rum Experience, £30
New openings
Some new places already open include Je Jeans Thai takeaway on St Michaels Hill, Radek’s Chocolate on Church Road, Motmot coffee shop on Bedminster Parade, and Uncle Pho on North Street.
Natty bottle shop is now open in the new Willway Yard complex of indie businesses in Bedminster – I only just discovered it the other day and it’s like a mini Wapping Wharf tucked down a side street by the city farm!
Coming soon are Brother Thai on Stokes Croft (opens 9 April), Staple Bakery on St Mark’s Road in Easton, Kush Bristol in Clifton and Eightfold dimsum on Small Street.
That’s it for this month, you can see what I’m eating on Instagram, or see the latest local food news by following A Life Less Organised on Facebook.
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