It’s bank holiday month, and the gateway to summer! Here are just a few of the exciting things you can do throughout May in Bristol, from beer trails to special dinners, and even a real ale and sea shanty festival…
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News
The Mazi Project are running a programme of events to fundraise for World Hunger Day, culminating with a BBQ, Joy and Community Fun Day at the MAZI Community Kitchen in Bedminster on Sunday 24th, which is free to attend, with donations much appreciated. See the full programme of events here.
The full trader list for this year’s Feast On (“3 – 26 July) has been announced, with restaurants taking part including COR, Gurt Wings, The Bank Tavern, Pasture, Pizzarova, Bristol Lido, The Saigon Kitchen, and many, many more. Nab a ticket.
The British Street Food Awards are judging their South West Heats at Harbourside Market on the weekend of 16th – 17th May, so head along to eat, drink and cast your votes!
Windmill Hill Market is back on Saturday 9th May, and across town on the same day is a Day and Night Market at The Mount Without, with food, music and makers. Eat: Nailsea also returns on Sunday 10th May.
If you like beer and science, you’ll be pleased to hear that Pint of Science returns to pubs and breweries across the city from 18th – 20th May, with talks on everything from robotics to the natural world.
Congratulations to Wilsons and Dongnae (both on Chandos Rd in Redland) for making it into the top 100 restaurants list for the National Restaurant Awards, and to Lapin in Wapping Wharf for being named Best Newcomer in the prestigious Trencherman’s Awards.
Hot on the heels of several of Bristol’s bakeries being recognised in national lists, three of our coffee shops are shortlisted in the UK’S Best Coffee Shops – Dareshack in the city centre, Radical Roasters in Easton, and Sweven in Bedminster.
Oh and food critic Jay Rayner bestowed more praise on Bristol a couple of weeks back, mostly for Other, but also our restaurant scene in general, woohoo!
Festivals and celebrations
The Pony in Chew Valley is hosting a free garden party to celebrate their 20th anniversary on Monday 4th May, with garden tours, cookery demos and more. Their Cookery School also has a range of classes this month, including gardening, cooking seafood, knife skills, and Root classics with Rob Howell.
There’s a Real Ale and Sea Shanty Fest at the Freemason’s Hall on Park Street from Sat 9th – Sun 10th May, with tickets from £16 which includes two beer tokens.
The South Glos Food & Drink Festival returns to the Bristol & Bath Science Park from 16th – 17th May, with a range of food and drink stalls and live entertainment.
La Panza hosts Wine Fest on Saturday 30th May, with wine tastings and pairings with a sommelier all day, live music and great Italian food. No need to buy a ticket, just drop by!
Some other May parties:
- Sat 9th – The Langton Annual Spring Party
- Sat 9th – Friendly Records 10th Birthday Block Party at Lost and Grounded
- Sat 16th – Bristol Plant-Based Parkfest in Queen Square
- Fri 29th – Spring Festival of Food & Drink at Avon Valley Railway
Late May bank holiday weekend
The bars and restaurants of St Stephens Street in the city centre are hosting a street party on Sunday 24th, with treats including drinks and ravioli from Cotto, and Korean fried chicken and dumplings from Tiger Mum (AKA Wizzy of Sky Kong Kong fame).
Enjoy the views from the Bank Holiday Rooftop Party at Clifton Observatory on Sunday 24th, or head to the north of Bristol for the Food and Drink Festival at Old Down Estate on Monday 25th (£5 for adults, or free for under 15s).
It wouldn’t be a bank holiday without a beer festival, and I’m very chuffed that the Bedminster Beer Trail is back! Lots of local independent pubs, breweries and bars will be hosting special events and collaboration beers from Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th.
Lunches & Dinners
Treat yourself to an extra special meal over the coming weeks…
- Wed 6th – Tequila and Tacos at Spirited, £35
- Thu 7th – Tasting Menu Evening at No.4 Clifton Village, £45
- Thu 14th – Supper Club: Greece at Racks, £35
- Sun 17th – Our Table X Tomo No Ramen 5-course dinner, £65
- Wed 20th – A Meal That Matters at The Elmgrove Centre, from £120
- Thu 21st – Nyetimber tasting and food pairing at Tapps , £110
- Thu 21st – Sri Lankan dining at Beeses
- Sat 23rd – Fish & Chips Trip on The Matthew, £35
- Fri 22nd – A night of cocktails, vinyl and bottomless pizza at Gigi’s,£28
- Thu 28th – Pub Lunch Cruise to Hanham Mills with Bristol Packet, £29
- Sat 30th – Taste & Tales: Stories of Home & Food, £30
- Sun 31st – Buskers’ Banquet x Rita Paraíso at The Scrandit, £65
Tours, tastings and workshops
Learn something new this month!
- Tue 5th – Charcuterie, cheese and wine evening at The Scrandit, £45
- Wed 6th – Spring wine tasting at Carouse, £25
- Wed 6th – Beaujolais: Ain’t Just A Day In November at KASK, £35
- Wed 6th – Eastern European wine tasting at Le Vignoble, £25
- Thu 7th – Corks X Burra Akashi Tai sake tasting, £40
- Fri 8th – Gin Lover’s Masterclass at Psychopomp, £30
- Fri 8th – Malaysian cookery class at Cooking It!, £90
- Fri 8th – Off The Beaten Track Cellar Tasting at Averys, £37.50
- Sat 9th – Spring Wild Food Forage Course at The Vench, £40
- Sat 9th – Giant Rocher workshop at Zara’s Chocolates, £55
- Sun 10th – Avon Gorge Wild Food Foraging Walk, £15
- Mon 11th – Afghan Cookery Class at Migrateful (veg-friendly), £45
- Tue 12th – Make Your Own Hot Sauce or Chilli Jam at Easton Chilli, £60
- Wed 13th – Takeover from Saddle Goose at Carouse, £30
- Wed 13th – Sake tasting with Akashi Tai at Spirited, £30
- Wed 13th – Make Your Own Sauerkraut at Bristol Folk House, £20
- Wed 13th – Cheese and wine tastings at Averys, £37.50
- Fri 15th – Jazz and wine at Averys, £47.50
- Sat 16th – Bristol Old City Food & Drink Tour, £63.50
- Sat 16th – Truffles and Pralines Workshop at Zara’s Chocolates, £55
- Sat 16th – Wapping Wharf Street Food Tour, £35
- Sat 16th – Bristol Cider Tasting Tour, £38
- Sat 16th – SPRING FLING – Taste 40 Wines for the Season at KASK2, £40
- Sun 17th – Make Your Own Hot Sauce or Chilli Jam at Easton Chilli, £60
- Sun 17th – Speciality Coffee Brewing Masterclass, £60
- Mon 18th – Trinidadian Cookery Class at Migrateful (veg-friendly), £45
- Wed 20th – Languedoc wine and Cassoulet night at Le Vignoble, £35
- Wed 20th – Whisky Blending Workshop with Circumstance at Spirited, £55
- Wed 20th – Tarot + Wine at KASK2, £29
- Thu 21st – Wine tasting 101 at Carouse, £25
- Fri 22nd – Flavours of Japan cookery class at Cooking It!, £85
- Sat 23rd – Chinese Tea Talk & Tasting at Wild Oats, £5
- Sat 23rd – North Street Food Tour, £70
- Sun 24th – Tempering and Bar Moulding at Zara’s Chocolates, £55
- Sun 24th – Speciality Coffee Brewing Masterclass, £60
- Wed 27th – Wine Tasting & Tapas with The MAZI Project at Papadeli, £75
- Wed 27th – Whisky tasting with Cut Your Wolf Loose at Spirited, £25
- Wed 27th – Biodynamic Bristol Wine Tasting with Limeburn Hill, £35
- Thu 28th – Make Your Own Hot Sauce at Wiper and True Taproom, £25
- Fri 29th – Thai cookery class at Cooking It!, £90
- Sat 30th – Wapping Wharf Street Food Tour, £35
- Sat 30th – Bristol Old City Food & Drink Tour, £63.50
New places
Check out these newbies across the city…
- Pinkmans in Wapping Wharf
- The Cider Cellar on Frogmore Street
- Crave at the top of Whiteladies Road
- Sonny Stores at Psychopomp
- Oh My! Pie in Easton
And coming soon are Bonnie Rogues on Baldwin Street and The Book Cellar on Stokes Croft.
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.
If you found this or any of the other guides useful, you can set up a subscription or shout me a coffee to say cheers if you like.
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