Here it is, the most requested guide I’ve done so far! People have asked me to write a list of country pubs near Bristol for years, and after visiting a fair few of these and also getting a handful of extra recommendations, here are some of my top picks.
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Bristol Food & Drink: September
As summer slips away and we ease into autumn, I for one am hoping for a sunny September so that we can still enjoy pub gardens and G&Ts for a while longer before settling into fluffy socks and stout season.
From tequila tap rooms to food festivals and some exciting new places to visit, there’s a lot you’ll want to drink and eat this month….
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Bristol’s Best Harbourside Restaurants
Summer in Bristol means eating and drinking by the Harbourside, right?
Personally, my ultimate sign that the sunshine has arrived is when I see legs dangling over the quayside outside Arnolfini, or people jostling for space along the jetties nearby.
This guide is mainly focused on nabbing some a bite to eat in the harbour – if you’re more focused on waterfront boozing, take a look at my Harbourside Pub Crawl guide.
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Bristol food & drink: May
How nice is it to have pub gardens and outdoor dining back? And now this month we’ll be allowed back inside bars, restaurants and cafes after almost six months, I can’t wait!
Have your calendars at the ready, here’s where you should be munching and boozing this month…
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Bristol Food & Drink: December
Welcome to the final stretch of the strangest year imaginable. Hopefully I’ve managed to bring you a few treats among the gloom this year!
Here are my recommendations for what you should be munching and boozing on in December.
It’s also worth taking a look at my Bristol Foodie Gift Guide and Bristol Lockdown Essentials as there’s lots of extra stuff in those and I’m updating them all the time.
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Bristol’s Food & drink lockdown essentials
Phew, what a few months ey? It’s been a tumultuous time to say the least, but it’s been amazing to watch how many of Bristol’s food & drink businesses have risen to the challenge with their own delivery services, meal packs, online events and gift vouchers systems.
Here are some of my picks for how you can still enjoy the best of the city’s food scene while staying safe – let me know if you have any others you think I should I add in.
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Bristol Food & Drink: October
Autumn is here, some of you are excited about pumpkin spice, or pumpkin beer, or wooly jumpers, or heavy stouts making a reappearance (for me, three out of four – I don’t get the pumpkin spice thing at all).
October looks set to be a bumper month for new openings and some interesting events both online and in bars & restaurants, so support where you can!
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Bristol Food & Drink: August
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…
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Oldies but goodies: Bristol institutions
It’s easy to get caught up with the latest openings and new exciting places (and there is plenty to be excited about at the moment), but I thought it was time to give some appreciation to the places that have kept me fed and watered with consistently brilliant fare since I moved to Bristol twelve (bloody hell) years ago.
Let me know your favourite places on Twitter or Facebook, and I’ll add them in later!
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Bristol’s Cosiest Pubs
As the cold, dark nights draw in and the rain gets more frequent, I figured it was time to round up some of the best places to get comfy until the sun reappears!
Here are the best places to snuggle up with a mulled beverage whenever it gets nippy…
Bristol’s Best Food & Drink Experiences
Not only is Bristol packed to the gills with amazing restaurants, bars and cafes, but there are also plenty of opportunities to learn from the experts or have a go at making something yourself!
Whether you want to learn how to make sushi or tell a Merlot from a Malbec, here are plenty of tasty experiences across the city…
Bristol Food & Drink: November
Winter is most definitely here, and in the run up to Christmas there is a shed ton of food & drink events to get into the festive spirit.
Get a cuppa on the go and have your calendar at the ready, here are all the tasty things you could do in November…
Bristol’s Best Date Locations
Finally plucked up the courage to ask the object of your affection out for a drink? Or want to spoil your significant other?
Here are a few suggestions for your next date night, whether it’s a casual coffee, a slap-up dinner or a relaxed bite to eat – all a bit special, not too noisy and with a nice atmosphere to allow you to have the perfect time with your beau. Happy smooching!
Bristol Food and Drink: October
The upside to the end of summer fun times is that now we get into the season of fireplaces, thick socks and darker beers – plus tenuous excuses to eat German food and listen to oompah music – what’s not to love?
Have your calendar at the ready, here’s what you can look forward to in October…
Bristol Food & Drink: April 2019
It’s the month of bunnies, eggs, chocolate and beer festivals, what a time to be alive.
I’ll crack straight on with the good stuff, but needless to say, it’s another exciting month ahead.
If you can’t be bothered to read the full list of events, check out the Events Calendar.
Bristol Food & Drink: March 2019
No sooner has the snow thawed out and we’re already into the chaos of spring!
There are plenty of festivals, dinners, workshops and new openings to keep you busy this month – so have your diary at the ready, because it’s going to be a busy one…
Pub Crawl Bristol #1: The Harbour
Bristol is a great city for so many reasons, but one of the big ones for me is that it’s such a lovely place to go for a scenic amble of a weekend afternoon. There are lots of routes I like to take through the city, but my favourite by far is around the harbour.
The richest part of Bristol’s history starts here – some of the oldest and most beautiful buildings in the city can be found by the water and there is always something exciting going on no matter what the hour or time of year. So the next time you’re stuck for something to do of a weekend, I suggest you gather some friends and go on a cider or ale quest around the water’s edge. I’ve even put together a suggested route, because I’m nice like that.
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Bristol Food & Drink: February 2019
The cold snap may be in full force, but spring is round the corner, apparently.
In the mean time, we have plenty of tasty events, festivals and new places to keep us busy, hurrah!
So put on the kettle and get cosy with your hot water bottle, here’s the low down on where you should be munching this month…
Bristol Food & Drink: January 2019
What’s that I hear you say – nothing happens in January? Well it turns out there’s plenty to tempt you out of the house this month, whether it’s mega discounts, new places or exciting dinner events. Put it this way, I’ve already reneged on my booze-free plans for the month.
You can see a quick guide to the month’s events in the Events Calendar, and I also recommend having a read of my 2018 Highlights post at some point, mainly because it took bloody ages. Ta!
Bristol Food & Drink: The 2018 Highlights
It’s time for my annual digest of the foodie comings and goings in Bristol, peppered with some favourites from a few fine folk (tell me yours over on Twitter and I’ll share them at the bottom of the post).
You can read the highlights from past years if you’re feeling nostalgic or if you want to see how 2018 compares with 2016 or 2014.
Pour yourself a glass of red or put the kettle on, this is a bit of a bumper read…
Mulled Wine & Winter Warmers in Bristol
One of the best things about the weather getting colder is huddling in cosy corners in your thickest jumper, sipping a warm cider and snacking on festive treats.
It can sometimes be a mission to find the sort of comfort drink you’re after though, so on the suggestion of a friend I’ve put together a rudimentary list of places that will fulfill all of your winter boozing needs.
Bristol Food & Drink: December 2018
I’m in full festive cheer mode now – I’ve had my first mince pie and mulled beverage of the year, bedecked my halls with holly and ironed my sequinned reindeer jumper (only joking, I don’t even own an iron, grown up that I am).
Before you hibernate for Christmas week and drink your body weight in port, here are a few events which might tempt you out from your cosy nests. They’re proper good, I promise.
Check the Events Calendar if you’re in a rush.
Bristol’s Best Burgers
The past 12 months have seen an influx of burger joints set up shop in Bristol, to the point where it seemed like you couldn’t walk 5 paces in the centre of town without walking into an A Board shouting about the superior meat patties (Aberdeen Angus! 30 day aged! Fillet! – wait, why would you use fillet for a burger, you crazyperson?), toppings (All the cheese! Pulled Pork! 3 more burgers! Monster Munch!) and the continuation of that ever-contentious issue: sesame vs. brioche buns.
Now that the MeatWave™ has calmed somewhat, I feel like I can round up some of the better burger offerings out there. I hasten to add that most of these places also offer some excellent veggie options, and I’ll point out the best options as I go, but do check their menus for specific vegetarian/dairy free/GF options.
Grab a pen, it’s about to get tasty…
Where to get your sugar fix in Bristol
We all love a sweet treat to perk up our day, reward ourselves or just because we can’t resist the temptation of a tasty-looking brownie on a cafe counter (I am the ultimate impulse cake purchaser – stop putting them so close to the till!)
Bristol has no shortage of places that will happily send you into a euphoric sugar daze – here are my recommendations, helpfully split out by craving type; you’re welcome.
The 12 Best Brunches in Bristol
Weekends are special for all sorts of reasons, and not just the fact that you’re out of the office for a blissful 48 hours.
The two greatest reasons must be the fact that you have the opportunity for a lie-in and also that you get to take as long as you want over your breakfast, without having to try and eat your toast whilst simultaneously putting on your coat and shoving your packed lunch in your bag. Here are a few of my favourite places for a leisurely brunch…
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