FOOD&DRINK

With its links to Bristol’s cultural quarter and waterside setting, there’s a feel of ‘Stokes Croft-on-Sea’ at No.1 Harbourside. This cool-yet-inclusive café/bar is housed in a former transit shed for spices, tea and coffee built in 1893. The original pillars remain in place, albeit with candy stripe adornment in an inviting, light and airy space. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring the outside in, while fat leather sofas and lantern-lit tables take the inside out. Plans for extensive trailing roses on the dockside railings will enhance an already atmospheric den of civility.

While the cargo used to come from far and wide, today’s ingredients are as locally sourced as possible, down to Welsh vodka, with only 10% of food and drink from overseas. The opposite is true of the diverse musical offerings (due to be daily). An appreciative crowd savours variations on jazz, folk reggae, world beats and more, with Claudia Aurora’s sublime bossa nova offerings a must-catch treat. This place oozes soul. Quirky twists include English bubbly, mead and an oyster bar boasting fare fresh from a Devonshire river and bringing an indisputable Exe factor. (Words Simon Fry; pics Mark Simmons)

 
The information

Lager Red Tractor, Freedom Organic, Butcombe Blonde. From £3.20.

Beer Sunrise, No.7 plus two guests. From £3.20.

Cider Bounders, Lily’s Apples & Pears. From £3.20.

Wine Six red, seven white. From: £3 gls/£12 btl.

Food Served Mon-Thur 12noon-3pm & 5-10pm, Fri-Sun 12noon-3pm & 5-9pm. Seasonal, British square meals. Meat, fish, vegetarian options (with free soup & bread) e.g. beef & stout stew with dumplings £7, pan-fried Cornish sardines £7, Cornish mussels £5, savoury goats’ cheese bread & butter pudding £6.

NO.1 HARBOURSIDE 1 CANONS RD, BRISTOL, BS1 5UH, TEL: 0117 929 1100, WEB: WWW.NO1HARBOURSIDE.CO.UK. OPEN MON-THUR 10AM-12MIDNIGHT, FRI-SAT 10AM-2AM, SUN 10AM-10PM.

Copyright Simon Fry 2011; pics copyright Mark Simmons Photography