Bristol
NEW BREWERS FAYRE BRISTOL CONCORDE
Gloucester Rd North, Filton, BS34 7BR Tel: 0870 0990 6456, web: www.brewersfayre.co.uk
• Friendly chain serving traditional pub food at value prices. Chip, curry and pie nights include a pint for £6.99. Sun roasts are plentiful, as is the all-you-can-eat buffet (£7.95). Very family-friendly. See website for offers. Price SL (Mon-Fri till 6pm): 2 mains £10. ALC: £2.85-£3.99/£6.75-£13.99/£3.60-£4.99. Sun roast: 2 £9, 3 £11 Wine list HW £1.99 gls. Btld/draught beers & ciders Open Mon-Sat 11am-12midnight, Sun 11am-11pm. Good disabled access & toilet.
BROWNS
38 Queens Rd, BS8 1RE Tel: 0117 930 4777, web: www.browns-restaurants.com
• Long-standing, hugely popular cafe-bar/restaurant institution (established way back in 1973) serving (breakfast to dinner) a reliable blend of classic dishes with contemporary additions, while the surroundings ooze style. The Bristol branch’s light, airy interior (modelled on the Doge’s Palace in Venice, no less) is supplemented by undercover alfresco dining out front - perfect for people-watching while you scoff and quaff. Separate set menus for larger groups and children. Bar snacks and afternoon teas, too. See website for deals (inc specials for Facebook friends). Price ALC: £2.95-£7.45/£8.95-£20.50/£4.95-£6.95. Breakfast £3.95-£6.95. SM: 1 £7.95, 2 £11.95, 3 £14.95. Sun roast from £8.95, complimentary kids’ menu till 1pm. Wine list Extensive. HW £13.95 btl, £3.70 gls. Superb range of btld/draught beers, cocktails Open Mon-Wed 10am-11pm, Thur-Sat 10am-12midnight, Sun 11am-10.30pm. Good disabled access & toilet.
CARVERY COMPANY
The Venue, Merlin Way, Cribbs Causeway, BS10 7SR Tel: 0117 959 8272, web: www.thecarverycompany.co.uk
• Lively, independently owned 350-seater restaurant with a daily choice of three freshly cooked roasts (with full traditional trimmings), alongside sturdy faves: fish & chips, pies, salads, jacket potatoes, vegetarian dishes. All food is freshly prepared on the premises and ingredients are locally sourced right down to the Yorkshire puds. Milkshakes, bottled/draught beers (bar open to non-diners). Sister restaurant, the Preview Buffet Bar, next door. Takeaway: choice of three meats & veg £5.95. Price ALC: £1.95-£3.45/£5.95-£10.95/£2.95-£4.45. SM: roast Mon-Sat 12noon-5pm £5.95, Mon-Sat 5pm-late £7.95, Sun 12noon-late £8.95 Wine list Wide selection, beers, spirits, cocktails. HW £9.95 btl, £2.95 gls Open Mon-Sat 12noon-late, Sun 11.30am-late. Disabled access. Takeaway. Parties welcome.
NEW CHIN! CHIN! BAR & KITCHEN
155 St Michaels Hill, BS2 8DB Tel: 0117 973 9393, web: www.chinchinbarkitchen.com
• Previously Bar 155, this cafe-bar-by-day transforms into a lovely, intimate, cosy restaurant by night. New owner Darren Armstrong has built on the quirkiness of this 1867 pub to offer a warm welcome and weekly changing bistro-style menu. Fresh local ingredients are used with confidence and finesse in soups, risottos, seafood, fish and steaks (2 £10 all evening during the week, weekends till 6.30pm). Blazing fire in winter and planning permission for a garden in summer should turn this into a hidden gem. Price ALC: £3.95-£4.25/£6.95-£11.95/£3.95-£4.25. Sun roast £7.95 Wine list HW £10.95 btl, £3.25 gls Open Mon-Thur 10am-11.30pm, Fri-Sat 10am-late (licensed till 2am), Sun 12noon-8pm. Good disabled access. Private parties welcome.
CHOPHOUSE RESTAURANT & BAR
Future Inn Cabot Circus Hotel, Bond St South, BS3 3EN Tel:0845 094 5588, web: www.futureinns.co.uk
• With a smart, contemporary, street-level dining room and sweeping staircase leading down to a jazz-themed room with a small stage, this bright, shiny addition to the Cabot Circus theme - part of an upcoming hotel chain - offers carnivorous satisfaction a go-go. One Venue reviewer’s guest declared her filet mignon possibly the best she’s had in Bristol, while the man-with-the-pen summed up the whole experience thus: ‘A smart, calm place. I’ll definitely be back.’ Steaks and chops are locally sourced and chargrilled over mesquite wood chips to give a unique, smoky flavour, with plenty of fresh fish and vegetarian options (and new menu options coming soon) to keep folk with less meaty appetites happy. Price ALC: £4.95-£7.95/£10.95-£19.95/£3.95-£5.95 Wine list Extensive, well-chosen. HW £9.95 btl, £3.50 gls Open Mon-Sat 7am-10pm, Sun 7am-9.30pm (no food 10am-12noon). Disabled access & full facilities. Parties/group bookings welcome - call in adv.
CLIFTON KITCHEN
112 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4DB Tel 0117 946 7870, web: www.cliftonkitchen.com
• Opened in May 2010, but the colourful history behind this lively Bristol venture began decades ago when Keith Floyd established his legendary bistro at the very same address in the 1970s. Head chef Paul Proudlove and sous chef Mike Houldenbeen have been earning rave reviews (and a Bristol restaurant of the year 2011 award) for their fresh, locally sourced, seasonal, contemporary modern British cuisine and comfortable, relaxed, sociable dining experience. Menus change monthly, with starters like pig’s head terrine or pigeon breast, mains like pan-fried sea bass or slow-braised beef, and puds like chocolate rippled malt parfait or key lime cheesecake. Fabulous Sun roasts and brunch (from Scotch pancakes to the full meal deal, 11am-1pm). BYO Tue-Fri. Price ALC: £4.95-£6.95/£13.95-£15.95/£5-£5.95. Brunch £2-£9.50. Sun roast: 2 £14.95, 3 £18.95 Wine list HW £13.50 btl, £3.50 gls. BYO Tue-Fri (£3.50 corkage) Open Tue-Sat 6-10.30pm (11.30pm Fri-Sat), Sun 11am-4pm. No disabled access.
CLIFTON SAUSAGE
7-9 Portland St, Clifton Village, BS8 4JA Tel: 0117 973 1192, web: www.cliftonsausage.co.uk
• Winner of a 2009 Taste of the West Silver award, this cosy Clifton Village haunt specialises in traditional and classic British dishes as well as those famous sausages, using the freshest, finest ingredients from British regional suppliers where possible. Decor as comforting as the food: stripped pine furniture, candles, warm yellow/sky blue walls. Our reviewers are just a small part of the huge, loyal fan base who absolutely love this place: ‘Clifton Sausage has set out its stall, serving traditional fare designed for the sophisticated palate, and its centrepiece, the range of sausages, is as carefully balanced for flavour and texture as anything you might expect from a master chef’s kitchen.’ With seasonal favourites including steamed mussels in cider, new season lamb, local game, a myriad of sausages and great puds, British cuisine is here receiving the celebratory treatment it deserves. Price ALC: £5-£6.50/£9.50-£16.50/£5-£7.50. Sun lunch: 2 £15.50, 3 £17.50 Wine list Impressive. HW £15.50 btl, £3 gls Open Mon 6pm-12midnight, Tue-Sun 12noon-12midnight. Lunch: Tue-Fri 12noon-3pm, Sat 12noon-5pm, Sun 12noon-4pm. Dinner: Mon-Thur 6.30-10pm, Fri-Sat 6.30-11pm, Sun 6.30-9pm. Over-14s welcome. Limited disabled access. Parties 8+ - book in adv.
COWSHED
46 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2NH Tel: 0117 973 3550, web: www.thecowshedbristol.com
• ‘An unashamed celebration of the finest fleshy delights,’ is how Venue’s carnivores described this English steakhouse owned by Adam Denton, who comes from a farming family and wanted to bring a taste of the English countryside to the city, with a menu majoring on local meat and game. All suppliers (from tea to fish to beef) are carefully sourced: ‘They’ve certainly done all the right things,’ said Venue, ‘from selective, local, free-range sourcing to using the 28-day dry-ageing process, and they’re offering cuts from 6-16oz across the usual range.’ Book the ‘Chef’s Table’, a 12-seater right in front of the kitchen, to witness the meat magic. Freshly sourced fish, tapas-style starters, wonderful chips and sides, unctuous desserts. The Evening Post sums it up thus: ‘Since opening, Cowshed has quickly become one of the city’s best restaurants … This is one place here for the long-haul.’ Price ALC: £6.50-£8.95/£10.50-£24.70/£5.95-£8.25. Early bird special (Mon-Thur 6-7pm): £10 burger/steak & chips plus wine/pint. SL (Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm): 3 £10 Wine list Well chosen. HW £14.50 btl, £3.20 gls. Cider, interesting beers on tap, lots of digestifs Open Daily 12noon-12midnight (last lunch orders 2.30pm, last dinner orders 9.45pm). Booking advised. Disabled access, but not to toilets. Parties up to 100 - call in adv.
ELLIPSE AT MERCURE BRIGSTOW HOTEL
5-7 Welsh Back, BS1 4SP Tel: 0117 929 1030, web: www.accorhotels.com
• Relaxed and stylish, with superb views across the water and an AA rosette. Unusually for a hotel chain, the ever-changing seasonal menu uses local produce where possible. Full English breakfast, light lunches (mussels), classy and romantic dinners (steak, lamb shank), and very reasonable prices for top wines. Price ALC: £4.75-£7.50/£7.50-£20.50/£5.50-£6.50 Wine list Extensive selection of grands vins, cocktails, real ales, draught beers. HW £16 btl, £4.15 gls Open Daily 11am-5pm & 6-9.45pm (bar till 1am). Disabled access. Parties welcome - call in adv.
COMING SOON FIFTY
50 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BZ Tel: 07881 790302
• Opening soon on the former site of the shortly lived Blue Rhubarb, Fifty looks forward to showcasing the best of seasonal, locally produced foods and English classics in a modern style, using slow-cooking techniques and an in-house smoker. Menus will offer a set two-/three-course lunch menu or light ALC choices. Evenings will get more serious with a fine-dining seven-course tasting menu (approx £65pp) as well as ALC choices. A vegetarian version will also be available. Gourmet Club will give members a 10% discount when they dine, along with special invites to events each month and preferential booking for reservations. Wine list Excellent, inc English section. HW approx £15btl, £4gls Open Tue-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-9.30pm (closed Tue lunch), Sun 12noon-5pm. Disabled access & toilet. Private parties - call for details.
GALA CASINO BRISTOL HARBOURSIDE
Explore Lane, Harbourside, BS1 5TY Tel: 0117 906 9970, web: www.galacasino.co.uk
• Stylish, sophisticated, ultra-modern chargrill restaurant on the casino’s upper level, overlooking the harbour. Specialise in grills, using Scottish farmers they know and trust and only buying Aberdeen Angus cross-breed cattle that are grass-fed and naturally reared. Excellent burgers, fish, pasta, salads and curries. The casino’s Epernay Champagne Bar offers vintage and non-vintage champagnes, premium spirits, beers and cocktails, or there’s the designer vodka bar, 18° Below Ice Bar, with giant blocks of ice embedded in the bar itself to keep drinks icy cool. Well worth a flutter. Price ALC: £1.95-£4.95/£6.95-£17.95/£3.25-£5. SD (seated before 8pm): 2 £9.95, 3 £11.95 Wine list HW £10.50 btl, £2.85 gls Open Daily 24hrs (food 12noon-3am). Disabled access.
GRAZE BAR & CHOPHOUSE
63 Queen Square, BS1 4JZ Tel: 0117 927 6706, web: www.bathales.co.uk
• In the old post office building on the corner of Queen Square, they took up residence and revamped a couple of years ago, and now there’s a raised dining area opposite the open-plan kitchen, high-quality bespoke furniture, creative lighting schemes and some quirky design cues. Venue’s writer couldn’t be happier to have something central serving uncomplicated English food, from beans on toast to oyster, chops, steaks and Sun roasts: ‘Here was that rare thing: a smart and pleasant place to grab a drink slap in the centre of town. As a Bath Ales venture, that shouldn’t have been a surprise but, unlike their very traditional pubs, this is a contemporary bar (albeit with a respectable selection of cask ales). Their roasts proved excellent.’ Price ALC: £4.25-£10.50/£9.95-£22.95/£4.95-£6.50. Sun roast £9.95-£12.95 Wine list Extensive. HW £14.50 btl, £3.45 gls. Lots of cask ales & btld beers Open Food served Mon-Fri 12noon-10pm (Fri 11pm), Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 9am-10pm. Disabled access. Parties welcome.
GREENS’ DINING ROOM
25 Zetland Rd, BS6 7AH Tel: 0117 924 6437, web: www.greensdiningroom.com
• The Bristol Evening Post calls it ‘The personification of everything a family-run local restaurant should be and a benchmark eatery for the city. We’re lucky to have it.’ We couldn’t agree more. This lovely, intimate neighbourhood bistro serves top-notch fare and (as you’d expect from a team comprising ex-Glassboat/riverstation chefs who’ve worked with Alastair Little, and the River Cafe’s Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers), the place positively screams pedigree. Food is mainly classic European/modern British (but don’t be surprised if the occasional Asian ingredient turns up), and menu changes daily depending on what’s available from their (mostly local) suppliers. Leisurely brunch on Sat; kids’ meals, too. Price ALC: £5.50-£6.75/£8.75-£14.50/£5-£6. SL: 2 £10. SD: 2 £23.50, 3 £29.50. Sat brunch (12.30-2.30pm): £4.50-£8. Wine list Extensive, international, 7-8 wines by gls/small carafe. HW £14.50 btl, £3.95 gls Open Tue-Sat 12.30pm-2.30pm & 6.30-10.30pm. Disabled access, but not to toilets. Parties welcome - call in adv.
JACKS BAR & BRASSERIE
The Pavilion, 1 Hannover Quay, Harbourside, BS1 5JE Tel: 0117 945 3990, web: www.jacksbrasserie.co.uk
• Small, independently owned chain of restaurants in waterfront locations in both Bristol and Portishead, making the best of sunny days with plenty of alfresco seating. Contemporary British cuisine with a modern European twist, with menu focusing on local produce. Favourites include fresh Devon crab cakes with fennel salad and sweet chilli sauce, chargrilled Somerset organic burger with salad, homemade relish and some of the best chips in Bristol. Many dishes cooked in charcoal oven for a fantastically unique smoky taste. All desserts are made on the premises, too, including ice-creams and sorbets. Open all day for coffee, light bites, afternoon tea, beer, spirits and soft drinks. See website for regular updates and dining offers. Price ALC: £3.95-£6.95/£9.45-£15.95/£5. Brunch (Sat-Sun 10.30am-1pm): £3.50-£7.95 Wine list Extensive, international. HW £14.30 btl, £3.70 gls Open Daily 10am-11pm (food till 10pm). Closes in Jan till spring. Good disabled access.
RACKS BAR & KITCHEN
St Pauls Rd, Clifton, BS8 1LX Tel: 0117 974 1626, web: www.racks-bristol.co.uk
• Long-established, friendly, relaxed, cosmopolitan Clifton venue (recently awarded five stars from the council for outstanding hygiene), warmly regarded by those enjoying anything from a pint and steak sandwich to a full-on foodie blow-out. ‘Past experiences have made good use of their excellent and convivial alfresco terrace for breakfast or a mid-afternoon pint on a sunny day,’ our food editor recently reported. ‘The converted wine cellar inside, by contrast, is a catacomb of vaulted spaces for drinking or dining. It’s discreetly lively, though, with a light crowd in the bar and a scattering throughout.’ Excellent breakfasts (inc veggie) at weekends, and snackish offerings (salads, wraps, homemade burgers) all week long, with long, late, lazy lunches till 5pm daily. ‘It’s all good, straightforward, does-what-it-says-on-the-can stuff.’ Big screen for sporting events (especially rugby), famous New Year’s Eve parties, and BBQs on the terrace. New this year are hog roasts for private parties. Check whizzy website for current specials and upcoming events, including live music. Price ALC: £4.75-£8.50/£7.50-£14/£4.75-£7.50. Breakfast £5.50-£8.45. SL: 2 £16.95, 3 £19.95. Pie lunch menu: 2 £10, 3 £14. Sun roast £9.95 (booking advised) Wine list Good international range, beers, full bar. HW £14 btl, £3.95 gls Open Breakfast: daily 7.30-9.30am. Other food: Mon-Sat 12noon-10.30pm, Sun 12noon-10pm. Disabled access – call in adv. Parties up to 120 in private function room, special menu provided.
RIVER GRILLE AT THE BRISTOL HOTEL
Prince St, BS1 4QF Tel: 0117 923 0333, web: www.doylecollection.com
• ‘Smart, relaxed and enjoyable food slap-bang in the middle of town,’ was Venue’s verdict on this light, airy, welcoming quayside restaurant at the Bristol Hotel (formerly Jurys), which takes fine, fresh natural ingredients (steak from Somerset farms, West Country cheeses) to conjure up classic, handcrafted dishes with a modern twist. Our man enjoyed the ‘pinkly glowing best end of lamb and rich jus’ and ‘the market fish of the day – sea bass fillets – with mussels and crayfish tails in saffron cream sauce’. Tables perfectly placed to make the most of people-watching opportunities along Welsh Back. Central location and smart interior make it popular for business lunches. Price ALC: £6.25-£9.95/£12.95-£26.50/£5.95-£11.50 Wine list Extensive, well-stocked bar. HW £19 btl, £5.50 gls Open Breakfast: Mon-Fri 6.30-10am, Sat-Sun 7.30-10.30am. Lunch: daily 12noon-2.30pm. Dinner: daily 6-10.30pm. Disabled access - from outside entrance.
NEW RUNCIBLE SPOON
3 Nine Tree Hill, Stokes Croft, BS1 3SB Tel: 0117 329 7645, web: www.the-runcible-spoon.com
• In the former premises of Cafe Kino (who’ve moved round the corner to Stokes Croft proper - see Cafes listings), this is a cooperative of four young cooks and a gardener serving a modern British menu. An imaginative collection of ever-changing dishes uses locally sourced seasonal ingredients, including those grown in a local walled garden, and some foraged foods, too. Everything is made on the premises, including bread and chutneys, with new dishes arriving each day as fresh ingredients are sourced. Eating Out West had our own little forage: ‘Amazingly, a flawless experience of bistro dining that cost just under £50 (including wine) – a fact that puts other less friendly and pricier places to shame. We shall return and soon … but I suspect we’ll need to book early.’ Booking particularly recommended for Saturday’s six-course banquet meals, only £25pp. Price Lunch £3-£9. SD: 1 £10, 2 £13, 3 £16. Sat: 6 £25. Sun roast £10 Wine list Carefully sourced, local ales, cider by the jug, homemade liqueurs. HW £14 carafe, £7 half-carafe Open Tue-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-5pm. Disabled access (one step, staff can assist) - call ahead.
STAR & DOVE
75-78 St Luke’s Rd, Totterdown, BS3 4RY Tel: 0117 933 2892, web: www.thestaranddove.co.uk
• Reopened in early April after an extensive refurbishment, with a triumvirate taking over the reigns at a pub long enjoying a reputation for cut-above dining. Food offerings due to expand through 2011; as we went to press the emphasis was on dishes accompanying drinks: spiced sausage & cider broth with homemade organic bread, chicken liver pate on toast, mackerel smokies, air-dried beef & Quickes cheddar, porter rarebit and gherkins. Restaurant due to open upstairs serving reinvented 14th/15th-century dishes in a style they’re calling ‘peasanty’. Price/Wine list/Open TBC – call/see website.
ZEST BISTRO
Second Floor, House of Fraser, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BD Tel: 0117 927 9395
• House of Fraser’s licensed bar and restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, wine and champagne afternoon tea (as well as the more conventional afternoon variety). Contemporary and stylish, with tasteful decor, comfortable leather chairs and no intrusive music. Menu takes in salads, sandwiches, more substantial mains (sausages with tomato sauce & cannellini beans, steak with oven-roasted tomatoes) and classic puds like Eton Mess, plus daily changing specials. Kids’ menu, too. Said the Evening Post: ‘With its back-of-the-store location, Zest Bistro is tucked away enough from the crowds to feel relaxed, and with its above-average food and service, makes a welcome break from the usual horrors of department-store dining.’ Price Breakfast £3.25-£4.95. All-day menu £5.50-£8.50. Champagne afternoon tea for 2: £25, Wedgwood afternoon tea (from 2.30pm): £7pp Wine list Mostly European, constantly changing, many by the gls. HW £12 btl, £4 gls Open Mon-Sat 10am-7pm (last orders 6.30pm), Sun 11am-4.30pm (last orders 4pm). Disabled access.
Bath
BANGLO
44 Lower Bristol Rd, BA2 3BD Tel: 01225 345442, web: www.banglo.co.uk
• Good-times eatery that’s most definitely not an Indian restaurant (despite a name inspired by the Bengali word for bungalow), existing in an enchanting little satellite all of its own. In a cute wooden shack that was once a rugby clubhouse and today features a cosy veranda outfront and gorgeous little garden to the rear, a spacious merrymaking area is furnished with squishy sofas, chunky canteen seating and funky white resin furniture, all big enough to meet the needs of barflies, large groups of revellers and cosy couples without either faction impinging on the sensibilities of the other, but - said one Venue reviewer recently - remaining ‘intimate in a downhome, neighbourhood-hang-out way: a bit of Berlin here, a nuance of New York there, but mostly all its own work’. Impeccably sourced modern British classics cooked to order are as highly praised by our reviewer as the general ambience. She tried salt-cured duck breast with celeriac remoulade and truffle oil, and lamb cutlets with chickpea puree: ‘A very cheffy dinner of exceptionally high standards.’ She also raved about the Malteser milk shake on the dessert menu, though you might prefer a big slab of proper New York cheesecake. Sun roasts go large here, the Banglo Burger is highly recommended, and fresh fish dishes are excellent. See website for details of various events throughout the week. Price ALC: £5.95-£7.25/£10.95-£19.95/£6. Lunch dishes £5.95-£10 Wine list Intelligent. HW approx £15 btl. Well-stocked bar Open Sun-Thur 12noon-12midnight, Fri-Sat 12noon-late (live music/DJs from 11pm). Food served: Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-10pm, Sun 12noon-4pm. Limited disabled access – call in adv. Private hire/large parties welcome (licensed till 3am daily) - call in adv.
BATHWICK BOATMAN
Forester Rd, Bathwick, BA2 6QP Tel: 01225 428844, web: www.bathwickboatman.com
• Set within the environs of the Victorian Bath Boating and Punting Station, the tranquil surroundings and homemade quality fare using largely locally sourced produce (and including Sun roasts of the kind that mother would have made if only she’d have known how) turn the BB into a beloved gem. Downhome Italian-themed specials (onion basola – warm mousse, tuscan vegetable soup, tapenade-stuffed roast chicken breast) reflect chef/proprietor Ben Hall’s Mediterranean-inspired influences picked up during many years spent in Europe, but modern/traditional British grub constitutes the bulk of the menu, with fresh fish/locally reared meat pushed to the fore. The fish & chips are thoroughly decent, too. In summer, arrive by boat from Pulteney Weir; punts, skiffs and canoes are for hire by the hour/day from the station itself. Price ALC: £4.75-£6/£10-£14.50/£4/£5-£6. Sun roast: 2 £15.75, 3 £20 (child 2 £9.75) Wine list HW from £11 btl Open Tue-Sat 12noon-2pm (last orders) & 6-9pm (last orders). Sun roast: 12noon-3pm (last orders 2pm, vegetarian options). No disabled access. Parties, weddings, corporate events & formal dinners catered for (no surcharge for exclusive use).
BOATHOUSE
Newbridge Rd, Newbridge, BA1 3NB Tel: 01225 482584, web: www.sabrain.com/boathouse
• Currently being refurbished as went go to press (due to reopen June 2011), this imposing converted boathouse enjoys a sublime riverside location, with a large garden that makes the most of it. The refurb will add a spacious raised deck with stunning views over the river to the already expansive landscaped garden leading down to the river itself. Modern British menus adapt to all tastes, from light-bite lunches to full-on feasts. Price/Wine list/Open TBC – see website for updates/details. Full disabled access with lift & easy access to toilet. Large function room for private hire.
BROWNS
Orange Grove, BA1 1LP Tel: 01225 461199, web: www.browns-restaurants.com
• Formerly a police station and magistrate’s court, today this stunning Georgian building plays host to a spacious, timelessly stylish 160-seater restaurant, separate bar area and gorgeous terrace out front, with top views of the abbey and weir. Good-value lunch/dinner deals, and great-value cocktail happy hour. Kids get their own menu. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Sat 10am-11pm (from 9am summer), Sun 11am-10.30pm. Good disabled access & toilet.
BRUNEL’S AT THE ROYAL HOTEL
Manvers St, BA1 1JP Tel: 01225 463134, web: www.royalhotelbath.co.uk
• The Royal Hotel (opposite Bath Spa Station) was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1846 and has traded as a hotel, restaurant and bar ever since; ongoing updates and refurbishments keep proceedings up to date while still retaining the building’s original charm. Steaks/grills are a speciality, and all ingredients are locally sourced wherever possible. Price ALC: £3.95-£5.75/£9.25-£16.95/£4.95. SL: 2 £9.95. Sun lunch: 1 £9.95, 3 £13.95 Wine list Popular classics. HW from £14 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm. Good disabled access & toilet.
CAVENDISH AT THE DUKES HOTEL
Dukes Hotel, Great Pulteney St, BA2 4DN Tel: 01225 787963, web: www.dukesbath.co.uk
• Beneath one of the magnificent, Palladian-style Georgian townhouses (now the Dukes Hotel) lining an imposing thoroughfare lives one of the finest fine-dining restaurants in Bath, featuring a secluded patio garden (complete with sparkling fountain) and contemporary but genteel dining room where seasonal menus reflect the taste and variety of the very best British produce, using organic, free-range and locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. Head chef Pieter Swanepoel has earned the Cavendish two AA rosettes for imaginative, très foodie menus that currently include dishes like Messuline goat’s cheese fondue with golden beetroot terrine, toasted walnuts and microcress; roast Scottish halibut with butterbeans, chorizo cassoulet and warm crab bisque; star anise and citrus posset - see what we mean about being très foodie? Price ALC: £6.50-£9.95/£14.95-£20.50/£6.95-£8.95. SL: call/see website for details Wine list Extensive, comprehensive. HW from approx £17 btl Open Lunch: Fri-Sun 12noon-2.30pm. Dinner: daily 6.30-10pm. Disabled access – call in adv. Smaller, more intimate of the two dining rooms can be reserved for private parties, receptions, business meetings.
CIRCUS CAFE & RESTAURANT
34 Brock St, BA1 2LN Tel: 01225 466020, web: www.thecircuscafeandrestaurant.co.uk
• Chic contemporary bistro in the heart of Georgian Bath, serving morning coffee and elevenses, lunch, traditional teatime treats and full-on suppertime feasts, all rustled up using intelligently sourced seasonal ingredients, locally produced wherever possible, and put together with a great deal of integrity. Suppertime highlights include dishes like monkfish cheeks with wood-roast peppers, butter beans, local chorizo and paprika & parsley sauce; rump of lamb marinated with garlic and preserved lemons; rhubarb & ginger sponge served warm with rhubarb fool. Pavement tables on one of Bath’s prettiest streets complete this ‘very Bath’ experience. Price ALC: £5.70-£6.90/£12.70-£14.70/£5-£6. Lunch £5-£10. Elevenses/tea-time treats £2.50-£4.90 Wine list Large, well-balanced. HW from £14.70 btl, £3.90 gls Open Mon-Sat 10am-12midnight. Wheelchair accessible. Private parties welcome - call for details.
NEW (OPENING JUNE 2011) COSY CLUB
Unit R4, SouthGate, BA1 1TP Web: www.cosyclub.co.uk
• The lovable Loungers group (whose portfolio includes Tinto, Porto, Deco and Banco in Bristol/Velo in Bath) have branched out into Cosy Club world of late, following on from their first successful CC venture in Taunton by bringing a Cosy to Bath’s SouthGate shopping centre - an area in dire need of cosying up. Breakfast/brunch at this vast, upper-level space (with spacious alfresco balcony) go large, and all-day menus take in elevenses, light/substantial lunches, terrific tapas and sturdy, homecooked, downhome treats (shepherd’s pie, bakes, goulash) on the specials board. Burgers, steaks, tapas and puds are all highly recommended, and vegetarians/children are very well catered for, too. Price Breakfast/brunch (Mon-Fri till 12noon, Sat-Sun 4pm): £4.75-£6.95. Sandwich/salad £5.95-£9.95. Special/classic £4-£15.50. Tapas: dish £3/3 £8. Sweet treat/pud £1.50-£5.25 Wine list HW from £13.50 btl, £2.50-£3.60 gls. Good range of beers, bubbles, cocktails, spirits Open Food daily 9am-10pm. Full disabled access throughout. Bookings for parties 8+ only (order from party menu).
GASCOYNE PLACE
1 Sawclose, BA1 1EY Tel: 01225 445854, web: www.gascoyneplace.co.uk
• ‘An elegant simplicity about the decor, a friendly informality in the welcome and a ditheringly tempting menu,’ said one Venue reviewer of this tasteful, easygoing cafe-bar/restaurant hybrid that represents a cornerstone of the Theatre Royal Plaza scene - and he’s right. Novel design twists proliferate throughout this split-level, history-laden contemporary oasis – choose between buzzing lounge, cosy snug, elegant first-floor supper rooms or brasserie-style mezzanine dining. Free live jazz in lounge every Sun and regular events (alfresco jazz festival in Sept) support seasonal modern British delights supplemented by a daily changing specials board and spiffing Sun roast. ‘There’s a cool and urbane life of Bath here that could tempt me back any time,’ crooned our critic. Price ALC: £5.50-£8.50/£12-£23/£5.75-£7. SL: 2 £14, 3 £18. Pre-theatre (Mon-Thur 5.30-10pm, Fri-Sat 5.30-7pm): 1 £11, 2 £15, 3 £19. SL: 2 £10, 3 £12.50. Pre-theatre (5.30-7pm): 2 £13.95, 3 £16.95. Bar menu (5.30-10pm/10.30pm Sat): £8.95-£13.50 (sharing platters). Sun roast £11.50 Wine list Extensive, international, impeccably sourced (over 90 labels, over 30 by the gls). HW £15 btl. Excellent cocktails, real & local ales/ciders, spirits, liqueurs Open Daily 11.30am-late. Food: 12noon-2.30pm (4pm Sun) & 5.30-10pm (Sat-Sun last orders 10.30pm). Disabled access possible but not to toilets – call in adv. Parties welcome, rooms available for private hire – call in adv.
HALL & WOODHOUSE
1-3 Old King St, BA1 2JT Tel: 01225 469259, web: www.hall-woodhousebath.co.uk
• Blandford-based brewery Hall & Woodhouse opened the doors to their flagship venture in the historic building that was formerly a branch of Bonhams auctioneers last June. Today, this contemporary merrymaking venture features a massive sweeping staircase linking street-level bar/canteen to first-floor dining room and a rooftop restaurant, while scrubbed up potting-shed knick-knackery provides plenty of eye candy to the front of the bar, and shelves laden with British grocery-shop classics line the canteen walls. Bustling open kitchen, vintage candelabras and stylish reclaimed furniture on the first floor, and a games room just past loos entered through a copper-lined vestibule. Phew! Menus cover all bases throughout the day (including excellent breakfasts and boisterous Sun roasts), largely based around familiar, contemporary takes on Brit-trad classics: fish & chips, thoroughly decent beefburgers, eggs benedict, stargazy pie, sticky toffee pudding, treacle tart. Kids get their own menu. Price ALC: £4.25-£9.50/£9.50-£20/£4.75-£6.50. Sandwich/light lunch £6-£10. Sun roast £10.25 Wine list HW from £14 btl. Substantial range of beers, lagers, cocktails, spirits Open Daily 8am-11.30pm (last food orders 9.30pm).
HOLE IN THE WALL
16 George St, BA1 2EN Tel: 01225 42524, web: www.theholeinthewall.co.uk
• Much-loved, longstanding Bath institution specialising in modern British grub at non-scary prices in characterful surroundings. Menus, based firmly around fresh West Country produce, currently feature potted Bath rabbit with date & apple chutney and nettle & thyme bread; confit pork belly; sticky toffee pudding – part of a frequently changing selection recently described by an Eating Out West critic as ‘a wholly good experience from start to finish’. Extensive wine list (a showcase for proprietor Guy Adams’ other business, Heritage Wine) has earned modern-day-local-legend status of its own: over 70 wines, many by the glass. Set-menu deals make for veritable bargains. Price ALC: £4.95-£7.95/£12.50-£18.95/£6. SL/SD (Mon-Thur 12noon-3pm & 6-10pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-7pm): 3 £10. SD (pre-ordered parties of 6+): 3 £24.95 Wine list Extensive. HW from £14 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-10pm, Sun 12noon-4pm & 6-9.30pm. Limited disabled access - call ahead for details. Parties welcome - call for details.
KOMEDIA CANTEEN
22-23 Westgate St, BA1 1EP Tel: 0845 293 8480, web: www.komedia.co.uk/bath
• Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall-endorsed menus abound at this lively contemporary diner attached to an entertainment pleasuredome. Even when there’s a show going on in the main auditorium, clever soundproofing turns the canteen into a stand-alone metropolitan oasis, serving food that strictly adheres to fundamental RCC principles regarding seasonality, impeccable sourcing and chic, urban-meets-rustic stylings. ‘Our supper was an utterly joyful union of flavours and textures,’ our resident Hugh harlot gushed recently. ‘It’s unlikely that I’ll cease to wax lyrical about it for a long time yet.’ Apparently, she’s still droning on. Open for breakfast at weekends. Set menu deals in conjunction with Komedia shows bear the ‘Meal Deal’ logo. Price ALC: from £5.95/£9.50-£14/£5 Wine list HW approx £16 btl. Organic beers, juices Open Mon-Fri 12noon-4pm, Sat-Sun 9am-4pm, dinner Wed-Sat 5-10pm. Disabled access.
LIME LOUNGE
11 Margarets Buildings, BA1 2LP Tel: 01225 421251, web: www.limeloungebath.co.uk
• Chic, charming, fully licensed cafe-bistro on one of Bath’s prettiest traffic-free lanes, twixt the Royal Crescent and the Circus. Breakfast rolls, brunch dishes, pastries and thoroughly decent coffee are followed by gourmet sandwiches, salads, etc, at lunchtime, and a lively, modern-Brit bistro menu as the sun starts to set. Pavement tables complete the staycation experience. Price ALC: £4.50-£7.25/£12.95-£14.50/£7-£10/£5.50 (2-for-1 main meals Mon-Thur, 5-7pm, at time of going to press). Breakfast pastries, brunch, light lunches/sandwiches: from approx £4.95 Wine list HW approx £12.50 btl Open Daily 9am-10pm (last food orders). Brunch Sat 9am-12noon, Sun 10am-4pm (& weekdays in summer). Disabled access - call ahead for details.
MARKET
Sawclose, BA1 1EYTel: 01225 330009, web: www.marketbath.com
• Established for well over a year now, this lively, multifaceted affair (featuring an unmissable partially covered/heated terrace facing the Theatre Royal) has easily proved its worth as much more than a mere alfresco hotspot. A cleverly eclectic interior offers cosiness in winter, and funky, largely reclaimed fixtures and fittings, candlelight and versatile seating arrangements offer much flexibility: party with a crowd or snuggle down for an intimate date (if you choose your table wisely, never the twain shall meet). Food is similarly accommodating: upmarket burgers, pizzas, steaks, salads and Medi-themed sharing platters flaunt a refreshing vivacity. ‘Down to earth, unpretentious and giving the people of Bath exactly what they want, when they want it: easygoing, tasty good value in similarly styled surroundings,’ was our verdict. Price Tapas: 3 £6.50, platter to share £14.95, burger £6.25-£8.50, pizza £6.75-£9.95, steak £12-£14, salad £5.50-£8.25. Half-price pizzas Mon (12noon-10pm), half-price burgers Tue (3-7pm), half-price salads Wed (3-7pm). Btld beers/ciders: 2-4-1 Thur (4-7pm). Children’s menu Wine list HW from £12 btl, £4.50 250ml carafe. Soft drinks inc carafe options, beer buffs get their own unique treats, extensive cocktail menu Open Mon-Fri 11am-11pm, Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-7pm. Disabled access, but not to toilets. Parties welcome - call for details.
OLIVE TREE
Queensberry Hotel, 4-7 Russel St, BA1 2QF Tel: 01225 447928, web: www.thequeensberry.co.uk
• Offering broad appeal to contemporary chicsters, Bathonian traditionalists and hip long-weekenders who make the stylish boutique hotel upstairs their regular urban retreat, the restaurant’s location (beneath the discreetly glamorous Queensberry Hotel, just behind the Assembly Rooms) is as elegant as the experience itself - recipient of three (three!) AA rosettes, home to the characterful Old Q Bar (plush, uber-glam cocktail hotspot) and an absolutely charming alfresco urban oasis outback. But overall, it’s really all about the grub. ‘The quality, generosity of portions and overall glamorous impact of the Olive Tree experience makes eating here an unforgettably superior prandial event,’ our girl-about-town told Venue HQ recently. ‘A truly remarkable feast.’ Current menu features curried haddock pressing with river Test smoked eel and watercress salad; roast cannon of Downlands lamb nicoise with aubergine caviar; Valrhona dark chocolate fondant with Tonka bean ice-cream and malted milk. Price ALC: £9-£13.50/£16.50-£28.75/£9.25-£12. SL: 2 £16, 3 £19.50. SD: 2 £31, 3 £38 Wine list Huge, international, regularly updated, award-winning. Highly commended cellar home to over 300 labels. HW from £19 btl Open Lunch: Tue-Sun 12noon-2pm. Dinner: daily 7-10pm. Disabled access possible via lift – call in adv. Private dining room for hire, up to 35.
SALLY LUNN’S
4 North Parade Passage, BA1 1NX Tel: 01225 461634, web: www.sallylunns.co.uk
• Located in the oldest house in Bath (built 1482) and named after the Huguenot refugee who baked here some 200 years later during the building’s bakery incarnation, this is one of Bath’s major tourist hotspots. The good lady’s buns (enjoyed today with sweet and savoury accompaniments) are served up alongside historic English (and a bit of French) cuisine. Also very popular for afternoon tea, a quintessentially English experience that graciously gives way to candlelit dinners later on. Don’t be put off by the crowds - inside, it’s much bigger than it looks. Price ALC: £4-£5/£9-£11/£4-£6. SD (5-7pm): 2 £12 & gls wine. Afternoon tea from £7 Wine list HW £12 btl Open Mon-Thur 10am-9pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 11am-9pm. Disabled access difficult (listed building), but staff try to be as helpful as possible.
THEATRE VAULTS RESTAURANT
Sawclose, BA1 1EY Tel: 01225 442265, theatre: 01225 448844
• Atmospheric thesp hangout in a vaulted cellar beneath the Theatre Royal. Cosy and elegant with a relaxing ambience, the general style is English with a touch of the Med, and seasonal menus incorporate the freshest ingredients. Set menu changes monthly. Price Call for details Wine list Cosmopolitan. HW £14.50 btl Open Call theatre for current details - opening hours fluctuate according to theatre programme/events, but generally pre-matinee lunch & 5.30-7.30pm. Disabled access difficult but possible. Parties up to 40 - adv booking only.
NEW TRAMSHED
Beehive Yard, BA1 5BD Tel: 01225 421200, web: www.thetramshedbath.co.uk
• This brand-new venture replaces the former Ha! Ha! Bar & Canteen and updates a familiar format (sprawling bar, bright’n’breezy dining area, roaring log fires, heated and covered alfresco terrace) admirably by funking up the decor with NY loft-style design flourishes and an easygoing attitude to all-day, flexible refreshment. Modern British seasonal menus with Mediterranean influences run the gamut from fish & chips, steaks, salads and spitroasts to pastas, pizzas, generous sharing platters and hearty Sun roasts. Price ALC: £4.75-£8.95/£5.95-£16.95/£4.75-£5.95. SM (Mon-Fri 12noon-7pm): 2 £12.50. Afternoon tea £9.95. Pizza: 2 £10 (Mon-Fri 3-6pm). Sun roast: 2 £12.95 Wine list Extensive. HW £13.95 btl, £3.65 gls. Large selection of cocktails, btld/draught beers Open Daily 8am-late. Food Mon-Thur 12noon-10pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-10.30pm, Sun 12noon-9.30pm. Full disabled access throughout. Parties welcome - call for details.
WALRUS & CARPENTER
28 Barton St, BA1 1HH Tel: 01225 314864, web: www.thewallybath.co.uk
• This popular Bath institution was established back in 1973, when the Wally based menus on locally sourced, free-range, organic ingredients with an emphasis on wallet-friendly crowd pleasers and a hearty dollop of conviviality - principles that hold even stronger significance well over three decades later. Inside, several cosy, charmingly eclectic dining areas offer instant cheer - intimate in a classic French brasserie way (candlelight, chequered tablecloths, interesting prints on the walls). A straightforward, sturdy menu matches the initial vibe: downhome classics like chicken liver or mackerel pate, chicken curry, fish pie, the Wally’s legendary Chocolate St Emilion, and an excellent vegetarian selection. Price ALC: £5-£6/£10-£18/£6 Wine list International, lots of new world. HW from £13 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6-11pm, Sun 12noon-11pm. Disabled access possible – call in adv. Parties up to 20.
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