Eating Out West 2012

Eating 24TH EDITION

OUT WEST

2012/13

NOW INCORPORATING

Drinking OUT WEST

YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO FOOD & DRINK IN BRISTOL, BATH & BEYOND

100s of restaurants, cafes, bars & pubs listed and reviewed IN ASSOCIATION WITH

PLUS... POP-UP DINING, WINE MERCHANTS, COOKERY SCHOOLS, MARKETS & FESTIVALS, SPECIALIST FOOD SHOPS & MORE… Cover.indd 1

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Introduction

Dig in!

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elcome to the 24th edition of Eating Out West: the most comprehensive guide to all things food- and drink-related in Bristol, Bath and beyond.

As ever, our dedicated team of local experts has scoured a region overflowing with gastronomic gems and tasty treats in order to bring you fully updated information about dozens of places to eat, drink and make merry, from neighbourhood cafes and takeaways right through to award-winning culinary treasures and top-end restaurants. This year we’ve introduced new categories to our listings to reflect the ever-changing world of contemporary food and drink (check out our new pop-up dining listings, for example), while we’ve also incorporated Drinking Out West, our guide to the region’s best pubs and bars, to make this year’s edition even more all-embracing than ever.

So, whether you’re after a quick pint or a quick bite to eat, a leisurely cocktail or a sumptuous feast, you’ll find everything you need to know in these pages – as well as loads of ideas for the best places to enjoy a romantic dinner, top up on tapas, take the kids or eat the most indulgent cakes. It’s not as if Bristol, Bath and the surrounding area are short of fabulous food and drink, after all, and with this guide in hand you’ll be well-equipped to seek out the best the West has to offer. Bottoms up and bon appetit.

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Contents

Contents

How to use this guide 6 The local food and drink scene 10 Bristol profiles 15 Bath profiles 43 Out of town profiles 55 Restaurant listings 61 Afro-Caribbean 62 American 62 Chinese 65 English 68 European & Mediterranean 79 Fish 94 French 95 Global & One-off 98 Greek & Turkish 101 Hotels 103 Indian & Nepalese 103 Italian 114 Japanese & Korean 124 Mexican & South American 126 North African & Middle Eastern 127 Pan-Asian 129 Spanish & Portuguese 131 Thai, Malaysian, Singaporean, Indonesian & Vietnamese 133 Vegetarian 137

Cafes 138 Bars 154 Pubs 171 Out of town restaurants & cafes 194 Out of town pubs 200 Sandwich shops 221 Takeaways 227 Specialist food shops 238 Caterers 256 Pop-ups & dining clubs 259 Cookery schools 259 Wine merchants 261 Events 263 Index 265 Published by venuepublishing Ltd Website www.venue.co.uk Head Office Bristol News & Media, Temple Way, Bristol, BS99 7HE Tel 0117 942 8492 Fax 0117 942 0369 Email editor@venue.co.uk (editorial), ads@venue.co.uk (advertising) Credits Editor Tom Phillips Listings Research Tony Benjamin, Melissa Blease, Simon Fry, Julian Owen Index Dave Higgitt Design/Production Cath Evans, Sarah Clark Sub Editor Jo Renshaw Publication Coordinators Sam Ulewicz, Ruth Wood Commercial Director Becky Davis Ad Sales Rebecca Baddiley, Eleanor Pipe, Ben Wright, Adam Burrows Eating Out West 2012 was produced by Venue Publishing, specialists in leisure and entertainment media. Our publications include Folio magazine, the premier West Country lifestyle magazine (including Eating Out West’s monthly features, news and reviews) , Bristol & Bath’s Student Guide, Christmas shopping guide Batteries Not Included. Venue also publishes Bristol & Bath’s leading online what’s on guide: www.venue.co.uk For full details of all our publications, information packs and subscription rates, please call us on 0117 942 8491.

Extensive efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication; however, the publishers cannot accept any responsibility for any errors it may contain. [copyright thingy] Venue Publishing Ltd Copyright of editorial content is held by Venue Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express written permission of the publishers – so rip-off guides take note!

Ring 0117 934 3741 for copies of Eating Out West 2012 A regularly updated online version of Eating Out West can be found at www.venue.co.uk

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Introduction

How to use THE LISTINGS...

There is a full index of all entries in alphabetical order on page 265. If you know the name of the establishment you’re interested in, simply look it up in the index and turn to the relevant page(s).

If you’re looking for inspiration, we have divided the listing entries (starting on page 61) into types of establishments, i.e. restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars, takeaways etc. The restaurants have then been sub-divided into types of cuisine, i.e. Italian, French, Mexican etc. Some restaurants are easy to categorise (e.g. Indian), but others are trickier to pigeonhole.

We have cross-referenced where we can but your best bet is to trawl through all the listings!

We have also divided the entries geographically. Within each section, the categories are divided into Bristol and Bath. There is also an Out Of Town section starting on page 194.

New establishments which have opened since the last edition in May 2011, or are about to open, have been marked as NEW.

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Turn over the page for more information on how to use the listings.

Restaurant profiles can be found at the front of the magazine. Bristol profiles start on page 15, Bath on page 43and Out of Town on page 55.

Printed in alphabetical order, these offer a fuller description of selected restaurants as well as photos.

The information typically covers a description of the restaurant and the people behind it, a sample menu, price guide, drinks guide, opening times and al fresco. The information has been supplied by the restaurants and does not necessarily constitute a direct recommendation by Venue Publishing.

However, we have only accepted submissions from bona fide companies or organisations who we know from long experience to provide quality goods or services.

Check First The key rule when using this guide is to phone first. Menus, prices, chefs and even opening times change constantly. It is also advisable to book to avoid disappointment. (Please mention this guide when booking!)

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Introduction

How to use THE LISTINGS...

Starting on page 61 are listings entries for a vast range of establishments. Premises are listed first by the type of establishment (i.e. restaurant, cafe, pub etc), then by city and then alphabetically. In the Restaurant section, we have sub-divided the restaurants into the type of food they serve (e.g. Italian, French, Mexican etc).

Restaurant entries contain some, or all, of the information set out below.

Alternatively, if you know the name of the restaurant you are looking for, turn to the index on page 265 to find the relevant page number.

As usual in the restaurant and catering trade, the service is subject to change. This guide was compiled between April and early June 2012, but please always ring ahead to check details and bookings.

Information in Eating Out West is based on previous reviews in Venue and Folio magazines, visits to the establishments by Venue staff and contributors and details supplied by the establishments themselves, particularly the price guide.

Listings key

NE W PR EM ISE S ISES NAME OF PREM , Add res s, Tel eph one Em ail & We bsi te â– A bri ef des crip tio n

Price

La A pri ce gui de: ALC - A e Car te Gui de. An ave ragins / pri ce for sta rte rs / ma ch. SD pud din gs. SL - Set Lun - Set Din ner

Dr in ks

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An exciting range of wine from some of the world’s best independent producers together with spirits, beer, cider, coffee and tea q Come along to our informal and informative wine tasting evenings q Join our Wine Club for regular cases delivered direct to your door q Or drop in for friendly advice on tap

NEW ONLINE WINE SHOP NOW OPEN!

www.grapeandgrind.co.uk

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Feature

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Burgeoning in Bristol and Bath (clock wise from top): the Ramsay-endorsed Casa Mia; the newly relocated Zazu’s Kitchen; and Bath’s newest Italian eatery Sotto Sotto, inside and out

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Feature

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With new restaurants opening up, gourmet events pulling in the punters and pop-up dining popping up everywhere, Tony Benjamin celebrates the irresistible rise of our local food and drink scene

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t’s amazing, really – common sense would say that times of austerity would be really bad for the eating-out scene.

If money’s tight, you stick to the basics and cut out the fancy stuff, right? Yet, despite an early wave of ‘credit crunch’ casualties back in 2009, the evidence would seem to be that hereabouts, at least, we’re still getting out there and treating ourselves. New restaurants are opening, shops and markets are buzzing and it would seem that we’re planning to eat our way out of recession. Double dip? That’ll be hummus and guacamole, then.

The success of last year’s Eat Drink Bristol Fashion was a case in point: pulled together by Josh Eggleton, Michelin-starred mainman of Chew Magna’s Pony and Trap, a coterie of top local culinary heroes used an impressive tipi pop-up structure in Queen Square, Bristol to display their skills to a wider public. Despite picking a torrential fortnight at the end of April, they still attracted 10,000 visitors eager to sample everything from tapas to seven-course taster menus from otherwise hot-ticket eateries like Gordon Ramsay-acclaimed Casa Mia, with extra banquet sessions being put on to match demand.

Josh’s aim was “to highlight the strength of Bristol’s

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Feature

Stokes Croft

rties (from top): thriving food scene” and that they certainly did. open Jamie’s Flavoursome favou er-so-quiet-whennev a o; Poc er red Place Alf As a pop-up diner featuring great independent newcom 40 nt joi -up pop n; and innovative lia Ita kitchens, the Eat, Drink… event highlighted two important local trends. First, the fact that the independent restaurant scene continues to be in good shape. Stylish new Bath openings that have made a stir include Portvcale’s Portuguese ‘petiscos’, sophisticated regional Italian dining at Sotto Sotto and the flamboyantly individual Menu Gordon Jones, while Zazu’s Kitchen reappeared up the Gloucester Road in Bristol just as Poco’s tapas became the star of Stokes Croft. It was independent newcomers La Perla (Bath) and Runcible Spoon (Bristol) who stole the honours in Eating Out West’s review of 2011. Given the powerful presence in both cities of the new breed of quality chain restaurants like Jamie’s Italian, Carluccio’s, Brasserie Blanc and Côte, it’s great that, so far at least, the two can jostle along side by side.

The other big trend that shows no sign of slackening is the pop-up, a semi-official dining experience whereby the wannabe restaurateur gets to really show off and the adventurous foodie adds the whiff of the clandestine to their eating out experience. Bath may still be a bit tentative about pop-ups (though Atcatharines is blazing the trail in splendid form) but Bristol just can’t seem to get enough of them - indeed queen of the supper clubs Kerstin Rodgers (aka London blogger MsMarmiteLover) rates the city as a “new hub” on the national pop-up scene. There’s even a Kingsdown venue – 40 Alfred Place – whose bistro premises offer a rolling programme of ‘guest’ evenings and one-off dining opportunities.

All in all it adds plenty of colour to an already exciting local dining scene, and a quick flick through the pages of the guidebook in your hands will reveal all kinds of tasty opportunities to suit most palates and pockets - and all within handy reach of home. Whatever you pick from the menu, choosing Bath or Bristol as a dining destination is definitely still a good call.

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Key PRICE GUIDE DRINKS GUIDE OPENING TIMES AL FRESCO DINING AVAILABLE

Bristol PROFILES

THE INFORMATION FOR PROFILES HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY THE RESTAURANT. SEE PAGE 6 FOR MORE DETAILS.

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Profiles

No51 Stokes Croft 51 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3QP T: 0117 914 8048 W: www.51stokescroft.com

Quirky, one-off home from home where anything can happen

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n the heart of Stokes Croft, this 300-year-old venue set over two storeys could be the most unique venue you’ll ever set foot in. In the main downstairs bar, vibrant street art sits alongside a luscious Victorian-styled wooden bar. Upstairs, the cosy dining area’s wooden floor is hand-decorated with vintage illustrations and signs. The quirky little upstairs bar leads into a spacious paved terrace garden with wooden tables, covered benches, flowers, herbs, artwork and wood-burners.

A rustic wood-burning oven produces delicious pizzas all day long, all imaginatively named order a ‘Salmon Rushdie’! There are sumptuous main dishes, burgers to boast about and a stunningly good Sunday roast, all served till late. The dining area, seating up to 40, takes bookings for romantic evenings for two as well as large get-togethers.

Relax in the comfortable Living Room bar downstairs with a daytime latte, or stay till 4am for a darned good party with great DJs, hell-bent on having a good time. You can expect anything and everything here, from Tuesday’s off-the-wall ‘Blankety Quiz’ and local film screenings from the Stokes Croft Film Society to quality live music and local promoter nights.

This family-run business have lovingly re-imagined this property into a place where people can eat, enjoy the garden and return later for an all-night party. Everything feels lovingly handcrafted - even the website has a handmade feel. No51 is a home from home where anything

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Price

Lunch: Tue-Fri (12noon-4pm) pizza & salad £5. Early eve: 2-4-1 pizza £10 (47pm). Sun roast £8.85

Drinks

Beer, ale, cider from £3.30, spirits from £2.80, hot drinks from £1.40 can happen - and if you stay there long enough, it probably will!

Sample Menu Starter Fresh soup of the day Main Fresh fish with herb & chilli crust, wood-cooked seasonal vegetables, rosemary potatoes Dessert Delicate poached meringue, turbo island custard, caramel sauce

pen O Tue-Wed 12noon-1am, Thur 12noon-2am, Fri-Sat 12noon-4am, Sun 12noon-1am (free entry, except after 11pm Fri-Sat)

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Profiles

Ahmed’s Curry & Masala Cafes Curry Cafe 1e Chandos Rd, Redland, Bristol BS6 6PG T: 0117 946 6466 (Reservations 07747 034886 daytime) Masala Cafe 2 Jacob’s Wells Rd, Hotwells, Bristol BS8 1EA T: 0117 930 4194 (Reservations 07747 034886 daytime)W: www.ahmedscurrycafe.co.uk

Fresh, GM-free dishes, cooked in an open kitchen

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idden gems in Redland and Hotwells, these cosy curry cafes are much more comfortable and relaxed than your usual Indian restaurant, serving up a great range of food at seriously good-value prices.

Freshly prepared, GM-free dishes are cooked in an open kitchen - their popular thalis (combination platters) are a great option for trying out different flavours. Both cafes have extensive wine lists, serve Indian beers and are student, party and familyfriendly.

Alongside old favourites, new dishes range from Goan, southern Indian and Sri Lankan to Bangladeshi and Malaysian cuisine. Unique dishes include tamarind chicken (cooked in onion, peppers, sweet tamarind sauce, fresh coriander and green chillies) and shahi korma murg (diced chicken breast in spicy creamy sauce with nuts and sultanas).

Takeaways are excellent, with free home deliveries (within a four-mile radius, minimum order £12, daily 7-11pm). And happy hour lasts longer than just an hour: curry (chicken, vegetable, lamb) with pilau rice and nan bread for just £6.90 (£6.35 takeaway).

An online booking facility is available - check out the full menu on their website.

An Evening Post review gave the Curry Cafe a five-star rating on ambience and four on food: ‘a very

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Price

Starter from £2.40, main £4.50, dessert £1.90.

Happy Hour (MonSat 6-8pm, Sun 6-11.30pm): £7.95 eat in

Drinks

special little restaurant’. Ahmed’s licensed (and BYO) Masala Cafe has also become a hugely popular local destination since opening in May 2007.

Sample Menu Starter Whole peppers stuffed with lightly spiced chicken or vegetables Main Lal maas (tender lamb in spicy yoghurt sauce with fenugreek and fresh coriander, garnished with green chillies)

Extensive wine list, Indian beers.

House wine £8.75 btl pen O Sun-Thur 6-11.30pm, Fri-Sat 6pm-12midnight

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Profiles

Amoeba Lounge Bar 10 Kings Rd, Clifton Village, Bristol BS8 4AB T:0117 946 6461 E: info@amoebaclifton.co.uk (private bookings) W: www.amoebaclifton.co.uk

Funky, laidback style, and some of Bristol’s best bartenders

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ecreted away down Kings Road in Clifton Village lies a rare little gem of a drinking establishment, Amoeba Lounge Bar. Specialising in the weird and wonderful, this boutique and quirky little cocktail bar has an amazing array of spirits and liqueurs, wielded with fierce passion and skill by some of Bristol’s best bartenders.

They also sport a hugely diverse selection of pilsners, ales and stouts, from Icelandic Toasted Porter to Scottish IPA and Jamaican Stout. And with the offering changing week to week, you’re always sure to find something to whet your appetite.

The bar itself is draped in soft, decadent decor, creating a sumptuous background in which to while away many hours with your loved one, or just to meet up with friends to sample the 50-strong cocktail menu. Through the back, you’ll find a very cute heated garden, which is covered from the elements and populated by all sorts of greenery. It’s the ideal spot for those long summer evenings mulling over a bottle of wine.

It’s not all quiet and secretive, though. On the weekend, things move up a gear, with DJs every Friday and Saturday playing diverse but beautifully crafted sets until 1am. Private parties are common, seeing as the bar is free to hire any day of the week - so be sure to give them a call to book any area that you would like.

Amoeba also offer Cocktail Masterclasses and bespoke Spirits Seminars by arrangement. Just give them a call and have a chat…

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Price

Cocktails: two for £9.50. Wine from £13 btl, £3.75 gls.

Beer from £3 btl

Drinks

Extensive range inc cocktails, spirits, liqueurs, pilsners, ales, stouts, wines pen O Mon–Thur 4pm-12midnight, Fri 4pm-1am, Sat 1pm–1am, Sun 1pm12midnight

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Profiles

Aqua Italia Restaurant & Bar Welsh Back, Bristol BS1 4RR T: 0117 915 6060 E: bristol@aqua-restaurant.com 153 Whiteladies Rd, Bristol BS8 2RF T: 0117 973 3314 E: clifton@aqua-restaurant.com W: www.aqua-restaurant.com

Fresh and delicious Italian cuisine

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ith its convenient city-centre location overlooking the water, Aqua Welsh Back is the perfect venue for all occasions. The light and stylish restaurant and bar opens onto a riverside alfresco terrace.

On Whiteladies Road, the beautifully refurbished grade II-listed building has been designed with warm walnut floors, bespoke chandeliers, a glazed southfacing frontage and pavement terrace for a light and bright all-day venue.

The extensive a la carte includes continental classics for you to enjoy – oysters; grilled lobster; goat’s cheese, pesto, red onion & caper berry pizza; whole aubergine stuffed with Italian risotto; veal escalope bread crumbed with tomato and herbs; steak tartare with salad and handcut chips; and roast cod in pesto breadcrumbs with asparagus and green beans.

The early dinner and lunch menu offers great-value choices - two courses for £10.95 or three for £12.95, Monday to Saturday, 12noon until 7pm. At the weekend, traditional Sunday roasts are just £10.95. Enjoy a casual bite from the new bar menu at Welsh Back or join them for a Clifton Breakfast on Whiteladies Road.

Visit the website for up to date information on special offers and events.

Sample Menu Starter

Meat antipasto (sliced prosciutto, pistachio-studded mortadella, coppa

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Price

Starter from £5.25, main £9.75, dessert £5.55. Set menu: 2 £10.95

Drinks

Extensive wine list, cocktails, continental beers

stagionata, salami milano with torn buffalo mozzarella and garlic coleslaw) MainTagliatelle gorgonzola (tossed with mushrooms, parmesan, walnuts and gorgonzola cheese) Dessert Affogato (vanilla ice-cream drowned in espresso and frangelico liqueur)

pen O Welsh Back: Sun-Thurs 11am10pm, Fri-Sat 11am10.30pm. Whiteladies Rd: Sun-Thurs 9am-10pm, Fri-Sat 9am-10.30pm

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Profiles

Bell's Diner 1-3 York Rd, Montpelier, Bristol BS6 5QB T:0117 924 0357 W: www.bellsdiner.co.uk

Consistently and faultlessly modern and innovative

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ell’s Diner is one of Bristol’s most established restaurants, and has been serving up great food since 1976.

It’s housed in a converted grocery store, right in the heart of Bristol’s bohemian area of Montpelier, and the ambience here is perennially warm and intimate. Bell’s was twice voted Best Restaurant in the South West by the Observer Food Monthly, made the UK Top 100 in 2010 and is a regular fixture in all the major food guides.

Christopher Wicks, the chef and owner, is passionate about food, particularly if it’s local. He carefully sources his ingredients using local farmers, pickers and market gardens.

The cooking at Bell’s Diner is consistently and faultlessly modern and innovative. Christopher and Alex Collins are a seriously talented team. They’re experimental, while remaining dedicated to perfecting the art of classical cooking.

The wine list is an eclectic mixture of bottles from around the world, all selected individually by the sommelier/ restaurant manager Jean Sebastien Toulouse. Jean Sebastien specialises in south-western French regional wines that offer great value for money and exciting drinking. At the other end of the scale, for that special occasion you could choose from some of the world’s top producers and cult wines. Bell’s also offer a wide range of bottled beers, spirits, aperitifs and dessert wines.

Sample Menu Starter Lyme Bay scallops, seaweed, lemon, broad beans, fennel; Hereford snail, parsley, egg yolk, mushroom quinoa, turnip

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Price

Dinner: average £40 inc service & wine

Drinks

Excellent, eclectic, carefully selected wines from around the world, £13-£240 btl, £3.50 £5.75 gls

Main Wood pigeon, smoked onion

family; Beef, bone marrow, wild garlic, parsley, artichoke, pink fur potato, leek Dessert Hay and custard, beer and nuts; Violet souffle, white chocolate, strawberry

pen O Lunch: WedFri 12noon-2pm.

Dinner: Tue-Thur 7-9pm, Fri-Sat 7-9.30pm

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Profiles

Bocabar The Paintworks, Bath Rd, Arnos Vale, Bristol BS3 4EH T: 0117 972 8838 E: bocabarbookings@btconnect.com W: www.bocabar.co.uk

A bohemian edge to the chilled-out vibe

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ocated in the Paintworks arts and media village, Bocabar has established itself as one of the coolest bars and eateries in south Bristol. Set within a fabulous reclaimed redbrick warehouse, there’s a wonderfully bohemian edge to its chilled-out vibe, with eclectic furniture and decor and an alfresco decking area.

The menu expresses a passion for fresh, quality-sourced ingredients: a fantastic deli bar driven by Ottolenghi led salads, fine tapas, and the famous thin crust gourmet BOCA pizzas. Lunchtime specials focus on locally-sourced fish, meat and vegetarian dishes. Day and evening, you can opt for comfy casual dining or a finer dining experience in the chandelier lit dining room.

Full English breakfasts are available at weekends, and ‘Boca Roasts’ on Sundays. Bocabar boasts the best Fairtrade cappuccinos and an extensive new wine list, while Bocabar’s 7 foot long bar hosts 16 pumps to include amongst others- Bath Ales Gem and Bounders cider, Estrella Damm lager, Asahi beer, Blue Moon wheat beer and local Orchard Pig cider. Treat yourself to some laidback dining and enjoy the resident Friday-night DJ or Saturday’s live jazz or world music. Private party room also for hire.

Since the beginning of 2011, Bocabar has launched its new Boca art space for 6 weekly exhibitions . You’ll find around the bar a mix of oriental and cast iron artefacts - not just as part of the overall eclectic décor but available to buy too - creating a marketfeel- buzz in this vibrant hub for savvy food drink and art lovers.

Sample Menu Starter Baked Capricorn goats cheese and leek puff pastry, Dorset leaves, wild garlic and

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Price

Tapas etc from £3.25, panini from £4.95, pizza/garlic bread £3.95-£14.95 Lunchtime Hot Specials from £5

Drinks

Cocktails, world speciality bottled beers, organic juice, Fairtrade coffee

balsamic Main Fillet of south coast sea trout served on a bed of Cornish crab dauphinoise potatoes and a clam and shrimp broth Dessert Lady Marmalade Bakewell tart with a raspberry compote and Dorset clotted cream.

pen O Mon-Thur & Sun 10am-12midnight (last orders 11pm), Fri-Sat 10am2am (last orders 1am, last entry midnight)

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Profiles

The Botanist Bristol 20a Berkeley Square, Bristol BS8 1HP T:0117 927 7333 W: www.thebotanistbristol.co.uk Twitter: @BotanistBristol

Seafood and fresh, seasonal produce underscore the menu

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ust over a year old, this bar/ restaurant serves top-quality food in a stunningly stylish city location, with an emphasis on seafood. The building has been renovated with considerable panache – you’ll find a stylish bar, comfortable shabby chic furniture and a dining room with chunky wooden tables and interesting artefacts.

Seasonal, fresh produce lies at the heart of the menu: traditional British classics alongside mellow Mediterranean dishes, from fish & chips to fine steaks and perfect homemade flatbreads. With their own in-house fish smoker and great relationship with local fish suppliers, the Botanist’s real source of pride is their spectacular seafood specials. Head chef Sweryn Baj and his passionate team let their imaginations run wild with these deliciously original specials.

Working closely with their wine partners, the group have created their own exclusive blends, with bespoke wine labels. You’ll also find all the usual grape varieties – crisp, white pinots; grassy sauvignons; trendy pinks; smooth, juicy riojas and merlots - by the bottle or glass, plus cask ales, superchilled draft, fabulous cocktails and bottled beers.

“We’ve put a lot of thought into every facet: the food, the surroundings, the welcome from the team,” says general manager Phil Brown. “The result is a venue with real ambience and delicious food.” Cool and colourful in summer, warm and inviting in winter, it’s the perfect place to eat, drink and be merry with friends and family or to celebrate any occasion with great food and wine.

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Price

Starter £4.95-£8.95, main £10.95-£22.95, dessert £4.95-£6.95.

Fixed-price: 2 £12.95

Drinks

Extensive drinks list inc champagnes, cask ales, cocktails. House wine from £14.95 btl, £3.95 gls

Sample Menu Starter

Pan-fried scallops, sweet potato puree, tomato salsa Main Whole bream with asparagus and fresh gnocchi in pistachio cream sauce Dessert Summer berry & bilberry Eton mess

pen O Daily from 10am, dining room from 12noon

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Profiles

Brasserie Blanc The Friary Building, Cabot Circus, Bristol BS1 5DF T:0117 910 2410 E: bristol@brasserieblanc.com W: www.brasserieblanc.com

Delicious, affordable French food from Raymond Blanc

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rasserie Blanc Bristol is a star in Raymond Blanc’s brasserie collection. Situated in the buzzy Cabot Circus shopping area, it has prime position, with a grade II-listed historic property surrounded by alfresco dining. The main restaurant is in a breathtaking Georgian meeting house with high ceilings and a sense of space and light, but it’s also comfortable and cosy thanks to the interior decor of warm wood and muted colours.

Raymond Blanc says that if his Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons is a gentle waltz, then Brasserie Blanc is a can-can… a little irreverent, fun and relaxed, but with a passion for great food served with pride.

The dishes themselves are inspired by his mother, Maman Blanc, who instilled a love of wholesome, honest French food in him as a child.

The extensive a la carte menu changes with each season and is supplemented by Daily Specials that feature locally sourced ingredients from quality producers.

Children are well catered for, with puree for babies and the Jeune Blanc options on the a la carte menu – half-size portions of ‘proper’ food for children under 12. Look out, too, for the great-value £11.95 twocourse lunch - perfect for a stop-off from shopping or a quick bite to eat.

Bristol’s Brasserie Blanc has another string to its bow: two medieval halls that have become Bakers and Cutlers banqueting rooms and which are widely used for everything from weddings to meetings to family celebrations. The venues are outstandingly beautiful (and, of course, the catering is rather good, too). Now all you need is a reason to party!

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Price

Starter from £4.95, main from £9.50, two-course set lunch £13.95, two-course set dinner menu £14

Drinks

House wine from £3.85 gls

Sample Menu Starter

Crispy goat’s cheese parcels and homemade tomato chutney Main Slow-braised lamb shoulder with olives Dessert Flaming baked Alaska for two

pen O Mon-Thur 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10.30pm, Sun 10am-9pm. Breakfast served daily 10am12noon

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6/22/2012 11:34:48 AM

Profiles

The Burger Joint 83 Whiteladies Rd, Bristol BS8 2NT (from Sept 2012) T:0117 329 0887 W: www.theburgerjoint.co.uk

Homemade luxury burgers

N

ow three years old, the Burger Joint serves what many reckon are the best burgers in Bristol.

In fact, there’s probably nowhere in Bristol where you can eat as well and so cheaply. Little wonder that it’s moving to new, larger premises on Whiteladies Road in September, to accommodate the increased demand.

Proprietor Dan Bekhradnia explains: “I want to prove that well-cooked burgers made from high-quality ingredients can provide an outstanding dining experience for an outstanding price.”

To maintain quality, and in keeping with their philosophy that everything should be freshly prepared and cooked on the premises, the Burger Joint has a carefully selected menu, focusing on (but not limited to) burgers: prime beef, Welsh lamb, venison, chicken and two types of vegetarian burger, all made with locally sourced ingredients and to their own recipes, accompanied by homemade sauces and chargrilled to order. Even the chips are handcut on the premises from specially selected potatoes. They also sell a range of starters, salads and desserts.

In keeping with the Burger Joint philosophy, wines and beers are specially selected to offer a similar combination of quality and value “with the emphasis always on quality,” says Dan. The Burger Joint offer a licensed restaurant (laidback decor, cool music, modern furnishings) and a takeaway service. People come from all over Bristol to this place, which has established itself as one of the city’s favourite destinations for those with good taste and a limited budget.

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Price

Burger £7.50 (inc side dish), salad £7.50, starters & desserts £3.50

Drinks

Wines, beers, ciders, soft drinks.

House wine £12.95 btl, £3.25 gls pen O Daily 12noon-

Sample Menu Burgers Prime

late

beef; Lamb & mint; Venison; Mixed mushroom, garlic & herb Toppings Grilled bacon; Four cheeses. Roasted peppers; Onion rings Sides Handcut chips; Coleslaw; Sweet potato chips; Green beans Starters/Desserts Also available

Eating Out West 2012

6/22/2012 11:40:38 AM

Profiles

Byzantium 2 Portwall Lane, Bristol BS1 6NB T:0117 922 1883 E:info@byzantium.co.uk W: www.byzantium.co.uk

Fantastic fresh food, exotic surroundings, magical entertainment

F

ounded in 1998, Byzantium has become a Bristol byword for fine dining - the perfect space for parties, weddings or intimate suppers for two.

You’ll find it opposite St Mary Redcliffe church, with a car park facing Portwall Lane.

For over a decade Byzantium’s dedicated events team have hosted parties, corporate events and weddings (maximum capacity 240; seated dining on each floor for 120).

For more intimate parties of up to 24, Byzantium has a private dining room with its own air-conditioning and music system and a dedicated server for the night.

In the ground-floor bar and lounge area, enjoy Byzantium’s new summer menu dishes daily, from 12noon till late. Their menu always includes at least two vegetarian options, and there are set menus for events. Food is based on modern European recipes with a Mediterranean bias, using the best local and regional produce, taking account of seasonal variation and availability. Byzantium’s dessert lanterns provide six different portions and tastes. For a more relaxed experience you can chose to dine on the sofas in their lounge area.

Weekend entertainment can include specialist DJs, with a comprehensive choice of music, belly dancers, magicians and circus-skills specialists who will entertain you till 2am with Byzantium’s full late licence. Frequent special events and dining offers are also available on Byzantium’s website and Facebook and Twitter pages.

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Price

Starter £5.95, main from £12.95, dessert £5.95

Drinks

Wide range of new/old world wines, cocktails, beers, spirits, liqueurs, champagne. House wine from £14.50 btl

Sample Menu Main Fish en

pen O Tue-Sat 11am–late

papillote with fennel, ginger, chilli and lemon; Selection of cured meats with sea salt focaccia, olives, garlic butter & macerated tomatoes Dessert Tasting lanterns comprising six different bite-size desserts per person

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6/22/2012 3:06:43 PM

Profiles

The Clifton Sausage 7-9 Portland St, Clifton Village, Bristol BS8 4JA T: 0117 973 1192 E: info@cliftonsausage.co.uk W: www.cliftonsausage.co.uk

Fresh, simple British food at its very best

D

escribed by the Independent as one of the UK’s top 50 places for two people to eat for under £50, and by another national newspaper critic as ‘my new favourite restaurant’, the Sausage is a popular haven for discerning eaters and drinkers in laidback Clifton Village. The menu celebrates traditional classic British cuisine, using high-quality, simple, fresh, regional and seasonal ingredients. Classics include smoked haddock fishcakes with parsley and lemon sauce, chargrilled 10oz rib-eye with shallot, parsley and red wine butter, and Monkfish Scampi with mushy peas and chips, Seafood is delivered daily from St Mawes in Cornwall.

Sausage-lovers will appreciate toadin-the-hole or the seven different types of sausage (including lamb, mint & apricot; Old Spot pork, cider & wholegrain mustard; reindeer & cranberry) with onion gravy on champ or mash. Indulge in fools, crumbles and puddings, served by informed, friendly staff in the bar and restaurant, or outdoors on the patio. Vegetarian options include salads, hotpots and vegetarian sausages.

The spacious bar, with oak floor and natural heritage colours, has a fabulous selection of wines, specialist beers and local ales on draught. At least 30 wines are available by the glass.

The Sausage is a welcome reminder that, when it’s done well, British food can compete with the best the world has to offer.

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Price

Starter £4£6.50, main £8.50£16.50, dessert £5.00-£7.50

Drinks

Extensive international wine list, beers & local ales on draught. House wine from £15.50 btl, £3.00 gls

Sample Menu Starter

pen O Mon - Sun 12noon-12midnight

Dressed Brixham crab with potted shrimp and cucumber salad Main Panfried calves’ liver, sage mash, crispy bacon, onion gravy Dessert Sticky toffee pudding, butterscotch sauce, vanilla ice-cream

Eating Out West 2012

6/22/2012 11:42:05 AM

Profiles

Côte Brasserie Bristol 27 The Mall, Clifton Village, Bristol BS8 4JG T: 0117 970 6779 E: bristol@cote-restaurants.co.uk W: www.cote-restaurants.co.uk

Great-value, modern approach to classic French dishes

O

pen daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner and inspired by new trends in Paris where diners are turning away from overcomplicated, expensive French food, Côte Brasserie offers a modern approach to classic French dishes such as steak-frites, niçoise, moules marinières and corn-fed chicken from the heart of rural Brittany.

The menu evolves seasonally, and changing specials ensure that there’s always something new for regular guests to enjoy. Perfect for breakfast business meetings or a midmorning shopping break, Côte offers breakfast dishes like smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, Croque Monsieur and eggs benedict. A weekday lunch/ early evening menu (two courses £9.95, three £11.90) features dishes like frisée, beetroot & goat’s cheese salad with walnut & mustard dressing, followed by roast sea bass fillet with savoy cabbage and peas in white wine & cream sauce.

Reviewed favourably by the press and regular guests alike, Côte is backed by restaurant entrepreneur Richard Caring, who owns some of the UK’s most highly acclaimed restaurants, including The Ivy, J Sheekey, Le Caprice in London, the Soho House group and Wentworth Golf Course.

The Good Food Guide 2009 Best-value Restaurant in the UK, Côte serves excellent dishes at very competitive prices, with reasonably priced regional wines selected from across France. The atmosphere is informal and friendly, and there’s free Wi-Fi available.

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Price

Mon-Fri lunch & early eve: 2 £9.95, 3 £11.90. Weekend special: half roast chicken, steak-frites £9.95 (Sat 12noon-6pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm

Drinks

Wine from £14.50 btl, £4.30 gls

Sample Menu Starter Warm roquefort salad; Steak tartare Main Corn-fed poulet breton; Fish parmentier Dessert Warm chocolate fondant with vanilla ice-cream

pen O Mon–Fri 8am–10.30pm, Sat 9am–10.30pm, Sun 9am–9.30pm

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6/22/2012 11:43:26 AM

Profiles

Fosters Event Catering Unit 5, Avonside Rd, Bristol BS2 0UQ T:0117 977 6611 E: events@fostersevents.co.uk W: www.fostersevents.co.uk

Bespoke event caterers with their roots in Bristol

F

or more than 50 years, Fosters have been delivering first-class catering, created by awardwinning chefs to guarantee the best events in town. From family parties to weddings and large corporate events, Fosters make sure that every occasion is special, providing a friendly, personal touch. Customers and clients return again and again because they know just how much the team here care.

Their passion for food and quality shines through in the delicious and imaginative range of dishes. The origin of ingredients is fundamental to the success of the business, and the team prepare mouthwatering menus using the finest and freshest local seasonal produce. From bespoke meals and delicious canapés to elegant dinners or summer barbeques, this is food packed with flavour to tantalise your taste-buds.

Since Fosters was established in Bristol in 1959, the business has retained its family-run ethos. As well as outside catering, their team of professionals can plan any aspect of your event, including the choice of venue, to make your occasion unique and truly memorable.

Here are some comments from just a few of Fosters’ satisfied customers…

‘Thank you for making our event. It was so much more than just food. You delivered well above and beyond expectation’ …

‘Everything was just perfect: the food, the wine…” … ‘The food was amazing, the service impeccable’ … ‘Fosters really did help to make our day truly wonderful’...

‘We just wanted to say a BIG thank you for helping to make our wedding day so special... we really couldn’t have done it without you! Your energy and enthusiasm helped to keep our spirits up throughout

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Price

Canapés £7.40, Buffets £11.95, Sit down dinner £24.40 (cost per head)

Drinks

Bottles of wine £12.50

and it was so reassuring knowing you were there on the day.’

Sample Menu Starter

Roulade of smoked salmon, white crab and artichokes with rocket and baby capers Main Rump of Welsh lamb with caper sauce, parisienne potatoes, green beans, roast cherry vine tomatoes Dessert Rhubarb crème brûlée with butter biscuits

Eating Out West 2012

6/22/2012 11:44:40 AM

Profiles

The Full Moon & Attic Bar Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3PR T: 0117 924 5007 W: www.fmbristol.co.uk

Friendly, traditional pub and restaurant with a modern twist

T

he Full Moon is one of Bristol’s most historic buildings - a beautiful 17th century grade II listed coaching house in the heart of the city, converted into a spacious backpackers hotel (with over 60 beds including twin and double rooms, a TV lounge, conference room and guest kitchen), a bar and restaurant underneath, and the Attic bar and nightclub in the courtyard which also features an outside bar with wood fired pizza oven TV's and a music stage!

The Full Moon pub is a large, friendly, airy, traditional boozer and restaurant with a modern twist. Comfy chairs and leather sofas abound and the entire back exterior wall is part of the Moon Street Gallery. Over 10 original graffiti pieces have been sprayed here by some of the world’s best street artists.

The Attic Bar, with in-house Opus system, stages live music events every week, hosting the best bands and DJs on the Bristol music scene. The room is also used for private parties and charity fundraisers. The cream of Bristol’s DJs also play in the Full Moon bar every Friday and Saturday.

The emphasis is on freshly prepared, locally sourced, free-range, organic homecooked food. The entire wine list is also organic. The two-course backpackers menu includes a light-bite starter and seasonal main, with light bites including slow chilli king prawns and roasted halloumi with mango.

The ALC menu is pub grub done to the highest standard – all-day breakfasts, burgers, ciabattas. They also do a killer Sunday roast, or after a particularly

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Price

Starter from £2.95, main from £9.50, dessert from £3.50. Light bites: £2.95, 3 £6.50. 2 courses for £10 all week. Sun roast: 1 £8.95, 2 £10.95

Drinks

heavy weekend, try the Bloody Mary Sunday Special for just £3.50.

Sample Menu Starter Slow cooked chilli king prawns / roasted halloumi with mango Main Baked trout on a bed of sautée new potatoes, courgettes & rocket served with coriander butter sauce Dessert Sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce and organic double cream

House wine from £3.50 gls, pints from £3 pen O Food served daily 12noon-8pm (5pm Sun)

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6/22/2012 11:46:03 AM

Profiles

Jacks Bar & Brasserie Bristol: Harbourside, 1 Hanover Quay, BS1 5JE T: 0117 945 3990 E:bristol@jacksbrasserie.co.uk Portishead: Portishead Marina, Spinnaker, Harbour Rd, BS20 7AW T: 01275 397304 E: portishead@jacksbrasserie.co.uk W: www.jacksbrasserie.co.uk

Set sail for a unique, waterfront dining experience

J

acks Bar & Brasserie is a small, independently owned chain of restaurants in Bristol and Portishead, offering fresh, locally sourced dishes in stylish, relaxed surroundings at stunning waterside locations.

Food lovers can set sail for a dining experience to savour at this top eating venue, led by executive chef Simon Davis. Overlooking Bristol Harbour and Portishead Marina, with large, outdoor terraces, Jacks Brasserie restaurants invite you to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and chill out, alfresco style.

Enjoy classic British cuisine with a modern twist, using the best-quality ingredients and a changing seasonal menu. Soak up the great views and friendly atmosphere over breakfast, lunch or supper and tuck into a wide range of mouthwatering dishes and beverages, including their famous chargrilled burgers and handcut chips.

Treat yourself to a sumptuous Sunday lunch or their new Fintastic Fish Fridays, where customers can scale up their suppers and enjoy a whole fish and bottle of wine for just £35, with two people sharing.

Jacks Bristol is available for hire, with flexible event space provided on two floors for small intimate groups or large parties of up to 100, for formal dining or occasions such as weddings. With picturesque and serene surroundings, Jacks Brasserie also provides the ideal spot for drink and canapé receptions, bespoke buffets and barbecues for larger groups.

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Price

ALC: £4.25£7.25/£9.95-£16.95 /£5.25. Lunch (MonSat, 10am-3pm) £4.95-£6.95

Drinks

Sample Menu Starter

Severn & Wye smoked mackerel paté , horseradish butter, rye toast, pickled shallots Main Slow-cooked Gloucester Old Spot pork belly, black pudding hash, spring greens, Ashton Press cider reduction Dessert Somerset strawberries, vanilla panna cotta, Winstones Cotswold elderflower & champagne sorbet

More than 30 international wines & champagnes. HW £14.50 btl, £3.70 gls.

Btld beers, ciders, fully stocked bar, soft drinks, teas, coffees pen O Bristol: Wed-Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 10am-6pm. Portishead: Mon-Sat 10am–11pm, Sun 10am-4pm

Eating Out West 2012

6/22/2012 11:47:41 AM

Profiles

The Kings Arms 168 Whiteladies Rd, Bristol, BS8 2XZ T: 0117 973 5922 W: www.kingsarmsbristol.com

Versatile pub serving classic homemade British cuisine

T

he Kings Arms – for those not already in the know – is the big redbrick Victorian pile at the top of Whiteladies Road. Spread over several levels, its quirky interior caters for all occasions – and all party sizes, from a table for two to a party of 100.

The menu is predominantly British.

Classics include homemade pork & leak sausages with Tewksbury mash, 28-day-aged steaks and beer-battered haddock with chunky triple-cooked chips. There’s a fishcake the size of a boulder, topped with a poached egg and homemade tartare sauce, that’s simply delicious, and the Kings Arms burgers have become legendary – especially since they’re 2-4-1 during weekday lunches!

For those just wanting a light lunch or evening snack, doorstep and toasted sandwiches are available, and the tapas menu includes the delicious Kings Arms Scotch egg alongside moreish dishes such as crab cakes and chicken goujons with sweet chilli jam. Ingredients are locally sourced to create thoughtfully prepared dishes, all cooked to order. The emphasis is very much on homemade, from the gorgeous focaccia bread to chef’s own sausages and chorizo.

The dining room is available to book, or just grab a table around the bar area to enjoy great food with good drinks and atmosphere. In the summer the pretty roof terrace plays host to alfresco dining, or is a great place to just sit, relax and enjoy a glass of wine.

Sample Menu Tapas

Chicken goujons, patatas bravas,

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Price

Starter and tapas from £4.50, main from £8.95, dessert £4.95

Drinks

Cask ales, continental lagers, wines, spirits, cocktails, teas and coffees

home-cured salamis, focaccia with dipping oils Starter Thai-style crab cakes with chilli oil Main Fillet of beer-battered haddock with fat chips, homemade tartare sauce & pea puree Dessert Sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce & vanilla ice-cream

pen O Mon 5-11pm, Tue–Thur 11am11.30pm, Fri–Sat 11am-12.30am, Sun 12noon-11pm, food served all day, wi-fi available, table football, darts, table tennis and more

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6/22/2012 3:07:47 PM

Profiles

The Mothers’ Ruin 7-9 St Nicholas St, Bristol, BS1 1UE T: 07546 082009

Party bar with live music and DJs at its heart

B

right red, and spread over three levels, The Mothers’ Ruin has spent the last four years establishing itself as Bristol’s top alternative party bar/madhouse, specialising in super sweaty aural delights (rock and roll, pop, disco...). Open from 12noon to 2am every day except Sunday, you can expect to see and listen to everything from international touring bands to the best local talent.

People from around the world who have graced the upstairs stage in the past few years include: Hans Chew (US), Monotonix (Israel), Pinky Doodle Poodle (Japan), Ex Models (US), Final Flash (Canada), Justice Yeldham (Aus), The Morlocks (US), as well as homegrown talent such as: David Gedge (The Wedding Present), The Masonics (ex Thee Headcoates), Dan Le Sac, Shield Your Eyes, Howlin’ Lord, Wild Palms and The Kabeedies,

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Drinks

Ales, lager and cider from £3 pen O Mon-Sat 12noon-2am, Sun 6pm-12.30am.

amongst many more. There are bands three times a week or more, and DJ nights (including O.C.D, Distinguished Gentleman's Drinking Club & POW! POW!) every Friday and Saturday night.

New to 2011 is the recently opened Berlin-style squat bar in the basement, which is now open most weekends: go downstairs to find proper underground beats and tunes. Drinks start from £2 every day of the week.

Eating Out West 2012

6/22/2012 11:50:01 AM

Profiles

Renato's Taverna dell Artista 33 King St, Bristol BS1 4DZ Tel 0117 929 7712 E: info@renatos.net

Legendary late-night destination for the Bristol arts crowd

A

sk anybody who’s connected with the arts in Bristol where Renato’s is and they’ll be able to tell you more about it than just its location. To artists and theatre-goers alike, the warm and welcome hospitality here makes Renato’s Taverna dell’Artista the natural destination for pre-show eating or latenight socialising. The place is, quite simply, legendary.

La Taverna, just a few doors up from the Old Vic, occupies the oldest building in King Street, dating from the 17th century. It has a unique atmosphere that stretches out over two floors: downstairs, the bar is the ideal location for quiet early-evening conversation, before later developing a shoulderto-shoulder party feel as the pizzas fly from table to table, the food providing a fabulous accompaniment to the general bonhomie. Upstairs, meanwhile, you can savour the same genuine Italian food in slightly more relaxed surroundings that strike a perfect balance between elegance and informality.

The Observer called Renato’s a “much-loved favourite” - and nobody who’s been here would argue with that.

Whether you’re nipping in for an earlyevening drink or fancy settling down for the night, Renato’s is just the place for enjoying the best of company. There’s a wide range of bottled beers from Poland, Belgium and Germany and, of course, Italy, including the award-winning Menabrea lager from Biella, Piedmont in the north of the country.

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Price

Starter £4.25-£7.50, main £6.95-£16.95, pizza from £8.50, dessert £3.95-£4.50

Drinks

Extensive wine list, continental beers. House wine £13.50 btl pen O Tue-Sat 5.30pm-2am

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6/22/2012 11:51:02 AM

Profiles

The Richmond 33 Gordon Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1AW T: 0117 923 7542 E: info@therichmondclifton.co.uk W: www.therichmondclifton.co.uk

Honest, traditional English pub with a fabulous Sunday roast

T

he Richmond has just entered its second year under new management, and has become a success as an honest, traditional English pub, with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

Their excellent food is freshly cooked from locally sourced ingredients. They also offer lighter dishes, wholesome traditional pub meals, and a fantastic Sunday roast, for which booking is recommended. It’s all beautifully presented in a relaxed and traditional English pub setting.

To complement the varied wine list at the Richmond, a sophisticated range of spirits includes single malt whiskies, premium vodka, gin and rum. They serve real ale to Cask Marque standards, as well as a range of lagers and ciders.

The rooftop beer garden is a real summer suntrap, with two open fires inside for the colder months. With separate restaurant and function areas, and a fun-filled bar room with pool table, games machines and comfy sofas, you’re guaranteed a good time, whether you’re having an intimate dinner or a few pints with your friends.

There’s a weekly pub quiz on Wednesdays, an open mic night every Monday and regular live music events.

Comedy nights are also becoming a regular feature on Thursdays. You’ll find an unbeatable selection of board games for those nights when they aren’t providing their own entertainment.

The Richmond offer free venue hire for events any day of the week, alongside a number of very reasonably priced food options, with buffets starting from just £5 per person.

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Price

Average starter £4.50, main £8.00, dessert £4.50

Drinks

House wine £15.50 btl, £2.60 gls.

Fosters £3.40, Amstel £3.75, ales (on rotation) £3.45-£3.55, Symonds cider £3.75

Sample Menu Starter

Cornish mussels in cider & garlic cream sauce Main Homemade beefburger with triple-cooked chips, sweet chilli mayonnaise, homemade coleslaw Dessert Apple & raspberry crumble with ice-cream

pen O Mon-Tue 4pm–12midnight, Wed-Thur 12noon– 12midnight, Fri-Sat 12noon–1am, Sun 12noon–11pm. Food: from open till 10pm Mon-Sat, 8pm Sun

Eating Out West 2012

6/22/2012 11:53:18 AM

Profiles

The River Grille Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QF T: 0117 923 0333 E: bristol@doylecollection.com W: www.doylecollection.com

Classic handcrafted dishes with a modern, playful twist

L

ocated along the river on Narrow Quay, The River Grille is a short walk from such sights as Arnolfini, Bristol Old Vic, the SS Great Britain and the Floating Harbour.

Guests can gaze at the waterfront over a drink from the fully stocked cocktail bar before ordering from the menu that changes with the seasons. The beef is 28-day dryaged British White Cattle and along with the pork and lamb, sourced via local butcher Ruby and White.

The grill steaks are cooked to taste just as you like them. For fish lovers, try an alternative to cod and chips, with Bristol Beer crispy mackerel, or maybe the smoked sea salted red mullet with a smoked fish casserole and razor clams. To round off the meal the dessert menu is pure temptation, with flavour combinations that really tickle the palate - try the strawberry mille feuille with passion fruit, mango chilli and honeycomb praline or the beetroot cheesecake with a lime and dark chocolate filling. For cheese lovers, the cheese is sourced from the local St Nicholas Market where passion for cheese is second to none, presenting the best seasonal cheeses that change from week to week. For a more casual experience the Shore Cafe Bar is ideal with its chic decor and waterfront patio, perfect for relaxing with a cocktail or sharing a tapas plate with friends and colleagues. The luxurious Bristol Hotel, a member of The Doyle Collection offers fabulous

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Price

Starter from £5.95, main from £11.95, dessert from £5.95

Drinks

Full cocktail bar. Wine from £19.50 btl, £4.50 gls bedrooms, as well as a stunning Meetings & Events Centre suitable for any occasion.

Sample Menu Starter

Hand-cured beetroot salmon, pickled vegetables, cockle popcorn and chilli bread Main Roast chilli and basil chicken with a sweet cauliflower puree and chocolate reduction Dessert Coffee torte, coffee caramel, mint paste and coffee shortbread

pen O Breakfast: Mon-Fri 6.30-10am, Sat-Sun 7.30-11am.

Lunch: daily 12noon2.30pm. Dinner: daily 6-10pm

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6/22/2012 12:28:20 PM

Profiles

Stag and Hounds 74 Old Market St, Bristol, BS2 0EJ T: 07546 082009 T: Facebook page

A taste of the Med in downtown Bristol

T

aken over in June 2011, and now being run by the team behind Mother’s Ruin and Three Sugar Loaves, The Stag and Hounds is the latest addition to a burgeoning little family. Situated in Old Market, this 17th-century gem has been overlooked and unloved for a long time, subjected to long periods of neglect and forlorn abandonment. But the new team took pity on it and plan to raise it back up to its former glory. They have pretty much everything you want from a pub like this: log fires in the winter, a roof terrace for the summer sun. The plan for this beautiful old building is simple: good food, good ale, good times! The decor will be relaxed – the type of place you can lose a bit of time in – and the menu will be fresh, local and full of things you want to share with your mates. Think lazy days on the coast of the Med in summer; cosy and warm in front of a log fire in the winter; full of flavour and warm inside. For a lazy day

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Price

Mains around £6.50-£7.50

Drinks

Local ales and ciders, imported lagers from £3 per pint, house wine £12.50 per btl or a long boozy night, this is the place for you: you are in safe hands.

There’s also a 17th-century courtroom on the first floor of the pub, decked out, ceiling to floor, in nice old oak panels, ready for your meeting, birthday or wedding party: hire it off them and they will treat you like royalty – or criminals if you prefer!

pen O Sun-Thur 10am-12midnight, Fri-Sat 10am-1am, food served till 8pm

Sample Menu Mains Pork and chorizo burger with fries and salsa; Matador platter, chorizo skewers, black pudding, grilled haloumi; homemade corned beef hash Eating Out West 2012

6/22/2012 12:29:41 PM

Profiles

The Terrace Kitchen & Lounge bar 220 North St, Southville, Bristol BS3 1JD T:0117 963 9044 W: www.theterracebristol.co.uk

Brilliant value - as fresh and local as it gets

O

ne year on, the Terrace is firmly on the map.

General manager Kristian Goodwin, with his fine-dining background (two AA rosettes) and neighbourly philosophy, likes to source local produce, including the fantastic Mark’s bread, local meats, award-winning Mendip Moments ice-cream, plus Bath Ales and Thatchers cider. You’ll also find a great range of cocktails, professionally created by his in-house team. And from Sunday to Thursday, they’re two-for-one what a bargain!

With fresh fish deliveries from Brixham, you can choose anything from local beerbattered traditional fish & chips or panfried sea bass to scallops and mixed seafood linguini, to mention just a few dishes - the selection changes on a daily basis. Pizzas are a speciality, all handcrafted on the thinnest of bases, and all stone-baked and available throughout the day and evening 2 for £10 until 6.30pm.

Over the past year, the Terrace has gained a huge reputation for its stunning Argentinian steaks, flame-grilled to perfection and served with handcut chips, mushrooms, tomatoes and a peppercorn sauce. Brightly welcoming, with unpretentious decor, an open kitchen, a good choice of wines by the glass and hard-to-beat prices… Whether you’re dining or just popping in for a coffee or a drink, you will not be disappointed.

Sample Menu Starter Grilled

sardines on seeded toast with lime, ginger & chilli dressing Terrace Plank Veggie

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Price

Starters from £3.95, Terrace Plank from £4.50, Mains from £7.50, Desserts from £4.00, Express lunch menu £5.00

Drinks

(herby vine tomatoes, aubergine, baby mozzarella, olives); Cured Meat (parma ham, finocchiona salami, parmesan, balsamic, oil) Main Argentinean 10oz rib-eye steak (peppercorn/red wine sauce), handcut chips, tomatoes, mushrooms; Herb-crusted salmon fillet on crushed new potatoes, parmesan shavings, caper berry sauce Dessert Chocolate brownies, vanilla ice-cream; Vanilla panna cotta, raspberry compote

Local ales & ciders. Wine from £14.50 btl, £3.60 gls.

Cocktails from £6.50, 2-4-1 Mon-Thur pen O Mon - Wed 10am - 11pm, Thurs - Sat 10am - 12pm, Sun 10am - 11pm

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6/22/2012 12:31:16 PM

Profiles

The Thali Cafe 1 Regent St, Clifton, BS8 4HW T: 0117 974 3793; 64-66 St Marks Rd, Easton, BS5 6JH T: 0117 951 4979; 12 York Rd, Montpelier, BS6 5Q T: 0117 942 6687; 1 William St, Totterdown, BS3 4TU T: 0117 933 2955 W: www.thethalicafe.co.uk

Authentic Indian street food at fantasic prices

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he Thali Cafe is a national-awardwinning micro-chain with a passion for the authentic flavours of India. Inspired by travels to the subcontinent, it’s defined by strong ethical values, serving seasonal, local and organic food - better for you and for the planet.

A Bristol food-scene innovator, the Thali Cafe established the tiffin as a takeaway essential and has gone on to launch a brand new daytime menu that’s light, fresh and fast.

‘India by Day’ features chapatti wraps, summer super salads, Bombay potato chips, and cooling kulfi ice-cream in astounding flavours such as Choc-Praline Cluster. The much-loved evening menu centres on carefully spiced signature thalis: southern fish curry, mogul chicken, dairy-free or vegetarian, all served with rice, salad and homemade chutneys.

The Thali Cafe uses the finest-quality ingredients: head chefs Ramesh, Asha and Prasad prepare everything in-house, from Indian snacks and pakoras to mango lassies and India’s ubiquitous chai. The drinks list ranges from organic wines and local brewery beers to fantastic coffee from the Monmouth Coffee Company. The restaurants provide opportunities to work, with full Wi-Fi available. The Thali Cafe now has four restaurants across the city, located in thriving local high streets, supporting fellow independent retailers and diverse communities.

In summer 2012 the Thali Cafe hits the road on an annual pilgrimage to fuel thousands of hungry festival-goers, from Bristol’s fabulous Harbourside Festival and BrisFest to further afield at Hop Farm, Secret Garden, Camp Bestival, Wilderness Festival, Boomtown, Green Man and Shambala.

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Price

Starter £4.25, main from £7.95, dessert £3.50. Tiffin takeaway from £8.50

Drinks

Bristol Beer Factory ales, organic wines, Kingfisher Beer

Sample Menu Starter

Coriander & lime potato bondas Main Thali: Goan fish curry, butternut squash & red pepper subji, tomato & tamarind chutney, Keralan salad & pilau rice Dessert Stem ginger kulfi

pen O Clifton: daily 12noon-closeEaston: daily 10am-close.

Montpelier: Mon-Fri 6pm–close, Sat-Sun 10am–close. Totterdown: daily 6pm-close

Eating Out West 2012

6/22/2012 12:32:10 PM

Profiles

Three Sugar Loaves 1 Christmas Steps, Bristol, BS1 5BS T: 0117 329 2523

City centre ale house given a new lease of life

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art of the burgeoning Mother’s Ruin family, this historic pub was given a new lease of life in March 2012. A former sugar house and sweet shop dating back to the 1600s now has new life as a premium city centre ale house. Tucked away at the bottom of the historic Christmas Steps, its warm and cosy atmosphere is enhanced by the multitude of nooks and crannies to settle into and the traditional wood burner still in the middle of the room. Full of history (look out for the original brick-built sugar oven still situated behind the bar), the pub is split onto two levels: the top level that used to house the Gaiety tea theatre in the early 1900s is now a home for quality acoustic music and dining, and the bottom level a home for quality real ales and ciders. There are three real ales permanently on the bar as well as guest ales from local and countrywide craft breweries and real ciders served from the barrel behind the bar. Food is served daily from 12noon to 8pm and is all produced on the premises, using local and seasonal ingredients where available. There is a full range of handmade gourmet burgers as well as more standard pub fare such as fish & chips and corned beef hash. A must to try is the traditional Hungarian goulash made to a family recipe by the Hungarian chef.

Price

Mains around £7.50

Drinks

Local ales and ciders, imported lagers from £3 per pint, house wine £12.50 per btl pen O Sun-Thur 12noon-12midnight, Fri-Sat 12noon-1am, food served till 8pm

Sample Menu Mains

Handmade beef rendang burger with fries and lime dressing; pork and cider apple burger; homemade carrot and celeriac bake with salad.

Eating Out West 2012

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Profiles

Tiffins 151 St Michaels Hill, High Kingsdown, Bristol BS2 8DB T:0117 973 4834 E: info@tiffins-bristol.com W: www.tiffins-bristol.com

This place doesn't have customers, it has friends

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heir coriander, chilli & coconut chutney is worth the trip to Bristol alone,’ wrote The Guardian of this friendly St Michaels Hill eatery. BBC Radio 4 agrees, naming Tiffins one of the UK’s top three takeaways in its 2010 Food and Farming Awards.

Fast food isn’t usually fine food, but Tiffins isn’t a typical takeaway. Nick and Jay Jethwa have served authentic Gujarati cuisine here since 2003: the genuine western Indian article, cooked using health-promoting spices and much less oil.

Using their microwaveable or ovenproof containers, you can heat and eat, or freeze dishes for future enjoyment. They’re all prepared daily and changed regularly – with seven vegetarian and two meat options, you can stock up on a week’s dinners in one visit. Alternatively, cafe-style seating means that Jay and Nick can serve your selection hot, accompanied by wine or lager and the warmest of company, as you admire the cafe’s distinctive wall mural by internationally acclaimed artist Nick Walker. They also provide outside catering – from house parties for 10 to celebrations for 150.

The Evening Post’s Mark Taylor wrote: ‘This is Indian food as it’s eaten in India – light, fragrant, aromatic and fresh, rather than heavy, rich and swimming in oil.’ Venue’s verdict? ‘The only problem with Tiffins is the choice – it’s nearly impossible to resist everything they make. The homecooked freshness and skillful use of flavours stand out from the run-of-the-mill Indian takeaway.’ With prices unchanged since 2007, this place doesn’t have customers, it has friends.

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Price

Main £5.50£6.50, sundries 35p£1.65, dessert £1.20, meal deals (for two) £14.50-£15.50

Drinks

Selection of beers, wines, soft drinks & wine pen O Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 4.30-9pm

Sample Menu Main Saag

paneer & toor dahl with peanut and coconut, rice or chapattis Dessert Homemade kulfi (mango or mixed nuts with saffron)

Eating Out West 2012

6/22/2012 12:35:24 PM

Profiles

The TownHouse 85 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2NT T: 0117 973 9302 E: reservations@thetownhousebristol.co.uk W: www.thetownhousebristol.co.uk, www.facebook.com/TownHouseBristol, Twitter @TownHouseBris

Things you grew up with, tastes that you remember…

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he succulence of a 28-dayaged Devon Rose steak with a dollop of horseradish cream, the perfect pinkness of Chew Valley smoked salmon simply dressed with lemon and pepper, the comforting naughtiness of spotted dick with clotted cream and custard…

The TownHouse is all about great British food done well: dishes our mothers might have cooked, flavours our grandparents might have enjoyed, things we grew up with and tastes we remember, with a modern twist to keep you on your toes.

Head chef Nick Armitage sources the very best local British produce and then doesn’t meddle too much.

“It’s about using the best seasonal ingredients,” he says. “Meat that’s been slowly reared and looked after results in flavour and succulence that speaks for itself. It’s the same with the veggies - small producers growing with love and passion rather than the mass-produced guff we’ve all gotten used to.”

The ALC menu is perfect for special occasions, but the real secret to this place is the £10 set menu - enjoy the best British food over and over again without breaking the bank.

With a stylish, homely setting with a 1920s feel inside, a suntrap terrace, private dining room and brand new function/screening room for private and business hire, the TownHouse is a great choice for brunch with friends, lunch with the children, an office party, dinner with someone special or just a good old-fashioned knees-up.

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Price

Set menu (12noon-7pm excluding Sunday Lunch): £10 for 3 courses. ALC: starter £5.90-£7.90, main £10-£19.50, dessert £4.90-£6.50, Sunday Roast £9.50

Drinks

House wine from £14.50 btl, £3.75 gls

Sample Menu Starter

Wedmore rabbit three ways, broccoli puree, thyme gravy Main Roast breast of corn-fed chicken, mini pheasant kiev, pan haggerty, tarragon leeks, golden beetroot and roasting juices Dessert Bread and butter pudding with marmalade custard

pen O Mon-Fri 11am-12midnight, Sat 10am-12midnight, Sun 11am-12midnight.

Food daily from 11am (10am Sat)

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Key PRICE GUIDE DRINKS GUIDE OPENING TIMES AL FRESCO DINING AVAILABLE

Bath PROFILES

THE INFORMATION FOR PROFILES HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY THE RESTAURANT. SEE PAGE 6 FOR MORE DETAILS.

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6/25/2012 4:26:10 PM

Profiles

Aqua Italia Restaurant & Bar Walcot St, Bath BA1 5BD T: 01225 471371 E:bath@aqua-restaurant.com W: www.aqua-restaurant.com

A most enjoyable dining experience

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his former church house is one of Bath’s finest arts and crafts buildings, with a large, theatrical main dining area, gallery, courtyard and other smaller dining areas, ideal for private parties. Enjoy heated alfresco dining in the courtyard during the summer months.

Authentic Italian menus are thoughtfully tailored to tempt. Using produce sourced locally, with an eye for wholesome, organic options, the choices are healthy, tasty and beautifully presented.

The extensive a la carte includes continental classics for you to enjoy in beautiful surroundings or in their alfresco courtyard – oysters; grilled lobster; goat’s cheese, pesto, red onion & caper berry pizza; whole aubergine stuffed with Italian risotto; veal escalope bread crumbed with tomato and herbs; steak tartare with salad and handcut chips, and roast cod in pesto breadcrumbs with asparagus and green beans.

The early dinner and lunch menu offers great-value choices at a fixed price - two courses for just £10.95 or three for £12.95, Monday to Saturday, 12noon until 7pm. At the weekend, excellent-value traditional Sunday roasts are just £10.95.

Visit the website for up to date information on special offers and events.

Sample Menu Starter

Meat antipasto (sliced prosciutto, pistachio-studded mortadella, coppa stagionata, salami milano with torn buffalo mozzarella and garlic coleslaw)

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Price

Starter from £5.25, main £9.75, dessert £5.55. Set menu: 2 £10.95

Drinks

Extensive wine list, cocktails, continental beers pen O Sun-Thurs 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10.30pm

Main Tagliatelle gorgonzola (tossed with mushrooms, parmesan, walnuts and gorgonzola cheese) Dessert Affogato (vanilla ice-cream drowned in espresso and frangelico liqueur) Eating Out West 2012

6/22/2012 12:38:52 PM

Profiles

The Bathampton Mill Mill Lane, Bathampton, Bath BA2 6TS T: 01225 469758 E: enquiry@thebathamptonmill.co.uk W: www.thebathamptonmill.co.uk Twitter: @BathamptonMill

Tempting, homely dishes beside the river

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s there a better way to relax than by enjoying good company, great food and drinks while looking out onto a tranquil river setting? The Bathampton Mill certainly doesn’t think so. This perfectly placed riverside country pub on Bath’s outskirts serves up fresh food and warm hospitality, making the hustle and bustle of modern life seem lifetimes away the moment you step through the door.

The seasonally changing menu is simple and modern British, comfortably interwoven with Mediterranean influences.

Tempting homely dishes include fish and chips, succulent steaks and classic homemade pies. You’ll also find fresh fish, spit-roasted meats and lighter options including freshly prepared, generous salads, pastas and oven-fired pizzas. All dishes are made using the finest quality, freshest ingredients, from the skillful hands of head chef Dawid Marcinkiewicz and his passionate, food-loving team.

The wine list has an even balance of New World and Old, offering a variety of styles by the bottle or the glass. The many different, regularly changing beers on tap range from continental lagers to European speciality beers, plus great ales, delicious cocktails and soft drinks to suit a variety of moods and tastes.

There’s something for everyone at the Bathampton Mill, and for all occasions, too. Go for the full works, stop by for a snack and a drink in the bar with friends, or just sit outside and soak in the scenery while letting the world go by if you’d like to. Whenever it is you visit, expect warmth and genuine service, as well as the best quality food and drink, every time.

Sample Menu Starter Sticky

ribs with watermelon, ginger soy and chili

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Price

Starter £4.95£8.95, main £10.95£22.95, dessert £4.95-£6.95, pizza from £7.95

Drinks

Extensive range of New and Old World wines, great ales, lager on tap

sauce Main Salmon fillet with green beans, butternut squash and bell peppers stuffed with pistachio and feta pesto Dessert Apple and blackcurrant crumble with custard

pen O Daily from 11am, dining room from 12noon

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6/22/2012 12:40:06 PM

Profiles

Brasserie Blanc Francis Hotel, 6-11 Queen Square, Bath BA1 2HH T: 01225 303860 E: bath@brasserieblanc.com W: www.brasserieblanc.com

Mouthwatering French food in a stunning location

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aymond Blanc has brought his successful Brasserie Blanc concept to Bath. The stunning new restaurant opened in May 2012 as part of the redeveloped Francis Hotel in the landmark setting of Queen Square.

Raymond Blanc says that if his Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons is a gentle waltz, then Brasserie Blanc is a cancan… a little irreverent, fun and relaxed, but with great service and a passion for superb food served with pride. The food is second to none, using fresh, seasonal ingredients, and the dishes themselves are inspired by his mother, Maman Blanc, who instilled a love of wholesome, honest French food in him as a child.

The extensive a la carte menu changes with each season and is supplemented by Daily Specials that feature locally sourced ingredients from quality producers around Bath.

Children are well catered for, with puree for babies and the Jeune Blanc options on the a la carte menu - half-size portions of ‘proper’ food for children under 12.

The team at Brasserie Blanc in Bath pride themselves on a warm welcome, an efficient but informal service and a knowledgeable team who will make your visit relaxing and special. The brasserie is perfect for many occasions - a family gathering, a business lunch or a dinner with friends. Formal or informal, there are dishes and menus to suit everyone. The great-value set lunch at just £11.95 for two courses makes it an ideal stop-off when shopping or sightseeing.

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Price

Starter from £4.95, main from £9.50, two-course set lunch £13.95, two-course set dinner menu £14

Drinks

House wine from £3.85 gls

Sample Menu Starter

Crispy goat’s cheese parcels and homemade tomato chutney Main Slow-braised lamb shoulder with olives Dessert Flaming baked Alaska for two

pen O Mon-Fri 12noon2.45pm & 5-10.30pm, Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-9pm. Breakfast served daily 10am12noon

Eating Out West 2012

6/25/2012 11:06:51 AM

Profiles

Côte Brasserie Bath 27 Milson Place, Bath, BA1 1BZ T:01225 335509 E: bath@cote-restaurants.co.uk W: www.cote-restaurants.co.uk

Great value, modern approach to classic French dishes

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ôte Brasserie is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving simple, freshly prepared French food at value-for-money prices.

This Parisian brasserie-inspired venue won the Best-Value Restaurant in Britain award from The Good Food Guide 2009. Côte is backed by restaurant entrepreneur Richard Caring, who owns some of the UK’s most highly acclaimed restaurants, such as The Ivy, J Sheekey, Le Caprice in London and the Soho House group.

Located in Milsom Place, this smart, elegant restaurant is open all day, with space for 136 diners plus plenty of outside seating for alfresco dining in the warmer months. The menus offer a modern approach to classic French dishes such as steak-frites, tuna niçoise, moules marinieres and corn-fed chicken from the heart of rural Brittany.

Côte offers breakfast dishes such as smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, Croque Monsieur and eggs Benedict.

There’s a weekday lunch and early evening menu (£9.95 for two courses, £11.90 for three), with dishes such as frisée, beetroot & goat’s cheese salad served with a walnut & mustard dressing, followed by roast sea bass fillet with savoy cabbage and peas in a white wine & cream sauce. And there’s free Wi-Fi available, too.

Sample Menu Starter

Warm roquefort salad; Steak tartare Main Corn-fed poulet breton; Fish parmentier Dessert Warm chocolate fondant with vanilla ice-cream

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Price

Mon-Fri lunch & early eve: 2 £9.95, 3 £11.90. Weekend special: half roast chicken, steak-frites £9.95 (Sat 12noon6pm, Sun 12noon10.30pm)

Drinks

Wine from £14.50 btl, £4.30 gls pen O Mon-Fri 8am–11pm, Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 9am-10.30pm

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Profiles

Loch Fyne Restaurant 24 Milsom St, Bath T:01225 750120 E:bath@lochfyne.net The Granary, 51 Queen Charlotte St, Welsh Back, Bristol T:0117 930 7160 E:bristol@lochfyne.net W: www.lochfyne-restaurants.com

Their focus is on great seafood, freshly prepared

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t Loch Fyne Restaurant they have a reputation for sourcing and serving the freshest and the very best fish and shellfish.

This place is all about great food and great flavours, and their dishes are simply prepared with a focus on high quality, fresh ingredients, serving up choices to suit all tastes and appetites.

Their seafood is delivered daily at dawn, all ready to feature in their hot dishes and varied selection of cold dishes – and not forgetting their deservedly famous shellfish platters.

Loch Fyne have always put caring for the marine environment at the very heart of their business, and they only serve seafood that has been fished or farmed responsibly and sustainably.

They are open all day from breakfast through to dinner at their beautiful restaurants in Bath and Bristol. Both venues are located in landmark, historic buildings that have been sympathetically converted into stunning venues where you can enjoy great food in comfort.

The Bath restaurant is at the top of Milsom Street in the heart of the city, while the Bristol restaurant boasts a waterside setting in the famous Old Granary building.

Loch Fyne like to take a relaxed and informal approach, so feel free to drop in any time for a delicious snack, a light lunch (try the £9.95 two-course set menu Mon-Sat in Bath or daily in Bristol 12-7pm) or a full three-course seafood treat from their extensive a la carte menu.

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Price

Starters £5:45 - £8:75; Mains £10.25 - £23.45; Desserts £5:25 – 7.50

Drinks

House wine £14.95; Joseph Perrier Champagne £36.95

Sample Menu Starter Pan

fried chilli and garlic king prawns Main Lobster frites, whole baked Canadian lobster, garlic butter, French fries, mayonnaise Dessert Crème brûlée , Scottish Cranachan

pen O Mon-Fri 12pm-10pm (Bath opens 7.30am), Sat 9am-10.30pm, Sun 10am-10pm

Eating Out West 2012

6/22/2012 12:44:35 PM

!! m 3a 2am til Wed 1am un: Sun- Sat 1 en entry hurs Op last T

Classic Cocktails

@Mandalyns

TWO 4 ONE

Every night before 9pm!

• 5 star catering for private and corporate events • Weddings, Anniversaries, Dinner Parties • Elegant venue in centre of Bath including 60 seater dining room & Conference facilities t: 01225 330555 e: enquiries@eat5star.com w: www.eat5star.com 14 Kingsmead Square Bath BA1 2AD

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Profiles

The Oakhill Inn Fosse Rd, Oakhill (near Radstock), Somerset BA3 5HU T:01749 840442 E: info@theoakhillinn.com W:www.theoakhillinn.com

Traditional inn with truly seasonal menus

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he Oakhill Inn was bought by Charlie and Amanda Digney six years ago, since when they’ve refurbished the pub and ancillary accommodation to create an inn in the traditional sense, with five ensuite B&B rooms, a fantastic dining room and lively bar. Head chef Neil Creece recently won an AA rosette for culinary excellence.

The pub serves great real ale and has an interesting wine list. As big sister to the King William and the Garrick’s Head, it provides the same exacting standards of service, both front and back of house.

This is a great place for Sunday lunch, a mini break or just fish & chips and a pint on a quiet evening.

Head chef Neil stays true to their ethos of ‘local food tastes better’: truly seasonal menus boast dairy products and free-range eggs from Midway Farm (2.5 miles), organic beef from David Perkins (as seen from the car park) and free-range chicken and guinea fowl from Otter Valley Farm. All their meat and poultry is free-range or organic, as supplied by Larkhall Butchers, and seafood is delivered daily from the Cornish coast by Wing of St Mawes.

Everything including fantastic freshly baked bread is made on the premises.

Neil has won further national recognition in the Gastropub Challenge at the Earls Court Restaurant Show. His skill and dedication shine through in his menus - dinner here is an experience that you definitely won’t forget, and it’s backed up by great value for money.

Sample Menu Starter

Mussels steamed in local cider with

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Price

Starter from £4.95, main from £9.95, dessert £5.95

Drinks

Wine £15 btl, £3.85 gls. Guest ales from £3.20

fresh cream and herbs Main Grilled rump of lamb, seasonal vegetables, dauphinoise potatoes, green sauce Dessert Hot chocolate pot with Midway Farm cream

pen O Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 5-11pm (12midnight Fri), Sat 12noon12midnight, Sun 12noon-11pm. Food daily 12noon-3pm & 6-9pm

Eating Out West 2012

6/22/2012 2:08:19 PM

Profiles

The Tasting Room 6 Green Street, Bath BA1 2JY T: 01225 483 070 W: www.tastingroom.co.uk

Independent Wine Merchant Wines & Spirits to suit every occaison

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his city-centre brasserie, cafe-bar and wine shop is owned and run by Will Baber, Bath’s independent wine merchant. The brasserie/cafe-bar is a hidden gem, tucked away on the first floor above the wine shop, with a great local following. Track it down and you’ll find stylish, informal surroundings, with a small secluded terrace for the summer months.

A modern brasserie-style tapas and plates menu runs alongside a wide selection of directly imported wines, unusual spirits and singleestate coffees and teas, offering the opportunity to eat at any time of the day or night. Lazy brunch is available on Saturday and Sunday, with food, coffee and wine served all day, every day, and five nights of the week, too.

An extensive wine list, imported direct from the grower, offers a large and ever-changing selection by the glass. Private dining, with exclusive use, is available for up to 25 people.

Sample Menu Tapas Braised lamb croquettes with aubergine, roast

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Price

Tapas £4.90£9.50 (3 dishes £10).

Small plates £7.50£11. Larger plates £11.50-£16.50. Pretheatre: 2 £11.95, 3 £14.95 (Mon-Sat 5-7pm)

Drinks

Extensive wine list. HW approx £16.50 btl pen O Cafe-bar/ brasserie: Mon 10.30am-4.30pm, Tue-Sat 10.30am11pm, Sun 10.30am4.30pm garlic and mint Large plate Pan-roast breast and confit leg of guinea fowl with a sweetcorn veloute, pearl barley and girolles Dessert Limoncello iced parfait with poached strawberries + gingersnaps

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Profiles

The Tramshed Beehive Yard, Bath BA1 5BD T: 01255 421200 W: www.thetramshedbath.co.uk Twitter:@tramshedpub

Top-notch food in fabulously contemporary surroundings

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abulously edgy and always high quality, the Tramshed brings something truly standout to the city of Bath. The pub has been taken on by a group of young entrepreneurs who’ve transformed the place into somewhere you really want to be. In its dining room decked out in shabby mismatched furniture and fantastic feature pieces, or on the gorgeous al fresco dining patio, you can enjoy perfected pub classics with elements of the Mediterranean woven in, alongside an impressive range of wines, superchilled beers, soft drinks and cocktails.

Fresh produce is at the heart of the menu, from home-baked pizzas, classic fish and chips and generous salads to daily chef specials. And their vast range of dishes means there really is something for everyone. As head chef Gabriele Stancu says, "you can come here with your partner, your work colleagues, for a party – even with your granny!" Whether you’re popping in for a pint and a bite from their new Express Menu (mains £7.95-£9.95, dessert/starter £3) or for a full-on threecourse celebration meal, they’ll serve up top-notch food and drink in a relaxed, enjoyable setting.

The Tramshed doesn’t pick favourites at the bar, but the team is tremendously proud of their wine selection, and for good reason (don’t miss their exciting ‘Wine and Dine’ evenings on the first Tuesday of every month, four courses with four wines for £20-£25). The team have worked very closely with their global wine partners to develop their very own exclusive Tramshed original blends, so you can rest assured you’re not being served anything but the best – a sentiment that rings true for every aspect of this beautifully unique city pub.

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Price

Starter £4.25£7.95, main £7.95£17.95, dessert: £5.25-£6.95

Drinks

Extensive list inc champagnes, cask ales, cocktails.

House wine from £14.95 btl, £3.95 gls

Sample Menu Starter Baked

pen O Daily from 9am, dining room from 12noon

Pinot Grigio mushrooms in cream and garlic with Stirata Romana bread Main Lamb rump and butternut squash ratatouille with mint gremolata Dessert Apple and blackcurrant crumble with custard

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6/22/2012 12:54:57 PM

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Key PRICE GUIDE DRINKS GUIDE OPENING TIMES AL FRESCO DINING AVAILABLE

Out of town PROFILES

THE INFORMATION FOR PROFILES HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY THE RESTAURANT. SEE PAGE 6 FOR MORE DETAILS.

Intro pages.indd 7

6/25/2012 4:26:30 PM

Profiles

The Catherine Wheel 39 High St, Marshfield, nr Bath, Wilts SN14 8LR T:01225 892220 E: roo@thecatherinewheel.co.uk W: www.thecatherinewheel.co.uk

Pub with a buzz - and great food

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his grade l-listed 17th century coaching inn, at the gateway to the Cotswolds, a few miles north of Bath, is the centre of many pleasurable countryside walks. Always a pub with a buzz, the Wheel is highly regarded for its traditional homecooked meals, freshly prepared and using local produce whenever possible.

Savoury feta cheesecake with roasted tomato salad is just one of the tempting dishes on the seasonally changing lunch menu.

Chef Chris Hicks has a passion for food; he runs the kitchen with enthusiasm and flair – and his servings are never less than generous. His scrumptious steak & kidney pie is especially popular, as are his Sunday roasts, including succulent beef with Yorkshire pudding. Eat in the elegant dining room, the pleasant, sunny courtyard or at a table by the fire in the bar (book ahead for weekends and Sunday lunch).

Well-kept real ales include the local Cotswold Spring Brewery’s award winning Stunner, and there’s a comprehensive wine list. If you fancy staying overnight, there are four very comfortable ensuite bedrooms and breakfasts are superb.

It’s a great party venue, too, and has excellent conference room facilities, with free Wi-Fi, projector and screen. Half-day or full-day hire can include breakfast, lunch or evening meal (see website for more details).

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Price

Lunch from £4.75, eve ALC from £11.25, Sun roast £9.75

Drinks

Huge choice, inc Butcombe Bitter.

Wines from £3.95

Sample Menu Starter Pear & walnut salad with garlic croutons & blue cheese dressing Main Pork tenderloin filled with apricot & thyme stuffing served with garlic & rosemary sauteed potatoes Pudding White chocolate & strawberry cheesecake

pen O 12 noon to 11pm everyday. food served Mon - Fri 12 noon - 2pm & 6.30 9pm, Saturday 12 noon - 3pm & 6.30 - 9.30pm, Sunday 12 noon - 3pm & 6.00 to 8.30pm

Eating Out West 2012

6/22/2012 2:00:13 PM

Profiles

The Park at Lucknam Park Hotel Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Colerne, Chippenham, Wilts SN14 8AZ T: 01225 742777 E: reservations@lucknampark.co.uk W: www.lucknampark.co.uk

The ultimate in gourmet cuisine

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ucknam Park Hotel and Spa is located just six miles east of Bath within a private estate of 500 acres. The 17th century Palladian mansion is also home to The Park restaurant, a perfect setting for a fine dining experience. Although formal and elegant, The Park exudes warmth, with an inviting ambience that ensures many guests return time and again.

With his uncomplicated style and passion for full and clean flavours, dishes are cooked to perfection by executive chef Hywel Jones and his highly skilled team. Very much a gourmet dining experience, the Michelin-starred Park restaurant offers seasonal dishes, old favourites and new ideas - and with a clever balancing of flavours, all combine to offer discerning guests the very best cuisine. Where possible, Hywel uses locally sourced ingredients; he’s built a personal relationship with his local suppliers to guarantee high-quality ingredients that are always reflective of the season.

Start your evening with cocktails and canapés served in the elegant Drawing Room, while you take your time to select from either the sevencourse gourmet menu or from the a la carte menu, which includes some of Hywel’s signature dishes, like the ones featured in the Sample Menu here.

Reservations are essential at The Park.

And don’t forget to ask about Lucknam Park’s ‘Why Go Home?’ rate.

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Price

ALC: 3 courses £70. Menu gourmand £90. Sun lunch: 3 courses £39

Drinks

House wine from £22 btl, £5 gls

Sample Menu Starter Roast

Scottish diver scallops, carrot purée spiced pork croquette, raisin and caper vinaigrette Main Roast best end and braised shoulder of Welsh lamb, tomato and ricotta risotto fritters, baby artichoke and fennel purée Dessert Vanilla creme brulee, bitter chocolate sorbet, apple & cinnamon doughnuts

pen O Dinner Tue-Sat 6.30-10pm (last orders) & Sun lunch

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Profiles

Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa Easton Grey, Malmesbury, Wilts SN16 0RB T: 01666 822888 E: reservations@whatleymanor.com W: www.whatleymanor.com

Classic French food that bursts with flavour and originality

B

ristol-born award-winning chef Martin Burge oversees both of the restaurants at Whatley Manor: The Dining Room and Le Mazot, the informal Swiss interior-style brasserie. The Dining Room offers an elegant, intimate atmosphere combined with exceptional food, highly rated by the Michelin Guide with two Michelin stars.

From the exquisite canapés, amuse-bouche, starters, mains and desserts to the additional courses in between, each course is triumphant.

The service is professional and friendly; you get the impression that nothing is ever too much bother - even the request to take the delightful petit-fours home at the end of the evening. Wines are chosen from a substantial and international wine list featuring top growers from around the world. The sommelier is well versed to advise which wines pair perfectly with each course.

One of the ways to get your taste-bud’s accustomed to Burge’s cuisine is to opt for the more casual brasserie, Le Mazot, featuring seasonal food and whenever possible sourced locally, served in a casual brasserie setting. When the weather is fine dine alfresco on the Kitchen Garden Terrace. Set lunch menus from £19. Whichever restaurant you choose there’s one thing for certain: your first visit will not be your last.

Look out for special events, including

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Price

The Dining Room: £79 a la carte menu, £98 for the 7-course tasting menu, £158 tasting menu with wine. Le Mazot: Light lunch from £19. 3-course Sunday lunch £28

Drinks

Sunday cinema, jazz, cookery master classes, wine and dine events.

Sample Menu Starter

Hand dived roasted scallop served with crispy bacon, courgette puree and pickled cockles Main Fillet of veal poached and roasted served with slow braised cheek, caramelised sweetbread and hazelnut purée Dessert Strawberry and verbena soufflé served with a lemon and chartreuse granite topped with strawberry consommé

Expert wine list of popular and lesser known wines. Wines served by the glass £5.50. pen O Wed to Sun from 7pm last orders 9.30pm. Le Mazot 12 noon to 2pm and 7pm to 10pm daily.

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Listings AFROCARIBBEANCHINESEAMERI CANBARSENGLISHFRENCHGREEK &TURKISHFISHEUROPEAN&MEDITE RRANEANINDIAN&NEPLESEITALIA NCAFESJAPANESEPUBSANGLOFR ENCHNORTHAFRICAN&MIDDLEE ASTERNSPECIALISTFOODSHOPSVE GETARIANSPANISH&PORTUGEUSE

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON LISTINGS, SEE PAGES 5, 6 & 8.

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Restaurants AMERICAN

Afro-Caribbean Bristol PLANTATION CARIBBEAN BAR & RESTAURANT 223 Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5QP Tel: 0117 907 7932, web: www.plantationrestaurant.biz ■ A Bristol staple ever since its December 2003 opening, and a must-visit for all those inclined towards jerk chicken, goat curry and similarly tastebud-tanatalising Caribbean cuisine. It’s a one-stop immersive cultural experience, what with the full programme of live music and art on the walls, plus open mic nights every Tues. Just check those weekend opening hours - those looking for hushed meals for two are recommended to try another night! Keep an eye out for salsa classes and Latin parties. Sign up for regular email updates, which may include one of Bev’s favourite recipes. Price ALC: £4.35-£4.95/£11.95-£14.95/£3.50£5.50. Buffet (Fri-Sat) £18.95pp Wine list HW £14.50 btl, £4.10 gls Open Tue-Thur & Sun 6-11pm, Fri-Sat 6pm-3am.

Disabled access & toilet. Parties 20+ welcome. Private hire.

Home delivery menu – see website. Takeaway 10% discount.

RICE & THINGS 120 Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5RW Tel: 0117 924 4832, web: www.riceandthings.co.uk ■ The fact their own brand jerk seasoning flies off the shelves tells you a lot you need to know about the authenticity of this Jamaican delight. Branatic Neufville learned plenty at his grandma’s apron strings, as first evidenced to the world by his ‘hole in the wall’ takeaway.

Nowadays he’s a big noise in the grown-up restaurant world - Mr Oliver popped by here in the West Country episode of Jamie’s Great Britain, having got wind of the splendid Jamaican and Guyanese cooking, as well as some scrumpy.

One-stop immersive cultural experience Plantation

Plenty of vegetarian and vegan choices, and homemade Jamaican wines. Price ALC: £3.50-£4.10/£11.80£17.60/£3.50-£5.90. Sandwiches made to order £4, lunch £7/£8 takeaway Wine list Jamaican cocktails, Red Stripe, Guinness Open Mon-Fri 8am-10pm, Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 11am-8pm. Disabled access & toilet. Parties welcome, call in adv. Outside catering.

American Bristol BURGER JOINT 32 Cotham Hill, BS6 6LA Tel: 0117 329 0887, web: www.theburgerjoint.co.uk ■ Newly nominated for Best Burger at the Bristol Good Food Awards. This won’t come as a surprise to the chap who apparently visits here every day. Nor to anyone who’s heard the MO of owner Dan Bekhradnia: “The meat that we source is very important to us. It’s the key. We use as highquality beef as possible... the butcher we use is a specialist – they sell three grades of beef mince and we obviously go for the best one.” And then tower them high in the most spectacular burgers you’ve ever seen, as our food editor discovered: ‘On each table was a pad of forms, a multiplechoice test of your ability to design a ‘luxury homemade’ burger from six different patties (including two vegetarian options), six toppings and nine sauces. There’s a halfdozen choices of sides, too, including homemade chips and onion rings. The BJ have rolled back 40 years of processed atrocity and given life back to their chosen specialty.’ And so successful have they been, they’re moving to new and larger premises in August. Keep an eye on their Facebook page. Price Burgers from £7.50 inc one side, extra topping 70p or 3 for £1.80. Afternoon meal deal (weekdays 3-5pm): £4.95 burger & side. Lunch (Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm): any burger, 2 sauces, 1 side, any drink £7.50 Wine list HW £12.95 btl, £3.25 gls Open Sun-Thur 12noon-10pm, Fri & Sat 12noon-11.30pm. Takeaway.

CHOPHOUSE RESTAURANT & BAR Future Inn Cabot Circus Hotel, Bond St South, BS3 3EN Tel 0845 094 5588, web: www.futureinns.co.uk ■ Yes, OK, it’s Canadian heritage - please don’t send letters, Canucks - but the Chophouse is distinctly North American enough for inclusion here: steaks and chops chargrilled over mesquite wood chips to give a deliciously smoky flavour, with plenty of fresh fish and vegetarian options. Rather more English is the 1-5.30pm afternoon tea, copiously portioned at £15.95, with a £24.95 option should you care for champagne with your sconing. Lunch menu goes big on light bites (with some more substantial fare available): 2 £9.95, 3 £11.95. Price ALC: £3.45£6.50/£8.95-£16.50/£3.25-£5.25 Wine list Extensive, well-chosen. HW £9.95 btl, £3.50 gls Open Daily (last food

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Restaurants AMERICAN orders 9.45pm). Disabled access & full facilities. Parties/ group bookings welcome - call in adv.

FRANKIE & BENNY’S NEW YORK ITALIAN Unit SU 83b, Glass House, Cabot Circus, BS1 3NX Tel: 0117 954 9800 The Venue, Merlin Rd, Cribbs Causeway, BS10 7SR Tel: 0117 959 1180 Hengrove Leisure Park, Hengrove Way, BS14 0HR Tel: 01275 834725 Aspects Leisure Park, Longwell Green, BS15 9LA Tel: 0117 947 4680, web: www.frankieandbennys.com ■ They might go big in specialising in downhome Italian and American cooking (‘just like Mamma used to make it’), but never without an eye to modernity - latest selling point is to offer free Wi-Fi across the board. All the better, of course, to keep up to date with the latest cinema times (each Bristol restaurant stands in the shadow of a multiplex). Weston readers take note: you’ve got your very own branch opening in July. Deport yourself in a booth and choose from burgers, freshly cooked pasta, steaks and BBQ ribs, or light and crispy pizzas. Popular with teens and families – a special kids’ menu starts at £3.95, while egg ‘n’ bacon-type breakfasts are available for a fiver.

Price ALC: £4.25-£5.95/£8.45-£20.95/£3.55-£4.75 Wine list HW £15.95 btl, £4.15 gls Open Mon-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 9am-10.30pm. Disabled access good: all on one level, disabled toilet. Takeaway. Parties 20+ welcome.

the menu: triple-decker sandwiches, quesadillas, huge homemade 100% beef burgers, fluffy pancakes, muffins and, of course, triple-X milkshakes. Note, too, that portion sizes are rather more what you’d expect to find on the far side of the Atlantic. Breakfasts are a made-toorder speciality, served all day. Freshly squeezed orange or grapefruit juice, too. It’s worth joining the Early Morning Breakfast Club - we are, after all, talking about a place that won an Observer Food Monthly award for Best Breakfast in the UK. Price Breakfast £3.25-£8.95, main £4.50-£8.45 Wine list HW £11.95 btl, £3.45 gls Open Mon-Wed 8am-5pm, Thur-Sat 8am-11pm, Sun & bank hols 10am-5pm. Disabled access. Takeaway.

TGI FRIDAY’S The Venue, Lysander Rd, Cribbs Causeway, BS10 7UB Tel: 0844 692 0275, web: www.tgifridays.co.uk ■ Classic American fare - albeit with waiting staff dressed in decidedly Brit beach-recalling, deckchair-styled red and white striped uniforms - in the form of ribs, nachos, burgers, steaks. Bustling, friendly, and a higher-thanusual chance of bumping into massed tables of office do’s.

Cocktails, too: 40,000 of them per week across the UK

Transatlantic tastes Rocotillos

GOURMET BURGER KITCHEN Glass Walk, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BT Tel: 0117 927 9997 74 Park St, BS1 5JX Tel: 0117 316 9162, web: www.gbk.co.uk ■ New school burger chain (100% beef, sourced from independent farms) that’s grown rather swiftly from its Battersea beginnings in 2001. Buns and sauces are all homemade, and check out the new blackboard Special of the Month: three burgers (The Taxi Driver, The Frenchie, Habanero): ‘shrunk with a shrink ray and served up on a plate for £9.95’. Small selection of nibbles and dedicated kids’ menu. Servings are massive, but do try the chunky-cut potato wedges or homemade onion rings on the side. Big online presence via Facebook and Twitter. Price Burger £6.55-£11.95, side approx £3 Wine list HW £13.95 btl, £3.85 gls Open Cabot Circus: Mon-Fri 12noon-10pm, Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-9pm. Park St: Sun-Thur 12noon10pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11pm. Disabled access – call in adv.

Takeaway. Parties – book in adv.

ROCOTILLOS 1 Queens Row, Triangle South, Clifton, BS8 1EZ Tel: 0117 929 7207 ■ Like walking onto the set of American Graffiti, this is pure 1950s-style US diner: spinning stools at the counter and an assemblage of old-school booths. And then there’s

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63 6/25/2012 9:20:23 AM

Restaurants AMERICAN

One of a kind 40 Alfred Place

Kingsdown, Bristol ■ Do what you like (literally - see listing) at local legendary chef Barny Haughton’s eminently flexible semipop-up venture.

Menu Gordon Jones

Wellsway, Bath ■ Fourteen covers + 1 menu + 1 characterful superchef = instant iconic status in Bath.

Runcible Spoon

Nine Tree Hill, Bristol ■ Supper courtesy of Bristol’s eclectic foodie collective never fails to inspire and delight.

franchises. Price Mon-Thur £9.99 all day. ALC: £3.99£5.29/£8.49-£19.99/£3.99-£5.99 Wine list HW £12.99 btl, £2.79 gls Open Sun-Thur 11.30am-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-11pm. Disabled access.

Bath FIREHOUSE ROTISSERIE 2 John St, BA1 2JL Tel: 01225 482070, web: www.firehouserotisserie.co.uk ■ The Bristol branch of the Firehouse Rotisserie has now closed its doors, but the original incarnation continues to thrive, thanks to contemporary British bistro surroundings (in a listed Georgian townhouse) that form a lively backdrop to menus flaunting California-themed/Pacific Rim delights: rotisserie chicken, fabulous salads, stylish pizzas, superb steaks. See also the Hudson Bar & Grill (below) flourishing under the same ownership. Price ALC: from approx £6/from approx £9.90/from approx £6 Wine list HW approx £15 btl, extensive bar Open Daily 12noon3pm & 6-11pm. Disabled access. Parties - call in adv.

GARFUNKEL’S The Empire, Orange Grove, BA1 1LP Tel: 01225 461465, web: www.garfunkels.co.uk ■ The Bath branch of this nationwide chain specialising in loosely American-themed, family/tourist-friendly grub has to be the most elegant one of all. Located in a listed building (formerly a grand hotel), with conservatory section and alfresco terrace overlooking the Abbey, alongside separate lounge, bar (with cocktail menu) and dining areas. Kids’ menu and highchairs; opens for breakfast. Price ALC: £3.99-£7/£6.95-£17.99/from £5 Wine list HW from approx £14.99 btl, extensive bar, regular cocktail & pitcher deals Open Daily 10am-11pm.

Disabled access & toilets. Parties up to 100 welcome, set menus for large groups.

HUDSON BAR & GRILL 14 London St, BA1 5BU Tel: 01225 332323, web: www.hudsonbars.co.uk ■ The recipient of many glowing reviews in our food and drink pages offers a tried-and-trusted formula of classic California-style combinations of pan-global flavours served in contempo-elegant surroundings. Eat, drink and be stylishly merry in the laidback, cushion-strewn bar or upstairs in the dining room: a welcoming, bright, breezy affair that casually radiates discreet glamour. Food bears all the hallmarks of proprietor Richard (Firehouse Rotisserie – see above) Fenton’s trademark flair: simple ingredients impeccably sourced and perfectly presented. The steaks are superb. Price ALC: £6.95-£9.95/£11.95-£29.95/£7 Wine list Intelligently eclectic, HW approx £14 btl, fabulous cocktails Open Grill: Mon-Sat 6-10.30pm (last orders). Bar: 5-11pm. Disabled access to street-level bar only. Private hire.

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Restaurants CHINESE TGI FRIDAY’S Unit 2a, Kingsmead, James St West, BA1 2BT Tel: 01225 446929, web: www.tgifridays.co.uk ■ Popular American-themed party-on chain housed within a multiplex cinema complex. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Thur 12noon-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-11.30pm, Sun 11.30am-10.30pm. Disabled access & toilets. Braille menu, hearing aids. Parties 20+ welcome by prior arrangement.

Chinese Bristol CATHAY RENDEZVOUS 30 King St, BS1 4DZ Tel: 0117 922 6161 (opening hrs only), web: www.cathayrendezvous.com ■ Almost as much a King St institution as Renato’s or the Old Vic, a fine old Georgian building dotted with Chinese antiques plays gracious host to one of the oldest zingers in town, specialising in high-quality Cantonese, Szechuan and Mandarin cuisine. Lots of great offers, including a great Sun lunch buffet. Themed menus for special events like Valentine’s. Book in adv at peak times. Price ALC: £3.20-£7/£8.20-£22.50/£4.95. SL buffet (12noon3pm): £7.95 (5-12s half-price). SD: 3 £21, 4 £25. See website for special holiday menus Wine list Extensive, international, HW £14.50 btl, £3.20 gls Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm, Sun (buffet) 12noon-3pm, Sun-Thur 6-11pm, Fri-Sat 6-11.30pm. Disabled access – call for advice. Upstairs (bar, disco, stage) for private hire, up to 65.

CHEUNG KONG CHINESE 2b North View, Westbury Park, BS6 7QB Tel: 0117 973 5165 ■ Properly friendly place, and a long-standing familyrun member of the local community. Expect beautifully turned-out Cantonese and Pekingese fare, speciality teppa (sizzling) dishes and Chinese melodies. Besides wine, you’ll find a decent choice of imported beer from China and Singapore. Price ALC: £3.95-£10.50/£8.95-£13.50/£3.50.

SM £35-38pp (min 2). Dinner special: 2 £9.95 Wine list HW approx £11.90 btl, £2.95 gls Open Mon-Thur 6-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 6.30-11.30pm. Good disabled access with toilet. Parties 20+ welcome. Takeaway.

restaurant is its popularity among connoisseurs, then the proportion of clientele from Bristol’s Chinese community affirms that this place passes with flying colours. The Observer know a thing or two as well, and they’ve voted it one of the UK’s Top Five Chinese Restaurants. You’ll find it just down the road from the Fleece, atop a Chinese supermarket, and serving delightfully daintylooking dishes packed with delicious punch. Dim sum comes particularly highly recommended. Price ALC: £4-£6/£7.50-£12/£4-£6. Express lunch: 2 £7.95. SD: 3 £18, 4 £22 Wine list HW £12 btl, £3 gls Open Mon-Sat 12noon-11.30pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm. Disabled access – call in adv. Takeaway. Parties.

JADE PALACE 277 Two Mile Hill Rd, Kingswood, BS15 1AX Tel: 0117 967 3851 ■ Coming up to 20 years’ service for this large, comfortable, relaxed neighbourhood Chinese restaurant (once voted one of Bristol’s Top 10 Restaurants in the Evening Post). Large and comfortable, and good for both parties and romantic meals for two. Quality is high, but if quantity is equally important to you, there’s the goodvalue, belt-straining, all-you-can-eat option. Speciality Tsingtao beer particularly recommended. Price Most dishes £5-£6 Wine list HW £10.50 btl, £2.80 gls Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-11.30pm. Disabled access call in adv. Takeaway. Parties welcome.

KOBE KARAOKE 2nd Floor, Nelson House, Nelson St, BS1 2JT Tel: 07901 888882, web: www.bristolkaraoke.co.uk ■ Singalongtastic venture from downstairs neighbours Shanghai Nights, with four karaoke rooms fitted out with large HD plasma screens, splendid speakers, and a call button for service. Expect the same authentic menu with

Chinese food for connoisseurs Dynasty

DYNASTY 16a St Thomas St, Redcliffe, BS1 6JJ Tel: 0117 925 0888, web: www.dynasty-bristol.co.uk ■ Long-established local favourite, and voted one of the top five best restaurants in the UK by a chap who really knows what he’s talking about: Alan Yau of Hakkasan and Wagamama fame. If the litmus test of a specialist

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Restaurants CHINESE modern takes on traditional Chinese dishes from expert chefs, with drinks including a wide cocktail range plus beers like Asahi, Tsingtao and Tiger. As we go to press there’s a Sun-Thur deal offering all you can eat for two hours plus two hours of karaoke for £15. Price ALC: £3.50-£7.50/£5.50-£18/£3.50 Wine list HW £13.50 btl, £4 gls Open Daily 4pm-3am (“We may close early if quiet, please phone before coming”). No disabled access. Parties welcome.

this is where to go for genuine, utterly delicious Cantonese food. Lovely staff, a splendid buffet, and more Chinese families dining en masse than anywhere else this side of Soho. Splendid at any time, but really comes into its own after hours. Price ALC: £2.80-£6.50/£8.50-£16/£4-£5.

SD from £16pp Wine list International. HW approx £9 btl, £2.50 gls Open Mon-Sat 6pm-3am, Sun 12noon-3am.

Disabled facilities. Takeaway discount. Separate function room for private parties.

MAYFLOWER

NEW EMPEROR COURT

3a-5 Haymarket Walk, BS1 3LN Tel: 0117 925 0555, web: www.mayflower-bristol.co.uk ■ It’s brightly lit, plain, boxy, and sits just off the Bear Pit in the underpass by the bus station. Of infinitely more import, you’ll find plenty of experts who’ll tell you this is the finest Chinese restaurant in town. Not a place to claim ‘authentic’ food before serving distinctly anglicised fare,

26 Portland St, Clifton Village, BS8 4JB Tel: 0117 973 1522/923 8661, web: www. newemperorcourtrestaurant.co.uk ■ A long-established Clifton favourite, this family-run place restaurant majors on Peking, Szechuan and Canton cuisine. Two large dining areas are warmly presided over by front-of-house Kim Lien, while hubby/owner Thanh Que Vien works his magic in the kitchen. Won a prestigious Chef of the Year award (Quality Cuisine UK) for excellent food and superb service. Unsurprisingly makes for a very popular takeaway, too. Price Chef’s special £28.95pp (min for two).

ALC: £3-£7/£7.15-£11.95/£3.30. SD £20.95 Wine list International. HW £13.95 btl, £4.10 gls Open Lunch: FriSat 12noon-2pm. Dinner: Tue-Sun 6-11.30pm. No disabled access. Takeaway 10% discount. Separate room for private parties 25-30.

Classy, adventurous fare Zen Harbourside

SHANGHAI NIGHTS Nelson House, Nelson St, BS1 2JT Tel: 0117 945 0505, web: www.shanghainightsbristol.co.uk ■ A popular, chic restaurant housing a splendidly broad range of Chinese food: more than 140 cooked-to-order dishes, plus another 100 from the all-you-can-eat buffet station. It’s claimed that more than 50% of diners are Chinese (locals, students), which is clearly a fine recommendation of quality. Menu includes exquisite, authentic dim sum and modern takes on traditional Chinese dishes from expert chefs. Regional specialities and contemporary specials include lobster, razor clams, crab. Vast ALC menu supplemented by a broad range of set banquets. If you’re feeling in the mood for wine and song, check out the Kobe Karaoke (see above) upstairs.

Regularly changing special offers - currently it’s BOGOF on selected dim sum. Also new in is bubble tea, refreshingly flavoured fruit teas and milk teas originating in Taiwan and growing tremendously in popularity since the early 80s. Price Gold menu (cooked to order, plus all you can eat buffet): Sat-Tue £18, Wed-Fri, £16. Silver menu (all you can eat buffet): lunch Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm £6.50, dinner Wed-Fri 2 for £20, Sat-Sun 5.30-10.30pm £12.50. Bronze menu (dim sum ALC): daily 12noon-3pm £3-£7 Wine list HW £11.90 btl, £3.40 gls Open Sat-Sun 12noon-10.30pm.

Lunch: Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm. Dinner: 5.30-10.30pm (last entry 10pm, leave by 11.30pm). No disabled access. Parties welcome.

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RESTAURANTS CHINESE

Restaurants CHINESE TEOHS 28-34 Lower Ashley Rd, St Agnes, BS2 9NP Tel: 0117 907 1191 Old Tobacco Factory, North St, Southville, BS3 1TF Tel: 0117 902 1122 web: www.teohs.net ■ See Pan-Asian.

WATER SKY BRISTOL Eastgate Oriental City, Eastgate Rd, Eastville, BS5 6XY Tel: 0117 951 2888, web: www.watersky-bristol.com ■ Water Sky’s vastness - we’re talking 400 seats here makes for a vibrant night out. Sitting atop the rightly renowned Wai Yee Hong oriental supermarket, the restaurant offers up a wide-ranging menu of traditional Cantonese cooking. Best way to experience the fullest variety? The 65 dish-sourced all-you-can-eat menu is £15.95, for a minimum of two. For maximum gladrag swinging, there’s a live music-fuelled Dinner and Dance every last Fri of the month, 10pm till late. Dim sum menu £3-£4.60, 11.30am-4.30pm. ALC available all day. Price ALC: £5.35-8.95/£8.95-£39.95/£3.50 Wine list International. HW from £12 btl Open Daily 11.30am-11pm. Disabled access, lift to restaurant. Parties welcome.

WONGS 12 Denmark St, St Pauls, BS1 5DQ Tel: 0117 925 8883, web: www.wongsrestaurantbristol.com ■ Prepare for a sumptuous education in Chinese food, ranging across north, east, west and south (as respectively represented by Beijing, Shanghai, Szechuan and Guangdong). We’re talking a choice of over 150 dishes, so sharing among the party is to be heartily recommended. And, indeed, encouraged, with dishes served up on plate-spinning Lazy Susans. Quoth Venue: ‘Those in the know (and that now includes you) should go for one of the set-menu options. If you order ALC, try the stone-grilled curry chicken (a million miles from your takeaway curry). Food is superb, the atmosphere unmatched.” Those with clients to impress should also note that an Express Lunch Menu is available for business meetings. Price ALC: £4.80-£10.50/£7.50£13.80/£4.50. SM £9.60-£30 Wine list HW £l4.50 btl, £4.10 gls Open Daily 12noon-11.30 pm. Disabled access - call in adv. Takeaway. Parties welcome.

ZEN HARBOURSIDE First Floor, Explore Lane, Millennium Square, Harbourside, BS1 5TY Tel: 0117 920 9377, web: www.zenharbourside.co.uk ■ Sister to the long-established (and equally long-loved) Dynasty, Zen brings cuisine drawn from 23 Chinese provinces to Millennium Square, and cooks it up with regal flair. Truly: their chefs have cooked for all manner of royal families, with the head chef a past master at serving up rather more than a tray of Ferrero Rocher to dignitaries

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at embassy sojourns. With views across the fountains, plenty of space and discreet lighting, the classiness of the interior effortlessly matches the menu. Want to sample as much as your appetite allows? Best opt for the Endless Banquet, with over 100 freshly cooked dishes to choose from (£17.50 Sun-Thur, £18.80 Fri-Sat). For a lighter sample of the deliciousness on offer, check out the special two-course lunch for £4.90. Price ALC: £4.20£7.80/£7.50-£24.80/£3.50. Sat-Sun ALC lunch: 40% food with voucher from website. SL: 2 £4.90. SD £20 Wine list HW £11.90 btl, wide cocktail range Open Mon-Fri: lunch 12noon-3pm, dinner 5.30-11.30pm. Sat 12noon11.30pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm. Disabled access – call for details. Room available for private functions.

Bath NEW HOI FAAN 41-42 St James’ Parade, BA1 1UQ Tel: 01225 318212, web: www.hoifaan.com ■ A welcome addition to the limited availability of decent Chinese food in Bath, flaunting menus that juggle a castlist of at least 260 characters (that’s before we even begin to explore side-dishes), from traditional classics (crispy/sizzling dishes, tides of sweet and sour, chilli and black/yellow bean sauces, etc) all the way through to scrumptious Clay Pot combos, a neat selection of south-east Asian fusion dishes and more daring options (vinegar whelk spinach, chicken’s feet, tripe, fish head, pig lungs) that further endorse authenticity. Masses of vegetarian and seafood options and superb dim sum complete a summary of the line-up, leading our own little sweet chilli dumpling to conclude that a trip to HF is ‘fresh, flavoursome and characterful enough to prove the restaurant’s worth as an uplifting experience to be returned to time and again’. Price ALC: £2.95£7.95/£5.95-£14.95/£7 Wine list HW approx £14 btl, Asian beers Open Daily 12noon-11pm. Disabled access but not to toilets.

HON FUSION 25 Claverton Buildings, BA2 4LD Tel: 01225 446020, web: www.honfusion.com ■ Seriously good, wallet-friendly, fully authentic Chinese food in a nicely appointed Widcombe bistro.

Menus flit cheerfully from classic sweet/sour, green pepper/black bean, ginger/spring onion combinations to more adventurous options (clay pot salted fish, spicy pig knuckle, Japanese tofu and climbing ant noodles) on the specials list. Crispy duck is a text-book example of the genre; a whole, steamed sea bass fillet arrives in a just-off-the-hob basket sprinkled with zingingly fresh herbs; pork chow mein is as gloopfree as a meaty noodle melange can get, and even the sweeter sauces are refreshingly non-sickly. Daily

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Restaurants CHINESE/ENGLISH dim sum (12noon-4pm) and a decent wine list. Twocourse suppertime feast (with plenty of sharing dishes) shouldn’t set you back more than £25. Price ALC: soup, appetiser, side £2.80-£7.50/main £7-£10 Wine list HW approx £14 btl Open Daily 12noon-11pm.

Disabled access. Takeaway.

English Bristol BRISTOL CONCORDE

33 Southgate, BA1 1TP Tel: 01225 318500/316088 ■ With its functional furnishings, prosaic location and pile-it-high, sell-it-cheap ethos, this efficient little Beijing-style noodle bar doesn’t claim to offer a highfalutin experience. Instead, find an extensive, wallet-friendly selection of rice dishes, noodles, soups and sides, speedily served. Price ALC: side from £4.50/main from £6.95 Wine list French, HW £9.50 btl. Beers (inc Tiger) Open SunThur 12noon-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-midnight. Disabled access. Parties 20+ - call in adv.

Shield Retail Park, Gloucester Rd North, Filton, BS34 7BR Tel: 0117 906 3102, web: www.brewersfayre.co.uk ■ Family-friendly chain promising ‘pub food as it should be’. The range is actually wider than that might lead you to expect, with egg & chips, or bangers & mash, augmented by the likes of Goan vegetable curry. For two main meals for a tenner, visit Mon-Fri 12noon-6.30pm.

Early birds can find breakfast weekdays from 6.30am, weekends from 7am. Price ALC: £2.29-£4.29/£7.29£11.49/£3.29-£5.29 Wine list HW £1.70 gls. Btld/ draught beers & ciders Open Mon-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm. Breakfast: Mon-Fri 6.30-10.30am, SatSun 7-11am. Good disabled access & toilet.

PEKING

BROWNS

1-2 New St, Kingsmead Square, BA1 2EF Tel: 01225 461750/466377, web: www. pekingrestaurantbath.co.uk • The longest-established Chinese restaurant in Bath has undergone a facelift of late, ditching the old look in favour of an altogether fresher contempo-glam countenance. Menus (also updated) revolve around traditional Cantonese, Szechuan and Peking classics (seafood a speciality) and Peking duck – prepared entirely on the premises – must be booked 24hrs in adv. Bespoke all-you-can-eat feasts freshly cooked from a huge menu selection Mon-Thur eves, £20pp (children under 10 years £10). Price ALC £3.95£7.95/£6.95-£14.95. SL 2 £8.95 Set banquets (min 2 people) from £21.95 Wine list HW approx £11 btl Open Daily 12noon-2pm & 6-11.15pm. No disabled access. Function room for private hire, depending on size of reservation. Takeaway 15% discount on standard menu prices.

38 Queens Rd, Clifton, BS8 1RE Tel: 0117 930 4777, web: www.browns-restaurants.com ■ Just a year shy of celebrating its 40th birthday, and environs don’t come classier than Browns: that long shaded terracing is just perfect for sipping a cool one and looking on while the world hurries by, while the interior is just about the airiest in the city. As gracious as you’d expect from a building modelled on the Doge’s Palace in Venice. More classiness? OK, in how many places will you hear, ‘If it’s Thursday night, it must be lobster night…’ (book today for a pre-dinner cocktail).

And don’t think we’re funny or anything, but it’s ever so nice to see staff in smart uniform. Cocktail specialists, of course. Breakfast and brunch menus till 12noon, afternoon teas from 2.30pm, and bar snacks too. Price ALC: £4.95-£8.45/£8.95-£21.95/£4.95-£8.95. Breakfast £3.95-£8.95 Wine list Extensive, HW £14.75 btl, £3.95 gls. Superb range of btld/draught beers, euro lagers a speciality Open Mon-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 10am-10pm.

Good disabled access & toilet.

HONG KONG BISTRO

REAL CHINA ORIENTAL BUFFET Unit 3, Kingsmead Leisure Complex, 5-10 James St West, BA1 2BZ Tel. 01225 332677, web: www.therealchina.co.uk ■ Contemporary, family-friendly, eat-all-you-like Chinese buffet restaurant (part of a huge chain) with teppanyaki kitchen (fresh dishes made from your choice of ingredients, prepared before your eyes).

Price Lunch buffet: Mon-Fri £6.95, Sat £7.95 (child £5.50). Dinner buffet: Mon-Thur £21.95, Fri-Sat £13.95. Sun all-day buffet £10.95 (child under 140cm half-price) Wine list HW approx £12 btl Open Lunch: Mon-Fri 11.30am-3.30pm, Sat 12noon-4pm. Dinner: Mon-Thur 5.30-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 6-11.30pm. Disabled access. Parties welcome - call in adv.

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CARVERY COMPANY The Venue, Merlin Way, Cribbs Causeway, BS10 7SR Tel: 0117 959 8272, web: www.thecarverycompany.co.uk ■ Large, independently owned 350-seater restaurant, perfectly in tune with its Cribbs surroundings. Meat is British, strawberries come up from the traditional growing fields around Cheddar, and ice-cream and veg also hail from Somerset. Lunchtime special runs Mon-Sat 11.30am-5pm, offering a range of roast carvery. Expect fine fare across the board, though, for kitchen chief Alan Broadhurst worked a dozen years at London’s New Connaught Rooms, rising from sous chef to executive head chef. Milkshakes, bottled/draught beers (bar open to non-diners). Children’s menu £3.95-£4.95 Price ALC:

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Restaurants ENGLISH £1.95-£3.95/£5.95-£8.95/£2.95-£4.45 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.

CHIN! CHIN! BAR & KITCHEN 155 St Michaels Hill, BS2 8DB Tel: 0117 973 9393, web: www.chinchinbarkitchen.com ■ Intimate, relatively recent addition to High Kingsdown, turning from cafe-bar-by-day (ace coffee, supplied ethically from Clifton Coffee) into cosy restaurant come sundown. That 2.30am licence makes it a fine private party option, as does the drink selection: fine wines, real ale, continental beer, ciders. Bistro-style menu changes weekly: fresh local ingredients are used with flair in risottos, frittatas, soups, and so forth. Pre-theatre menu: three courses for £14.95, Tue-Thur 5–7pm Price ALC: £4.45-£6.95/£10.50-£14.95/£3.95-£5.95. Sun roast: 1 £9.95, 2 £14.95, 3 £17.95 Wine list HW £10.95 btl, £3.25 gls Open Food served Mon-Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-6pm. Good disabled access. Private parties welcome.

CLIFTON SAUSAGE 7-9 Portland St, Clifton Village, BS8 4JA Tel: 0117 973 1192, web: www.cliftonsausage.co.uk ■ Here’s a good stat: over 100,000 sausages are consumed every year at the Clifton Sausage. And every last one of them proper-job, skin-spitting tasty, from beef & Spitfire ale to hickory smoked pork & maple (not forgetting the festive treat of reindeer & cranberry).

There’s a whole lot more than bangers here, mind, with taste across the board making this one of Clifton’s thrummingest fooderies. They picked up a silver medal in the prestigious Taste the West 2011 Awards. Check website for their sharing of knowledge with regular tasting nights. Price ALC: £5-£7/£9.75-£18/£5-£7.50.

Sun lunch: 2 £15.50, 3 £17.50 Wine list Impressive.

HW £15.50 btl, £3 gls Open Bar: daily 11am-12midnight.

Lunch: Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, Sat-Sun 11am-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.

by checking out the new Steak on Stone option where you cook your own steak on a hot stone plate. Look for the unusually wide-ranging Sunday lunch options, too.

Price Lunch SD (Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm): 3 £10. ALC: £5.95-£9.50/£10.95-£23.50/£5.95-£8.50. Early bird special (Mon-Thur 6-7pm): £10 burger/steak & chips plus wine/pint Wine list Well chosen. HW £14.50 btl, £3.20 gls. Cider, interesting beers on tap, lots of digestifs Open Daily 12noon-midnight (last lunch orders 2.45pm, last dinner orders 9.45pm Sun-Thur, 10.15pm Fri-Sat).

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 ■ In one direction you can admire handsome views of the harbourside, in the other the reassuring sight of an AA rosette. Hotel chain it might be, but that doesn’t stop ingredients being as seasonal and locally sourced as possible. Full English breakfast, light lunches, classy and romantic dinners, and very fair prices for decent wines.

Price ALC: £4.75-£7.50/£7.50-£20.50/£5.50-£6.50

Steaks as they should be Cowshed

COWSHED 46 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2NH Tel: 0117 973 3550, web: www.thecowshedbristol.com ■ As the name suggests, a full-on steakhouse. Most emphatically not, however, your typical ‘all flame and no flair’ grillery. “The beef is hung in chillers for people to see, and our table staff will tell you what cuts we’re using each day,” explains owner Adam Denton. “There’ll always be three cuts of beef, but the menu isn’t just steak: we have the best chicken from the Cotswolds and Bath pigs, as well as lamb and daily fresh fish.” Do away with all fear of how other people interpret ‘rare’ or ‘well done’

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Restaurants ENGLISH 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.

GALA CASINO BRISTOL HARBOURSIDE Explore Lane, Harbourside, BS1 5TY Tel: 0117 906 9970, web: www.galacasino.co.uk ■ There’s an ice bar on the ground floor for a swift predinner drink, then head on up to the fourth floor and the harbor-overlooking Chargrill restaurant. Fare is as you’d largely expect (BBQ ribs, beer-battered onion rings), but some pleasant surprises too. The Scottish fillet steak is delicious, sourced from Aberdeen Angus cross-breed cattle, grass-fed and naturally reared. There’s also a fair old vegetarian selection, including the welcome likes of fajitas and pecorino risotto. Less of a gamble than you might have expected. 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 12noon3am). Disabled access.

GRAZE BAR & CHOPHOUSE 63 Queen Square, BS1 4JZ Tel: 0117 927 6706, web: www.bathales.co.uk ■ See Bars.

GREENS’ DINING ROOM 25 Zetland Rd, BS6 7AH Tel: 0117 924 6437, web: www.greensdiningroom.com ■ This place may be family run, but it’s far from reliant on simple downhome appeal. A daily-changing menu is, at the very least, the sign of an establishment with an aspiration for quality and imagination in the kitchen. Better still when said aspiration can be backed up with staff CVs combining to cover head cheffing at

Keeping it real, tasty and excellently prepared Runcible Spoon

both Glassboat and Riverstation down on the water, not to mention the River Cafe and the Brackenbury in London. ‘This place positively screams pedigree,’ said we. ‘The lighting is soft, the staff are nice and smiley, and the menu turns out to be a good mission statement of relative simplicity – outstanding stuff avoiding unnecessarily overcomplicated combinations.’ Expect classic European/modern British fare, with the odd flight of inspiration from further afield. 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 12.30-2.30pm & 6.30-10.30pm. Disabled access, but not to toilets. Parties welcome - call in adv.

JACKS BAR & BRASSERIE The Pavilion, 1 Hanover Quay, Harbourside, BS1 5JE Tel: 0117 945 3990, web: www.jacksbrasserie.co.uk ■ Five years to the good, the Bristol half of a local dining duo (there’s a similarly waterside sister outlet in Portishead) is an increasingly popular destination come cloud-free days. The water theme continues into the menu: spring and summer see Fintastic Fish Fridays, wherein two diners get the chance to enjoy a whole fish (from the markets of Brixham and St Mawes) and a bottle of wine for £35. The chips are pretty darn good, too, but we shouldn’t give the impression it’s all about the sea. Enjoy warm Wye Valley asparagus, broad beans and Cornish new potatoes, or onglet of West Country beef, baby onions, bacon, mushrooms, red wine sauce and handcut chips. ‘Confident cookery that lets fresh ingredients do all the talking,’ we concluded. Open all day for coffee, light bites, afternoon tea, beer, spirits and soft drinks. See website for regular updates and dining offers. Price Summertime special: £12.95 for 2 BBQ items, salads and a Pimm’s or lager. Sun roast: 2 £13.95, 3 £16.95. ALC: £3.45-£7.25/£10.95£16.95/£5.25. Lunch (Mon-Sat 12noon-4pm): £5.95£6.95 Wine list Extensive, international. HW £14.50 btl, £3.70 gls Open Daily 10am-11pm (food till 10pm).

Good disabled access.

RACKS BAR & KITCHEN St Pauls Rd, Clifton, BS8 1LX Tel: 0117 974 1626, web: www.racks-bristol.co.uk ■ Bringing the sports-bar concept to the good people of Clifton (12 flatscreen TVs serving up SKY & ESPN), Racks also brings forth the rather more familiar idea of restaurant-ing. Offers abound: 2-4-1 Burger Monday, 25% off all bottles of wine and champagne every Tue, while lunch (pies, baguettes, salads) is available for just a fiver.

And when it comes to the ALC menu, we’re talking full range: gressingham duck, or handmade herb gnocchi. A treat for hungry pint-quaffers and serious foodies alike.

After enjoying the lively terrace, our food editor found that

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Restaurants ENGLISH ‘the converted wine cellar inside 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.’

Price ALC: £4.75-£8.50/£8.50-£13.50/£4.75-£7.50.

Breakfast £4.75-£7.50. Lunch (Mon-Sat) £5. Sun roast £10.50 Wine list Good international range, beers, full bar.

HW £14.50 btl, £3.70 gls Open Breakfast: Mon-Fri 7-10am, Sat-Sun 8-10am. Other food: Mon-Sat 12noon-10.30pm, Sun 12noon-10pm. Disabled access – call in adv. Parties up to 120 in private function room - free to hire. BBQ and hog roast parties available for hire on the terrace.

RIVER GRILLE AT THE BRISTOL HOTEL Prince St, BS1 4QF Tel: 0117 923 0333, web: www.doylecollection.com ■ Wall-to-ceiling windows make for fresh-feeling environs in this central eatery - part of the Bristol Hotel, and high up on the list of the city’s top people-watching locales. It might be part of the Doyle chain, but food is locally sourced (steak courtesy of some of Somerset’s late bovine citizenry, West Country cheeses) and majors on ‘handcrafted dishes with a modern twist’. We 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’. Dead popular with business types. Price ALC: £5.95-£9.50/£12.50£25.95/£5.95-£11.50 Wine list Extensive. HW £19.95 btl, £4.95 gls Open Breakfast: Mon-Fri 6.30-10am, Sat-Sun 7-11am. Lunch: Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm, SatSun 12.30-2.30pm. Dinner: Sun-Thur 6-10pm, Fri-Sat 6-10.30pm. Disabled access - from outside entrance.

Special occasions Berwick Lodge

Berwick Drive, Bristol ■ A truly memorable experience from start to finish, with plenty of grand design flourishes and awesome food courtesy of uber-hob god Chris (Bell’s Diner) Wicks.

Bath Priory

Weston Rd, Bath ■ Old-school Hollywoodstyle glamour in genteel country house hotel surroundings, with a kitchen overseen by celebrity chef Michael Caines.

Glassboat

Welsh Back, Bristol ■ Sparklingly pretty, long-established, highly acclaimed floating haven of gourmet gorgeousness.

RUNCIBLE SPOON 3 Nine Tree Hill, Stokes Croft, BS1 3SB Tel: 0117 329 7645, web: www.the-runcible-spoon.com ■ Nothing less than the best restaurant in town in our book - thus, our reigning Top Banana winner. ‘There’s plenty of talk about seasonal, local and foraged,’ said Mr Judge the Food Editor, ‘but grow-your-own collective the Runcible Spoon keep it real, tasty and excellently prepared night after night.’ Earlier in the year, he’d discovered that: ‘The group’s manifesto is clear from their menus – an imaginative collection of ever-changing dishes using locally sourced seasonal ingredients, including stuff grown in a local walled garden and some foraged foods. Everything is made on the premises, including bread and chutneys, with new dishes arriving each day as fresh ingredients are sourced.’ Indeed, in their blog update at the end of May, the collective announced: ‘This year Ollie has been given the use of a greenhouse in a derelict market garden out by the M32 – the plan being to grow micro leaves and herbs for the Spoon. As it happens it’s been a challenge to water the leaves enough for them to flourish. The soil hasn’t been watered for years and is bone dry. With the recent hot spell it’s become clear just how much watering it will

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take to germinate the moisture-loving leaves. So, never one to give up, Ollie has moved on to tomatoes and other hardier plants: aubergines, peppers, squashes. All these will be making an appearance on our menus towards the end of the summer.’ Price Sat breakfast: £6.50 carnivore, £5.50 herbivore. Sun roast: 1 £10, 2 £15, 3 £20, all with a free bloody mary. ALC: £5-£6/£10.50-£12/£5 Wine list Carefully sourced, local ales, cider by the jug, homemade liqueurs. HW £14 carafe, £7 half-carafe Open Tue-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 12noon-3pm. Disabled access (one step, staff can assist) - call ahead.

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Restaurants ENGLISH NEW SPOT Holiday Inn, Bond St, Bristol BS1 3LE Tel: 0117 924 5000, web: www.holidayinn.com ■ Literally at the gateway to the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft, the new Holiday Inn boasts a surprisingly sophisticated dining opportunity, with panoramic views of the Bearpit an optional bonus. Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with a contemporary English feel, reflecting the seasonal choices available. Open Daily 7am-10pm

STAR & DOVE 75-78 St Luke’s Rd, Totterdown, BS3 4RY Tel: 0117 933 2892, web: www.staranddove.co.uk ■ A fine old Bristol institution as a pub, and increasingly - in a white tablecloth-bedecked upper room - one of the most popular places in the city for ‘proper’ dining.

As we said, ‘Here’s your chance to go for an English with a vengeance, whether it’s Beer Food (bar snacks) or the Old Kitchen menu of historic recipes, some dating back to the 17th century. It’s an approach favoured by Heston Blumenthal with his Dinner place in London and, judging by the meal we had, deserves to be a great success in Bristol.’ Out from the kitchen came River Exe mussels, meat prawns, gravy and ‘sippetts of toasted bread’, ‘tasty shellfish in thick meaty broth scattered with rough croutons... and broiled baby fowl with paté and English greens – another perfect combination, the creamy paté enriching the stew of vegetables and the tiny bird so softly cooked that even the bones melted in the mouth’. In short, dining as distinctive as it is delicious. Our tip? Try the nettle beer. Fabulous roast, too. Price ALC: £3-£6.50/£5-£15/£4-£6 Wine list Extensive, well selected Open Daily: lunch 12noon-3pm, dinner 6-10pm.

NEW TOWNHOUSE BAR & RESTAURANT 85 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2NT Tel: 0117 973 9302, web: www.thetownhousebristol. co.uk ■ Formerly the Picture House East, but still under the same ownership and serving up modern British cuisine founded on first principles such as crunchy crackling, black pudding, hot dripping on bread, and so forth. British tradition in the round, come to think of it, from full English with the papers through to elevenses, Sunday roast with giant yorkshire puds, decadent afternoon tea, and on into the evening with voluminous menu and artisan cheeseboard to finish.

Price ALC: £4.90-£9.50/£12.50-£19.50/£4.90-£5.90.

Breakfast/brunch £4.50-£7.50. Lunch SD: 1 £7.90, 2 £10, 3 £13.50. Sun (lunch): 1 £11.90, 2 £15, 3 £18.90 Wine list Extensive. HW £13.50 btl Open Sun-Fri 11am-12midnight, Sat 10am-12midnight. Disabled access – call ahead. Parties of 20+ welcome.

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ZEST BISTRO Second Floor, House of Fraser, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BD Tel: 0117 927 9395 ■ A department store’s in-house restaurant and ‘unhurried’ aren’t generally concepts that appear in the same sentence. It’s fair to say both, though, of House of Fraser’s eatery, in terms of service and general environs, too: contemporary and stylish, comfortable leather chairs and - award mandatory maximum points!

- no intrusive music. Rest your weary feet for coffee and widely beloved cake, or go for fuller fare on the main menu: fish pie, classic puds like eton mess. As kidcentric as you’d expect, with revolving offers including child eating free when eating with an adult. Highchairs available, and advertising itself as breastfeedingfriendly. 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 ALFRESCO & VELLORE AT THE BATH SPA HOTEL Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, Sydney Rd, BA2 6JF Tel: 01225 444424, web: www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk ■ Choice of two restaurants within a supremely elegant five-star, seven-acre hotel and spa complex. Alfresco offers the more casual experience (strong emphasis on seasonal flavours, fresh salads, grills, and a gorgeous patio on which to enjoy it all), while Vellore (the fine-dining experience, recipient of two AA rosettes) serves impeccable, classic culinary delights in an elegant ballroom setting with a very upmarket ambience. Food is perfectly executed and beautifully presented in both restaurants. Menus are based around traditional and contemporary British sensibilities with a tres foodie edge. Price Alfresco: £7.50-£14.50.

Vellore: ALC from £9/from approx £20/approx £7 Wine list Extensive. HW from approx £22 btl Open Alfresco: Lunch daily 11am-6.30pm, dinner Fri-Sat 5.30-9.30pm.

Vellore: daily 7-10pm. Dress code: smart-casual, no jeans, sportswear, mobile phones in dining area. Full disabled access & facilities.

NEW ALLIUM BRASSERIE AT THE ABBEY HOTEL North Parade, BA1 1LF Tel: 01225 461603, web: www.abbeyhotelbath.co.uk ■ Revamped, glossy brasserie and bar offering a covered alfresco patio and all-day brasserie/full-on foodie menus courtesy of Michelin-starred chef Chris Staines. Spectacular salads, fabulous fresh fish, succulent steaks, delectable desserts, stylish sandwiches and - coming soon - sharing

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Restaurants ENGLISH platters, all on a modern British-with-a-cheffy-twist theme, served up in chic, laidback surroundings. Price ALC: from approx £7/from approx £9/from approx £6. Lunch from £7.95 Wine list Extensive bar. HW approx £13 btl Open Mon-Thur 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12midnight, Sun 11am-10.30pm. Food served daily 12noon-9pm (inc afternoon teas)

BANGLO 44 Lower Bristol Rd, BA2 3BD Tel: 01225 345442, web: www.banglo.co.uk ■ Good-times eatery (available for private hire only, except on Sundays when a fabulous roast is served to all-comers) existing in an enchanting little satellite all of its own. Cosy veranda outfront, gorgeous little garden to the rear and a spacious merrymaking area furnished with squishy sofas, chunky canteen seating and funky white resin furniture within. Price/Wine list Private hire only (exc Sun) contact for details Open Private hire only, except Sun 12noon-4pm. Limited disabled access – call in adv.

BATH PRIORY HOTEL & RESTAURANT Weston Rd, BA1 2XT Tel: 01225 331922, web: www.thebathpriory.co.uk ■ Bath’s original country house hotel, set in the city’s own version of LA’s Mulholland Drive: a grand but accessible mansion featuring an intriguing art collection, gorgeous gardens and lots of very, very plump cushions, all serviced by graciously welcoming, effortlessly knowledgeable, impeccably polite staff. Kitchen is overseen by affable superchef Michael Caines, whose trademarks - technically exacting classics executed with subtly imaginative flourish - are writ large throughout the entire experience, thanks largely to resident head chef Sam Moody’s indisputable skills. ‘Absolutely stunning,’ Venue’s own lady of the manor declared after a recent trip.

‘Consistently perfect, from start to finish, on all counts.’

Price SL: 2 £25.50, 3 £35. ALC dinner: 2 £59, 3 £75.

Tasting menu: 7 £90pp. Signature Tasting Menu: 7 £100 Wine list Extensive. HW from approx £25 btl Open Daily 12.30-2.30pm & 6.30-9.30pm. Afternoon tea 3pm-5pm.

Disabled access. Separate rooms for private hire, capacity 64.

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. In summer, arrive by boat from Pulteney Weir; punts, skiffs and canoes for hire by the hour/day from the station itself.

Price ALC: £3.75-£6/£9-£14.50/£4/£5-£6. Sun roast: 2 £15.75, 3 £21 (child: 2 £9.50) Wine list HW from £11 btl Open Tue-Sat 12noon-2pm (last orders) & 6-9pm (last orders). Sun roast: 12noon-3pm (last orders 2pm). 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.boathousebath.com ■ From the outside, the recently refurbished Boathouse - with its multiple verandas, white wooden awnings and sprawling manicured lawn that rolls as close to the river as it’s possible to get without actually taking a punt on it - almost looks like a West Country version of Tara, the gert big Southern Belle house at the heart of the Gone with the Wind action. Once inside, split-level comfort zones, a relaxed attitude to use of such space (eat, drink and

Consistently perfect Bath Priory

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. 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

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Restaurants ENGLISH make merry wherever you fancy) and thoroughly modern, flexible menus offer a bang-up-to-date contempo-pub experience, which waltzes from Medi-themed small plates and sharing platters to substantial modern Brit classics with stylish grace (including fab Sunday roasts). ‘Friendly food of a high standard that won’t drop when sunny days put big demands on the kitchen,’ said our own jolly sailor of her trip along the river. ‘Well-priced, people-pleasing grub served in uniquely pretty surroundings.’ Price ALC: from £3.95/£6.95/£3.50. Two courses £10.95, Mon-Fri 12noon-6pm. See website for details of Steak Nights, events, etc Wine list HW from approx £11 btl Open Food served daily 12noon-9pm. Disabled access - call in adv.

BROWNS Orange Grove, BA1 1LP Tel: 01225 461199, web: www.browns-restaurants.com ■ Formerly a police station and magistrates’ 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 (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

Giving great value to both Bristol and Bath Browns

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are locally sourced wherever possible. Price ALC: from £4.50/from £9/all £4.95. SL: 2 £9.95. Sun lunch: 1 £9.95, 3 £13.95 (under-7s £7.50) Wine list Popular classics.

HW from £14 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm (food served till 9pm). 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), plush bar 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 Roland Hughes has retained the Cavendish two AA rosettes for lively, imaginative but always supremely elegant menus that currently include dishes such as pressed foie gras terrine, apricot & fig chutney, toasted brioche; panroast sea bass, ratatouille, violet artichokes, spinach & gazpacho sauce; and coconut and vanilla parfait, confit lime purée, mango and passion fruit. Tasting menu highly recommended; bar menu available. Price ALC: £6.50-£9.95/£14.95-£20.50/£6.95-£8.95. Tasting Menu £55pp. SL: 1 £9.95, 2 £12.95, 3 £15.95. Sun lunch: 1 £10, 2 £16.95, 3 £21.95 Wine list Extensive, comprehensive.

HW from approx £17 btl Open Lunch: Fri-Sun 12noon2.30pm. 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 such as asparagus vichyssoise; summer risotto cakes with saffron, broad beans, sweetcorn and artichoke hearts served with roasted cherry tomatoes and parmesan wafers; and Pimm’s & lemon balm sorbet. The wine list is a joy to behold, and pavement tables on one of the Heritage City’s prettiest streets complete this ‘very Bath’ experience. Price ALC: from £5.70/from £12/from £5. Lunch £6-£10. Elevenses/teatime treats from £2.50 Wine list Large, well-balanced. HW from approx £15 btl, £3.90 gls Open Mon-Sat 10am-12midnight. Wheelchair accessible. Private parties welcome - call for details.

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Restaurants ENGLISH COSY CLUB Unit R4, SouthGate, BA1 1TP Tel: 01225 464161, 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. 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 (all day) £4.75-£6.95.

Sandwich/salad from £6.95-£9.95. Classics £7.95-£15.95.

Tapas: 1 £3, 3 £8. Sweet treat/puds approx £3-£5.50 Wine list HW from £13.50 btl. Good range of beers, bubbles, cocktails, spirits Open Food served daily 9am-10pm. Full disabled access throughout. Bookings for parties 8+ only (order from party menu).

DOWER HOUSE AT THE ROYAL CRESCENT HOTEL Royal Crescent Hotel, 16 Royal Crescent, BA1 2LS Tel: 01225 823333, web: www.royalcrescent.co.uk ■ From welcoming bar to graceful dining room and beyond, the Dower House - part of the iconic Royal Crescent Hotel - is a paean to refined elan, softly lit and decorated in flattering eau de nil tones throughout, with a super-pretty private garden. Friendly, confident, supremely competent staff exude a your-wish-is-my-command attitude in a thoroughly unforced manner; you’re in the hands of a brigade of experts, but there’s not a whisper of snoot in sight. Children’s menu.

Price SL: 2 £23, 3 £2. SD: 2 £52.50, 3 £63.50. Sun lunch: 3 £37.50. All-day menu £6.95-£22.50. Traditional afternoon tea £14-£35 Wine list Extensive. HW from £28 btl Open Daily 12.30-2pm & 7-10pm. Disabled access. Various private dining options. Groups, parties & functions welcome.

roasts 12noon-6pm. Disabled access limited, call in adv.

Parties welcome, call in adv (entire top floor available for private parties).

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 EOW reviewer of this tasteful, easygoing cafe-bar/restaurant hybrid that represents a cornerstone of the Theatre Royal Plaza scene - and he’s right. Lovely sparkly bar at street level, cosy snug to the left, bright and breezy balcony to the right, two upstairs rooms that are surely among the most elegant in Bath, and an evocative subterranean merrymaking area down below.

Menus, meanwhile, are overseen by bright young uberchef Ross Shaw. Price ALC: from £5.50/from £11/£6.50.

SL/pre-theatre: 2 £13.50, 3 £17.50 Wine list Extensive, international, impeccably sourced (90+ labels, 30+ by the gls). HW approx £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.

In the hands of experts Dower House at the Royal Crescent Hotel

NEW FUBAR 2 Grove St, BA2 6PJ Tel: 01225 432150, web: www.fubar-bath.co.uk ■ Welcoming contemporary chill-out zone over three floors, featuring an exceedingly well-stocked bar. The food menu is small but perfectly formed: excellent fish/fishcakes and chips, boisterous burgers, chunky pies etc offer a takeaway option too, while tapas and canapés offer people-pleasing delight. Regular events/ promotions include (at the time of going to press) Tapas Tuesday, Happy Hour cocktails 7-9pm daily and 2-for-1 pizza deals, and proper Sunday roasts go large. Price Main courses from £6.50 (takeaway from £4.95)/from £8.25/£4.10 tapas/canapés approx £3-£4.50 Wine list HW approx £14 btl. Extensive bar Open Food served daily 8am-10pm (canapés served until midnight), Sun

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Restaurants ENGLISH

Raise the steaks Cowshed

Whiteladies Rd, Bristol ■ Well hung, boisterously beefy beauties of impeccably sourced origin served up in stylish surroundings, with ‘Hot Stone’ cook-yoursteak-yourself option.

Hudson Bar & Grill

London St, Bath ■ Superb sourcing (and saucing) at this super-chic contemporary steakhouse overseen by charismatic head honcho Richard (Firehouse Rotisserie) Fenton.

Chophouse Restaurant & Bar

Future Inn, Cabot Circus, Bristol ■ Steaks and similarly hearty meat-based treats, smoked over aromatic mesquite wood chips to add a novel twist.

level bar/canteen to first-floor dining room and rooftop restaurant, scrubbed up potting-shed knick-knackery providing plenty of eyecandy to the front of the bar, and shelves laden with British grocery-shop classics lining the canteen walls. 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: from £4.25/approx £9.50-£20/£4.75-£6.50.

Sandwich/light lunch from £6-£10. See website for promotions, deals, etc Wine list HW from approx £14 btl. Substantial range of beers, lagers, cocktails, spirits Open Daily 8am-11.30pm (last food orders 9.30pm).

Disabled access throughout. Parties up to 120 – call in adv.

KOMEDIA CANTEEN 22-23 Westgate St, BA1 1EP Tel: 0845 293 8480, web: www.komedia.co.uk/bath ■ Locally sourced loveliness abounds at this lively contemporary diner attached to an entertainment pleasuredome offering food that adheres strictly to admirable principles regarding seasonality and impeccable sourcing, earning the KC a gold Food for Life gong from the Soil Association. Price Breakfast/ lunch from £5.50. See website for 3-course ALC options (in conjunction with selected shows) Wine list HW approx £16 btl. Organic beers, juices Open Tue-Fri 11noon-4pm, Sat 11am-3pm, evenings (inc every FriSat) in conjunction with selected shows (see website).

Disabled access.

LIME LOUNGE 11 Margarets Buildings, BA1 2LP Tel: 01225 421251

NEW LITTLE LIME LOUNGE

HALL & WOODHOUSE 1-3 Old King St, BA1 2JT Tel: 01225 469259, web: www.hall-woodhousebath.co.uk ■ Contemporary merrymaking venture courtesy of Blandford-based brewery Hall & Woodhouse, featuring an open kitchen, massive sweeping staircase linking street-

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2 Victoria Buildings, BA2 3EH Tel: 01225 465343, web: www.limeloungebath.co.uk ■ The original Lime Lounge - a chic, charming, fully licensed cafe/bistro on one of Bath’s prettiest traffic-free lanes - is now supplemented by a groovy little sister on the opposite side of town. Breakfast rolls, pastries and thoroughly decent coffee, gourmet sandwiches and salads dominate proceedings mornings/lunchtimes, segueing into a lively, modernBrit bistro menu as the sun sets at both branches.

Lovely alfresco seating at the Margarets Buildings base. Price Breakfast from £3.95, lunch from £6.95.

Evening ALC: from £4.50/from £12.95/£5.50 (2-for1 main meals Mon-Thur 5-7pm, at time of going to press) Wine list HW approx £12.50 btl Open Mon-Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 10am-10pm. Disabled access - call ahead for details.

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Restaurants ENGLISH MARKET Sawclose, BA1 1EY Tel: 01225 330009, web: www.marketbath.com ■ Recently under new ownership, this lively, multifaceted affair (featuring an unmissable partially covered/heated terrace facing the Theatre Royal) is the summertime epicentre of Sawclose fun. When rain stops play, cleverly eclectic interiors decorated with 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). Kids’ menu. Price Tapas: 3 £6.50, platter to share £14.95, burgers from £6.25, pizzas £6.25-£9.95, steaks from £11, salads from £5.50. 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) 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 MonFri 11am-11pm, Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon5pm. Disabled access, but not to toilets. Parties welcome - call for details.

NEW MENU GORDON JONES

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 EOW HQ recently. ‘A truly remarkable feast.’ Current menu features English pea & broad bean risotto with gorgonzola and sunflower shoots; salt cod brandade with hake fillet, smoked eel, chorizo crisps, pheasant egg and champagne cream; blackcurrant & liquorice parfait, pistachio nougatine and yogurt sorbet, but buyer beware: Nick Brodie’s seasonal menus change as frequently as the weather. Price ALC: from £7/from £16.75/from £7. SL: 2 £18.50, 3 £22.50 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.

Elegantly superior culinary perfection Olive Tree

2 Wellsway, BA2 1EY Tel: 01225 480871, web: www.menugordonjones. co.uk ■ Currently probably Bath’s most talked-about restaurant courtesy of characterful uber-chef Gordon Jones (formerly of the Royal Crescent Hotel). It’s tiny (14 covers max) and there’s no set menu - in Gordon world, you get what you’re given. However: ‘only an experience this unique could, after a decade of reviewing restaurants, evoke such emotion’, said our overwhelmed critic recently. ‘The whole experience was a veritable rush of sheer, thrilling, delighted excitement from start to finish.’ Blimey!

Price SL: 5 £30. SD: 6 £40 Wine list Btls from approx £24, inc lots of organic & biodynamic options Open Tue-Sat 12.30-2pm & 6.30-9pm. Disabled access.

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

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Restaurants ENGLISH NEW ROMAN BATHS KITCHEN 11 Abbey Churchyard, BA1 1LY Tel: 01225 477877, web: www.romanbaths.co.uk ■ Brand new addition to the Bath tourist hotspot scene courtesy of a major B&NES/Roman Baths complex redevelopment comprising a deli, cafe and gorgeous terrace on the ground floor and a bright, breezy contemporary bistro upstairs, all offering stunning views of Bath’s most iconic square. Food is of the modern British variety, impeccably sourced.

Price/wine list Call for details Open Cafe/deli: daily 7.30am-6pm. Bistro: daily 9am-10pm. Disabled access. Parties – call in adv.

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 £12.50 & 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.

NEW TASTING ROOM 6 Green St, BA1 2JY Tel: 01225 483070, web: www.www.tastingroom. co.uk ■ Eminently tasteful social sanctuary incorporating a vibrant street-level wine shop and deli and gorgeous upper-level bistro (complete with superchic alfresco patio) courtesy of acclaimed wine buff Will Baber, described thus by our tasty girl-abouttown: ‘A chic but cosy interior (think Paris bistro meets Brooklyn brasserie by way of Nigel Slater’s kitchen) offers the perfect backdrop to properly seasonal menus that always present right-hereright-now inspirations.’ Open for breakfast (brunch at weekend), lunch and dinner/tapas/bar snacks in the evening; tea, coffee, pastries served all day.

What Will and his team don’t know about wines, whiskies, liqueurs and more isn’t worth knowing (and they all share their knowledge at wine-tasting

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courses and related events on a regular basis). ‘But for me, the taste at the heart of the matter makes my heart go pitter-pat,’ Ms Tasty decided. ‘Always imaginative, always satisfying, and always strictly seasonal. Visit TR as often as you can, and I promise you won’t tire of the experience.’ Price Breakfast (9.30-11.45am) from £1.75. Lunch £5.95-£12. ALC bar menu/dinner: £3.95-£7.50/£6.95-£13.50/ approx £6. Tapas 3 £10 Wine list HW £12 btl Open Tue-Thur 9.30am-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 9.30am-11pm, Sun-Mon 10am-4.30pm. Disabled access difficult, call in adv.

THEATRE VAULTS RESTAURANT Sawclose, BA1 1EY Tel: 01225 442265, 01225 448844 (theatre) ■ 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. Menu changes monthly.

Price ALC: from £4.95/from £9.95/£5. Free dessert with any main course ordered Wine list Cosmopolitan. HW £14.50 btl Open Lunch 12noon2.30pm on theatre matinee performance days only.

Dinner daily 5.30pm-9.30pm (closed Sun when there’s no show on at the theatre). Disabled access call in adv. Parties by adv booking only.

TRAMSHED Beehive Yard, BA1 5BD Tel: 01225 421200, web: www.thetramshedbath.co.uk ■ A sprawling bar, bright’n’breezy dining areas, roaring log fires, heated and covered alfresco terrace and lots of funky decor based around NY loft-style design flourishes offer the perfect backdrop 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 Sharing platters from £4.95. ALC: from £4.45/ from £7.95/from £5.25. SL (Mon-Fri 12noon-7pm): 2 £10.95. Two pizzas £10, Mon-Fri 3pm-7pm.

Sun roast: 2 £12.95 Wine list Extensive. HW approx £14 btl. Large selection of cocktails, btld/ draught beers Open Daily 8am-late. Food: MonThur 12noon-10pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-10.30pm, Sun 12noon-9.30pm. Full disabled access throughout.

Parties welcome - call for details.

VELLORE AT THE BATH SPA HOTEL Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, Sydney Rd, BA2 6JF Tel: 01225 444424, web: www.macdonaldhotels. co.uk/bathspa ■ See Alfresco & Vellore, above.

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Restaurants EUROPE & MEDITERRANEAN

European & Mediterranean

Fri-Sat). Good disabled access. Party bookings up to 150, late licence available. Clifton: daily 9am-10pm (Fri-Sat 10.30pm). Good disabled access. Party bookings welcome, private functions catered for.

Bristol

ARNOLFINI CAFE-BAR

A CAPPELLA 184c Wells Rd, Totterdown, BS4 2AL Tel: 0117 971 3377, web: www.acappellas.co.uk ■ Chances are you know this as the finest pizza takeaway restaurant in the city, bar none. You don’t? Well, go order yourself a Vivaldi (tomato sauce, mozzarella, gorgonzola, brie, provolone, oregano, red onion) and try telling us we’re wrong. Anyway, we digress, but only to point up the fact that you should enter the place - cafe by day, BYO pizzeria by night - with high expectations. An independent establishment, it’s genuinely friendly, the most relaxed of places to drop by and enjoy homemade desserts, tapas, healthy breakfasts, great coffees, free Wi-Fi, and - look, parents! - toys, books, etc, for the kids. Alfresco dining area, eve takeaway and delivery, booking essential at weekends. Not for nothing was it voted Bristol’s Best Budget Italian 2011 in The Guardian. Price Pizzas £7.45£14.45. Breakfast/brunch £1.50-£7.95 Wine list BYO (corkage £1 per head) Open Tue-Sat 8am-10pm (Fri-Sat 10.30pm). Good disabled access.

16 Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA Tel: 0117 917 2305, web: www.arnolfini.org.uk ■ Italian-influenced menu, with light bites and good-value lunch deals. See Cafes.

BELL’S DINER 1 York Rd, Montpelier, BS6 5QB Tel: 0117 924 0357, web: www.bellsdiner.com ■ Tramp around the SS Great Britain, survey the gorge from the graceful extent of the Suspension Bridge, go sample the extraordinary imagination, flair and utter gorgeousness of the food on offer at Bell’s Diner. Thus, Bristol’s unchanging three must-dos for any incoming visitor. OK, only two of them are, but the third should be.

As The Guardian said when it came to town, ‘Bell’s Diner is a place with idiosyncratic style. At a time when restaurants, their menus and their wines lists lead the world in cloning

Food of the highest order delivered with casual virtuosity Bells Diner

AQUA ITALIA RESTAURANT & BAR Welsh Back, BS1 4RR Tel: 0117 915 6060 153 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2RF Tel: 0117 973 3314, web: www.aqua-restaurant.com ■ The Whiteladies branch is the one to head to for Rome-recalling elegance - just check that beautifully transformed, grade II-listed building. For sheer ‘could only be Bristol’-ness, the sister establishment sprawls lazily across Welsh Back in highly relaxed style, affording splendid views of passing traffic on both pavement and harbour. The menu matches the bright, light, airy environs with some highly tempting fare, as we discovered for ourselves: ‘The mid-priced menu is classic Italian, with wide-ranging choices of antipasti, risotto, pasta and pizza as well as meat and fish dishes. It was all nicely Italian, served up with amiable efficiency and satisfyingly filling.’ Huge portions of locally sourced and organic (where possible) produce, good-value Sunday roasts and a dedicated kids’ menu all add to Aqua’s enduring allthings-to-all-people appeal. See website for current offers and specials, including 2-4-1 breakfasts and a £5 members’ voucher. Price ALC: £5.25-£8.75/£7.50-£35.95/£5.50£7.95. SL (12noon-7pm): 2 £10.95, 3 £12.95. Sun roast £10.95 Wine list Extensive. HW £14.95 btl, £2.85 gls. Superb cocktails, beers Open WB: restaurant daily 11am-10pm (10.30pm Fri-Sat, last food orders 15 mins before closing), bar daily 11.30am-11pm (12midnight

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Restaurants EUROPE & MEDITERRANEAN techniques, I find such singularity particularly appealing.’

Chef/owner Chris Wicks and his team’s very modern, sophisticated style of cooking manages to stay entirely singular, and their extremely capable and knowledgeable French sommelier will help with the wine selection. Said our Food editor: ‘We were having an Experience, rather than a mere meal, and the main courses built on our expectations. We left reeling from an experience that had been more than just ‘fine dining’. Bell’s is a place of casual virtuosity that provides a memorably blissful evening.’ There’s just so much to try here that (even if takes a little ‘special treat’ saving before visiting) opting for the eight-course taster menu is practically a must.

Price ALC: £7-£9.50/£12.50-£21/£6.50-£8. Tasting menu (Mon-Thur): 8 £49.50 (min 2, max 6 people - can also be accompanied by Wine Flight at £35pp) Wine list Excellent, innovative. HW £14.50 btl, £4 gls Open Lunch: Wed-Fri 12noon-2pm. Dinner Tue-Thur 7-9pm, Fri-Sat 7-9.30pm. Disabled access possible (two steps) with help.

Private hire, up to 30. Parties 20+.

Local, organic, seasonal, sustainable Bordeaux Quay

BERWICK LODGE Berwick Drive, BS10 7TD Tel: 0117 958 1590, web: www.berwicklodge.co.uk ■ So, that was Bell’s Diner. Ready for some more Chris Wicks already? Don’t blame you. Welcome to Wicks Goes Rural, in this 2009-opened arts and crafts manor house. If Bell’s is cosily intimate, this is grandly sweeping, all highpointed columns and higher-still chandeliers. And food to match, naturally: the restaurant won our Best in Bristol Top Banana award at the first time of asking. ‘Dinner-suited staff wait on the red carpet,’ said our reviewer, ‘and the mystique is complete when you’re shown into an opulently furnished lounge for nibbles, aperitifs and the chance to discuss the awesome wine list with an impeccably French and knowledgeable sommelier. A special place, serving special food - eat here now while you can still get a booking.’ For a top-value visit, check out the Mon-Thur brasserie menu (sample: cheese souffle, candied walnut, pear & celery salad, £7.50). Fancy trying some of this for yourself? Check out the Cookery School in the adjacent, beautifully renovated old stable block. Price ALC (MonThur): £8.50-£9.50/£16.50-£22.50/£7.50-£9.50. SL/ Sun lunch: 2 £26.50, 3 £31.50. SD: 2 £36.50, 3 £41.50.

Afternoon tea £15, champagne afternoon tea £25 Wine list Exceptional. HW from £23 btl, £6 gls Open Daily: breakfast 7-9.30am, lunch 12noon-3pm, afternoon tea 3-5pm, dinner 6-10pm. Disabled access. Private hire up to 70. Conferences & events catered for.

BORDEAUX QUAY V-Shed, Canons Way, Harbourside, BS1 5UH Tel: 0117 943 1200, web: www.bordeaux-quay.co.uk ■ It’s the foodie equivalent of the health industry’s holistic experience: restaurant, bar, brasserie, cookery school, deli, bakery, wine courses - if you’re ever looking for a shortcut to wholly sustainable, self-sufficient living, hide yourself away here and you’ve got it made. You won’t find much room to hide in inside the trophy cabinet, mind: check those gongs from the Soil Association, Good Food Guide, Observer Food Monthly, to name but three. As The Guardian said, ‘What’s so impressive about this place is, well, everything - a gleaming jewel of a restaurant.’ And all driven by an ethos to reduce food miles, reduce waste through recycling and make full use of locally sourced produce. All in all, an absolute oasis at the otherwise avoid-worthy area that is V-Shed. Daily changing menus reflect the best of what’s local and seasonal throughout the year, from wild game to fresh Cornish fish and locally reared organic lamb: delicious ingredients, beautifully prepared. Breakfast, brunch and light bites in the informal brasserie, while the restaurant offers seriously fine dining in a lively but mellow atmosphere. And Venue concurs: ‘Excellently done, smoothly unresisting and bursting with flavour.’ See excellent website for forthcoming events, including a new harbourside market, cookery classes and offers. Price Restaurant ALC: £7-£8.50/£13.50£25/£7.50-£9.50 Wine list Extensive, organic. HW £17

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Restaurants EUROPE & MEDITERRANEAN btl, £3.75 gls. Bath Ales, low-alcohol & fruit beers, spirits, liqueurs Open Restaurant: Tue-Sat 6-10pm, Sun 12noon3pm. Breakfast: Mon-Fri 8.30-11.15am, Sat-Sun 9-11.15am.

Bar: Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-7pm. Wine bar: TueSat 6pm-late (last entry 11pm). Deli: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 9am-4pm. Good disabled access. Private room for hire, parties welcome – call in adv.

BOSTON TEA PARTY 75 Park St, BS1 5PF Tel: 0117 929 8601 1 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4HR Tel: 0117 973 4790 97 Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2NT Tel: 0117 923 9571 156 Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5RL Tel: 0117 329 1454, web: www.bostonteaparty.co.uk ■ One of Bristol’s true culinary success stories. Last September saw BTP open its fourth city outlet on Cheltenham Rd (since its 1995 inaugural opening on Park St, it’s spread right across the rest of the West Country, too). Easy to see why: it was in on the ground floor of the 1990s late-coming realisation that popping out for coffee proper coffee, mind - was actually a rather fun thing to do, and has kept caffeine lovers’ trust ever since (the tea range is as extensive and well-selected as the coffee). Combining zesty liveliness with laidback feel, BTP serves original, rustic food (largely organic, free-range, Fairtrade and locally sourced), with friendly service from people proud to be called baristas. Brilliant breakfasts (from full English to smoked salmon/scrambled egg bagels) served daily, before the ever-changing menus move on to salads, wraps, sandwiches, panini, homemade soup and daily specials, with homemade cakes, flapjacks, muffins, etc, offering all-hours assistance. Check out well-maintained website and Facebook for current events and online shop. Price All-day breakfast £3.95-£6.95, wraps & burgers £6.50£7.25 Open Clifton: Mon-Sat 7.30am-6pm, Sun 9am-6pm.

Park St: Mon-Fri 7am-8pm, Sat 8am-8pm, Sun 9am-8pm.

Whiteladies Rd: Mon-Fri 7.30am-6pm, Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 9am-6pm. Cheltenham Rd: Mon-Thur 7.30am-6pm, Fri-Sat 7.30am-7pm, Sun 9am-7pm No disabled access to Park St. Parties up to 80, max 35 reserved seats.

tables, the reassurance of a partly open kitchen, reclaimed wood counter - we could go on, but trust you’re getting the cosy old picture by now. They hardly need help on the food front, but have chosen their drinks partners very well: Bristol Beer Factory and Six O’clock G&T sit neatly alongside a fully Spanish wine list. Even though it only opened in the spring, it’s a properly thronged place already - visiting at the earliest opportunity is heartily recommended. And, of course, it’s all still evolving. When we called at EOW press time, Kieran told us they’ll be looking to introduce a lunch menu in June/July, with a rough price guide of £10 for three set courses. Price Tapas £2.50-£6.50, sweets approx £5 Wine list Spanish all the way. HW £15.95 btl Open Tue-Sat 5pm-12midnight.

Disabled access – call for details.

BRIDGE CAFE Avon Gorge Hotel, Sion Hill, Clifton Village, BS8 4LD Tel: 0117 973 8955/0117 906 4652 (cafe reservations), web: www.theavongorge.com ■ Quite some backdrop designer, that Brunel. While other restaurants boast of cosy gardens - perhaps the odd tree or two - this place has the most graceful bridge in all of Christendom to serve as its private deck’s focal point. Not only that, but God/geological evolution (delete according to belief) chipped in with the whacking great gorge it so spectacularly traverses, woodland, swooping peregrine falcons, and all. So it’s to Bridge Café’s credit that they come up with a menu that doesn’t pale into insignificance beside it. Quite the opposite: we’re talking AA rosette standard. Said our man: ‘A meal worthy of its location, a perfect spot for a summer celebration or special date. I jumped at the chance of pave of lamb, one of the softest and leanest of cuts, and the evenly sliced portion I got was delicious, its fine, pink centre so tender I could cut it with a fork. The bonus was another rare treat - tempura sweetbreads, hot and crisp batter

A true culinary success story Boston Tea Party

NEW BRAVAS 7 Cotham Hill, BS6 6LD Tel: 0117 329 6887, web: www.bravas.co.uk ■ Probably not unfair to suggest that this address’s previous incumbent - the veteran Zorba’s Greek eatery had run its course as far as inspiration goes. So it’s a big and enthusiastic welcome to the big-time debut venture from supper-club-tapas-in-a-flat aces Kieran and Imogen Waite. All they’ve learnt of Spanish tapas has come to spectacular fruition, with environs to match: big old homely ceiling-high shelving, stripped-back wooden

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Restaurants EUROPE & MEDITERRANEAN surrounding creamy meat.’ Wine list offers some 60 choices (£16-£40) arranged helpfully in categories like Light Elegant White and Softer, More Rounded Red. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with heated seating outdoors on the private deck. Sunday lunches, too, and a menu for the kids. Price ALC: £5.25-£8.50/£9.95-£17.50/£5.75-£7.95. Sun lunch: 2 £15.95, 3 £18.95. Afternoon tea (2.30-6pm) £14.95 (£20.95 with champagne) Wine list Extensive, international: beers, liqueurs, cocktails, champagnes (inc champagne by the gls). HW £16.50 btl, £4 gls Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10pm (9pm Sun). Disabled access. Groups & parties welcome - call in adv.

BRISTOL BRIDGE 45-47 Baldwin St, BS1 1RA Tel: 0117 922 1333, web: www.bristolbridgerestaurant.co.uk ■ Once the Greek place, Bosphorus, and now a redleather-chaired cafe by day, restaurant by night, majoring on Mediterranean cuisine, fresh fish and steak. Fans of its previous incarnation aren’t forgotten (lamb moussaka is a house special, covered with a bechamel sauce, laid on a bed of aubergine, courgettes, onion and herbs), alongside dishes such as curried monkfish medallions with cream and spinach. Price SD 2 (till 7pm): £8.95, 3 (7-9.30pm): £15.95. ALC: £3.15-£6.95/£7.55£15.95/£3.95 Wine list HW £16.30 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 4-11pm. Disabled access. Parties welcome – call in adv.

Delivering a real sense of occasion Byzantium

BRISTOL FASHION BEEFEATER The Haymarket, BS1 3LR Tel: 0117 929 8953 Emersons Green, BS16 7AN Tel: 0117 956 4755, web: www.beefeater.co.uk ■ In Venue’s youth, nothing quite said ‘treat!’ as much as when parents declared that the family was ‘eating out for dinner [ie lunch] at the Beefeater’.

In fairness, there was barely any alternative. To the chain’s credit, as hundreds upon hundreds of dainty little competitors have risen up in the meantime, they’ve stuck to majoring on what they do best: meat, lots of it, with unfussy veg on the side (in a slight concession to modernity, it’s now chargrilled within sight of your table). That’s not to say there aren’t alternatives, mind: plenty of pasta, salad and vegetarian options, plus bar food (jackets, sandwiches, wraps, soup) for those on the go. Price ALC: £3.39-£5.29/£8.69-£19.99/£3.89-£6.20. Sun roast £9.99 Wine list HW £9.99 btl, £2.85 gls Open Breakfast Mon-Fri 6.30-10.30am, Sat-Sun 7-11am, then Mon-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm.

Disabled access with lift & toilet. Parties 20+.

BYZANTIUM 2 Portwall Lane, BS1 6NB Tel: 0117 922 1883, web: www.byzantium.co.uk ■ ‘Stepping inside Byzantium you find yourself in a Hollywood film set from the Arabian Nights with a sweeping staircase crying out for buckles to be swashed from the balustrades – whatever else you might expect from dining out, it’s clear that this place offers a sense of occasion,’ said our man with the napkin and notebook.

‘That impression was heightened when, shortly after settling on one of the cushioned banquettes in the spacious ground-floor bar, we were approached with diffident confidence by up-close-and-personal illusionist Philip and enjoyed a short sequence of genuinely baffling tricks. This is the place that launched the career of Derren Brown, after all.’ Happily, the food isn’t overwhelmed by its surroundings (in the dining room at the top of the stairs) and offers a Mediterranean-style approach, using local ingredients. You could be in on a night when you get a bellydance for afters, or you could check the website and pop by for burlesque night (SD: 3 plus show for £30). Price ALC: £5-£6/£13.95£19.95/£5.95. SD: 3 £27.50 Wine list Extensive, classic, contemporary. HW £14.50 btl, £4 gls Open Tue-Sat 12noon-2am. Disabled access & facilities. Parties welcome - exclusive bookings up to 250. Private dining room. Licensed for civil wedding ceremonies.

CAFE MAITREYA 89 St Marks Rd, Easton, BS5 6HY Tel: 0117 951 0100, web: www.cafemaitreya.co.uk ■ See Vegetarian.

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Restaurants EUROPE & MEDITERRANEAN CITY CAFE Temple Way, BS1 6BF Tel: 0117 910 2700, web: www.citycafe.co.uk ■ This place scooped Best Food Award, as gonged out by the Evening Post. Not for us to say whether or not that means more to them than the two AA rosettes pinned up in the kitchen. Either way, said our Food editor, ‘It’s easy to see why the City Cafe pleases the AA judges - it’s very much more of a dining experience than most hotels would offer, and definitely worthy of a visit in its own right.’ Modern European menu, with plenty of classics to keep the traditional hotel clientele happy: marinated crab salad, seared pigeon breast, pork, fish. You might be near one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares, but no matter - even if you’re dining out on the heated alfresco terrace facing the evening sunlight, there’s no hint of traffic. Sunday lunches are rather fine, and children are well looked after.

Price ALC: £4.95-£7.95/£10.50-£21.95/£5.50-£8.50.

Breakfast £10.95-£14.95. SL: 2 £9.95, 3 £14.95. SD: 2 £14.95, 3 £18.95 Wine list Extensive new & old world & European, vintage champagnes, ports, dessert wines.

HW £17.50 btl, £13 carafe, £3.75 gls Open Breakfast: Mon-Fri 6.30-9.30am, Sat-Sun 7-11am. Lunch: MonFri 12noon-2.30pm, Sat-Sun 1-3pm. Dinner: Mon-Sat 6-10pm, Sun 7-9.30pm. Bar food all day. Disabled access & toilets. Private dining rooms. Parties 20+.

Brilliant bistros Bistro Biere

Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, Bristol ■ A well-heeled fusion of traditional and modern French bistro classics served up in contempo-cosy surroundings.

Tilleys Bistro

North Parade Passage, Bath ■ Long-standing Heritage City institution where olde worlde charm meets nouveau expectations to form a gently eclectic, welcoming crossroads twixt both inspirations.

Greens’ Dining Room

Zetland Rd, Bristol ■ Airy but intimate enclave of good taste, good food and very good times - top-notch, down to earth, much loved.

COAL GRILL & BAR Glass House, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BX Tel: 0117 954 4624, www.coalgrillandbar.co.uk ■ Next to the cinema in Cabot Circus, and part of a national chain that’s as flame-happy as the name suggests. Signature dishes are the Fire Sticks: flamegrilled skewers of meat or fish served on a hot skillet with fire-roasted sweet peppers, courgette, mushroom and red onion ratatouille, plus chilli, tzatziki and BBQ dips, garlic rice or chips. Grab two sticks for £14.95, three for £17.95. Sign up to join ‘The Club’ for offers and discounts on both this place and Severnshed. Price Breakfast £2.95-£6.95. Sandwiches £5.95-£8.75. ALC: £4.95-£6.95/£8.95-£20.95/£5.25-£8.95. SL (Sun-Fri 12noon-7pm): 2 £7.95, 3 £9.95 Wine list Well-chosen world wines. HW £14.30 btl, £3.90 gls Open Mon–Sat 9am–11pm, Sun 9am–10.30pm. Disabled access (lift to food court). Parties catered for.

CULINARIA 1 Chandos Rd, Redland, BS6 6PG Tel: 0117 973 7999, web: www.culinariabristol.co.uk ■ Shining lights in Bristol’s culinary firmament Stephen Markwick and wife Judy opened this airy, contemporary bistro eight years ago. As ever, acclaim followed, including Which? Good Food Guide’s South West Restaurant of the Year. Not one to keep his midas-touch-in-an-oven-glove secret, Stephen has written two books about his craft: A

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Very Honest Cook and, latterly, A Well-Run Kitchen. Thanks to the Fridge List - items from the ALC menu available to take away, changing weekly - you can even try passing off his fare as your own. Or, better, just roll up here and enjoy it fresh from the kitchen. Price ALC: £7.50-£8.95/£13.50£19/£6.25-£6.95. SL: 2 £15.50, 3 £20. Early dinner: 2 £17.50, 3 £21.50 Wine list HW £18 btl, £3.50 gls Open

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Restaurants EUROPE & MEDITERRANEAN Thur-Sat 12noon-2pm & 6.30-9pm. Takeaway Thur-Sat 11am-11pm. Disabled access & toilet. Largest table seats six.

Takeaway.

DELMONICO 217 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8NN Tel: 0117 944 5673, web: www.delmonico.co.uk ■ ‘Interesting and unpretentious food, carefully prepared and served with perfect hospitality,’ summarised our Food editor after his last visit. ‘There’s something enduringly nice about Delmonico’s. It’s first experienced in a warmth of service, making no demands on the customer but effortlessly providing exactly what it offers. It’s not a sycophantic thing, nor obtrusive, but rather the best kind of old-school English hospitality, untainted by transatlantic bonhomie or continental attitude. But, happily, it’s not accompanied by the culinary cackhandedness that such Englishness might have served up in those Bad Old Days, with the menu offering a cosmopolitan mix of popular favourites.’ Hearty food ranges across European styles, from tapas to bangers & mash, accompanied by a leisurely atmosphere. Desserts are particularly fine: our top tip is the white chocolate

Smartly understated Flinty Red

cheesecake flecked with toasted coconut. Price ALC: £4.95-£6.50/£10.95-£21.95/£5.25 Wine list Small but perfectly formed, inc classic French & more unusual new world, excellent champagne. HW £13.95 btl, £3.50 gls Open Tue-Fri 5-10pm (10.30pm Fri), Sat 12noon-10.30pm, Sun 12noon-2.30pm (last orders). Fairly good disabled access, but call ahead for details. Parties welcome, call ahead for details. Private dining up to 30.

FLINTY RED 34 Cotham Hill, BS6 6LA Tel: 0117 923 8755, web: www.flintyred.co.uk, www.corksof. com ■ A distinctive place, essentially a cross between a very fine wine bar, a tapas and a French deli. Which, when you see the team behind it, makes sense: a collaboration between chefs Matthew Williamson and Claire Thomson, and wine merchants Dominic Harman and Rachel Higgens of Corks of Cotham. Smartly understated interior (bare brick walls, dark wood chairs and tables) neatly points up a focus on food. ‘This is a place where flavour and quality were an absolute priority,’ said our Mr Food, ‘with dishes chosen to bring out the ingredients without overstatement.’ Any wine on the menu is available for purchase, and they do special events (discussion of foraged foods, special wine dinners showcasing food with specific vineyards - see website or ring for details). Price ALC: lunch £6.50-£7.50/£8.50-£12.50/£4.50-£8.50, dinner: £3.50-£9/£12-£18/£5-£9 Wine list Extensive and impressive as you’d expect, given the owners. Always changing, many served by the gls. HW £16 btl, £3.50 gls Open Tue-Sat 12noon-3pm, Mon-Sat 6.30-10pm. Disabled access - with one step at entrance.

GLASSBOAT Welsh Back, BS1 4SB Tel: 0117 929 0704, web: www.glassboat.co.uk ■ Is there a finer view from a Bristol eatery than looking straight down the Welsh Back water through the Glassboat’s full-length rear - sorry, aft - windows? It’s up there with the terraces overlooking Clifton’s gorge and bridge. A quarter-century to the good, the Boat is still pulling in the crowds with its winning combination of fresh creative food and exquisite service. Where some restaurants list karaoke nights under their events diaries, next up here is a Henriot champagne tasting and dinner event. Happily, the food matches the surrounds. Last time he was there, our Mr Food declared, ‘The kitchen passed with exuberantly flying colours: the soft, flavoursome meat was simply heavenly, balanced with sweetly roasted new potatoes. My companion’s wild mushroom and parmesan risotto was no less pleasing – a celebration of intense flavours still juicily tongue-tingling. A rather grown-up bitter chocolate and prune soufflé cake and kick-ass coffee rounded up things with consummate style, ending an evening that had slid by as smoothly

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Restaurants EUROPE & MEDITERRANEAN and gracefully as those swans.’ Price SL: 2 £15, 3 £20.

ALC lunch: £6.50-£7.50/£13.50-£18.50/£6.50. Early bird supper (Mon-Sat 5.30–7pm): 2 £15, 3 £20. ALC dinner (Mon-Sat 5.30-10pm): £5.50-£8/£8.50-£29.50/£6-£10.

Sun SD (12noon-4pm): 3 £20 Wine list Extensive, international, incredible. Superb choice of spirits, lots of malt whiskeys, vintage cognacs. HW £18 btl, £3.25 gls Open Tue-Fri 12noon-2.30pm, Mon-Sat 5.30-10pm, Sun 12noon-4pm. Disabled access but toilets downstairs.

Private hire, up to about 110.

GOLDBRICK HOUSE 67-69 Park St, BS1 5PB Tel: 0117 945 1950, web: www.goldbrickhouse.co.uk ■ Pulls off the neat trick of proving fabulously popular while at the same time retaining an air of exclusivity.

From the downstairs front bar to the top-floor restaurant and the wonderful labyrinth of the floor containing the champagne/cocktail bar, it’s classy decor - and attentive, knowledgeable staff - all the way. Roof terrace with skyline view, bar and private dining options add to the charm. Menus (including breakfast/all-day brunch) are generally modern European with a nod towards Mediterranean cuisine, with a few good old-fashioned British classics thrown in. ‘Faultlessly satisfying and unimposing upmarket dining destination,’ our reviewer declared. Price ALC: £5.50-£7.50/£12.95-£21.50/£5£7.50. SL (Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm): 2 £10, 3 £13. Early eve (6-7pm): 2 £10, 3 £13. SD: 2 £21, 3 £26 Wine list Extensive. HW £14.50 btl, £3.75 gls Open Restaurant: Mon-Fri 12noon-11pm, Sat 11am-11pm. Cafe-bar: MonSat 9am-11pm. Champagne/cocktail bar: Sun-Thur 12noon-12midnight, Fri-Sat 12noon-1am. Disabled access – call ahead.

H BAR BISTRO Colston Hall, Colston St, BS1 5AR Tel: 0117 352 1151, web: www.thehbar.co.uk ■ One of the finest upsides to the Colston Hall’s refit, H Bar is run by the amiable man behind the popular Bocabar at Paintworks and what used to be Bocanova up the road, Humberto Benevenuto, the imaginative Latin American chef. Fans of the latter’s Brazilian/Mediterranean fusion food will find themselves fully at home here, with our Food editor noting, ‘All kinds of intriguing combinations were on offer and we wrestled with choices before ordering from our amiably patient waitress’, before enjoying rump of lamb and spicy aubergine, and wild mushroom, courgette & thyme risotto. Lunch, dinner, and cafe-bar downstairs serving lighter bites, teas, coffees.

Price SL: 2 £8.95. SD: 1 £14.95, 2 £17.95, 3 £21.95 Wine list Extensive. HW £14 btl, £3.90 gls Open Cafe: Mon-Sat 8am-9pm, Sun according to shows. Restaurant: Tue-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 5-9pm, Sun according to shows & events. Good disabled access. Parties up to 40. Available for outside catering & events.

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HARVEY NICHOLS SECOND FLOOR RESTAURANT & BAR Philadelphia St, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BZ Tel: 0117 916 8898, web: www.harveynichols.com ■ An 82-seater restaurant, and a sumptuous thing indeed: luxurious finishes, soft lighting, wow factor all the way.

Head chef Louise McCrimmon has been here since the 2008 opening, having trained at Leith’s School of Food and Wine and cooking her way around Burgundy in France before working her way up the Harvey Nicks family. If you just want to sample the environs in low-key style, try coffee and cakes Mon-Sat 10am-12noon (from 11am Sun). Or check out the extraordinarily hefty afternoon tea for £15.50 (champagne tea £22.50). Price ALC: £6.50-£9.50/£13.50£20/£5-£8. SL: 2 £15, 3 £18. SD: 2 £16, 3 £19. Sun brunch: £5/£10/£5 Wine list Enormous, all-encompassing. HW £19 btl, £3.25 gls. Champagne £9.50 gls Open Lunch: Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm, Sun 12noon-4pm. Afternoon tea: Mon-Sat 3-5.30pm. Dinner: Tue-Sat 6-10pm. Bar: Mon 11am-6pm, Tue-Sat 11am-12midnight, Sun 11am-5pm.

Disabled access. Separate entrance (via Penn St) in eve.

HOTEL DU VIN & BISTRO Sugar House, Narrow Lewins Mead, BS1 2NU Tel: 0117 925 5577, web: www.hotelduvin.com ■ Long-time high-end fave for Bristol foodies, thanks in no small part to the fabulous plush depths of the sofas in the welcoming lounge (aka Sugar House Bar) and the ultimate ‘Suits you, sir’ for smokers, the walk-in humidor (puffed to the gills with fine cigars from around the world).

This place was firmly into sourcing local produce long before it became obligatory to shout about doing so from the rooftops, with the large dining room a broad thrum of content as diners enjoy 28-day matured steaks, French onion soup and other Gallic-influenced faves. If you’re looking to treat someone to a special night - yourself

High-end favourite Hotel Du Vin

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Restaurants EUROPE & MEDITERRANEAN

Top tapas Flinty Red

Cotham Hill, Bristol ■ Small plates, big flavours, top tipples. An inspired team of masters (and mistresses) of good taste combine to create one of the coolest foodie hotspots for miles around.

tasting room

Green St, Bath ■ Wine shop, deli, bar, bistro and mini alfresco patio all under one superstylish Bath townhouse roof, with modern British tapas and small plates pushed to the fore of super-seasonal, impeccably sourced flexible menus.

El Rincon

North St, Bristol ■ Fully authentic tapas in characterful surroundings with an ambience to match. A downhome home-from-home experience with a huge fan base.

included - this place should be very near the top of your list. Price ALC: £5.50-£8.50/£14.50-£27.50/£6.50-£8.50 Wine list Extensive, impressive. HW £17.95 btl, £4 gls Open Breakfast: Mon-Fri 7-10am, Sat-Sun 8-11am. Lunch: Mon-Fri 12noon-2pm, Sat-Sun 12.15-2.30pm. Dinner: Mon-Thur 6-10pm, Fri-Sun 6-10.30pm. Disabled access, toilets on ground floor. Three function rooms for hire. Parties up to 10 in bistro, but on separate tables.

JUNIPER 21 Cotham Rd South, BS6 5TZ Tel: 0117 942 1744, web: www.juniperrestaurant.co.uk ■ Neighbourhood eatery just atop the crest of Cotham Brow. ‘A cracking Anglo-European menu full of local and seasonal bits and pieces,’ said Venue’s reviewer. ‘Reliably imaginative food skillfully prepared and served with style.’

Fans of intimate dining should know it comes full of cosy, quiet corners and tables for two; people who put great store in seeing how well a place engenders loyalty and repeat bookings (ie anyone of a sensible disposition) should feel entirely confident about booking sight-unseen - just try not to let locals know you’re in on their little well-kept secret. Expect informality, individuality and excellent food: hearty portions coupled with an eye for detail and some splendid artistic flourishes. Price Taster menu: 8 £60.

ALC: £6-£9/£14-£20/£7-£12 Wine list Extensive. HW approx £15.95 btl, £4 gls Open Mon-Sat 7pm-12midnight.

Disabled access to cafe-bar but not toilets. Parties welcome – call to discuss.

KILN AT THE RAMADA PLAZA HOTEL Ramada Plaza Hotel, Redcliffe Way, BS1 6NJ Tel: 0117 926 0041, web: www.ramadajarvis.co.uk ■ Classic English cuisine and local cheeses (Somerset yarg, Cropwell stilton) rub up alongside international favourites.

Be sure to understand that the produce here is not as hard-baked as in days of yore - the restaurant is housed in the shell of a 17th-century glass kiln. Breakfast buffet (£11.95) includes hot offerings and fresh fruit. Price ALC: £5.75-£6.95/£11.95-£19.75/£5.45 Wine list Good global selection. HW £16.50 btl, £4.15 gls Open Breakfast: MonFri 6.30-9.30am, Sat 7.30-11am, Sun 8am-12noon. Dinner: Sun-Thur 6.30-9.30pm, Fri-Sat till 10pm. Disabled facilities.

LIDO Oakfield Place, Clifton, BS8 2BJ Tel: 0117 933 9533, web: www.lidobristol.com ■ One of the most relaxed spots in the city, with the restaurant overlooking the length of the freshwater mountain-like lido. Since reopening four years ago, the long-neglected 1849-dating complex has been making up for lost time by swiftly becoming one of the most popular draws in town. That counts for the food as much as the pool, the 90-seat restaurant brought to you as it is by the company that created the Glassboat and Spyglass restaurants. And what a lot of options you’ve got when

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Restaurants EUROPE & MEDITERRANEAN it comes to sampling it… There’s swim and breakfast for £25 (9-10am), swim and lunch for £30 (11am-12noon), swim and afternoon tea for £35 (12noon-3pm), swim and dine for £35 (from 4.30pm). Then there’s the poolside bar offering a tapas menu from 12noon (complimentary small dish with every cold drink, 5.30-6.30pm Mon-Fri). Price Breakfast £2.25-£7.50. ALC: £7-£9.50/£15-£19.50/£3.50 Wine list HW £17.50 btl, £3.25 gls Open Restaurant: daily 12noon-3pm & 6.30-10pm (closed Sun eves). Poolside bar: all day. Food served in Spa: daily 7am-10pm. Disabled access.

LIVING ROOM Building 11, Canons Way, Harbourside, BS1 5TY Tel: 0117 925 3993, web: www.thelivingroom.co.uk ■ Popular chain accommodating up to 200 plate-seekers over two open-plan floors. Bright and bustling, it’s swiftly become an established Harbourside fave. Arrive early evening to hear the resident pianist undertaking a little ivory stroking, tinkling and whatever else comes to mind on the baby grand. Live music Fri-Sun. Check out the Express menu (Mon-Fri 12noon-2pm) for a guarantee of being in and out within the hour. Price ALC: £3.50-£8.25/£9-£22.50/£3.25-£4.75. Sunday Comforts (including trad roast) 12noon-6pm: 2 £12, 3 £15. Mon-Fri SL: 1 £8, 2 £11, 3 £14 Wine list Sturdy, well chosen. HW £14.50 btl, £3.75 gls. Specials during signature drinks hour (Mon-Sat 3-7pm), 2-4-1 on Classic Menu cocktails from 3pm Sun Open Mon-Thur 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-1am, Sun 12noon-11pm. Disabled access. Parties welcome.

Private hire. Business meeting facilities - call for details.

LOCKSIDE 1 Brunel Lock Rd, Cumberland Basin, BS1 6XS Tel: 0117 925 5800, web: www.lockside.net ■ A year shy of celebrating its half-century, this building previously played home to the Venturer’s Rest, Popeye’s Diner and - in fiction world – Sid’s Cafe in Only Fools and Horses. In current guise it offers up all manner of deliciously straightforward treats alongside more fancy fare, like the fine range of ‘proper’ English breakfasts nestling next to such posh newcomers as smoked salmon, poached eggs and bubble & squeak with hollandaise sauce. Menu stays winningly eclectic throughout the day. Bowl of Maltesers for pud? Of course, madam. All this, plus stunning views across the eponymous lock to Brunel’s bridge, and decking terrace at the rear seats 60. Available for private hire for all sorts of gatherings. Price ALC: £4.95-£6.25/£6.95-£17.50/£1.75£4.95. Breakfast/brunch £3.95-£9.50 Wine list Finely tuned. HW £15.75 btl, £4.25 gls Open Mon-Thur 7am-4pm, Fri 7am-11pm, Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 9am-4pm. No disabled access. Available for private hire.

an eye-opening tour of blitzed cities. Step through the door and survey the room and, truly, it’s not hard to imagine him sitting contentedly amid the opulence of the drawing room in a generously-backed chair. Or possibly in the club bar, or out on the terrace. Yep, this grand Victorian-style hotel is infused with polished marble, warm mahogany and gleaming brass, offering everything from light bites (we’ll explain the concept later, Sir Winston) to full-on evening meals. Price Terrace Restaurant SD (daily 5-6.30pm): 2 £15.50, 3 £20.50. ALC: £5.50-£8/£15.25-£19.50/£5-£10 Wine list Extensive, global, emphasis on new world/ European. HW £21 btl, £5.50 gls. Excellent cocktails, very well-stocked bar Open Breakfast: Mon-Fri 6.30-11am, SatSun 7-11am. Dinner: daily 6-9.30pm (Fri-Sat 10.30pm).

Club Lounge: daily 12noon-11pm. Champagne/cocktail bar: Mon-Sat from 11am (12noon Sun), closes to public 11pm. Disabled access. Parties, weddings, functions – call in adv.

MEZZALUNA 81 West St, Bedminster, BS3 3NU Tel: 0117 953 2069, web: www.mezzalunarestaurant.co.uk ■ Mehmet and family bring forth a Turkey-centric taste of the Med - paintings and murals included - with a mix of mezze dishes and evening ALC menu. Keeping with the cross-cultural theme, trad breakfasts can also be found alongside offerings such as the Mediterranean breakfast: spicy sausage, two eggs, feta cheese, honey, butter, olives, tomatoes, bread. This place can hum just as much as you want it to: for full-on party spirit, you can even book the establishment’s resident belly dancer. Front terrace and large garden. Current offer as we go to press: free large glass of white wine with any main meal from the evening menu, Mon-Thur. Price Breakfast £3.60-£6.75, lunch £6.75-£6.95. ALC dinner: £3.95-£7.95/£7.50£12.90/£3.75-£4.75 Wine list HW £12.50 btl, £3.35

One of the most popular draws in town Lido

MARRIOTT ROYAL HOTEL College Green, BS1 5TA Tel: 0117 925 5100, web: www.bristolmarriottroyal.co.uk ■ Churchill stayed here, you know, when he popped by on

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Restaurants EUROPE & MEDITERRANEAN gls Open Mon-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 10am-8pm. Disabled access. Parties up to 80.

MOREISH 6 Chandos Rd, Redland, BS6 6PE Tel: 0117 970 6078, web: www.moreishrestaurant.co.uk ■ Snugly chic (all stripped floors and airy windows), Moreish is community-beloved cafe by day, relaxed bistro come eventide. Decor apart, the unhurried atmosphere is positively encouraged by the provision of free wireless and daily newspapers, not to mention a fine beer range incorporating Luscombe and Bath Ales. The menu is best classified as modern European - when weather allows, the continental theme continues out onto the small heated terrace - ranging from the likes of chicken, lemon & basil terrine to a selection of English cheeses and chutneys. Check out the seven-course taster menu to best appreciate the fare on offer, reviewed by our man with the notebook as: ‘A non-stop fireworks display of intense flavours and subtle food ideas accompanied by wines that were themselves a revelation of their kind.

Pretty sensational it turned out to be, not least as value for money, everything being well chosen and prepared with great attention to detail.’ Price SL (12noon-6pm): 2 £11.50, 3 £14.50. SD: 2 £16.50, 3 £21 (Fri-Sat: 2 £22, 3 £25). Tasting menu: 7 courses + truffles + coffee £65.

Sun lunch (till 9.30pm or it runs out): 1 £10, 2 £14, 3 £17 Wine list Sturdy, well chosen. HW £13.25 btl, £3.15 gls Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-10.30pm, Sun 9.30am-9.30pm.

Disabled access but not to toilets. Parties up to 50 welcome.

Takeaway weekdays.

MUD DOCK 40 The Grove, Harbourside, BS1 4RB Tel: 0117 934 9734, web: www.mud-dock.com ■ Mud Dock might carry an air of being more pleased

Good, tasty, unpretentious stuff Mud Dock

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with itself than most establishments but, in fairness, it’s not without justification. Downstairs, the converted former harbourside warehouse caters to the city’s most earnestly dedicated cycling fraternity, while up here it’s food all the way. Well, food and views: the aspect enjoyed out across the harbour and the city’s industrial past from the large windowed interior is topped only by that outside, and the huge south-facing sundeck. Tapas is still a major player on the menu, but its inspiration is evolving: ‘As time has passed, we’ve meandered from a rustic Spanish theme and embraced a hint of other influences in the kitchen,’ quoth MD. ‘Chefs of differing nationalities - French, Italian, Portuguese and Brazilian -have each made their mark.’ Our reviewer was suitably impressed: ‘Imaginative fare that remains reassuringly earthy. Good, tasty, unpretentious stuff that is impressive but never intimidating.’ Price ALC: £4.25-£6.25/£9.95-£16.95/£4.65. Brunch (12noon3pm): £4.25-£12.95 Wine list Carefully selected. Wellstocked bar, btld/draught beers. HW £13.95 btl, £3.05 gls Open Mon 10am-5pm, Tue-Thur & Sun 10am-10pm, Fri 10am-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm. Disabled access - call in adv. Cafe space for private hire. Parties 20+, set menus for groups of 10+ for lunch & dinner.

MUSET BY RONNIE 16 Clifton Rd, BS8 1AF Tel: 0117 973 7248, web: www.ronnies-restaurant.co.uk ■ Our Food editor would regularly trek out to Thornbury to partake of Ron Faulkner’s near-peerless emporium of ‘British classics’. So, imagine his delight when Mr Faulkner brought the concept to Clifton, and housed it in former beloved institution of these parts, Le Muset. ‘Muset by Ronnie goes further,’ he discovered, ‘offering such a kaleidoscope of ingredients that it’s almost impossible to picture what will come.’ He soon discovered that ‘mains are a similar palette of surprises. I have a seared lump of blue fillet with a roll of crispily tasty cheek, dotted with pickled mushrooms and succulent carrot to make a solid plateful of manly eating. Dining partner gets pink-glowing canon of lamb with soft-cooked breast alongside, plus simmering leek fondue and dark tapenade of olives and anchovy. As before, it’s these dots of intense (and sometimes indefinable) flavour that make the experience, like the treacle-smoked muscavado mousse accompanying her spiced plums & mascarpone sorbet and the zesty curd underlying my lemon plate of cheesecake and crumble.’ His conclusion, come coffee time? ‘Got a boat to push out? This is the place.’ Keep an eye out for a number of food and drink events throughout the year, including gourmet literary evenings and meet-the-wine-producer dinners. Price ALC: £3-£8/£17-£32/£6.50-£8.50.

SL (Tue-Sat): 2 £16, 3 £19. SD (Tue-Thur): 2 £19, 3 £22. Sun roast: 2 £21, 3 £25. Express menu (20 mins

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Restaurants EUROPE & MEDITERRANEAN or it’s free): £5.50-£12.50 Wine list HW £17 btl Open Tue-Thur 11.30am-3.30pm & 6-11pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-3.30pm & 6pm-12.30am, Sun 10am-4pm.

Disabled access, but no toilet.

NO4 Rodney Hotel, 4 Rodney Place (off Clifton Down Rd), BS8 4HY Tel: 0117 970 6869, web: www.numberfourrestaurant.co.uk ■ Gracious Georgian facade, huge sash windows stretching from oak floor to ornate ceiling, roaring open fire, beautiful gardens at front and rear. That’s all very well, you say, but what about the food? AA rosette awarded for ‘culinary mastery’, since you ask. And, naturally, the ingredients haven’t travelled far: meats from Devon Rose Organic Farm and Ruby & White, fish from Wing of St Mawes, salads from Class 1. Excellent wine list, and the POSH Bar, overlooking the beautiful walled garden below, is perfect for summer pre-dinner cocktails. Check out the canapes and BBQ menu, too. In short: just a little bit good. Price ALC: £5.95£6.50/£15.95-£18.50/£5.50-£7.50. BBQ: 1 £9.95, 2 £16 Wine list HW £14.50 btl £4.50 gls Open Mon-Fri 7am-9am & 6-10pm, Sat-Sun 8am-10pm. Lunch: on request. Disabled access – call in adv, ramp available.

Private parties welcome.

PUMP HOUSE Merchants Rd, Hotwells, BS8 4PZ Tel: 0117 927 2229, web: www.the-pumphouse.com ■ ‘The place has that open, cheerful ease that distinguishes contemporary eating places,’ said The Guardian. True. The joy, of course - as the name combined with Harbourside location suggests - is that all the cheerfulness and openness is housed within a building steeped in local history. The kitchen brings forth delicious food for both upstairs restaurant and ground-floor bar, but without any gastropub pretensions. Things are kept local, with chef/proprietor Toby Gritten conducting regular foraging excursions for the freshest seasonal and wild ingredients. It works, too - unlike the food, those two AA rosettes don’t grow on trees, you know. For maximum satisfaction, keep an eye out for the regular jazz suppers.

We’re not talking droopy-gloopy background schmaltz, but proper-job fiery brilliance from skilled artisans like James Morton and trio. Price Restaurant ALC: £6.50-£9/£14£20/£6-£7. SD: 3 £20. Tasting menu: 8 £45 Wine list Extensive, international. HW £17 btl, £4.70 gls Open Sun-Wed 11am-11pm, Thur–Sat 11am-12midnight. ALC: Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 7-9.30pm. Sun: roast 12noon-

Lovely Mediterranean fare Olive Shed

OLIVE SHED Princes Wharf, Harbourside, BS1 4RN Tel: 0117 929 1960, web: www.theoliveshed.com ■ Imitation might be the sincerest form of flattery, but some imitators are more flattering than others. “I love this place,” said Raymond Blanc. “I hope you don’t mind if I copy some of your ideas!” Some of them are beyond copying, alas. After all, there are only so many sites on Bristol harbourside looking relaxedly back across toward the city, handsome old cranes in the corner of one eye, masts of the SS Great Britain in the other. Yep, if you’re running a lovely, Mediterraneaninfused restaurant/cafe-bar/deli and looking for space for some continental-style tables spilling outside the front door, you could do a lot worse than pitch up here.

Olives predominate as the name suggests, salads and fabulous tapas pack the deli counter, and sturdy, classic European faves proliferate on the accessible, peoplepleasing menu. For full olive coverage, check out the sister Olive Shed Shop on Gloucester Rd, including flavoured vinegars, and handcarved legs of ham and - of course - olive wood. Price ALC: £5.95-£7.95/£11.95£16.95/£5.95-£7.95. Tapas: buffets £5-£19, sharing platters £14.95-£24.95 Wine list All wines organic, many hand-sourced from own vineyard suppliers in France. HW £15 btl, £4 gls Open Tue-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 10am-4pm, subject to seasonal change. Disabled access. Outside catering for weddings, parties, corporate events.

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Restaurants EUROPE & MEDITERRANEAN 2.30pm (call to book) & eve meal 7-9.30pm. Disabled access. Parties 20+ welcome – call in adv.

RIVERSTATION The Grove, Harbourside, BS1 4RB Tel: 0117 914 4434, web: www.riverstation.co.uk ■ For nearly 15 years now, this twin-terrace-augmented Harbourside restaurant and bar+kitchen has been treading an adroitly walked line between chic smartness and unfussy informality. Even if a move to Cardiff means that - sniff! - it’s harder these days for Charlie from Casualty to pop in when off-duty. Modern European menus change daily, and as the Good Food Guide said, ‘This modernist eatery remains one of the city’s most consistent places.’ The lower level of this two-storey former police station houses a bar/kitchen providing morning coffee, pastries, fast-paced, simple lunches and suppers, afternoon cakes and teas, and evening bar food. Upstairs, meanwhile, is all about the restaurant ‘proper’. Ingredients are stringently sourced from local farmers and growers where possible and the accent is firmly on freshness and seasonality. Look out for all manner of decidedly unusual events. At the time of

Fresh modern European menus Riverstation

writing, Jason Yapp is about to host a special tasting of Provencal wines, and Show of Strength are set to stage Fanny & Johnnie Cradock Cook The Great American Songbook, with two-course meal served during the show.

Price ALC: £5-£8.50/£14.50-£19.75/£4.50-£5.50. SL: 2 £12.75, 3 £15.50. SD: 2 £14.75, 3 £18.50. Sun lunch: 2 £16, 3 £19.50. Kids aged 11 or under, accompanied by paying adult, eat free Wine list Global. HW £15.95 btl, £3.50 gls Open Bar/kitchen: Mon-Wed 9am-11pm, Thur-Sat 9am-12midnight (last food orders 10pm), Sun 9am-5.30pm (last food orders 3pm). Restaurant: Lunch Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm, Sun 12noon-3pm; Dinner MonThur 6-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 6-11pm. No disabled access to upstairs restaurant, but menu can be served at downstairs tables, with access to disabled toilet. Parties of up to 150 for seated dinner and 200 for eve party or informal buffet.

SEVERNSHED The Grove, Harbourside, BS1 4RB Tel: 0117 925 1212, web: www.severnshedrestaurant.co.uk ■ Riverstation’s next-door neighbour on Harbourside at the top of Welsh Back, and operating under the authentically Mediterranean tutelage of Portugal-hailing executive chef Antonio Dias. Food is key, of course, but you might just like the surrounds, too: spacious, airy and dead historic - this was formerly a Brunel-built boathouse. Balcony serves up comfortable space for up to 80, with fine alfresco dining, and the bright indoor restaurant (floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the waterfront) offers a laidback yet luxurious ambience.

Excellent tapas and superb cocktails, a good cafe-bar menu for lighter bites, weekend brunch (9am-5pm) and Sun roasts with live music. Twinned with Coal Grill & Bar – see website for offers and events at both places.

Price ALC: £4.95-£6.95/£7.25-£20.95/£4.95-£8.95. SD (Mon-Fri 12noon-6pm): 1 £6.95, 2 £8.95, 3 £10.95 Wine list HW £14.30 btl £3.90 gls. Wide range of cocktails, beers, spirits Open Mon 11am-10pm, Tue 12noon-1pm & 5-10pm, Wed-Sun 12 noon-11pm. Disabled access. Private parties welcome, special menus - call for details.

SPYGLASS BARBECUE & GRILL Welsh Back, Harbourside, BS1 4SB Tel: 0117 927 7050, web: www.spyglassbristol.co.uk ■ The first cuckoo heralding spring? Not in the middle of the city it isn’t - no, it’s when Spyglass emerges from its wintry hibernation to break out the high-end barbie and wood-fired pizzas. We really do mean high quality, too - even the mince for the Spyglass burger comes from 28 day-aged beef. Chicken is all free range, fish and shellfish are sustainably caught from predominantly local waters, and the ice-creams are churned on the premises.

A rotisserie has been newly installed, together with a counter kitchen for the preparation of chopped salads, dips and flatbreads. Amid the ‘nice’ and ‘gert lush’ wines, you can even find sangria on tap and cocktails

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Restaurants EUROPE & MEDITERRANEAN available by the pitcher. Gets very busy, especially in sunny weather, with bookings taken only for groups of eight-plus. Price ALC: £2.50-£8/£8.75-£19.50/£1.50£6 Wine list Good range of continental/Mediterranean wines, beers. HW £18.50 btl Open Mid-March till late Dec: Mon-Thur 12noon-10pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-10.30pm, Sun 12noon-4pm (‘If the weather is particularly foul the BBQ may close early’). Disabled access, but no toilet.

Parties 20+.

SQUARE KITCHEN 15 Berkeley Square, Clifton, BS8 1HB Tel: 0117 921 0455, web: www.thesquareclub.com ■ ‘It was all faultless, sensibly sized portions of good ingredients carefully enriched and perfectly cooked,’ said our Food editor when he dropped by this longstanding, snootiness-free, warmly rambling members’ club. Choose your spot to idle a while between the Square Kitchen (main restaurant), Lounge (art-displaying cafe-centric area), Lower Deck (the cocktail bar, hosting regular jazz and comedy nights) and the Terrace (as secret as the place voted Best Outside Dining in Bristol can be, accessed as it is via the cocktail bar). For an initial sampling of surrounds, check out the splendid value of the £5 lunch deal. And did we mention the brace of AA rosettes, or the cinema club, art classes, poetry nights…? Yep, class all the way at this place. Price ALC: £5.95-£8.50/£10.50-£18.95/£4.95£6.50. Breakfast £7.50-£11.50. Sun roast £9.95 Wine list Extensive. HW £18.50 btl, £5.50 gls Open Breakfast: Mon-Fri 7-9.30am, Sat-Sun 8-10.30am. Lighter bites all day 12noon-6pm. ALC daily 12noon-3.30pm & 6-10.30pm.

Disabled access – call ahead. Parties - call ahead.

Laidback charmers Bridge Cafe

Avon Gorge Hotel, Clifton Village, Bristol ■ Spacious and welcoming, with gorgeous gorge/suspension bridge views from the huge alfresco patio and upper-crust, crowdpleasing menus.

Cosy Club

SouthGate, Bath ■ Round-the-clock jollification from breakfast to post-supper snifters by way of top tapas, sturdy classics and properly cocky cocktails.

Jacks Bar & Brasserie

Hanover Quay, Harbourside, Bristol ■ Waterfront views, easygoing food and a gently lively ambience make Jack the ladin-the-know when it comes to laidback loveliness with a foodie twist.

SUGO 91 Regent St, Kingswood, BS15 8LJ Tel: 0117 961 9322, web: www.sugo-bristol.co.uk ■ The former Roma Trattoria morphed into Sugo in 2010, signalling the arrival of a range of Greek dishes, both mezze and mains, in addition to the comprehensive Italian selection already on offer and a full ‘grill’ selection of steaks cooked in both British and Italian styles. Food is freshly prepared and generously portioned, and staff are famously friendly. As we go to press, there’s a £60 deal offering a five-course evening meal for two (with a glass of wine each). Open Daily: Sun-Thur 10am-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 9am-12midnight

TYRELLS AT THE GRAND The Grand, 53-58 Broad St, BS1 2EL Tel: 0871 376 9042, web: www.thistle.com ■ A grander afternoon tea than most at this place. Starting at £19.95, you get scone, cream, jam, tea… not to mention champagne and access to pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. Still, it’s the restaurant we’re chiefly here for in this section: expect modern British and European cuisine on the ground floor of the Thistle hotel. And we’re talking a long

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old way from curled-up triangle sandwiches and warmedover veggie lasagne; instead, our Mr Food places Tyrells alongside City Cafe and Hotel du Vin as up there with the best hotel food in the city. As, indeed, the painted wood panelling and flower-festooned tables suggest. Price ALC: £6-£6.50/£11.50-£22.50/£6-£6.50 Wine list Extensive classic & new world. HW £17 btl, £6.50 gls Open Dinner: daily 6.30-10pm. Food in Marlow’s bar, too. Good disabled access.

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Restaurants EUROPE & MEDITERRANEAN URBAN WOOD 90 Colston St, BS1 5BB Tel: 0117 929 3627, web: www.theurbanwood.com ■ Formerly known as Wild Wood, the Urban Wood is an independent establishment split into two rooms: the front holds deep Chesterfield sofas and stripped flooring, plus intimate tables for couples and larger tables for groups; out back, meanwhile, is a room for party/meeting hire. ‘A remarkable oasis offering a place to meet, drink, do lunch or dine with the minimum of formality,’ said our reviewer.

‘Food is satisfyingly freshly prepared and reasonably priced and should cater for most tastes.’ Proper range of beers here, from local Bristol Beer Factory brews to fine pils from Austria, Flensburger Pilsner, and so forth. The ideal environs, you might suspect, for a little music as you dine. And you’d suspect right: open mic night rolls around every Tue, with listed acts on an ad hoc basis check website for details. Price ALC: £4.75-£6.50/£7.50£10.50/£4.75. Brunch £4.75-£6.50 Wine list HW approx £12 btl Open Mon-Wed 10am-11pm, Thur-Fri 10am-12midnight, Sat 12noon-midnight. Disabled access, but not to toilets. Parties catered for.

VILLAGER 35-36 Church Rd, Westbury on Trym, BS9 3EQ Tel: 0117 950 0373, web: www.villager-restaurant.co.uk ■ Properly charming place, this, housed as it is in two converted 18th-century cottages, replete with beams and open fireplace and village church in clear tolling distance.

Promising ‘an epicurean experience for lovers of food and drink’, the menu is regularly updated to take advantage of seasonal produce, with modern English, French and Mediterranean influences leading the way. A fine place to come for a relaxed, friendly, intimate atmosphere, with BYO only available for parties of eight or fewer. Suppliers are local and there are plenty of good-value options. Price ALC: £4.50-£5.95/£10.75-£13.50/£4.25. SD (Wed-Fri, 6-7.15pm): 2 £10.50, 3 £14.50. SD (Wed-Fri 7.15-9.30pm): 2 £12.50, 3 £17. Sun lunch: 1 £7.50, 2 £10.50 Wine list HW £10.75 btl (BYO for pre-booked parties of up to 8) Open Lunch: Sun 12.30-3pm. Dinner: Wed-Fri 6-9pm, Sat 7-9pm. No disabled access. Parties catered for. Takeaway.

WATERSHED CAFE-BAR 1 Canons Rd, Harbourside, BS1 5TX Tel: 0117 927 5101, web: www.watershed.co.uk ■ ‘Tasty - and ethical - eating, drinking and viewing – you can’t ask for more than that, said Venue. ‘A’ very warm and pleasant place, quietly busy with a mix of diners, drinkers and talkers and the usual scattering of Apples glowing with Wi-Fi activity. Thanks to Watershed’s plot-to-plate organic/seasonal/local policy (developed with Better Food Co main man Phil Haughton), the menu board tells you where all the meat and fish is sourced. The difference is immediately obvious in the vibrant flavours.’ Thus, meat from Gatcombe Farm on

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the Jurassic Coast at Seaton, freshly caught fish from the Cornish Wing of St Mawes, and fruit and vegetables from the Soil Association-approved Kidners Organics and the Community Farm. Oh, and a table in just about the most cutting-edge building in the city, always at least a couple of steps ahead of the pack in all things tech- and net-related. So, don’t forget to check out the cinema, exhibitions and shop, and be aware that it can get very busy later on as the room transforms from continental cafe to booming bar. Price ALC: £3.50-£5.50/£5.95£10.95/£3.50-£3.95 Wine list Extensive. HW £16.95 btl, £4.20 gls. Lots of real ales, lagers, cider, guest ales Open Food served Mon 10am-10pm, Tue 9.30am-10pm, Wed-Fri 9.30am-10pm, Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 10am-8pm. Disabled access possible via lift, and adapted toilet. Semi-private room for private bookings, up to 200.

NEW PREMISES ZAZU’S KITCHEN 225 Gloucester Rd, BS8 7NR Tel: 0117 944 5500, web: www.zazuskitchen.co.uk First there was Stokes Croft, then Clifton Village in relatively quick succession. We suspect, however, that Zazu’s move to its third premises may be altogether longer-lived: there’s something about the independence of Toby Bywater’s emporium and the general atmosphere on Gloucester Rd that seems altogether well met. So, since May 17, he’s been here, happily shacked up in the old Bistro La Barrique site. Expect quality to remain the standard that saw them written up in 2011’s Good Food Guide, and our man wondering at ‘an assured mastery to it all - the key seems to be absolutely first-rate ingredients: start with raw materials this good and you don’t need to mess about with them. Absolutely superb.’

Brunch ranges from trad English fare to fine-sounding treats like yellow chickpea curry with poppadom bowl, rice and salad. Dinner, meanwhile, is inventive all the way - check online for full delights - with fuller tapas menu to follow. Price ALC: £4.50-£5.95/£9.50-£18.50/£4.50£5.50. Brunch (9am-3pm): £2.95-£8.50 Wine list Small, perfectly formed. HW £14 Open Daily 9am-11pm. No disabled access - several steps up to entrance. Available for private bookings. Takeaway.

ZERODEGREES 53 Colston St, BS1 5BA Tel: 0117 925 2706, web: www.zerodegrees.co.uk ■ Award-winning micro-brewery not just on the same site but in the same sleek, industrial interior: just check out those large vats of delicious delights like the splendid Mango Beer. Food-wise it’s best known for its kilo pots of fresh mussels and fine gourmet pizzas, with bangers & mash, hearty salads and European-influenced pasta dishes also distinguishing a modern, fresh menu. Not a place for an intimate dinner for two, perhaps, for this is a brashly loud old

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Restaurants EUROPE & MEDITERRANEAN place. That said, if you fancy ducking outside for a little alfresco dining, you’ve made a fine choice - no less than three dining balconies here, all fully heated and smoker-friendly. Price ALC: £3.25-£5.25/£6.95£13.95/£4.75 Wine list Extensive. HW £13.95 btl, £4 gls. Fabulous, unique range of beers. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7pm Open Mon-Sat 12noon-midnight, Sun 12noon-11pm. Disabled access & toilet. Parties 20+.

Takeaway.

Bath AQUA ITALIA 86 Walcot St, BA1 5BD Tel: 01225 471371, web: www.aqua-restaurant.com • See Italian.

DEMUTHS 2 North Parade Passage, BA1 1NX Tel: 01225 446059, web: www.demuths.co.uk • See Vegetarian.

RIVERSIDE CAFE 17 Argyle St (below Pulteney Bridge), BA2 4BQ Tel: 01225 480532, web: www.riversidecafebath.co.uk ■ This charming cafe-bar in a unique location right on Pulteney Weir serves fabulous breakfasts, fresh, homecooked lunches and thoughtfully eclectic suppers on a modern British/Mediterranean/global theme.

Fish arrives from St Mawes daily and all food is freshly prepared using fine local produce: the fish & chips are pretty much unbeatable, burgers are boisterous, and if the sweet potato pancakes are on the menu, stack up.

Pavement tables offer gorgeous weir views. What’s not to love? Price ALC: approx £6/£10-£14/£6. Lunch/light bites from approx £6 Wine list Thoughtful, well-chosen.

HW £13.50-£17 btl Open Daily 9am-9.30pm. Disabled access very limited. Not suitable for large groups, except by prior arrangement.

Vegetarians’ delight Demuths

GREEN PARK BRASSERIE Green Park Station, BA1 1JB Tel: 01225 338565, web: www.greenparkbrasserie.com ■ Convivial Euro-style brasserie with alfresco, covered seating (60-seater porte-cochere out front, 70-seater deck out back, in what was once a railway station but is now home to the popular weekend farmers’ market) adding to the overall appeal. Free broadband/ Wi-Fi in the library area, and regular live jazz ups the good-times ante. Mornings are all about coffee and cakes, set menus are exceptionally good value for money, and evening ALC is always imaginative. Price ALC: from £4.95/from £10.95/from £4.95-£5.25. SL: 2 £12.50, 3 £14.95. SD (Tue-Sat 6-7pm): 1 £9.50, 2 £12.50, 3 £14.95 Wine list HW from approx £11.95 btl Open Mon 10.30am-3pm, Tue-Sat 10.30am-11pm, Sun lunch 12noon-2.45pm. Disabled access. Large parties, weddings & business functions welcome (up to 200, set menus available).

RAPHAEL Gascoyne House, Upper Borough Walls, BA1 1RN Tel: 01225 480042, web: www.raphaelrestaurant.co.uk ■ Cosy, candlelit, contemporary bistro, very popular with the pre-theatre crowd. Menus feature imaginative Medi-themed dishes based around seasonal availability and daily market deliveries. Specials board often features fresh fish, and vegetarians are never overlooked. Price ALC: from £4.95/£12.95-£21/from approx £5. SL: 2 £11.95. SD (5.30-7.30pm): 2 £14.95 Wine list Extensive. HW approx £15 btl. Draught beers, cocktails, fine brandies Open Daily 12noon3pm & 5.30-10.30pm (last orders). Parties 20+ - call in adv.

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Restaurants EUROPE/FISH SAME, SAME BUT DIFFERENT 7a Princes Buildings, BA1 2ED Tel: 01225 466856, web: www.same-same.co.uk ■ Sturdy Medi-themed yumminess (including excellent tapas) served Thur-Sat eves at this charming licensed cafe.

See Cafes.

TILLEYS BISTRO 3 North Parade Passage, BA1 1NX Tel: 01225 484200, web: www.tilleysbistro.co.uk ■ Don’t be fooled into thinking that a street-level table at Tilleys - on one of Bath’s prettiest traffic-free passages - is Where It’s At. Downstairs, stone-flagged floors, countrycottage furniture and eclectic knick-knackery give what could be a claustrophobic subterranean vault a homely, farmhouse kitchen feel. The menu follows suit: mix and match from a selection of small, medium and large dishes, paying homage to robust Mediterranean influences, with the odd twist on local regional classics such as haddock smokies, crab St Malo, Dartmouth Smokehouse fish selection, pork a la dijonnaise, guinea fowl supreme stuffed with black pudding and wrapped in pancetta, gressingham duck breast with black cherry sauce, bitoke roquefort, chocolate St Emilion & lemon posset. Price ALC: small dish £6-£8.50/medium £6.50-£9/large £10-£19/ dessert £6. SL: 2 £12.50, 3 £15. SD (6-7pm): 2 £12 Wine list HW from £15.50 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6.3010.30pm. Disabled access to ground floor & toilet. Separate room with lounge & bar for private hire: 10-16. Parties 20+ welcome.

WOODS 9-13 Alfred St, BA1 2QX Tel: 01225 314812, web: www.woodsrestaurant.com ■ Enjoying a prime location opposite the Assembly Rooms since the late 1970s, this upmarket but informal bistro serves affordable food to match (modern European classics) and deservedly enjoys local institution status. French-style bar-

Medi-themed yumminess Same Same But Different

brasserie area at the front leads to an elegant, spacious dining room - all white cloths, fresh flowers, candlelight, softly-softly carpet underfoot and walls lined with all things racehorserelated. Price ALC: from £5.50/from £13.50/£6. SL/SD (Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 5-7pm): 2 £16.95. Party menu options available Wine list HW from £14 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-9.45pm (last orders), Sun by special arrangement. Wheelchair accessible throughout but staff assistance required at entrance. Room for private hire, up to 45.

Fish Bristol FISHERS 35 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BX Tel: 0117 974 7044, web: www.fishers-restaurant.com ■ Smack in the heart of Clifton Village and boasting portholes in the kitchen doors, Fishers’ dining room feels like a smart seaside restaurant. You need to like fish to enjoy the place because (token meat and veggie dishes notwithstanding) the menu is entirely seafood based, with a cavalcade of freshly caught temptations presented in an interesting variety of dishes. Our Food editor was distinctly impressed: ‘While the Great Fish Resurgence has made a welcome change to menus, it can reveal a lack of skill in otherwise reputable kitchens. Fishers, happily, is not one of those. Everything tastes perfectly fresh and clearly doesn’t want hurrying – the staff leave us to meander through it. The small but perfectly formed wine list knows its stuff, too, with a wide choice of fish-friendly whites and a few light-grape reds. A place that truly knows seafood and wants to share the love.’ Price ALC: £5.50£9.50/£9.95-£21/£4.25-£5.50. Set light lunch: 2 £5, 3 £8.50. Early dinner (6-6.45pm): all mains £5. See website for current offers Wine list New and old world. HW £14.50 btl, £3.50 gls Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10.30pm (10pm Sun-Mon). Booking advisable. Disabled access, but not to toilets. Parties 20+ welcome - call in adv.

LOCH FYNE Queen Charlotte St, Welsh Back, BS1 4HQ Tel: 0117 930 7160, web: www.lochfyne.com ■ Shacked in the lovely Old Granary building, this renowned chain specialises in reliable, sustainable sourcing of fish and shellfish. Not to mention paper, for even the menus are printed on 100% recycled stuff. ‘Where species are not plentiful, we’ll find alternatives and we will not source fish caught by methods deemed to be harmful to the marine ecosystem such as deep-sea trawlers, beam trawlers or industrial long-liners,’ they assure.

The smoked salmon and oysters are possibly the most celebrated dishes, but it’s the mussels that caught the taste-buds of our reviewer: ‘Being wholesomely raised in the eponymous loch [on the west coast of Argyll and Bute,

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Restaurants FISH/FRENCH fact fans], they’re a bit varied in size and plumpness, but all exude a real marine freshness in their mariniere gravy.

The lobster bisque was also really good, with the satisfying texture of granular velvet. Both were filling enough to see us through the wait for the main courses, which arrived with French-style promptness.’ Always a couple of meat and vegetarian options, and blackboard specials comprise fresh, imaginative treats and catches of the day. Prices are competitive because the company supplies itself, cutting out the middleman and guaranteeing that all-important source. Well-informed, friendly staff add to the overall high standards. See website for online shop and latest offers.

Price ALC: £4.95-£6.45/£9.95-£22.95/£3.50-£4.50. SL (12noon-7pm): 2 £9.95, 3 £11.95 Wine list Extensive. HW £13.95 btl, £3.85 gls Open Mon-Thur 11.30am-10pm, Fri 11.30am-11pm, Sat 11.30am-11pm, Sun 11.30am-10pm.

Disabled access. Groups/parties welcome - call in adv.

ROCKFISH GRILL & SEAFOOD MARKET 128 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2RS Tel: 0117 973 7384, web: www.rockfishgrill.co.uk ■ ‘If you love fish, then Rockfish is heavenly,’ said our Food editor, a man who values fish above everything but classic motorbikes and the collected works of Charles Mingus. Blending stylish, informal, relaxed eatery and cookery school, it’s a virtual seaside spot from which to partake of the freshest of seafood, simply prepared and cooked to your liking. Or cooked yourself: drop in to order from the freshest seafood market in town, open every FriSat. Chargrilling fish is their speciality, giving it a uniquely Mediterranean flavour. Direct links with Brixham fishermen on the south Devon coast, they assure, mean they ‘get the best of the day’s catch - every day’. Learn to DIY at the seafood cookery school – ring or see website for details.

New additions to the menu include locally sourced meat.

Sunday lunch on the last Sun of the month. Price ALC: £6-£9.50/£14-£23.50/£4-£5. SL (till 7pm): 2 £12.50, 3 £15 Wine list Truly extensive. HW £18 btl, £4.25 gls Open Restaurant: Tue-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10pm (10.30pm Fri), Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-10.30pm. Seafood market: FriSat 9am-5pm. Disabled access, but no toilet access. Parties 20+ welcome - phone in adv.

French Bristol NEW BISTRO BIERE 112 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4DB Tel: 0117 946 7870, web: www.bistrobiere.co.uk ■ Opened in May 2012, Bistro Biere has a lot to live up to in this building. In its most recent guise as Clifton Kitchen it scooped Bristol Restaurant of the Year, having previously been steeped - marinated? - in culinary history as the building in which the late Keith Floyd established his legendary bistro in the 1970s. The new incarnation promises to ‘fuse contemporary and old-school French bistro classics’. We’ve not had chance to sample it for ourselves, but Twitter chat suggests the old place’s reputation is in safe oven gloves. Certainly sounds tasty: on the current sample menu, we’d be starting with the lobster ravioli in bisque sauce, before moving on to the boeuf en daube, celeriac & potato purée with kale and carrots. Price ALC: £5.50-£5.95/£9.50-£15.95/£5.50-£6.95 Wine list

Heavenly piscine perfection Rockfish Grill & Seafood Market

Bath LOCH FYNE 24 Milsom St, BA1 1DG Tel: 01225 750120, web: www.lochfyne.com ■ This stylish fish-based franchise (see Bristol listing for full details) also opens for breakfast, including a smashing full English and the most glorious smoked kippers this side of the Scottish border. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Breakfast: Mon-Fri 7.30-10am, Sat-Sun 8-10am.

Lunch/dinner: Mon-Thur 12noon-10pm, Fri-Sat 12noon11pm, Sun 12noon-10pm. Disabled access. Groups of up to 15 can be seated together.

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Restaurants FRENCH Continental & world beers, good wine selection Open MonThur 6-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 6-11pm (lunchtime opening from mid-June)

BRASSERIE BLANC Quakers Friars, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BF Tel: 0117 910 2410, web: www.brasserieblanc.com ■ “I have never been speechless, but when I first visited Quakers, it was close,” says Brasserie honcho Raymond Blanc. “If the Georgian Meeting House was not enough, the two medieval halls will just stagger you. Too big for just a brasserie, I have turned the halls into banqueting halls. They were built in the 13th and 14th centuries as a monastery and then used by Bristol Guilds.” That’s banqueting set up for lovely French classic and modern dishes, made with fresh, local and seasonal produce, and lining up with decent prices. Under the watchful eye of head chef Saurabh Hirve, enjoy the likes of Mediterranean fish soup; crispy St Loup goat’s cheese with tomato chutney; Swiss chard & cep mushrooms lasagne; spring rack of Cornish lamb; and Raymond’s renowned salmon & smoked haddock fishcakes. The Post was certainly impressed: ‘Raymond Blanc’s group of brasseries is

Continental flair Brasserie Blanc

in serious danger of giving restaurant chains a good name,’ purred their foodie. ‘I, for one, have fallen in love with Brasserie Blanc and cannot recommend it highly enough.’ There’s a terrace for suitably continental-style alfresco dining or coffees, while predominantly French wines are sourced directly from selected vineyards. See helpful website for offers, menus and Raymond Blanc online shop. Kids get their own Petit Blanc menu (around £5.95). Price ALC: £4.95-£8.50/£9.50-£26/£4.95-£7.85.

Roast sirloin Sun lunch £12.80. SL (till 7pm): 2 £11.50, 3 £13.95. SD (from 7pm): 2 £14, 3 £16.45 Wine list HW £15.95 btl, £3.85 gls Open Mon-Thur 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10.30pm, Sun 10am-9pm. Good disabled access.

Can cater for large parties - phone to check.

CAFE ROUGE Unit SU51A, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BD Tel: 0117 954 4808 85 Park St, BS1 5PJ Tel: 0117 929 2571 Unit R4, The Mall, Cribbs Causeway, BS10 7TG Tel: 0117 950 8730, web: www.caferouge.co.uk ■ Lively, upmarket French-themed cafe-bar/brasserie/ restaurant franchise serving up a huge menu to suit most tastes, alongside daily specials board, classic French fare (moules/steak-frites, tarts, salads) and an excellent bar. Price ALC: £4.95-£6.95/£7.95-£15.75/£4.95-£6.

Breakfast £3.95-£7.50. SL (Mon-Fri 12noon-5pm): 1 £7.25, 2 £8.95 Wine list Good selection, strong French emphasis.

HW £15.95 btl, £4.30 gls. Euro-beers & lagers, cocktails, liqueurs Open Cabot: Daily 9am-10pm. Cribbs: Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 10am-5pm. Park St: Mon-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 10am-10.30pm. Disabled access - call ahead (Park St); excellent facilities at Cabot and Cribbs, including step-free access, accessible toilets, Braille and large-print menus.

Parties welcome - call ahead.

COTE BRASSERIE 27 The Mall, Clifton Village, BS8 4JG Tel: 0117 970 6779, web: www.cote-restaurants.co.uk ■ A chain, yes, but a good ’un - this one arrived in Bristol as the 22nd link in a franchise launched by the former owners of the Strada chain. And though the place is big (120 covers), there’s no stinting on individual dish quality. Our man with the food-stained notebook was happy to arrive to ‘friendly greetings that are the first sign of what proves to be a service culture of amiable effectiveness and consideration in the best French style.

Full marks for both food and the service - small wonder that the place is heaving and, I suspect, will continue to do so.’ clearly, the place is building on Cote’s rating as the Good Food Guide’s Best Value Restaurant in the UK three years back, and who in the most recent addition still found ‘robust French flavours, cheery continental vibes and brilliant value for money’. Expect modern versions of classics like steak-frites, moules marinieres

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Restaurants FRENCH and corn-fed chicken from the heart of rural Brittany, alongside lighter dishes like tuna nicoise, and creme caramel for dessert. Price ALC: £4.35-£7.95/£8.55£17.95/£3.95-£5.25. Breakfast (Mon-Fri 9am-12noon, Sat 9am-1pm, Sun 10am-1pm): £3.80-£8.10. SL (Mon-Fri till 7pm): 2 £9.95, 3 £11.90 Wine list Proudly all French.

HW £14.50 btl, £4.30 gls Open Mon-Fri 8am-10.30pm, Sat 9am-10.30pm, Sun 9am-9.30pm. Good disabled access.

Bath BEAUJOLAIS BISTRO BAR 5 Chapel Row (off Queen Square), BA1 1HN Tel: 01225 423417, web: www.beaujolaisbath.co.uk ■ For those who aren’t familiar with the unique charms of a restaurant, bar and wine shop that, over a threedecade history, has earned itself long-standing social institution status in the heritage city, think of it as the Bath incarnation of legendary Parisian boho hangout Brasserie Lipp, complete with a characterful proprietor who’s one part René François (‘Allo ‘Allo!) Artois and two parts all his own work. Laidback but lively surroundings (informal but efficient, cosy but smart, with a delightful little garden outback) and menus that regularly feature competent Gallic delights like steak tartare, escargots, marmite de poissons, confit de canard and tarte tatin.

Price ALC: from £5.95/from approx £11.50/from approx £5. SL/SD (Tue-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 6-6.45pm): 2 £12.95 Wine list Extensive, euro-centric (inc British selection), lots by the gls. HW approx £15 btl Open Bar/ wine shop: Mon 5pm-close, Tue-Sat 11am-close. Lunch: Tue-Sat 12noon-2.30pm. Dinner: Mon-Thur 6-9.30pm, Fri 6-10.30pm, Sat 5.30-10.30pm. Disabled access – call in adv for details. Private dining up to 30.

Local institutions Pizza Provencal Regent St, Clifton Village, Bristol ■ This cosy, eclectic neighbourhood trattoria has been serving perfect pizzas since your mum and dad were students.

Beaujolais Bistro Bar Chapel Row, Bath ■ A fire almost razed it to the ground a few years ago, but nothing could dampen the ardour of Beau fans for this decades-old, boisterous Bath watering hole.

La Taverna Dell’artista King St, Bristol ■ A gloriously characterful social pitstop next to the BOV theatre that’s kept Bristol’s laidback luvvies’ sustenance levels up for many a long year.

BISTRO LA BARRIQUE 31 Barton St, BA1 1HG Tel: 01225 463861, web: www.bistrolabarrique.co.uk ■ Cheerful, distinctly welcoming cafe-society surroundings (including pavement seating out front and absolutely gorgeous walled garden to the rear) and a lively menu selection largely revolving around petits plats (French version of tapas) make this a very popular Heritage City hotspot. Head chef/proprietor Michel Lemoine’s inspirations have firm foundations in the classic French bistro experience, translating to emphasise confits, tatins, rillettes, crepes, balotines, etc, in a thoughtful selection of dinky little dishes. ‘A cosy, wellpriced, welcoming bistro specialising in cosy, well-priced, welcoming food supplemented by a thoroughly decent wine list that offers familiar succour and brave new world zeitgeist in equal measure,’ is how EOW’s own petite tarte tatin put it. Price Petit plats from approx £6/sides £2.95/ daily special (large plate) £10-£14/dessert £5-£6 Wine list Intelligent, lots by the gls. HW from £16 btl Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-10.30pm, Sat 12noon-

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Restaurants FRENCH/GLOBAL 10.30pm. Disabled access. Large parties welcome - call in adv. Private dining room available.

NEW BRASSERIE BLANC Francis Hotel, Queens Square, BA1 2HH Tel: 01225 303860, web: www.brasserieblanc.com ■ A new addition to the Bath merrymaking scene courtesy of Gallic celebrity chef Raymond Blanc, featuring a rather splendid bar and brasserie at the epicentre of the recently refurbished Francis Hotel.

Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2.45pm & 5-10.30pm, Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-9pm. Disabled access. Large parties welcome call in adv.

CAFE ROUGE 15 Milsom St, BA1 1DE Tel: 01225 462368, web: www.caferouge.co.uk ■ Lively, upmarket French-themed cafe-bar/brasserie/ restaurant franchise. See Bristol listing. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 10am-10.30pm. Disabled access. Parties welcome - call ahead.

Effortless Gallic good taste Casanis

CASANIS 4 Saville Row, BA1 2QP Tel: 01225 780055, web: www.casanis.co.uk ■ In one of the prettiest buildings on one of Bath’s most picturesque traffic-free lanes, and serving exemplary, authentic French bistro food in elegant but gently informal surroundings. Styling within this softly-lit haven of bonhomie represents that quintessentially Gallic sense of effortless good taste: pristine white tablecloths set with twinkling tableware prove how stunning simplicity can be, and even Michel Roux couldn’t fail to be impressed by the utterly charming service, from warm welcome to bonsoir. A hot contender for Most Romantic Restaurant in Bath Award - intimate without being cloying, a table for two here offers a dream-date fantasy made flesh. ‘Only the grumpiest of grouches could fail to find the Casanis experience uplifting,’ said one swooning EOW critic. When the sun comes out, the dinky little private courtyard really comes into its own. Gorgeous. Price ALC: from approx £6/from approx £13.95/from approx £6. SL: 2 £14.75, 3 £18.75. SD (6-7pm): 2 £18.50, 3 £23 Wine list Well chosen, predominantly French. HW from £15 btl Open Tue-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10.30pm. Limited wheelchair access. Private parties welcome – call for details.

COTE BRASSERIE 27 Milsom Place, BA1 1BZ Tel: 01225 335509, web: www.cote-restaurants.co.uk ■ Another branch in what one EOW reviewer recently called ‘a classic brasserie experience from a chain with no weakest link’, the Bath branch making full use of the gorgeous split-level oasis (complete with alfresco courtyard area and upper-level terrace) at the epicentre of upmarket shopping mall Milsom Place. See Bristol listing. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Fri 8am-11pm, Sat 9am–11pm, Sun 9am–10.30pm. Disabled access to ground floor, inc toilets.

Global & One-Off Bristol NEW 40 ALFRED PLACE 40 Alfred Place, Kingsdown, BS2 8HD Tel: 0117 944 3060, web: www.40alfredplace.net ■ A blank canvas of a restaurant. Truly: 44 seats ready for hire in fully licensed premises to do with as you will. And that really could be you, Mr or Mrs Amateur, just as easily as it could be Mr or Mrs Seasoned Professional Looking for a Little Fun. So it was that, at the back end of last year, ace Bristol chef Barny Haughton saw it as his chance to make a shimmeringly quick pop-up revival of his legendary former Whiteladies establishment, Rocinantes.

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Restaurants GLOBAL ‘The chance for a brief return to what The Independent once described as “the epitome of Bristol mellow” was priceless,’ raved our Food editor of his culinary nostalgia fest. So, do with it as you will: throw a memorable party, lose your supper club-arranging virginity, tuck it under your wing as a regular spot for your bridge club/poetry slam/micro-theatre/etc, or go for your first test cook as a budding restaurateur. You can hire just the space, or go the whole (locally sourced, ethically reared) hog and opt to take in the well-equipped professional kitchen and bar, too. It doesn’t have to be DIY all the way, mind. As these folk make clear, ‘We work with a range of the city’s top chefs and front-of-house staff to make your event, party, product launch or pop-up the mutt’s nuts.’ So much for evenings. By day, the venue is given over to a long-term pop up, Harrison Laird Mum’s Cafe. Expect fine coffee, Mum-made sweet and savoury treats, and Hart’s Bakery baking their splendid wares here every Friday. Price & Wine list Wholly variable, of course Open Mum’s: TueFri from 8am, Sat from 9am (times are generally flexible, so call ahead for details)

BACCHUS 59 Apsley Rd, Clifton, BS8 2SW Tel: 0117 973 4892 ■ Fine all-day breakfasts, lunches, early suppers, veggie options and good wine list. See Cafes.

tender, the moin-moin a satisfying sponge of ground beans flavoured with dried crayfish. The hastily chosen asun’s goat meat chunks are embellished with raw red chilli and snatch at our tongues, as the menu had warned.

Our soups – egusi, edikang ikong and efo riro - are subtly different, delicious and best eaten with fingers, tearing lumps from the doughy pounded yam to pinch up with dark spinachy vegetables, picking apart fried telapia, chicken and golden honeycomb tripe.’ In short: great service and well-prepared, distinctive food. Price ALC: £4.99-£11.99/£6.99-£14.99/£2.50-£3.50. Lunch: £3.99£5.29/£4.99-£6.49 Wine list HW £12btl, £3gls Open TueFri 5.30-10.30pm, Sat 3-10.30pm, Sun 3-8pm. Disabled access but not to toilet. Takeaway. Private parties up to 70.

Outside catering.

NEW POCO 45 Jamaica St, Stokes Croft, BS2 8JP Tel: 0117 923 2233, web: www.tomsfeast.com/restaurants/ poco-bristol ■ Like the Thali Cafes before it, Poco is the permanent home of a beloved festival tourer (you may have seen Poco

All around the world Giraffe

GIRAFFE Glass House, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BX Tel: 0117 930 0603, web: www.giraffe.net ■ On the top row of the Circus, next to House of Fraser, sits Bristol’s Giraffe outlet. Global all the way, from continentsstraddling menu to piped world music, so you can go from breakfasting in Mexico (huevos rancheros) to enjoying a Middle Eastern sundown with fattoush vegetable salad, served with dukkah spiced vegetable cakes. Plus, naturally, more determinedly populist fare such as burgers and pizzas, not to mention a mean brunch menu teetering from full English to stacks of American-style pancakes. Price ALC: £2.95-£5.65/£8.95-£15.95/£3.95-£5.65. SD (daily from 5pm): 2 £9.95. Breakfast £3.95-£8.25 Wine list HW £14.95 btl, £2.90 gls. Large cocktail selection Open MonThur 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 9am-10.30pm, Sun 9am-9pm.

Disabled access (lift to food court).

IROKO 27-29 Midland Rd, St Philips, BS2 0JT Tel: 0117 329 4462, web: www.irokorestaurantbristol.com ■ Few are the places offering genuinely distinctive flavours in Bristol’s ever-growing foodie market. This, praise be, is one of them. Formerly the wonderful John’s Cafe, Iroko brings forth Nigerian fare of fine old quality, not to mention an equally delicious afrobeat soundtrack.

When our Food editor dropped in, he found that ‘starters arrive promptly and sizzling, with the gizzards spicy and

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Restaurants FRENCH/GLOBAL Loco at Hanging Gardens of Brighton or Glade thus far this year). Having touched down in the old Zazu’s Kitchen premises, it offers NY-style brunch, salad wraps and sourdough sandwiches for lunch, before a menu of Britcentric tapas, local wines and cocktails takes over come eventide. So, expect the likes of roasted belly of pork with fennel crackling, homemade Moroccan harissa, chorizo & merguez sausages, and roasted pheasant with quince and sherry. And a very fine first impression it’s made, too.

‘The decor is lovely, little glass vases with simple white flowers adorn each table, and hanging plants drape from the tops of tall shelves,’ said Bristol Bites. ‘There’s lots of worn wood and some vintage/hipsterish artefacts like an old gramophone and old hanging light fittings.’ Having enjoyed the food even more, Ms BB concluded: ‘Go, people of Bristol, and visitors-to-Bristol. If you know what’s good for you, go!’ And good for others, too. ‘I’ve partnered up with Taste of Freedom, a charity that works with food destined for landfill, intercepting perfectly good crates of ripe fruit or imperfectly shaped vegetables,’ explains owner (and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall protégé) Tom Hunt. ‘The menus I’ve been creating alongside them are inspired by “freeganism”.’ Goodness all the way, then. Price Brunch

£2-£6. Lunch £2-£7. Dinner tapas £2.50-£10 Wine list Well-chosen range served by the carafe, £9 Open Mon-Tue 9am–5pm, Wed-Fri 9am–late, Sat-Sun 10am-late

Huge, bustling, popular

Showcase Cinema de Lux, Glass House, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BX Tel: 0117 910 0091, web: www.showcasecinemas.co.uk ■ Restaurant and full-service bar within Cinema de Lux, with an internationally inspired menu, kids’ menus, cocktails and daytime food specials from £3.95 (11am-6pm daily). Price ALC: £3.50-£3.95/£4.45-£10.95/£4.25£5.95. Sharing platter £9.95-£19.95 (min 2 people) Wine list HW £11.95 btl, £2.55 gls Open Restaurant: Sun-Thur 10am-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 10am-12.30am. Bar: Sun-Thur 10am-11pm, Fri-Sat 10am-12.30am. Disabled access (via lift). Parties welcome - call in adv.

Za Za Bazaar

PREVIEW BUFFET BAR The Venue, Merlin Rd, Cribbs Causeway, BS10 7SR Tel: 0117 959 8282, web: www.previewbuffetbar.co.uk ■ All-you-can-eat buffet bar (sister to the next-door Carvery restaurant), and bringer-forth of single fixedprice across soups, salad, pizza, pasta, grills, Oriental wok dishes, burgers, trad English roasts and a choice of desserts. A hit with with visitors to The Venue – especially those grabbing a bite before taking in a movie or going bowling - and do be sure to save room for the ice-cream machine. Pre-pay/self-serve system means there’s no waiting for meals to be delivered to the table, or for the bill to arrive at the end. So, more efficient than strictly atmospheric, but probably precisely what you’re looking for if you’re headed Mall-wards. Price All you can eat Mon-Fri £6.95 till 5.30pm, £9.95 after (weekends £11.95) Wine list HW £10.95 btl, £2.95 gls Open Mon-Sat 12noon-late, Sun 11.30am-late. Good disabled access.

STUDIO ONE AT CINEMA DE LUX

NEW ZAZA BAZAAR Canons Rd, Harbourside, BS1 5UH Tel: 0117 922 0330, web: www.zazabazaar.com ■ It is, surely, the biggest instant hit of an eatery to open round these parts in a long old time? Those queues out the door each night aren’t down to shoddy maître d’-ing, folks - it’s humminger still upstairs. And why shouldn’t it be? As our Food editor noted when he dropped by, ‘Imagine a bustling funfair where all the activity is about eating. The enormous bustling hangar is ringed with dazzlingly decorated booths and eating areas, with a line of attention-seeking stalls down the middle dispensing food on all four sides. What feels like the population of a small town is thronging, fetching colourful platefuls of Indian, Far Eastern, European and Tex-Mex food, and the sense of restless activity never stops.’ It’s a simple concept - buy a plate, fill it up, repeat until fully gorged. Someone might want to tell the children: ‘I see a small boy looking furtively around while helping himself to sweets from the

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Restaurants GLOBAL/GREEK & TURKISH dessert bar but he needn’t worry – it really is unlimited here. At some point it hits us that we have to say no. No to the replenished tureens of chilli con carne or beef in black bean sauce, no to alluring kebabs and pick’n’mix stirfry. As with any other fairground, the risk is going too far. There’s a difference between ‘all you can eat’ and ‘eat all you want’ and I’m thinking the latter while seduced by the former.’

Price Lunch (11am-5pm): Mon-Thur £8.99, Fri-Sat £9.99, Sun brunch £12.99. Dinner: Mon-Thur £14.99, Fri-Sun £16.99 Wine list As you might expect, a much broader range than your normal all-you-can-eat emporium. HW £13.50, btl £4 gls. Globe-straddling beer range Open Daily: restaurant 11am-11pm, bar 11am-1am. Parties. Takeaways.

COMING SOON VAULTS

Bath

Bristol

GIRAFFE

EL BAHDJA

8 Dorchester St, BA1 1SS Tel: 01225 463333, web: www.giraffe.net ■ Another link in a 30-strong chain of restaurants specialising in crowd-pleasing, family-friendly food set against a hip’n’happening, world music-playing backdrop. The Bath branch claims to be inspired by ‘New York’s clubby coffee shops and restaurants’, resulting in a split-level affair featuring quirky decor flourishes in an admirable (and largely successful) attempt to distinguish itself from the blander food outlets that so far dominate the SouthGate shopping centre. Menus (inc impressive breakfast/brunch selection, served till 12noon) largely focus on familiar flavours from around the globe, including burgers, stirfries, jambalayas, massive salads, sharing platters and Mexican standards (chillies, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas). See website for regularly updated, wallet-friendly promos and special offers. Price/ Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Fri 9am-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm, Sun & bank hols 9am-10.30pm. Full disabled access throughout.

39 Stokes Croft, BS1 3PY Tel: 07859 009128 ■ Formerly the Bristol Tavern, today bringing forth fine Greek-influenced Mediterranean fare.

Utilising expertise honed at Entelia, chef Faycal Tazaoui’s dishes certainly caught the palette of our reviewer: ‘It’s a substantial and satisfying spread,’ he said, ‘with the smoky-lemony aubergine of the babaganoush and the chillibreath of the hummus especially enjoyable.’

Expect further faves such as moussaka, stifado, mozzarella & tomato salads, baklava and more.

Price ALC: £2.50-£4/£5.50-£7.95/£2.50-£3.

Mezze £9.95 (min 2 people) Wine list No licence.

Soft drinks, juice & teas currently available Open Daily: 11am-3pm & 6-10.30pm (11.30pm Fri-Sat).

Disabled access. Takeaway.

JIMMY SPICE’S 6 Dorchester St, BA1 1SS Tel: 01225 426802, web: www.jimmyspices.co.uk ■ Eighth in an ever-expanding national chain bringing together the flavours of Thailand, China, India, Mexico, Italy and Japan on an array of hotplates and woks, with a huge salad bar and Willy Wonka-style dessert buffet supplementing the lot. Price Serve yourself, all you can eat. Lunch: Mon-Fri £6.99, Sat-Sun & bank hols £10.90. Dinner: Mon-Wed Early Bird £9.99 (till 7pm), then £13.99, Thur-Sat £15.99. Sunday carvery £9.99.

Under-10s half-price Wine list HW from £14 btl, £3.80 gls. Wide range of lagers, beers, cocktails, shooters, etc Open Daily 12noon-10.30pm (last food orders 10pm).

Full disabled access throughout. Parties/private hire welcome - call in adv.

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SouthGate, BA1 1AQ Web: www.southgatebath.com ■ The final stage of the SouthGate redevelopment project (due to be completed autumn 2012), housed within the Brunel-built arches that originally formed part of Bath Spa railway station. Expect six restaurant/cafe-bars and five food kiosks clustered around a newly built, pedestrianised piazza. Full details tbc at the time of going to press.

Greek & Turkish

ENTELIA 50 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2NH Tel: 0117 946 6793, web: www.entelia.co.uk ■ Bit of a favourite for the romantically inclined, what with the candles on simple wooden tables and plenty of room to lose yourself in. The flowers on the pavement-side terrace tables are a nice touch, too. Greece-themed photos and clay friezes give the nod that, food-wise, we’re talking contemporary Greek taverna serving up Mediterranean flavours. Expect recipes and cooking methods passed down through generations, all made with seasonal produce and followed by an indulgence of homemade desserts.

Price ALC: £3.20-£6.35/£10.35-£18.35/£4.90. Express lunch (Mon-Sat 12noon-5pm): 2 £8.95. Set mezze £19.95£23.50pp (min 2 sharing) Wine list Extensive, inc lots of Greek mainland & island wines. HW £13.50 btl, £4.25 gls. Daily 2-4-1 cocktails 4-7pm Open Mon-Sat 12noonlate, Sun 5pm-late (last food orders 10pm). Possibly open Sunday daytimes in summer - call for details. Disabled access possible – call in adv. Parties welcome – call in adv.

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xxxx

Jim

Restaurants GREEK & TURKISH EZO 6 The Promenade, Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AL Tel: 0117 944 2005, web: www.ezo.org.uk ■ ‘Bellydancing upon request’? Yep, we’re talking unremittingly upbeat and colourful here, with lanterns adding to the atmosphere. Extensive menu with nice vegetarian options alongside more obvious traditional dishes - including plentiful supplies of halal meat - and many making great use of the charcoal grill. A great place to while away the hours, with coffee and light bites all day, and a small alfresco area out front. Price ALC: £3.95-£7.95/£8.95-£14.95/£3.70-£4.50. SD: 3 £18.95 Wine list HW £12.90 btl, £3.30 gls Open Daily 12noon-11pm (Fri-Sat till 11.30pm). Disabled access – call in adv. Parties welcome – call in adv.

OZ 4 Triangle South, Clifton, BS8 1EY Tel: 0117 927 3097, web: www.ozrestaurant.co.uk ■ Expecting a ‘down under’-themed emporium?

Can’t blame you, but you’d be wrong: it’s pronounced ‘urz’, and named after a south-east Turkish dish of gently stewed lamb with smoked aubergine puree. Equally, we’d note that it’s owned by a chap called Ahmet Özdemir… Main thing is, you’re about to be welcomed into a smart, unpretentious Turkish restaurant with a range of set

Perfect for a romantic dinner Entelia

meals, decidedly tasty, welcoming and down to earth when set against some of its Triangular competition.

Price ALC: £3.95-£4.65/£8.45-£15.95/£3.45-£4.55 Wine list HW £13.50 btl, £3.75 gls Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6pm-late, Sun 6-10pm. Good disabled access. Private parties welcome.

Bath MARMARIS 4-5 Grand Parade, BA2 4AN Tel: 01225 461946 ■ Certain Bath restaurants remain totally unaffected by trends or seasonal fluctuation, this long-standing Turkish taverna being a case in point. Prices are low(ish), and the grub (Mediterranean-themed ‘classics’ on a mezze/moussaka theme) are as familiar as fish & chips, but still ‘exotic’ enough to offer a staycation experience. Even when it’s packed (and it can get very, very packed: at Marmaris, 30 diners making free with the mezze is considered to be a quiet shift), the waistcoated waiters treat you like a superstar, dispensing extra chilli sauce, filling wine glasses and plonking unbidden complimentary fruit salad, sticky liqueur and Turkish delight on your table at meal’s end. House wine comes in a carafe, and the bill never seems to go much above £35 for two, even if you’ve been sitting there stuffing your face for hours. Little wonder that on Sat nights the queue stretches almost to the weir and back. Massive takeaway section, too. Price ALC: £7/£9-£14/£5-£6 Wine list HW from £13 ltr Open Mon-Sat 12noon-11pm, takeaway till 1am. Limited disabled access - call ahead for advice. Parties by adv booking only.

OPA 14 North Parade, BA2 4AJ Tel: 01225 317900, web: www.opabath.com ■ Contempo-glam Greek cafe-bar and restaurant offering a vast range of sociable mezze dishes and heartier fare (moussaka, kebabs, kleftiko, sofrito) to accompany the vast bar selection and all-round good-cheer vibe, supplemented by a fabulous alfresco area directly overlooking the river. There’s live music every Sun eve, and food, like the regulars, is loud, proud and sexy. Gets very buzzy at the weekend when Bath’s young glam set hit the town. Price Mezze £3.90-£6.95, main £10.35-£16.35 Wine list Extensive. HW from £13 btl. Champagnes, lagers & beers, spirits, cocktails Open Sun-Wed 12noon-midnight (food till 10pm), Thur-Sat 12noon-2am (food till 10.30pm). Disabled access can be arranged - call in adv. Parties, functions, events welcome – call in adv.

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Restaurants HOTELS/INDIAN & NEPALESE

Hotels

ROYAL CRESCENT: DOWER HOUSE

Bristol

ROYAL HOTEL: BRUNEL’S

BERWICK LODGE ■ See European & Mediterranean.

BRISTOL HOTEL: RIVER GRILLE

■ See English.

■ See English.

Indian & Nepalese

■ See English.

Bristol

CLIFTON HOTEL: RACKS

NEW

■ See English.

GRAND HOTEL: TYRELLS ■ See European & Mediterranean.

HOLIDAY INN, BRISTOL CITY CENTRE: SPOT ■ See English.

HOTEL DU VIN & BISTRO ■ See European & Mediterranean.

MARRIOTT ROYAL ■ See European & Mediterranean.

MERCURE BRIGSTOW: ELLIPSE ■ See English

RAMADA PLAZA: KILN ■ See European & Mediterranean.

RODNEY HOTEL: NO4 ■ See European & Mediterranean.

Bath ABBEY HOTEL: ALLIUM BRASSERIE ■ See English.

BATH PRIORY HOTEL & RESTAURANT ■ See English.

BATH SPA: ALFRESCO & VELLORE ■ See English.

DUKES HOTEL: CAVENDISH ■ See English.

FRANCIS HOTEL: BRASSERIE BLANC ■ See French.

QUEENSBERRY HOTEL: OLIVE TREE ■ See English.

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4500 MILES FROM DELHI 8-10 Colston Ave, BS1 4ST Tel: 0117 929 2224, web: www.4500miles.co.uk ■ Celebrated its first anniversary in June 2012, having made quite a splash on the local scene after settling into La Tasca’s old site. Our Food editor found that link number three in a new chain (began in Leamington Spa, Oxford second) ‘combines classical “colonial” touches with smart modernism, the space nicely broken up so that you’re hardly aware of the scale of what is, actually, a 200-cover business.

Linen napkins are tied with red ribbons, cutlery is stylish and furniture unshowily smart and comfortable, and from the greeting at the door onwards, the service is unfailingly attentive and efficient. The menu is a nicely balanced mix of the familiar (chicken tikka masala, natch) with more interesting discoveries, including a generous vegetarian choice available as main or side dishes. The first mouthful makes it clear that we’re in for rich eating.’ Come meal’s end, he noted a ‘reasonable price for such richly flavoured, quality eating in commodious surroundings – and with plenty left to explore on the menu, a further visit could well be on the cards’. Price ALC: £4.95-£7.95/£9.95-£18.50/£3.95-£4.95.

Executive banquet (min 2 persons) £24.95pp. Imperial banquet (min 2 persons) £29.95pp Wine list Good range evenly split between old and new world, HW £14.50 btl, £3.95 gls. Good cocktail selection Open Daily: Mon-Thur 12noon2.30pm, Fri-Sat 5.30-11pm, Sun 5-10.30pm. Parties welcome.

AHMED’S CURRY CAFE 1e Chandos Rd, Redland, BS6 6PG Tel: 0117 946 6466/973 5800, web: www.ahmedscurrycafe. co.uk ■ A decade to the good (with over 20 years’ experience all told), this place is rightly renowned for its ‘currinary’ brilliance, particularly when it comes to their haandi (big pot) dishes. Let’s be honest, you’ve got to be pretty darn good to last this long in such a competitive restaurant market as Chandos Road. It’s a vastly extensive menu, but if you’re a regular looking to try something new, the shahi paneer looks rather fine: cubes of paneer (Indian cheese) cooked in a pureed tomatoes & fresh cream sauce and a blend of fresh coriander and green chillies. Likewise, the tenga fish: lightly spiced telapia fillets with a touch of garlic, chopped green chillies, fresh corianders and lots of chopped tomatoes. It’s

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Restaurants INDIAN & NEPALESE fully licensed, so there’s an extensive wine list alongside the usual Indian beers. Price ALC: £2.50-£4.40/£4.50£9.95/£1.95-£3.50. SD: two options, one veggie, one meat, each £24.20 Wine list Extensive, plus Indian beers.

HW approx £10 btl Open Sun-Thur 6-11.30pm, Fri-Sat 6pm-12midnight. Disabled access - ring in adv. Home delivery service & takeaway 6-11pm.

AL’S TIKKA GRILL 33 Ashton Rd, Ashton, BS3 2EG Tel: 0117 985 3016, web: www.alstikkagrill.com ■ An Ashton favourite for 14 years now, this chameleon place operates as working man’s cafe by day (technically known as Hungry Bite when in its cafe incarnation - see listing under Cafes - but mostly known as Al’s) before transforming into cosy, candlelit Indian BYO bistro by night, and always a real discovery for the previously unaware. The vibe is delightfully community cafe, and the food is very good, although modest in scope, with tandoori, korma, balti, jalfrezis, etc. Unusual selection of side dishes. Very busy at weekends, when booking is advised. Price ALC dinner: £1.85-£3.60/£5.50£12.95/£3.25-£3.65. SD: 2 (for 2 people to share) £26.95

Beautifully turned-out cuisine Dev's Kerala

Wine list Unlicensed, but welcome to BYO (£1.85 corkage per table) Open Daily 5.30-11pm (Sat 11.30pm). Disabled access but not to toilet. Takeaway. Parties 20+ welcome.

BOMBAY SPICE 10 The Mall, Clifton Village, BS8 4DR Tel: 0117 970 6066 ■ A spaciously airy place, this, and a firm favourite with diners in Clifton, with individual booths meaning you can still eat as intimately as you like. An extensive menu celebrates the regional diversity of Indian cooking with a modern touch, as well as taking in more broadly regional traditions such as Bangladeshi options. Lunch specials, too - truly, you can’t argue with three courses for £6.95.

Price ALC: starter £2.95-£7.95/£7.95-£16.95. SL: 3 £6.95 Wine list HW £16.95 btl, £4.95 gls. Some Indian beers Open Mon-Thur 12noon-2pm & 6-11.30pm, Fri 6pm-12midnight, Sat 12noon-2pm & 6pm-12midnight, Sun 6-11.30pm. Disabled access - call for details. Private bookings, up to 54. Parties 20+ welcome. Takeaway.

BRISTOL RAJ 36 Alma Vale Rd, Clifton, BS8 2HS Tel: 0117 973 1414, web: www.bristolraj.co.uk ■ Reassuringly old school surrounds in this Indian diner, all burgundy tablecloths, white napkins and red-hued walls and carpets. Expect stylishly updated versions of Indian subcontinent classics at wallet-friendly prices. New dishes regularly introduced - see website for details or to order online. Price ALC: £3.25-£4.95/£5.95-£12.95 Wine list BYO (free corkage) Open Sun-Thur 6-11.30pm, FriSat 6pm-12midnight. Disabled access, but not to toilets.

Takeaway discount 20% on £10+ orders. Student eat-in discount 15%. Free home delivery within 3-mile radius.

Available for private hire (weekdays), up to 60. Parties 20+ welcome (group discount).

BRUNEL RAJ 6-7 Waterloo St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BT Tel: 0117 973 2641, web: www.brunelraj.co.uk ■ Tell you what, there aren’t many local eateries that make it to (at the time of writing) 1400 ‘likes’ on Facebook. Not even close. And to think it only seats 48 people. Therein lies its appeal, of course. That, and the fact that four formerlyin-catering brothers - Saleh, Musleh, Muflay and Tufayel Ahmed - have been honing multi-award-winning restaurantrunning talent since 1997. It’s been listed twice as one of the Top UK Restaurants by Hardens; even its customer reviews board is close to peerless: ‘Absolutely brilliant and out of this world!’ - Keith Deller, 1983 World Professional Darts Champion. Price ALC: £3.50-£7.50/£6.60-£17.50. SD: 3 + sides £42.50 for 2 people Wine list Mainly European.

HW £12.50 btl, £3 gls. Cobra and Bangla beers Open Daily 12noon-2pm, Sun-Thur 6-11.30pm (12midnight Fri-Sat).

Disabled access but no toilet. Takeaway discount 20%. Private hire Sun-Thur, up to 48. Parties 20+ welcome.

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Restaurants INDIAN & NEPALESE CURRY HOUSE 393 Bath Rd, Brislington, BS4 3EU Tel: 0117 977 9090, web: www.curryhouse-bristol.co.uk ■ One year shy of 30 years’ sterling service… you have to figure that the Curry House is doing something right.

Not so much for the early days (I’ll tell thee lad, it were all fields and ropey burger joints round here) but for surviving - nay, thriving - in the face of an exponential increase in competition. ‘The food is mostly Indian, while occasional Bangladeshi influences are noticed in the assured and simple cooking,’ found Restaurant-Guide.

‘An excellent buffet menu may be chosen over a no less attractive a la carte that includes the likes of minced lamb mixed with fresh herbs and barbecued in a clay oven, and king prawns, slightly crisped, coated in breadcrumbs and fried in oil. Among the speciality dishes, cubes of chicken or lamb tikka cooked in cream, butter beans and almonds, in the chef’s own unique recipe, never fails to receive compliments from patrons.’ Price ALC: £2.15£4.95/£6.95-£12.95/£2-£2.95 Wine list Thoughtful, well-chosen. HW £10.95 btl, £2.80 gls. Cocktails, lagers, beers Open Daily 12noon-3pm (reservation-only), SunThur 6-11.30pm, Fri-Sat 6pm-12midnight. Disabled access possible, but call for advice. Takeaway & home delivery within south Bristol, free delivery on £15+ orders.

DEV’S KERALA 180 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8NU Tel: 0117 924 5555, web: www.devskerala.co.uk ■ Once upon a time this place was known as the Curry Hut. More recently it’s been Dev’s place, specialising in beautifully turned-out cuisine: ‘A proper taste of south India and a bargain to boot,’ summarised our Food editor when he dropped by. ‘Here’s a serving suggestion,’ he offered, helpfully. ‘First, round up three chums with a taste for Indian food. Second, head off to your preferred liquor emporium and stock up on the necessary beer or wine to help you enjoy said cuisine. Third, head off for Dev’s and order the south Indian set meal for four. The waiter will obligingly provide you with a bottle opener and glasses, and after a short wait (because they obviously cook things freshly) a veritable feast will begin to arrive at your table in five courses. First up vadai, spicy lentil flour doughnuts straight from the frier with a good earthy sambar (vegetable stew), quickly followed by fat mutton rolls full of juicy shredded meat redolent with fenugreek and chilli and accompanied by a tart tomato sauce. Pause for a moment, if you can, before the arrival of the masala dosa, smooth and crisp rolled pancakes stuffed with savoury potato and happy to be united with the leftover sambar as well as a treacly tamarind gravy. Once they’re despatched, the poppadoms arrive, with a good selection of apparently homemade chutney, and then, finally, a spread of curries is produced. Two meat, one fish and one vegetable, with parathas and rice. But make sure you’ve got some of that booze left by the end because there’s a

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big shock coming with the bill. This feast will cost you £45. That’s not for each, that’s for all, and BYO for booze makes it an economical night out, but the amazing (and important) thing is that it doesn’t feel remotely cheap.’

Try the lunch box (12noon-3pm) for £4.50, including rice, chapatti, curry and a salad. Price ALC: £2.95£6.75/£3.99-£10.50. Set meal for 4: £44.99 Wine list BYO Open Daily 12noon-3pm & 6-11pm. Disabled access. Parties welcome. Takeaway 10% discount. Delivery available.

EASTERN SPICE 269 Two Mile Hill Rd, Kingswood, BS15 1AX Tel: 0117 935 2335, web: www.easternspice.co.uk ■ Brilliantly inexpensive curry house, serving its neighbourhood with distinction for the past 15 years.

Extensive menu with all the favourites, plus a fair few dishes you’ll struggle to find elsewhere, and also including the opportunity - should you need it - to opt for a wide old variety of omelettes. Chef’s specials come highly recommended. Price ALC: £2.60-£4.90/£4.10-£10.50.

Two set meals: £10.90, £11.50 Wine list Small, European.

HW approx £11 btl. Indian beers Open Mon-Thur 5.3011.30pm, Fri-Sat 5.30pm-12midnight, Sun 5.30-11pm (open bank hols). Parties welcome. Takeaway 10% discount.

EASTERN TASTE 94 St Marks Rd, Easton, BS5 6JH Tel: 0117 952 0718, web: www.easterntaste.co.uk ■ Ready to head out to a place that’ll make you feel warmly content even before the first course has arrived?

Then welcome to this homely old favourite, with a warm community vibe and bargain-basement prices for topnotch fare. Splendid Bangladeshi homecooking is served in plentiful quantities by charming staff, either in the refurbished restaurant or as a takeaway. BYO. Price ALC: £1.90-£3.50/£5.65-£8.50/£2.50. Thali £9.50-£11.50.

SM £20.90-£24.90 (min 2 people) Wine list BYO. Indian sweet/salty/mango lassi Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2pm & 6-11pm (11.30pm Fri-Sat). Disabled access, but not to toilets. Parties 20+ welcome weekdays. Takeaway 10% discount.

GANESHA 54-56 Bedminster Parade, BS3 4HS Tel: 0117 953 3990, web: www.ganeshaindiancuisine. com ■ A rightly popular restaurant south of the river, specialising in recipes from Goa, Kerala and Maharashtra, the latter being the home state of the owners and chef. Our Food editor was certainly keen when he last popped by: ‘The range of smells and colours was tempting enough, and the flavours proved to have variety and subtlety with an admirable absence of greasiness or stodge. An enjoyably balanced meal, served with careful (but unobtrusive) attention, and while they doggy-bagged the leftovers we enjoyed

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Restaurants INDIAN & NEPALESE sharing a not-too-sticky gulab jamun with pistachio ice-cream. Final verdict? Perfect neighbourhood Indian place with a touch of class.’ Lunchtime thalis (£5.95£8.95) served with free beer or glass of wine 12noon2pm, while happy hour (9-11pm) offers a free drink with a choice of meals. Price ALC: £2.95-£5.95/£7.95£13.95/£3.95-£4.45 Wine list HW £11.50 btl, £3.15 gls Open Tue-Sat 12noon-2pm, Tue-Sun 6-11.30pm.

Takeaway 10% discount. Online ordering. Free home delivery (3-mile radius, min £15).

GANGES 368 Gloucester Rd, Horfield, BS7 8TP Tel: 0117 924 5234, web: www.gangesbristol.co.uk ■ It was back in 1981 that the three Chowdhury brothers - Mahmood, Ahmed and Shohir - opened up Ganges on Gloucester Rd, and they’ve been pouring forth classic Indian/Tibetan/Bangladeshi fare ever since. The displaying of Les Routiers and Egon Ronay awards and certificates tells you all you need to know about the food quality, but just have a quick nose behind the bar as well: Laphroaig, Macallan and Talisker in the whisky selection, plus a choice of a couple of ports, five cognacs, and so it continues. Price ALC: £2.95-£5.95/£4.98£11.15. SD £16.25-£19.50 Wine list HW £14 btl.

Kingfisher & Cobra on draft Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6-11.30pm (12midnight Fri-Sat). Disabled access.

Separate dining room for groups, 25-30 max. Takeaway 10% discount.

KASHMIR 15 High St, Easton, BS5 6DX Tel: 0117 952 0004 ■ Love this place. If it’s fancy decor you’re after, it’s fair to say you’re in the wrong place. But if you’re happy with simplicity over chintz and don’t mind MTV

Downtown Nepalese specialities Kathmandu

Indian being projected against the window - and, more particularly, are rather keen on truly delicious fare at quite extraordinarily cheap prices - then book yourself in now. Dead friendly, too, as illustrated by the fact that, though they’re not licensed, they’ll happily let you BYO. Excellent veggie options and fabulous specials alongside a familiar (and not so familiar) range of curries, sides, etc. A pillar of its local community, and well worth the trip from wherever yours might be. Price ALC: £2.95£4/£7-£11/£2-£3 Wine list BYO Open Daily 5-11pm (12midnight Fri-Sat). Takeaway 10% discount, free home delivery (min order £10). Student discount 10%. Outside catering service. Parties/large groups welcome - call for details.

KATHMANDU Colston Tower, Colston St, BS1 4XN Tel: 0117 929 4455, web: www.kathmandu-curry.com ■ It’s a long old time - nine years! - since the Kathmandu folk closed up their hugely popular old Easton takeaway and headed for the plush surrounds they so effortlessly wear today. Only the quantity most certainly not the quality - of fare on offer has changed. It’s family-run, with spices imported from their home village (Bhajungle, next to Kritipur in Nepal), giving their fresh, light cuisine a unique flavour, with traditional seafood dishes (inc lobster) a speciality alongside excellent vegetarian and vegan options.

There’s enough on the menu to please curry-house regulars, but venture into Nepalese territory if you want to get the full flavour of what’s on offer. As our Food editor noted, ‘The field may be more crowded these days, but there’s no doubt that Kathmandu is very much still in the running.’ Price ALC: £3.95-£5.95/£7.50£15.05/£3.95-£4.95. SM £15.50-£19.50 Wine list HW £13.95 btl Open Daily. Lunch 12noon-2pm. Dinner MonFri 6-11pm, Sat 6-11.30pm, Sun 6-10.30pm. Disabled access - call in adv. Parties welcome - call in adv. Home delivery. Takeaway 25% discount.

KOHI NOOR 211 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2XS Tel: 0117 973 3823, web: www.kohinoorofbristol.co.uk ■ When you’ve got the likes of Jay Rayner and Charles Campion blowing air into your sails, the seven seas of the food world are your oyster. All of which brutally twisted metaphor is to say that Nazir Ahmed and Nur Moni were the pair behind London’s hugely rated Kasturi establishment, before heading west to pitch up on Whiteladies Rd with Kohi Noor. And a fine addition to the local scene they’ve been too, all chic white walls and stained floorboards, with a menu shifting around India, from Rajasthani specialities including dried fruits, spices and yogurt to lamb pasanda and pahari kebabs. Price ALC: £3.50-£7.50/£7.95-£12.95 Wine list HW £12 btl, £2.95 gls. Indian beers Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm &

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Restaurants INDIAN & NEPALESE 6-11.30pm Disabled access possible - call in adv. Takeaway discount 15%. Parties 20+ welcome - call in adv.

KRISHNA’S INN 4 Byron Place, The Triangle, Clifton, BS8 1JT Tel: 0117 927 6864, web: www.keralagroup.co.uk ■ Part of a nine-strong chain, Krishna’s Inn brings forth the deliciously healthy cuisine associated with the Kerala region, the spice capital of India. Expect jolly reasonable prices and distinctive dishes (check out the Kerala mutton curry and ginger chicken). The man from Venue was certainly impressed. And, given the expertise of his chosen dining partners, most likely relieved: ‘These were the very niceties my guests had enjoyed on holiday in the very same Kerala, and each mouthful, it seemed, brought back a memory, whether crisp uppama, doughy vadai or mouthfuls of ginger-rich chicken in gravy. A consistently delightful meal in such smartly congenial surroundings.’

Price ALC: £2.95-£7.95/£5.95-£10.95 Wine list HW £11.95 btl, £3 gls. Small but perfectly formed bar selection, inc Indian beers Open Lunch: daily 12noon3pm. Dinner: Fri-Sat 6-11.30pm, Sun 6-10.30pm. Disabled access – call in adv. Parties welcome – call in adv.

LAL JOMI PAVILION

Romantic retreats Bell’s Diner

York Rd, Montpelier, Bristol ■ Gorgeous, highly acclaimed, atmospheric and very, very special - and that’s before you’ve even raised a canapé to moist, eager lips...

Casanis

Saville Row, Bath ■ If music be the food of lurve, this charmingly pretty, authentic French bistro offers a veritable opera to firstdaters and old romantics alike.

Entelia

Whiteladies Rd, Bristol ■ Super-sensual mezze delights and soft candlelight flickering in intimate cosy corners make tender hearts go pitter-pat.

2 Harcourt Rd (off Coldharbour Rd), Redland, BS6 7RG Tel: 0117 942 1640, web: www.laljomi.yellsites.co.uk ■ Blimey, but we do well for Indian dining in Bristol! Here’s another venerable institution, serving us food fine enough to be recommended by the Good Curry Guide for close to a quarter century. It isn’t just the food that engenders such loyalty among its patrons, though - it’s the intimate booths, the tent-like canopy ceilings lending an exotic air, and the waiting staff that have long learned how to strike the perfect balance between attentiveness and leaving you in peace. Price ALC: £2.50-£5.50/£7.90-£12/£2.15. SD £28£35 (min 2 people) Wine list Extensive, international. HW £11.50 btl, £3 gls. Indian beers Open Daily 12noon-2pm & 6-11.30pm (12midnight Fri-Sat). Disabled access. Parties welcome. Takeaway, up to 20% discount.

MADRAS EXPRESS 223 North St, BS3 1JJ Tel: 0117 966 9008, web: www.madras-express.co.uk ■ Intimate setting (37 seats) for the intimate sharing of knowledge. Because although the food draws influence from the across the Indian subcontinent, the highlight is somewhat closer to home: the mixed masala spice blend is unique to this restaurant, thanks to a recipe passed down through the family for over 90 years. Expect a warm welcome and hearty portions. Price ALC: £1.75£4.99/£6.50-£12.95/£3.20. SD £26.95-£28.95 (for 2 people) Wine list HW £10.95 btl, £2.75 gls. Full range of wines, beers, spirits Open Mon-Sat 5.30-11pm. Disabled access. Groups welcome. Delivery & takeaway 10% discount off £20+ orders.

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Restaurants INDIAN & NEPALESE MASALA CAFE 2 Jacobs Wells Rd, BS8 1EA Tel: 0117 930 4194, web: www.ahmedsmasalacafe.co.uk ■ From the team that brought you Ahmed’s Curry Cafe comes a meeting of new and old India in the building that, back in the day, was home to Bollywood Spice. Best tip: check out the new haleem range (stew composed of meat and pounded wheat, blended into a thick paste). Nicely spacious, this is another loyalty-engendering gem. Price ALC: £2.40-£4.20/£5.05-£6.85/£1.95. SD for 2 people: £23.05 Wine list HW £8.75 btl, £2.50 gls Open Daily: Mon & Wed-Sat 5.30-11pm, Sun 6-10.30pm. Disabled access.

Parties welcome. Home delivery & takeaway.

MYRISTICA 51 Welsh Back, BS1 4AN Tel: 0117 927 2277, web: www.myristica.co.uk ■ Welcome to pliers of delicious dishes from traditional street food/beach snacks to full-on Raj cuisine, all

Modernist canteen-style dining Oh! Calcutta!

cooked up by a full brigade of chefs with impeccable credentials and each specialising in their own area of expertise (curry, tandooris, sauces, vegetarian dishes, desserts). ‘The first mouthful of chicken from the pista murgh was blissful – how often is it that it’s the quality and flavour of the meat that makes the first impression in Indian cooking?’ wondered aloud our resident curryphile. Mind you, there’s plenty that sets Myristica apart. There’s the cookery school, for example, wherein students get to perfect cooking - and eating! - Indian dishes under the watchful eye and expertly guiding hand of head chef Bhaskar Pillai. And there are some genuinely fine one-off events, too. Next up at the time of writing is an evening with proper-job all-time cricketing great, Muttiah Muralitharan. Price ALC: £4.95-£6.95/£5.45£14.95/£2.95-£3.95. Lunch platter £5.95 Wine list Extensive. HW £12.95 btl, £3.25 gls Open Mon-Sat 12noon2pm & 6-11.30pm, Sun 6-10.30pm. Disabled access – call for advice. Parties, celebrations & corporate events welcome.

Private dining up to 30, whole restaurant can be hired for weddings, etc - call for adv. Home delivery (min order £20).

OH! CALCUTTA! INDIAN KITCHEN 216 Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5QU Tel: 0117 924 0458, web: www.ohcalcutta.co.uk ■ In a field of one when it comes to being named after a notorious, endlessly-cited-by-the-Two-Ronnies theatre production, and not far off similar singularity when it comes to substance, either. A big screen silently projects Bollywood classics while you dine in this place that wears its chicness on its sleeve. Informal canteen-style dining in modernist surrounds, it owes a lot more to the Wagamamas and Budokans of this world than to traditional Indian restaurants. Expect top-notch Indian subcontinent food, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients (from the traditional to the exotic), a seasonal specials board with goodies you won’t find anywhere else in Bristol, and fish well represented. Great reviews in recent years by the big boys: Times, Guardian and yours truly.

Excellent vegetarian and side dishes; the mango lassi is a particular favourite. Price ALC: £2.90-£4.50/£8.50£11.50 Wine list HW £11.95 btl, £3 gls. Beers (inc Indian) Open Daily 6-11.30pm. Disabled access, but call ahead for advice. Parties welcome - call for details.

Takeaway & home delivery.

OLD INDIA 34 St Nicholas St, BS1 1TG Tel: 0117 922 1136, web: www.oldindia.co.uk ■ Raj-tastic splendour, from the towering classical architecture outside (huge columns, high-falutin’ frieze - it is, after all, a grade II-listed Georgian-era stock exchange building) to stunning mahogany panelling indoors. Foodwise, we’re talking contemporary-style Indian fare. Price ALC: £3.25-£3.95/£6.50-£12/£2.50-£4.50 Wine list HW £12 btl, £3 gls Open Daily 12noon-2pm & 6pm-12midnight.

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Restaurants INDIAN & NEPALESE Disabled access to restaurant but no toilets (downstairs).

Parties 20+ welcome - book in adv. Takeaway.

ONE STOP THALI CAFE ■ See Thali Cafe, further on in this section.

RAJ BARI

combination of mustard yellow walls and deep blue carpets.

Vivid as the food, in short. Price ALC: £4.50-£6.50/£9.95£12.95/£2.95-£4.95 Wine list Extensive. HW £13.95 btl, £3.95 gls. Draught Indian beers, full range of spirits & non-alcoholic Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6-11pm. No disabled access. Takeaway. Private parties for up to 80 people.

183 Hotwell Rd, BS8 4SA Tel: 0117 922 7617, web: www.rajbaribristol.co.uk ■ Gareth Chilcott. Tony Robinson. Eddie Large. Traditional Indian restaurants aren’t just about food from the old country, but pictures of Celebrity Squares-level slebs on the premises and offering big you’re-my-besht-mate hugs to the proprietor. As such, this place is a classic. Rather more substantively, it’s also endorsed by the Good Food Guide, thanks in no small part to a wealth of experience: Mostaque Ahmed opened this place 21 years ago, having served a long London apprenticeship in his dad’s place (which, in turn, first opened back in the 50s). Price ALC: £2.55£6.65/£6.45-£15.95/£2-£4 Wine list HW approx £12 btl. Indian lagers Open Daily 5.30-11.30pm. Lunchtimes available to pre-booked parties 10+. Takeaway discount 20% on £10+ orders.

ROSHNI

RAJ TANDOORI

13a Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AA Tel: 0117 942 2942, web: www.sheeshmahalbristol.com ■ Think 1979. Margaret Thatcher elected PM. Nottingham Forest win the European Cup. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy first published. Sheesh Mahal opened on Gloucester Rd. Now that’s longevity. Clearly, this is an eatery not for turning, giving no truck to newfangled canteen-style Indian dining and instead holding fast to a spectacular assemblage of pinks, purples, golds and blues. It’s oldschool friendly, too: when one of our writers ordered a vindaloo over his usual (excellent) prawn dansak, the owner came over to check there hadn’t been a mistake.

Price ALC: £2.60-£6.60/£5.90-£12.90 Wine list HW £10.60 btl, £2.60 gls Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6-11.30pm. Good disabled access & toilet. Available for private hire (lunchtime only), up to 65. Parties 20+ welcome.

Takeaway.

King St, BS1 4DZ Tel: 0117 929 1132, web: www.raj-bristol.co.uk ■ Another King St institution, now well into its fourth decade. Feroze Ahmed set up here in 1981, after giving Bristol its first ever Indian restaurant (the Taj Mahal on Stokes Croft) in 1958. Today it’s his son Hasan who’s taken on the role of offering traditional/contemporary Indian food from the basement of a lovely grade II-listed building. Price ALC: £3.50-£5.50/£5.95-£13.30/£2.50£4.50. SD (daily 5.30-7.30pm): 2 £13.95 Wine list HW £14.50 btl, £3.50 gls. Lagers, beers, spirits Open MonSat 6pm-12midnight, Sun 6-11pm. No disabled access.

Takeaway discount 25%. Party bookings welcome (special party room seats up to 30).

RAJASTAN ROYAL 27 Badminton Rd, Downend, BS16 6BB Tel: 0117 301 4330, web: www.rajastanroyalbristol.co.uk ■ The former Indian Summer restaurant relaunched itself last year as the BYO Rajastan Royal, with a menu that offers six duck specials and as many seafood dishes, plus the usual range of tandooris, baltis and specialties including satkora chicken. Open Daily 5.30-11pm

RAJPOOT 52 Upper Belgrave Rd, Clifton, BS8 2XP Tel: 0117 973 3515, web: www.rajpootrestaurant.co.uk ■ Dead smart location, overlooking the Downs. The Georgian surrounds suit, too, with a splendid front terrace leading you down to a room festooned with crisp-pressed white linen tablecloths, and an altogether fetching

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63 High St, Westbury on Trym, BS9 3ED Tel: 0117 985 9999, web: www.roshnibristol.co.uk ■ The stick of rock on the Indian eating scene: long, narrow, split-colour scheme all the way through (red upper half, white layer), and a timeless favourite in its local community. Expect Indian subcontinent classics (traditional and contemporary) freshly cooked and easily adaptable for heat addicts and cool customers alike. Price ALC: £3.35-£6.95/£6.95-£14.95/£2-£3.20. SL: 2 £7.95 Wine list Indian beers, globally sourced wines. HW £12.95 btl, £3.45 gls Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6-11.30pm (12midnight Fri-Sun). Disabled access/group bookings - call in adv. Takeaway 10% discount, free home delivery on orders over £12.95.

SHEESH MAHAL

SPICE OF INDIA 13 Small St, BS1 1DE Tel: 0117 929 9222, web: www.spice-india.co.uk ■ Central favourite helmed by the safe hands of Meladur Chowdhury, and - as Indian food should be, of course altogether spice fixated (check out their comprehensive detailing on the website). Simple, comfortable restaurant with an extensive menu concentrating on dishes from Bangladesh and other parts of the Indian subcontinent.

Price ALC: £2.90-£5.80/£5.90-£12.95. SD: 2 (for 2 to share) £29 Wine list HW £11.95 btl, £2.90 gls. Indian btld beers (Kingfisher, Cobra) Open Mon-Sat 6pm-12midnight, Sun 6-11pm (lunch parties by prior arrangement). Disabled access - call in adv. Takeaway discount 10%.

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Restaurants INDIAN & NEPALESE

Family friendly Spyglass Barbecue & Grill

Welsh Back, Bristol ■ What teenager doesn’t love a barbecue? Especially when served as close to the river as it’s possible to get without actually diving in.

Market

Sawclose, Bath ■ Burgers, pizzas and tapas to divert the attentions of even the pickiest of little eaters - on a spacious suntrap patio, should the weather comply.

Las Iguanas

Branches in Bristol & Bath (see listings) ■ Funky fajitas, boisterous burritos, chic chimichangas and more moreish Mexican mayhem, served up in a lively, party-on environment.

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THALI CAFE 1 William St, Totterdown, BS3 4TU Tel: 0117 933 2955 64-66 St Marks Rd, Easton, BS5 6JH Tel: 0117 951 4979 12 York Rd, Montpelier, BS6 5QE Tel: 0117 942 6687 1 Regent St, Clifton Village, BS8 4HW Tel: 0117 974 3793, web: www.thethalicafe.co.uk ■ There are few Bristol food purveyors with a higherprofile national reputation - and not just among the festival-goers to whom their thali meals were originally served (and still are). High acclaim has accompanied their settling down into permanent premises across the city: an Observer Food Monthly Award here, a Soil Association Silver Mark for ‘climate-friendly food’ there, profiles on Radio 4’s Food Programme, and so on. Our Food editor dropped by recently to ‘check out the new back room in the original Thali Cafe, perched above Herberts Bakery in Montpelier. It feels airily spacious thanks to wellspaced tables and nice big windows, but the scattering of mannequins, standard lamps and ancient colonial photographs in battered frames keeps the friendly TC atmosphere, as does the easy warmth of the welcome.

The menu is a little more complicated than back in the day, but five choices of thali instead of the one, with meat, fish and dairy-free options, hardly taxes the mind for long. The Thali Cafe chutneys have always been a source of contention because of the price: when a full thali plate of three curries with rice, salad and raita costs a mere £8, how come chutneys (which usually come free) cost £3.50? The answer, as far as I’m concerned anyway, is: “Because they’re worth it.” You don’t get four tablespoons straight out of a jar; you get four homemade delicacies full of unusual flavour. When the thali plates arrive, I warn my brother about the chilli burn issue (ie there won’t be one) - fans of searing anglicised versions of Indian food had best give the Thali Cafe a wide berth.

What they offer is food that’s spiced with a full range of flavours matched to the ingredients and true to their Indian origins.’ Anything else? Well, if you live within range of one, you’ve got just about the tastiest takeout in the sister on your doorstep: stop by for a one-off purchase of the beautiful stacking stainlesssteel thali set, and then as often as you like for cheapas top-ups. Winner of Radio 4 Food Award for Best Takeaway, naturally. Price Lunch (where applicable) £4.25-£8.25. Evening thalis £7.95-£9.95 Wine list All organic. HW £13.95 btl, £3.95 gls Open Totterdown: daily 6pm-close. Disabled access. Montpelier: MonFri 6pm-close, Sat-Sun 10am-close. Disabled access (except for toilets). Easton: daily 10am-close. Disabled access. Clifton: daily 12noon-close. Disabled access.

Chq & cash only. Parties 20+ welcome - call in adv.

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Restaurants INDIAN & NEPALESE TIKKA FLAME

BOOJON TANDOORI

Anchor Square, Canons Rd, Harbourside, BS1 5UH Tel: 0117 316 9393, web: www.tikkaflame.co.uk ■ Smart-looking plate-glass frontage and slategrey surrounds pick this out as a modern Indian/ Pakistani eatery. It’s not without a wealth of experience behind the scenes, though: Shirley and Sohail Elahi are into their second decade of restaurateuring now, scooping multiple healthy eating awards along the way. Expect vibrant surroundings (with big-screen Bollywood classics) and plenty of mix‘n’match flavours to keep small or large parties happy. Our reviewer enjoyed ‘a high standard of cooking: a satisfying meal in comfortably smart surroundings’. Check website for special offers, currently £10 off when you spend £40 or more. Price ALC: £3-£7.50/£9.95-£14.95/£3.95. SL: 2 £9.50, 3 £11.50. Express lunch £11.50 Wine list HW £13 btl, £3.30 gls Open Mon-Thur 12noon-3pm & 6-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11.30pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm (inc bank hols). Disabled access. Parties 20+ welcome - book in adv. Mezzanine floor for private hire/ functions. Outside catering for parties, weddings, etc.

28 Charles St, BA1 1HU Tel: 01225 429429/429529, web: www.boojontandoori.com ■ Contemporary Indian diner offering a big family welcome. ‘The staff here are fun, friendly and knowledgeable and, right from the off, you get a literal taste of what’s to come: poppadoms are crispy and greasefree, the pickles that accompany them glossy and fresh.

Just don’t go too mad, OK? Portions go large here,’ said EOW’s own little onion bhaji. ‘Pathias strike the perfect sweet/sour balance, paneers are dreamily, smoothly soporific, and if the jalfrezis don’t give your taste-buds a thorough workout, nothing will.’ But such quality doesn’t come at a high price, and this is a BYO, no-corkagecharge affair. Price ALC: approx £2.60-£5/approx £8-£11/side from £1.95 Wine list BYO (no corkage charge) Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10.30pm (last orders). Disabled access. Discounted takeaway menu.

Parties welcome - call in adv.

TURMERIC 775 Fishponds Rd, BS16 3BS Tel: 0117 965 0022, web: www.turmericbristol.co.uk ■ A 40-seater restaurant with red-brick frontage giving way to red-clothed tables and white walls within.

Simple, but stylish. Expect all the usual favourites plus specials like naga chilli chicken. Its swiftly established local following, since opening last year, means that potential visitors from across the city are strongly advised to book ahead on weekends. Special student curry night every Mon. Price ALC: £2.65-£8.95/£5.95£15.45/£3.50-£3.95. SD: 3 (for 2 people) £39.95 Wine list HW £11.50 btl, £2.80 gls Open Daily 12noon-2pm & 5.30-11.30pm (closed Fri lunch). Disabled access - call in adv. Takeaway 10% discount on orders over £10.

CURRY MAHAL 31 Belvedere, Lansdown Rd, BA1 5HR Tel: 01225 789666/789501, web: www.currymahal.net ■ Popular, friendly traditional neighbourhood curry house with a longstanding reputation for upper-crust grub (including fabulous vegetarian options - the vegetarian thali comes highly recommended) and a generous sprinkling of regional dishes (lamb badami, lobster masala, mass-er-salan/jhol) against a more familiar backdrop of tandooris, tikkas, dansaks, baltis, etc. Price ALC: approx £3-£5.50/approx £6.50-£13.95 Wine list HW from £11 btl. Btld beers. BYO option Open Daily 12noon-2pm & 6-11.30pm. Disabled access possible - call in adv. Discounted takeaway menu. Free home delivery on £15+ orders within 3-mile radius. Parties up to 30 welcome - private dining room downstairs, but must be booked in adv.

Expect a big family welcome Boojon Tandoori

Bath BENGAL BRASSERIE 32 Milsom St, BA1 1DG Tel: 01225 447906, web: www.bengalbrasseriebath.com ■ Popular restaurant offering an extensive trip through classic curry-house flavours at reasonable prices, in pleasant surroundings. Set menus are worth exploring for those who prefer a more exotic spice route. Price ALC: approx £3-£5.50/approx £7-£9/sundries (rice, bread, etc) £2-£3. SM from £15 Wine list HW £11.95 btl. Indian lagers Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6-11.30pm (12midnight Fri-Sat). Limited disabled access - call ahead for advice. 10% discount for students/ takeaway. Group bookings welcome – call in adv.

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Restaurants INDIAN & NEPALESE DESH 10 Chelsea Rd, BA1 3DU Tel: 01225 314413/463388 ■ Busy, popular, friendly, inexpensive neighbourhood Indian eatery. BYO policy (no corkage charge). Baltis, tandooris and jalfrezis highly recommended. Price ALC: approx £3/approx £7 Wine list BYO (no corkage charge) Open Daily 12noon-2pm & 5.30pm-12midnight. Disabled access possible but call ahead for advice. Discounted takeaway menu. Nurses/students 10% discount.

EASTERN EYE 8a Quiet St, BA1 2JS Tel: 01225 422323/466401, web: www.easterneye.co.uk ■ In a former Georgian townhouse (domed-ceiling dining room, walls painted with elaborate Indian murals) and boasting a plethora of glistening gongs from all manner of food guides (Les Routiers, Fodor’s, British Curry Awards) alongside some impressive celebrity endorsements. The staff treat you like royalty, and menus (which helpfully flag up every dish with highlighters denoting heat, sugar, nut, wheat, dairy content) are as bling-laden as such a build-up suggests: a vast selection of bhajis, kebabs, tikkas, dosha,

From Italy to Thailand and back again Jimmy Spices

purees and soups leads the way to a gourmet playground of tandooris, baltis, dhansaks, kormas, dopiazas, biryanis, masalas, rogan josh and unique chef’s specials (including excellent seafood options), all of which led our resident curry queen to litter a recent review with superlatives like ‘delectable’, ‘really tasty’ and ‘highly recommended’ before concluding thus: ‘a genteel, stylish Indian treat served with a flourish that totally belies the prosaic prices’. Price ALC: starter £2.95-£7.50/main from £6.95/sundries & desserts from £1.95. SM from £19.95 Wine list Extensive list of wines, beers, spirits, etc Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6-11.30pm. No disabled access. Takeaway. Parties up to 170 welcome.

JAMUNA 9-10 High St (entrance in Cheap St), BA1 5AQ Tel: 01225 464631, web: www.jamuna-cuisine.com ■ Old-school Indian restaurant with no pretensions towards anything else, offering splendid views of Bath Abbey. A fairly compact menu trusts that we understand the meaning of tandooris and biryanis, but knows that we still need the masalas, tikkas, kormas, bhunas, etc, to be arranged into mild, medium and hot categories. Meanwhile, a slightly more adventurous ‘chef’s special’ selection ensures that all bases are covered. Price ALC: £2.75-£3.60/£7.40-£14.50.

SL: 3 £6.95 Wine list HW £14.95 btl. Indian lager Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6pm-12midnight. No disabled access. Whole restaurant available for private hire. Parties 20+ welcome. Takeaway discount.

JIMMY SPICES 6 Dorchester St, BA1 1SS Tel: 01225 426802, web: www.jimmyspices.co.uk ■ See Global.

NEW MINT ROOM Longmead Gospel Hall, Lower Bristol Rd, BA2 3EB Tel: 01225 446656, web: www.themintroom.co.uk ■ All credit to the MR’s head honchos for turning what’s ostensibly a breezeblock box into a subtly chic, welcoming haven of upper-crust foodie fabulousness far removed from your typical curry house experience. Yes, there are Indian ‘classics’ on the menu (jalfrezis, boonas, et al), But it’s the lesser-spotted regional delights and fresh inspirations (king prawn balchao, lal maas, masala dosa) that really get tongues wagging. ‘This smart little exotic gastro hotspot brings contemporary fine Indian dining to Bath and is undoubtedly heading for massive acclaim,’ said one EOW bhajee after a feast of ‘complex, fresh flavours presented with Michelin-standard flourish: competent, confident and audaciously inspirational’. Doubly remarkable considering the down-to-earth prices. Price from £4.50/from approx £9 Wine list BYO Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 5.3011pm (Fri-Sat 11.30pm). Discounted takeaway menu.

Parties/groups welcome, preferably booked in adv.

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Restaurants INDIAN & NEPALESE MOUCHUCK 136 Wells Rd, BA2 3AH Tel: 01225 333449, web: www.cityofbath.co.uk/mouchuck ■ Straightforward, unfussy, recently scrubbed-up neighbourhood BYO curry canteen offering a solid range of very reasonably priced tandoori, masala, jalfrezi, korma, biryani, madras, rogan josh, etc, alongside chef specials (achari, pandi, tawa), side dishes and good vegetarian options. All-you-can-eat, serve-yourself buffet Tue eves. Price ALC: starter £2-£3.25/main £3.95£7.95/sundries approx £2. Tue buffet £6.95pp (under12s £5.95) Wine list BYO Open Daily 12noon-2pm & 5.30-11pm. Discounted takeaway menu. Parties/groups welcome, preferably booked in adv.

PANAHAR 8 Moorland Rd, Oldfield Park, BA2 3PL Tel: 01225 471999/471899, web: www.panaharbath.co.uk ■ Lively, popular Indian eatery at the heart of the Moorland Road shopping village, with a no-corkagecharge BYO policy (and a really good off-licence just over the road) adding to the appeal. ‘Incredibly friendly, massively flavoursome and refreshingly cheap,’ said EOW’s curry queen. ‘As good as the genre gets.’

Downhome, traditional Indian food, competently cooked – so it’s a good idea to book in advance on weekend eves.

Price ALC: starter £2-£3/main £4.95-£6.95/sundries £2 Wine list BYO (no corkage charge) Open Daily 12noon-2pm & 5.30-11.30pm. Disabled access. Discounted takeaway menu. Pre-booked parties welcome, but call for capacity details.

PREMIER 4a Argyle St, BA2 4BA Tel: 01225 462323/442955, web: www.premiercurry.com ■ The name may have changed a couple of years ago, but standards at the long-established Indian bistro and balti house formerly known as Pria remain the same.

Renowned for balti/curry favourites, decent value for money and the latest last-order time in Bath. Price ALC: starter £3-£5.95/main £6.95-£10/sundries £3 Wine list HW approx £12 btl. Indian lager Open Sun-Thur 6pm-1.30am, Fri-Sat 6pm-2am. Disabled access, but not to toilets. Discounted takeaway menu. Pre-booked parties welcome, but call for capacity details.

are diners greeted by a smartly dressed doorman in full Raj regalia whose sole purpose is to usher you down the stairs to a sumptuous, sensual, subterranean haven where several ornately decorated spaces include two cosy, intimate bars, a cheerful, barrel-vaulted cave and plenty of romantic tables for two. An Eating Out West critic recently declared her Rajpoot feast to be ‘grub that an empire could be built on’, singling out ‘a mellow, velvety mulligatawny soup’, ‘ tender, yielding lamb rezala subtly illuminated with a kicking blend of fresh chillies’ and ‘murgh tandoori fit for a queen’ for particular praise.

Chef’s signature dishes include the festive shahi murg mussalam, and fish lovers can dive happily into the jhol mach tarkari, while classy versions of more familiar dishes provide a nicely maintained, well-beaten track for the less adventurous. That exotically dressed doorman, meanwhile, is a local landmark in his own right. Price ALC: starter £3.85-£6.95/main £8-£16/sundries approx £3 Wine list Comprehensive, inc Indian selection.

HW £15.50 btl Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6-11pm (11.30pm Fri-Sat). Limited disabled access. Discounted takeaway menu. Private hire, up to 28. Parties 20+ welcome.

YAK YETI YAK 12 Pierrepont St, BA1 1LA Tel: 01225 442299, web: www.yakyetiyak.co.uk ■ Laidback, authentic Nepalese restaurant in a cosy subterranean location. Food is flavoursome and funky, the veggie options are fabulous, everything from fresh stocks to the grinding of spices is done on the premises, and if your knees/back/lack of self-consciousness are up to it, you can dine Nepalese-style on floor cushions.

Longstanding menu superstars include pork momos, chicken jhol, lamb tamar and ‘Freak Street Apples’.

Well-priced set meals cover all bases, and children are

Curry with trad-Raj style Rajpoot

RAJPOOT 4 Argyle St, BA2 4BA Tel: 01225 466833/464758, web: www.rajpoot.com ■ If you like your curry served with a side-order of trad-Raj style, the Rajpoot - recipient of the British Curry Awards’ Best Indian Restaurant in the South West gong (and deemed to be one of the 10 Best in Britain) among many other accolades - is the hotspot for you.

While several curry houses around the Heritage City offer authentic, upper-crust grub, only at the Rajpoot

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Restaurants INDIAN & NEPALESE/ITALIAN thoughtfully catered for and entertained. Price ALC: £4.60-£5.50/£7.30-£8.90/£4.30-£4.60. SL/SD (12noon2.30pm & 5-6.30pm): 3 £10.50. SM (choice of main, with rice, dahl, aloo channa, poppadom, fresh stone-ground chutney) from £11 Wine list HW approx £12 btl. Lagers inc Nepalese varieties, interesting cocktails/punches Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 5-10pm (10.30pm Fri-Sat).

Call in adv for disabled access & facility details. Discounted takeaway menu. Pre-booked parties welcome (party menus) - call/see website for details.

Italian Bristol AQUA ITALIA RESTAURANT & BAR Welsh Back, BS1 4RR Tel: 0117 915 6060 153 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2RF Tel: 0117 973 3314, web: www.aqua-restaurant.com ■ See European & Mediterranean.

Elegant Italiana Aqua

ASK 51 Park St, BS1 5NT Tel: 0117 934 9922, web: www.askrestaurants.com ■ Bright, brash, Theo Randall-affiliated pizzeria chain (‘one of the country’s most celebrated chefs’ says the website, the need to explain rather suggesting otherwise).

Does things as you’d expect: generous portions, dead attractive to party-goers (no bookings taken for small tables at weekends). Bristol outlet has a lovely front terrace for people watching and alfresco dining. Check website for changing offers - at the time of writing it’s two mains for £12. Price ALC: £4.95-£6.95/£7.45-£12.95/£4.95-£5.40.

SD: 2 £10.95, 3 £13.95 Wine list HW £14.50 btl, £4.10 gls Open Mon-Sat 11.45am-11pm (11.30pm Fri-Sat), Sun 11.45am-10pm. No disabled access. Private hire, up to 100.

Parties of 20+ welcome - book in adv.

BELLA ITALIA 8-10 Baldwin St, BS1 1SA Tel: 0117 929 3278 The Venue Leisure Complex, Merlin Rd, Cribbs Causeway, BS10 7SR Tel: 0117 959 0982 Cabot Circus, BS1 3BX Tel: 0117 927 7230, web: www.bellaitalia.co.uk ■ You’re ahead of us here, aren’t you? Open kitchens serve familiar Italian food in the guise of pizza, pasta and oven-baked dishes, plus ice-cream and puddings.

All dishes containing nuts or other allergenic ingredients are clearly marked, including a ‘buonissimo’ selection of dishes for the gluten-intolerant. Lots of fish, vegetarian dishes and house specials. Separate breakfast and kids’ menus. See website for offers and online booking. Price ALC: £3.95-£5.95/£6.50-£13.50/£3.95-£7.50. SL (Sun-Fri 12noon-7pm): 1 £5.95, 2 £7.95 Wine list HW £13.75 btl, £3.85 gls Open Baldwin St: daily 9am-11pm (11.30pm Fri-Sat). Cabot: Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-10.30pm.

Venue Leisure: Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-10.30pm.

Disabled access. Parties welcome.

BOTTELINO’S Emersons Way, Emersons Green, BS16 7AE Tel: 0117 957 3722 6 St Peter’s Court, Bedminster, BS3 4AQ Tel: 0117 966 6676 Court House, 110 High St, Nailsea, BS48 1AH Tel: 01275 858282, web: www.bottelinos.net ■ West Country franchise, and a jolly good one, too - in 2010 it was awarded Independent Italian Restaurant Chain of the Year. The Bemmie branch is a particularly interesting one, set as it is in an old police station: stores and fridges take up the old cells, with the old stone courtyard now given over to a lovely imported-from-the-mother-country bar. Expect fine value-for-money lunch deals and robust vegetarian options, in a lovely, lively atmosphere. Look for 30 years of experience via the online shop, too (www.

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Restaurants ITALIAN bottelinosdeli.com). Price ALC: £2.50-£9.95/£8.95£21.95/£4-£6. SL: 1 £4.95, 2 £7.95, 3 £9.95 Wine list Classic Italian & European. HW £14.95 btl, £2.95 gls Open Emersons Green & Bedminster: Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-11.30pm, Sun 12noon-9pm. Nailsea: Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-11pm, Sun 12noon-8pm. Disabled access - call ahead for specific details & advice. Parties 20+ welcome. Home delivery & takeaway - call for details.

CARLUCCIO’S 11 Quakers Friars, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BU Tel: 0117 933 8538 The Mall, Cribbs Causeway, BS34 5DG Tel: 0117 950 8760, web: www.carluccios.com ■ Chain venture, originally founded in 1991 by sleb chef Antonio Carluccio and his family. Venue went to the Quakers Friars establishment and found a place ‘breezier than your average restaurant. On a good day, diners can eat outside underneath royal blue umbrellas. Inside, it’s well-lit and airy, and although the majority of the chairs bear a faint resemblance to those you’d find in a school canteen, the cosy booths with their leather seats are very luxurious (and consequently very in demand). Top service and a filling three-course meal for less than 20 quid?

Bellissimo.’ Price ALC: £4.65-£6.75/£7.95-£14.95/£3.95£6.50. SM: 2 £9.95, 3 £12.45. Wide breakfast options £3.25-£7.65 Wine list HW £13.95 btl, £4 gls Open Cribbs: Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 9am-6pm. Disabled access. QF: Mon-Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 9am-10.30pm. Disabled access.

tasting menus. Price Spring menus: 5 £45/£25 wine flight (Tue-Thur dinner & Sat lunch), 8 £68/£40 wine flight Wine list Extensive. HW £20 btl, £5 gls Open Lunch (Sat only) 12.30-1.45pm. Dinner Tue-Sat 7-9pm. Disabled access possible, but call in adv. Parties – call in adv.

NEW CIAO ITALIA 149 East St, Bedminster, BS3 4EJ Tel: 0117 963 3544, web: www.ciaoitaliabristol.com ■ A relaunch of the place briefly known as Il Grano. Owner Alex has opened Ciao Italia as a handsome community restaurant, all white walls, dark wood chairs and exterior the colours of the Italian flag. Price Prices tbc as we go to press, but expect pasta/pizza around the £5/£6 mark Wine list BYO available Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10.30pm, Sun 12noon-4pm. Disabled access – possible but call in adv. Takeaway.

CIBO RISTORANTE 289 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8NY Tel: 0117 942 9475, web: www.cibo.co.uk ■ ‘Satisfying stuff – a mix of flavours tasting freshly

Bright, breezy and bellissimo Carluccio's

CASAMIA 38 High St, Westbury on Trym, BS9 3DZ Tel: 0117 959 2884, web: www.casamiarestaurant.co.uk ■ One of our very finest restaurants, Italian or otherwise.

Gordon Ramsay pitched up here a while back to badger the young Sanchez-Iglesias brothers to eventual triumph in his Ramsay’s Best Restaurant show – an accolade worth even more than the Michelin star they continue to hold, apparently. Should you need further convincing, see also three AA rosettes, a placing in the top 100 at the National Restaurant Awards, The Times rating it one of the UK’s Top 10 Italians, and a Which? Good Food Guide listing. We were there before all of these other gastronomes-come-lately, of course: ‘You’d have to go a long way to find food as fascinating and extraordinary as the dishes Jonray and Peter Sanchez-Iglesias are serving up at Casamia right now: major recognition from the Michelin man is surely only a matter of time,’ we quoth. So, expect spectacularly tastesome, season-fixated (‘we want you to embrace the amazing changes in the earth and celebrate what they bring’), cutting-edge cuisine (a la Heston Blumenthal, with a nod to the Italian classics), with the brothers curing their own meats, baking their own bread, desserts, ice-creams and petits-fours, and creating dishes and menus dictated by availability from local markets and suppliers. For maximum immersion, check out the eight- and 11-course

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Restaurants ITALIAN cooked, in a smart place with a homely warmth,’ said our Food editor last time he was in situ. Formerly a very fine Italian deli, Cibo offers everything from wholesale online shopping to a great neighbourhood restaurant, deli and espresso bar. Splendidly named chef Girolamo Piptone fuses traditional Italian flavours with ingredients from around the world and imaginative specials such as ostrich fillet pan-fried in rich wild mushroom sauce, and medallions of venison in juniper berry & port reduction.

Earlier in the day, lunch options include light breakfasts, tapas, pasta dishes, etc. Price ALC: £4.95-£7.85/£5.95£19.95/£4.85. SL: pasta/pizza £5 Wine list Italian. HW £12.95 btl, £3.60 gls Open Mon-Thur 12noon-10.30pm, Fri-Sat: 12noon-11pm. Disabled access. Takeaway. Parties of 20+ welcome - book in adv.

GIUSEPPE’S 59 Baldwin St, BS1 1QZ Tel: 0117 926 4869, web: www. giuseppesitalianrestaurant.co.uk ■ Formerly known as Marco’s, now bearing the name of one of the original owner’s protégés. Fish-focused Italian with up to 15 different catches on the daily board, and Anglo-Gallic touches alongside trattoria classics. Romantic feel, though not quite as intimate as it appears from outside - there’s room for 85 people in here, with the combination of size and location making the place a big favourite with the business community.

Price ALC: £4.50-£8.95/£8.95-£19.95/£4.75-£5. SL: pasta/pizza £5.95 & gls wine/soft drink. SD (till 7pm): 2 £11.95. Sun roast £8.95 Wine list International. HW £14.95 btl, £3.75 gls Open Mon-Tue 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-11pm, Wed-Sun 12noon-11pm. Disabled access call for advice. Function room for private hire, up to 35.

Parties 20+ welcome. Takeaway.

Pukka pasta and plenty more Jamie's Italian

JAMIE’S ITALIAN 87-89 Park St, BS1 5PW Tel: 0117 370 0265, web: www.jamieoliver.com ■ Like Ms Minogue and Ms Ciccone, Mr Oliver has become so well known that he can see fit to dispense with a surname altogether. That level of fame, of course, means this place could most likely trade on name alone, regardless of the food quality. As our Food editor was happy to discover, though the place was as popular as expected, the menu offerings more than justified the demand: ‘The place is aglow inside the busy chandelier-lit bar area and on into the subtle twilight of the dining rooms. Each floor is as big as many independent restaurants, but endless battalions of staff mean that everything is done quickly and efficiently. Each dish has been given a day-glo energy as brash as its author. It could be wearing, but somehow it isn’t - it makes you want to try the rest of the menu.’ Besides the restaurant, the three floors hold an antipasti counter, fresh pasta machine and ‘bread station’, ground-floor deli area selling Italian food, plus, naturally, JO’s cookbooks and kitchen products. Price ALC: £3.45-£6.25/£6.55£16.95/£4.50-£4.95 Wine list All Italian, HW £15.95 btl £4.45 gls Open Daily 12noon-11pm (10.30pm Sun).

Disabled access - call in adv. Parties welcome - call in adv. Takeaway.

LA CAMPAGNUOLA 9 Zetland Rd, Redland, BS6 7AG Tel: 0117 924 8102/8372, web: www.lacampagnuola. co.uk ■ A bustling old place on the weekends, this splitlevel restaurant and pizzeria has built up a brilliantly loyal family among the local community, as well as drawing in those in the know from across the city.

Such are the results of providing more than three decades of food inspired by founder Filippo’s Sicilian upbringing (these days it’s his children, Vincenzo and Marlangela, who supply the management). Expect deliciously fresh ingredients across delightful pastas, generous pizzas, seafood, veal, poultry and steaks. A real Italian charmer. Price ALC: £3.95-£7.50/£7.50£19.90/£4.25-£4.95 Wine list Extensive, plus cocktails, beers/lagers, Italian liqueurs. HW £13.95 btl, £3.25 gls Open Sun-Thur 6-11.30pm, Fri-Sat 6pm-12.30am. Disabled access - call in adv. Parties welcome - call in adv. Takeaway.

LA GROTTA 9 Union St, BS1 2DD Tel: 0117 929 0466 ■ Over a quarter-century old, this family-run trattoria makes very good indeed on the Italian kitchen’s reputation for offering selflessly generous portions. It’s highly cosy, with food homecooked

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Restaurants ITALIAN using fresh ingredients. When you consider its location opposite an entrance to the Galleries and the consequent slew of fast-food chains in the vicinity - it’s an awfully welcome place. Price ALC: £4.25-£6.75/£7.60-£17.95/£4.50. SL: 1 £5.25 Wine list HW £13.95 btl, £2.95 gls Open Mon-Thur 11.30am-2.30pm & 5pm-late, Fri-Sat 11.30am-12midnight, Sun 11.30am-5.30pm.

Disabled access. Parties up to 150.

LA TAVERNA DELL’ARTISTA 33 King St, BS1 4DZ Tel: 0117 929 7712 ■ Whenever that new mayor fetches up, (s)he could do far worse in wielding their mighty power than to insist that no one is allowed to call themselves a Bristol resident until they’ve happily drunk the night away here at least once. The upstairs restaurant is splendid, combining style with informality, but it’s downstairs that really gives the place its legendary local status: the delicious made-to-order pizzas, the ace range of bottled booze, the one room festooned with vintage theatre posters for (predominantly) the Vic next door, the other crammed with pics (of variable cheesiness) of them what played there. Most of all, it’s the atmosphere: the someone taking an ad hoc turn on the piano, the wondering which thesp might pop in after the curtain falls, the genuinely family atmosphere of a place that shuts up for a month or so in summer so that a group visit to the mother country can be made, and the sheer bloody relief of finding somewhere in the middle of town where you can go after hours and… wait, we’re going to spoil the place for ourselves, aren’t we? Forget we ever said anything. Price ALC: main £12.50-£25 Wine list Mostly Italian regional.

HW approx £12.50 btl Open Tue-Sat: restaurant 5.30pm-12midnight, bar 5.30pm-2am. Disabled access to downstairs bar area, where they’re happy to serve meals. Private hire, up to about 100. Parties 20+ welcome.

What’s in a name?

OZ

Triangle South, Bristol ■ Nothing to do with Australia, but everything to do with all things Turkish... and pronounced ‘urz’.

Portvcale

St James Parade, Bath ■ The ‘v’ is actually a ‘u’, and Portvcale is actually Bath’s best (if not Bath’s only) properly authentic Portuguese haven of merriment.

Thali Cafe

Totterdown, Easton, Montpelier & Clifton, Bristol (see listing) ■ Potato, tomato, whatever - but please, call Thali ‘ta’li’, then go forth and enjoy the splendid feasts on offer at all branches.

MAMMA MIA 10a Park Row, BS1 5LJ Tel: 0117 926 8891, web: www.mammamiabristol.co.uk ■ Trading here since 1985, handed down the family from father Giuseppe to son and daughter Matteo and Dora, this is charmingly old-school Italian: red and white checked tablecloths, photos of the national football team on the wall, the works. Lots of nooks and crannies for romantic dinners for two, as well as room for bigger groups. Price ALC: £3.25-£6.80/£8.40£18/£3.30-£4.30 Wine list HW £11.80 ltr, £2.30 gls Open Mon-Thur 6pm-12midnight, Fri-Sat 12noon2.30pm & 6pm-12midnight, Sun 12noon-11pm.

Disabled access (two steps, but staff can assist) but toilets in basement.

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Restaurants ITALIAN MARCO’S OLIVE BRANCH 76 Victoria St, Redcliffe, BS1 6DF Tel: 0117 922 6688, web: www.marcosolivebranch.co.uk ■ Aka chef Marco Olivieri, plying everything from what we know of as traditional Italian fare (pizzas, breads) to lesser-spotted delights. Thus, dishes such as the Aprilintroduced authentic Sardinian variation on suckling pig.

Things look a little different since this building’s days as Dolce Vita, with more of that Sardinian atmosphere throughout. The breakfast menu gives way to an all-day selection of homecooked treats: fresh salads, light bites, sturdier offerings (steaks, fresh fish), a daily changing special, and thoroughly recommended sweet treats such as white chocolate roulade. Bright, fresh dining room upstairs, open fire downstairs, and nice little alfresco area. Very student-friendly. Price ALC: £2.75£4.75/£6.75-£20.95/£2.95-£4.65. Express lunch £7.95 Wine list Big on Sardinian, naturally. HW £11.95 btl, £3.75 gls Open Daytime: Mon-Fri 9am-3pm. Evenings: Mon-Tue 5.30-11pm, Wed-Fri 5-11pm, Sat 4-11pm.

Disabled access & toilet. Parties welcome - call in adv.

Takeaway - three topping pizzas from £5. NUS discount 10%.

PICCOLINO 1 Narrow Weir, Cabot Circus, BS1 3DU Tel: 0117 929 3255, web: www.piccolinorestaurants.co.uk ■ Split over two floors and dominated by a striking bar (not to mention the cocktails concocted therein), this Italian chain also boats an open kitchen, wood-fired pizza oven and all those other niceties designed to push your ‘Ooh, this must really be authentic’ buttons. In the words of our reviewer, it’s ‘darkly decorated with neat, dark furniture, a glass cabinet dangling with fresh pasta and an “al forno” woodstone oven roaring away at the back’. Everything - pasta, bread, ice-cream - is freshly prepared on the premises. Price ALC: £3.50-£8/£6£17.50/£4.65-£6.75 Wine list HW £13.50 btl, £9 carafe, £2.50 gls Open Daily 11.30am-11.30pm (10.30pm Sun).

Good disabled access. Private dining & parties catered for.

PIZZA HUT Several branches across Bristol: see website Web: www.pizzahut.co.uk ■ Recently retained the title of UK’s Best Family Restaurant in the Tommy’s Let’s Get Baby Friendly Awards. Which is exactly as it should be - straightforward flavours, novelty servings (behold the new 11in stuffed crust!) and all that a child could want. But if you’re an adult getting excited at the prospect of heading to Pizza Hut - an adult in the middle of one of the most fabulously variedly catered-for cities in the country - we might just wonder how you found yourself flicking through a comprehensive eating out guide. Price Pizza £6.75£14.95. Bargain-priced seasonal deals – see website

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Wine list Italian & French. HW £9.95 btl, £3.10 gls Open See website for branch details. Disabled access & toilets in most branches. Large-print menu. Takeaway. Parties 20+ welcome - notify in adv.

PIZZA PROVENCALE 29 Regent St, Clifton Village, BS8 4HR Tel: 0117 974 1175, web: www.pizzaprovencale.co.uk ■ Your correspondent recalls the first time he ate one of PP’s Four Seasons pizzas – ‘jardin, roquefort, neptune and charcuterie’ - and had his eyes opened as to just how distinctively tasty a big old slice of oven-baked dough could be. Roquefort? On a pizza? Of course! Massively popular (booking is advised on all but the very rainiest of Mon nights), this long-established place makes dough fresh on the premises, sharing is heartily recommended (they come up to 16in), and all in all this properly charming neighbourhood bistro has become a citywide institution. Splendidly idiosyncratic decor with church pews, lovely old bar, snugly laid-out tables… if you’ve not pizza’d here yet, your checklist of local must-do’s isn’t finished just yet. Price ALC: £3.95-£5.30/£7.55£17.95/£3.55-£4.65. SL: 2 slices of pizza & mixed salad £3.95 Wine list French. HW £12.75 btl, £3.30 gls Open Sun-Thur 12noon-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-midnight.

Disabled access possible, but not to toilet. Student discount 10%. Takeaway. Private hire, up to 30. Parties 20+ welcome.

PIZZAEXPRESS Unit 1, Building 8, Harbourside, BS1 5TY Tel: 0117 927 3622 35 Corn St, BS1 1HT Tel: 0117 930 0239 2-10 Regent St, Clifton Village, BS8 4HG Tel: 0117 974 4259 31 Berkeley Square, Clifton, BS8 1HP Tel: 0117 926 0300, web: www.pizzaexpress.com ■ There was a time, kids, when this place was seen as the height of sophistication. I know, I know, changed times.

Still, as fast food goes, it’s still pretty much up there. Lots of pizzas, pastas, salads and… wait, you know all this, don’t you? The ambience breaks down thusly: Regent St: vast emporium on two floors - the region’s biggest branch. Berkeley Sq: light, bright and buzzy, with big sofas in reception area. Corn St: city-centre branch with bright, comfortable interior. Harbourside: huge 190-seat restaurant with alfresco dining for up to 80. Price ALC: £2.15-£4.75/£6.20-£9.45/£3.10-£4.90 Wine list Italian (inc organic) & liqueurs. HW £12.95 btl, £3.75 gls Open Berkeley Sq, Harbourside: daily 11.30am-11pm. Regent St, Corn St: daily 11.30am-11pm (10.30pm Sun). Good disabled access at all locations (Berkeley Sq & Corn St, with staff assistance for front step), toilets accessible. Regent St: large parties, up to 50. Berkeley Sq: parties 20+ welcome.

Harbourside: large parties welcome. Corn St: parties up to 25.

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Restaurants ITALIAN PLANET PIZZA 187 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8BG Tel: 0117 944 4717 83 Whiteladies Rd, BS9 2NT Tel: 0117 907 7112, web: www.planetpizza.co.uk ■ A couple of splendid independent eateries in our orbit, bringing forth flavoursome pizza with toppings including splendour such as halloumi, sundried tomatoes & roasted red peppers with red onions.

We should report that, as this goes to press, we’ve heard whispers that the Whiteladies outlet might have become a burger joint come September. Not a rumour we can pin down with a nail of fact, alas, though we tried until the last minute do so. Either way, it’s never a bad plan to get down whichever PP is closest to your galaxy and enjoy the local art on the walls, generous salads, sweet-as sweet things and a chance to sit out in the frontal alfresco area and down an all-day coffee while watching the world cruise by.

Or, seeing as it’s daytime, taking the deal that gives you any 9in pizza for a fiver, plus £2 additions of mini-salad and/or mini-chips (Mon-Fri). Price ALC: £2-£4/£5-£14/£3.50. Pizza 2-4-1 Sun-Wed 5-7pm. SL (Mon-Fri till 5pm): 9in pizza £5 Wine list HW £12.50 btl, £3.40 gls. Lots of draught/btld beers Open Daily 11am-11pm. Disabled access - call in adv. Takeaway 10% discount. Private hire, both branches, up to 65.

Parties welcome - fixed price menus from £10pp.

PROSECCO 25 The Mall, Clifton Village, BS8 4JG Tel: 0117 973 4499, web: www.proseccoclifton.com ■ Our Food editor was impressed. ‘There’s a neat, smart simplicity to the decor at this compact, family-run Clifton restaurant, which matches the food philosophy of Italian chef/owner Diego Da Re. Trained in fine dining in top restaurants across Europe, he’s ultimately inspired by the approaches of his grandmother and father, who conjured delicious food from the simple, seasonal ingredients available to them. Completely free of unnecessary exotica, the Prosecco a la carte menu fits neatly onto one side of A4, using straightforward descriptions like “potted smoked trout with summer pickles”.’ Come meal’s end, he continues, ‘the man himself appears, chatting with the remaining diners like old friends he’s welcoming into his home. Asked about the food, he’s happy to share his secrets and, inevitably, “simplicity” turns out to be the result of meticulous, painstaking cookery combined with a serious understanding of ingredients. The meal has come to £90 (including drinks), but that’s what happens if you push the gondola out at one of Gordon’s Best Local Restaurants. The guarantee of such quality eating seems well worth the investment.’ Regular food/wine-tasting evenings (see website) are proving

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very popular. Price ALC: £5.25-£9.50/£11.95£19.50/£4.50-£7.50. SL: 1 £6.95, 2 £9.50, 3 £11.50 Wine list Extensive, superb. HW £15.75 btl, £3.95 gls Open Lunch: Thur-Sat 12noon-2.30pm. Dinner: Mon-Sat 6-11pm. Disabled access. Parties - call in adv.

RENATO’S NUMERO UNO 203 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2XT Tel: 0117 974 4484 ■ Longstanding favourite at the Blackboy Hill end of Whiteladies Rd, with everything made on the premises: pasta sauces, soups, pizza dough and puds. So far, so Italian as it should be. Where it goes beyond the expected is the generous provision of fresh seafood (often including sea bass and Dover sole), and the occasional outbreak of the spectacular, with special dishes being flambéed at your table. And do save room for authentic puds like tiramisu and pavlova. Price ALC: £3-£5/£6.25-£23.75/£4-£5.50. SL: pizza/pasta 2 £6.95 Wine list Mainly Italian, but reasonably varied, plus Italian btld beers. HW £14.50 btl, £4.50 gls, BYO £2 corkage Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6-11pm (11.30pm Fri-Sat), Sun 6-11pm. Disabled access, but no toilet. Student discount 10%. Parties 20+ welcome.

Takeaway 20% discount.

NEW SALVATORE’S KITCHEN 239 Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5QP Tel: 0117 924 5879, web: www.salvatoreskitchen.com ■ This place came close to winning our hearts when it opened in March 2012, simply because it confirmed the exit of that bafflingly popular plier of blanditude down the decades, Amici. We’ve rather stronger hopes for this place: Sicilian-raised owner-chef Salvatore Corsentino has worked in professional kitchens since the age of 15,

Topping toppings Planet Pizza

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Restaurants ITALIAN and he’s a welter of handed-through-the-generations recipes to spoon onto our expectant plates. Early reports all suggest the place to be a bit of a belter. All the pizzas and pastas you’d expect, plus distinct fare like portofino (green shell mussels, scallops, shrimp and calamari in a marinara wine sauce) and piccata (chicken breast or pork loin sauteed in white wine, garlic & lemon sauce).

Splendidly broad lunchtime menu, too. Price ALC: £3.90£7.95/£6.50-£22.95/£3.25-£4.95. SL: 1 £5.95, 2 £7.95 Wine list Italian, HW £14 btl, £3.65 gls Open Mon-Sat 11am-2.30pm & 5-11.30pm (Sat 1am), Sun 12noon11pm. Takeaway.

SAN CARLO 44 Corn St, BS1 1HQ Tel: 0117 922 6586, web: www.sancarlo.co.uk ■ Altogether popular Italian chain, and a splendidly lively open-plan place festooned with lots of foliage, glass, mirrors and professional pizzazz. The kind of place considered sophisticated by the type who’d consider Katherine Jenkins a classical singer. Know what we mean? It isn’t, of course, but it is bloody good fun and - thanks to some seriously tasty food - we’re altogether big fans. Huge ALC menu and extensive daily specials, all jollied together by native chefs who deliver the genuine article, from pizza and pasta to great fish dishes, seafood and superb steaks. Price ALC: £5.95-£9.95/£8.95£24/£4.95 Wine list Specialises in Italian. HW £15 btl, £4.20 gls Open Daily 12noon-11pm. Disabled access (small step into restaurant – staff can assist) & facilities.

Private parties by arrangement, up to 70.

SERGIO’S 1-3 Frogmore St, BS1 5NA Tel: 0117 929 1413, web: www.sergios.co.uk ■ Properly cosy Italian restaurant, tucked snugly against the steps leading down from Park St above, and a renowned treat of a place since 1989. Chefs variously hail from Sardegna, Genova, Napoli and Sicily, so utterly faultless in the authenticity stakes. Expect a vast, daily changing menu based around fresh produce, plus strong selection of fish dishes, good wine list and BYO option.

Price ALC: £3-£6/£4.95-£18.95/£4-£5. SL (Mon-Fri): 2 £8.75 Wine list HW £15.95 btl, BYO corkage £2.50 Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & Mon-Sat 5.30-11pm. Disabled access. Private room for up to 30, entire restaurant can be booked for up to 80 (set menus for parties of 10+).

STRADA 24 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BT Tel: 0117 923 7224, web: www.strada.co.uk ■ ‘Before you’ve even eaten a mouthful of food, you can understand a large part of Strada’s appeal,’ said our chap with the notebook. ‘It simply feels good to be here.’ It’s one of the food world’s more becoming chains, not least because they manage to strike a note of individuality

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into each of their locations. Sharp and stylish, it excels at dishing up well-priced, high-end Italian trattoria classics. Staff are fast and efficient while remaining friendly, and the whole place buzzes with good vibes and happy chatter. Price ALC: £4.50-£7.50/£7.95£17.25/£4.25-£6.50. SL (weekdays till 5pm): 1 £6.95 Wine list HW £15.25 btl, £4.15 gls. Italian beers Open Mon-Sat 11.30am-11pm, Sun 11.30am-10.30pm.

Disabled access. Parties - call in adv. Takeaway.

TRATTORIA DA RENATO 19 King St, BS1 4EF Tel: 0117 929 8291 ■ Sister to the just-across-the-road La Taverna Dell’Artista and sharing the same parentage, this place is well into its fourth decade of serving up quality Italian fare. Price ALC: 2 £9.50-£13.50, 3 £15-£20 Wine list Big range of classic and unusual Italian regional wines. HW approx £12.50 btl Open Tue-Sat 6-11.30pm, closes later on weekends. Disabled access possible with assistance - no toilets, but normal toilets accessible.

Parties 20+ welcome.

VALENTINO 124 Stoke Lane, Westbury on Trym, BS9 3RJ Tel: 0117 962 3222, web: www.valentinosrestaurantbristol. co.uk ■ Another Italian eatery boasting a wealth of experience. Owner and chef Antonio, who came to England from the Puglia region of Italy, has more than 40 years under his belt spent producing splendid Italian dishes. Expect proper-job traditional Italian hospitality, with hordes drawn by knowledge of a fantastic fresh fish selection (be aware: weekends are often booked up three weeks in advance). Check website for offers currently: choose any pizza or pasta dish with a glass of wine, beer (bottle) or soft drink for £9.50 (Mon-Tue).

Price ALC: £4.50-£8.50/£8.95-£16.95/£3-£5. Sun roast £8.95 Wine list HW £12.95 btl, £4.20 gls Open MonSat 12noon-2.15pm & 6-10.45pm, Sun 12noon-3pm.

Disabled access & toilet. Parties 20+ welcome.

VINCENZO’S PIZZA HOUSE 71 Park St, BS1 5PB Tel: 0117 926 0908 ■ Enduring classic on Park St, evergreen in popularity thanks to some good old-fashioned restaurant values: polite and attentive service, and excellent value for money. Should summer hang around long enough, check out the upper-deck open-air eating area for plenty of Park St walk-by action. A simple, well-prepared menu of Italian favourites – pizzas are a speciality, and the calzones are pretty good, too. Price ALC: £2.20£9/£7.50-£16/£3.80. SL: pizza/pasta & salad £4.95.

Early eve (5-7.30pm): 3 £8.60. SD: 3 £13.50 Wine list HW £12.50 btl, £2.50 gls Open Daily 12noon-

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Restaurants ITALIAN 12midnight. Disabled access. Takeaway. Parties welcome - call in adv.

ZIO 96a Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2QX Tel: 0117 923 8105, web: www.ziorestaurant.co.uk ■ Don’t know what it is about Bristol that inspires quite so many Italian expats to set up restaurants here, but we’re not complaining! Papa Adolfo Rizzello was born and raised in the tiny southern Italian village of Cocumola, worked the land on the family farm, and arrives here via a fleet of exclusive eateries across Europe. Son Gianluca tends the bar, while daughter Gabriella is the dessert specialist. Expect trad decor, warm atmosphere, and the company of plenty of regulars drawn in part by the spectacle of chefs throwing pizza dough around in time-honoured fashion. Look for regular one-off events such as wine-tasting eves, too.

Price ALC: £4.95-£8.25/£7.50-£15.95/£3.75-£4.95.

SL: 2 £10 (Fri-Sat till 7pm, Mon-Thur all day) Wine list HW £13.95 btl, £3.75 gls Open Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 5-11pm, Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10pm. Disabled access. Can seat groups of up to 20.

ZIZZI

Contemporary Brasseries Brasserie Blanc

Quaker’s Friars, Bristol/Queens Square, Bath ■ Top-notch, well-priced authentic French bistro food courtesy of the nation’s most loveable celebrity chef Raymond Blanc.

Alfresco seating at Bristol branch.

Cote Brasserie

The Mall, Clifton, Bristol/Milsom Place, Bath ■ EOW’s editor referred to Cote Brasserie as ‘the chain with no weakest link’; join the gang and grab your coat in either Bristol or Bath.

Carluccio’s

Quaker’s Friars/The Mall, Bristol/coming soon: Milsom Place, Bath ■ An effortlessly stylish Roman holiday experience courtesy of gourmet Italian stallion Antonio Carluccio.

Unit SU84B, Glass House, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BX Tel: 0117 929 1066 29-33 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BX Tel: 0117 317 9842 7-8 Triangle South, Clifton, BS8 1EY Tel: 0117 929 8700, web: www.zizzi.co.uk ■ As crowd-pleasing as you’d expect a chain franchise to be, and altogether smart with it. As an exemplar, the Clifton Village branch is decked out with trad pizza oven, sparkling olive vats, a bustling open kitchen and woodfired oven. Good-quality ingredients go into traditional and with-a-twist dishes based on simple, regional Italian cooking, with regular menu updates. Pasta and pizza, lots of interesting antipasti and good salads. Lots of offers - see website for details and to book online. Price ALC: £2.75-£6.95/£8.65-£14.95/£5 Wine list Almost exclusively Italian. HW £13.95 btl, £3.95 gls Open Daily 12noon-11pm (10.30pm Sun). Disabled access. Parties welcome - call in adv.

Bath AIO 7 Edgar Buildings, George St, BA1 2EE Tel: 01225 443900, web: www.aiorestaurant.co.uk ■ Two softly lit, inviting dining rooms, pavement tables and a dinky alfresco patio outback ensure that Aió (Sardinian for ‘come and join us’) lives up to its name. Menus concentrate more on chargrilled protein and interesting carbs (fregola

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Restaurants ITALIAN sarda: think couscous with a plumper, softer personality) than prosaic pasta. Fish/meaty grills/excellent veggie options go large. Price ALC: from approx £6/from approx £9/approx £7 Wine list HW from £14 btl Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10.30pm, Sat 12noon-10.30pm, Sun 12noon-3pm & 6-10pm. Disabled access. Parties welcome - call in adv.

AQUA ITALIA 86 Walcot St, BA1 5BD Tel: 01225 471371, web: www.aqua-restaurant.com ■ From the outside, the Bath incarnation of Aqua looks like a stone-fronted chapel. Inside, it’s more of a cathedral: cool, chic and candlelit, with subtle chandeliers adding to the understated sense of drama - choose from centre-stage tables or a cosy booth.

Downstairs is perfect for big parties (private-dining option available) and there’s a pretty little courtyard out back. Bargain-price, dolce vita-themed treats on the popular Aqua Classico selection are reliably good.

Price ALC: from £5.25/approx £10.95-£17.95/£5.25£7.50. SM (Aqua Classico: Sun-Fri 12noon-7pm, Sat 12noon-6pm): 2 £10.95, 3 £12.95. Sun roast £10.95 Wine list Extensive (heavy emphasis on Italian), champagne, cocktails, beers, spirits. HW approx £15.95 btl Open Restaurant: daily 11am-10pm (10.30pm Fri-Sat). Bar: daily 11.30am-11pm (12midnight Fri-Sat). Disabled access. Parties welcome - call in adv

ASK Broad St, BA1 2EH Tel: 01225 789997, web: www.askrestaurants.com ■ Quieter little sister to Bristol branch – see Bristol listing. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Daily 12noon-11pm (10.30pm Sun). Disabled access. Available for private hire. Parties 20+ welcome - book in adv.

Upbeat pizzeria Ask

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BOTTELINO’S 5 Bladud Buildings, BA1 5LS Tel: 01225 464861, web: www.bottelinos.net ■ Family-owned Italian eatery with a jolly reputation for huge portions and massive crispy-based pizzas.

‘A cheerful family affair,’ said one EOW reviewer. See Bristol listing. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-11pm, Sun 12noon-6.30pm. Disabled access. Large bookings accommodated, up to 50.

COMING SOON CARLUCCIO’S Milsom Place, Milsom St, BA1 1BZ Web: www.carluccios.com ■ Expected to open autumn 2012. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing. Open TBC

ENZO’S 39 Gay St, BA1 2NT Tel: 01225 427919, web: www.enzo-ristorante.co.uk ■ Naples-born globetrotting chef and restaurateur Enzo Piscopo brings his authentically Neapolitan restaurant (a little sister for his original Weymouth venture) to Bath. Menus (and vibe) are authentically Italian, from simple and straightforward (antipasti, risotto, pizza) to sophisticated treats (inc very good fish dishes), all enjoyed in cheerful surroundings against a subtly glamorous backdrop. A familyfriendly welcome goes large here. Price ALC: £5.90£6.95/£7.50-£17.95/£5. SL/SD: offers vary – call for details Wine list HW £14.85 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-11.30pm, Sun 12.30-2.30pm & 6-10pm. Disabled access limited – call in adv. Parties welcome – call in adv.

JAMIE’S ITALIAN 10 Milsom Place, BA1 1BZ Tel: 01225 432340, web: www.jamieoliver.com/italian/ bath ■ The Bath link in a national chain (see also Bristol listing) in the heart of chic shopping complex Milsom Place, supplemented by alfresco dining on the upperlevel terrace overlooking Bath’s historic rooftops.

Long queues at peak times, but once you’re seated at a table in any of the four ‘zones’ that combine to create a lively, buzzing ambience at this vibrant, smartly dressed diner, menu highlights include the meat/ vegetarian antipasti platter to share, crispy polenta chips, ravioli caramelle, organic buffalo burgers, brick-cooked free-range chicken and Gennaro’s Amalfi orange tart. Menus easily adaptable for kids and those with smaller appetites. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Daily 10am-11pm (10.30pm Sun). Call ahead for disabled access. Large groups welcome, book in adv.

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Restaurants ITALIAN JOYA 6 Newmarket Row, BA2 4AN Tel: 01225 460240, web: www.joyarestaurant.co.uk ■ Sophisticated Italian-themed bar with a great little kitchen attached (excellent antipasti, authentic pizzas), from the lovely folk behind the Real Italian Pizza Co and Real Italian Ice Cream Co. Standards - from style to the quality of the kitchen and bar fare - are exceptionally high.

‘The Joya experience is an eminently – well, joyous one: properly cheerful, and effortlessly charming in a refreshingly spontaneous way,’ said our own little dolce vita queen in a recent review. Price ALC: from approx £6/from approx £9/ approx £6 Wine list HW approx £14.85 btl, superb cocktails Open Daily 12noon-11pm (Sun 10.30pm). Disabled access.

Parties welcome – call in adv.

MARTINI 8-9 George St, BA1 2EH Tel: 01225 460818, web: www.martinirestaurantbath.com ■ Longstanding Bath institution, popular with families, tourists and large groups of merrymakers. Huge portions of Italian and Mediterranean specialities served in convivial surroundings, buoyed along by a large wine selection and welcoming hosts, all within a collection of atmospheric spaces.

Menus revolve around pasta, pizzas, risotto, fish, vegetarian options, salads and frequently changing specials. Price ALC: antipasti £5.50-£8.95/£8.25-£17.95/£6. Party menus/SL/SD: see website Wine list HW (Italian classics) £11.50 btl Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10.30pm, Sat 12noon-10.30pm, Sun 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10pm. Call ahead for disabled access.

Parties 20+ welcome - call in adv.

MEZZALUNA 7a Kingsmead Square, BA1 2AB Tel: 01225 466688, web: www.mezzaluna-bath.co.uk ■ Traditional Italian bistro serving traditional Italian cuisine, with regularly changing specials board supplementing the classics. Price ALC: £3.95-£6.25/£6.95-£17.50/£3.95-£4.75.

SL: 2 from £8.95. SD: 2 from £13.95 Wine list HW approx £12 btl. Italian beers Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 5.4510.30pm. Disabled access – call for advice. Parties – call in adv.

PIZZA HUT 1-3 Westgate Buildings, BA1 1EB Tel: 01225 448586, web: www.pizzahut.co.uk ■ Chain restaurant offering pizza, pasta, salads, valuefor-money deals and takeaway/delivery. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Thur 11.30am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12midnight, Sun 12noon-11pm. Disabled access & toilets.

Large-print menu. Takeaway. Parties 20+ welcome - notify in adv.

PIZZAEXPRESS 1-3 Barton St, BA1 1HG Tel: 01225 420119 8 SouthGate Place, BA1 1AP Tel: 01225 442111, web: www.pizzaexpress.com

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■ Popular Italian-themed chain, with pavement seating at both branches. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Call branch direct for details.

Disabled access at both branches. Parties welcome call in adv.

NEW RIVER CANTEEN Spring Gardens Rd, BA2 6PW Tel: 01225 424800, web: www.river-canteen.co.uk • Stylish former boathouse, now home to an equally stylish modern Italian trattoria featuring a kitchen overseen by Napoli-born head chef Pasquale Rea, a master of dolce vita-fuelled food. “The risotto was a thing of beauty to behold, a huge, juicy, on-thebone sirloin steak came topped with generous shavings of perfect parmesan and a specials-board fish dish… was positively sexy,” sang our own little diva. Desserts complete this delightful experience, while the pasta dishes are highly recommended too. Price From approx £4.95/from £8.25/£4.10 Wine list HW approx. £14 btl. Cocktails a speciality Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 6pm-10.30pm, Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun: open for all Bath Rugby home fixtures and by prior arrangement. Disabled access/ parties call in adv.

RUSTICO BISTRO ITALIANO 2 Margarets Buildings, BA1 2LP Tel: 01225 310064, web: www.rusticobistroitaliano. co.uk ■ Utterly gorgeous, welcoming Italian bistro. Small but perfectly formed menu infuses fully authentic, freshly prepared, classic Italian dishes (soups, fresh pasta, fish, seafood, meat, poultry, risotto) with an up-to-the-minute zeitgeist based around intelligent sourcing and contemporary flair. Price Starter & light bites from £6.25/main £7.95-£18.25 Wine list Small but carefully considered. HW from approx £14 btl Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10.30pm.

Disabled access, but not to toilet. Room for private hire, up to 24. Parties 20+ welcome.

SOLO PIZZA 2 Milsom Place, BA1 1BZ Tel: 01225 444439, web: www.solorestaurant.co.uk ■ A table on the lively alfresco courtyard to the front of this contemporary Italian pizzeria at the heart of the chic Milsom Place complex is the best place to enjoy excellent coffee, Italian pastries, etc, at breakfast/teatime and properly authentic pizzas, fresh salads and the like as the day rolls on. Price Antipasti, salads & light bites from £4/main £6.95£12.95. Regular 2-for-1 pizza deals/SL offers Wine list HW approx £13 btl Open Daily 10am-10.30pm.

Disabled access. Takeaway.

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Restaurants ITALIAN/JAPANESE & KOREAN NEW SOTTO SOTTO 10 North Parade, BA2 4AL Tel: 01225 330236, web: www.sottosotto.co.uk ■ Sparkling modern Italian experience set in an evocative, barrel-vaulted subterranean tavern resulting in a seductively tasteful, glamorous experience. Expect a stunning simplicity about the full range of freshly prepared, impeccably sourced dishes from start to finish. Seafood and steaks are highly recommended, as are the glorious ‘sinful delights’ at the finishing line. Lovely. Price ALC: from approx £6/approx £9-£18/from £4.95 Wine list HW from £14 btl Open Daily 11.30am-10.30pm (11.30pm Fri-Sat). Disabled access/parties - call in adv.

STRADA Beau Nash House, Sawclose, BA1 1EU Tel: 01225 337753, web: www.strada.co.uk ■ Set in rather grand surroundings, the modern-day intimate atmosphere in this contemporary Italian trattoria (with alfresco) belies the fact that it’s actually part of a small national franchise group. See also Bristol listing. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Daily 11.30am-11pm (10.30pm Sun). Disabled access. Parties – call in adv.

Stunningly simple Italian fare Sotto Sotto

Japanese & Korean Bristol MASA 42-46 Baldwin St, BS1 1PN Tel: 0117 929 3888, web: www.masajapaneserestaurant.com ■ Time was, conveyor-belt eating sounded like the very worst of pre-prepared culinary sloppery. That was before we came to love modern Japanese restaurants, of course - chiefly the fact that, far from production-line dining, the sushi serving is the very definition of a handpicked meal. Teppanyaki-style, meanwhile, entails guests surrounding a large hot plate, where theatrical Japanese chefs whirl, twirl, juggle, flip and flame raw ingredients into delectable meals. Price ALC: starter £2.30-£8.50/ main £6.50-£15.80. SM: £21.95 & £29.95 Wine list HW £12.95 btl, £2.80 gls Open Mon-Fri 12noon-11.30pm, Sat 12noon-12midnight, Sun 12noon-10pm. Disabled access – call in adv. Parties welcome - call for details.

NOA 12-13 Waterloo St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BT Tel: 0117 973 2881, web: www.noajapanese.co.uk (TBC) ■ ‘When I think of things Japanese,’ pondered our Food editor, ‘something simultaneously ancient and modern comes to mind: centuries of calm zen and Confucius overlaid with a glitzy hi-tech jabber. There’s something of both about Noa Japanese, with its crisp decor and contemporary style.’ And real lightness in the menu, from traditional miso to wakame (seaweed) salad, one of many healthy harvests of the ocean. Our man found ‘meticulous quality and top ingredients brought together with proper care for detail: one of the finest Japanese dining experiences for many a mile’. Price ALC: £3.50-£6/£8.50-£15/£3.50 Wine list HW £15.50 btl, £3.90 gls Open Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-11pm, Sun 6-11pm. Disabled access - two small steps, staff will assist.

Takeaway.

OBENTO 67 Baldwin St, BS1 1QZ Tel: 0117 929 7392, web: www.obento-bristol.co.uk ■ Flaunts a vast selection of delights including teppenaki and kare (Japanese curry dishes) alongside the standard offerings, all to eat in or take away, courtesy of the same - decidedly generous, frankly family also bringing you Dynasty and Zen. Our reviewer enjoyed a ‘fine, filling meal of contrasting tastes and textures’ amid the sushi, salads, soups, sashimi, teriyakis and three types of noodle (soba, ramen, udon). ‘Well prepared and well presented,’ said our man of his sakura banquet. ‘A thoroughly good experience.’ Sign up via website for special offers. Price ALC: sushi, sashimi £1.80-£9/main £9-£11. SL: bento box £6.80-£7.80. SD:

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Restaurants JAPANESE & KOREAN set menus from £17pp Wine list Good range, plus beers, lagers, etc. HW £16 btl Open Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 5.30-11pm, Sat 12.30-4pm & 5.30-11pm, Sun 12noon9.30pm. Disabled access. Parties welcome (karaoke room available) - call for details. Takeaway.

SURAKHAN 52 Park Row, BS1 5LH Tel: 0117 929 0806, web: www.surakhanrestaurant.com ■ Following the short-lived Takala and similarly mayflylike Legend Oriental Kitchen, it’s good to see Bristol’s first Korean restaurant doing rather nicely after more than a year in these premises. Quite right, too: real care is taken over these specialist dishes, with the sauces alone having taken six years in the search for perfection.

Mission accomplished! More substantively, you can go from bibimbap (rice served in a sizzling earthenware bowl, topped with vegetables, meat and either a raw or fried egg, with the ingredients stirred together just before eating - and hot sauce at the ready) to bulgogi (barbecued beef cooked over an open flame: ask for kim chee, or fermented cabbage, to go with it – you’ll wish it were in a bottomless bowl). Friendly staff and central location; we hope this lot stick around for a good long while. Group bookings welcome - private basement area with licensed bar is good for large parties. Price ALC: £4.99/£8.99-£12.99. Lunch £5.49-£11.99. SD: min 2 people £18.99pp, min 4 people £21.99pp Wine list HW £18.55 btl, £2.85 gls. Asian beers Open Mon-Sat 12noon2.30pm & 6-10.30pm. Disabled access - call in adv. Parties welcome – book in adv. Takeaway

TEOHS 28-34 Lower Ashley Rd, St Agnes, BS2 9NP Tel: 0117 907 1191 Old Tobacco Factory, North St, Southville, BS3 1TF Tel: 0117 902 1122, web: www.teohs.net ■ See Pan-Asian.

WAGAMAMA 63 Queens Rd, Clifton, BS8 1QL Tel: 0117 922 1188, web: www.wagamama.com ■ See Pan-Asian.

human contact. The food was all good and some things particularly so: harusame aubergine, tuna loin sashimi and eel dragon roll topped the cold selection; spicy pepper squid, chicken yakitori and salmon & asparagus yakitori were the hot favourites.’ Sign up to the Yo! Love Club on website for special offers and discounts. Price All dishes £1.80-£5 Wine list Small, exclusive. HW £14.60 btl, £4 gls. Japanese beers, sake Open Cabot Circus: MonSat 11.30am-10pm, Sun 11.30am-8pm. Cribbs: Mon-Fri 11.30am-9pm, Sat 11.30am–8pm, Sun 11.30am-5pm.

Disabled access at both locations. Parties welcome - call for details. Takeaway.

Bath WAGAMAMA 1 York Buildings, George St, BA1 2EB Tel: 01225 337314, web: www.wagamama.com ■ See Pan-Asian.

YEN SUSHI 11-12 Bartlett St, BA1 2QZ Tel: 01225 333313, web: www.yensushi.co.uk ■ A ringside seat at the conveyor belt in this cheery but cosy, unfussy Japanese canteen must be the hottest seat in town for the inquisitive gourmet. Dozens of brightly coloured saucers flaunt tantalising toppings right under your nose, from the familiar (California rolls, tempura, edamame beans, sashimi) to every variation on the full-on authentic makizushi theme, while a jolly sushi chef chops, dices and rolls everything together before your eyes (and is happy to talk you through your choices). A separate kitchen deals with the hot stuff: soup, teriyaki, noodle-based dishes to order, bento (rice-based) boxes and ramen (noodles in soup). Price Conveyor belt/hot dish £1.80-£4.30, bento box/ramen from £7.10 Wine list HW approx £13 btl. Japanese & continental beers & lagers, plum

Popular pan-Asian noted for noodles Wagamama

YO! SUSHI Glass Walk, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BQ Tel: 0117 321 3161 The Avenue, The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, BS34 5DG Tel: 0117 321 3170, web: www.yosushi.com ■ Big, brash, vivid chain, as brimming with selfconfidence as the name suggests, and not without good reason - this is one smart, smooth operation. As our reviewer discovered, ‘Tables are neat modules with dispensers of chopsticks, soy sauce, wasabi, sliced ginger and filtered water on tap, plus a button to alert staff when you need something else - hot food, miso soup,

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Restaurants MEXICAN & S.AMERICAN wine, sake Open Daily 12noon-3pm & 5.30-10.30pm. Disabled access. Group bookings - call in adv. Takeaway (excl ramen).

YO! SUSHI 29 Milsom Place, BA1 1BZ Tel: 01225 562250, web: www.yosushi.com ■ This international chain credited with introducing British diners to Japanese kaiten-zushi (conveyor-belt) presentation has made a lively home for itself in a semisubterranean corner of the chic Milsom Place complex.

Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Fri 11.30am-9pm, Sat 11.30am-10pm, Sun 11.30am-9pm.

Disabled access. Parties welcome - call for details. Takeaway.

Mexican & South American Bristol CASA MEXICANA 29-31 Zetland Rd, BS6 7AH Tel: 0117 924 3901, web: www.casamexicana.co.uk ■ The smells in this place made Venue’s food editor

Smashing tapas, excellent cocktails Casa Mexicana

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come over like an empty-bellied Proust last time he was here. ‘There’s a homecoming feel about Casa Mexicana that bespeaks the fact that, 20-something years on, it’s seemingly always been there,’ he reflected. “As the longestestablished Mexican restaurant in Bristol [since 1986 - EOW ed], it was the place where I first learnt about enchiladas and chimichangas and tasted the bracing zap of coriander and lime juice in a proper salsa. The hospitable vibe also reflects the generosity of the meals I’ve had there. Is there a Mexican equivalent of that stereotypical Jewish mother urging you to eat up and grow strong? If there is, then she has heaped many a hearty plateful for me over the years.’ And who in the know wouldn’t keep returning to a place rated one of the top five Mexican restaurants in the country by The Guardian? Enjoy a warren of linked, laidback dining areas (leather sofas, fresh flowers, New Mexico colours, wall-wash lights) combined with a bar area at the front, smashing tapas menu, alfresco dining and seriously excellent cocktails. Price ALC: £5.50-£9.95/£12.95£26.95/£4.95. Set party menus for 12+ Wine list Extensive, many individually sourced from small growers in Spain, Mexico & South America, many organic. HW £13.95 btl, £3.85 gls. Excellent cocktails, Mexican beers Open Daily 6.30-10pm (last food orders). Good disabled access (ramp at front), but no toilet. Separate rooms for private hire for parties.

LAS IGUANAS Anchor Square, BS1 5UH Tel: 0117 927 6233 113 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2PB Tel: 0117 973 0730, web: www.iguanas.co.uk ■ ‘Find us!’ shouts the website. ‘We’re closer than you think!’ At which point a part of you feels affronted (‘Of course I know that; I’m from Bristol,’ you want to say), and another part feels local pride that what started out here as a single eatery in 1991 has grown to become a multi-millionpound chain linking 27 cities. And we shouldn’t fret too much: that original fun, funkiness and passion is still much in evidence, combining cachacaria bar (cachaca is Brazil’s national spirit, and these guys distil their own brand) with the finest South American food (a fusion of Latin, African and Portuguese flavours). ‘There’s a good, well-balanced mix of humanity here,’ said our visitor, ‘and a good-time feel as a party venue that you can sample in spades, even if there are only two of you.’ Enjoy fine cocktails, excellent tapas, good fish and vegetarian options, and excellent separate mini-iguanas and gluten-free menus. Price ALC: £4.50-£6.30/£7.90-£15.80/£4.90-£5.90. Tapas Time: share 3 dishes for £13.80, 5 for £23, till 7pm daily/all day Sun & Mon Wine list Extensive. HW £16.80 btl, £3.70 gls.

Excellent cocktails & beers Open Mon-Thur 12noon-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11.30pm (Harbourside till 12midnight), Sun 12noon-10.30pm. Disabled access, but call individual branch for advice. Private hire, up to 70. Parties welcome and encouraged!

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Restaurants MEXICAN/N.AFRICAN MISSION BURRITO 62 Park St, BS1 5JN Tel: 0117 927 3339, web: www.missionburritos.co.uk ■ Welcome to the home of the 77ft burrito! Well, for one February night, anyway, as Bristol Uni students raised funds for local charities during rag week. Not that Mission necessarily needs eye-catching stunts to aid its profile in the city: having arrived as the fourth link in a chain beginning in Oxford, its San Franinspired approach to dishing out Mexican food (fast, fresh and healthy) has proved hugely popular. Fillings include chicken, steak, carnitas (slow-roasted pork) and vegetarian options, with everything made spanking fresh on the premises. Have them served in a soft-shell burrito, individual tacos, even a salad bowl. And, if you dare, ask for the addition of extra hot salsa - just be aware that it’s made from Dorset naga chillies, necessitating the chef wearing a mask... Price Dishes £5.45-£5.95 Wine list Mexican btld beers from £3.30 Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thur-Sat 10am-11pm.

Disabled access. Takeaway & online ordering.

MY BURRITO 7 Broad Quay, BS1 4DA Tel: 0117 929 7239, web: www.myburrito.co.uk ■ “We aren’t Mexicans,” admit the MB team. “Not even Californians. We’re a mish-mash of nationalities with one thing in common – a love, a passion for putting something really tasty and fresh in front of you.” And very grateful we are to look on slatheringly as it’s assembled, too, for this is fine fare. If inspiration comes from distant shores, the ingredients do anything but: meat from farms around Nailsea, Yatton and Kingston Seymour, and the rest from Devon. Quoth our reviewer: ‘The food is both tasty and healthy – a rare combination in a takeaway, and one that, with the price tag, makes My Burrito stand head and shoulders above the competition.’ Breakfasts include coffee and churros (made-to-order hot doughnuts served with Valor hot chocolate). Homemade salsas and guacamole to take home. Price Small £5.25, regular £6.35, plus extras Wine list HW £12 btl. Mexican btld beers from £3.50 Open Mon 9am-7pm, Tue 9am-8pm, Wed-Thur 9am-9pm, Fri 9am-9.30pm, Sat 10am-9.30pm, Sun 10am-7pm.

Disabled access. Outside catering for all sizes of event, up to and including student balls.

sounds and classy food in a strikingly pretty location next to the Theatre Royal, with chic but friendly Pulp bar downstairs. Interesting tapas, excellent children’s menus, and gorgeous alfresco courtyard. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Thur 12noon-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11.30pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm. Pulp: Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 12noon-10pm. Disabled access. Parties 20+ catered for (max 12 on Sat).

NEW MISSION BURRITO 4 New St, Kingsmead Square, BA1 2AF Tel: 01225 442599, web: www.missionburritos.co.uk ■ Freshly prepared, bespoke burritos alongside a range of classic Tex-Mex-inspired delights (tacos, salads, etc) to take away or enjoy in a lively canteen environment. Price From £5.45 Wine list Not licensed to serve alcohol Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thur-Sat 10am-11pm

North African & Middle Eastern Bristol AFENDI RESTAURANT & CAFE 217 Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5QP Tel: 0117 924 8927, web: www.afendirestaurantcafe.co.uk ■ Delightfully attentive family-run restaurant serving Mediterranean and Arabic cuisine, from hot and cold mezze and grills to Middle Eastern dishes like falafel, tabouleh, kebabs, kibbeh and many vegetarian options. Ultra stylish in a minimalist kind of way, all unfussy straight-backed chairs,

A passion for the fresh and tasty My Burrito

Bath LAS IGUANAS 12 Seven Dials, Sawclose, BA1 1EN Tel: 01225 336666, web: www.iguanas.co.uk ■ Festive Latin American-themed food and a party-on atmosphere from the Bristol-based specialists in the genre, offering a lively blend of striking decor, cool

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Restaurants N.AFRICAN & MIDDLE EASTERN smooth-as-granite tabletops and white walls. Check their mixed mezze of fol medamas, falafel, baba ganoush, hummus, kibeh trabolsia, sambosa and the Afendi pickle mix, while specialities include minced lamb with parsley and onions in tomato sauce on a pizza-like base baked in their stone oven. And leave plenty of room - we’re talking seriously generous portions across the board, and you’ll want to try desserts including mahalabi (rosewater-flavoured milk pudding), baklava (filo pastry, nuts, topped with sweet syrup) and warmed semolina cake. Price ALC: £2.50-£6.99/£6£17.99/£3-£4.50 Wine list BYO anything (no corkage fee) and they’ll pop your cold ones in the fridge Open Daily 12noon-2pm & 6-11pm. Disabled access & toilet. Takeaway.

EL BAHDJA 39 Stokes Croft, BS1 3PY Tel: 07859 009128 ■ See Greek & Turkish.

MAZATI LEBANESE CUISINE Basement, 13a Small St, BS1 1DE Tel: 0117 927 7937, web: www.mazati.co.uk • A quietly spectacular place, set in a subterranean cellar, with a crescent-shaped ceiling running the full length of the single room. So, though there’s plenty of space down here, it never feels less than delightfully intimate. Expect hale and hearty Lebanese food, with an emphasis on high value. Don’t leave before enjoying a dinky cup of utterly delicious Lebanese tea, served in one of the most beautiful teapots known to man or woman. Price ALC: £3.90£5.70/£9.75-£15.20/£3-£3.50. Mezze platter £10.95 daily till 7pm Wine list HW £13.99 btl, £3.99 gls

Delightfully intimate Mazati Lebanese Cuisine

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Open Daily 6-11pm. No disabled access. Takeaway 10% discount. Parties catered for – call in adv.

SHIRAZ 275 Hotwell Rd, BS8 4SF Tel: 0117 925 5668 web: www. shirazpersianrestaurantbristol.com ■ ‘Persian culture lives on in Shiraz,’ said our Food editor, ‘embodying the famous tradition of warm hospitality as well as serving meltingly spicy marinated kebabs resting on aromatic rice, with herb-rich salads and sweet-scented frozen rosewater desserts to die for.’ By turns nicely understated and thrillingly lively: check variously for belly dancers, live music and shisha. Expect fillet of lamb, juicy steaks and fresh fish served with rice and fresh salads, with many ingredients locally sourced.

Back to our man for his summary: ‘A gem of a place where quality, distinctiveness and value for money miraculously coexist.’ Price ALC: £2.95-£4.25/£7.95£13.50/£3.60-£4.10 Wine list Good selection of reds & whites. HW £14.95 btl, £3.65 gls Open Mon-Thur 6-10pm, Fri-Sat 6-10.30pm, Sun 4-10pm. No disabled access. Takeaway 10% discount. Parties catered for – call in adv.

SOUK KITCHEN 277 North St, Southville, BS3 1JP Tel: 0117 966 6880, web: www.soukkitchen.co.uk ■ As we write there’s a rather amazing desert vista being painted on the outside of this place, with a real ‘making tracks for the oasis’ feel about it.

Which is entirely fitting, frankly, for a place voted the best new restaurant in the city when it launched just a couple of years back. Expect adroitly cooked and vibrant Middle Eastern dishes packed with interesting flavours and ingredients: Persian fish curry with coriander, fenugreek and tamarind and saffron rice, or chargrilled vine leaf-wrapped sardines with rocket, fried potatoes and tomato, pomegranate & sumac relish. The name refers to the commercial centre in Arab/Berber cities where stallholders use fresh, locally grown ingredients to cook up a feast of dishes from dawn to dusk, filling the air with the aroma of citrus and spices. Which, of course, is precisely the ethos taken up here. Menus feature mezze, posh kebabs and traditional sides (hummus, baba ganoush, falafel), plus Moroccan-type fare (tagines) and weekend breakfasts. Call or pop by for current offers. Price ALC: £2.20-£4.50/£9.50£13.95/£4.10. Brunch £2.60-£6.50 Wine list Good global selection. HW £13.50 btl, £3.20 gls. Beers, lagers, etc (inc Moroccan) Open Mon-Fri 12noon3pm & 6-10pm, Sat 10am-3pm & 6-10pm, Sun 10am-3pm & 6-9pm. Disabled access. Parties up to 20 welcome.

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Restaurants N.AFRICAN/PAN ASIAN Bath CAFE DU GLOBE 1a North Parade, BA1 1LF Tel: 01225 466437, web: www.cafeduglobe.co.uk ■ This cheery little caff (with pavement seating out front) morphs into a candlelit Moroccan bistro come evening. Daytime menus bring coffee, light lunches, afternoon tea and mainly shoppers’ fare (pizza, pasta, omelettes, wraps, big salads, toasted sandwiches).

Evenings are largely given over to Moroccan classics (mezze, tagines, couscous), reflecting the owner’s Casablanca roots. Kids get their own set menu, and the basement bazaar gives you the opportunity to create your own Arabian Nights film-set at home.

Price ALC: approx £5-£8/approx £10.50-£16/ approx £4.85-£5.25. SL (11.30am-3.30pm): 2 £10.95.

SD: 2 (Mon-Fri 5-6.30pm) £15.50 & gls wine, 2 (6.30pm-close, excl Sat) £19.95 Wine list HW approx £15 btl Open Daily 10am-10.30pm. Disabled access.

Parties welcome - call in adv.

Pan-Asian Bristol

fresh noodle bar, freshly prepared sushi counter.

Watching your handpicked creations come to sizzling life is all part of the fun. Price Lunch: £6.99 Mon-Fri, £7.99 Sat. Dinner: £12.99 Sun-Thur, £14.99 Fri-Sat Wine list HW £10.95 btl, £2.20 gls Open Lunch: Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm, Sat 12noon-3.30pm. Dinner: Mon-Thur 5.30-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 5.30-11pm, Sun 12noon-11pm. Disabled access. Parties welcome - call in adv.

NEW STREET FOOD @BANGKOK 81 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2NT Tel: 0117 973 2198, web: www.streetfoodatbangkok.co.uk ■ See Thai, Malaysian, Singaporean, Indonesian & Vietnamese.

TEOHS 28-34 Lower Ashley Rd, St Agnes, BS2 9NP Tel: 0117 907 1191 Old Tobacco Factory, North St, Southville, BS3 1TF Tel: 0117 902 1122 web: www.teohs.net ■ Before Wagamamas and their trend-setting ilk

Well-made, well-sourced Bauhinia

BAUHINIA 5a Boyces Ave, Clifton Village, BS8 4AA Tel: 0117 973 3138, web: www.bauhinia-bar.co.uk ■ Orchid-named pan-Asian diner/cafe-bar with a laidback atmosphere and no little flair. Check, for instance, an unusual drinks range including draught lagers from Hong Kong and Japan, pan-Asian bottled beers, Asian-influenced cocktails and green teas. ‘A chance to enjoy a reasonably priced, well-executed eclectic south-Asian meal in nicely restrained, stylish surroundings,’ said our reviewer. Their avowed mission is ‘to serve well-made, well-sourced and tasty food to locals at midweek prices’ - thus, the two-course special for £8.90, daily till 7pm.

Price ALC: £4-£8/£8.50-£14.50/£4.90. SL (daily till 7pm): 2 £8.90. Party menu (groups of 10+): 2 £10.90 Wine list HW £13 btl, £3.50 gls Open Mon-Thur 5-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-midnight, Sun 5-10pm. Disabled access on ground floor. Takeaway discount on food (10%) & alcohol (25%). Parties/ large groups welcome - call for details.

COSMO 30 Triangle West, BS8 1ET Tel: 0117 934 0999, web: www.cosmo-restaurants.co.uk ■ Franchise specialising in pan-Asian fare. This 250-seater offers good budget affair cooked up across six live cooking stations: teppanyaki hotplate, yakatori barbecue grill, dim sum bar, wok station,

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Restaurants PAN ASIAN rolled into town, there was Teohs. So thanks, so-called tastemakers, but we’ve actually had utilitarian canteen-style serving of delicious pan-Asian fare in the city for donkey’s years. Over half of the tens of main courses are available in vegetarian or vegan versions, part of a menu still living up to its ‘highly recommended’ placing in the value-for-money section of the Observer Food Monthly’s 2006 Food Awards.

Southville branch’s huge 160-seater refectory hall is popular with large groups, and the varied, tasty menus, buzzing atmosphere and such good prices are hard to beat. Other strings to the Teohs bow are regular cookery schools and outstanding outside catering, while the St Agnes branch has an excellent Far Eastern supermarket attached, with inspiring recipes on the website. Price ALC: main £7.50/side £4.50/extra £2/dessert £2.95 Wine list HW £14 ltr, £7 half-carafe, £3.50 gls. Sake, oriental liqueurs (inc Thai whiskey) & lots of Thai/Asian btld beers Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10.30pm. Disabled toilets & wheelchair access. Set menu for large parties.

Takeaway.

A tempting menu of fresh flavours Tampopo

TAMPOPO Unit SU84A, Glass House, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BX Tel: 0117 927 7008, web: www.tampopo.co.uk ■ Manchester-based mini-chain, named after the magnificently food-sensual film of the same name.

‘Surrounded by the blaring signage of the competition up in the Cabot Circus stratosphere, there’s something reassuringly discreet about Tampopo’s presentation,’ said Venue’s Mr Food. ‘That favourable impression is supported once you’re inside the restaurant, too, with its combination of hushed ambient music, soft orange lighting, neat plain furniture and a village shop-style shelf displaying noodles, sauces and beers.’ He concluded that ‘the fresh flavours, relaxed atmosphere and tempting menu mean we’ll certainly return’. Whereupon he’ll once again choose from street food and signature dishes from across eastern Asia, including steaming noodles, slow-cooked curries and sizzling stirfries. And just like in kitchens across eastern Asia, they make their sauces and stocks in house every day from the freshest market produce.

Price ALC: £1.90-£5.60/£6.50-£9.50/£3.60-£4.95.

Express menu: main plus side £7.95 (12noon-7pm daily) Wine list HW £13.95 btl, £2.95 gls Open Daily 12noon-11pm (10pm Sun). Disabled access (lift to food court). Takeaway. Parties welcome - call for details.

NEW TORO PAN ASIAN 72 Park St, BS1 5JX Tel: 0117 316 9261 web: www.toro-panasian.co.uk ■ The red exterior may appear familiar to Park Street regulars, but all else has changed at No72. With La Riva Italian restaurant departed, April saw the opening of Bristol’s latest Asian fusion specialists: the standard Toro menu fulsomely ranges across the continent, alongside a separate Chinese menu. Get acquainted from 12noon-5pm, when a two-course set menu is yours for £5.95. For creative dining, opt for the noodles in soup stock and build your own meal via 13 different combinations of veg, seafood and meat, four noodle varieties, and five soup bases. In summer, the refreshingly tasty green tea ice-cream is a heartily recommended closer. Price ALC: £3.95-£7.95/£5.95£14.95/£3.50-£4.50 Open Daily 12noon-11.30pm.

Takeaway.

WAGAMAMA 63 Queens Rd, Clifton, BS8 1QL Tel: 0117 922 1188, web: www.wagamama.com ■ Having gestated for such a long old time in its original home with seemingly no desire but to sit there as a must-visit when passing through Soho, it came as something of a surprise when Wagamama suddenly exploded across the world as a big old chain. Not hard to see why it’s been so successful in its 10 years in

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Restaurants PAN ASIAN/SPANISH Bristol, of course. That huge, diverse selection of panAsian dishes is as tasty as it is healthy, and the clean, simple decor and functionality entirely fits our non-flash times. Price ALC: £1.50-£6.40/£7.10-£12.35/£1.70£5.05 Wine list HW £14.25 btl, £3.30 gls. Fresh juices, sake, Asian beers, new Asian-themed cocktails Open Daily 12noon-11pm (10pm Sun). Disabled access: ramp at main entrance, disabled toilet and 3 removable benches.

Takeaway.

Bath PANASIA ORIENTAL 2 George St, BA1 2EH Tel: 01225 481001 ■ While Panasia may not, as the name suggests, represent the food culture of an area that covers almost 10% of the Earth’s surface, it does an admirable job of covering several far-flung bases - with added bling. Seated in ‘a dining room decorated with enough spangles and sequins to dress the Strictly Come Dancing set’, our reviewer perused a menu that travelled from sushi to traditional Szechuan by way of soups, noodles and rice dishes before her choices were served to her by ‘a chorus of polite, friendly waitresses dressed in beautiful gowns fashioned from jewel-coloured silks’. She declared the ensuing feast ‘supremely satisfying, hugely flavoursome and very good value for money’, having scoffed mixed sushi, tom yum goong, miso soup and fresh kimchi, Korean pork and roast duck. We suspect she made free with the magnificent cocktail menu, too. Price ALC: £6-£9/£7.95-£14.95/from £6 Wine list HW £14 btl. Sake, sublime cocktails Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6-11pm.

No disabled access. Parties/private hire welcome - call for details.

- how can we put this nicely? - indistinct side. Not here.

This stylish tapas bar offers food of genuine top quality, constructed with flair and imagination. As our Food and, indeed, Jazz/World - editor noted: ‘While honing my critical palate all over town, I return time and again, bringing other subsequently grateful friends to share the lively Spanish ambience and great food. With a cool jazz trio playing live to the nearly full restaurant, we discovered that £50 covered the food bill for three. How good is that?

Bloody brilliant, I’d say.’ Top tip: come in a group of four people and max out on tapas - for £17.50 each, you can share every dish on the menu. Price Tapas £2.95-£6.50, ALC main £11.15-£15.50 Wine list Lengthy, excellent, Spanish. HW £13 btl, £3.25 gls Open Sun-Thur 12noon11pm (kitchen closed 3-5pm), Fri-Sat 12noon-11.30pm.

Disabled access. Parties/groups welcome - call in adv.

EL RINCON 298 North St, Southville, BS3 1JU Tel: 0117 939 3457, web: www.elrincon.moonfruit.com ■ Small but perfectly formed, this Spanish tapas supplier is one of the warmest, tastiest places in town.

From sushi to traditional Szechuan Panasia

WAGAMAMA 1 York Buildings, George St, BA1 2EB Tel: 01225 337314, web: www.wagamama.com ■ Canteen-style pan-Asian dining chain, famous for its rapid-noodle formula. See Bristol listing for details. Price/ Wine list See Bristol listing Open Daily 12noon-11pm (10pm Sun). Disabled access. Plenty of space for large groups - adv booking only.

Spanish & Portuguese Bristol EL PUERTO 57 Prince St, BS1 4QH Tel: 0117 925 6014, web: www.el-puerto.co.uk ■ Rather a singular establishment. Generally, when places are this lively, the food quality tends to be a little on the

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Restaurants SPANISH & PORTUGUESE Truly, 10 minutes in here and you could believe you were tucked just off a Barcelona side-street - it’s not just a food thing (though that’s certainly part of it), but the feel of the place. ‘The ambience is casual, like a friendly dinner party, unpretentious and comfy, with recycled chairs and tables,’ said our reviewer, wisely choosing to come here for their birthday. ‘Bullfight posters are scattered around the brightly painted walls, with a view into the garden revealing cushions on the steps welcoming smokers.

What a spread it turned out to be, covering the table with colour and filling the air with delicious smells. Perfecto!’ Splendid local sourcing adds to the feelgood factor: ‘We buy from Mark’s bread, Ashton Fruit Shop, Rare and DR Butts, fish from the Tobacco Factory market and lightbulbs from the Lion Stores.’ This is a family-friendly and seemingly endless homage to nibbling delights – book ahead, particularly 7.30-9.30pm on Fri and 2-4pm on Sun,

Saucy chicken specialists Nandos

when there’s free live music: jazz, world, acoustic, never less than immaculately programmed by Pete ‘Get the Blessing’ Judge. Also Spanish film and book clubs, language lessons - seriously, what more could you ask for? Price Tapas £4-£9, bar snacks from £2.50. Wine list Extensive, Spanish selection. HW £13 btl, £3.20 gls Open Mon-Fri 6-10pm, Sat 12noon10pm, Sun 12noon-6pm. Disabled access - a few steps and no ramp, but staff happy to assist. Parties welcome - call in adv.

LA TASCA Glass House, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BX Tel: 0845 129 7623, web: www.latasca.co.uk ■ Big on salsa DJs and student parties, this 60+ strong chain offers Spanish food and themes in vividly brash fashion, with a strong accent on tapas. Price Tapas £2.95-£5.45. Dessert £3.65-£5.95 Wine list Good range of wine, sangria, Euro-beers. HW £13.95 btl, £3.85 gls Open Daily 12noon-11pm (10.30pm Sun). Good disabled access. Parties 20+ welcome.

NANDO’S Glass House, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BX Tel: 0117 3763 876 49 Park St, BS1 5NT Tel: 0117 929 9263 Aspects Leisure Park, Longwell Green, BS15 9LA Tel: 0117 967 2631 Unit 208, Cribbs Causeway, BS34 5UR Tel: 0117 959 0146, web: www.nandos.co.uk ■ Increasingly ubiquitous chain specialising in flame-grilled, peri-peri-sauced chicken. Expect to find open-plan kitchens serving burgers, pitta, salads, steaks and platters to share, especially those comprising their trademark chicken. Takeaway service, and you can buy sauces to try at home.

Price ALC: £2.95-£3.35/£4.05-£19.30/£2.95-£3.95.

Party menus, 2-4-1 deals, etc - call or see website for updates Wine list HW £13.20 btl, £2.60 gls Open Aspects: daily 11am-11pm. Cabot: Sun-Thur 12noon10pm, Fri 12noon-11pm, Sat 11am-11pm. Park St: daily 11.30am-10.30pm (11pm Fri-Sat). Cribbs: Mon-Fri 11am-9pm, Sat 11am-7pm, Sun 11am-5pm.

Disabled access to Aspects & Cabot Circus via lift.

Parties welcome.

Bath LA PERLA 12a North Parade, BA2 4AL Tel: 01225 463626, web: www.la-perla.co.uk ■ Gorgeous, glamorous Spanish restaurant and tapas bar in an intimate yet bright and breezy caved-vault environment where award-winning

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Restaurants SPANISH & PORTUGUESE chefs produce genuinely authentic Spanish fare (top tapas, valenciana/mariscos paellas, superb desserts) in an open kitchen. ‘La Perla is to Bath what the top-grade Iberian charcuterie on the menu here is to “chorizo-style” processed meat: a world’s apart, authentic modern Spanish experience,’ said EOW’s own little pearl in our food pages crown. ‘Each dish is as beautiful to behold as it is to digest, and extremely fairly priced for a gourmet experience of such high quality. Regular trips to this all-round sensual Spanish sanctuary are set to become a tradición contemporánea’. Menu changes daily; cookery school attached. Price Tapas from £4, paella/main from £9 Wine list Extensive, strong Spanish focus. HW from £14 btl Open Tue-Sun 12noon-midnight (last food orders 10pm). Limited disabled access. Parties - call in adv.

LA TASCA 36 Broad St, BA1 5LP Tel: 01225 466477, web: www.latasca.co.uk ■ Funky, popular Spanish-style tapas bar and restaurant. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Daily 12noon-11pm (10.30pm Sun). Disabled access call in adv. Parties 20+ welcome.

Thai, Malaysian, Singaporean, Indonesian & Vietnamese Bristol COSMO RESTAURANT 30 Triangle West, Bristol, BS8 1ET Tel: 0117 934 0999, web: www.cosmo-restaurants.co.uk ■ See Pan-Asian.

HUONG QUE 209 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8NN Tel: 0117 373 8882 ■ Family-run eatery (Michael the owner, plus sister and nephew) and a mixture of traditional Vietnamese decor (lanterns, artwork) and rather

Help yourself and pile it high Cosmo

NANDO’S Kingsmead Leisure Development, 5-10 James St West, BA1 2DT Tel: 01225 789901, web: www.nandos.co.uk ■ Home to Portuguese flame-grilled peri-peri chicken. See Bristol listing. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Sun-Thur 12noon-11.30pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-midnight. Disabled access with lift & toilet. Parties 20+ welcome.

NEW PORTVCALE LOUNGE 43 St James Parade, BA1 1UQ Tel: 01225 424321, web: www.portvcalelounge.co.uk ■ Warm, welcoming family-run Portuguese restaurant and bar with smart booth seating at street level and cosy vaulted bar downstairs. ‘Portvcale is slowly, quietly but very distinctively earning itself a well-deserved reputation for being one of the most unique watering holes in Bath,’ said one EOW detective recently. ‘It’s a rustic, cheerful, authentic Portuguese adventure.’ The fabulous tapas dishes are highly recommended, as are the continental cocktails and red/white sangria. Olé party every Tue; downstairs bar available for private hire. Price Tapas £3.75-£5.25. Cataplana (for 2 to share) £25.50/£34.95 Wine list Small but perfectly formed, HW from approx £14 btl Open Food served daily 12noon-9pm (except Tue). Disabled access/ parties - call in adv.

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Restaurants THAI, MALAYSIAN... more modern large TV screens showing Vietnamese music videos for your singalong delight. Or, perhaps, otherwise, depending on your luck on the day. When Venue visited we found it ‘satisfyingly authentic and reasonably priced, with a friendly ambience’. Expect clean-tasting, not overly rich food, with ginger, chilli additions, pho soup and well-prepared meats served at a quick pace. ‘The brightly decorated dining rooms are buzzing, the small crew of waiting staff is practically running from table to table, and trays of food are appearing at an unbelievable pace’. Friends of theirs own the Vietnamese supermarket further up the Gloucester Road, so the ingredients and produce are no doubt authentic. Price £5-£8 Wine list BYO option Open Tue-Sun 12noon-10pm. Disabled access.

Takeaway.

SIAM HARBOURSIDE

chilli bubbling with fat tiger prawns and strips of supple squid topped with massive Pacific mussels in their shells. It’s a sharing dish, served in a nifty candle-powered heated tureen, and one of the brightest tastes I’ve sampled for a long time.’ And so it carried on, our man concluding: ‘It leaves us feeling satisfied, which is the best kind of full, and apart from a mild dispute about which was the tastiest sauce, the whole thing has been exceedingly agreeable.’ Price ALC: £4.95£6.95/£6.95-£13.95/£2.75-£4.95. SL: 3 £7.95.

Look also for Quick and Business options Wine list Extensive, inc Thai wines & beers. HW £11.95 btl, £3.20 gls Open Lunch: Tue-Sun 12noon2.30pm. Dinner: Tue-Wed 6-10.30pm, Thur-Sat 6-11.30pm, Sun 6-10.30pm. Disabled access.

Takeaway discount 10% on £20+ orders. Can seat up to 35 at one table.

129 Hotwell Rd, BS8 4RU Tel: 0117 330 6476, web: www.siam-harbourside. co.uk ■ Occupying a glorious waterside setting, this long-established Thai restaurant changed hands recently. So, at the beginning of the year, the Food editor went to see how they were getting on. After a familiar beginning, he related, ‘It’s when the menu arrives that things start to look a bit different – there’s somehow less of it and yet a wider range of choices than before. It’s good to note a nicely diverse section of starters and mains for vegetarians as well as the copious meat and seafood choices and some intriguing specialities.

Two spoonfuls into our po tak samui soup and we catch each other’s eye-watering glance – it’s amazing; a pungent stock infused with green

NEW STREET FOOD @BANGKOK

Glorious waterside setting

RENAMED STREETFOOD

Siam Harbourside

81 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2NT Tel: 0117 973 2198, web: www. streetfoodatbangkok.co.uk ■ If the name suggests purely Thai food, don’t be misled: we’re also talking fare such as Indonesian curry, Chinese seafood, and so forth. So, a panAsian menu, but there are surprises in store, too. Not least the altogether unusual blendings afoot during Sunday lunchtimes, when the buffet means you can bring together spring rolls, rice and chicken curry with roast beef and yorkshire pud!

Price ALC: £3.95-£7.25/£6.95-£15.50. SL: 2 £7.95 Wine list Large cocktail range Open Lunch: daily 12noon-3.30pm (Sun 4pm). Dinner: Mon-Thur 6-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 6-11.30pm, Sun 6-9.30pm.

Takeaway 10% discount.

39 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AD Tel: 0117 924 6786 ■ Formerly known as Tai Pan Noodle Bar. A place of informal friendliness with bench-style tables to share, and classic Thai food served up with super speediness. Price Main £4.95-£6.95 Wine list HW £9.95 btl, £2.80 gls Open Mon 5-10.30pm, Tue-Sun 12noon-10.30pm. Disabled access - call for advice. Takeaway.

TEOHS 28-34 Lower Ashley Rd, St Agnes, BS2 9NP Tel: 0117 907 1191 Old Tobacco Factory, North St, Southville, BS3 1TF Tel: 0117 902 1122 web: www.teohs.net ■ See Pan-Asian.

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Restaurants THAI, MALAYSIAN...

THAI CLASSIC 87 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2NT Tel: 0117 973 8930, web: www.thaiclassic.co.uk ■ Has it yet become established enough in this country for us to talk of ‘old-school Thai restaurants’? Because if it has, here’s a beauty: decor of vivid pinks, blues, greens and yellows, Thai art and fans hung from the walls, and waiting staff clad altogether beautifully in national dress. The food is the real thing, too, conjured up by a chef who spent many years working in a top hotel in Bangkok.

Want a little modernity? How about bagging a Best Thai Restaurant in Bristol gong from something as new-fangled as the Ethical Good Food Awards?

Malaysian and Singaporean menus, too. Price ALC: £4.10-£4.95/£6-£12.10/£3-£5. Plenty of set menus to choose from, too Wine list Good selection of old & new world. HW £19.95 btl, £3.50 gls. Thai beers Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6-11pm. Takeaway discount 10%. Private hire, up to 40.

THAI EDGE Unit 4, Broad Quay, BS1 4DA Tel: 0117 927 6088, web: www.thaiedge.co.uk ■ Part of a foursome - there are outlets in Leeds, Cardiff and an AA rosette hanging in Birmingham - offers up typically friendly Thai dining. As our reviewer related, ‘The attentive welcome of the Thai staff as you settle at your table and the discreet traditional music both maintained the promise of a wonderfully stress-free experience. Each generously portioned dish had strong flavours, waftings of garlic, lemongrass and ginger underpinned with coconut smoothness. The food lived up to the decor – smart and satisfying – showing that the experience gained from Thai Edge’s other restaurants has been distilled into a winning formula.’ Price ALC: £5-£8/£7.90-£15.80/£4.50. Several set menus - see website Wine list HW £10.95 btl, £3.95 gls. Thai beers Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm (last orders 2pm) & Mon-Sun 5.30-11pm (11.30pm Fri-Sun). Disabled access - call in adv. Private parties - call in av.

Bath MAI THAI 6 Pierrepont St, BA2 4AA Tel: 01225 445557, web: www.maithai.co.uk ■ This longstanding, sparkly little haven of accessible exotica is, according to EOW’s own little pork dumpling, ‘neither extravagant nor flashy, and very good value for money’. Menus run the whole gamut of Thai classics, while fish and seafood dishes are particularly agreeable, and the traditional green/red curries are always a reliable option. Price ALC: starter £4.95-£8.25/main £7-£8.50/sundries (rice, etc) from £3. SL: 2 £7.50 (inc coffee/jasmine tea) Wine list International, good choice of about 30 varieties. HW from £11 btl Open Daily 12noon-2pm & 6-10.30pm (11.30pm Fri-Sat).

Disabled access, but not to toilets. Credit cards £10 min.

Takeaway discount 10%. Parties up to 35.

SALATHAI 8 Pierrepont Place, BA1 1JX Tel: 01225 484663, web: www.salathai-bath.co.uk

A winning formula Thai Edge

THAI KITCHEN The Old Fish Market, 59-63 Baldwin St, BS1 1QZ Tel: 0117 921 1515, web: www.oldfishmarket.co.uk ■ Generous servings of modern Thai gastro-dishes served up in an old-school pub replete with a ream of real ales. A fine-sounding combination, no? Small courtyard for warmer months, and great views along the dockside, too. Price ALC: £2-£7.20/£8.50£13.80/£3.50. SD (Mon-Sat 5-9pm): bento box (starter/main/side) £10.50 Wine list HW £12.30 btl, £2.95 gls Open Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 5-10pm, Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-7pm. Disabled access.

Parties welcome.

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Restaurants THAI, MALAYSIAN...

■ Street level at this pristine Thai diner is contemporary and spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows, with more traditional nooks and crannies downstairs. ‘Our Salathai feast had the whole Far Eastern Odyssey thing going on,’ said EOW’s own little noodle doodle. ‘Hot, sour, sweet, bitter and fresh, fresh, fresh all the way, with all those distinctive aromatics (garlic, lemongrass, ginger, lime, chillies, coriander, tamarind, palm sugar, soy and fish sauce, etc, etc) all coming through loud and clear.’ The Thai curries hit the soft/ sharp flavour balance so perfectly that it would be criminal not to indulge. Price ALC: starter £4.50£7.50/main £5.95-£13.95/sundries (rice, etc) from £3. SL: 1 £5.95, 2 £8.95 (inc coffee/tea). Set menus from £16.95pp (min 2 people) Wine list HW from £13 btl Open Daily (inc bank hols) 12noon-2pm & 6-11pm (10.30pm Sun). Disabled access. Takeaway discount. Parties catered for - call in adv.

THAI BALCONY 1 Seven Dials, Sawclose, BA1 1EN Tel: 01225 444450, web: www.thai-balcony.com ■ Amid palatial decor that could have been borrowed

Life-affirming blasts of flavours Yum Yum Thai

from the neighbouring Theatre Royal, gracious staff wearing traditional garb and beautifully decorated tables set the scene for elegant, classic dishes including sumptuous banquets and a green curry that one EOW reviewer declared to be ‘a perfectly executed amalgamation of classic Thai flavours in perfect harmony’. Tamarind duck, prawn penang curry and steamed whole sea bass are all highly recommended, as is the dim sum selection. Fancy doing it yourself?

The restaurant’s own Mini Mart (just below the Balcony itself) stocks everything you need (see Specialist Food Suppliers, Bath). Price ALC: starter £5-£7.50/main £7-£15 Wine list HW from £12.95 btl Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10.30pm. Disabled access. Takeaway discount 10%. Party bookings welcome.

THAI BASIL 90a Walcot St, BA1 5BG Tel: 01225 462463, web: www.thaibasilbath.com ■ Lively, authentic Thai cuisine in surroundings to match. Food is as fresh and pretty as the decor and runs the whole Thai gamut from dumplings, fishcakes and tom yam soup to excellent Thai curries and sparklingly fresh stirfries, with fresh fish and vegetarian options proving particularly popular.

Price ALC: starter £4.75-£5.50/main £7.50-£14.50.

SL: 1 £5.50, 3 £7.95/£9.95. SD: 2 £13.95 (inc gls of wine & tea/coffee, Sun-Thur 5.30-7pm) Wine list HW approx £12 Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 5.3010.30pm. Disabled access. Takeaway discount. Free home delivery from 5.30pm. Parties up to 40 welcome - adv booking only.

THAI BY THE WEIR 16 Argyle St, BA2 4BQ Tel: 01225 444834, web: www.thaibytheweir.co.uk ■ Explore a menu stuffed with contemporary and traditional Thai delights (and a handful of panAsian fusion dishes), including tempura, gyozo and hand rolls, wonton and tom yum soup, noodles both wok-fried and in soup (ramen), and saucy specials including Malaysian beef/fish curries and plenty of phriks, pheds and krapaos, all in a lovely location right on Bath’s prettiest bridge, with glorious weir views from the rear. Price ALC: £3-£5.50/£6.50£8.95/£4 Wine list HW from £12 btl Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10.30pm. Disabled access.

Takeaway. Parties/group bookings - call in adv.

YUM YUM THAI 17 Kingsmead Square, BA1 2AE Tel: 01225 445253, web: www.yumyumthai.com ■ Despite its relatively fuss-free countenance (there be no gold-braided dragon-related paraphernalia in this cheerful contemporary diner), still offering

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Restaurants THAI/VEGETARIAN solace and succour to those in dire need of a lifeaffirming blast of healthy, uncomplicated but highly flavoursome food at budget-friendly prices. Classic Thai mains are mostly £9.95 (including rice or noodles), with dishes in the ‘specialities’ selection costing a couple of quid more. You can supplement your choice with a side-order from a 15-strong cast list (around £5). The restaurant’s mission statement is equally straightforward: organic and free-range produce pushed to the fore, MSG banned from the premises, and the meat in most dishes effortlessly replaced with tofu to create a veggie version. ‘If a green curry is the benchmark by which all Thai restaurants should be judged, the YYT’s rendition of this familiar favourite can only be called exemplary,’ declared one of EOW’s spiciest little chilli flakes.

Price ALC: main £9.50-£9.95 (special £11.95)/side £5.20-£6.90/dessert £4.50-£5.50 Wine list HW from £12.90 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & daily 6-11pm. Disabled access. Credit cards min £10. Takeaway discount. Discount of 10% for nurses, students & Bath Theatre Royal/Little Theatre/Komedia ticket-holders (excl Fri/Sat eves)

Vegetarian

■ This nationally acclaimed gourmet veggie/vegan bistro has been serving up the finest in elegant food to the good citizens of Bath and beyond for over two decades, and continues to go from strength to strength.

EOW reviewers have waxed lyrical about head chef Richard Buckley’s thoughtful, imaginative, inspirational ways with face-free ingredients for many a long year, holding his sparklingly fresh, innovative selection in very high regard. Goodness? You’ve got it: organics, wheat-free and vegan options abound, while cookery school classes (www.vegetariancookeryschool.com) are very popular. Open all day long for excellent breakfasts, super lunches and afternoon tea before supper proper kicks in. Price ALC: from approx £7.25/from approx £14.50/from approx £5.95. See website for regularly changing offers – currently SD: 2 £21.95, 3 £26.95.

Tasting menu (every Tue): 7 £35 Wine list Excellent organic wine, champagne & beers, inc hemp lager. HW from £17.35 btl Open Daily 10am-10pm. No disabled access. No under-6s after 7.30pm. Parties up to 12.

Top-of-the-range veggie wonders Cafe Maitreya

Bristol CAFE MAITREYA 89 St Marks Rd, Easton, BS5 6HY Tel: 0117 951 0100, web: www.cafemaitreya.co.uk ■ Open mics, art exhibitions, friendly community vibe.

You’d want to be coming here even it wasn’t renowned as the Vegetarian Society’s Best UK Vegetarian Restaurant, and heartily recommended in Which? Good Food Guide and Observer Food Monthly Awards. ‘Even meat-eaters who enjoy good food would be crazy to pass up the delights of Cafe Maitreya,’ said our Food editor. Seasonal menu changes regularly to use top-quality, locally sourced ingredients, often organic. Gluten/wheat/ dairy-free and vegan options clearly marked. Breakfast served 10am-12noon - see boards. Booking essential in eves. Price Lunch (12noon-4pm) £4.95-£7.95. ALC: £4.95-£5.95/£9.95-£10.95/£5.95 Wine list Excellent, extensive, thoughtful, mainly organic wines (inc some fabulous sparklies) & beers. HW £13.95 btl, £3.10 gls Open Tue-Sun 10am-11.30pm (kitchen closes 4pm Sun).

Disabled access. Private hire room for parties.

Bath DEMUTHS 2 North Parade Passage, BA1 1NX Tel: 01225 446059, web: www.demuths.co.uk

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Cafes BRISTOL

Cafes Bristol A CAPPELLA 184c Wells Rd, Totterdown, BS4 2AL Tel: 0117 971 3377, web: www.acappellas.co.uk ■ Voted Bristol’s Best Budget Italian 2011 by The Guardian - a ringing endorsement for co-owners Jennifer Moore and Paul Stewart, managers Bonnie and Joe and their unfailingly engaging staff. The couple were part of the premises’ previous incarnation, Bocacina. So what about the name, then? “It means ‘unaccompanied’,” they told our man. “We believe in our ability to perform well alone. We’re a small independent business but we sing out loud!” And EOW is delighted to add its voice to that of The Guardian in singing the praises of this winner of an eatery. Continental cafe by day, cosy BYO pizzeria by night - with a community, family feel and local artworks depicting nearby scenes. Homemade desserts, tapas, all-day breakfasts, lunches and fine coffee. Traditionally prepared stonebaked pizzas arrive when the sun goes down at an establishment offering something for every demographic. “Early evenings, it’s families and kids eating before home to bed. Later it’s young couples and small groups aged 20-40 here before the cinema and gangs of mums with the night off!” says Jennifer. Very child-friendly, with toys for little ones. Free Wi-Fi, good disabled access and alfresco dining. Fills up quickly so booking essential. That a national newspaper should recognise their budget restaurant credentials chimes with their BYO credentials, Paul told our man. “Letting people bring their own means that couples can dine out and not get ripped off for wine.” Open Tue-Thur 9am-10pm, Fri-Sat 9am-10.30pm ALMOUROL 54 Filton Rd, Horfield, BS7 0PB Tel: 07768 439775 ■ Cafe within the South West’s only Portuguese and Brazilian mini-market. Enjoy snacks and sweet things with your drink, then stock up on groceries – everything you need at barato prices. Open Mon-Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 9am-4pm ARNOLFINI CAFE-BAR 16 Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA Tel: 0117 917 2305, web: www.arnolfini.org.uk ■ It’s a London thing – eating at the bar, that is – and the sexy‘n’sleek new zinc number here is encouraging Bristol residents to dine in this low-key Soho style. Due to arrive is an ice-cream machine conjuring up some seriously funky flavours.

Serves Extract coffee (in a version recently voted by Extract’s Marc as being the best in Bristol), with famously good cakes (including gluten free) made onsite: recent faves include carrot, walnut & pomegranate, Tuscan orange rice cake, and banana & white chocolate. Italian-inspired food uses the best local produce in daily changing salads, tarts and more looking pretty behind the bar. Specials include Tuscan fennel & tomato soup, spaghetti with lemon, parmesan, cream and rocket, and great little pizzas handmade onsite. The lovely people here will even

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rent you a beanbag for alfresco summer chilling. A pint on the cobbles beside the Arnolfini? It’s a Bristol thing. Open Daily from 10am ARTS HOUSE 108a Stokes Croft, BS1 3RU Tel: 0117 923 2858, web: www.theartshouse.org ■ As we go to press the ace, artistic people here are experimenting with weekday opening from 8am to offer bacon baps and coffees to those heading to work - sounds like an excellent idea.

Unpretentiously and effortlessly blends cafe, bar, gallery and event space. Light, airy upstairs cafe-bar with street-watching bench-toceiling windows. Basement (available for private hire) has been put to wonderfully diverse use: film showings, open mics, magic nights, poetry slams, burlesque events, live music. Tapas and seasonal menu served alongside wines and beers. Good tea and Fairtrade coffee ranges. Free Wi-Fi. REOPENED ASHTON COURT COURTYARD CAFE Ashton Ct Estate, Long Ashton, BS41 9JN ■ When you’ve worked up an appetite across Ashton Court’s 850 acres of woodland and grassland, mosey on over to its recently reopened cafe for some affordable, filling food: jacket potato with beans/cheese/chilli/tuna/coleslaw (£3-£4.50) won’t break the bank. Find everything from fish & chips, bacon baps, all-day breakfasts and chilli with crusty bread to quiche, soup-of-the-day, panini and Pieminister pies. Kids get their own choices, there are several coffees and teas, and cakes start at £1.50, so you can afford to treat yourself. Open Daily 9am-5pm (hours change Nov-Mar) NEW ATOMIC BURGER 189 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8BG Tel: 0117 942 8600, web: www.atomicburger.co.uk ■ Opening shortly after we go to press. Burgers come with some interesting names, paying homage to American cultural icons from film, cartoon, comedy, music and sport. Like any Hollywood production, there’s a host of extras, with breakfast alone bringing eggs benedict, pancakes and a bowl of Lucky Charms to the appetisers. Drinks include butterscotch milkshake, Sam Adams beer (from Boston, USA) wine, margaritas and their own take on a bloody mary. They’ve also lined up a cider list especially for Bristol - cheers! An absolute no-brainer for birthday parties is the Fallout challenge - for ages 18+ (wearing protective gloves) after signing a legally-binding waiver. Doubtless a large percentage of many a student loan will deservedly find its way here. Open Mon-Fri 12noon-10.30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-10.30pm (breakfast 10am-12noon) NEW ATRIUM CAFE Arnos Vale Cemetery, Bath Rd, BS4 3EW Tel: 0117 377 2576, web: www.whisk-uk.com ■ Opened in April 2012, serving panini, ploughman’s, frittatas, charcuterie, sandwiches, homemade soup and soda bread amid

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Cafes BRISTOL some of Bristol’s most tranquil surroundings. From a building featuring much steel and glass, look out onto trees and wildlife, whether you’re indoors or on the sunny terrace. The weekend we went to press, ornithologists were onsite to count the number of bird species spotted over a 36-hour period. It’s a civilised (table service) oasis where you can savour a cream tea, select wine, Bristol Beer Factory ale or Ashton Press cider. A striking counter, offset by a gleaming espresso machine, displays homemade cakes, brownies and scones. Open Summer: daily 10am-4pm (same hours but fewer days in winter) AVENUE CAFE 1 Queen Square Ave, BS1 4JA Tel: 0117 922 0513 ■ Smart, spacious, modern cafe at the end of a side-street off Queen Square. Weekday breakfast from 7.30am (full and traditional, poached eggs/grilled mushrooms on toast), morning coffee, lunch or afternoon cuppas and cake. Panini (ham, cheddar & spring onion), 11 different jacket fillings (chicken, pesto & mozzarella, olive-roasted veg with three cheeses), plus specials and daily bites (hot salmon salad, spicy olive arrabiata on pasta).

Catering and take-out services, phone orders welcomed. Open Mon-Sat 7.30am-4pm, Sun 9am-4pm BACCHUS 59 Apsley Rd, Clifton, BS8 2SW Tel: 0117 973 4892 ■ Housed in former local favourite Rucola, Bacchus purveys a thrumming-but-laidback atmosphere, all-weather outdoor seating, good menus and a cheery welcome. Expect fine all-day breakfasts (blackstone eggs and compote-augmented French toast a particular treat), lunches and early suppers, alongside an excellent international wine list, numerous vegetarian options and plenty to keep the kids happy. Open Mon-Sat 9am-8pm, Sun 9am-4pm.

NEW BAR CHOCOLAT 19 The Mall, Clifton Village, BS8 4JG Tel: 0117 974 7000, web: www.barchocolatclifton.co.uk ■ Now Bar Chocolat - not MeMe Chocolat - but still a stylish homage to all things choccy. Menu includes quiche, panini, baguettes, sandwiches, soups, salads, cakes and, well, chocolates.

Chilled ambience, friendly and efficient, and an alcohol licence (wine with your choccy; taster plate of truffles and bottle of champagne). Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, milkshakes, Marshfield Organic ice-cream, renowned lemon cheesecake (and a Mississippi mud pie making a name for itself). Art exhibitions, Wi-Fi, and the possibility of evening openings in summer - phone to check. Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10.30am-6.30pm BEESES BAR & TEA GARDENS Wyndham Crescent, BS4 4SX Tel: 0117 977 7412, web: www.beeses.co.uk, twitter.com/beeses ■ ‘Bristol’s best-kept secret – bar none,’ wrote our man of this Bristol institution in an utterly beguiling riverside garden setting.

Weekly changing specials board serves up poached duck egg,

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black pudding, organic Old Spot sausage and bacon, or poussin with couscous, and grilled fresh mackerel marinated in honey and mustard. Regular offerings (Aberdeen Angus steak baguette, Pa’s Morning Muffin, a gorgeous cheeseboard) evince Beeses’ simplethings-done-well ethos. Perfect for families – the nature reserve next door boasts ducks, swans and herons. See also Bars. Open/ Food See Beeses listing in Bars BETTER FOOD COMPANY CAFE Proving House, Sevier St, St Werburghs, BS2 9QS Tel: 0117 935 1725, web: www.betterfood.co.uk ■ Their seasonal, mostly organic and locally grown offerings have been recognised in a Food for Life gold catering award. Salads, soups, mezze, and special diets (wheat-free, vegan) catered for.

Breakfast served daily until 3pm, lunches 12noon-3pm. Big remit to reduce, reuse, recycle and consider carbon emissions. Food available to take away. Open Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm Food Mon-Sat 9am-5pm (hot food till 3pm), Sun 10am-3pm BIG BANANA JUICE BAR Units 21-22, Glass Arcade, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1LJ Tel: 0117 927 3274 ■ A dozen juices plus smoothies (with ice-cream versions) and organic ice-cream shakes, with Brazilian superfood acai providing an alternative to caffeine-based quaffing. Try the Iron Booster (beetroot, watercress, apple, carrot) or Very Veg (carrot, cucumber, celery, parsley). Shot boards bring savings. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm BLUE JUICE 39 Cotham Hill, BS6 6JY Tel: 0117 973 4800 ■ New menu arriving here will strengthen salad options and let you create your own wrap. Vast range of juices and smoothies includes their popular acai (full of vitamins and minerals), carrot, apple & ginger cocktail, and enduring favourite the five-a-day special juice (fruit and vegetable varieties). Wrap and juice deal £5. Mostly vegetarian mains (try lentil & vegetable shepherd’s pie or cheese, leek & potato pie), with vegan and gluten-free choices, with chicken and bacon for carnivores. Beautiful deck with canopy. All food available to take away. Open Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, Sat 9am-4pm BORDEAUX QUAY BRASSERIE V-Shed, Canons Way, BS1 5UH Tel: 0117 943 1200, web: www.bordeaux-quay.co.uk ■ Smart, spacious brasserie with bar within the Bordeaux Quay temple to all things scrumptious and sustainable. Food is modern European; menus change daily and with the seasons, with staple ingredients sourced from organic suppliers, growers and producers around the West Country. Try parma ham with baby ruby chard, peashoots and parmesan, followed by 30-day-aged 8oz sirloin steak with handcut chips, portobello mushroom and peppercorn sauce, finishing with chocolate & hazelnut caramel tart with creme fraiche. Check website for regular events. Open Mon-Fri 8am-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 9am-9pm Food Mon-Sat 8am-10.30pm, Sun 9am-9pm

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Cafes BRISTOL

Weird & wonderful Cafe Create

Smeaton Rd, Cumberland Basin ■ Some produce arrives here from North Street’s Ashton Fruit Shop in a Bob Yak bicycle trailer – good work, Sophie.

Cordial & Grace

The Mall, Clifton Village ■ Sewing machine hire (£5 per hour) comes with free drink.

Folk House Cafe & Bar

Park St ■ Catch the sublime Claudia Aurora serving up haunting Portuguese folk-blues expect beautiful bewitchment.

smoothies. Milkshakes come in cookie dough, chocolate, honeycomb and strawberry cream flavours, or order wines, beers and ciders. The coffee (from Clifton Coffee, which also supplies hot chocolate) comes highly recommended, with Sweetbird syrup adding sublime flavouring. Eat in or take away. Student card-holders get a 10% discount. Open Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 10am-5pm BRISTOL BREAK ‘N’ TAKE 30-32 Upper Maudlin St, BS2 8DJ Tel: 0117 930 0776 ■ Look out for a name change coming soon at this cut-above cafe and sandwich shop opposite Bristol Children’s Hospital.

The new incarnation will be called Cherry Picked, though we’ve been assured that it will remain an eatery where award-winning chefs conjure up soups, panini, baguettes, jackets, homemade cakes and tarts to eat in or take away. All-day breakfasts, deli and salad counters. Hot and cold drinks, plus alcohol licence.

Continuous news coverage, Wi-Fi, outside seating, kids welcome. Open Mon-Fri 7.30am-7pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4.30pm BRISTOL GUILD CAFE 68-70 Park St, BS1 5JY Tel: 0117 929 1874, web: www.bristolguild.co.uk ■ Long-established and much-loved cafe within one of Bristol’s flagship stores, where renovation work will see the store’s food section moved to stand beside the cafe. Should be ready by the end of July 2012 - drop in after reopening to enjoy the cafe’s trademark soups, salads, quiches (stilton & mushroom, broccoli & ginger), pastries, cakes, cookies, scones, flapjacks, tea, coffee and cold drinks. A light and airy setting, with greenery inside (terrace area) and out. Open Mon-Fri 10am-4.30pm, Sat 10am-5pm

BOSTON TEA PARTY 75 Park St, BS1 5PF Tel: 0117 929 8601, web: www.bostonteaparty.co.uk ■ Praised by both The Guardian and The Times, and boasting a huge selection of juices, loose-leaf teas, Fairtrade coffee.

Excellent, seasonally changing menu features food made from scratch: sweet potato curry, falafels, West Country burgers, lamb tagine, roast squash & feta salad. Reliably innovative sarnie and panini range, BBQs planned for summer, and breakfasts including herby portobello mushrooms. Seating on two floors and a terraced garden. Open Mon-Sat 7am-8pm, Sun 9am-7pm NEW BRIGSTOW CAFE 9 Clare St, BS1 1XH Tel: 0117 929 3876 ■ What was Red became Brigstow Cafe in November 2012.

Floor-to-ceiling windows look out from the Centre to Corn Street. Find breakfasts (including a breakfast wrap, bacon/ sausage bap, eggs Benedict), toasted wraps, jackets, salads,

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BRUNEL BUTTERY Wapping Wharf, BS1 6DS Tel: 0117 929 1696 ■ Bacon butties, sausage sarnies, cakes, cold drinks, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and more. Eat on tables outdoors or take away. Open Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, Sat-Sun 8am-5pm CAFE BRITALIA 111 Wick Rd, Brislington, BS4 4HE Web: www.cafebritalia.co.uk ■ Clean, fresh, modern surroundings in which a wide clientele enjoys coffee, breakfasts, panini, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, pasta, salads, cake. Open Mon-Sat 8am-4pm Food Until 3pm CAFE CREATE Create Centre, Smeaton Rd, Cumberland Basin, BS1 6XN Tel: 0117 903 1201 ■ Formerly monikered Create Cafe – see what they did there?

Conscientious cuisine has always been on the menu here, with a Green Tourism gold award (one of only two in Bristol) bagged since last year’s guide in recognition of their use of free-range

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Cafes BRISTOL eggs and chicken. The Extract Coffee is sourced directly; cheese comes from Cheddar’s Alvis Brothers. Top soups and wholesome food cooked from scratch in dishes like handcarved Wiltshire free-range ham, or butternut squash, puy lentil & feta cheese pasties, both served with half baked potato, salad and homemade pickled chutney for £4.50. Very child friendly, and fab riverside views. Open Mon-Fri 9am-3pm CAFE DU JOUR 72 Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2QA Tel: 0117 973 1563, web: www.cafe-dujour.co.uk ■ Swish cafe with a smart, modern look, large front windows, decked rear area, French radio coming through the speakers and a Bordelais presence in the kitchen. Baguettes, croques, salads, quiches and assiettes of charcuterie, cheese or both, and a particularly sublime breakfast of smoked Scottish salmon, spinach & gruyere cheese toasted sandwich with steamed scrambled eggs. Specials, homemade cakes, coffees, teas, juices and smoothies. Open Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat-Sun 8am-5.30pm CAFE KINO 108 Stokes Croft, BS1 3RU Tel: 0117 924 9200, web: www.cafe-kino.com ■ Linger over a latte or enjoy the simple but imaginative vegan menu at this artistic, creativity and community-led not-for-profit co-operative going from strength to strength.

Punters are drawn from far and wide to generously portioned hot meals for around a fiver, thick and tasty soups, spicebreathing tagines and legendary veggie burgers. Local beers (Stroud Brewery, etc), Fairtrade coffee, Cube Cola to return. Entertainment includes regular music, screenings, Scrabble, book club. Open Daily 8.30am-9.30pm Food Daily 10am-8.30pm CAFE RETREAT 45 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2LS Tel: 0117 973 2842, web: www.caferetreat.co.uk ■ Sky-blue frontage, stylish sundeck and a cheery feel. Food, prepared daily on site, takes in inventively filled sandwiches, wraps, panini, baguettes, jackets and mains like chicken in buffalo sauce with blue cheese and celery. Traditional and vegetarian breakfasts, daily changing specials, mezze, nachos, ploughman’s platters, quiches and minute steak in toasted ciabatta. Cakes, cookies and biscuits, too. Open Daily 8am-4pm (extended hours possible - check with cafe) CAFE RETREAT (THE DOWNS) Stoke Rd, nr water tower, Durdham Down, BS9 1FG Tel: 0117 923 8186, web: www.caferetreat.co.uk ■ Once a Victorian gents’ toilet. Now you can drop in for breakfasts, omelettes, salads, jackets, soups, wraps, fish & chips, chilli, baguettes, burgers, ice-creams and a children’s menu. Extensive hot beverage selection includes Darjeeling, Ceylon, Assam, Earl Grey. It’s available for private hire (min 20 people), the parking is easy, and the kids can run around.

Open Daily: winter 8.30am-5pm, summer 8am-6pm

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CAFE ROUGE 85 Park St, BS1 5PJ Tel: 0117 929 2571 Cabot Circus, BS1 3BD Tel: 0117 954 4808 Unit R4, The Mall, Cribbs Causeway BS10 7TG Tel: 0117 950 8730, web: www.caferouge.co.uk ■ Friendly, authentic French cafe-bar/brasserie/restaurant serving high-quality food in convivial surroundings. See Restaurants, French.

CAFFE CLIFTON The Clifton, St Paul’s Rd, Clifton, BS8 1LX Tel: 0117 973 6882, web: www.cliftonhotels.com ■ This swish spot located above the legend that is Racks now stages a monthly English/Spanish language swap.

For those who like to read as well as talk, CC’s book club promises sparkling company. Bespoke suppliers include Bar Cake, Clifton Coffee Co, Bellevue Bakery cakes, Attic Tea and Charles Saunders. Try the jasmine tea ball green tea - an elegant, jasmine-flavoured honey-coloured infusion. Home to Stitch’n’Bitch gatherings. Open Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun 8am-6pm CAFFE EXCHANGE Corn St, BS1 1JQ Tel: 0117 922 4013 ■ Tea, coffee and snacks. Open Mon-Sat 7.30am-4.30pm CAFFE GUSTO 54 Prince St, BS1 4QH Tel: 0117 376 3682, web: www.caffegusto.com ■ All-day breakfasts include scrambled eggs on bagels.

Impressive sandwich and cake choices, smoothies and a fine coffee range, using a blend from Clifton Coffee Co. See Sandwich Shops for details of other branches. Open Mon-Fri 7.30am-6pm, Sat-Sun 7.30am-5pm NEW CHERRY PICKED 30-32 Upper Maudlin St, BS2 8DJ Tel: 0117 930 0776 ■ What is/was Bristol Break ‘n’ Take is going to/has become Cherry Picked. EOW isn’t entirely sure of the timescale, so you’ll find full details of food served here (at time of going to press) a few listings back in this guide. Hope that’s all clear…

CLEAN BEAN LAUNDERETTE/INTERNET CAFE 274 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8PB Tel: 0117 924 1002, web: www.thecleanbean.co.uk ■ Continuing Gloucester Road’s proud tradition of independence and innovation, Bristol’s first eco-launderette and internet cafe, where even the low-wattage computers are kind to the environment. Instead of the washing being a chore and bore, you can now sip a latte, check Facebook (free Wi-Fi), watch TV or chill in the pretty garden. Serves quality

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Cafes BRISTOL coffee from a local independent roastery, and tasty but inexpensive treats and wholesome toasties.

COFFEE#1 33 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BU Tel: 0117 923 8021 157 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8BA Tel: 0117 942 9909 4 Canford Lane, Westbury on Trym, BS9 3DH Tel: 0117 959 1749, web: www.coffee1.co.uk ■ Smoothies, excellent panini, wraps, sandwiches, baguettes, focaccia and cakes.

NEW CORDIAL & GRACE 9 The Mall, Clifton Village, BS8 4DP Tel: 0117 970 6259, web: www.cordial-and-grace.co.uk ■ Drink tea, eat cake and sew - or any combination of all three - at this modern tearooms and sewing cafe. Founder Maria came up with the name to convey a place where people would come together in warm and friendly surroundings to enjoy courteous service and create a polite mood. Packed workshop calendar covers frocks, skirts, curtains, bunting and more. Brunch brings yoghurt and granola, kedgeree, savoury pancakes, and spinach, parmesan & red pepper frittata, with sandwiches and soup for lovely light bites. Three kinds of afternoon tea, and prosecco, too.

Daily cake selection, toasted teacakes, crumpets and toast. Hats - handknitted or otherwise - off to Maria for bringing something clever, contemporary and creative to the Clifton cafe scene. Open Tue-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm DOCKYARD CAFE-BAR Great Western Dockyard (nr SS Great Britain), Harbourside, BS1 6TY Tel: 0117 926 0680, web: www.ssgreatbritain.org ■ Cafe-bar beside Brunel’s iconic SS Great Britain serving cakes (some baked aboard ship), jacket potatoes, soups, panini, salads, pizza and light lunches: chicken & mushroom stroganoff, chilli, vegetarian lasagne. Open Daily: winter 9.30am-4.30pm, summer 9.30am-5.30pm FALAFEL KING 6 Cotham Hill, BS6 6LF Tel: 0117 329 4476 ■ Dishes (all vegetarian) include poached eggs in tomato sauce, hummus plates and mezze plates. Shisha corner due to arrive.

Live music, including Middle Eastern acoustic. Also do event and festival catering. Open Mon-Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 10am-8pm FOLK HOUSE CAFE & BAR 40a Park St, BS1 5JG Tel: 0117 908 5035, web: www.folkhousecafe.co.uk ■ Recipient of an Observer Food Monthly runner-up award in 2010, this is an institution within an institution. Customers old and new drop in for the fabulous calendar of entertainment and courses, and high-quality food at down-to-earth prices, cooked freshly each day from ingredients that are mostly organic, local

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and seasonal. Books, toys and games occupy young and old alike indoors. Large, beautiful, courtyard garden is great for cold beers in summer. Breakfast, cakes, lunches and suppers, with utterly beguiling themed food/music nights. Available for private hire; free Wi-Fi. Open Mon 9am-11pm, Tue-Thur 9am-8.30pm, Fri-Sat 9am-4pm (& eves for scheduled events). Hours change according to term, holidays and events - call ahead to check FRIARY 9 Cotham Hill, BS6 6LD • EOW is saddened to report on the end of an era, with this Cotham Hill stalwart, open since 1979, in the process of closing as we go to press. Innumerable breakfasts, curries, chillies and casseroles have been enjoyed in its homely surroundings.

Apparently a new owner has been found and it’s likely that the premises will be used for a food operation. In the meantime, EOW raises its cuppa (wherein are dissolved nine sugars) to the passing of a greasy spoon holding fond memories for so many.

FRISKA 36 Victoria St, BS1 6BY Tel: 0117 929 8971 NEW SPark One, Bristol & Bath Science Park, Dirac Crescent, Emersons Green, BS16 7AJ Tel: 0117 370 7705 NEW Bath Road Studios, Bath Rd, BS4 3HG Web: www.friskafood.com ■ The first Friska, on Victoria Street, opened in autumn 2009 to serve freshly prepared, healthy and interesting fast food.

Breakfasts, salads, wraps, soups and hot main courses are served in lunch boxes to go or to eat in brightly functional premises, and there’s outside seating, too. A third branch will open at Bath Road Studios shortly after we go to press - check website for further details. Business catering also offered. Open Victoria St: Mon-Fri 7am-2.30pm. Emersons Green: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm. Bath Rd Studios – check website NEW GALLEY 133 Hotwell Rd, BS8 4RU Tel: 0117 329 1606, web: www.thegalleybristol.co.uk ■ History has come full circle at a building dating back centuries.

The Galley, in premises used as a chandler’s in the early 1800s, opened its doors a week before we went to press. A light and airy space has classy maritime touches dotted throughout, with the rear window offering views over the river and on to the SS Great Britain. Old shipping maps and reclaimed pews create a warm, inviting atmosphere, and private parties and licensed pop-up happenings are staged. Menu offers homely, locally sourced, seasonal fare, with homemade chutneys, jams and pickles and homecooked ham evincing the care and attention going into breakfasts, fresh salads, frittatas and mains. Resident kitchen goddess is an expert on the wedding cakes front. Open Tue-Fri 9.30am-2.30pm, Sat-Sun 9am-4.30pm

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Cafes BRISTOL HAVANA COFFEE 37a Cotham Hill, BS6 6JY Web: www.havanacoffee.co.uk ■ Relaxed atmosphere, extensive light bites, and excellent coffees, traditional and herbal teas and juices. Find global favourites (chicken enchiladas, salmon and sardine dishes, chilli, panini, jackets, burgers, skins), nine varieties of English breakfast (several vegetarian) and 30 kinds of tea. Food is organic wherever possible, decor is South American-influenced, and jazzy sounds lend a mellow, light mood. Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm HEARTFELT 32 Alma Vale Rd, Clifton, BS8 2HY Tel: 0117 904 2898, web: www.simplyheartfelt.com ■ Admirable multi-tasking boutique offering pre-loved and vintage clothing, cafe, florist and treatment room. Founder Mandy brings her lifetime of experience in the world of vintage and fashion (including time at Covent Garden Market) to a cherished –(and growing) clientele. Open Tue-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm HERMANOS 55 Queens Rd, Clifton, BS8 1QQ Tel: 0117 929 4323, web: www.hermanos.co.uk ■ Contemporary Mediterranean cafe-bar offering sandwiches, tapas, burgers, specials. Renowned for its later-on cocktail-bar feel (30-strong cocktail list), with DJs on Fri and Sat. Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2am, Sat 3pm-2am, Sun 3-11pm Food Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm HOOPER HOUSE CAFE 113 Stokes Croft, BS1 3RW Tel: 0117 329 0256, web: www.hooperhouse.co.uk ■ Takes its name from a fish and poultry market onsite here back in the day. Enjoy breakfasts, salads, soups and specials alongside ciabatta, panini and baguettes (also available to take away). Venue hire available. Open Mon-Fri 8am-6.30pm, Sat 10am-6.30pm, Sun 10am-4pm HUNGRY BITE CAFE 33 Ashton Rd, Ashton, BS3 2EG Tel: 0117 985 3016/953 5950 ■ The Clark Kent/Peter Parker of Eating Out West, these premises lead a double life. By night, Al’s Tikka Grill (see Restaurants, Indian & Nepalese) but, come morning, they resort back to a working man’s cafe, technically known as the Hungry Bite Cafe, serving breakfasts (£3.65-£5.15) good enough to restore the strength of any superhero’s alter ego after an evening of crime busting. Open Mon-Sat 7am-2pm, Sun 8am-12noon LA CASBAH 96 St Marks Rd, Easton, BS5 6JD Tel: 0117 939 8804, web: www.la-casbah.co.uk ■ Long-established BYO community cafe with a North African feel: furniture is the genuine article, complementing authentic

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pottery and the Moroccan music rocking this casbah. Specials change every couple of weeks. Inventive menu includes Moroccan lamb, couscous dishes and flavours from elsewhere (swordfish in Mediterranean sauce), with admirable veggie choices. Bountiful seafood feast gives you change from a tenner; mint tea from 95p.

Sweets and homemade cakes. Open Daily 11am-11pm LA RUCA 89 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AS Tel: 0117 944 6810, web: www.laruca.co.uk ■ A wonderful a manifestation of Bristol’s melting-pot dynamic, this friendly, much-loved gem (cafe, shop, all-round community space) is at the heart of Gloucester Road’s buzz. Amnesty gather here to write letters, a language group practises Spanish, others meditate or campaign for a better environment. Enjoy dishes from around the world, with Moroccan and Vietnamese daily specials appearing on the menu recently. Vegetarians and vegans are looked after with tortillas, chimichangas, splendid bean enchiladas and flavour-packed falafels, while carnivores enjoy the lovely Patricia’s speciality Chilean corn pie. Lorena’s picnic baskets are perfect for afternoons in nearby St Andrews Park.

Open Mon 9am-8pm, Tue-Sat 9am-5.30pm LOCKSIDE 1 Brunel Lock Rd, Cumberland Basin, BS1 6XS Tel: 0117 925 5800, web: www.lockside.net ■ An Edward Hopper diner in the shadow of the Create Centre, with decked terrace and stunning waterside views, serving breakfast, lunch and Fri-Sat dinner. Quality ingredients, fresh produce and excellent value. See Restaurants, European & Mediterranean. Open Mon-Thur 7am-4pm, Fri 7am-11pm, Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 9am-4pm MARCO’S OLIVE BRANCH 76 Victoria St, Redcliffe, BS1 6DF Tel: 0117 922 6688, web: www.marcosolivebranch.co.uk ■ Standing where stood Dolce Vita, and bringing eating with a Sardinian slant. Curved floor-to-ceiling windows bathe both storeys in natural light. Buffet offer, takeaway menu, innovative pizzas and pastas, fantastic coffee. Very student-friendly - 10% discount. See Restaurants, Italian. Open Mon-Fri 9am-3pm & 5-11pm, Sat 5-11pm MELANIE’S KITCHEN 2 Downend Rd, Downend, BS16 5UJ Tel: 0117 957 2662, web: www.melanieskitchen.co.uk ■ Ace cafe within an ace deli. Peter and the eponymous Melanie spent several years producing fabulous cakes and savoury items to sell at farmers’ markets. Drop in for soup, platters, quiche, hummus dips, ploughman’s, toasted sandwiches, etc. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm MISSION BURRITO 62 Park St, BS1 5JN Tel: 0117 927 3339, web: www.missionburrito.co.uk ■ Hand-selected and hand-prepared burritos washed down

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Cafes BRISTOL with Corona, Modelo or the rarely spotted Pacifico Clara.

Kids (and non-drinkers) get their own spotters’-badge beverage, with uber-rare Jarittos cola. Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thur-Sat 10am-11pm MRS BROWN’S CAFE Victoria Park (by lodge, nr Nutgrove Ave & Somerset Terrace entrances), Bedminster, BS3 4QF Web: see Facebook & Twitter ■ Lovely outdoor cafe in Victoria Park, at the heart of the Windmill Hill community. Caters equally to dog walkers and families plus anyone who enjoys lemon drizzle cake, good coffee, relaxing with a paper or simply watching the world go by. Good array of toasties and baps, exciting homemade cakes, loose-leaf teas, Fairtrade coffees and ice-cream, plus beautiful park surroundings, nearby play area and plenty of friendly faces. Cafe plays a key role at community events like Carols in the Park and the outdoor cinema, with picnic blankets and deckchairs to borrow, and occasional late-night opening for certain events. For up to date info, follow Mrs Browns on Facebook and Twitter @mrsbrownscafe. Open Daily 9am-5pm (10am Sat-Sun) MUD DOCK 40 The Grove, BS1 4RB Tel: 0117 934 9734, web: www.mud-dock.com ■ Inspired, industrial decor and gastro treats at this cool, hugely popular Bristol institution in a former dockside warehouse, with great views across the water from the sundeck. See Restaurants, European & Mediterranean.

NUMBER 10 10 Zetland Rd, Redland, BS6 7AD Tel: 0117 924 1301, web: www.number10restaurant.co.uk • A globe-spanning menu at this chilled spot: breakfasts, lunches, starters, mains and puddings. Decor is all willowy houseplants and wicker furniture, with MOR tunes piped at conversation-friendly levels. Expect mains like king prawn risotto, goulash, sweet glazed chicken breast, sirloin steak, Persian salmon stew, mild lamb stew with parsley and kidney beans, and good veggie choices, too. Desserts include the indulgent Gold Digger’s Crunch - chocolate pastry layered with chocolate, toffee, honeycomb pieces, chocolate mousse and butterscotch with a crunchy almond & vanilla fudge centre. Alfresco seating. Open Daily 10am-10.30pm ONE STOP THALI CAFE See Thali Cafe.

PAPA COSTA DELI 67 Queens Rd, Clifton, BS8 1QL Tel: 0117 929 1600 ■ Enduringly popular cafe with onsite deli. Daytime treats include panini, soup and savoury snacks with a European emphasis, taking on the flavours of Italy, Greece, Spain,

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France and Cyprus. Eat in or take away. Impressive catering service for parties of 10-300. Continental beers. Open MonFri 7am-6pm, Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm PAPADELI 84 Alma Rd, Clifton, BS8 2DJ Tel: 0117 973 6569, web: www.papadeli.co.uk ■ Stylish, friendly deli and cafe. They’re passionate about the food served and sold here and its locally sourced, Fairtrade and organic credentials. Inspirations come from the Med, and signature dish the Papadeli Plate is a celebration of charcuterie and artisan cheeses. The odd pavement seat for alfresco refuellers. Open Cafe: Mon-Sat 9.30am-4.30pm. Deli: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm PAPADELI AT THE RWA Queens Rd, Clifton, BS8 1PX Tel: 0117 329 5859. web: www.rwa.org.uk ■ Run by one of the cheeriest characters in any EOW eatery, serving tapas, tartlets, sandwiches, salads and cake offerings that are veritable works of art in themselves. Icecreams, wine, Peroni and cider. Balcony terrace, alfresco seating downstairs and in the bijou brassica room, and changing artwork onsite. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10.30am-4.30pm PEAR CAFE Coach House, 2 Upper York St, BS2 8QN Tel: 0117 942 8392, web: www.thepearcafe.com • Ultra-dinky spot that’s made a big name for itself for its delicious, homemade food, with UKTV Food Hero nominations and Good Food Guide shortlisting in previous years. Breakfast and lunch, plus drinks and snacks all day. Fantastic sandwiches and salads (made to order, with Herberts bread), soup and cakes (must-try butterscotch and plain chocolate brownies). Lots of Fairtrade products, including hot and cold drinks. Catering arm, too. Open Mon-Fri 8am-3.30pm Food Breakfast till 10am, lunch 11.45am-2.45pm, snacks all day NEW PEPE NERO 22 Bond St, BS1 3LU Tel: 0117 926 8057, web: Facebook, Twitter • Opened at the end of 2011 to immediate acclaim from vegans, veggies and carnivores for its authentic, southern Italian cuisine in a fast-food setting. Vegans get mozzarella-style Cheezly, tomato, spinach and rocket on a pizza designed especially for them, while veggie pizzas include vegetariana, margherita, trevigiana (radicchio) and spinaci, and lovers of meat and fish enjoy plentiful options. All bread and dough made and baked in-house and, quite fantastically, pizzas are available with up to four different toppings by the metre. Sandwiches, calzone, panini and cakes, too. Eat onsite (BYO), take away or have it delivered. Open Mon-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 11am-6pm

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Cafes BRISTOL PIEMINISTER 24 Stokes Croft, BS1 3PR Tel: 0117 942 9372 Glass Arcade, St Nicholas Market, Corn St, BS1 1JQ Tel: 0117 302 0070, web: www.pieminister.co.uk ■ Legendary pies with a legion of adoring fans. Available in numerous local outlets, as well as Stokes Croft HQ and a bijou offshoot at St Nick’s Market. Eat on site or take away. Regular varieties (free-range British chicken; fragrant Thai green curry, sweet potato, lime; free-range British lamb, carrot, swede, mint, rose wine) are joined by newcomers like the Pietanic (MSCcertified salmon, pollock and smoked haddock in creamy parsley sauce) and Vegetarian Society-approved Big Cheese (cheddar, potatoes and buttered onions around a garlicky, herby cream cheese middle). Beyond pies, you’ll also find sausage rolls, homemade scotch eggs and sides including buttery mash, gravy and minty mushy peas. Holders of Compassion in World Farming Good Egg and Good Chicken awards. Open Stokes Croft: MonSat 11am-7pm, Sun 11am-5pm. St Nicks: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm NEW PIRI PIRI CORNER 11-12 Triangle South, Clifton, BS8 1EY Tel: 0117 929 7777, web: www.piripiricorner.co.uk ■ Newly opened, smart, slick, fast-food restaurant and takeaway offering the eponymous chicken plus burgers, icecreams, coffees, teas. Attractive black, red, yellow and green colour scheme adds to the stylish vibe brought by some light background music. Free delivery service. Open Daily 11-1am PRIMROSE CAFE & BISTRO Boyces Ave, Clifton Village, BS8 4AA Tel: 0117 946 6577, web: www.primrosecafe.co.uk ■ Happy 20th birthday to them, come March 2013. This excellent spot is a sunny alfresco cafe by day, intimate bistro by night. Daytime brings local fresh produce in legendary breakfasts, salads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, light bites. New tapas menu has brought the daily changing likes of scallops wrapped in pancetta, lemon sole goujons and seared duck liver with Pedro Ximenez sherry vinegar on sourdough toast.

Evening ALC uses ingredients free from artificial fertilisers or growth promoters and is distinctly above the cafe average, with a modern European flavour: pan-fried hake, chargrilled veal loin steak, skewered poussin, roast monkfish, twice-baked ricotta & gorgonzola souffle. A big emphasis on provenance – the Primrose raises its own pigs, which go on to star as fresh cuts or in bacon, ham and sausages. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 9.30am-5pm, Tue-Fri 6-8pm (tapas) & 8pm-1am (ALC), Sat 7pm-1am PURE PASTA, SOUP & SANDWICH 35-39 Glass Arcade, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1LJ Tel: 07899 862403 ■ Food with forza served up at this little slice of Italy in bustling St Nicks Market: tortellini with pesto, cream and white wine, lasagne (plus veggie option), pizza, soup, sandwiches, summer

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salads, tiramisu. The pasta’s ready at noon, with coffee and cake to get you through the morning. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm RAINBOW CAFE 10 Waterloo St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BT Tel: 0117 973 8937 ■ Combines cafe, secondhand bookshop, changing art exhibition plus some innovative events. Monthly music nights reflect the owners’ love of the local gig scene, Needles & Nosh nights see diners bring in their UFOs (unfinished knitted objects) for group encouragement and support. In an EOW first, a ‘rant night’ gave customers three minutes atop a soapbox to vent spleen on traffic wardens, smoking, etc. Book nights planned. Homecooked cakes, sandwiches, soups, mains and desserts; vegetarian and gluten-free requirements catered for.

Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-3pm RIVERSIDE GARDEN CENTRE Clift House Rd, Southville, BS3 1RX Tel: 0117 966 7535, web: www.riversidegardencentre.com ■ Delightfully cheery spot (and laidback suntrap), with bistrostyle alfresco furniture. The completely vegetarian menu is organic, locally sourced where possible, and made on the premises. Summer mezze (olives, vine leaves, hummus), soups, poached eggs, jacket spuds, salads, daily specials and Fairtrade speciality coffees. Kids’ play area; windows overlooking the garden centre. Open Winter: Mon-Sat 9.30am-4.30pm, Sun 11.30am-3.30pm. Summer: Mon-Sat 9.30am-4.30pm, Sun 11am-4.30pm Food Brunch till 11.30am, lunch 12noon-2.30pm ROYCE ROLLS WHOLEFOOD CAFE Corn Exchange, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1JQ Tel: 07967 211870 ■ Venerable veggie institution that’s been going for more than 30 years. Specific dietary requirements (gluten-free, vegan) catered for. Loads of rolls, “millions of flapjacks”, pasties, savouries, jacket potatoes, soup, samosas. Astonishing herbal tea array, alongside their own blend of coffee and tea. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm RUBICON CAFE & CHOCOLATIER 26 Chandos Rd, BS6 6PF Tel: 0117 329 4408, web: www.rubiconlounge.co.uk ■ Owner Umut spent time as a chef at Bristol’s Colley’s Supper Rooms; sexagenarian chef Yves is from Normandy; Lara is from Padua. Chocolate is a speciality: homemade truffles, 70% chocolate drinking chocolate, James Chocolates gift boxes.

New menu is set to expand grill offerings across meat, fish and burgers. Ciabattas, panini, baguettes, jackets, mezze platters and daily specials, supplemented by pizzas (Wed-Fri 4pm onwards, Sat-Sun daytime onwards) – take away the pizzas, or eat in and BYO wine. Drinks list includes red, white, cider, Bath Ales, Peroni. Photography and art exhibitions, neat rear garden, and available for private parties. Bravo to a friendly little cafe packing a great deal in. Open Mon-Tue 8.30am-6pm, Wed-Sat 8.30am-10pm, Sun 8.30am-5.30pm

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Cafes BRISTOL SAVANA COFFEE 273 North St, Bedminster, BS3 1JN Tel: 0117 966 0088 ■ Community cafe serving Spanish, Mexican and Greek dishes, plus panini, pasta, pizzas. Fifteen kinds of breakfast till 5pm, plus omelettes, jackets, salads. Open Mon-Tue & Thur-Sat 8.30am-5.30pm, Wed 8.30am-4pm, Sun 9am-4pm SOUK KITCHEN 277 North St, Southville, BS3 1JP Tel: 0117 966 6880, web: www.soukkitchen.co.uk ■ Formerly Cafe Ceiturica. Drop in for Middle Eastern delights: tagines, skewers, hot and cold mezze specials. See Restaurants, North African & Middle Eastern.

SOURCE 1-3 Exchange Ave, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1JW Tel: 0117 927 2998, web: www.source-food.co.uk ■ Enjoy modern British dinner (aged Hereford steak, salt cod ravioli) at Source on three nights of the week at this cafe with onsite shop. A relaxing rustic setting (English oak, leather, steel) for breakfast, soup of the day, tea, coffee, freshly made snacks (free-range pork pies, sausage rolls) and specials (Cornish gurnard, roast Devon duck breast with lyonnaise potatoes). Open Mon-Sat 8am-4.30pm, Thur-Sat 6pm-late SOUTHVILLE CENTRE CAFE Southville Centre, Beauley Rd, Southville, BS3 1QG Tel: 0117 923 1039, web: www.southvillecentre.org.uk ■ Daily changing menu offering soups, salads, jackets and homemade specials at this friendly, cosy cafe in a light, airy setting. Excellent place for meeting friends over coffee and homemade cakes. Private events catered for. Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm SPICE ROUTE 61 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AD Tel: 0117 904 0040 ■ Bright, friendly cafe serving homemade quiches, soups, easyon-the-wallet fresh panini and baguettes, baklava, flapjacks, croissants, cakes and mighty fine coffee. Fresh fruit smoothies and exotic juices mixed before your eyes. Gorgeous garden space out back; takeaway, too. Open Mon-Fri from 8am, Sat from 9am SPIKE ISLAND CAFE 133 Cumberland Rd, BS1 6UX Tel: 0117 934 9077, web: www.spikeisland.org.uk/cafe ■ Neat cafe/canteen in a centre of contemporary art and design.

Coffee is Rainforest Alliance, grub is wholesome and homemade and affordable for even the most struggling of artists. Sandwiches, soups, jackets, burgers, pies, chilli, cakes, bottled ales, lagers and wines. Cheerful, colourful handpainted chairs; available for evening functions. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm ST STEPHEN’S CAFE Off St Stephen’s St, BS1 1EQ

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Tel: 0117 929 4984, web: www.saint-stephens.com/cafe ■ Good vegetarian food, freshly made. Homemade mezze plates, soups, wraps and other hot/cold meals highly in demand, particularly in the peaceful garden on summer days. Shakshuka is a favourite speciality – eggs poached in spicy tomato sauce.

Originally a Tunisian recipe, the Israeli version is cooked here, with pitta bread dipped into it. Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-3pm, occasional Sats ST WERBURGHS CITY FARM CAFE St Werburghs City Farm, Watercress Rd, St Werburghs, BS2 9YJ Tel: 0117 908 0798/07813 954933 ■ Long-renowned for its child-friendliness: onsite garden, green play project, complete with under-seating play tunnel. The wonderful Leona Williamson presides over a building resembling a Hobbit’s treehouse (as designed by Gaudi). Food has bagged an Observer Food Monthly Best Ethical Contribution award. Seasonally changing menu with an emphasis on organic, Fairtrade, local and cyclical ingredients, with vegan, vegetarian and carnivorous offerings: spicy beef burrito, smoked mackerel, nut burger.

Homemade cakes, impressive tea choices. ‘Tasty talks’ (storytelling with seasonal food) on the horizon; previous happenings have included child-naming ceremonies and charity concerts. Food Daily: 10am-5pm (4pm winter) TAKE FIVE CAFE 72 Stokes Croft, BS1 3QY Tel: 0117 907 7502, web: www.take5cafe.co.uk ■ The emphasis is on staging evening private parties of up to 100 and outside catering at this intimate dining spot. Food includes lunchtime curry deals and weekend breakfasts. Wi-Fi. Open Mon-Fri 12noon-late, Sat-Sun 12noon-10pm (4am license - later closing possible) TART CAFE & FOOD STORE 16 The Promenade, Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AE Tel: 0117 924 7628, web: www.lovelytart.com ■ Cafe, shop and private dining/function room. Muesli, fruit and cooked breakfasts lead on to lunches (salad bowls, savoury tarts, specials), and the afternoon tea (with a contemporary twist) is something special. Private room for swish shindigs or business meetings with a touch of class. Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-5.30pm THALI CAFE 1 William St, Totterdown, BS3 4TU Tel: 0117 933 2955 64-66 St Marks Rd, Easton, BS5 6JH Tel: 0117 951 4979 12 York Rd, Montpelier, BS6 5QE Tel: 0117 942 6687 1 Regent St, Clifton Village, BS8 4HW Tel: 0117 974 3793, web: www.thethalicafe.co.uk ■ Community cafes where commitments to seasonality, sustainability and local produce are writ large. Easton’s breakfast offerings include Indian omelettes and coconut pancakes. Indian

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Cafes BRISTOL/BATH light lunch menu brings Goan fish curry and masala dosa stuffed pancakes. Fairtrade coffees, freshly made chai, homemade cakes and set meals of curry, dhal and rice at great-value prices. Live music (Easton), cosy sofas, Wi-Fi, tiffin service. See Restaurants, Indian & Nepalese.

adjoining studio; mum bakes the cakes (including gluten-free); dad does the dishes. Bristling guestbook notes comments from far and wide - the carrot & pineapple has a hardcore following from North Wales (they ring ahead to check it’ll be here when they visit). Open Tue-Sat 10am-5pm

TIFFINS 151 St Michaels Hill, BS2 8DB Tel: 0117 973 4834, web: www.tiffinsbristol.com ■ The wonderful husband-and-wife team here were Radio 4 Food & Farming Award finalists 2010. Nick and Jay Jethwa cook with no frills, no fuss, just excellent ingredients. All dishes, freshly prepared each day, are cooked in sunflower oil only, using more nutritional spices than most Indian food. Food (seven regularly changing vegetarian, two permanent meat dishes, pizzas) is cooked and displayed cold in front of you, to take home reheat/ freeze or eat here with a beer, wine or soft drink – all at prices belying its quality. Walls covered with stunning photography (check the Kerala pics), seriously funky graffiti artwork (by the world-renowned Nick Walker) and letters of thanks in recognition of Nick and Jay’s charity work. Outside catering, takeaways. Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 4.30-9pm

WINDMILL HILL CITY FARM Philip St, Bedminster, BS3 4EA Tel: 0117 963 3252, web: www.windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk ■ Packed events programme takes in cheese-making workshops, spring festival (May 2013) and a summer holiday play scheme giving kids the chance to feed, groom and walk the goats. Few places beat this one for seasonality. Bags of mixed salad leaves and chicken and duck eggs (featuring in the onsite dining) are routinely for sale. Ethically sound dishes, all made on the premises, with organic and Fairtrade ingredients found across breakfasts, soups, stews, quiches, frittatas and daily specials, plus Marshfield ice-cream. Light, airy setting amid the sights, sounds and smells of a city farm. Painting exhibitions add to the wide appeal. Open Tue-Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 10am-3pm

TOBACCO FACTORY CAFE-BAR Raleigh Rd, Southville, BS3 1TF Tel: 0117 902 0060, web: www.tobaccofactory.com ■ Mediterranean touches in the good-value seasonal food. Kids’ menu, sunny yard, terrace, warehouse-chic bar and lots going on at this popular arts hotspot. See Bars.

REOPENED TUBE DINER Paintworks, Bath Rd, BS4 3EH Web: www.thetubediner.co.uk, twitter.com/thetubediner ■ Housed in an Airstream trailer and serving up a friendly splash of Stateside dash. Reopened in June 2011 to offer breakfasts, lunch items, pancakes, smoothies, shakes, freshly made sandwiches, salads and daily specials. Open Mon-Fri 8am-4.30pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4pm URBAN WOOD 90 Colston St, BS1 5BB Tel: 0117 929 3627, web: www.theurbanwood.com ■ All-day, all-comers cafe, bar and evening dining destination with a comfy, laidback appeal. See Restaurants, European & Mediterranean. Open Mon-Wed 10am-11pm, Thur-Fri 10am-12midnight, Sat 12noon-12midnight VILLAGE POTTERY 70 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4DD Tel: 0117 973 4343, web: www.thevillagepottery.co.uk, twitter.com/ villagepotter ■ Check out ace potter Jen Hamilton’s dinky garden with mosaic “made up of all the gone-wrong pottery”. If you’re lucky, the mint in your tea and strawberries on your cake will have been grown onsite. Crockery used in this cutie of a cafe is made by Jen in her

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NEW WORKHOUSE CAFE 19-20 Perry Rd, BS1 5BJ Tel: 0117 329 0889, web: www.workhousecafe.co.uk ■ A former head chef at Clerkenwell’s J+A Cafe has brought with him a hearty and wholesome menu to the former Cafe Delight.

Muesli and granola made onsite; sausage or bacon breakfast sandwiches cost £3.50. Extensive tea list, homemade cakes and quiches, baked potatoes in five varieties (roast beef, tomatoes & horseradish cream; goat’s cheese, homemade fig chutney & honey walnuts) and salads, plus chicken, bacon and new potato, and Palestinian couscous and pan-fried goat’s cheese. Eve and Sunday opening a possibility. Open Mon-Fri 8am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-5.30pm ZULU 27 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, BS7 8AA Tel: 07580 363756, web: www.zulurestaurants.co.uk ■ Burgers, steaks, sarnies and more, with wilfully exotic flavours and more than 25 meats (crocodile, zebra, bison, kangaroo, eland, blesbok, ostrich, buffalo, kudu, etc). Breakfasts also available in distinctly-more-British bacon & egg varieties. Onsite shop. Open Tue-Wed 9am-3pm, Thur-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm

Bath ADVENTURE CAFE 5 Princes Buildings, George St, BA1 2ED Tel: 01225 462038, web: www.adventure.000space.com ■ Popular cafe-bar where menus cover all eventualities at all times of day, including breakfast till noon. Lunch (gourmet sandwiches, panini, melts, salads, light bites) gives way to sturdier options and sharing platters post-sunset. Pavement tables at front, suntrap patio at rear, fully licensed. Open Daily 10am-12midnight

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Cafes BATH BATH BAKERY CAFE 37 Moorland Rd, BA2 3PN Tel 01225 481477, web: www.bathbakery.co.uk ■ Baked goods (eat in or take away), Illy coffee, panini, homemade soup, sarnies, cakes and possibly the best sausage rolls in Bath. Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-5pm BATH BUN 2 Abbey Green, BA1 1NW Tel: 01225 463928, web: www.thebathbun.com ■ Staff in period Regency costume, over 18 varieties of tea in fine china, and genteel Brit-trad refreshments from breakfast to high tea-time, with a strong focus on the legendary Bath Bun. Somerset cream teas a speciality, takeaway available.

Open Sun-Mon 11am-5pm, Tue-Sat 9.30am-5pm NEW BEA’S VINTAGE TEA ROOMS 68 Saville Row, BA1 2QP Tel: 01225 464552, web: www.beasvintagetearooms.com ■ Travel back to 1940s Britain - and the music, decor and stylings that went with it. Menus are authentically retro (boiled egg and soldiers, posh high tea, cupcakes), though contemporary options abound for the modern miss. Events like knitting classes, poetry readings and 1940s make-up lessons are in the pipeline, as is a thoroughly modern website (under construction as we went to press). Open Mon-Sat 8am-6pm BEN’S COOKIES 21 Union Passage, BA1 1RD Tel: 01225 460983, web: www.benscookies.com ■ Dinky little cookie bakery specialising in funky, chunky, freshly baked cookies (priced by the kilo) to take away or enjoy at a table on the traffic-free lane out front. Open MonSat 9.30am-5.30pm NEW BERTINET BAKERY CAFE 6 New Bond St Place, BA1 1BH Tel: 01225 445531, web: www.thebertinetkitchen.com ■ Bakery shop and cafe courtesy of award-winning doughboy Richard Bertinet and his team, specialising in their acclaimed bread-related treats alongside amazing pastries, sandwiches, cakes etc, supplemented by Illy coffee, leaf teas etc. Open Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, Sunday opening hours in the pipeline BONGHY-BO’S 2-3 Barton Court, Upper Borough Walls, BA1 1RZ Tel: 01225 462276, web: www.bonghy-bo.co.uk ■ Split-level alfresco courtyard, and a friendly, funky licensed refectory within. Excellent coffee, thoughtful teas, scrumptious cakes and classy quiche/jacket spuds/salad selection, plus Asian-themed crowd pleasers and walletfriendly noodle/rice amalgamations. Open Daily 9am-6pm (hours vary with seasons and local events - call for updates)

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BOSTON TEA PARTY Kingsmead Square, BA1 2AE Tel: 01225 313901, web: www.bostonteaparty.co.uk ■ Much-loved Bath cafe-society hotspot, with a strong emphasis on ethical sourcing and environmental responsibility. Cool in summer (big shaded terrace out front), snugly cosy in winter (hot chocolate, wholesome cakes). Real tea in real china pots, real coffee in all sizes, and real food (healthy, hearty, largely wholemeal) at very reasonable prices. Breakfasts are particularly splendid. Open Mon-Wed 8am-6pm, Thur-Sat 8am-9pm BRIDGE COFFEE SHOP Pulteney Bridge, BA2 4AY Tel: 01225 483339 ■ Breakfast specials, baguettes, panini, sweet treats and bakedon-the-premises pasties, sausage rolls, pies etc, at non-scary prices. Open Sun-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-6pm CAFE AU LAIT 7 Pulteney Bridge, BA2 4AX Tel: 01225 338007 ■ Cakes, gateaux, pastries, quiches, jacket potatoes, salads, sandwiches, baguettes, excellent coffee and a wide range of comforting liquid refreshment. Open Mon-Fri 7.30am-5.30pm, Sat 8.30am-6pm, Sun 8.30am-5pm CAFE DU GLOBE 1a North Parade, BA1 1LF Tel: 01225 466437, web: www.cafeduglobe.co.uk ■ This cheerfully eclectic cafe segues into a candlelit Moroccan-themed bistro by night, but classic tourist/shopper fare (breakfast, pizza, pasta, omelettes, wraps, salads, toasted sandwiches, afternoon tea) constitutes the order of the day till 6pm. Alfresco seating on traffic-free lane. Exotic bazaar (bizarrely enough) in the basement. Open Daily 10am-10.30pm CAFE LUCCA The Loft, 1 Bartlett St, BA1 2QZ ■ As you’d expect from Richard (Firehouse Rotisserie, Hudson Bar & Grill) Fenton, refreshments at his Tuscanthemed venture (part of a stylish shopping hub) are fresh, fabulous and properly authentic, from salads, panini and antipasti to cakes, tarts pastries and proper Italian coffee.

Licensed. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm CAFE RETRO 18 York St, BA1 1NG Tel: 01225 339347, web: www.caferetro.co.uk ■ Easygoing independent cafe-restaurant serving boisterous breakfasts, pastas, sandwiches and plenty of vegetarian options at wallet-friendly prices in characterful surroundings.

Abbey views from first floor; fully licensed. Retro to Go (next door) sells baguettes, panini and smoothies. Open Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm (plus selected eves - see website)

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Cafes BATH CAFE ROUGE 15 Milsom St, BA1 1DE Tel: 01225 462368, web: www.caferouge.co.uk ■ French-themed cafe-bar/brasserie/restaurant serving franglais food in convivial surroundings. See Restaurants, French.

CAFE SHOON 14 Old Bond St, BA1 1BP Tel: 01225 445309, web: www.cafeshoon.co.uk ■ Well-heeled cosmopolitan cafe above a chic urban outfitter’s, offering splendid views across the Heritage City’s rooftops. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm CAFFE NERO 11 Old Bond St, BA1 1BP Tel: 01225 470390 21 High St, BA1 5AJ Tel: 01225 462504 6 Dorchester St, Southgate, BA1 1SS Tel: 01225 427913, web: www.caffenero.com ■ More European coffee house than high-street chain in ambience. Seriously good coffee (including Fairtrade) and Italian-influenced ciabattas, panini, salads, fresh soups, biscotti and sweet stuff. Lots of drinks (hot/cold, smoothies) and fresh croissants/continental pastries. Takeaway, Wi-Fi, and small pavement patio at Bond St/Dorchester St branches. Open Hours vary across branches – see website CAKE CAFE 5 SouthGate, BA1 1AQ Tel: 01225 789010 ■ This lively independent venture (owned by the Bridge Coffee Shop team) keeps shoppers fortified with splendid homemade cakes, baguettes, panini, soup, quiche, salads and afternoon teas.

Pavement seating. Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 10am-5.30pm NEW CAVENDISH COOKS 8 St James St, BA1 6RS Tel: 01225 312805, web: www.cavendishcooks.co.uk ■ Part takeaway, part tiny daytime restaurant, totally gorgeous: two Cordon Bleu-trained chefs lovingly cooking and preparing fresh food in their open kitchen to take away, pre-order for parties and events, take home and keep in the freezer or enjoy there and then in the cute little dining area - lamb tagines, vegetable gratins etc, served with salad/crusty bread for around £9. Bargain! Open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-4pm CHANDOS DELI 12 George St, BA1 2EH Tel: 01225 314418, web: www.chandosdeli.com ■ Award-winning deli-cafe drawing classy foodie inspirations from around the world. Superb sandwiches, salads, soups and gorgeous antipasti, based around fresh, seasonal ingredients. See also Egg Cafe. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 11am-5pm

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Eat cake Cake Cafe

SouthGate ■ Huge, indulgent slabs of cake so scrumptious that they named the cafe after them.

Bath Bun

Abbey Green ■ The best Bath Buns in town, alongside picture-perfect Somerset cream teas.

Coffee@Camden

Claremont Terrace ■ The cupcakes here are legendary (notably the gin & tonic incarnation). Don’t fancy the trek up the hill to Larkhall? They’ll deliver.

CHAPEL ARTS CENTRE CAFE Lower Borough Walls, BA1 1QR Tel: 01225 461700, web: www.chapelarts.org ■ Bright, breezy vegetarian cafe beneath community arts mecca the Chapel Arts Centre. Flatbreads with various toppings a speciality; scrumptious cakes (including gluten-, egg- and fat-free) also worthy of a standalone mention. Takeaway options.

Open Mon-Sat 11am-6pm (plus occasional events – see website) CIRCUS CAFE & RESTAURANT 34 Brock St, BA1 2LN Tel: 01225 466020, web: www.thecircuscafeandrestaurant.co.uk ■ Stylish contemporary cafe/bistro. See Restaurants, English.

COFFEE@CAMDEN 2 Claremont Terrace, BA1 6EH ■ Friendly and child-friendly, serving superb homemade cakes, a vibrantly fresh lunch selection, sandwiches, salads etc. Lovely garden outback, regular cupcake classes/workshops, bespoke cupcakes made to order. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm COLONNA & SMALL’S ESPRESSO ROOM 12a Princes St, BA1 1HL Tel: 01225 446362, web: www.colonnaandsmalls.co.uk

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Cafes BATH ■ These guys are serious about coffee: a regularly changing house blend of espresso is complemented by at least two guest espressos, all made with exquisite care and brewing methods to match each bean. Chic cakes, stylish sweet treats, savoury nibbles. Ultra-laidback San-Francisco-style vibe.

Open Mon-Sat 8am-5pm CORAL QUAY CAFE 8-9 New Bond St Place, BA1 1BH Tel: 01225 446362, web: www.coralquay.co.uk ■ Fairtrade coffees, teas and homemade cakes, gluten-free treats, vegetarian options and lunches, all served above an eclectic gift shop. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm DARLING DELI Isabella House, The Avenue, Combe Down, BA2 5EH Tel: 01225 835118, web: www.darlingdeli.co.uk ■ Homemade savouries and cakes (including glutenfree/vegetarian), hot breakfast rolls (all day), gourmet sandwiches, hot ciabattas, wholesome soup, freshly made pasta, Fairtrade tea and coffee, tapas and salad bar and plenty of healthy options, in delightfully vibrant surroundings. Cookery classes, catering service. Open MonFri 8.30am-3.30pm, Fri 8.30am-5pm, Sat 8.30am-1.30pm EAT5STAR 14 Kingsmead Square, BA1 2AD Tel: 01225 330555, web: www.eat5star.com ■ Upper-crust, casual-but-tasty hotspot offering takeaway and corporate catering options. Brilliant breakfasts, perfect espresso and lavish lunch menu featuring gourmet sandwiches and salads. Open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 9am-5pm EGG CAFE St John’s Place, BA1 1ET Tel: 01225 823408, web: www.chandosdeli.com ■ Cheerful Chandos Deli refreshment pitstop attached to one of the UK’s most prestigious young people’s theatre projects. Smashing sarnies, freshly baked cookies, sumptuous cakes, sticky flapjacks, sugar mice, organic chocolate and fashionably retro jelly beans. Excellent coffee; tables on traffic-free street outside. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun during performances FINE CHEESE CO 29-31 Walcot St, BA1 5BN Tel: 01225 483407, web: www.finecheese.co.uk ■ Menus at this gorgeous, upmarket deli/cafe (winner of an Observer Food magazine award) flaunt a delectable array that usually includes their legendary homemade sausage rolls alongside sarnies, salads and stylish light bites (tarts, antipasti). Daily changing sandwiches, baguettes and picnic foods, plus excellent coffee and superb cakes made by local experts. Eat in or take away. Friendly staff. Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-5.30pm

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NEW GARDEN CAFE AT THE HOLBURNE MUSEUM Great Pulteney St, BA2 4BD Tel: 01225 388569, web: www.holburne.org • Chic oasis of gorgeousness on the ground floor of the recently renovated Holburne, making full use of the light, airy, contemporary building and the Sydney Gardens location with alfresco tables and picnics in the museum grounds. Beautiful salads, locally sourced meat and cheese platters, and more substantial stylish but sturdy Mediterranean-themed hot dishes and terrific sweet treats. Open Mon-Sat 10am-4.30pm (summer Fri-Sat till 8pm), Sun & bank hols 11am-4.30pm GOURMET SCOFFS 9 Terrace Walk, BA1 1LN Tel: 01225 471137 ■ Freshly cooked, downhome goodies and treats all day, from full English breakfast to sandwiches, sausage rolls, scotch eggs, fishcakes, chunky chips, homemade cakes and pastries. Open Mon-Sat 8am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm GREEN ROOM AT THE MISSION THEATRE 32 Corn St, BA1 1UF Tel: 01225 428600, web: www.missiontheatre.co.uk ■ Characterful, totally vegetarian, licensed theatre-cafe, open for elevenses and lunch (and eves in line with selected performances - see website). Food (cakes, soup, salads, sandwiches, tagines) is freshly prepared on the premises.

Takeaway options/Call and Collect service available. Open TueFri 10.30am-2.30pm GUILDHALL MARKET CAFE Guildhall, High St, BA1 5AW Tel: 01225 461593 ■ Down-to-earth, wallet-friendly market caff specialising in full English breakfasts, not-too-greasy greasy-spoon delights and heavenly chip butties at the epicentre of an increasingly foodie market. Open Mon-Sat 9am-4pm HANDS TEAROOM & COFFEE LOUNGE 1 Abbey St, BA1 1NN Tel: 01225 463928, web: www.handstearoom.co.uk ■ Traditional tearoom and contemporary coffee shop under one (historic Georgian townhouse) roof. Snacks and light bites (breakfasts, ploughman’s, quiches, pies, baguettes) served all day. Clotted cream teas a speciality, when freshly baked scones, cutesy cupcakes and the famous Bath Bun play a starring role.

Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm HANSEL UND GRETEL SHOP & STRUDEL BAR 9 Margarets Buildings, Brock St, BA1 2LP Tel: 01225 464677, web: www.hanselundgretel.com ■ Discover the best strudel (among other coffee-shop delights) in Bath below a street-level shop packed with Tyrol/Alpinerelated knick-knackery: gently kitsch, quietly camp, properly cosy. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm

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Cafes BATH NEW INDULGENCE CAFE 31 Bathwick St, BA2 6NZ Tel: 01225 316265, www.indulgence-cafe.co.uk ■ Homemade daily specials include stews, pies and casseroles alongside a fabulous deli counter and salad bar, hampers-to-go, jams, chutneys and cakes made to order at this thoroughly modern foodie venture. Brunch on Sat (10am-2pm), Fri-night supper club in the pipeline. Private hire for groups of up to 20; fully licensed. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm JACOB’S COFFEE HOUSE 6 Abbey Churchyard, BA1 1LY Tel: 01225 758132 ■ Sit upstairs, downstairs or on the covered patio with Abbey Churchyard and Pump Room views. Fresh, wholesome grub (including Pieminister pies) with an emphasis on local, organic and free-range. Excellent coffee. Open Daily 8.30am-5pm (10.30am Sun) JAZZ CAFE Kingsmead Square, BA1 2AA Tel: 01225 329002, web: www.bathjazzcafe.co.uk ■ Independent cafe-bistro specialising in big breakfasts and modern Med/global flavours, including sarnies, wraps, salads. Specials board throws up daily seasonal treats.

Licensed. Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-5pm, Sun 10.30am-4pm JIKA JIKA COFFEE HOUSE & CANTEEN 4a Princes Buildings, George St, BA1 2ED Tel: 01225 429903, web: www.jikajika.co.uk • This lively venture offers fresh coffee, leaf teas and a simple, straightforward menu driven by locally sourced inspirations. Substantial breakfasts, hearty sandwiches/ wraps/flatbreads, real pizza, a unique ‘weigh bar’ and interesting Medi-themed specials. Recently extended opening hours; licensed. Open Mon-Fri 8am-11pm, Sat 8.30am-11pm, Sun 9am-5pm KINDLING 9a Claverton Buildings, BA2 4LD Tel: 01225 442125, web: www.kindlingcoffee.co.uk ■ Ace breakfasts, scrumptious sarnies, homemade sweet and savoury pastries (including veggie options) and cakes alongside local, organic, homemade and fairly traded food and drink. Warm, welcoming atmosphere, free Wi-Fi, toys for the kids, takeaway, lunchtime delivery and catering service. Open Mon-Fri 7.30am-4.30pm, Sat-Sun from 10am KOMEDIA CANTEEN 22-23 Westgate St, BA1 1EP Tel: 01225 471578, web: www.komedia.co.uk/bath ■ Seasonal, locally sourced treats within the Komedia pleasuredome. See Restaurants, English. Open Mon-Fri 12noon-4pm, Sat-Sun 9am-4pm (dinner Wed-Sat 5-10pm)

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LA CROISSANTERIE 14 Northumberland Place, BA1 5AR Tel: 01225 469641 ■ Good-quality, reasonably priced eat-in or takeaway sandwiches, baguettes, pastries, soups and coffees, particularly popular with tourists; pavement seating. Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-5.30pm, Sun 9am-5pm LE PARISIEN Shires Yard, BA1 1BX Tel: 01225 447147, web: www.leparisien.co.uk ■ A little corner of France at the heart of Milsom Place. Very busy at weekends and when it’s sunny, but plenty of alfresco seating (with heaters for winter) in the pretty courtyard. Full-on brasserie experience indoors, including varied breakfast menu, French-themed classics (croque monsieur, moules-frites, proper patisserie) and lively specials, plus generously filled baguettes/ wraps. Licensed. Open Mon-Sat 8am-9pm, Sun 9am-5pm LIME LOUNGE 11 Margarets Buildings, BA1 2LP Tel: 01225 421251 NEW LITTLE LIME LOUNGE 2 Victoria Buildings, BA2 3EH Tel: 01225 465343, web: www.limeloungebath.co.uk ■ The original Lime Lounge - a chic, charming, fully licensed cafe/bistro on one of Bath’s prettiest traffic-free lanes - is now supplemented by a groovy little sister on the opposite side of town.

See Restaurants, English.

NEW MAD HATTERS TEA PARTY 5 Orange Grove, BA1 1LP Tel: 01225 466733, web: www.themadhattersteaparty.moonfruit. com ■ Quirky, sweet little cafe offering a solid range of quality fare including excellent breakfasts, sturdy lunches, splendid cakes, full-on afternoon teas and an imaginative children’s menu. Open Mon-Thur 8am-6pm, Fri 8am-4pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm NEW MADE BY BEN 100 Walcot St, BA1 5BG Tel: 01225 319999, web: www.madebyben.com ■ Cosy seating area with cookbooks to inspire, for those who like to linger long in vibrant, welcoming surroundings to enjoy exceptionally good sandwiches, salads, pies, quiches, tarts, cakes, treats etc, largely made from locally sourced, seasonal produce.

Bespoke catering service. Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-5pm MANGIA BENE 5-6 St James St, aBA1 2TW Tel: 01225 336106 ■ Charming Mediterranean deli in gorgeous surroundings with a small cafe attached, serving classy breakfasts, lunches and

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Cafes BATH teatime treats. Great coffee, takeaway sandwiches, superb outside catering. Famous homemade cakes and renowned charcuterie. Alfresco, too. Open Cafe: Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm, Sat 8.30am-4.30pm. Deli: Mon-Sat till 5pm METROPOLITAN CAFE 15 New Bond St, BA1 1BA Tel: 01225 482680, web: www.bloomsburystore.com ■ Gorgeous little cafe above the gorgeous Bloomsbury gift shop. Locally sourced, largely organic and totally vegetarian: all-day breakfasts, ciabatta, bruschetta, sarnies, tarts, salads, soups and fabulous cakes. Illy coffee, organic and herbal teas, nice juices and indulgent hot chocolate. Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm NEW MISSION BURRITO 4 New St, Kingsmead Square, BA1 2AF Tel: 01225 442599, web: www.missionburritos.co.uk Freshly prepared burritos and classic Tex-Mex-inspired delights to take away or enjoy in a lively canteen environment. Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thur-Sat 10am-11pm MOLES MUSIC CAFE 14 George St, BA1 2EN Tel: 01225 404405, web: www.moles.co.uk ■ Lovely, lively, laidback cafe (and fully licensed bar) specialising in sociable tapas sharing platters Open Daily from 11am, closing hours vary depending on club nights/gigs PATISSERIE VALERIE 20 High St, BA1 5AJ Tel: 01225 444826, web: www.patisserie-valerie.co.uk ■ A bustling cafe to the rear of a cake counter flaunting an exquisite range of gateaux, tarts etc, Afternoon teas a speciality. Open Sun-Thur 8am-7.30pm, Fri-Sat 8am-8pm PRESTO 7 Abbey Churchyard, BA1 1LY Tel: 01225 338803, web: www.pastypresto.com ■ Sandwiches, salads, soups, pastries, pasties and savouries freshly baked on the premises each day, plus Fairtrade coffee.

Pavement seating with excellent Abbey views and live street entertainment opposite the Pump Room. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm PRET A MANGER 2 Stall St, BA1 1QL Tel: 020 7932 5370, web: www.pret.com ■ Popular chain specialising in additive/preservative-free fast food: gourmet sandwiches, fresh soups/salads, falafel wraps, healthy snacks, sweet treats, fruit juices, smoothies.

Gluten/wheat/GM/dairy-free options proliferate. Coffee is Fairtrade and organic. Open Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 9am-5pm

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PUMP ROOM Abbey Churchyard, BA1 1LZ Tel: 01225 477782, web: www.romanbaths.co.uk ■ In the elegant environs of the Roman Baths complex, uniformed staff, live classical music and a butler dispensing complimentary glasses of spa water turn this neo-classical salon into one of Bath’s most civilised, traditional afternoon-tea experiences (from 2.30pm daily). Lunch is classic, upper-crust, trad-Brit fare. Open Daily 9.30am-5pm REAL ITALIAN ICE CREAM CO 17 York St, BA1 1NG Tel: 01225 330121 ■ Massive selection at the counter, by the cone or tub, alongside fresh crepes and an extensive drinks menu, to eat in or take away. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm (Sundays in summer) REGENCY TEA ROOMS 40 Gay St, Queen Square, BA1 2NT Tel: 01225 443000, web: www.janeausten.co.uk ■ Regency-style afternoon delights at this Jane Austenthemed tearoom above a shrine - sorry, visitor centre entirely dedicated to the Great Woman herself, complete with top-hatted doorman. Open Daily 9.45am-5.30pm Apr-Sept (July-Aug till 7pm), 11am-4.30pm Nov-Mar RIVERSIDE CAFE 17 Argyle St (below Pulteney Bridge), BA2 4BQ Tel: 01225 480532, web: www.riversidecafebath.co.uk ■ Gem of a cafe-bar as close by Pulteney Weir. Fabulous breakfasts, homecooked lunches and thoughtfully eclectic modern British/Med/global suppers, all wrought from impeccably sourced ingredients. Alfresco seating, fully licensed. See Restaurants, European & Mediterranean. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm (Mar-Oct till 10pm) NEW ROMAN BATHS KITCHEN 11 Abbey Churchyard, BA1 1LY Tel: 01225 477877, web: www.romanbaths.co.uk ■ New addition to the Bath tourist hotspot scene courtesy of a major B&NES/Roman Baths complex redevelopment. Deli, cafe and gorgeous terrace on the ground floor and a bright, breezy contemporary bistro upstairs, all offering stunning views of Bath’s most iconic square. Open Daily. Cafe/deli 7.30am-6pm, bistro 9am-10pm ROSCOFF DELI 18 Northumberland Place, BA1 5AR Tel: 01225 469590, web: www.roscoff.co.uk ■ Sicily meets the West Country at this funky, flair-packed, dolce-vita experience serving good-value, top-quality breakfasts, lunches, teas and snacks plus goodies to take away alongside larder fare (Italian cured meats, olives, pastas). Open Daily 10am-5pm

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Cafes BATH ROYAL PAVILION CAFE Royal Victoria Park, BA1 2NR Tel: 01225 448860 ■ Swiss mountain chalet meets traditional British tearoom at this parklife hotspot, with spiffing views across the city.

Sarnies, sausage rolls, homemade cakes and proper potted tea at very reasonable prices, plus sturdy lunchtime specials.

Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm (winter), Mon-Sun 9.30am-5.30pm (summer) SALLY LUNN’S 4 North Parade Passage, BA1 1NX Tel: 01225 461634, web: www.sallylunns.co.uk ■ Quintessentially English afternoon teas (if you can cope with the queues) and dinner later on.

SAME, SAME BUT DIFFERENT 7a Princes Buildings, Bartlett St, BA1 2ED Tel: 01225 466856, web: www.same-same.co.uk ■ Cafe-bar/bistro hybrid on a traffic-free cobbled lane offering sturdily furnished lounging opportunities all day and pavement tables. Daytime menus of hearty Mediterranean-themed snacks, platters, salads etc, alongside lovely cakes and pastries, segueing into sturdier goodies (tapas platters a speciality) later on, Thur to Sat. Fully licensed. Open Mon-Wed 8am-6pm, Thur-Fri 8am-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 10am-5pm SAM’S KITCHEN 61 Walcot St, BA1 5BN Tel: 01225 481159, web: www.samskitchendeli.co.uk ■ Thoroughly modern foodie flamboyance at this lively, wellpriced gourmet hotspot. Daily changing breakfast and lunch menus with a strong emphasis on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients: roasts, salads, filled croissants/sandwiches, soups and sweet treats all day, served in artfully eclectic surroundings or to take away. See website for eve events, supper clubs etc.

Open Mon-Sat 8am-6pm (Fri fortnightly till 10pm, see website) SECRET GARDEN CAFE AT PRIOR PARK GARDEN CENTRE Prior Park Rd, BA2 4NF Tel: 01225 427175, web: www.priorparkgardencentre.co.uk ■ Bright, breezy cafe (with alfresco seating) at the heart of a lively garden centre. Freshly baked pastries and cakes, homecooked light-bite lunches, cream teas etc, with ingredients locally sourced from the producers who supply the garden centre’s farm shop. Lovely. Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-5.30pm (summer 6pm), Sun 10.30am-4.30pm NEW SOCIETY CAFE 4-5 Kingsmead Square, BA1 2AB Tel: 01225 519074, web: www.society-cafe.com ■ Sociable, stylish, sassy new venture specialising in excellent coffee, upper-crust grub and a vivacious vibe. Spacious alfresco terrace. Open Mon-Sat 7.30am-6.30pm, Sun 9am-6.30pm

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SPRINGS CAFE & RESTAURANT Thermae Bath Spa, Hot Bath St, BA1 1SJ Tel: 01225 331234, web: www.thermaebathspa.com ■ Airy cafe/restaurant for the exclusive use of those using the Thermae Spa facilities. Healthy, locally sourced options abound. As we went to press, the Twilight Package included a three-hour spa session plus main course and drink at Springs for £42; see website for regularly updated offers.

ST MICHAEL’S CAFE Broad St, BA1 5LJ Tel: 01225 447103, web: www.stmichaelsbath.org.uk ■ Cheerful, unique fundraising venture downstairs at the characterful, historic St Michael’s Without church. Coffee, tea, cakes, light bites etc, also available for private hire.

Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm TEA TIME 12 Dorchester St, BA1 1SS Tel: 01225 444990 ■ Charming contempo-trad cafe offering welcome respite to SouthGate centre shoppers and travellers using Bath Spa Railway Station. Sandwiches and plenty of sweet treats (cute cupcakes, sticky buns) all day. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm TEAHOUSE EMPORIUM 22a New Bond St, BA1 1BA Tel: 01225 334402, web: www.teahouseemporium.co.uk ■ Tranquil teahouse in an atmospheric 18th-century cellar.

Vast selection of expertly brewed traditional and specialist teas, tisanes and infusions, and freshly ground coffee. Open Sun-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-6pm TIME OUT Guildhall Market, BA2 4AW ■ American diner/milk-bar-themed cafe at the heart of the Guildhall market. High counter stools focus on a bustling kitchen serving sandwiches, filled bagels, cakes and teatime treats all day long. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm WILD CAFE 10a Queen St, BA1 1HE Tel: 01225 448673, web: www.wildcafe.co.uk ■ Lively, cheerful cafe using local, seasonal, sustainable produce to rustle up satisfying breakfasts, lunches and downhome tea-time treats, mostly cooked before your eyes in an open kitchen. Open Mon-Sat 8am-5pm YMCA International House, Broad St Place, BA1 5LH Tel: 01225 325900, web: www.bathymca.co.uk ■ Homecooked favourites at extremely wallet-friendly prices, including continental/full English breakfasts and lunchtime specials. Alfresco courtyard seating. Open Breakfast: Mon-Fri 7am-9am, Sat-Sun 8am-10am. Lunch: Mon-Fri 12noon-2pm

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Bars BRISTOL

Bars Bristol ALL BAR ONE 47 Corn St, BS1 1HT Tel: 0117 930 4762, web: www.allbarone.co.uk ■ A new boss has arrived at this enduring Corn Street fave since last year’s guide. He runs a tight ship, so expect him to up the ante at what has long been a class act. Menu brings crispy duck & noodle salad, garlic marinated halloumi salad, meatball linguine, burgers, fish & chips, sausage & mash and lamb shank. Excellent veggie options include asparagus, pea & baby spinach risotto. All-encompassing drink choices include a dozen continental beers, 40 wines (£13.95-£40), most available by the glass). Part of a chain, but without the feel: roomy and uncluttered with wood flooring, long utilitarian tables, old church furniture, comfy chairs.

Equally good for daytime chats and buzzing Sat nights.

Over-21s only. Open Mon-Wed 12noon-11pm, Thur-Sat 12noon-midnight, Sun 12noon-6pm Food Mon-Sat 12noon-9pm, Sun 12noon-6pm AMOEBA 10 Kings Rd (off Boyces Ave), Clifton Village, BS8 4AB Tel: 0117 946 6461, web: www.amoebaclifton.co.uk ■ Getting a name for its private parties of 30-100 people celebrating 30ths, anniversaries and engagements. For a 50-strong shindig, each person could try a different beer or cider from around the globe, from Iceland’s Bock Lager, American steam beers and African stouts to Belgian fruit beers and German-style Hefe beer

Relaxed, spacious, imaginative Arnolfini Cafe-Bar

from Bristol. About 50 cocktails made using top-notch spirits - rums, whiskies and gins in particular - from a wide range. Events include weekly resident DJs, cocktail masterclasses, spirits/beers seminars and tastings, and bank holiday garden parties. Two of the same cocktails from a selected list for £9.50 until 9pm daily. An eclectic, laidback, friendly local bar specialising in the art of drink-making to an upbeat, quirky background.

ANTIX 44 Park St, BS1 5JG Tel: 0117 925 1139/07973 304227, web: www. attixloungebar.com ■ Admirable base-covering (eating, drinking and dancing in one venue) is reflected deliciously by the eight-strong sharing platter line-up within an extensive menu. Find steaks, sea bass and roast chicken alongside burgers, sandwiches, sides and sweets. The strong first impression made by owner Laz Lazarides (and his white chocolate profiteroles) when our man dropped in is clearly being maintained. Strong cocktail selection, wide draught lager range (Staropramen, Budweiser), bottles and fine wines, and Attix champagne bar upstairs. Flo Rida’s Low may get spun here later but Antix’s standards are always high. Open SunThur 11am-4am, Fri-Sat 11am-6am Food Sun-Thur 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm ARNOLFINI CAFE-BAR 16 Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA Tel: 0117 917 2305, web: www.arnolfini.org.uk ■ ‘Fine cooking blessed with the art of imagination,’ according to our reviewer. ‘A relaxed and spacious diner.’ His companion was won over by her linguine, followed by slow-roasted belly pork with radicchio and balsamic dressing. His ‘deliciously nutmegged’ pizzetta (a larger than expected plateful of pizza, Fiorentina style) was followed by ‘perfect’ squid and dark red English prawns, whose deep flavour persuaded him ‘never to touch any other kind again’. Legendary bar flying the flag for local producers and suppliers: current faves are Cheddar Ales, Zerodegrees, Bristol Beer Factory, Bristol Ciderworks, Lovely Drinks. The allItalian wine list (except Raza vinho verde: “It’s just too good not to have for summer!”) is available by the glass, or share ‘pitchers of pleasure’ in Pimm’s, Aperol spritz and elderflower collins form. Bar food brings spuntini (Italian tapas) from 11am (polenta chips, anchovy toast, Venetian-braised artichokes, arancini), with three for a tenner Tue-Sat 5-8pm. Open Daily from 10am NEW ATOMIC BURGER 189 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8BG Tel: 0117 942 8600, web: www.atomicburger.co.uk ■ See Cafes, Bristol.

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Bars BRISTOL BANCO LOUNGE 107 Wells Rd, Knowle, BS4 2BS Tel: 0117 908 6010, web: www.thelounges.co.uk ■ The youngest Bristol Lounge, formerly a bank (the original vault and safe door remain), serves a wide selection of meat, fish and veggie options alongside brekkies, burgers, tapas, panini and frequently changing specials. Menu changes seasonally but retains a distinct flavour: New York-style steak sandwich or sweet potato, butternut squash, puy lentil & spinach curry. Yummy Monday and Tapas Tuesday start the week in a wallet-friendly manner; quiz Sun. Togaman, Darkside, Stella 4, Beck’s Vier, Estrella Damm and Stowford Press. Open Daily 9am-11pm Food Daily 9am-10pm BANK OF STOKES CROFT 84 Stokes Croft, BS1 3QY Tel: 0117 923 2565, web: www.thebankofstokescroft.com ■ ‘This latest offering from the city’s social scene stalwarts Dave Smeaton and James Savage (of Big Chill and Spotted Cow fame) gives them a presence north of Bristol’s centre, filling a void created by the closure of Gloucester Road’s much-missed North,’ wrote our chap. Find minimalist, warehouse-style decor (the snug was once a bank vault and still has its door) and a massive Motorboy artwork, which is, according to Dave, “a representation of house music”, though lots of musical styles are represented in an eclectic (but never mainstream) entertainment programme. Rustic food includes sides, wilfully flavoursome pizzas, and horseradish dumplings accompanying the beef & Bath Ale stew. Brunch daily; full English and bloody mary proving popular. The bar itself is a metaphorical melting pot, with artists invited to display their work.

Rightly recognised in Venue’s 2010 Top Bananas. Food Daily till 10pm BAR HUMBUG 89 Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2NT Tel: 0117 904 0061, web: www.barhumbug.co.uk ■ A Whiteladies Rd stalwart, with its purple, cream, gold and brown colour-scheme combining with a cool vibe and chilled music to attract a stylish crowd.

Moroccan chef conjures up mezze platters, chargrilled chicken skewers, homemade burgers, panini, chicken wings, nachos and salads to eat indoors or on the 30-covers newly refurbished front terrace. More than 20 well-chosen wines by the glass, and great classic cocktails. Open Daily 12noon-late Food Daily 12noon-9pm BAY BAR & KITCHEN 4-6 North St, Bedminster, BS3 1HT Tel: 0117 953 1446 ■ Comfy furniture amid a blue colour scheme make

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for leisurely loafing, whether catching Sky on the screens, playing pool or tucking into filled breads, lasagne, salads, grills and curries. Favourites include homemade steak & ale pie, fish & chips, chilli, gammon & egg, ultimate burger, half roast chicken.

Mon quiz, Fri and Sat DJs, summer BBQs in suntrap rear garden, roasts on Sun. Open Sun-Wed 12noonmidnight, Thur-Sat 12noon-1.30am Food Mon-Fri 12noon-2pm & 4-8.30pm, Sat-Sun 12noon-8pm BEESES BAR & TEA GARDENS Wyndham Crescent, BS4 4SX Tel: 0117 977 7412, web: www.beeses.co.uk, twitter. com/beeses ■ ‘Delighted to hear that Beeses has opened again for the summer. That place is a true one-off…’ tweeted one Beeses fan recently. This impossibly beautiful spot with its gorgeous alfresco dining has been serving Bristol since 1846. In the supremely safe hands of Phil and Lindy in recent years, it’s bagged Bristol in Bloom 2008-2011 thanks to the green fingers of Clare McLoughlin. Magic is conjured up in the kitchen (up to 400 6oz 100% Angus beef handmade burgers disappear every weekend), with Ma Beeses’ Gourmet Fish Suppers booked up weeks in advance. Weekly changing specials have included Jamaican-style organic pork chop, grilled mackerel with almonds, Moroccan lamb with mint yoghurt and couscous. Open mic third Thur monthly, live bands twice monthly, and 18 ales and eight ciders expected for Beeses’ seventh annual beer festival in Sept 2012. Draughts include Butcombe and local guests. ‘The food alone is worth the journey,’ wrote our man of a cafe-bar bagging a podium place in Venue’s 2010 Top Bananas.

Open Until 29 Sep: Wed 4-8pm, Thur 4-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 11am-7pm, bank hols 12noon-7pm Food Thur-Sat till 9pm (4-5.15pm Sat), Sun & bank hols till 6pm BIG CHILL 15 Small St, BS1 1DE Tel: 0117 930 4217, web: www.bigchill.net/bristol ■ ‘There’s a year-round festival feel at Bristol’s Big Chill bar,’ wrote our man. Retro rocks around here: a Funk from the Trunk night, and a recently installed, seriously orange, your-mum-chic, 1970s-style Formica-filled kitchen/diner available for private parties. Food comes in homecooked gourmet burger and sides (crispy squid, nachos) form. Our man’s ‘portobello beauty towers like a Scooby Snack… the camembert provides a hit so intense it ought to be illegal’. Regular offers. ‘Brings a weekend onsite to the city, with no wellies required,’ concluded our man (though there is a garden). Draughts include Amstel, Budvar, Sagres, Estrella, Gem. Food Mon-Sat 12noon9pm

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Bars BRISTOL

It’s a girl thing No1 Harbourside

Canons Rd ■ A dramatic entrance was made recently by the arrival of dessert diva La Dame Gateau.

Beeses Bar & Tea Gardens

Wyndham Crescent ■ Ma Beese serves up gourmet fish suppers. Her six-course menu gastronomique was inspired by a recent meal at Restaurant de Lauzun in Gignac, France.

Oh là là!

Gallimaufry

Gloucester Rd ■ Top-notch Extract coffee made by Betty, a reconditioned 60kg roaster ‘born’ in 1955.

BOCABAR Paintworks, Bath Rd, BS4 3EH Tel: 0117 972 8838, web: www.bocabar.co.uk ■ Cafe/bar/music venue with a New York loft look and genuine multigenerational appeal, from morning coffees to summer-evening chilling on the extensive decking. Raises the bar for cocktails, and their pizzas are among Bristol’s best. Bocaburger, panini, sandwiches, salads, tapas, weekend breakfasts and rotating specials. Regular live music and DJs. Open/ Food Sun-Thur 10am-11pm, Fri-Sat 10-1am. Pizzas:

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Sun-Thur 5-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11pm. Specials: Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm BORDEAUX QUAY BAR V-Shed, Canons Way, BS1 5UH Tel: 0117 943 1200, web: www.bordeaux-quay.co.uk ■ Modern, airy bar serving extensive, impressive beer and wine range (quality local ales, cider, speciality beers, lagers, classic cocktails) plus nibbles within the environmentally responsible and multi-faceted BQ operation. See also Cafes, and Restaurants: European & Mediterranean. Open Bar: Mon-Fri 8am-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 9am-9pm BOTANIST BRISTOL Berkeley Square, Triangle, Clifton, BS8 1HP Tel: 0117 927 7333, web: www.thebotanistbristol.co.uk ■ ‘A welcoming combination of fish and friendliness,’ said our man. ‘The bar’s lively ambience recedes nicely and the smartly decorated room with well-spaced tables feels like quite another place.’ Menu is modern English with a Mediterranean twist: seafood figures prominently, and both our fella and filly went for the sea’s booty for mains. Her pan-fried mahi mahi (a sustainable species) came in caper butter: a ‘succulent steak matched well with buttery broad beans’. His crisp sea bass steaks perched on spinach provided ‘a nicely balanced set of flavours, with the fresh fish ruling supreme’. The citrus zing of his homemade lemon tart ‘was just the job, as was the properly dark and dusty espresso that followed’. Extensive wine list features more than 70 choices, and two real ales are always on. Tue is ladies’ night (3 £15.95, bottle of prosecco £15), Thur is lobster night. Open Sun-Thur 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat 8am-12midnight Food Mon-Fri 12noon-10pm, Sat 12noon-10.30pm, Sun 12noon9.30pm NEW BRACE & BROWNS 43 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2LS Tel: 0117 973 7800, web: twitter.com/braceandbrowns ■ ‘Friendly smartness and carefully prepared, unfussy food makes for great smart-casual dining,’ commented our chief foodie. He and his guest chose from a twopart menu offering a ‘smart uptake on classic pub fare and an eclectic tapas selection of some 30 plates ranging from Spain to India via Italy and England’.

They tried tomato schiacciatella (‘the light, pizzalike bread buried under fresh herby tomato slices really gets to my taste-buds’), a burger (‘delicious rare-cooked beef, oozing blue cheese, with a crisp taste of parma ham’) and omelette (‘a light, clean texture and flavoursome filling’). Other tapas options as we go to press include salt-cured duck breast, wild mushroom & truffle risotto. Downstairs function room

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Bars BRISTOL caters for parties of 12 max - the chef will create a bespoke menu. There’s a live music application in the pipeline, cocktail offerings are being developed, and they’re aiming to have 20 wines (by glass or bottle).

Find Gem, guest ale, and bottles of Moretti, Grolsch Blonde, Blue Moon, Estrella Damm, Savannah Dry and Ashridge Farm ciders, and Hollows alcoholic ginger beer. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 5.30-9.30/10pm, Sun 12.30-6pm (approx)

burgers; even the chips are handcut. Drinks include Peroni, Corona, Stella, Thatchers Gold (served in frozen glasses), while ale aficionados get Bristol No7 and wine lovers an eight-strong list. Smoothies and regular milkshake choices supplemented by a milkshake-of-the-week (usually with a chocolate-bar flavour). Take away, or eat in the restaurant with its laidback mood and contemporary feel. Open Sun-Thur 12noon-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11.30pm

BROWNS 38 Queens Rd, Clifton, BS8 1RE Tel: 0117 930 4777, web: www.browns-restaurants.com ■ ‘When it shines, Browns is golden,’ wrote our man.

It’s the place to be, whether chilling alfresco or dining within. ‘Ceiling fans spin above singularly classy surroundings as Ella Fitzgerald drifts through the air… quadrant booths and circular tables bring liquid lines… greenery dotted throughout creates a colonial, timeless mood.’ Mediterranean/English/European food offers salmon & smoked haddock fishcakes, steak, mushroom & Guinness pie, fish & chips, steak-frites, and meat, fish and vegetarian platters.

Fixed-price menus bring savings, Sundays bring roasts, afternoons are always time for tea. Extensive drink options include about 60 wines, five draught, continental lagers, ale, cider, bottled beers. See also Restaurants, English. Open Mon-Wed 9am-11pm, Thur-Sat 9am-12midnight, Sun 10am-10.30pm Food Mon-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 10am-10pm

BYZANTIUM 2 Portwall Lane, BS1 6NB Tel: 0117 922 1883, web: www.byzantium.co.uk ■ Housed in a 19th-century brick warehouse, with its bar and lounge area making for a unique drinking/ dining experience. Spacious room features elegant pillars and luxurious couches with an opulent Middle Eastern feel. Weekend entertainment includes DJs, magicians and cabaret-style performance. Modern European, seasonal fare, with a full ALC and their famous dessert lanterns. See Restaurants, European & Mediterranean. Open Tue-Sat 12noon-late

BRUNEL WINE BAR 38 The Mall, Clifton Village, BS8 4DS Tel: 0117 973 4443 ■ As we go to press there’s a refurb due: traditional gold and dark red, combined with off-lighting to enhance the grown-up vibe enjoyed by a loyal clientele. Pavement tables and chairs offer some of the best people-watching (and Range Rover/Porschewatching) opportunities as the Mall’s characters pass by. Solid food range takes in small plates, sandwiches, burgers, piri piri chicken, ribeye steak, cottage pie, sausage & mash. Draught options include Wickwar’s Crowning Glory, three lagers, two ciders, Guinness.

Four reds by the glass, and as many whites, with more wines by the bottle. Food Mon-Fri 12noon-4pm, SatSun 12noon-5pm BURGER JOINT 32 Cotham Hill, BS6 6LA (relocating to 83 Whiteladies Rd in Sept 2012) Tel: 0117 329 0887, web: www.theburgerjoint.co.uk ■ Quality is writ large across this slick operation conjuring up cut-above burgers, including venison.

Carefully chosen, locally sourced ingredients (prime beef, Welsh lamb) go into freshly prepared and cooked

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CAFE ROUGE 85 Park St, BS1 5PJ Tel: 0117 929 2571 Cabot Circus, BS1 3BD Tel: 0117 954 4808 Unit R4, The Mall, Cribbs Causeway, BS10 7TG Tel: 0117 950 8730, web: www.caferouge.co.uk ■ Friendly, authentic French cafe-bar/brasserie/ restaurant serving high-quality food in convivial surroundings. See Restaurants, French.

CANTEEN Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft, BS1 3QY Tel: 0117 923 2017, web: www.canteenbristol.co.uk ■ Food/drink/art/music/enterprise and innovation venture that opened in 2009 in a former office building in Stokes Croft. Live music nightly and Sun afternoon, and top-value, locally sourced, seasonal food enjoyed by a diverse crowd: lemon sole in smoked salmon & cream sauce, stilton & broccoli tart, both rice and couscous salads, and rocket with marinated roast onion, from around £5.50. Drinks include Gem, Bounders, Bristol Beer Factory ales, Grolsch, Butcombe Blond, Ashton Press. Food MonFri 12noon-3pm & 5-10pm, Sat-Sun 12noon-3pm & 5-9pm CELLAR Rummer Hotel, All Saints Lane, BS1 1JH Tel: 0117 929 0111, www.therummer.net ■ Enhancing the Rummer’s reputation as one of the region’s foremost bars, this late-night cocktail lounge incorporates molecular mixing and caviar and foams

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Bars BRISTOL to take your drinking experience up a notch or two.

Doesn’t serve food. For food in the upstairs Rummer, see Pubs. Open Fri-Sat 10pm-late CHANNINGS 20 Pembroke Rd, Clifton, BS8 3BB Tel: 0117 973 3970 ■ ‘When the sun shines, the clinking of glasses fills the air as sunglasses are worn atop heads as the smart set mingle,’ wrote our man of this Clifton institution, where the garden is the place to be come summer.

Stylish surroundings indoors make this a winner yearround. Food (on a menu set to change) usually means fish & chips, bangers & mash, lamb tagine, vegetable moussaka, spicy beanburgers. Entertainment can include comedy; drinks include up to three draught real ales and about 25 wines. Food Mon-Sat 12noon3pm & 6-9pm, Sun 12noon-6pm CHE’S CAFE BAR 3 Welsh Back, BS1 4SL Tel: 0117 930 4034 ■ Cuban memorabilia on the walls, and Peroni, San Miguel, Corona, Gem and Bulmers to toast the eponymous cult hero. Nippers get lovely milkshakes and fruit juices. Food takes in omelettes, ciabattas, chillies, enjoyed indoors or alfresco on two terraces.

Food Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat-Sun 9am-4pm CHIMP HOUSE 232 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8NZ Tel: 0117 944 3092, web: www.thechimphouse.co.uk ■ Continuing to tinker with its MO, this place is now

Rooted in the soul of Bristol Cosies

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even more of a party venue than before, functioning as a regular bar only on Wed and Thur. Food isn’t usually served, but you’re encouraged to bring in your own, or you can request food to be cooked if you notify the bar in advance. Available for hire outside regular opening hours. Open Wed-Thur 6pm-12midnight (as a bar) CITY CAFE Hilton Garden Inn, Temple Way, BS1 6BF Tel: 0117 910 2700, web: www.citycafe.co.uk ■ Smart urban hotel serving Market Menu, ALC, breakfasts, great roasts etc. Heated alfresco terrace overlooking gardens. See Restaurants, European & Mediterranean.

CLIFTON WINE BAR 4 Richmond Terrace, Clifton, BS8 1AB Tel: 0117 973 2069, web: www.cliftonwinebar.co.uk ■ Young professionals enjoy the lounge/bar atmosphere; heaters/shelters in the garden out back (a smokers’ fave) prolong alfresco chilling. Homemade pub classics include homemade steak & Wadworth ale pie, fish & chips, chilli and scampi, with a snacks range, too. Impressive draught range: San Miguel, Moretti, Heineken and Amstel lagers; three real ales at any time (Wadworth’s 6X, Horizon, plus guest); eight ciders across taps and bottles. Above-average wine offerings. Several screens show Sky Sports. Food Mon-Thur 12noon-3pm & 6-9pm, Fri 12noon-9pm, Sat 12noon-8pm, Sun 12noon-5pm COSIES 34 Portland Square, BS2 8RG Tel: 0117 942 4110, web: www.cosies.co.uk ■ While Cosies doesn’t officially have a garden, the food here can be served in takeaway from so you can carry it over to Portland Square’s small-but-perfectlyformed park. You can even get your pint/wine to go, for a chilled lunch hour. Still doing what it does best: underground vibe by night (basement beats, old-skool reggae, cutting-edge dubstep, hip-hop and funk delivered with a big fat smile), informal, cosy bar by day, welcoming everyone for great homecooked food.

Summer menu brings lighter delights (fish finger sandwich) and seeded panini; mains include Welsh lamb burger with chilli & mint tzatziki and chips, Moroccan sweet potato & chickpea stew, open prime steak sandwich with mustard mayo, rocket and chips.

A lovely, ever-changing wine menu, and draughts include Beck’s Vier, Stella, Red Stripe, Ashton Press, Thatchers Katy and guest ales. Available for private dining. “What I love about Cosies is what everyone else loves,” says boss/chef Jo. “It may have changed a little over the years but still has its roots firmly in the soul of Bristol.” Food Mon-Fri 11am-2pm

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Bars BRISTOL COTE BRASSERIE 27 The Mall, Clifton Village, BS8 4JG Tel: 0117 970 6779, web: www.cote-restaurants.co.uk ■ Freshly prepared French classics and great-value prices, with regularly changing seasonal specials, at this authentic French bistro. See Restaurants, French.

COWSHED 46 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2NH Tel: 0117 973 3550, web: www.thecowshedbristol.com ■ Modern British steakhouse, recipient of nine out of 10 stars from Venue’s reviewer. Starters include mussels, duck liver parfait, beef broth, barbecue pork ribs and beetroot and chickpea fritter. Mains offer sumptuous meat options (not just steaks) and daily fresh fish. Impressive wine list, too. Just a tenner for an early-evening steak/ burger & chips plus drink (Mon-Thur 6-7pm). See also Restaurants, English. Food Mon-Sat: lunch 12noon-6pm (last orders 2.45pm), dinner 6pm-12midnight (last orders Mon-Thur 9.45pm, Fri-Sat 10.15pm). Sun: roast 12noon3.30pm (last orders 3.15pm), ALC 6.30-9.30pm CROFT 117-119 Stokes Croft, BS1 3RW Tel: 0117 987 4144, web: www.the-croft.com ■ One of the city’s leading live venues, where two separate gigs can be staged at the same time. Drop in for Spa and Doom Bar on draught, with Grolsch, Carling and Red Stripe plus Stowford Press and Lilley’s Bee Sting pear cider. Bottles include Brothers and Westons Wyld Wood plus Budvar and Gem. Our ‘researcher’ has dropped in here before now to catch Mr B Gentleman Rhymer. The chaphop guv’nor is indeed allowed to spark up his briar, but he won’t cop for any cover or heating outside. Open 7pm onwards DECO LOUNGE 50 Cotham Hill, BS6 6JX Tel: 0117 373 2688, web: www.thelounges.co.uk ■ Enjoy the Lounge group’s trademark easygoing yet stylish grub in easygoing yet stylish surroundings.

Specials change monthly: as we go to press they include balsamic-glazed gammon with bubble & squeak, fried egg and parsley sauce, and chicken chorizo & butterbean stew with basmati rice, with rhubarb & elderflower crumble a dessert. Wonderful seasonal cocktails include cherry bakewell and raspberry mojito, with their Spring Fling a twist on the popular caipirinha. A wicked range of retro desserts is currently being showcased, from knickerbockerglory to banana split. Cerebral quiz packs them in on Mon. Food Daily 9am-11pm EL PUERTO 57 Prince St, BS1 4QH Tel: 0117 925 6014, web: www.el-puerto.co.uk ■ Award-winning selection of about 30 Spanish wines

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accompanies some of the tastiest dining this side of Madrid, with live music Wed, live music and flamenco dancing on Sun. Fabulous cocktails (with signature mojito), with jugs of sangria and cava and bottled beers fuelling the fiesta. Big range of simple, perfect tapas: meat, seafood, vegetarian. Mains include fillet steak, sea bass, skewered chicken, paella (with vegetarian version). See Restaurants, Spanish & Portuguese. Open Daily 12noon-1am Food Mon-Thur 11am-3pm & 5.30-11pm, Fri-Sun 12noon-11pm EL RINCON 298 North St, Southville, BS3 1JU Tel: 0117 939 3457, web: www.elrincon.moonfruit.com ■ Like being in your mate’s front room. If your mate lived in Madrid. And they could rustle up anything from friendship-affirming tapas (pimientos de padron, chorizo al vino) to authentic wines, lager and Tizer – yes, Tizer – for the drivers. This cosy, atmospheric spot has staged Spanish lessons, wine tastings and Subbuteo, but its fluffiest loveliness is undoubtedly Basque shepherd dog Noa, who’s been known to make an appearance. Almost as rare is the Cruzcampo beer hailing from Seville. Estrella on draught, live music on Sun afternoons. See Restaurants, Spanish & Portuguese. Open Wed-Fri 6-10pm, Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 12noon-6pm ELBOW ROOM 64 Park St, BS1 5JN Tel: 0117 930 0242, web: www.theelbowroom.co.uk ■ Trendy, friendly, always-free-entry, laidback pool bar featuring classic rock, hip-hop, drum & bass, indie and reggae. Amstel beer bottles, house wine and cocktails are 2-4-1, 5-8pm daily, with 2-4-1 cocktails all night Sun and Thur. Double Sailor Jerry and Coke £3.50 Sun, Jagerbombs six for £15 Mon-Fri, and one hour of free pool before 5pm daily when you spend £6 at the bar. Private parties get further drinks deals in private function room. ‘This place remains ahead of the pack when it comes to a lounging vibe,’ said our reviewer. ‘There’s an air of living large brought by the cocktails and spirits savoured by the young professionals chilling earlier and dancing later through nights when DJs spin.’ For such an undoubtedly cool place, staff and punters are refreshingly down to earth, and the menu doesn’t take itself too seriously, either. Open Sun-Thur till 2am, Fri-Sat till 4am NEW EXCHANGE 72-73 Old Market, BS2 OEJ Tel: 0117 930 4538, web: www.exchangebristol.com ■ From the folk who brought you The Croft comes this multi-levelled location with brick/wood decor and a

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Bars BRISTOL basement gig/event space. Launch is due after we go to press, and the owners aren’t yet sure whether it’ll have a drop-in-to-drink (as opposed to club) function.

festival. Food Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm, Mon-Wed 6-9pm, Thur-Fri 6-10pm, Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-4pm & 6-9pm

NEW GALLIMAUFRY 26-28 The Promenade, Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AE Tel: 0117 942 7316, web: www.thegallimaufry.co.uk ■ There’s an element of Emily’s shop from Bagpuss at this ‘home cooking and curios bar’ that opened recently where for decades had stood the Prom. The name means ‘jumble’ or ‘hodgepodge’, and the aim is to provide affordable, wholesome English food and a comfortable drinking environment. Brunch menu brings eggs benedict, eggs nordic (with Valley salmon), devilled kidneys, bacon sarnies. Sunday lunches feature topside Somerset beef or pork belly and yorkshire puds. Currently, there’s live music every night, from Monday’s open mic to DJs on FriSun afternoons. The Galli’s USP, however, is that everything you see inside the building is for sale, a kind of marketplace for art and artefacts, with prices at the bar for furniture and other items. Open Daily 10am-1am Food Brunch Mon-Sat 10am-3pm, dinner Wed-Sat 6-10pm, Sun roast 12noon-5pm (approx)

GRAZE BAR & CHOPHOUSE 63 Queen Square, BS1 4JZ Tel: 0117 927 6706, web: www.bathales.co.uk ■ ‘Here was a rare thing,’ said Venue’s reviewer. ‘A smart and pleasant place to grab a drink, slap in the centre of town.’ A classic British menu at this bar and chophouse, which opened in late 2009 (with arresting cow standing Damien Hirst-esque above the door).

Starters and mains take in potted pork with pickles and chutney, charcuterie plates, hot smoked mackerel and calves’ liver with bacon, shepherd’s pie, 12oz ribeye. Everything except the seafood is sourced within 40 miles, and there are Bath Ales brews, a dozen reds and as many whites. Our reviewer’s beef was ‘possibly the best in Bristol’ and the ‘bone-free and juicily moist pheasant breast was equally pleasing’.

Food Mon-Thur 12noon-10pm, Fri 12noon-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 9am-10pm

GOLDBRICK HOUSE 69 Park St, BS1 5PD Tel: 0117 945 1950, web: www.goldbrickhouse.co.uk ■ Much-loved, multi-dimensional venue with two AA rosettes that lets you eat like a king without spending a king’s ransom. Cafe-bar serves British tapas: Somerset brie, mini lamb brochettes, honey & mustard pork belly bites – perfect for sharing. More substantial dining includes glorious breakfasts (potato pancake with scrambled egg and bacon), cut-above sarnies (try the triple-decker classic club), salads, burgers, bangers & mash, fish & chips, pasta. See Restaurants, European & Mediterranean. Food Mon-Sat 9am-10pm GRAIN BARGE Mardyke Wharf, Hotwells, BS8 4RU Tel: 0117 929 9347, web: www.grainbarge.com ■ Former winner of Venue’s Best Bristol Bar, with regularly changing menu. Fresh produce and locally sourced/Fairtrade ingredients go into sirloin steak (cooked differently every day), roasted duck breast with beetroot, creme fraiche, cumin & coriander salad with creme de cassis dressing, and asparagus & broad bean risotto. Wed is homemade pie & pint night (beer from Bristol Beer Factory), Thur is £10 steak night, Fri brings live music, Sunday the roast.

Funky happenings include monthly art exhibitions, mural paintings, poetry nights and slow-food dating for single food-lovers. Four ales always on include a weekly guest; look out for winter beer

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NEW GRECIAN KEBAB HOUSE LOUNGE 2 Cromwell Rd, St Andrews, BS6 5AA Tel: 0117 942 3456 ■ We’re a big fan of good ideas and this one’s an absolute winner. Grecian Kebab House boss Ali, one of Bristol’s most genuine guys, has converted the restaurant above his legendary takeaway into a late-night lounge. Now, when Gloucester Road’s pubs close, upstairs at Ali’s is where the chillingout carries on (no need to get taxis into town). A mood as laidback as the man himself comes via fat sofas, subdued lighting and DJs spinning a reggae soundtrack. CCTV shows punters upstairs what’s going on downstairs and vice versa. A choice tapas/platter range (tzatziki, hummus, shish kebabs, whitebait, king prawns, calamari) makes for sociable dining whether you’re eating afternoon, evening or wee small hours (lounge is open the same hours as the takeaway downstairs). Draughts include Heineken, Stella, Carlsberg, Beck’s Vier, Blackthorn and Thatchers Gold, with nine whites and as many reds. It’s quite the place for a private party (buffets and set menus available). Ali wants to give you what you want – he’s keen for feedback on whether the striking Nicosia mural stays and a cocktail list arrives. Beer-and-pizzafor-a-fiver offer will be in place over the summer. Just as delicious as the food is the finding of this lounge in the first place: on first impression there’s little to suggest that such a mellow meeting place awaits upstairs. Once discovered, prepare to be a devotee.

Takeaways, too. Open Lounge/takeaway: Mon-Thur 4pm-3am, Fri-Sat 3pm-5am, Sun 3pm-3am

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Bars BRISTOL H BAR Colston Hall Foyer, 13 Colston St, BS1 5AR Tel: 0117 352 1151, web: www.thehbar.co.uk ■ The launch of the foyer in which H Bar is housed was Venue’s Event of the Year 2009. Praiseworthy dining includes breakfast (from toast to the works), lunch (pasta, risotto, bruschetta, burgers, salads, soups, specials), sandwiches, panini, tapas. More formal dining in the ground-floor bistro with beautiful glass walls and garden terrace views. Starters include panfried lamb kidneys, and potted shrimps & shallots tarte tatin. Mains feature braised lamb shoulder, roast skate wing, and vegetarian dishes like penne rigate. Organic wines, Freedom lager among the draughts, and Carling Zest on tap. New cocktail list arriving as we go to press.

Food Bar: Mon-Sat 9am-3pm & 5pm-late, Sun varies.

Bistro: times vary with performances HALO 141 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8BA Tel: 0117 944 2504, web: www.halobristol.com ■ Staged a Venue Christmas party a few years back but survived to remain a Bishopston community fave where breakfasts feature freshly squeezed orange juice and evenings feature some of the freshest moves you’re ever likely to see. Diverse food options take in tapas, burgers, open sandwiches, wraps, salads.

Evening brings starters (filo-wrapped prawns, soup, goat’s cheese tart), mains (chicken supreme, good fish options, curries) and great desserts, followed by a swish cocktails/bar-like feel once the kitchen’s closed. Sun roasts; busy calendar includes tango, salsa, acoustic nights. Draughts: three ales, two lagers, two ciders.

Open Daily 10am-12.30am Food Daily 10am-10pm HARVEY NICHOLS Second Floor, Harvey Nichols, Philadelphia St, Quakers Friars, BS1 3BZ Tel 0117 916 8898, web: www.harveynichols.com ■ Affordable luxury amid a stylish atmosphere in Cabot Circus’s flagship store. The second-floor bar offers starters, sides, mains, desserts, mostly buyable for a tenner. Nibbles to share include homemade bread, HN Italian olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Mains include fish & chips, Inverawe smoked salmon with caper berries and lemon, homemade bread, and the HN burger. Sweets include Valrhona chocolate & pecan brownie with clotted cream, and banana & walnut cake with vanilla mascarpone. Food Mon-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-5pm

would be that subsequent venues would disappoint - and it never does to peak too early…” He continued: “Time goes backwards at Hausbar. Dark decor decants decades of decadence into sublime sophistication with a smile on its face.” Auri, who’s worked in Berlin and Munich, has based Hausbar on the German concept of homely cellar bars, but this chic, stylish one-off is more special than that, being runner-up UK Classic Bar according to Class Bar’s 2010 awards. The intimate, civilised space is unpretentious, friendly, and air-conditioned for late-night chilling. Spectacular spirit range, 150-strong cocktail list. No draught beers, but Erdinger and Budvar in bottles. Sixth birthday coming up. Open Daily 8pm-2am HILL 31-35 Cotham Hill, BS6 6JY Tel: 0117 973 3793, web: www.pizzakitchenbars.co.uk ■ It’s billed as a ‘pizza kitchen and bar’, and the ovens are put to good use: freshly baked pizzas, quesadillas and flatbreads in varieties like crispy duck and hoisin.

The Ring of Fire is a chilli-spiked stonebaked bread served with chilli oil and sweet chilli dipping sauce; the garlic & herb dough balls come in servings of six or 12 (we know a grateful taker if any of yours go uneaten); freshly baked dough strips accompany the tomato & mozzarella fondue. There’s even basil, pesto & roast garlic spiral dough served with Italian cheese and sunblaze tomato mayonnaise, alongside burgers, chilli and salads. Lunchtime pizza and cocktail offers bring bargains. Draughts include San Miguel, Peroni, Budweiser, Doom Bar, Guinness. Screens show sport.

Food Daily 12noon-10pm

Much-loved Part Street favourite Goldbrick House

HAUSBAR 52 Upper Belgrave Rd, Clifton, BS8 2XP Tel: 0117 946 6081, web: www.hausbar.co.uk ■ “You could bring a girl here on a first date,” genial owner Auri Braunbarth told our man. “The only problem

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Bars BRISTOL HUSH HUSH 233 Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5QP Tel: 0117 942 2700, web: www.myspace.com/ hushhushbristol ■ A recent decor change at this funky bar with its clubby vibe reflects the background of its manager, semi-pro skateboarder Tom Gibbs. With a board mounted on the wall (and graffiti artwork), it draws the sk8r boys and girls to chill with draught Foster’s, Kronie, Heineken, Sagres, Strongbow and Symonds, with bottles including Corona, Desperado, Pedigree, Red Stripe, Polish lagers, WKD, Bath Ales beer.

Cocktails 2-4-1 all evening Wed and Thur. Fine garden out back with heaters and cover. Available for private hire - call for details. DJs spin Thur-Sat. Sofas as fat as the bassline add a dash of decadence - put your hands up for adroit turntablism! Open Wed-Sat 7pm-2am HYDE & CO 2 The Basement, Berkeley Crescent, BS8 1JY Tel: 0117 929 7007, web: www.hydeandcobristol.com ■ Older (but smaller) brother of Milk Thistle, toting a glamorous gangster vibe. Cocktails (a speciality), subdued lighting, dark colours and a – check this – secret-room bookcase take you back to the Prohibition period. Ivories await ragtime rhythms but it’s not just Joplin getting this joint jumping. Untouchable sours, punches, highballs and juleps are made from premium spirits, so even if the cops call, nobody’s getting busted for bootlegging. Like Milk Thistle, this is a members’ bar open to non-members, with reservations of up to 10 available until 9pm. Limited regular menu (homemade parsnip crisps, beetroot pickled eggs), while a squealer gets their comeuppance by way of a future hog roast.

Capiche? Open Sun-Thur 7pm-1am, Fri-Sat 7pm-3am KINGS ARMS 168 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2XZ Tel: 0117 973 5922, web: www.kingsarmsbristol.com ■ The Queen’s reign having legs was celebrated in style at this expansive restaurant/bar/cafe spread over two floors. The look is grand but you’re as welcome to drop in to play ping-pong as you are to dine. Entertainment is similarly eclectic: magic shows, DJs, sport, poker.

Own cakes and chutney made, weekday daytime 2-4-1 burger, other offerings include steak burger, ham, egg & chips, daily doorstep sandwich, slow-roasted pork belly with purple-sprouting broccoli, and salmon & smoked haddock fishcakes. Open Mon 5-11.30pm, TueSat 11am-12.30am, Sun 11am-10.30pm KOBE KARAOKE 2nd Floor, Nelson House, Nelson St, BS1 2JT Tel: 07901 888882, web: www.bristolkaraoke.co.uk ■ Modern takes on traditional Chinese dishes from expert chefs, with karaoke for afters. See Restaurants, Chinese.

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NEW LA TOMATINA 2-4 Park St, BS1 5HS Tel: 0117 302 0008 ■ Opening a few days after we go to press, this new eatery promises coffees, sandwiches, tapas, burgers and more within a loungey vibe in a prime location between Clifton and the waterfront/city centre. Grab a cappuccino on the way to the office, lunch alfresco with colleagues, refuel during a shopping spree or head here for evening dining and music. There’s Spanish élan throughout: warm tones, neat blackboard explaining the eponymous Valencian festival’s origins, Seville poster, wallmounted flamenco guitar. Savour some San Miguel (Staropramen also on draught) and suddenly Park Street looks like Las Ramblas. Drop in when a language swap is being staged to hear some Spanish.

About 15 wines accompany the sharing plates. The owners have clearly taken care to create something special at this site slap-bang in the middle of Bristol’s bustle. Open Daily 7.30am-11.30pm Food Daily 7.30am-10.30/11pm LAS IGUANAS Anchor Square, Harbourside, BS1 5UH Tel: 0117 927 6233 113 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2PB Tel: 0117 973 0730, web: www.lasiguanas.co.uk ■ Authentic South American bars popular with those after a party feel. Great food, superb cocktails, excellent tapas and good fish/vegetarian/salad options. Set lunch and happy hour deals always good value. See Restaurants, Mexican & South American.

Open Mon-Thur 12noon-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon11.30pm (Harbourside till 12midnight), Sun 12noon10.30pm LIVING ROOM Building 11, Canons Way, Harbourside, BS1 5LF Tel: 0117 925 3993, web: www.thelivingroom.co.uk ■ Stylish and comfortable bar, open till 2am at weekends, with a fabulous cocktail list and calendar of local and touring musicians and DJs: live piano and vocals from 8.30pm Thur-Sat, live band Fri, DJ Sat nights.

Great selection of light meals and small plates – enjoy food in the bar, relaxing on the sofa or at one of the bar tables. See also Restaurants, European & Mediterranean.

Food Most days till 10pm, 11pm weekends LOUNGE 227-231 North St, Bedminster, BS3 6JJ Tel: 0117 963 7340, web: www.thelounges.co.uk ■ This is where the now 20-strong Lounge chain first presented its easygoing dining and drinking combination. Steaks, burgers, panini, ciabattas,

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Bars BRISTOL veggie dishes and monthly changing specials: Beck’s lager-battered cod & chips, teriyaki fillet of beef salad.

Legendary chocolate brownies, rollover quiz on Mon (plus burger offer), Tue tapas. Draughts include Toga Man ale, Stella, Stowford Press, Darkside, Estrella Damm. Outside seating. Open Daily 9am-11pm Food Daily 9am-10pm NEW MILK THISTLE Quay Head House, Colston Ave, BS1 1EB Tel 0117 929 4429, web: www.milkthistlebristol.com ■ This members’ club is part Garrick, part Groucho, part Eyes Wide Shut. Milk thistle is believed to repair the liver, an organ in jocular jeopardy given the fine drinking, dining and decadence on offer. In an 18th century building (formerly Merchant Venturers HQ), its atmospherically lit vault, parlour, lounge and attic feature pelts, paintings, taxidermy, stained-glass windows and Chesterfields. Cocktails, spirits, wines, bottled beers, stout, porter and cider plus a nine-strong champagne list - get elegantly refreshed over four floors. Entrance isn’t exclusive to members, but read the website’s house rules and membership info prior to planning an evening here. Doesn’t function as a restaurant, but private-hire banquets can be staged, with the regular menu offering charcuterie, cheese boards and snacks like beetroot pickled eggs. Got a new boss, some mates, prospective in-laws to impress? Thistle do nicely... Open Mon-Fri 5pm-1.30am, Sat 6pm-3am MISSION BURRITO 62 Park St, BS1 5JN Tel: 0117 927 3339, web: www.missionburritos.com ■ Hand-selected and hand-prepared burritos washed down with Corona, Modelo or the rarely spotted Pacifico Clara. Kids (and non-drinkers) get their own spotter’s-badge beverage, with uber-rare Jarittos cola.

Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thur-Sat 10am-11pm

cafe-bar gastro hangout, with great watery views from the sundeck. Well-stocked bar. See Restaurants, European & Mediterranean.

NO1 HARBOURSIDE 1 Canons Rd, BS1 5UH Tel: 0117 929 1100, web: www.no1harbourside.co.uk ■ Admirably diverse bar and cafe enhanced by the arrival of La Dame Gateau cake stall since last year.

‘With its links to Bristol’s cultural quarter and waterside setting, there’s a feel of Stokes Croft-on-Sea,’ wrote our chap of this cool-yet-inclusive eatery housed in a former transit shed for spices, tea and coffee. Locally sourced, seasonal, British square meals bring meat, fish and vegetarian options (with free soup and bread): beef & stout stew with dumplings, pan-fried Cornish sardines, Cornish mussels, savoury goat’s cheese bread & butter pudding. One of the region’s very few eateries boasting an oyster bar. Music nights cover jazz, folk, reggae, world beats. Fat sofas and attractive lanterns under complete cover make smokers feel welcome. Locally sourced brews include Bristol Beer Factory’s No7 and Bath Ales’ Summer Hare. Open Mon-Wed 10am-12midnight, Thur-Sat 10am-1pm, Sun 10am-10pm Food Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 5-9pm, SatSun 12noon-4pm & 5-9pm NO51 STOKES CROFT 51 Stokes Croft, BS1 3QP Tel 0117 914 8048, web: www.51stokescroft.com ■ Friendly, funky bar-cum-music venue. Entertainment comes via live music, DJs, after-work parties, quizzes, Stitch ‘n’ Bitch gatherings. Food is starters like salad,

Friendly and funky 51 Stokes Croft

MR WOLF’S 33 St Stephens St, BS1 1JX Tel: 0117 927 3221, web: www.mrwolfs.com ■ Effortlessly cool vibe and wilfully eclectic musical/ artistic offerings, with something going on most nights: live bands, solo artists, open mics, DJs. Food is noodles, in big flavours and even bigger portions: chicken & broccoli, beef & pepper, pork & pineapple, tofu & spinach, prepared to order in an open kitchen.

Eat in or take away. Open Sun-Tue 6pm-2.30am, WedSat 6pm-4am Food Daily 6pm-late, Fri 12noon-2pm MUD DOCK 40 The Grove, BS1 4RB Tel: 0117 934 9734, web: www.mud-dock.com ■ Uber-cool combination of bike emporium and chilled

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Bars BRISTOL soup, ham, olives, bread, followed by pizzas (from a wood-burning oven) and scrummy puds. Expect the likes of Gem, Young’s and Bombardier beside Kirin, Red Stripe, Stowford Press and Addlestone’s on draught; bottles include Kopparberg, Tiger, Leffe. Partly covered rear garden. Food Tue-Sun 12noon-10pm NEW OLD BOOKSHOP 65 North St, Bedminster, BS3 1ES Tel 0117 373 8907, web: www.theoldbookshop.co.uk ■ Tapas cafe/bar and live music venue offering Brixham crab risotto cakes with lime & dill mayo, and pork ribs with hoisin and ginger. Housed in a former bookshop, its intimate confines make it an atmospheric spot for Sat-night folk, blues, soul and jazz. Sunday roasts give way in summer to Sundae Sundays featuring pancakes, ice-cream, milkshakes and five different bloody marys. Curry for a fiver on Mon, bring in your vinyl on Wed, and they’re open to staging craft days and jumble sales in keeping with local demand. Granny chic (fringed lampshades, taxidermy) draws a hip crowd. Amstel and Thatchers on draught. Food Tue-Fri 12noon-3pm & 6-10pm, Sat 11am-3pm & 6-9pm, Sun 11am-3pm PAPAJI’S BAR, KITCHEN & TEASMITHS 109 Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2PB Tel: 0117 946 6144, web: www.papajis.co.uk ■ Cakes and sandwiches go into the afternoon teas served until 5pm and the made-to-order buffets. Tea lovers are spoilt for choice, with a mighty 89 looseleaf teas stocked. There are even tea-based cocktails in the new cocktail list due to arrive shortly after we go to press. Open Tue-Fri 3pm-12midnight, Sat 2pm-12midnight PARK STREET CAFE 9 Park St, BS1 5NF Tel: 0117 929 9351, web: www.parkstreetcafe.co.uk ■ Opened its doors just before Christmas 2010 and has been doing its stuff stylishly ever since. Open from 8am weekdays (11am Sat) for breakfasts, specials, sandwiches made from Herberts Bread, soups, cakes.

Open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm PITCHER & PIANO Waterfront, BS1 5UH Tel: 0117 929 9652, web: www.pitcherandpiano.com ■ Biggest outlet in the P&P chain. Fascinating decor: fringed lampshades, a potted olive tree bringing the outside indoors, a wall-mounted rocking horse lending quirky humour. Sandwiches, tapas, breakfasts, and a salad selection due to expand come summer, with a £6.50 meal-and-drink offer Mon-Fri. Mains include 10oz steak, lemon chicken, sausage

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& mash, fish & chips, with 25 wines to drink. Beck’s Vier, Grolsch Blonde, San Miguel, Sagres, Marston’s Pedigree, Symonds and Rekorderlig. This converted warehouse is perfect for summertime drinks on the waterfront seating area, private parties in the upstairs bar, a big night out, or relaxing on comfortable sofas while grabbing a bite to eat. Covers in smoking area.

Food Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-10pm PORTO LOUNGE 765 Fishponds Rd, BS16 3BS Tel: 0117 902 4567, web: www.thelounges.co.uk ■ Definitely at one time the dinkiest member of the Lounge group, serving rib-eye steak, beer-battered fish & chips, sweet potato curry, tapas, burgers, salads, panini, and a children’s menu, too. Staff are friendly and the house wine eminently quaffable. Quiz every Sun. Open Daily 9am-11pm Food Daily 9am-10pm RACKS BAR & KITCHEN St Pauls Rd, Clifton, BS8 1LX Tel: 0117 974 1626, web: www.racks-bristol.co.uk ■ Enjoy a pint and steak sandwich with your rugby match, long, late, lazy lunches, excellent food or free room hire for parties or meetings. Twelve screens for sport and, come summer, the terrace isn’t far behind Henley, Wimbledon and Lord’s when it comes to society socialising. Extensive wine list (15 reds, as many whites, seven champagnes), and draughts include Gem, Doom Bar, Stella Black, Stella 4, Beck’s, Leffe, Bounders… and Pimm’s! Bottled world beers (13 of them) include Tasmanian James Boag. See also Restaurants, English.

Open Mon-Fri 7am-11pm, Sat-Sun 8am-12midnight Food Mon-Fri 7am-10.30pm, Sat-Sun 8am-10.30pm REVOLUTION Old Fish Market, St Nicholas St, BS1 1UA Tel: 0117 930 4335, web: www.revolution-bars.co.uk ■ There’s plenty more than voddy at this barrestaurant set in a former fish market. Menu is largely (but not exclusively) Italian-flavoured: burgers, linguine and pizza, but chicken katsu, a Japanese dish, too. Mega Mondays bring 50% off food; 2-4-1 pizzas on Tue (and 5-8pm as part of a Friday Club promotion that also sees discounted cider, shots and pitchers).

Massive range of vodkas (about 30), and premium spirits ensuring sublime cocktails. Draughts are Beck’s Vier, Stella and Stowford Press, bottles include San Miguel, Gem and Peroni, and there’s a 20-strong cocktail list. Mezzanine bar available for private hire; covers and heaters in garden. DJs Fri and Sat play hiphop, R&B and contemporary tunes. Enjoy the indulgent vodka flavours (toffee-chocolate, chilli) and sparkling staff/punter banter. Open Mon-Thur 11am-1am, Fri 11am-1/2am, Sat 11am-2am, Sun 12noon-1am Food Daily 11am-9pm

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Bars BRISTOL RIVERSTATION The Grove, BS1 4RB Tel: 0117 914 4434, web: www.riverstation.co.uk ■ Classic, high-quality wines by the glass, plus wide range of interesting bottled lagers and beers. Bar/ kitchen serves well-prepared, simple food late into the evening. Extended dockside terrace for warmer months. See Restaurants, European & Mediterranean.

Open Bar/Kitchen: Mon-Wed 9am-11pm, ThurSat 9am-12midnight (last food orders 10pm), Sun 9am-5.30pm (last food orders 3pm) SASPARILLA 65 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2LY Tel: 0117 973 0574, web: www.sasparillabristol.co.uk ■ Swanky, swish venue with a downstairs bar where enormous windows bring the outside in.

Plush cocktail lounge upstairs boasts some of the city’s biggest mirrors. The kitchen is closed as we go to press (food used to be of the snacky Tex-Mex variety), but a reopening is possible. Thirty-strong cocktail list, draughts are Beck’s Vier, Budvar, Guinness and Stowford Press, and wines bring three red, three white and a rosé . DJs Sat and Sun play chart and hip-hop. Open Wed-Sun approx 4pm-12midnight SEVERNSHED The Grove, Harbourside, BS1 4RB Tel: 0117 925 1212, web: www.severnshedrestaurant. co.uk ■ Former Venue bronze Top Banana-bagger for ‘consistently making the best cocktails in town’.

Euro-inspired flavours (including excellent tapas) line up beside fresh chargrilled cuisine. The building is alleged to be a former Brunel boathouse, with terrace overlooking the water. Boasts bar and restaurant sides with separate identities. At night the bar becomes a chic lounge/cocktail venue serving classic cocktails. DJs Fri and Sat; happy hour cocktails daily from 4pm until close. See also Restaurants, European & Mediterranean. Open SunThur 9am-11pm, Fri-Sat 9am-2am Food Sun-Thur 9am-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 9am-11pm SLUG & LETTUCE 26-28 St Nicholas St, BS1 1UB Tel: 0117 952 9900, web: www.slugandlettuce.co.uk ■ Modern decor incorporates separate dining and drinking areas. Menu details to be finalised as we go to press - expect burgers, pasta, Thai chicken curry, fish pie, chicken & chorizo salad. Excellent 2-4-1 cocktail offers. Open Mon-Wed 10am-11pm, Thur 10am-12midnight, Fri-Sat 10am-12.30am (though licensed till 2am), Sun 10am-10.30pm Food Daily till 10pm

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Did you know…?

Channings

Pembroke Rd ■ This building “was given to one of Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting after she heard of the Queen’s affair…” our man was told.

Grecian Kebab House Lounge

Cromwell Rd ■ You can expect to hear tracks from boss Ali’s collection of 2,500 reggae songs chilling in the background.

Grain Barge

Mardyke Wharf, Hotwells ■ This boat was built in 1936 as a dumb (engine-less) barge to carry grain to South Wales.

SOCIAL 130 Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5RW Tel: 0117 924 4500, web: www.thesocialbristol.co.uk (domain may change) ■ ‘A comfortable place for a stylish bit of nouveau pub nosh,’ said our man of Social’s breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sun lunch options. Neat touches appear routinely on a regularly changing menu that’s not afraid of progressing beyond British classics. The two creative chefs here (one Cardiff, one Seattle) bring coronation chicken to celebrate jubilees, barbecue pork for Stateside succulence, and asparagus come

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Bars BRISTOL springtime, with sausages to keep the Polish owner happy. Our man and guest enjoyed ‘cheering’ mains: the wedge of spinach, somerset brie & courgette tart was ‘really good’, the ‘well-charred free-range chicken joint proved to be excellent meat, properly crisped without reducing to stringiness. Both dishes were propped on top of generous leaf salads with a scattering of roast potatoes – a welcome surprise.’ Draughts and bottles include Gem, Symonds, Fruli, Katy, Wyld Wood, Sagres, Doom Bar, Leffe, Rekorderlig. Open Mon-Thur 10am-11pm, Fri-Sat 10am-1pm, Sun 10am-11pm. Food Mon-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 10am-8pm SQUARE BAR 15 Berkeley Square, Clifton, BS8 1HB Tel: 0117 921 0455, web: www.squareclub.com ■ On the ground floor of Clifton’s chic Berkeley Square Hotel. Fine-dining bar food takes in rack of lamb, sea bass, guinea fowl. Polished wood floors, deep sofas, opulent velvet armchairs, mirrors, artworks, state of the art video wall, elegant terrace and beautiful garden.

Extensive wine list includes champagnes, beers, lagers, cocktails, digestifs, aperitifs; regular events include comedy, jazz, artwork launches. Food Non-members welcome to dine - call to book START THE BUS 7-9 Baldwin St, BS1 1RU Tel: 0117 930 4370, web: www.startthebus.tv, www. myspace.com/startthebus ■ Former Venue Top Banana bagger, where 10 draughts include four real ales, two scrumpies, Blue Moon and

Something for everyone Tabacco Factory Cafe-Bar

Brooklyn, with bottles bringing further variety. Classic comfort food takes in burgers, fish & chips, macaroni cheese, pies, sandwiches. Similarly delightful is the entertainment, with DJs, quizzes and plentiful live music (one of Venue’s finest rocked here with Big Joan recently), possibly to be joined by an upstairs art gallery.

Open Sun-Thur 12noon-1am, Fri-Sat 12noon-3am Food Daily 12noon-10pm SUGO 91 Regent St, Kingswood, BS15 8LJ Tel: 0117 961 9322, web: www.sugo-bristol.co.uk ■ Mediterranean cuisine in stylish surroundings.

Dishes take in everything from Greek kleftico and stifado via Italian pollo alla milanese to Albanian liver (actually a Turkish dish – who’da thunk it?) and Somerset pork steak. See Restaurants, European & Mediterranean. Open Sun-Thur 10am-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 10am-12midnight TERRACE 220 North St, Southville, BS3 1JD Tel: 0117 963 9044, web: www.theterracebristol.co.uk ■ Classy cafe/bar where light colours and wood make for a rustic/bistro feel. Open kitchen brings drama; south-facing terrace catches the sun wonderfully.

Creating Southville central is Terrace’s mission, with ingredients sourced as locally as possible, including Mark’s bread baked mere yards away that morning.

Particular attractions are the Argentine steaks, fresh seafood and Italian flourishes (courtesy of half-Italian, half-Brazilian restaurant manager Marcella). Tue is fish & chip night; pizza and pasta on Wed. More than 20 wines, 2-4-1 cocktails all day Mon-Thur, and draughts include Moretti, Heineken, Thatchers Gold and Gem. Open Mon-Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 10am-6pm Food MonSat 10am-10pm, Sun 10am-6pm TINTO LOUNGE 344 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8TP Tel: 0117 942 0526, web: www.thelounges.co.uk ■ Cool, friendly cafe-bar that, like the others in the Lounge group, offers a Venue Top Banana-winning formula of food, mood and drink. Dishes include fine tapas, burgers, brunch (all day), sweet potato, puy lentil & spinach curry, and fantastic monthly changing specials. Open Daily 9am-11pm Food Daily 9am-10pm TOBACCO FACTORY CAFE-BAR Raleigh Rd, Southville, BS3 1TF Tel: 0117 902 0060, web: www.tobaccofactory.com ■ Popular with everyone from a young, funky crowd and old lags to kids, theatregoers, film-lovers, artists and scientists. Green Room showcases monthly artists, short films, special events, monthly science cafe and Wed quiz night. Live music every Sun, 2.30pm and 8pm. Open

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Bars BRISTOL/BATH kitchen produces good-value locally sourced seasonal food with Mediterranean touches. Kids’ meals at lunchtime, plus lunch specials weekdays 12noon-3pm.

Mains include ethically sourced fish, meat, vegetarian and vegan dishes. Industrial-style interior, designed by local owner/architect George Ferguson, is enhanced by local artwork. Atmospheric sound, lighting and candles add to the mood come evening. In the sunny yard and terrace with outside bar, enjoy a Bristol Beer Factory award-winning ale or organic soft drink. Must-see sweeping tensile canopy provides plentiful seating and cover for smokers. Open Mon-Thur 12noon-11pm, FriSat 12noon-midnight, Sun 10am-11pm WATERSHED CAFE-BAR 1 Canons Rd, Harbourside, BS1 5TX Tel: 0117 927 5101, web: www.watershed.co.uk ■ Continental cafe by day, hugely popular bar by night, open early till late for breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks and late-night bites: fresh, local and ethical.

Independent beers and international wines, and three cinemas showing independent films in this arts and media centre. See also Restaurants, European & Mediterranean. Open Mon 10am-11pm, Tue-Fri 9.30am-11pm, Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 10am-10.30pm Food Mon 10am-10pm, Tue 9.30am-10pm, Wed-Fri 9.30am-10pm, Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 10am-8pm

WOODS 1 Park St Ave, BS1 5LQ Tel: 0117 925 0890, Twitter, Facebook ■ The Woods serves around 100 whiskies amid a gentlemen’s club ambience and ace garden with heating and cover. Eclectic beer offerings (changing every three to six months) include Blue Moon, Brooklyn East Pale Ale, Delirium Tremens, Nocturnum. Regularly enhanced spirit range, three reds, three whites, champagne and around 30 cocktails: 2-4-1 all day Sun, and nightly 5-8pm. And a monthly whisky club! Draughts (Grolsch, Grolsch Blonde, Aspall’s, Stowford Press) served in halfpint glasses and two-/three-/four-pint pitchers. Open Mon-Thur 5pm-2am, Fri 5pm-4am, Sat 5pm-6am, Sun 7pm-2am ZERODEGREES 53 Colston St, BS1 5BA Tel: 0117 925 2706, web: www.zerodegrees.co.uk ■ Cider is now being brewed at this pioneering drinking and dining concept combining bar, restaurant and onsite brewery (no artificial colouring, preservatives or sweeteners). Sleek industrial interior (with screens for the Olympics) plus alfresco dining balconies.

European-influenced dishes include pizza, pasta, salad, mussels, risottos. See also Restaurants, European & Mediterranean. Open Mon-Sat 12noon-12 midnight, Sun 12noon-11pm

NEW WEES LOUNGE BAR 72 Park St, BS1 5JX Tel: 0117 929 1166, web: www.weesbar.co.uk ■ Bristol’s newest cocktail bar has already made a name for itself since opening in May. Our man wasted no time in checking its chilled mood: fat leather sofas, premium spirits, cool tunes, killer cocktail list. It’s spacious and relaxed – you’re equally as comfortable basing your night out here as you are taking advantage of free entry to carry on the partying into the wee small ones. Groups and reservations welcome to savour 35 cocktails, Italian wines, champagnes and bottled beers, with bar snacks and a shisha bar out back. Happy hour 5-9pm; loyalty cards bring great offers. Open Sun-Wed 5pm-2am, Thur 5pm-3am, Fri 5pm-4am, Sat 5pm-5am

Bath

WHITE LION BAR & TERRACE Avon Gorge Hotel, Sion Hill, Clifton Village, BS8 4LD Tel: 0117 973 8955, web: www.theavongorge.com ■ Hugely popular bar attached to the Avon Gorge Hotel, with massive terrace overlooking the suspension bridge and Somerset’s hills beyond. Around 10 mains (burgers, chicken florentine, penne pasta, pies, scampi), plus lighter choices (soup, nachos, salads, sandwiches, baked brie). Wine list of around a dozen strong, and a brace of real ales. Open Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 12noon10.30pm Food Daily 12noon-10pm

ALL BAR ONE High St, BA1 5AQ Tel: 01225 324021, web: www.all-bar-one.co.uk ■ Popular branch of the booming high-street franchise, offering an exceedingly well-stocked bar, extensive wine list, continental beers and coffee, tea etc, all day long. Sturdy but stylish standards (brunch, hot/cold sandwiches, light lunches, modern British classics, wellconsidered tapas/antipasti selection) abound, and wallet-friendly offers and deals are regularly

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ZEST CAFE, LOUNGE & BAR 408 Gloucester Rd, Horfield, BS7 8TR Tel: 0117 949 0142 ■ Upbeat look via pastel shades of orange, red, green and lime. Authentic Mediterranean food: homemade falafel and marinated black tiger prawns, traditional chicken tagine, herb-crusted salmon, tasty mezze, homemade baklava and creme brulee. Two courses £10 daily, three for £14. Old Speckled Hen on draught, with the rarely seen Turkish Efes beer in bottles. Three or four whites, and as many reds. Open Mon-Fri 6pm-late, Sat 10am-late, Sun 10am-5pm

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Bars BATH updated on the specials board and website. Over21s only. Open Mon-Thur 10am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12midnight, Sun 10am-10.30pm Food Daily 10am-9pm NEW ALLIUM BRASSERIE AT THE ABBEY HOTEL North Parade, BA1 51LF Tel: 01225 461603, web: www.abbeyhotelbath.co.uk ■ Glossy, recently revamped brasserie and bar featuring a stylish lounge, covered alfresco patio and menus courtesy of Michelin-starred chef Chris Staines. See Restaurants, English.

BELUSHI’S 9 Green St, BA1 2YJ Tel: 01225 481444, web: www.belushis.com/ venues/bath-bars ■ Busy, buzzy bar catering to a young/clubby crowd, serving wallet-friendly, sociable food: light bites, burgers, fish & chips, steaks, all-day breakfasts, salads. See website for offers/deals on food and drink. Open Mon-Thur 11am-12midnight, Fri-Sat 11am-1am, Sun 11am-11pm Food Daily till 9pm NEW BRASSERIE BLANC Frances Hotel, Queens Square, BA1 2HH Tel: 01225 303860, web: www.brasserieblanc.com ■ New addition to the Bath merrymaking scene courtesy of Gallic celebrity chef Raymond Blanc, featuring a rather splendid bar and brasserie at the epicentre of the recently refurbished Francis Hotel.

See Restaurants, French.

BROWNS Orange Grove, BA1 1LP Tel: 01225 461199, web: www.browns-restaurants. co.uk ■ Big, stylish restaurant, separate bar area (goodvalue cocktail happy hour) and gorgeous terrace.

See Restaurants, English.

CAFE ROUGE 15 Milsom St, BA1 1DE Tel: 01225 462368, web: www.caferouge.co.uk ■ French-themed cafe-bar/brasserie/restaurant serving franglais food in convivial surroundings.

See Restaurants, French.

CENTRAL BAR 10 Upper Borough Walls, BA1 1RG Tel: 01225 333939, web: www.centralbarbath.co.uk ■ Enduringly popular city-centre watering hole with a big, well-stocked bar (wines, beers, spirits,

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cocktails) and easygoing range of thoughtful, homemade, largely locally sourced grub including superb breakfasts, brilliant burgers and a rollicking Sunday roast. Available for private hire. Open Mon-Thur 9.30am-11.30pm, Fri 9.30am-2am, Sat 8am-2am, Sun 9.30am-4pm Food Mon 9.30am-8.30pm, Tue-Wed 9.30am-4pm, Thur 9.30am-8.30pm, Fri-Sun 9.30am-4pm NEW CIRCO The Halcyon, 2-3 South Parade, BA2 4AA Tel: 01225 444100, web: www.circobar.co.uk ■ Chic subterranean cocktail hotspot featuring a splendid alfresco terrace with deckchairs for lounge lizards to sprawl on. Stylish bar snacks and sharing platters include salads, pizzas, terrific tapas, sweet treats. Open Mon-Thur 5pm-12midnight, Fri-Sat 12noon-3am, Sun 12noon-12midnight Food WedSun 5-10pm COSY CLUB Unit R4, Southgate, BA1 1TP Tel: 01225 464161, web: www.cosyclub.co.uk ■ Another link in the well-heeled, local Loungers chain, offering wallet-friendly all-day menus (fab tapas), a well-stocked bar (fab cocktails), eclectic funky decor in a spacious, relaxing environment and an upper-level alfresco balcony. See Restaurants, English. Open Sun-Wed 9am-11pm, Thur-Sat 9am-12.30am Food Daily 9am-9.30pm COTE BRASSERIE 27 Milsom Place, BA1 1BZ Tel: 01225 335509, web: www.cote-restaurants.co.uk ■ Freshly prepared French classics and greatvalue prices, with regularly changing seasonal specials, contemporary Gallic brasserie-style. See Restaurants, French.

GARFUNKEL’S The Empire, Orange Grove, BA1 1LP Tel: 01225 461465, web: www.garfunkels.co.uk ■ Bar with cocktail menu, separate lounge and dining areas at the elegant Bath branch of this chain serving up American-themed grub. Alfresco patio offers Abbey views. See Restaurants, American.

GASCOYNE PLACE Sawclose, BA1 1EY Tel: 01225 445854, web: www.gascoyneplace.co.uk ■ Sparkly, glamorous, exceedingly well-stocked bar at the epicentre of a lively merrymaking bar/ pub/restaurant hybrid. See Pubs, and Restaurants, English.

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Bars BATH GRAPPA 3 Belvedere, BA1 5ED Tel: 01225 448890, web: www.grappabar.co.uk ■ A well-stocked bar and effortlessly sophisticated pizzeria/bar menus served in chic but cosy surroundings make this one of Bath’s most stylish and perennially popular drinking dens. ‘Club class, but without the hassle of membership rules,’ is how one of our barflies put it. Menus rely heavily on Little Italy for influence: smartly dressed pizzas, flamboyant antipasti/sharing platters, classic salads. Open MonThur 5-11pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-12midnight Food Mon-Sat 5-10pm HALL & WOODHOUSE 1-3 Old King St, BA1 2JW Tel: 01225 469259, web: www.hall-woodhousebath. co.uk ■ Ambitious, split-level, good-times complex combining pub/bar area, fine-dining restaurant, continental brasserie, spacious alfresco area and rooftop garden - gorgeous. See Restaurants, English.

What’s not to love?

Circo

South Parade ■ Lovin’ the deckchairs on the patio, the superb tapas and the late-night opening.

Portvcale Lounge

St James Parade ■ Jugs of sangria, fabulous cocktails and authentic Portuguese nibbles – olé!

Cosy Club

SouthGate ■ An easygoing oasis of imaginative, good-times humanity in an erstwhile faceless, personality-free zone.

HUDSON BAR & GRILL 14 London St, BA1 5BU Tel: 01225 332323, web: www.hudsonbars.co.uk ■ The atmospheric street-level bar at this chic little steakhouse and grill offers great cocktails, interesting ales and a confidently eclectic wine list to match the spiffing grub. See Restaurants, American.

JOYA 6 Newmarket Row, Grand Parade, BA2 4AN Tel: 01225 460240, web: www.joyarestaurant.co.uk ■ Sophisticated Italian-themed bar with a great little kitchen attached (excellent antipasti, authentic pizzas), from the lovely folk behind the Real Italian Pizza Co and Real Italian Ice Cream Co. Standards from style (contemporary but cosy, with a distinctly pink/purple theme) to the quality of the kitchen and bar fare - are exceptionally high. Open Daily 12noon11pm (Sun 10.30pm) Food Daily 12noon-9pm MARKET Sawclose, BA1 1EY Tel: 01225 330009, web: www.marketbath.com ■ A well-stocked, well-priced bar complements the upmarket burgers, pizzas and Medi-themed platters at this lively Sawclose social epicentre, complete with glorious suntrap patio. See Restaurants, English.

MOLES MUSIC CAFE 14 George St, BA1 2EN Tel: 01225 404405, web: www.moles.co.uk ■ Lovely, lively, laidback cafe (and fully licensed bar) specialising in sociable tapas sharing platters. Open

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Daily from 11am, closing hours vary depending on club nights/gigs OLD Q BAR Queensberry Hotel, 4-7 Russel St, BA1 2QF Tel: 01225 447928, web: www.thequeensberry.co.uk ■ Plush, uber-glam cocktail hotspot with charming alfresco urban oasis out back, set within the chic, boutique Queensberry Hotel. Open to Olive Tree diners (see Restaurants, English), non-residents and residents alike, the bar menu offers sandwiches, a charcuterie platter, steaks etc, at prices from £6-£20.

Open Daily 12noon-late

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Bars BATH OPA 14 North Parade, BA2 4AJ Tel: 01225 317900, web: www.opabath.com ■ Sprawling Greek cafe-bar and restaurant with an alfresco area directly overlooking the river. See Restaurants, Greek & Turkish.

NEW PORTVCALE LOUNGE 43 St James Parade, BA1 1UQ Tel: 01225 424321, web: www.portvcalelounge.co.uk ■ Warm, welcoming family-run Portuguese restaurant and bar with smart booth seating at street level and cosy vaulted bar downstairs. Authentic Portuguese food (including fabulous tapas), continental cocktails and red/white sangria (2-4-1 deals on jugs Sun-Thur). See Restaurants, Spanish & Portuguese. Open Mon 12noon-1am, Tue 5pm-1am, Wed-Thur 12noon-1am, Fri-Sat 12noon-2am Food Wed-Mon 12noon-9pm PULP Monmouth St, BA1 2AJ Tel: 01225 336666, web: www.iguanas.co.uk ■ Food at this Las Iguanas ancillary (downstairs from the Bath branch, at street level) focuses on walletfriendly tapas and Mexican-styled munchies (nachos, enchiladas, quesadillas) and sturdy sandwiches.

Superb cocktails, too - those based around cachaca (the national spirit of Brazil) feature heavily. Happy hour cocktails Tue-Sat 12noon-7pm, all day SunMon. Open Mon-Sun 12noon-11pm (Sun 10.30pm) Food 12noon-9pm

Bright and breezy Tramsehd

REVOLUTION York Buildings, George St, BA1 2EB Tel: 01225 336168, web: www.revolution-bars.co.uk ■ Spacious, hip hangout (part of a huge chain) with a hip, striking bar largely revolving around vodka, cocktails and shooters, with suitably funky menus to match: sharing/nibbling/mezze platters, wraps, sandwiches, salads, gourmet burgers, proper pizzas, sturdy Sunday roasts. See website for crunch-busting offers and 2-4-1s, or get a Revolution Privilege Card for further huge discounts. Regular events, DJs, party nights, drinks promos. Open Daily 12noon12midnight (10.30pm Sun) Food Daily 12noon-9pm SLUG & LETTUCE 5-6 Edgar Buildings, George St, BA1 2EB Tel: 01225 789050, web: www.slugandlettuce.co.uk ■ Spacious cafe/bar/brasserie/pub/restaurant at the axis of the George St/Milsom St crossroad.

Broad breakfast/brunch selection till 12noon every day gives way to panini, wraps, salads, jacket potatoes, burgers and no-nonsense mains (fish & chips, chicken curry) well into the evening. An impressive commitment to responsible sourcing.

Promotions like 50% off your food bill every Mon and 2-4-1 curries every Tue (at the time of going to press) offer credit-crunch cheer (see website for more). People-watching opportunities from the street tables out front, and an urban oasis in the back garden. Private hire rooms available. Open Daily 10am-12midnight (11pm Sun) Food Daily 10am-9pm TRAMSHED Beehive Yard, BA1 5BD Tel: 01225 421200, web: www.thetramshedbath.co.uk ■ Sprawling bar, heated and covered alfresco terrace and dining area serving all-day modern British menus with Mediterranean influences. See Restaurants: English.

VELO LOUNGE 30 Moorland Rd, Oldfield Park, BA2 3PW Tel: 01225 344663, web: www.thelounges.co.uk ■ This welcoming bar-diner oozes bonhomie and brings the genuine ‘neighbourhood bistro’ experience to Bath. Experienced Loungers (the ‘brand’ now boasts small-chain status) enjoy menus that take in breakfast, wrap/panini/light-bite anytimers and tapas plus burgers, steaks and heartier fare starting at around £7.25. Daily specials board keeps things lively, the house wine is excellent, cocktails go large for minimum prices, and coffee is the real McCoy. Board games, daily papers, regular quiz nights. Open Daily 9am-11pm Food Daily 9am-10pm

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Pubs BRISTOL

Pubs Bristol REOPENED ADAM & EVE 7 Hope Chapel Hill, Hotwells, BS8 4ND Tel: 0117 329 2025, web: www.adamandeve-bristol.co.uk ■ This attractive pub at the bottom of Hope Chapel Hill was reopening as we went to press. Expect homemade dishes (venison, sea bass, mussels, risottos) using locally sourced produce where possible. There’s a cakesand-coffee feel to mornings, with acoustic music and open mics gently rocking evenings. Five rotating ales plus Addlestone’s Cloudy cider and premium bottled beers.

ALBION Boyces Ave, Clifton Village, BS8 4AA Tel: 0117 973 3522, web: www.thealbionclifton.co.uk ■ ‘Its reputation for excellence is well-deserved,’ wrote our man of a Clifton institution with Michelin and Good Food Guide mentions. Local-produce menu depends entirely on what’s available, but has featured asparagus, poached egg & parmesan, whole crabs and baked duck egg, chorizo and new potatoes. The Bath chap is a musttry; T-bone to share is carved by diners at their table.

Tapas menu, too: £4, 3 £111. And their tarte tatin?

‘Worthy of topping any things-to-do-in-Bristol-beforeyou-die list!’ shouted our man. The Albion now has its own Zerodegrees-brewed pilsner. Non-filtered, nonpasteurised, without additives or colouring, its clean, crisp taste is a winner. Outdoor screen appears for summer sport; carol singers drop in at Christmas. Food Dinner: daily 7-9.30pm. Brunch: Tue-Sun 11am-3pm. Lunch: TueSun 12noon-3pm. Bar menu: Tue-Fri 3-10pm

ALMA TAVERN 18-20 Alma Vale Rd, Clifton, BS8 2HY Tel: 0117 973 5171 ■ A change of ownership is in the air as EOW goes to press at the country’s only pub/theatre west of London. It’s to be hoped this new incarnation won’t bring too many changes at what our chap called ‘a unique combination of Bristol’s culinary and cultural class’. Menu currently changes every two months and features 21-day-aged sirloin, Sun roasts and aubergine moussaka, with Doom Bar among renowned beer options, quiz every Mon, and sports on TV.

desserts (two mains for £8). Mon and Thur are student nights, bands on Sat, quiz on Sun, and cheer-along time when the football’s being shown. Two outside drinking areas. Food Daily 12noon-9pm

ANNEXE Nevil Rd, Bishopston, BS7 9EQ Tel: 0117 949 3931, web: www.the-annexe.co.uk ■ Cricket lover’s paradise, housed in a converted skittle alley attached to the Sportsman. Top-notch real ales bring Doom Bar, Tribute, Courage Best and Wye Valley HPA as permanent fixtures, plus Thatchers, Blackthorn, Foster’s, Red Stripe. Full menu served Tue-Sat 11am-7pm (inc wings, wedges, specials); pizza menu 5.30-11pm. See chalkboard for Sunday offerings.

Three screens of its own plus an outside biggie in the courtyard, shared with the Sportsman. Popular with visiting fans to matches at the nearby County Ground.

APPLE Welsh Back, BS1 4SB Tel: 0117 925 3500, web: www.applecider.co.uk ■ ‘Pipes with attractive curvature beside rivets, girders and portholes beneath a cobalt and honey ceiling lend downstairs a funky functionality,’ wrote Venue’s man of this boat-based boozer, quite possibly serving more ciders than any other boozer on earth. In 2009 they bagged the prestigious Golden Onion as national ploughman’s lunch champion at the Great British Cheese Festival. Create your own bespoke dish from components including cheddar, Cornish yarg, pork pies, duck paté and Wiltshire ham, or choose anything from Cheeseroller’s Lunch to Farmhand’s Banquet.

Barrel-tapping events once or twice monthly here, sampling rare ciders and linking them to cheeses.

Food Daily 12noon-8pm

Floating your boat The Apple

ANCHOR 323 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8PE Tel: 0117 924 1769 ■ Student Central, with new tequila-flavour beer Amigos on offer. Traditional pub grub includes lasagne, all-day breakfasts, sausage & mash, steak & ale pie, chilli, burgers, chicken tikka masala, wraps,

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Pubs BRISTOL AVON PACKET

BELL

185-187 Coronation Rd, Southville, BS3 1RF Tel: 0117 987 2431 ■ Far more on offer here than first meets the eye. Once past the front bar with side drinking area, find a back games room and footbridge (over what was once a bear pit) to a sizeable beer garden with ducks - real ducks - splashing merrily. A friendly feel, with dominoes, cribbage, snooker and bar billiards, pool and Sky Sports. Food takes in cottage pie, chilli, beef stroganoff, goulash and beef or chicken curry, washed down with Courage Best and Bass ales, lagers, Guinness and cider.

Fascinating toy car and keyring collection; covered and heated smoking area out back. Food Mon-Sat 11am-10pm

Hillgrove St (off Jamaica St), BS2 8JT Tel: 0117 909 6612, web: www.bell-butcombe.com ■ Classic central Bristol wooden-floored pub in vibrant Stokes Croft. Hidden away off the main strip, with a patio garden with electric heaters (perfect for smokers).

Clientele ranges from artists/street artists to musicians, students and local residents. Local DJs 9.30pm-12midnight weekdays (1am weekends). Well-priced Sun lunch (£6.95): slow-roast pork, chicken or beef, nut roast (vegan), spinach & cream cheese lasagne or fish pie. Weekday menu includes baguettes, wraps, burgers, homemade vegetarian burgers, nachos. Food Sun-Fri lunchtimes & 6-8pm, Sat 5-8pm (sometimes 9pm)

BANK TAVERN

Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5QP Tel: 0117 944 5169 ■ ‘A well-run operation offering something for everyone,’ wrote Venue’s reviewer of this classy biggie down by the Arches. Dishes £4-£7; breakfast meal deal daily 9am-5pm.

Plentiful choice takes in a varied burger menu, lasagne, ham, egg & chips. Screens show sport year-round, but there’s also a female-friendly mood prevailing. DJs on Sat (plus DJ Derek on special occasions), free Wi-Fi. Executive suite for private hire, with buffet and waiting service. Five real ales always on, ten ciders, about 15 reds and whites.

Food Daily 11am-10pm

8 John St, BS1 2HR Tel: 0117 930 4691, web: www.banktavern.com ■ Modestly sized 255-year-old boozer with William Morris patterns, picture of the Queen and fake khazi door among its decor. Seasonal, traditional British dishes (fish & chips, ham, egg & chips) plus lasagne, wraps, panini, sandwiches.

Three meat options (and veggie choice) among Sun roasts.

Live music Thur. Food Daily 12noon-4pm

BARLEY MOW 39 Barton Rd, St Philips, BS2 0LF Tel: 0117 930 4709, web: www.barleymowbristol.com ■ Given that the Dings (a dinky, 600-strong village) was crowned Community of the Year in December 2010

by Axa Insurance, the Dings’ sole boozer, purpose-built in the 1820s, might have a claim to being the country’s most local local. Homemade soup, pies, chilli, burgers, vegetarian options and baguettes. Great Sunday lunch, weekday lunch (often curry) for a fiver, and Bristol Beer Factory ales plus guest on draught. See website for festivities throughout the year. Open Mon-Thur 12noon3pm & 5-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-8pm Food Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 5-9pm, Sun 12noon-3pm

NEW BEERD 157-159 St Michael’s Hill, Cotham, BS2 8DB Tel: 0117 974 3567, web: www.bathales.co.uk ■ Formerly Rustic Vine, now Bristol’s first craft beer and pizza bar, brainchild of those lovely Bath Ales people.

Sublime sups from around the world come in keg, cask and bottle, and four glass sizes, from on-third pint to pint. Expect brews such as Old Scratch from the USA’s Flying Dog Brewery and Belgian Brugse Zot amid a treasure-trove of tipples, including cider. Freshly made pizzas, cured meat platters, crispy pig skins and bar dough. Decor brings exposed brickwork and mismatched seating; staff are quirky-T-shirt-clad. Food Daily 12noon onwards

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BISHOPS

BLACKBOY INN 171 Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2RY Tel: 0117 973 5233, web: www.blackboy-inn-bristol.co.uk ■ Modern British gastropub where head chef Sam creates fresh, seasonal, locally sourced dishes. Lunchtime choices include chargrilled chicken caesar salad, open steak sandwich, leek & shropshire blue tart. Expect evening starters like tomato & sweet red pepper soup, and asparagus & chive risotto with crispy serrano ham and melted parmesan. Mains can include steak, ale & mushroom pie, smoked haddock & bacon fishcake, chicken fillets, rib-eye steak. Extensive wine list - around 12 red, 13 white and five or six sparkling, dessert and rosé wines.

Three real ales at any, with around five different brews available over the course of a week. Food Tue-Sat 12noon2.30pm & 6.30-9.30pm, Sun 12noon-3pm

BRIDGE INN 16 Passage St, BS2 0JF Tel: 0117 929 0942, web: Facebook page ■ Former PhD student Agata, from Gdansk, was a mere barmaid when our chap dropped a couple of year ago.

Since then, she’s been away, but returned in spring 2012 as manager of what may well be, cubic foot for cubic foot, the best pub in Bristol. Members of the city’s sizeable – and historic – Polish community will feel particularly at home here, with Agata’s fellow countrywoman Kasia a

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Pubs BRISTOL BRISTOL RAM

charmer behind the bar and the Wi-Fi password chosen from their native language. There’s been a general smartening-up since our man was last in and an upping of the food ante is due; expect sandwiches, panini, pancakes with fillings like falafel & cheese, or bacon, brie & honey, or sausage & red onion marmalade. Homemade pasty flavours are set to change weekly: look out for beef, brie & mushroom, or chilli roast vegetable & cheese. Mains include sausage & apple cobble, spinach & feta filo parcel, and four daily changing specials bringing the likes of chilli, satay chicken skewers, and ham, egg & chips.

Fortnightly themed dining nights are also planned.

Open mic nights, quiz second Tue of the month (with the winning team’s name on the honours board). An extensive vinyl collection gets spun on the pub’s record player (a newly installed collage features numerous record sleeves and rock star photos); Happy Mondays bring discount drink. Book exchange, board games and friendly punter/staff banter ensures smiles all round at this lovely boozer punching way above its weight. Four front tables catch the sunshine. Open Mon-Sat 12noonlate, Sun 6pm onwards Food Lunchtimes & eves

32 Park St, BS1 5JA Tel 0117 926 8654, web: www.bristolram.com ■ Contemporary pub-grub classics at this lively, welcoming pub: Riverford Farm sausages, Pieminister pies, boisterous burgers and perfect chips on seasonal, freshly cooked, largely locally sourced menus alongside plenty of real ales and continental lagers. Live music Thur and live sport on big, high-definition screens. Open Mon 5pm-12midnight, Tue-Thur 12noon-12midnight, Fri-Sat 12noon-2am, Sun 12noon-12midnight Food Tue-Thur 12noon-2.30pm & 5-9pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-9pm, Sun 12noon-5pm

CADBURY HOUSE 68 Richmond Rd, Montpelier, BS6 5EW Tel: 0117 924 7874, web: www.thecadbury.co.uk ■ How about the Cadbury’s Reggae Sundays, when Passion FM’s DJ Beavis spins reggae with your roast? At other times, cop for ham, egg & chips, breakfasts, steak sandwiches, sticky toffee pudding here. A friendly vibe is guaranteed from a clientele comprising students, locals and virtual tenants at this legendary Montpelier boozer.

Three real ales, three ciders on draught. Large, enclosed rear garden. Food served Tue-Fri 12noon-3pm & 6-9pm, Sat all day, Sun 12noon-6pm

BRISTOL CIDER HOUSE 8-9 Surrey St, St Pauls, BS2 8PS Tel: 0117 942 8196, web: www.bristolciderhouse.co.uk ■ As we go to press this ‘cosy, dinky atmospheric gem where French Cacao Lacté posters create Parisian drinking den debauchery and decadence’ (according to our chap) is open three evenings weekly, but check website for possible Sunday opening. Around 20 ciders on offer. Food provision is limited (no regular menu), but bread, cheese and pickles accompany the cider trays. Popular cider tastings (book in advance) come with a buffet. Smokers enjoy the upstairs balcony under cover brought by some lovely old barrels.

Thur open mic, live music some Sats. Open Thur 5-12midnight, Fri 5-11pm, Sat 3pm-12midnight

CAMBRIDGE ARMS Coldharbour Rd, Redland, BS6 7JS Tel: 0117 973 9786 ■ Look out for building work towards the end of 2012 at a pub that our man clearly rates: ‘One of Bristol’s grandest boozers, with its bold, imposing facade giving way to an interior where characterful fixtures and fittings create a classy vibe. Not to mention the ‘beer pumps shinier than a Buckingham Palace guard’s toecaps’. Traditional food with a modern twist enhanced by culinary creativity,

Vibrant downtown gem

BRISTOL FLYER

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The Bell

PIC: MARK SIMMONS

96 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, BS7 8BN Tel: 0117 944 1658, web: www.theflyerbristol.co.uk ■ There’s bar-snack brilliantness at this location of many a Venue gathering back in the day and a former Venue Top Banana bronze-bagger. When the chef is so taken, he’ll create six delicacies from a 20-strong squad including battered black pudding, quail scotch eggs, chorizo and dipping bread - and all will be gone within the hour. More substantial bites include sea bream, confit duck leg, 10oz T-bone pork chop. A home from home, with comfy sofas dotted within dark nooks and crannies. Quiz on Mon, 20% wine club discount Tue, films to return later in 2012, and books and board games. Belter of a garden out back, where smokers can linger comfortably. Stunning drinks selection, with fruit beers among around 20 draughts.

Food Mon-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-9.30pm

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Pubs BRISTOL

Who’da thunk it?

Prince Of Wales

Gloucester Rd ■ Architecturally ‘squiffy’ (their word), the PoW is formed from two cottages and a former clock shop.

White Bear

St Michaels Hill ■ Legendary drug smuggler Howard Marks staged a spoken word evening here in December 2011.

Shakespeare Tavern

Prince St ■ Now boarded up, ‘Knicker Alley’, a former prostitute haunt, once led 20 yards from here to the docks.

a-tack barmaid Nina spotted empty glasses like a kestrel spots a vole with a broken leg,’ wrote our man. Extensive beer garden (with hog roast machine awaiting action) out back is an oasis of green; suncare dispenser at bar should stop you going too red. Four real ales at any time (London Pride, Discovery, Butcombe and guest), with the sublime Honey Dew, featuring organic South American honey, on draught and in bottles. Around 20 wines across glasses and bottles. Quiz on Sun. Food Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 6-9pm, Sat 12noon-9pm, Sun 12noon-8pm

NEW CIDER PRESS 86-90 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8BN Tel: 0117 989 2471 ■ The name has changed (formerly the Rising Sun) but a host of drink and dining (2-4-1 pizzas) offers plus bigscreen sport mean that this remains student central on Gloucester Road. Major refurbishment here in the past year, with much stripping-back to create a chilled mood when people aren’t partying. A whopping 10 ciders on draught; food brings pub classics and Sunday roasts.

Would-be superstar DJs looking for a crowd to work are invited to get in touch. Garden with heaters and covers, excellent video jukebox, pool tables.

CLIFTON 16 Regent St, Clifton Village, BS8 4HG Tel: 0117 974 1967, web: www.thecliftonbristol.co.uk ■ They’re a delightfully different bunch at the Clifton (check the wilfully eclectic furniture). Regular dining offers up homemade burgers, steak & ale pie, snacks, sharers and Sunday roasts, conjured up in an open kitchen. Enduringly popular Clifton Factor quiz (Tue) and Grab My Grapes wine promo (Wed). Excellent booze options include draughts such as Peroni, Veltins, Red Stripe, Stella Black, Butcombe Gold. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-9pm

COACH & HORSES

PIC: MARK SIMMONS

Highland Square, Clifton, BS8 2YB Tel: 0117 974 5176, web: www.coachandhorses-bristol. co.uk ■ There’s an almost continental ‘plaza’ feel to the setting at this neighbourhood pub. Enjoy lamb cutlets, hunter’s chicken, homemade burgers, salmon steaks, ribs and surfand-turf; bar bites, too. Up to five real ales on. Weekly quiz. Food Tue-Sat 12noon-2pm & 6-9pm, Sun 12noon3.30pm

COLSTON YARD fresh ingredients and regularly changing specials. Ace ales from Fuller’s end up in the grub: London Pride in the steak & ale pie’s gravy, Discovery in the batter for a better fish (hake) & chips. Burgers, too. The service? ‘Sharp-as-

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Colston St, BS1 5BD Tel: 0117 376 3232, web: www.colstonyard-butcombe.com ■ Three Icelandic beers! How unlikely is that? Their 56 bottled beers from around the world constitute some of EOW’s most diverse drinking. A city-centre boozer, grill

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Pubs BRISTOL and restaurant with a rural pub’s charm and Camra Cask Marque recognition. Seven-strong burger range includes minted lamb and Mexican, plus soup of the day, meat/ veggie nachos, Caribbean jerk chicken, steaks, salads and baguettes. Comfy sofas inside; light, stylish seating on pavement outside. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 5-9.30pm, Sun 11am-4pm

COTTAGE INN Baltic Wharf, Cumberland Rd, BS1 6XG Tel: 0117 921 5256, web: www.cottage.butcombe.com ■ The endearing sight of people messing about in boats enhances the homely ambience at this harbourside wonder with its traditional, homecooked food. A full menu and daily changing specials include lasagne, chilli (plus veggie option), scampi, bangers & mash, gammon steak, hunter’s chicken and jacket potatoes, with fish pie an occasional special. Beautiful spot for Sun lunch, either indoors beside the fire or outside. Quizzes in winter. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-9.30pm, Sun 12noon-9pm

CROSS HANDS 1 Staple Hill, Fishponds, BS16 5AA Tel: 0117 965 7759, web: www.thecrosshandsbristol.co.uk ■ ‘Like its sister pub, Horfield’s Royal Oak, the Cross Hands represents all that is good in the modern boozer,’ said our man. ‘High-ceilinged throughout, its various areas provide plenty for everyone… fat leather sofas are made for unwinding, groups can chow down on the long tables, while the incredibly stylish function room has already staged 18th and 60th birthdays, plus two post-funeral gatherings.’ Food highlights include tempura asparagus soldiers with soft-boiled duck egg (£5.25), walnut & farmhouse cheddar soufflé with beetroot salad (£9.50) and lamb chops with new potatoes and broad bean & mint bruschetta (£13). See Royal Oak listing for ales and wine details. Draught lagers here are Beck’s Vier, Peroni and Stella Black, with ciders Thatchers Gold, Stowford Press, Addlestone’s and Old Rosie. Wed quiz, comedy first Fri monthly always a sell-out. Fore and aft gardens made for balmy days. Food Mon-Sat 12noon3pm & 6-10pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

DUKE OF YORK 2 Jubilee Rd, St Werburghs, BS2 9RS Tel: 0117 941 3677, web: Facebook page ■ At this Camra Bristol and District Pub of the Year 2008, four ales change all the time – expect 16 a month. Eleven ciders include organic and bottled varieties; this was the nation’s first pub to get Lilley’s Bee Sting on draught (Apples & Pears is also here). A magnificent seven draught lagers comprise Amstel, Foster’s, San Miguel, Budweiser, Staropramen, Kronie and Heineken. Bottles bring Bristol Beer Factory ales and Czech Budvar among others. Great games room upstairs has pool, darts, skittle and fussball, while the beer garden has a retractable sail and a larger-

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than-life hula girl mural adorns one of the walls. No food - just crisps, nuts, pork scratchings. Wed quiz. Open MonThur from 5pm, Fri from 4pm, Sat-Sun from 3pm

ELDON HOUSE 6 Lower Clifton Hill, BS8 1BT Tel: 0117 922 1271, web: www.theeldonhouse.com ■ A warm welcome to Jenny, recently arrived boss at this charming little Clifton boozer off the beaten track. She’s taking the reins at a pub where extensive refurbishments in recent years have brought a modern, glass-roofed conservatory, complete with artworks. Cut-above traditional English food (made in house, sourced locally) includes swordfish steak, pan-fried chicken breast, lamb & rosemary burgers, ham hock, egg & chips, salads, ploughman’s, Sun roasts. Wide-ranging (folk, jazz, etc) tunes on Sun night, quiz on Mon. Usually five real ales on (Gem, Bath Ales seasonal, guests) beside Bounders, Bee Sting, Kronie and Freedom organic lager. Half a dozen wines split equally between red and white. Food MonThur 12noon-3pm & 5-9pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-9pm, Sun 12noon-5pm

FAMOUS ROYAL NAVAL VOLUNTEER King St, BS1 4EF Tel: 0117 929 1763, web: www.navalvolunteer.co.uk ■ Dating back to 1673, with interior, modelled on a ship captain’s cabin, featuring comfy seats and sofas, library and a back bar available for private hire. Permanent beers Doom Bar and Tribute joined by three guests, usually from the South West. Elsewhere on taps you’ll find Carling, Foster’s, Budvar and Heineken beside Kingston Press, Thatchers and Stowford Press. Beck’s Blue for the designated drivers. Thur and Fri bring quick food like sarnies for those in a hurry and larger bites (fish & chips, goulash) served 12noon-2.30pm.

FARM Hopetoun Rd, St Werburghs, BS2 9YJ Tel: 0117 944 2384, web: www.thefarmpub.weebly.com ■ Nestled between the City Farm and St Werburghs allotments, and a short walk from the M32 and Gloucester Road. The friendly and relaxed atmosphere, spacious garden, mural-covered exterior and cosy interior welcome young and old. Food reflects the clientele – drop in for a filling meal after a hard night’s partying or for Sun lunch with the in-laws. Traditional dishes (bangers & mash), a taste of the Med, everpopular pitta platters, homemade ‘St Werburgers’, and renowned Sunday lunches – get there early! All meat and veg is locally sourced where possible; veggies and vegans are well catered for. Three real ales at any time plus good cider choices: Old Rosie, Stowford Press and Thatchers Gold on draught, with Thatchers Pear and Westons Wyld Wood (organic) among the bottles. Lagers include San Miguel and Amstel. Coffee machine, too.

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Pubs BRISTOL Entertainment on Thur (live music) and Fri-Sat (DJs).

Smokers get converted pigsties and large canopy in (or under) which to spark up. Food Tue-Fri 12noon-8pm, Sat-Mon 12noon-4pm

FORESTERS ARMS 99 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, BS7 8AT Tel: 0117 940 1848 ■ Not to be confused with the identically named pub further up and off Gloucester Rd. You’ll be glad you found this place: the two pool tables are only 50p a game and the Taunton Traditional and Blackthorn Sweet only £2.20 all-day Sun-Thur. Other draughts include Doom Bar, Bass, Kronenbourg, San Miguel, John Smith’s and Guinness; bottles include Newkie Brown, Crabbie’s and Bulmers. Bring in your CDs for a spin. Rolls sometimes served, depending on which staff are on.

FULL MOON & ATTIC BAR 1 North St, Stokes Croft, BS1 3PR Tel: 0117 924 5007, web: www.fmbristol.co.uk ■ Never was the phrase ‘multi-functional operation’ more appropriate. It’s rightly known for its eating, drinking, music, monthly market and backpacker accommodation, but for Venue types it’s also where much-missed legendary food editor the late Marc ‘Doc’ Crewe was seen off in style, and where co-founder/ group editor/publishing director/Gashead/golfer and all-round good guy Dave Higgitt’s career was celebrated amid a sea of swear words. Beer was drunk, pizzas (made in the alfresco Moonshine Bar’s wood-burning oven) were shared with Venue folk past and present, insults were exchanged, and the final Bonio Awards were staged. Props to friend-of-Venue (and alleged DJ tutor to Don Letts) JJ. Freshly made, locally sourced food includes starters (£3.95) like leek & potato soup, grilled halloumi with bread, chicken caesar salad; mains feature pan-fried sirloin steak with garlic new potatoes and carrots, battered cod fillet with chunky chips and peas, and vegetable crumble with new potatoes and salad (£7.95, £6.95 NUS/backpackers). Two courses for £10 Mon-Sat (Sun £11.95 with free bloody mary). Four local real ales at any time, from places like Wickwar and Box Steam (Piston Broke on tap as we go to press), good lager selection and a cider affectionately known as ‘trampagne’ around here. No home to go to? Seventy onsite beds with eco-friendly organic cotton linen await. Food Mon-Fri 12noon-8.30pm, Sat 11am-8.30pm, Sun 11am-5pm

GOLDEN GUINEA 19 Guinea St, Redcliffe, BS1 6SX Tel: 0117 987 2034, web: www.thegoldenguinea.co.uk ■ Tucked-away tavern on several levels. Food is small dishes (paté, cheeses) and baguettes plus three hot specials always on. Entertainment via DJs and live music.

Food Daily, all day

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GREEN MAN 21 Alfred Place, Kingsdown, BS2 8HD Tel: 0117 930 4824, web: www.dawkins-taverns.co.uk ■ Formerly the Bell. The name reflects its MO, serving only organic and natural drinks where possible. Menu, food-serving hours and drink details not available at time of going to press - contact pub for information.

HARE ON THE HILL Dove St, Kingsdown, BS2 8LX Tel: 0117 908 1982, web: www.bathales.com ■ The independent Sky boxes at this hillside beauty boasting bags of charm meant that Man City’s ecstasy and Man United’s agony were being watched at the same time here back in May 2012. And the discerning sports fans here know their stuff, savouring less mainstream delights such as the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France. Board games, quizzes and darts accompany beautiful Bath Ales brews, Leffe in bottles and 17 single malts. Delicious dining includes legendary triple-cooked chips and toasties (and look out for wider bar fare in the future). Unfailingly top staff and management. Food Mon-Thur 12noon-2pm & 5.30-10pm, Fri-Sun all day

HEN & CHICKEN 210 North St, Bedminster, BS3 1JF Tel: 0117 966 3143, web: www.henandchicken.com ■ Beaucoup punters ordering drinks in French here means that local language group Alliance Française are staging another of their performance nights at a boozer with a second-floor function space. January 2012’s show featured teenage tantrums (‘C’est pas juste!’), dodgy driving, Blind Date and Nicolas Sarkozy. Smiling punters indicate that the Comedy Box is packing them in. Food (due, possibly, to change) currently includes hummus and flatbread mezze, breakfasts, grills, pasta, pizza, salads. Three real ales at any time, 2-4-1 cocktails Tue 5-11pm. Food Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 5-10pm, Sat-Sun 9am-10pm

HIGHBURY VAULTS 164 St Michaels Hill, BS2 8DE Tel: 0117 973 3203 ■ Uber-lovely Banana Bread beer is among the bottles at this deceptively long boozer much beloved of the varsity crowd. Darkened nooks and crannies lead out into a beaut of a beer garden. Eight real ales always on – usually split 50/50 between permanents and guests, with Young’s, Highbury Gold, Gem and Tribute regularly present. Made the news several years ago when a Nick Walker mural appeared on one of its walls. Depicting a graffiti artist climbing up Rapunzel’s hair, it’s an image not a million miles from how some punters ended up here: this is where condemned prisoners spent their last night before finding themselves on the end of a rope. Food is sausage & mash, pies, chilli, curry, nachos, soup, ploughman’s,

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Pubs BRISTOL mostly around £5. Veggies catered for admirably amid the constantly changing specials. Guaranteed to be rammed come August when St Michaels Hill stages its annual Party on the Hill. Food Mon-Thur 12noon-2pm & 5.30-8.30pm, Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-8.30pm, Sat 12noon-2.30pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

with awning and heaters. Exemplary sport offerings: Sky Sports, plus 3D action! Food Mon-Fri 12noon-4pm & 5-9pm, Sat-Sun 12noon-9pm

INN ON THE GREEN

38 Jacobs Wells Rd, BS8 1DR Tel: 0117 929 2987, web: www.hopeandanchor.net ■ Tucked away beside Brandon Hill, between Hotwells and Clifton, stands this traditional boozer with its absence of TVs, games machines and pool tables. Leaded windows, bountiful Worcestershire hops, flags, wooden flooring and British racing green-and-cream colour scheme. Eclectic specials and traditional English grub, from pies, pancakes, soups, sarnies and breaded haddock to lasagne, lamb curry, fresh whole trout and organic falafel. Sun roasts see them queuing before opening.

Equally folkloric are the ploughman’s, with a tasty trio selected from 36 different potential components. Out back there’s a quirky, friendly-vibe terraced garden with ivy-covered stumps, runaway creepers and a veritable sewing-machine graveyard.

2 Filton Rd, BS7 0PA Tel: 0117 952 1391, web: www.theinnonthegreen.org ■ May 2012 saw 2,000 thirsty punters descend here for an annual beer fest – look out for more in 2013 at this former Camra Bristol and District Pub of the Year. Their community credentials extend to meat raffle and charity quiz on Sundays. Regularly changing, well-executed menu, influenced by cuisine from across the world, maintains British classics like braised lamb shank, fish pie, sea bass fillet. Our reviewer wrote that the goose comprised thick slices of tender, superbly seared bird nestling against generous dollops of sweet sloe berry jelly, and that the steak was beautifully cooked and nicely blackened on the outside, with a real depth of flavour.

Veggies get options like beetroot risotto, lunchtimes bring ciabattas, and £20 gets you two steaks and wine on Mon. Thirteen beers and 10 ciders always available Food Mon 12noon-3pm & 5-9pm, Tue-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-9pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

HOPHOUSE

JERSEY LILY

16 Kings Rd, Clifton, BS8 4AB Tel: 0117 923 7390, web: www.hophouseclifton.co.uk ■ Tucked away off a Clifton side-street and frequented by professionals and students, this grade II-listed great exudes a classy air where upmarket food includes pork belly, corn-fed chicken, butternut squash tagine. Over two dozen on the wine list, plus five real ales (Moor and Otter are more regular fixtures). Five cider and six lager taps complete a sweet 16-draught range. Stylish surroundings, live music Sat. Sport (not football) occasionally shown.

Food Tue-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-9.30pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

193 Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2SB Tel: 0117 973 9037 ■ New management have brought traditional dishes, tapas, sandwiches and roasts to an enduringly popular Clifton stalwart, just down from the Downs. Foster’s,

HOPE & ANCHOR

Tucked-away treasure Golden Guinea

HORTS 49 Broad St, BS1 2EP Tel: 0117 925 2520, web: www.youngs.co.uk ■ Deceptively large pub, seemingly going on for ever, with numerous nooks and crannies for intimate chats and quiet meals. One of the city’s biggest beer ranges sees nine on draught, including Young’s Bitter and London Gold, Wells Bombardier and Waggle Dance plus guests, with bottled ales including Young’s Chocolate and Banana Bread. Draught ciders are Blackthorn, Thatchers Gold, Addlestone’s, Scrumpy Jack and Thatchers Heritage, with the uber-rare Kirin Ichiban one of five draught lagers alongside Peroni, Kronie and Foster’s varieties. Non-ale bottles bring everything from Peroni, Sol and Budweiser to Bulmers pear and original, Crabbie’s and Rekorderlig. A dozen reds and whites split 50/50; cocktails due to arrive. Pub grub includes burgers, bangers & mash, fish & chips. Smoking area

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Pubs BRISTOL Theakston’s and Blackthorn among the taps. Quiz on Thur, big screen for sports going back up as we go to press. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 5-9pm, Sun 12noon-8pm

KELLAWAY 138-140 Kellaway Ave, Horfield, BS6 7YQ Tel: 07890 185045 ■ New management have brought with them a chef formerly at Bristol’s Grand Hotel to eventually bring in themed dining nights offering up Chinese and Italian flavours alongside a celebration of steak. Breakfasts in the pipeline, Mon-Fri 8-11am. Before then, a cut-price bar menu may well bring two mains for a tenner, with a Sunday roast offer already in place: 2 £9.95. Kids get their own menu and a slide and frame in the attractive southfacing garden, perfect for alfresco eating and drinking.

Indoors, the lounge and snug come with traditional fireplaces. Doom Bar always on, plus changing guests, currently Bombardier and Exmoor. Open Mon-Thur 4-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10pm Food Tue-Thur 6-9pm, Fri-Sat 1-3pm & 6-10pm, Sun 12noon3pm

KENSINGTON ARMS 35-37 Stanley Rd, Redland, BS6 6NP Tel: 0117 944 6444, web: www.thekensingtonarms.co.uk ■ That the chef here arrived from the Albion in early 2012 illustrates the calibre of cuisine coming out of the Kenny’s (open) kitchen since its tasteful refurbishment and revitalisation a few years back. Neaps and tatties were accompanying steak & kidney pudding as we went to press, with whole brown crab, chips and mayo proving irresistible. A whopping 14 reds and 14 whites to go with the gourmet grub. Pints include Greene King IPA, Abbot Ale, Morland Original, Stowford. Outside terrace perfect for the warmer weather. Food Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 6-10pm, Sat 10am-3pm & 6-10pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

KING WILLIAM

KINGS ARMS 168 Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2XZ Tel: 0117 973 5922, web: www.kingsarmsbristol.com ■ Predominantly British fare at this big pub with interesting interior, spread over several levels. Try beerbattered haddock with chunky triple-cooked chips or free-range belly pork cooked in cider. Great burgers, lighter bites, tapas, salads, etc, homemade from locally sourced ingredients. Roof terrace for enjoying those cask ales in summer. Wi-Fi, too.

KINGSDOWN VAULTS 31 Kingsdown Parade, BS6 5UE Tel 07826 230640 ■ New boss Tony (bassist with blues/soul outfit Strange Brew and former chef at Bristol’s Jamie’s Italian) took over here in spring 2012 and is setting about combining his two passions. This traditional pub now boasts a blues-bar feel, with folk, rock and blues artists among its clientele and gig posters adorning the walls. Wed is open mic night, with successful acts offered a Sat-night slot. Fridays may bring more live music, Thur already brings a quiz. Food offerings (pasta, burgers, salad) due to be expanded, as are the food-serving hours, with steak and chilli nights also on the horizon. Roaring fire can be seen from outside when passing by - look in to see marshmallows getting toasted this winter (with Sunday roasts also scheduled for colder weather). Butcombe and Doom Bar joined by guests such as Everards or SA Brains, and there’s Staropramen, Thatchers Gold and Katy pear cider. Landscaped courtyard garden makes for wonderful alfresco chilling. Open Mon-Thur 4pm-11.45pm, Fri 4pm-12.45am, Sat 1pm-1am, Sun 1pm-12midnight.

Food Fri 5-8/9pm, Sat 1-8pm, Sun 1-5pm (but check for updates)

Gloriously quirky and easygoing King William

20 King St, BS1 4ES Tel: 0117 926 8672 ■ Gloriously characterful and quirky historic beauty rambling through numerous rooms over five floors.

Seating ranges from gentleman’s club armchairs in loungey areas to wooden booths beside the main bar.

Food takes in pies, lasagne (plus veggie option), fish & chips, chilli, macaroni cheese and caesar salad, and service is impressively fast. Much-loved by punters for its easygoing air - conversation is king. You won’t find TVs, music or multinational branding, but you will find Soil Association-approved and Fairtrade drinks on draught and in bottles, with vegan and vegetarian quaffers well catered for. Organic wheat beer, cherry beer and cola.

Ale starts at an excellent-value £2.50 a pint (lager from £2.25). Dartboard, three pool tables, Fussball. Food TueThur 12noon-8pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-6pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

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Pubs BRISTOL LANSDOWN

MASONS ARMS

8 Clifton Rd, BS8 1AF Tel: 0117 973 4949, web: www.thelansdown.com ■ Enduring charmer steeped in character. Pub food is the order of the day: soups, calamari, handcut chunky chips, bangers & mash, chilli, renowned New Yorker hamburger, lamb burger. Beers from independent local breweries, and popular decking out back - marquee comes and goes with the seasons. Upstairs function room, quiz on Wed in winter, summer BBQs. Food Mon-Thur 5-10pm, Fri 12noon-10pm, Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12.30-4.30pm & 5-9pm

124 Park Rd, Stapleton, BS16 1DT Tel: 0117 939 3919 ■ ‘We enjoyed a flavoursome stilton ploughman’s and some filling cheesy chips in an extraordinary rear garden rivalling Babylon’s hanging version,’ wrote our reviewer of an easily missed mid-terrace marvel. ‘Its exterior promises little, but on entering you find the dinkiest of snugs and a larger main bar complete with natty model motorbikes.’

Tasty pub classics include banger & onion baps, fishcakes, chilli, spag bol, scampi. Six real ales always on, and Black Rat cider quenches thirsts in summer, or order Blackthorn and Ashton Press. Extraordinary pyrotechnics come Bonfire Night. Food Tue-Sat 12noon-2.30pm

LAZY DOG 112 Ashley Down Rd, BS7 9JR Tel: 0117 924 4809, web: www.thelazydogbristol.com ■ “Ales and cocktails.” That’s the all-encompassing philosophy behind the Lazy Dog, sister pub to the Pipe and Slippers and the Windmill, our chap was told. He found a boozer with clean, art deco-style surroundings: ‘Massive front windows are perfect for people watching, while intimate booths bring seclusion.’ Snacks, sharing plates and pies, and specials that have included cheeseburger with chorizo, sweet potato & chick pea veggie burger, and chilli sausages, with a £4.95 lunch menu Mon-Fri. Sizeable outdoor area out front, and a covered shelter out back in the extensive garden for smokers. Gem and Bristol Beer Factory’s Sunrise plus two revolving guests, good cocktail list, dartboard, big screen showing terrestrial sport, and private-hire space used for neighbourhood meetings and the like.

MERCHANTS ARMS 5 Merchants Rd, Hotwells, BS8 4PZ Tel: 0117 904 0037, web: www.bathales.com ■ ‘Camra have rightly recognised the decor for its bygone beauty, with wooden floors and panelling, subdued lighting and black-and-white photographs creating a cosy, inclusive space,’ wrote our man. ‘A pub as they used to be.’ Bar snacks (Split Tin Bakery pies, filled rolls, pork pies) go gorgeously with the Bath Ales brews - permanents Gem, Barnstormer and Spa and guest Festivity when we visited. Regulars travelling from Kingswood, Nailsea and Portishead confirm the pub’s quality. Artists’ work displayed, quiz Thur, live music at least once monthly.

Open/Food Mon-Thur 4-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon12midnight, Sun 12noon-10.30pm

LION

MINERS ARMS

19 Church Lane, Cliftonwood, BS8 4TX Tel: 0117 926 8492, web: www.thelionclifton.com ■ Cliftonwood hostelry with a decent selection of wines, cask ales and cider on tap, plus homemade gastropub dining (breakfasts now also served) and a beer garden overlooking the adjacent children’s park. Food Mon-Sat 7.30am-12noon & 6.30-9.30pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

Mina Rd, St Werburghs, BS2 9YQ Tel: 0117 907 9874 ■ Particularly popular with the local climbing club, with many original features and warmed by an open fire come winter. Beers include Tribute, Doom Bar and Butcombe; lagers line up as Carlsberg Export, Staropramen, San Miguel, Stella and Foster’s. Stowford Press and Old Rosie due to be joined by Thatchers Gold. Three whites, as many reds and one rosé, plus large whisky and bourbon selection. Open no-mic nights Tue, and Let’s Be Nice night on first Sat of the month, with DJs playing nice tunes from 10pm. Three rooms: quiet, comfy sofa lounge, games room, free-hire upstairs room for parties. Heating and cover in the smokers’ yard. Nearly 30 crisps and snacks varieties sold - a local record?

LOUISIANA Bathurst Parade, Wapping Rd, BS1 6UA Tel: 0117 926 5978, web: www.thelouisiana.net ■ “If I lived in Bristol, I’d form a band just to be able to play the Louisiana,” said Scissor Sister Ana Matronik.

Hosting live music for over 100 years now (with landlord Mr Schillace here a mere 25), the Louisiana continues to attract rock royalty: White Stripes, Coldplay, the Strokes, Amy Winehouse… they’ve all gigged in the intimate confines of the upstairs room. Very popular with students (especially at weekends) as well as locals. Downstairs, the environment is hassle-free and welcoming. London Pride on tap, plus Gaymers, Blackthorn, Thatchers Gold, Beck’s and Red Stripe. Balcony, and alfresco seats for chilling.

Sunday carvery 12noon-3pm, lunchtime panini due to return Mon-Fri.

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MOTHER’S RUIN 7-9 St Nicholas St, BS1 1UE Tel: 07546 082009, web: Facebook page ■ Expect the unexpected at this three-floored madhouse - live music or DJs every night, the stranger the better.

Also expect a friendly, safe atmosphere and doormen who’ll hug you a hello as you arrive. Stages what’s easily one of Bristol’s top quizzes - five rounds themed

Eating Out West 2012 6/22/2012 4:06:44 PM

Pubs BRISTOL on general knowledge, films, pictures, special subject and musical intro, with cheap drinks for early arrivers, free curry at half-time and the chance to win £100. As they ask themselves, what more could you want on a Tuesday? Rated by Venue’s resident band member as the place everybody ends up at after gigging. Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2am, Sun 6pm-12.30am

with London Porter delighting many as we went to press.

Food options range from westernised Thai fusion (pad Thai noodles, green curry, spicy chilli basil stirfry) to pub grub (burgers, Bangkok sirloin, fish & chips) on a regularly tweaked menu, plus specials board. Food Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 5-10pm, Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-9pm

MOUSE

OSTRICH INN

Waters Lane, Westbury on Trym, BS9 4AA Tel: 0117 940 5554 ■ Thrill-seekers who think they’ve tried it all should pit their bravado against the Mouse’s annual last-man-stands chilli-tasting competition. Thankfully, eating the food here is a much more pleasurable experience - combos and pub grub include steak & kidney pudding, hunter’s chicken, gammon steak, cumberland sausage & chips. A sport-showing TV set is sometimes set up in the absolutely amazing beer garden. Poker Wed, quiz Thur, live music once a month. Permanents Courage Best, Deuchars IPA and Gem are joined by a rotating fourth real ale, with Caledonian beer festivals bringing Scottish supping. Other draughts include Kronenbourg, Amstel and Thatchers Gold. There’s a lot of charm packed into the Mouse’s dinky dimensions. Food Mon-Tue 12noon-8pm, Wed-Sat 12noon-9pm, Sun 12noon-6pm

Lower Guinea St, Redcliffe, BS1 6TJ Tel: 0117 927 3774, web: www.ostrichpub.co.uk ■ Whether stumbled upon or deliberately sought out, this waterside wonder (with extraordinarily extensive seating)

Big and handsome Old Fish Market

NOVA SCOTIA Nova Scotia Place, Hotwells, BS1 6XJ Tel: 0117 929 7994 ■ Dockside drinking den, providing a cosy bar, great alfresco seating and a warm welcome for all, including families and City fans. Sups include Bass, Courage Best plus two guest ales, Thatchers Traditional, Gold and Dry, Blackthorn, Kronie and Foster’s. Specials change throughout the week, complementing the traditional (and not quite so traditional) English pub grub: chicken breast with stilton and bacon, hot and cold doorstop sarnies, curries, Sunday roasts. Traditional interior with original maritime memorabilia - look out for maps and ships’ charts featuring Bristol and Portsmouth harbours used as wallpaper. Folk club Mon eve. Food Mon-Sat 12noon2.30pm & 6.30-9pm, Sun 12.30-4pm

OLD FISH MARKET

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PIC: MARK SIMMONS

59-63 Baldwin St, BS1 1QZ Tel: 0117 921 1515, web: www.oldfishmarket.co.uk ■ New outside seating in the pipeline for this handsome city-centre biggie housed in premises formerly selling the sea’s bounty. A tunnel leads from cellar to the river, and a splendid mural depicts a bygone shipside scene. Sports aficionados watch the action on sizeable screens, in an atmosphere that’s always passionate but never excessively so. Beer is also big, with Camra holding meetings and using the venue to sell tickets for their beer festivals.

London Pride among the brews on draught and in bottles,

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Pubs BRISTOL brings a sense of discovery. Food here is remarkably inexpensive: 2-4-1 steak offer Mon, curry-and-drink £5.95 Wed, free drink on Friday fish night. English pub classics (beer-battered fish & chips, scampi, burgers, gammon), plus veggie options. Draughts include Tribute plus two guests, Scrumpy Jack and Dry Blackthorn. Food Daily, all day

PIPE & SLIPPERS 118 Cheltenham Rd, Stokes Croft, BS6 5RW Tel: 0117 942 7711, web: www.thepipeandslippers.com ■ The ‘Pipe Dream’ (eight quid’s worth of rum, juice and absinthe in a pint glass) is destined to do for Stokes Croft what the Carrot did for Camberwell. Food is nowhere near as hedonistic, with simple pub grub, weekly specials and Sunday roasts the order of the day – and the pies (Pieminister) are back in town. Draughts include organic Millwhite cider from Axbridge, plus Thatchers Gold, Orchard Pig, Addlestone’s, Bristol Beer Factory, Bath Ales and choice lager choices, with wine options making it into double figures. DJs spin ThurSun; innovative events include skate video launches and DJ workshops. Open Mon-Wed 5pm-12midnight, ThurFri 5pm-1am, Sat 12noon-1am, Sun 12noon-12midnight Food Daily till 9.30pm

PORT OF CALL 3 York St, Clifton, BS8 2YE Tel: 0117 973 3600 ■ EOW bids a fond farewell to Roger and wife Carol who

Stokes Croft classic Pipe & Slippers

are sailing away from this nautically themed beauty with its fishing nets and lobster pots. New owner should be in place by the time you read this (so the following information may be subject to change), but at time of going to press dishes included steak & ale pie, scampi, salad and ham, egg & chips. Three real ales on permanent Doom Bar joined by brews such as Otter and BOB. “Don’t write anything good about the place,” the chap in the Lundy Island sweatshirt told our reviewer.

“It’s busy enough as it is.” Food Mon-Tue 5.30-9pm, Wed-Fri 12noon-2pm & 5.30-9pm, Sat all day, Sun 12noon-4pm

PORTCULLIS 3 Wellington Terrace, Sion Hill, Clifton, BS8 4LE Tel: 0117 908 5536 ■ Mini mid-terrace marvel that was runner-up Camra Bristol Pub of the Year 2010. Up to nine real ales on at any time, with similarly mini end-of-month beer festivals and larger fests throughout the year. Food not currently served, but could return at some stage. Food Mon-Fri 4.30-10pm, Sat-Sun 12noon-10pm

POST OFFICE TAVERN 17 Westbury Hill, Westbury on Trym, BS9 3AG Tel: 0117 940 1233, web: www.post-office-tavern.co.uk ■ The POT at WoT to its many friends, this traditional local was originally a mail coach house - the old jail across the road is where prisoners were locked up on their way to court as the mail man and his nags got their respective nosebags. Fascinating post office imagery dotted throughout, including an old telephone box within the pub itself. Find pizzas famed citywide (2-4-1 Mon) plus pub-grub mains, baguettes, etc. Sky and terrestrial sports shown. Food Mon-Fri 12noon-2pm & 6-9pm

PRINCE OF WALES 5 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AA Tel: 0117 924 5552, web: www.powbristol.co.uk ■ Time was, Venue’s tribe would regularly claim a Princely corner for convivial team-building purposes, a thought that almost brought a tear to our Head Honcho’s otherwise flinty eye when we visited. Big cheese enjoyed lemon, pinenut & leek risotto balls stuffed with buffalo mozzarella, served with roast pepper dip. Moving onto mains, Honcho’s fish pie, jostling nuggets of salmon, mackerel and smoked haddock in creamy white wine sauce, quickly gained his approval (and he cooks a mean fish pie himself). “Rich without cloying,” he pronounced, finding his inner Jay Rayner all of a sudden. “Velvet smooth sauce.” Enjoy other such rich, nourishing fare, using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, at this boozer formed from two cottages and a former clock shop. And eat safe in the knowledge that it adheres to the Soil Association’s Food, Service and Catering Code of Practice, requiring it to

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Pubs BRISTOL disclose the origins of anything used in the kitchen.

Lovely Portuguese Sagres among the lagers, chilled to perfection and ready to be downed in the funky alfresco space to the rear (where smoking provision is among Bristol’s best). Up to five real ales on, including weekly changing guest that could be from the Ashley Down Brewery. Mon quiz, DJs Sun. Food Mon-Fri 12noon9.30pm, Sat-Sun 12noon-8pm

PRINCE OF WALES Stoke Lane, Westbury on Trym, BS9 3SP Tel: 0117 962 3715, web: www.princeofwales-butcombe.com ■ Lovers of fascinating memorabilia will love studying the walls at this Westbury on Trym gem - find photos of former heirs, signed cricket bats, even a typewriter.

Lively, friendly local with open fires, where a rugbyloving clientele scrum down for scrummy chow amid an old, classic-style pub mood: fish & chips, lasagne, jacket potatoes, ham, egg & chips. Excellent garden with its own TV. Up to eight real ales, four of them permanent.

Food Mon-Sat 12noon-2pm

PUMP HOUSE Merchants Rd, Hotwells, BS8 4PZ Tel: 0117 927 2229, web: www.the-pumphouse.com ■ Rated by The Guardian, this former Victorian pumping station housing a handsome dockside boozer makes for a top place for eating, drinking and music. Suntrap patio, too. Quite the spot for private functions: the water out front lends itself to beautiful wedding-day snaps.

It’s enjoyed great success since Toby Gritten, formerly Albion head chef, began cooking for the upstairs restaurant and downstairs gastropub. Renovation restored original features (brickwork, wooden beams) and brought in Victorian period colours. Good-quality, modern British food - look out for innovative, seasonal dining using foraged ingredients: chanterelle, slippery jack boletes, autumn berries, wild apples. Food ALC: Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 7-9.30pm. Bar food: Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6.30-9.30pm. Sun: 12noon-3pm & 7-9.30pm

perfect for private parties and stages popular tastings.

Open/Food Daily 11am-11pm

QUINTON HOUSE 2 Park Place, Clifton, BS8 1JW Tel: 0117 909 3857 ■ ‘The living is leisurely, sometimes lively but rarely large at the Quinton House, a little L-shaped lovely,’ wrote our lad, who had a good look at the immaculate cellar.

Spotless lines ensure perfect pints of London Pride, Doom Bar, Tribute and guest, with Amstel and Peroni too, and draught cider in Stowford Press, Thatchers Dry and Thatchers Heritage forms. This former Bristol Boozer Top Banana doesn’t serve food, but you’re free to bring in food from elsewhere (and even carry your drink across the road to the park opposite).

RICHMOND PUBLIC HOUSE & KITCHEN 33-37 Gordon Rd, Clifton, BS8 1AW Tel: 0117 923 7542, web: www.therichmondclifton.co.uk ■ There’s been a change of management at this classic English food pub with a great selection of wines, spirits and well-kept Cask Marque ale. Recently voted one of the Post’s top 10 restaurants, it offers a wide range of classic

Dockside delight Pump House

QUADRANT 2 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BP Tel: 0117 974 1025, web: www.quadrantbar.co.uk ■ Long known for its wines, the Quadrant has been getting a name for its tapas dishes of late (chorizo & pork casserole, king prawns, spicy meatballs). Bar snacks include nachos, homemade sausage rolls, goat’s cheese. With upstairs main bar and downstairs cellar, said our man, ‘the look is classy and smart but the feel sufficiently pub-like for a sole chap to nurse a pint with his novel’. It might be among Bristol’s smaller pubs, but covers many bases admirably. Its wine-bar credentials are impeccable (at least 35 plonks), but you’ll also find real-ale lovers in here regularly. Must-visit wine cellar is

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Pubs BRISTOL British cuisine, including a fantastic Sunday roast. Enjoy it in the warm, comfortable surroundings of a traditional British pub, complete with open fires and a relaxed, friendly ambience. Stunning sun-trap roof terrace, too.

Open mic on Mon, Tue quiz, comedy night biweekly Thur (kicking off again Sept 2012), live music every other Fri. Open Mon-Tue 4pm-12midnight, Wed-Thur 12noon12midnight, Fri-Sat 12noon-1am, Sun 12noon-11pm.

Food Mon-Tue 4-10pm, Wed-Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-8pm

ROBIN HOOD 56 St Michaels Hill, BS2 8BX Tel: 0117 929 4915, web: www.robinhoodfreehouse.com ■ ‘A clean, cosy pub delivering exactly what the modern, discerning drinker expects of their watering hole,’ was our fellow’s summation a while back. EOW has been told more recently, however, of possible major changes to be made here. Details yet to be confirmed, so you’re advised to phone up and find out what’s on offer.

ROBIN HOOD’S RETREAT 197 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8BG Tel: 0117 924 8639, web: www.robinhoodsretreat.co.uk ■ Silver Top Bananas from Venue in 2007 and 2008 at this benchmark-setting gastropub with attractive back garden and daily changing menu. ‘The Shetland Island scallops were spot-on,’ wrote Venue’s reviewer, ‘paired with the bloody warmth of black pudding and a tangle of creamed leeks, shoots and cresses. For mains, evaporatingly soft and yielding organic calves’ livers and roast rump of lamb come accompanied by a separate dark and sticky pile of braised mutton with turnip and anchovy gratin.’ Enjoy whole roasted sea bass, bubble & squeak, and pork cheeks at a boozer still offering some of Bristol’s best pub dining. Around eight real ales change on a regular basis, with 20 cocktails and 15 each of rums and whiskies. Food MonSat: 10.30am-3pm (breakfast), 12noon-9pm (tapas), 6-9.30pm (ALC). Sun 10.30am-5pm & 6-9pm

ROSE OF DENMARK 6 Dowry Place, Hotwells, BS8 4QL Tel: 0117 940 5866, web: Facebook page ■ New owners have arrived since last year’s guide at this former Venue Top Banana bagger, bringing a weekly changing, exceptionally good menu of pub food using the finest local ingredients, with a plateof-the-day from a fiver. Enjoy homemade soup of the day, Moroccan lemon chicken, homemade burgers and Sunday roasts. Similarly impressive entertainment comes with Monday’s Blankety quiz, Wed open mic, and live music on Thur. At least three real ales on at any time. Witty Facebook page features a homage to Ron Burgundy and amusing punning, and lists the pub’s culinary team as God, Ghandi, Florence Nightingale and

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Peter Pan – that’s one star-studded kitchen. Food TueSat 12noon-3pm & 5-10pm, Sun 12noon-6pm

ROYAL OAK 385 Gloucester Rd, Horfield, BS7 8TN Tel: 0117 989 2522, web: www.theroyaloakbristol.co.uk ■ Our man was massively impressed when visiting the Royal Oak, an excellent example of how contemporary pubs can cater for all – and earn Venue Top Banana recognition in 2010. There’s a modern mood at this friendly neighbourhood boozer with chandeliers, inviting leather sofas, punk-evoking Union Jack cushions, multifunctional rear garden making excellent use of a sizeable space, and a new wood-fired pizza oven. Delicious pizzas (served Fri-Sun eves – but they sell out fast) are yours for a fiver. Find chorizo & black pudding salad, roast beetroot & green bean salad, Royal Oak beef burger, salmon & haddock fishcakes, braised pork belly in ale gravy. Thur steak deal brings two 8oz beauties, chips, salad and a bottle of red for £25. Afterschool club on Fri often brings a BBQ. Five real ales include Gem, Doom Bar and Timothy Taylor Landlord. House wines start at £14.50 a bottle, £3.90 a glass, for a delicious crisp Chilean macabeo and wonderfully smooth tempranillo. Draught lager includes Peroni, Amstel, Staropramen; ciders include Thatchers Gold, Stowford Press, Addlestone’s and Thatchers Heritage Cask. Keep an eye out for their annual pork and cider fest. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-10pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

ROYAL OAK 50 The Mall, Clifton Village, BS8 4JG Tel: 0117 973 8846 ■ A regular fixture in Camra’s beer guide and also listed in the Good Pub Guide, this friendly, 19th-century, onebar pub is an exemplar of a dying breed, where all punters (and their dogs) are welcome. Homecooked food includes soup, jackets, baguettes and specials, with Sunday roasts including a veggie option. Four real ales - currently Courage Best, Doom Bar, Butcombe and guest, plus Black Rat flat and fizzy, and Thatchers ciders also on draught.

Stella 4, Amstel and Foster’s, too. Music Fri, open mic first Thur monthly. Food Daily 12noon-2.30pm

RUMMER HOTEL All Saints Lane, BS1 1JH Tel: 0117 929 0111, web: www.therummer.net ■ An inn has stood on this site since the 1200s so the Rummer is fully entitled to be considered a Bristol institution – if not legend. Since reopening in 2005, the dear old (now modern, swanky) place has gone from strength to strength, complete with downstairs cocktail lounge, The Cellar (open Fri-Sat eves, though not serving food). Food at the Rummer proper covers brunch, smaller plates and modern English/European-influenced dining later on: pan-roast duck breast, Devonshire braised beef,

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Pubs BRISTOL pan-fried monkfish. Breathtakingly broad spirit and bottled-beer selections befit surroundings oozing class from every pore. That said, the mood is admirably relaxed – guests have been known to fall asleep on the sofas after making themselves at home. Private parties catered for; food events in the pipeline. Food Mon-Fri 11am-3pm & 6-10pm, Sat 11am-5pm & 6-10pm, Sun 1-5pm

SCOTCHMAN & HIS PACK 20 St Michaels Hill, BS2 8DX Tel: 0117 373 0138, web: www.thescotchman.co.uk ■ Light bites, baguette deals, jackets, panini, dishes of the day, specials, burgers and sides, fish and curry, alongside good ale and cider range. Plenty of entertainment includes pool, darts and Wed quiz. Lovely balcony, free Wi-Fi. Draughts include two changing real ales plus three ciders. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-9pm

SHAKESPEARE TAVERN Prince St, BS1 4QD Tel: 0117 929 7695 ■ Quintessential, grade II-listed English pub - Bristol’s oldest continually licensed example of such (since 1777).

Our man praised its ‘civilised air befitting the beautiful surroundings and grandness.’ Expect the likes of Greene King IPA, Abbot and Old Speckled Hen to be joined on draught by premium lagers and ciders including Thatchers Gold. Food includes fish & chips, beef & ale pie, hunter’s chicken, poached salmon, bangers & mash, Sunday roasts.

Quiz Tue. Food Daily 11am-10pm

feature in the salsa verde served with the sea bass here, aubergines and tomatoes are incorporated elsewhere in the menu, and the hedgerow salad is made entirely from its bounty. Neat touches include gold-leafed Bath stone, logo-etched frosted windows, eye-catching mirrors and a garden out back. Food changes fortnightly - expect ham hock terrine with fresh bread, West Country lamb hotpot, butternut squash & blue cheese croquettes. One of few pubs nationally to serve a whole roast suckling pig (first Sun monthly). Quiz Tue, DJs Fri-Sat night and Sun afternoon, and exemplary disabled access. Venue bronze Top Banana winner 2008. Our man concluded: ‘You can trust this gastropub – they know what they’re doing (and they do it so well).’ Food Mon-Thur 12noon-3pm & 5-9pm, Fri-Sun 12noon-9pm

STAG & HOUNDS 74 Old Market St, BS2 0EJ Tel: 07546 082009, web: Facebook page ■ More brilliant leftfield goings-on from the Mother’s Ruin party people at one of Bristol’s oldest boozers. This place dates from 1483 and was once the location of a court set up to deal with travelling ne’er-do-wells falling foul of the law at local markets and fairs - an annual proclamation of this role was read out under the pub’s

Benchmark-setting gastropub Robin Hoods Retreat

SOMERSET HOUSE 11 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BX ■ New management was due to arrive shortly after we went to press at this characterful pub featuring handsome woodwork, reclaimed slate, Brasso optic and platform clock.

SPORTSMAN Nevil Rd/Seymour Rd, Bishopston, BS7 9EQ Tel: 0117 942 7525, web: www.the-sportsman.co.uk ■ The name kind of says it all: big Victorian pub, a mightily hit six from the County Ground, that’s a mecca for sports fans. Hustlers get a dozen pool tables; five plasma screens show as many different sports channels at a time, with an outdoor screen where 150 can assemble. And a jukebox.

More of an apple than an ale haunt, with five ciders (currently Blackthorn, Addlestone’s, Thatchers Gold and Dry and guest Black Rat) outnumbering the sole beer Doom Bar. Thirty whiskies, and Amstel, Foster’s and Red Stripe among the lagers. Kitchen details as per Annexe (see above). Free pool Mon 6-11pm. Covers and heaters in the courtyard.

SPOTTED COW 139 North St, Bedminster, BS3 1EZ Tel: 0117 963 4433, web: www.thespottedcowbristol.com ■ The roof garden continues to bear fruit: herbs

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Pubs BRISTOL portico until the 1970s. Plenty of live music and open mics, plus monthly poetry night. Three ales always, and 10 extraordinarily tasty burgers: beef rendang, chorizo on pork, beef & beer (marinated in Butcombe) and pork & cider apple. Even the hungriest dinosaur - fearsome reputation or not - would have trouble finishing off that little lot. Cracking rooftop terrace. Location of a remarkably restrained Venue Christmas lunch in 2011 - must have been the surroundings having a good influence. Food Daily 12noon-8pm

STAR & DOVE 75-78 St Luke’s Rd, Totterdown, BS3 4RY Tel: 0117 933 2892, web: www.staranddove.co.uk ■ EOW confesses to being slightly unsure as to the ‘peasanty’ style of reinvented 14th-15th century dining promised in last year’s guide. Now all becomes clear, with an indubitable connection to the land coming through via ingredients that are seasonal and local used in dishes made onsite from scratch, following recipes found in books dating back centuries. One of the chaps here is

Traditional British dining The Wellington

reading history at the OU, and some produce is foraged - further proof of the pub’s mission to serve tavern-style eating in the 21st century. Offerings are considered to have come from garden, sea or farm, with bacon of lamb an example of the last. Lamb belly is cured for 28 days, then served with egg, new potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Nothing appears on the menu unless it has a purpose - the people here consider themselves historians as much as chefs. Six real ales are always on, with 400 different beers served since the reopening in April 2011.

Around 15-20 whites and as many reds feature English options, and there’s also English champagne. Stowford Press is due to be joined by a cloudy cider. A firepit has been built for outdoors cooking; the music room stages open mics on Tue. Offer: Tue-Fri 12noon-4pm: 2 £10, 3 £12. While much imagery within the food business relies on nostalgia for a time that never was, the past can be experienced - and eaten - here. Food Mon from 5pm, TueSat 12noon-4pm & 5-10pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

REOPENED THREE SUGAR LOAVES 1 Christmas Steps, BS1 5BS Tel: 0117 329 2523 ■ Housed in an old sugar refinery dating back, in places, to 1680, this place boasts a whole lot of history. It’s recently been reopened as an alehouse by the inventive people behind Mother’s Ruin, Stag & Hounds, Adam & Eve and Kingsdown Wine Vaults, who got a magician in to wow punters on launch night. There’s a boho vibe in keeping with its Christmas Steps location, and quirkiness comes by way of the pub being made by knocking three buildings together and by the presence of a (disused) sugar oven. Embracing the new ale movement, three brews are always on, with plans for a half-dozen in total. Food is the flavoursome burgers going down a treat at the Stag & Hounds. Food Daily 12noon-8pm

VICTORIA

PIC: MARK SIMMONS

2 Southleigh Rd, Clifton, BS8 2BH Tel: 0117 974 5675, web: www.dawkins-taverns.co.uk ■ Tom Waits waits on the wall for mains to arrive at this former Top Banana bagger. Until then, scotch eggs and pork pies take the edge off your appetite as you enjoy some amazing innovations brought by top pub duo Dee and Paul Tanner. They’ve just installed an Only Fools and Horses-style home cocktail bar (complete with plastic pineapple and fibre-optic lamp) that’s already started more conversations than Jonathan Ross. Tasteless wallpaper will enhance the tackiness, with Paul due to don seventies suit to host cocktail evenings combining flair with flares. It’s all extremely Abigail’s Party/fondue night/black forest gateau. Crap-prize bingo brings more naffness on the month’s last Thursday, while the Thursday a fortnight before is Play Your Cards Right night featuring dolly dealer Olivia, who trawls Gloucester Road

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Pubs BRISTOL for dresses and earrings for the part. Petrolheads should be getting Top Gear showings, while all get an insight into the workings of Paul’s mind thanks to a weekly ‘thought bubble’ update. Six real ales always on bring a Dawkins brace beside choice guest brews from the country’s top breweries. Two-dozen Belgian beers may increase to 30 by the end of summer 2012, with a half-century in Paul and Dee’s sights. Proper-job Ashridge cider is already here. Real fire warms come winter. Background music likely to include the aforementioned, gravelly voiced bluesman. What’s he building in there? It sure as hell isn’t a kitchen… Open Mon-Fri 4-11pm, Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm

VICTORIA 20 Chock Lane, Westbury-on-Trym, BS9 3EX Tel: 0117 950 0441, web: www.thevictoriapub.co.uk ■ New chap Rich arrived in early 2012 at this lovely little pub made from rock hewn from nearby slopes. He’s learnt his culinary trade in the kitchens of the Kendalshire Golf Club, Loch Fyne and Westbury-on-Trym’s Valentino and now applies his skills to creating classic pub grub with a modern twist, from homemade pasta and omelettes to sirloins and mixed grills. Our chap considered this pub’s ambience as being akin to the warmest guesthouse, but clearly there’s nastiness afoot when it stages its occasional murder mystery night. Rich, a big cricket fan, is keen to re-energise the pub’s former team. Community counts around here, with a street party staged for the Jubilee and a golf society, hockey team, scout group, bellringers and allotment keepers using its space for meetings. No piped music or jukebox; dogs allowed. Keeps some very decent beers, including Butcombe, Horizon plus guests, and has been awarded a Cask Marque every year for the past 13. Six reds and as many whites, with tutored wine tastings held.

Food Mon-Sat 12noon-2pm & 6-9pm, Sun 12noon-3pm

VICTORIA PARK PUB & KITCHEN 66 Raymend Rd, Victoria Park, BS3 4QW Tel: 0117 330 6043, web: www.thevictoriapark.co.uk ■ Formerly the Raymend, this, one of EOW’s most tuckedaway boozers, opened to immediate acclaim in autumn 2010. It’s a mid-terrace marvel a short stroll from the wonderful Victoria Park, with the seasonally changing menu bringing both locally sourced, freshly made pub classics and more contemporary dishes. Drop in to read the papers and enjoy one of three real ales (often coming from Somerset or breweries like Butts, Moor Beer Company or Wye Valley). Other draughts include Sagres, Heineken and Stowford Press, with six whites and as many reds. Very much a hub for community groups, with locals gathering for monthly open mics, fortnightly quizzes, book club, sewing group and a mums-with-nippers nursery rhyme singalong. Outside wood-fired oven used to cook pizzas, smokers get covers and heating, summer sees barbies.

A hidden gem well worth tracking down. Food Mon-

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Wed 12noon-3pm & 5-9.30pm, Thur-Fri 12noon-3pm & 5-10pm, Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-9pm

VITTORIA 57 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2LY Tel: 0117 329 1282 ■ Boozer named after a battle fought almost two centuries ago, that of Vitoria (note the spelling) on 21 June 1813.

Located on the edge of the Strip’s cafes and restaurants and providing a real-ale oasis for aficionados. Up to five draughts at any time, with Courage Best a permanent. No live music, but you’ll hear it in the background as you pore over the photos of old Bristol adorning the walls. Food is homemade and traditional: sandwiches, lasagne, chilli, chicken curry and sirloin steak, with vegetarians catered for. Food Sun-Thur 12noon-8pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-6pm

WELLINGTON Gloucester Rd, Horfield, BS7 8UR Tel: 0117 951 3022, web: www.bathales.com ■ ‘The living is easy whatever the season, with impressive port and single malt ranges giving ample excuse to linger after enjoying meals accompanied by wines from around the world,’ said our man. ‘Pint glasses get filled with more locally made beverages, with Bath Ales Warmley brewery (the site of a party that Venue remembers most warmly) conjuring up some sublime sups.’ Our man returned to find the Wellington having added a restaurant and extensive terrace in the intervening years. The improvements are clearly ongoing, though the play area is now in situ. Traditional British dining includes burgers, steaks, homemade pie, fish options, goat’s cheese tart.

Alfresco facilities, too – 20 rear tables and more in front.

Back indoors, delightful touches include toddler-sized waterproof boots dotted throughout. Five real ales are Gem, Spa, Barnsey, seasonal Bath Ales beer plus guest, with other draughts including Sagres, Budvar, Bounders cider and its recently arrived flat cousin Bounders Traditional. Our man pondered, ‘How best to take care of a thirst or hunger when next seeking a night out? Give it some Welly.’ Food Mon-Fri 12noon-10pm, Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 9am-10pm

WESTBURY PARK TAVERN Northumbria Drive, Henleaze, BS9 4HP Tel: 0117 962 4235 ■ Previously the Cock O’ the North (although most famously the Kebab & Calculator as frequented by The Young Ones), with a refurb a while back creating the Westbury Park Tavern, although its inherent and almost unique roundness remains. Traditional pub grub, draughts like Staropramen and Beck’s Vier, plus Bombardier, Butcombe and Courage Best alongside around 25 wines.

Big and friendly, and handy for the rather wonderful Orpheus cinema. Live music third Thur monthly. Food Daily 12noon-8.15pm (last orders)

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Pubs BRISTOL/BATH

Winning wine Chequers

Rivers St ■ A can’t-fail hit-list of classic, new and old world faves.

Garrick’s Head

St John’s Place ■ Check out the chalkboard: the regularly updated wine list is spectacular and includes perfect prosecco.

Hop Pole

Upper Bristol Rd ■ It may be small, but the wine list at this super-congenial pub/food oasis is perfectly formed.

our knave when dropping in. ‘Among Bristol’s five oldest pubs - dating back to 1650 – its several rooms sprawl pleasingly and offer a space for all occasions, with tucked-away areas where private shindigs swing unnoticed by those not partying.’ Attractions include a dartboard, pool table (free on Tue) and Mon quiz.

As we go to press, specials included soup of the day, sausages & mash, cider-braised pork belly, and sweet potato, red onion & goat’s cheese tatin, with seasonal pies, burgers, sandwiches and panini featuring on a distinctly affordable regular menu. Three real ales likely to bring the likes of Bristol Beer Factory, Tribute and Doom Bar, with Thatchers, Aspall, Peroni, Red Stripe and Beck’s Vier also on tap. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-9pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

WINDMILL 14 Windmill Hill, BS3 4LU Tel: 0117 963 5440, web: www.thewindmillbristol.com ■ Congratulations to Windmill good sport Matt, who held off competition from 14 others to win his pub’s annual moustache-growing competition in the week before we went to press, with funds raised going to a local baby unite. At this sister pub to the Pipe & Slippers and Lazy Dog, around nine specials can include rolled pork belly, mussel, clam & tiger prawn risotto, and yassa, an African stew. Bangers and pies, too, and kids get their own wideranging menu - they’re welcome in the pub till 8pm, and family room has toys and board games. Rated by the Good Beer Guide. Wi-Fi, and Mondays alternate with a quiz and Stitch ‘n’ Bitch. Food Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-9.30pm

YE SHAKESPEARE 78 Victoria St, BS1 6DR ■ Holding management in place at time of going to press.

Bath ASSEMBLY INN

WHITE BEAR 133 St Michael’s Hill, BS2 8BS Tel: 0117 904 9054, web: www.whitebear-bristol.co.uk ■ The White Bear’s mini-but-mighty Wardrobe Theatre opened just too late to make it into last year’s guide.

This year, we’re delighted to report on a busy, successful 12 months for a venue where theatre shows are always under a fiver. ‘A welcome as big as the eponymous, Arctic circle-dwelling carnivore awaits here, where engaging staff ensure that the customer is king,’ wrote

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16–17 Alfred St, Lansdown Rd, BA1 2QU Tel: 01225 333639, web: www.abbeyales.co.uk ■ Abbey Ales pub (big on screening live sporting action) serving high-quality real ales (including Abbey’s flagship brews), continental lagers and well-chosen wines. Uppercrust, wallet-friendly, homecooked delights include Scotch eggs and sausage rolls on the bar menu and perfect pies courtesy of Bath-based piemen Lovett Pies for mains (recently swooned over by one EOW critic whose chicken, gammon & leek option was ‘a fat, round, beauty bursting with fresh flavours resulting in a thoroughly civilised opportunity to keep ahead of the game while enjoying perfect match-day grub’. Food Mon-Fri 12noon3pm & 5-9pm, Sat 12noon-8pm, Sun 12noon-6pm (or till the roast runs out)

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Pubs BATH BARLEY MOW 32 Bathwick St, BA2 6NZ Tel: 01225 464845 ■ Smart little boozer serving homecooked pub-grub favourites on comfortable sofas around a real fire, in the lovely little separate dining area out back or on a dinky little alfresco patio to the rear. Regular Curry Night events etc keep the locals very happy. Food Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6-9pm

BEAR 6-10 Wellsway, BA2 3AQ Tel: 01225 425795, web: www.bearbath.co.uk ■ Upmarket, contemporary neighbourhood pub serving inspired pub grub from soup, fish & chips and burgers to more sophisticated delights (saffron tagliatelli with piquillo pepper pesto, rump of lamb with lamb’s liver sausage), with menus changing on a daily basis. Sat brunch (10am-2.30pm) is almost as popular as Sunday lunch (12noon-3pm), while regular themed evenings (French, Polish etc) and a thoughtful range of events (see website) keep things lively. Covered patio is an oasis away from the busy main road. Free Wi-Fi, a spiffing bar selection and plenty to keep kids occupied (including their own menu). Food Daily 12noon-2.30pm & Mon-Sat 6-9.30pm (coffee & cake daily from 10am)

BEAU NASH 23 Milsom St, BA1 1DE Tel: 01225 310772, web: www.beaunash.co.uk ■ Spacious, bustling city inn popular with shoppers, preclub revellers and sports fans (huge plasma screens). Food means wallet-friendly/super-deal doorstep-sandwiches and steak/pie/fish with chips. All portions go large, including the almost impossibly macho Sunday roasts. Food Mon-Thur 12noon-9pm, Fri-Sun 12noon-8pm

BLATHWAYT Lansdown, BA1 9BT Tel: 01225 421995, web: www.theblathwayt-bath.co.uk ■ Gert big family-oriented boozer (and hotel) next to Bath Racecourse. Food served in the conservatory, on the covered alfresco terrace or in the slightly more formal dining room.

Menus run the full classic, family-friendly, pub-grub gamut, from lunchtime sandwiches, salads, jacket spuds and traditional British classics to Thai fishcakes, Quorn lasagne and interesting curry combos. Puds go large, Sunday lunches are reliably good, and kids get their own menu. Food Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6-9.30pm (all-day menu Fri-Sat)

lively, and it gets rammed on rugby days. Food Daily 12noon-3pm, occasional eves (call in adv)

BOATHOUSE Newbridge Rd, Newbridge, BA1 3NB Tel: 01225 482584, web: www.boathousebath.com ■ Split-level comfort zones (eat, drink and make merry wherever you fancy) and thoroughly modern, flexible menus offer a bang-up-to-date contempo-pub experience, from medi-themed small plates and sharing platters to substantial modern Brit classics. Multiple verandas and a sprawling manicured lawn rolling all the way down to the river. See Restaurants, English.

CHEQUERS 50 Rivers St, BA1 2QA Tel: 01225 360017, web: www.thechequersbar.com ■ Smart little gastropub flourishing under the illustrious ownership of Joe Cussens and Justin Sleath, head honchos of the award-winning Marlborough Tavern up the road and the glorious Hare and Hounds on Lansdown, with a kitchen led by fledgling superstar chef Leigh Evans. ‘Eating at Chequers is a thoroughly democratic experience,’ EOW’s own little checkmate stated recently. ‘Opt for a burger at the bar or a threecourse, foodie-flamboyant feast at a chunky, funky table by the fire. Dress up, dress down or bring man’s best friend with you (Chequers gets a bonus point for being one of the few Bath pubs that welcomes wellbehaved dogs), and expect to be made to feel right at home. It’s truly heartwarming to find a venture that flips the careworn gastropub idiom on its head entirely: a decent pub that serves glamorous, gastronomic grub in the kind of surroundings that make going home a silly idea.’ Food Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6.309.30pm, Sun 12noon-6pm

Home from home Chequers

BOATER Argyle St, BA2 4BQ Tel: 01225 464211 ■ Revamped 18th century pub by the weir, with a large alfresco area making the most of ‘that’ view. Sturdy menu of hearty, filling, homemade favourites and classics, including a superb Sunday roast. Atmosphere is always

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Pubs BATH COEUR DE LION 17 Northumberland Place (off High St), BA1 5AR Tel: 01225 463568, web: www.coeur-de-lion.co.uk ■ Part of the Abbey Ales mini-empire and officially Bath’s smallest pub, the Coeur doesn’t have to leap on the gastropub bandwagon to secure local legend status.

Daytime-only menus push all the right pub-grub buttons (sturdy sarnies, ham and eggs, homemade pies, sausage & mash, enormous fresh salads, perfect Sunday roasts) and flaunt the kind of sourcing details that most other pubs make a stomach-churning screech about. Pavement tables on the traffic-free lane outside. Food Daily 12noon-6pm

CORK 11-12 Westgate Buildings, BA1 1EB Tel: 01225 330470, web: www.thecork.co.uk ■ Crowd-pleasing city-centre pub combining traditional Brit-pub elements (pool tables, big-screen sports, theme nights) with a swanky downstairs bar (The Vaults) and spacious covered, heated alfresco patio to the rear. A

Traditional pub meets swanky bar Cork

lively mix of contemporary and traditional fare (including generously filled doorstep sandwiches) uses fresh, largely locally sourced, seasonal produce to create exceedingly wallet-friendly grub, including excellent Sunday roasts and sociable sharing platters. Food Daily 12noon-9.30pm

CRYSTAL PALACE Abbey Green, BA1 1NW Tel: 01225 482666, web: www.crystalpalacepub.co.uk ■ Big city-centre pub/restaurant on a pretty cobbled courtyard, with a covered, heated garden out back.

Popular with office workers and tourists alike. Food ranges from sturdy sandwiches and filled jacket spuds to Somerset pork braised in cider, chickpea tagine, slowcooked lamb shoulder and superb fish & chips. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-9pm, Sun 12noon-3pm

FAIRFIELD ARMS 1 Fairfield Park Rd, BA1 6JN Tel: 01225 445553, web: www.fairfieldarms.com ■ Unique blend of spruced-up, traditional boozer (with beer garden and open fires) and Haldi Tandoori Indian Restaurant and takeaway. Authentic Indian classics abound, or enjoy a pint and a couple of bhajis at the bar.

Free delivery service (see website). Food Daily 12noon2.30pm & 6-11.30pm

GARRICK’S HEAD St Johns Place, BA1 1ET Tel: 01225 318368, web: www.garricksheadpub.com ■ Classy but classless, highly acclaimed gastropub courtesy of the team behind the illustrious King William.

Pavement tables on the traffic-free lane outside and metro-rustic sensibilities and urbane, urban chic within.

Food is locally sourced, daily changing, top-notch and chef-led. Bar menu features sturdy sandwiches, excellent fish & chips and homemade burgers. Daily-changing ALC typically features moules-frites, cheese tarts, fresh fish, perfect steaks and imaginative seasonal delights. Pretheatre menu (2 £15.95, 3 £18.95, 5.30-7pm) is always popular, and Sunday lunches are spectacular, as is the wine list. Food Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 5.30-10pm, Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-9pm

GASCOYNE PLACE Sawclose, BA1 1EY Tel: 01225 445854, web: www.gascoyneplace.co.uk ■ Tasteful, easygoing cafe-bar/restaurant hybrid serving seasonal modern British delights courtesy of awardwinning chef Ross Shaw and his team. A lively, sparkly bar at street level (also home to one of the most fascinating, extensive wine lists in the city), a cosy snug to the left, a bright and breezy balcony to the right, two upstairs rooms that are among the most elegant in Bath, and evocative subterranean merrymaking area down below, home to free live jazz every Sun night (booking recommended).

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Pubs BATH ‘For innovation, style and quality of this standard, GP rightly deserves its reputation as a jewel in the Heritage City’s gastropub crown,’ said EOW’s own girl-about-town recently. Set lunch and pre-theatre menu (Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-7pm): 2 £13.50, 3 £17. Food Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 6-9.30pm (Fri 10pm), Sat-Sun 12noon-3pm & 6-10.30pm (Sun 10pm)

GEORGE INN Mill Lane, Bathampton, BA2 6TR Tel: 01225 425079, web: www.chefandbrewer.com ■ Cask Marque-awarded Chef & Brewer inn. Big crowdpleasing menu ranges from traditional, well-sourced British classics (including a Sunday roast) and regular fresh fish specials to easygoing contemporary favourites with Mediterranean flavours. In summer, the grassy canalside gardens come into their own. Food Mon-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 12noon-9pm

GREEN PARK TAVERN Lower Bristol Rd, Twerton, BA2 3BD Tel: 01225 400050, web: www.greenparktavern.com ■ Spacious, multi-ambient pub, popular with students and friendly locals who can’t get enough of the GPT’s reasonably priced, robust food, covered beer garden and regular live music/karaoke/DJ events. Splendid Sunday roast incorporates free-range meat and excellent vegetarian options, £5 for students with valid NUS card.

Food 12noon-9pm

GRIFFIN INN Beauford Square, BA1 2AP Tel: 01225 420919, web: www.griffinbath.co.uk ■ A scrubbed-up paean to contempo-pub sensibilities, complete with chunky wooden fixtures and fittings, intelligently well-stocked bar and boutique hotel accommodation upstairs. An excellent full English breakfast (including veggie options) gives way to ploughman’s and sturdy sandwiches on weekday lunchtimes, and a more substantial selection (homemade burgers, fishcakes, sausage & mash) at weekends, alongside sharing platters and light bites. All meat and poultry is free-range and/or organic, and most produce locally sourced. Food Breakfast 8am-11am, lunch etc 12noon-6pm (extended food hours currently under review)

NEW OWNERSHIP HARE & HOUNDS Lansdown Rd, BA1 5TJ Tel: 01225 482682, web: www.harehoundsbath.co.uk ■ Imposing 18th-century alehouse with huge picture windows, large split-level beer garden (with pretty, covered, fairylit area) and swoonsome views across the countryside, now under the illustrious ownership of the team behind the Marlborough Tavern and Chequers.

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Head chef Daniel Moon comes to the H&H from the highly acclaimed Lime Restaurant at Homewood Park; his glorious gastropub menu takes in breakfasts, contemporary pub classics (fish & chips, sausage & mash, ploughman’s), chic mains like (at time of going to press) duo of pork, smoked haddock risotto and hazelnut & goat’s cheese croquettes), superb steaks and sharing platters. The most promising new pub proposition that EOW has come across in many a moon. Food Daily: breakfast 10am-11.30am, lunch 12noon-2.30pm (4pm Sun), dinner 6-10pm

HOP POLE 7 Albion Buildings, Upper Bristol Rd, BA1 3AR Tel: 01225 446327, web: www.bathales.com ■ As you’d expect from a Bath Ales brewery, they pull an excellent pint here. But the restaurant’s locally sourced, imaginative fare-with-flair is what really gets Bathonians excited, with the Hop’s glowing reputation for wellpriced, imaginative gastropub grub. A spectacularly lovely garden out back, while inside the going is as cosy as cosy gets. Highly recommended. Food Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 6-9pm (9.30pm Fri), Sat 10am-9.30pm, Sun 10am-4pm

KING OF WESSEX James St West, BA1 2BX Tel: 01225 303380, web: www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk ■ Part of the huge Wetherspoon chain, in the heart of Bath’s multi-use Kingsmead leisure complex. It’s a busy, bustling boozer with wallet-friendly, crowd-pleasing grub: loud, proud food/beer promos proliferate, but sourcing hasn’t been overlooked in the scrum. Food Daily 9am-9pm

KING WILLIAM PUB & DINING ROOMS 36 Thomas St (off London Rd), BA1 5NN Tel: 01225 428096, web: www.kingwilliampub.com ■ Top-notch, award-winning, highly acclaimed gastro grub in a charmingly eclectic environment that belies the prosaic, main road location. Spectacular daily changing menus are based around local, seasonal produce, all meat and poultry is free-range or organic, and seafood delivered daily from Cornwall (the fish & chips served here are said to be the best in Bath). Set lunch Wed-Fri: 2 £15.50, 3 £19.50. Private dining option for up to 25.

Open Mon-Tue 5-11pm, Wed-Fri 12noon-3pm & 5-11pm, Sat 12noon-midnight, Sun 12noon-11pm Food Mon-Tue 6-10pm, Wed-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10pm, Sat 12noon3pm & 6-10pm, Sun 12noon-3pm & 6-9pm. Dining Rooms open Wed-Sat eves & Sun lunch

MARLBOROUGH TAVERN 35 Marlborough Buildings, BA1 2LY Tel: 01225 423731, web: www.marlborough-tavern.com ■ Despite holding multiple awards (including two welldeserved AA rosettes) and accolades from critics, food guides and Michelin men alike, the MT is most definitely

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Pubs BATH not a high fallutin’, posh destination diner. Regulars treat it as a friendly local that serves fab food to be enjoyed wherever you can grab a place to sit and tuck in - faultless modern British food with plenty of twists on classic themes, created with perfect-pedigree ingredients, and at very reasonable prices considering the quality on offer. ‘The MT represents reliably, unfailingly good food, vibe and welcome,’ said EOW’s resident Tavern trawler recently. Lovely walled garden out back. Food Mon-Sat 12.30-2.30pm & 6-9.30pm, Sun 12.30-4pm (limited menu)

OLD GREEN TREE 12 Green St, BA1 2JZ Tel: 01225 448259 ■ Beams, oak panelling, original fireplaces, ancient wooden floors, six real ales (from microbreweries within a 70-mile radius) and everything from doorstep sarnies to posh Brit-trad classics, all freshly prepared on the premises. Small but perfectly formed, and well worth squeezing yourself into, even on busy days. The Good Pub Guide loves it too. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm

ONE BEAUFORT 1 Beaufort West, BA1 6QB Tel: 01225 334050, web: www.onebeaufort.co.uk ■ Chef Christophe Lacroix has infused upper-crust British gastropub menus at this multi-ambient contemporary pub with Gallic flair and locally sourced, seasonal delights: a stylish, easygoing, supremely tasteful experience away from the tyranny of city-centre stress. Open MonFri 11.30am-3pm & 6-11pm, Sat 11.30am-11pm, Sun 11.30am-10.30pm Food Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 6.309.30pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

PIG & FIDDLE 2 Saracen St, BA1 5BR Tel: 01225 460868, web: www.thepigandfiddle.co.uk • Pretty much an extension of Bath Uni’s Student Union bar, this busy boozer appeals largely to a young crowd (and smokers who dominate heated outdoor tables at the junction of a busy traffic island). Wallet-friendly specials and traditional pub grub, based around largely locally sourced ingredients: Wiltshire ham, egg and chips, or chilli con carne, macaroni cheese and seriously good burgers (including beef & spicy bean, water buffalo, springbok, kangaroo). Sunday roasts go very large here.

Food Mon-Fri 11.30am-6.30pm, Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 12noon-6pm

PORTER George St, BA1 2EN Tel: 01225 424104, web: www.theporter.co.uk ■ Bath’s only fully vegetarian pub (also a live music venue) offers reliably satisfying fare that perfectly suits the lively but laidback atmosphere. Breakfast (from

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11am) is served until a very civilised 1pm, while curries, pies, pastas, burgers bar snacks (excellent nachos) and pizzas (5-9pm) keep munching urges suppressed at very reasonable prices. Pavement seating. Call/see website for details of free live music/DJ events. Food Daily 11am-9pm

PULTENEY ARMS 37 Daniel St, BA2 6ND Tel: 01225 463923, web: www.thepulteneyarms.co.uk ■ Friendly, traditional boozer with wooden floors, comfortable banquettes, roaring open fires and a very well stocked bar. Generous portions of good, honest, homemade food, including classic Sunday roasts and fantastic fresh fish dishes. Pavement tables for lovely urban pub-lunch picnics. Open Mon-Wed 12noon-3pm & 5-11pm, Thur 12noon-3pm & 5pm-12midnight, Fri-Sat 12noon-midnight, Sun 12noon-10.30pm Food Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 6-9pm, Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-9pm, Sun 12noon-3pm

RAM 20 Claverton Buildings, Widcombe, BA2 4LD Tel: 01225 460426 ■ Traditional neighbourhood boozer serving traditional neighbourhood boozer grub, including massive breakfasts, homemade pies, Sunday roasts. Real ales, real pub, really good fun. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-9pm (breakfast from 10am), Sun 12noon-4pm (food times approx - call to confirm)

RAVEN 7 Queen’s St, BA1 1HE Tel: 01225 425045, web: www.theravenofbath.co.uk ■ This small but perfectly formed city centre oasis (guaranteed free of TV/loud music) offers a warm welcome even when packed to the rafters (a not-thatunusual scenario). Excellent wine/ales list and classic bar selection, at the long street-level bar and in the cosy upstairs supper room. Grub revolves around Pieminister pies, local sausages, an excellent ploughman’s, elegant patés, soups and terrines. Food Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 5-8.30pm, Sat 12noon-8.30pm, Sun 12.30-6.30pm

RICHMOND ARMS 7 Richmond Place, Lansdown, BA1 5PZ Tel: 01225 316725, www.jacksonhacker.com ■ Well-heeled Georgian pub in the heart of leafy Lansdown with a light, modern, airy feel and charming beer garden. Delightfully gastro-centric grub comes courtesy of young uber-chef Jackson Hacker (but note limited food hours to avoid disappointment; this is a semi pop-up venture). ‘Jackson’s menus left us properly, perfectly satiated - he’s a chef who clearly understands the importance of fresh, memorable flavours over the bombardment that too much food or too many ingredients

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Pubs BATH can offer,’ said our resident gourmet groupie. ‘Jackson’s work is a joy to behold’. Thur is Steak Night (steak, fries, salad, £10) and Sundays revolve around the roast (2 £12, 3 £16). Food Thur-Sat 6-9pm, Sun 12.30-3pm

RING O’BELLS Widcombe Parade, BA2 4JT Tel: 01225 448870, web: www.ringobellswidcombe.co.uk ■ The perennially popular Ringo combines a friendly, polished atmosphere with polished, friendly food - mainly modern British but with contemporary Medi-themed twists. Spectacular Sunday lunches and excellent tapas.

Well-stocked bar with a great range of wines, conti-beers etc. Private hire available. Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 5-11pm, Sat-Sun 12noon-11pm Food 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10pm

Abbey Ales. No menu as such, but well-stuffed rolls and generous complimentary Saturday bar snacks (from quail’s eggs and sausage rolls to big cheeseboard selections) make this truly original gem worthy of a mention here. Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 5.3011pm, Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm

VOLUNTEER RIFLEMAN’S ARMS New Bond St Place, BA1 1BA Tel: 01225 425210 ■ Small, welcoming pub offering homecooked traditional pub grub and a good selection of traditional local ales alongside standard bar goodies. Open Mon-Thur 11am-1am, Fri-Sat 11am-2am, Sun 12noon-11pm (may close early on weeknights, according to demand) Food Daily 12noon-3pm

SALAMANDER

WESTGATE

3 John St, BA1 2JL Tel: 01225 428889, web: www.bathales.com ■ No TV, no fruit machines, no fuss - just nice folk, a good atmosphere and a cosy feel… exactly what we’ve come to expect from a Bath Ales pub. Refreshingly straightforward pub bar at street level and cosy firstfloor supper room. Nearly all ingredients in the kitchen are locally sourced. Bar menu features possibly the best homemade burger in Bath (with perfect chips) and incredibly well-stuffed sarnies alongside gloriously Brittrad snacks. Mains (including classics like fish & chips, pies, hotpots) go satisfyingly large here. Food Mon-Thur 10am-3pm & 6-9pm, Fri-Sat 10am-3pm & 6-9.30pm, Sun 10am-5pm

38 Westgate St, BA1 1EL Tel: 01225 461642, web: www.gkpubs.co.uk/pubs-in-bath/ westgate-pub ■ Scrubbed-up city-centre pub serving reasonably priced, crowd-pleasing pub classics, from full-on full English breakfasts to snacks/nibbles/light lunches, proper fish & chips, big burgers, macho steaks and Sunday roasts.

Food Daily 12noon-10pm

SAM WELLERS Upper Borough Walls, BA1 1RH Tel: 01225 474910, web: www.samwellersph.co.uk ■ City-centre hotspot specialising in classic pub grub (steaks, fish & chips, pie & mash, all-day breakfasts, Sunday roasts) and a good pint (or three). Food Mon-Sat 12noon-9.30pm approx (5.30pm Sun)

WHITE HART Widcombe Parade, BA2 6AA Tel: 01225 338053, web: www.whitehartbath.co.uk ■ Much-loved cornerstone of the Widcombe ‘scene’, where the spacious bar and dining rooms lead through to a gorgeous urban oasis in the courtyard outback. Food is of the unpretentious, modern, Michelin guide-endorsed variety, and the signature rough pesto/hummus is the stuff of local legend. Food Daily 12noon-9pm

Stylish, easygoing, supremely tasteful One Beaufort

SARACEN’S HEAD Broad St, BA1 5LP Tel: 01225 426518 ■ Ancient, historic boozer slightly marred by concessions to tourists, sports fans and stag do’s. Traditional fare like beef & ale pie and Sunday roasts, with some veggie options. Food Daily 12noon-9pm

STAR INN Vineyards (opp The Paragon), BA1 5NA Tel: 01225 425072, web: www.star-inn-bath.co.uk ■ Grade II-listed, Camra-endorsed, fruit machine/ music-free real-ales corker with a history dating back to the 16th century, 19th-century wooden interiors and a well-stocked bar courtesy of local brewery/proprietors

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Out of Town Restaurants & Cafes

Out of Town Restaurants & Cafes ANGELFISH Canal Visitor Centre, Brassknocker Hill, Monkton Combe, BA2 7JD Tel: 01225 723483 ■ Handily placed out on the Kennet and Avon canal, the Angelfish gladdens the heart of cyclists and walkers as well as boat people from the marina, so Sunday lunch can be busy, especially on a sunny day. Cafe offers a good choice of traditional English and continental fare: light snacks, proper hearty grub, generous puddings. Open Mon-Sun 10am-5.30pm APPLE TREE INN West Pennard, Glastonbury BA6 8ND Tel: 01749 890060, web: www.appletreeglastonbury.co.uk ■ Having established Bath’s Wheatsheaf as a gastronomic destination, chef Lee Evans and partner Ally are doing the same for this lovely refurbished country pub with rooms. With the same commitment to local and seasonal food imaginatively prepared with flair, it’s already well-established on the foodie radar, while their dog-/ kiddie-friendly attitude (half portions available as well as ‘specials’) is making them friends all round. Seasonal delights include cheese fondue for two with dipping asparagus and fruit toast soldiers (£10.95), and guinea fowl & wild garlic kiev with spring veg and cider sauce.

Open Tue-Sat 11am-2.30pm & 6-11pm, Sun 10.30am-4pm AT THE SIGN OF THE ANGEL Church St, Lacock, nr Chippenham, Wilts, SN15 2LB Tel: 01249 730230, web: www.lacock.co.uk ■ Tucked into the heart of the history lesson that is Lacock village this place is a classic example of olde Englishe done right: original wood panelling, timbered ceilings and British fare given a contemporary twist. Vital to the fresh flavours, they grow much of what they cook: hens range free out the back and bread comes fresh from the oven. Try the special lunch menu (2 £13.95, 3 £18.95) with rod-caught homesmoked trout fishcakes or homemade casserole of the day reliably satisfying options. Set dinner, too (2 £17.95, 3 £22.95). Open Daily 12.30-2pm & 7-9pm BARLEY WOOD WALLED GARDEN Long Lane, Wrington, N Somerset, BS40 5SA Tel: 01934 863713, web: www.walledgarden.co.uk ■ Last year the Observer Food Monthly named this place Britain’s Best Ethical Restaurant for their ongoing quest to pursue the local, seasonal and sustainable and turn it into planet-preserving deliciousness of the highest order.

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Restored by the Bristol Ethicureans to full splendour, the walled garden itself produces all the veg and herbs for the glasshouse cafe (as well as a box scheme and market stalls). Great veggie options and locally reared Mendip meat on the ever-changing menu. Sunday lunches are a legend - booking essential. Open Tue-Thur 10am-4pm, Fri 10am-11pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm BATHAMPTON MILL Mill Lane, Bathampton, BA2 6TS Tel: 01225 469758, web: www.thebathamptonmill.co.uk ■ It’s a short stroll out of Bath to this popular riverside pub-restaurant. Enjoy sharing platters of sticky pork ribs with watermelon, chicken satay skewers, lamb koftas, flatbread, tzatziki, radish & sesame salad (£15.95) or one of their flame-grilled ‘spit chicken’ choices (£12.95).

Sunday lunch (two courses from £12.95) comes with all the trimmings and more – like newspapers and medicinal bloody marys. Waterside garden for summer, a choice of roaring fires for winter, and a friendly welcome all year round. Food Daily 12noon-10pm (10.30pm Fri-Sat, 9pm Sun). ALC: 12noon-2.30pm & 6-9.30pm BRAZZ AT THE CASTLE Castle Green, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1NF Tel: 01823 252000, web: www.brazz.co.uk ■ One of Taunton’s hipper wine bars, with a comprehensive selection of well-chosen bottles. A contemporary take on European dining, with a strong leaning towards classical English through the use of wellsourced local produce. Steaks are cut from dry-aged ruby red Devon beef and served with caramelised onions, field mushrooms, tomato confit and, of course, chips. Veggie options include wild mushroom ‘mac’ and cheese with truffle oil. Good-value fixed-price menu (12noon-3pm & 6-7pm) is £12 for two courses, £15 for three. Open Mon-Fri 10am-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 10am-10.30pm CAFE LA STRADA 13 Cheap St, Frome, BA11 1BN Tel: 01373 474374, web: www.cafelastrada.co.uk ■ If the reputation of Jude Kelly’s smart, eclectic cafe is getting ever more widespread, that’ll be down, in large part, to her remarkable ‘senso’ ice-cream, homemade from local milk and boasting unusual flavours (grapefruit & peppercorn) alongside classic vanilla pod. The menu, from breakfast onwards, brings a kaleidoscope of continental tastes and seasonal specialities, including breakfast pancetta, asparagus with saffron & white wine cream, and Portuguese pastel de nata tarts. Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm CALCOT MANOR Tetbury, Glos, GL8 8YJ Tel: 01666 890391, web: www.calcotmanor.co.uk ■ Take your pick of dining experiences at this imposing

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Out of Town Restaurants & Cafes manor house hotel where the finely judged skills of head chef Michael Croft lie behind the tempting menu. Formal dining in the Conservatory Restaurant offers fixed-price lunch (2 £22, 3 £27): Cornish fish stew with new potatoes and Avruga caviar, roasted free-range Madgett’s duck with honey & blood orange parsnip puree and roasted salsify.

ALC includes spring vegetable risotto with Berkswell cheese emulsion (£15), and Richard Vaughan’s roasted middle white pork with saltimbocca, white bean puree and sage & onion stuffing (£20). Over in the Gumstool pub, starters come in two sizes (‘ample’ or ‘generous’), allowing you to pick a lighter main course if classic English mains like steak & kidney pudding seem a little daunting.

CEDARS RESTAURANT AT HOLBROOK HOUSE Wincanton, Somerset, BA9 8BS Tel: 01963 824466, web: www.holbrookhouse.co.uk ■ Two AA rosettes for their fine-dining menu and a big nod of approval from Taste of Somerset judge Michael Eavis himself. Ambitious, imaginative dishes like duo of mackerel with carpaccio of beetroot, or oven-roasted breast of chicken with chorizo, bulgar wheat and thyme jus, continue to attract Wincanton’s finest to this classic country dining room with splendid countryside views.

Midweek dinners (2 £18.95, 3 £24.95) and enduringly popular Sunday lunches (2 £19.50).

CELLAR 36 Hill Rd, Clevedon, BS21 7PJ Tel: 01275 340340, web: www.thecellarclevedon.co.uk ■ They take their wine very seriously in this grade II-listed building whose illustrious past includes origins as an apothecary. The wine list is one of the most extensive to be found in these parts, with an excellent selection of beers and lagers, too. Food is European-inspired, with classic tapas dishes for small-plate dining and more hearty Italian pasta for carb-hunters. Save room for pudding, though, and you’ll find some sumptuous specials regularly on offer.

Open Tue-Thur 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 11am-4pm CLAVELSHAY BARN Lower Clavelshay Farm, North Petherton, nr Bridgewater, TA6 6PJ Tel: 01278 662629, web: www.clavelshaybarn.co.uk ■ Taste of the West silver award for the past three years on the trot. Head chef Guy Horley takes whatever he can find from the rich agriculture of the Quantocks and his own plentiful walled garden to supply his kitchen, creating dishes like ‘Clavelshay on a Plate’ from garden leaves, freerange eggs and homecured bacon, or trio of Clavelshay rabbit with pear & chilli chutney. Pork, rose veal, rabbit, pigeon and pheasant all come from their farm, and everything bought in is fully traceable, but the important thing is that Guy knows exactly what he’s doing. Open Wed-Sat from 7pm, Sun 12noon-2pm

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COMBE GROVE MANOR HOTEL Brassknocker Hill, Monkton Combe, Bath, BA2 7HS Tel: 01225 834644, www.barcelo-hotels.co.uk ■ Just outside Bath, with a grand view over the Avon valley, Combe Grove offers formal evening dining in the Georgian Room Fri-Sat and more family-friendly eating every day, lunchtime and eves, in the Eden Brasserie.

The latter uses the atmospheric vaulted cellars of the 18th-century building, with outside dining in summer for its classic British fare from the grill. The Georgian Room earns its two AA rosettes courtesy of head chef Darren Lewis’s modern European approach to seasonal ingredients. Open: Lunch: Brasserie 12noon-2.30pm.

Dinner: brasserie daily from 7pm, restaurant Fri-Sat from 7pm COMBE HOUSE HOTEL & RESTAURANT Gittisham, Honiton, EX14 3AD Tel: 01404 540400, web: www.combehousedevon.com ■ Head chef Hadleigh Barrett and sous chef Stuart Brown are the two young brains behind the Combe House kitchen, and their efforts to source great food to complement produce from the hotel’s own kitchen garden paid off when 2011’s Good Food Guide applauded the ‘measured pizzazz’ of their creations. They earned high praise for their wine list, too, as representing great value and quality. Given the magnificent countryside setting of this Elizabethan manor house, things don’t come cheap: three-course table d’hote with canapes £52, Sunday lunch £37 for three courses.

NEW ELSTON’S@507 507 Bath Rd, Saltford, BS31 3HQ Tel: 01225 873108, web: www.elstons507.co.uk ■ Not so much new as a new start: after a two-year sabbatical from the place Virginia and Chris Elston, original proprietors of this homely Saltford bistro, have returned to the business with ‘Ginny’ taking control of the kitchen. Lunch has a decidedly traditional flavour: satisfying British dishes including bubble & squeak with bacon and poached egg (£4.50), and ham, egg and potato wedges (£6.75). Evening menu offers classics like liver and bacon with mash, slow-roasted lamb shanks with rich onion gravy, and gourmet faggots from an award-winning Welsh butcher. Check the specials board, and you may find Italian or French dishes, as well as catch-of-the-day fish.

Sunday lunch (£8.95 main dish) is the full monty.

FAT FOWL 10 Silver St, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1JX Tel: 01225 863111, web: www.fatfowl.com ■ This stylish place in the heart of Bradford on Avon’s atmospheric old town is known for two things – jazz and tapas. With a long-established policy of using local and seasonal produce, the evening menu has classic tapas

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Out of Town Restaurants & Cafes dishes around the £4 mark (patatas bravas, calamari and chorizo stew) and dinner-menu treats like escargot with roquefort and garlic (£6) or grilled halloumi with chickpea cake, poached egg, confit cherry tomatoes and tapenade (£11). Popular daytime breakfast menu merges into Euroflavours for lunch. Open Daily, all day GARDEN CAFE 16 Stony St, Frome, BA11 1BU Tel: 01373 454178, web: www.gardencafefrome.co.uk ■ Starting with hearty breakfasts, Frome’s veggiefriendly Garden Cafe offers well-crafted meatless delights – their cashew nut and bean patties and special Thai burger are worth the trip alone – and now that they’ve got a stone-based pizza oven, they’re even more popular. Afternoon cakes taken in the garden itself are a particular treat; children are well catered for with their own menu (including organic baby food). Naturally it’s all properly sourced, thanks to their long-established local, Fairtrade and organic philosophy. Open Mon-Thur 8.30am-7pm, Fri-Sat 8.30am-late, Sun 10.30am-5pm HARDWICK Old Raglan Rd, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, South Wales, NP7 9AA Tel: 01873 854220, web: www.thehardwick.co.uk ■ This gourmet gastropub is one of South Wales’ best dining destinations, thanks to chef/proprietor Stephen Terry’s skills and imagination. Deeply committed to using the rich produce from the farms around Abergavenny, Terry can rustle up simple Welsh rarebit on slow-cooked ham hock with shallot, pea shoot & caper salad (£9) or lavish you with meat in complex sharing servings like Bah Bah Black Sheep or A Taste of Local Beef (£48/£54 for two). Wine list is correspondingly top-notch. Open Lunch Tue-Sun 12noon-3pm. Dinner Tue-Sun 6.30-10pm HARLEQUIN CAFE Kilver Court, Kilver St, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 5NF Tel: 01749 340410, web: www.kilvercourt.com ■ With a well-established farm shop, the cafe offers visitors to its beautiful gardens a fine range of fresh, seasonal produce with a local pedigree. Sharpham Park Butchery burgers are fine chunky pleasures, served with Burts crisps, red pepper relish and salad leaves (£7.95); vegetarian specials include pumpkin & shallot spelt risotto with side-salad (£7.50). Open Daily 9am-5pm LIME RESTAURANT AT HOMEWOOD PARK Hinton Charterhouse, nr Bath, BA2 7PT Tel: 01225 723731, web: www.homewoodpark.co.uk ■ At this luxurious hotel and spa, head chef Daniel Maudsley keeps up the award-winning standards from the substantial breakfasts onwards. Afternoon tea is very popular (finger sandwiches, homemade cakes and

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scones, £19.50, in the stylishly refurbished dining room), but it’s the ALC dinner (3 £42.50) that steals the limelight with niceties like beetroot ice-cream and line-caught sea bass served with coriander gnocchi, carrot and cumin and grilled chicory. Gourmet overnight stays £150, including a specially devised five-course menu. Open Lunch 12noon-2pm, afternoon tea 2.30-5.30pm, dinner 7-9pm JACKS BAR & BRASSERIE Portishead Marina, Harbour Rd, Portishead, BS20 7AW Tel: 01275 397304, web: www.jacksbrasserie.co.uk ■ Like its sister establishment on Bristol’s dockside, this smart, friendly, family-run eatery is one of the treats in Portishead’s bustling marina area. The sensibly priced menu reflects chef Simon Davis’s wide experience of European cuisine as well as the best local produce from the region: starters like haddock & chilli fishcakes with red pepper aioli (£5.95), mains like slow-cooked shoulder and roast cutlet of lamb with dauphinoise potatoes and rosemary jus (£16.95). Lunchtime deals on Sun (2 £13.95, 3 £16.95). Open Mon-Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 11am-8pm JACK’S RESTAURANT Hartham Park, Corsham, Wilts, SN13 0RP Tel: 01249 700100, web: www.jacksrestaurantandbar.co.uk ■ There’s a fine no-nonsense approach to using fresh ingredients inspired by Hartham Park’s feast of homegrown ingredients throughout the menu at Jack’s. Chef Jamie Hirst offers Hartham Park porridge and sausages for breakfast; the goodies roll on through elevenses, lunch and afternoon tea. Dinner menu similarly avoids the over-fussy: Brixham crab, artichoke & rocket salad (£6.75) and chargrilled pork chop with curly kale, sauté potatoes and carrot puree (£14.50) are among the sturdily English options. Popular, greatvalue early diner offer on Thur (3 £18, 6.30-7.30pm), but book in advance. Open Mon-Wed 8am-6pm, ThurFri 8am-9pm, Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 12noon-4pm LORDS OF THE MANOR Upper Slaughter, nr Bourton on the Water, Glos, GL54 2JD Tel: 01451 820243, web: www.lordsofthemanor.com ■ With a Michelin star and three AA rosettes, it’s not cheap, naturally, but the three-course dinner menu (£69) includes awesomely tasty treats like ravioli of Burford Brown egg yolk and truffled potatoes, or Gloucester Old Spot suckling pig. The classic Sunday lunch (3 £40) is the real deal. Enormous cellar for the perfect wine, beautiful scenery and stunning 17th-century surroundings.

LUCKNAM PARK HOTEL: THE PARK & THE BRASSERIE Colerne, Chippenham, Wilts, SN14 8AZ Tel: 01225 742777, web: www.lucknampark.co.uk ■ Firmly ensconced in the Michelin guide thanks to

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Out of Town Restaurants & Cafes Hywel Jones’ relentless quest for perfection, this has to be the top gourmet dining destination in the Bath area. With dishes like poached langoustines with potato mousse, osetra caviar and gribiche dressing or loin of Andrew Morgan’s Brecon venison with butternut squash, cannelloni of chestnuts and sloe gin sauce, the gourmet-menu price tag (3 £90) is hardly surprising.

But don’t overlook their AA rosette-winning brasserie, a much more affordable option boasting a wood-fired pizza oven and lunch deals (2 £19, 3 £21). Open Dinner Tue-Sat 6.30-10pm (last orders) & Sun lunch. Brasserie: 7.30am-10pm MANOR HOUSE HOTEL: BYBROOK RESTAURANT Castle Combe, Wilts, SN14 7HR Tel: 01249 782206, web: www.exclusivehotels.co.uk ■ Happily, all last year’s media attention (Britain’s Best Dish, Great British Menu) hasn’t deflected Bybrook’s culinary guru Richard Davies from doing what he does best: ensuring that the restaurant retains its Michelin star for the careful artistry of the food they prepare.

Dinner costs £60 (three courses), with wine matching available thanks to a wine cellar that regularly reaches the AA Wine Awards finals. Market Lunch menu (2 £25, 3 £30) sees local, seasonal produce turned into elegant dishes. Open Tue-Sat 12.30-2.30pm, Sun-Thur 7-9.30pm, Fri-Sat 7-10pm MARCO PIERRE WHITE STEAKHOUSE BAR & GRILL AT CADBURY HOUSE Frost Hill, Congresbury, Bristol, BS49 5AD Tel: 01934 839019, web: www.mpwsteakhousebristol. co.uk ■ Step past the towering, glowering image of Marco Pierre White, kitchen ninja, and you’ll find yourself in a subtly opulent and retro-stylish recreation of a smart English steakhouse circa 1963. Taking the menu from the highly successful Wheelers of St James’s as his starting point, there’s a consciously unpretentious menu (fish, pies, grills), but it’s the 28-day-aged native-breed beef steaks served with chips cooked in beef dripping that dominate. Wash it down with a pint of his independently brewed Guv’nor ale. Open MonSat 12noon-3pm & 6-9.30pm (10.30pm Fri-Sat), Sun 12.30-9pm MOODY GOOSE AT THE OLD PRIORY Church Square, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2HX Tel: 01761 410846, web: www.theoldpriory.co.uk ■ They get going early here with their executivetempting Business Breakfast/Brunch (£7.95), with coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice and that allimportant Wi-Fi. The main business, however, comes later with impressive contemporary European food like fresh asparagus, tomato & leek panna cotta with a deepfried quail egg, or roasted guinea fowl with cassoulet of

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beans, boudin blanc and chicken livers. Lush desserts include rhubarb tartlet crumble, vanilla custard and rhubarb ice-cream. Open Mon-Sat 8am-2pm & 7-9.30pm OAKWOOD AT TRACY PARK Bath Rd, Wick, nr Bath BS30 5RN Tel: 0117 9371800, web: www.tracypark.co.uk ■ Set in a golf resort, in an area of outstanding beauty.

Food at the Oakwood rises to the challenge thanks to head chef Philip Clench who’s earned the place two AA rosettes and a Top Table gold award. His approach is rooted in British classic style, using the best possible ingredients and adding imaginative presentation touches. Sun lunch (2 £15.95, 3 £19.95) is a great-value way to explore the place. Open Daily: breakfast 7-10am, dinner 7-9pm, Sun lunch 12.30-2.30pm OLD BUTCHER’S 7 Park St, Stow-on-the-Wold, Glos, GL54 1AQ Tel: 01451 831700, web: www.theoldbutchers.com ■ Smart, contemporary dining room with an adventurous approach to nose-to-tail dining thanks to its own hand-reared pigs - try pig’s ear, sweetbreads and Bath chaps, all cooked to traditional standards. Eyecatching mains include razor clam, pea & bacon risotto (£15.95), calves’ brains, capers, lemon and parsley (£16.95). Open Daily. Lunch: 12noon-2.30pm. Dinner: Mon-Fri 6-9.30pm, Sat 6-10pm, Sun 12noon-2.30pm NEW OLD DOWN BISTRO Foxholes Lane, Tockington, BS32 4PG Tel: 01454 414958, web: www.olddownbistro.co.uk ■ Just outside Thornbury in a bright new barn conversion, this place has nailed its eco-colours to the mast, pledging to source everything possible from within a 20-mile radius. Meat comes from Days House Farm; eggs, veg and herbs are on the doorstep, with a Victorian walled garden. Sophisticated evening dining features cream of pea & ham veloute scented with truffle oil (£6) and fillet of salmon with braised chorizo lentils, tomato fondue and tomato & cumin jus (£16.95).

Indulgent carnivores can share a massive 24oz cote de boeuf with all the trimmings for £40. Open Thur-Sat from 7pm MARCO PIERRE WHITE’S PEAR TREE INN Whitley, Wilts, SN13 9AT Tel: 01225 709131, web: www.wheelerspeartree.com ■ Another of Marco Pierre White’s excursions, this tastefully refurbished pub with rooms houses one of MPW’s steakhouse grills, with old-school British cooking that focuses on the quality of ingredients rather than complicated presentations. The charming building sits in a fine orchard garden outside Whitley - try a summery pint of Guv’nor, White’s independently brewed

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Out of Town Restaurants & Cafes ale. Good-value offers include set lunch and dinner (2 £15.50, 3 £18.50) and a two-course steak dinner for two (£29.50). Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6-9pm PEPPER POT Lower Wick, nr Dursley, Glos, GL11 6DD Tel: 01453 810259, web: www.thepepperpotrestaurant. co.uk ■ A proper Cotswold pub, with stone floors and sturdy wooden furniture, but given a smart update that hints at what goes on in the kitchen – tip-top contemporary cooking using all the richness of the local produce (including meat from their own farm). Taste of the West gold in 2011, but locals needed no persuading of the merits of this very popular pub restaurant. Rack of Cotswold lamb (£18) and oven-roasted local wild venison (£17.50) vie with the enormous chateaubriand steak (£47.50 for two); excellent veggie options include hazelnut, rice & vegetable roast. Open Tue-Sun 12noon2.30pm, Tue-Sat 6.30-9.30pm PONY & TRAP Knowle Hill, Newtown, Chew Magna, BS40 8TQ Tel: 01275 332627, web: www.theponyandtrap.co.uk ■ Thanks to sheer hard work and a brilliant touch in the kitchen, young Josh Eggleton has become a towering figure in the Bristol restaurant scene. At the heart of it is this little country pub, rescued from dilapidation and turned into a Michelin-starred gastropub without losing all the charm of its original location. Lunch dishes like fricassee of lamb’s kidney, sweetbreads and mushrooms (£6.50) and dinner treats like Bath chaps with hodge podge, onion soubise and poached egg (£6.50) give you a flavour of where he’s coming from – and that’s just for starters. Adv booking essential, but very worth the wait. Open Tue-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 7-9.30pm, Sun 12noon-3.30pm & 7-9.30pm PRINCE OF WALES Dunkerton Hill, Peasedown St John, Bath, BA2 8PF Tel: 0845 201 6036 ■ Isda sa toyo (pan-fried seabass in rum, ginger, chillies, garlic soy sauce and sesame oil, served with pan-fried oriental vegetables and rice, £11.90) nestles comfortably alongside bangers & mash (Lincolnshire ring sausage in rich onion & red wine gravy, with mustard mash and peas, £8.95), reflecting the owners’ harmonious mix of British and Philippine cultures. A warm, welcoming reception within splendidly historic stone walls. Open Mon 5-11pm, Tue-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 5-11pm, Sat-Sun 12noon-10.30pm PRIORY INN London Rd, Tetbury, Glos, GL8 8JJ Tel: 01666 50225, web: www.theprioryinn.co.uk ■ Cotswold flatbread might sound a bit implausible, but

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when you’ve got your own wood-fired oven and you’re slap-bang in the middle of those hills, then why not?

Homemade bread and pizzas, and ingredients mostly from within a 30-mile radius. Try fish pie with Bibury trout, smoked haddock and short-line-caught white fish in white wine cream sauce with a cheesy potato topping (£11.95), or baked caponata of courgette, portabellini mushroom and red peppers topped with fresh Alham Farm mozzarella and basil, with green leaf salad (£11.95). Good range of very real ales in the bar. Open Lunch: 12noon-3pm, dinner: 6-10pm, pizza Mon-Fri 5-10pm, Sat-Sun 12noon-10pm RONNIES 11 St Mary St, Thornbury, Bristol, BS35 2AB Tel: 01454 411137, web: www.ronnies-restaurant.co.uk ■ Now making waves on the Bristol scene with his Muset restaurant, but it was this Thornbury diner that first brought chef Ronnie Faulkner to our attention, not least when the place was declared Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year in 2009. Fine dining inside this tastefully refurbished, atmospheric old schoolhouse comes courtesy of chef George Kostka’s faithful continuation of Ronnie’s contemporary cuisine. Fixed-price dinners available (2 £19, Tue-Thur), plus an impressive lunch offer (2 £10), as well as the full ALC. Open Tue-Sat 10am-2pm & 6.30-9pm, Sun 12noon-2.30pm SORREL AT STON EASTON PARK HOTEL Ston Easton, nr Bath, Somerset, BA3 4DF Tel: 01761 241631, web: www.stoneaston.co.uk ■ New head chef Tom Bally’s 15-year cooking career has included spells at Bath’s Moody Goose and Royal Crescent, and he brings a strong sense of the local to his food philosophy. Ston Easton Park’s beautiful setting provides him with a well-tended Victorian walled garden and glasshouses and one of the best-stocked wine cellars hereabouts. The Sorrel’s two-AA-rosette Georgian dining room features opulent, imaginative Bally classics: ‘Collage of Autumn Mushrooms Cooked in Various Ways with Dacquoise Biscuit’, ‘New Season Truffle English Partridge with Bubble & Squeak Croquette, Stuffed Leg and Roasted Salsify’. Open Daily 12noon-2pm & 7-9pm TERRY M AT CELTIC MANOR Coldra Woods, Usk Valley, South Wales, NP18 1HQ Tel: 01633 413000, web: www.celtic-manor.com ■ We don’t know who Terry M is (or was) but they must have done something good to have one of Wales’ top diners named after them. With three AA rosettes over the door, the former Crown restaurant team have established fine dining at the golfing resort hotel, with a seven-course taster menu and wine flight (£110) including dishes like torchon of duck liver cooked in port with a walnut wafer, and an award-winning

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Out of Town Restaurants & Cafes gourmet Sunday lunch (2 £26, 3 £29.50). Less imposing choices on site include the Olive Tree’s pizza, grills and platters. Sunday lunch carvery with live jazz bands is very popular.

THORNBURY CASTLE Castle St, Thornbury, BS35 1HH Tel: 01454 281182, web: www.thornburycastle.co.uk ■ Chef Mark Veale is the latest helmsman to steer these venerable kitchens, and he must be aware of the 500-year history that precedes him. Nods to tradition include an annual celebration of game cooking on the ‘Glorious’ Twelfth of August, but that’s only one of the ways in which his menu works with the seasons. The Tudor castle’s own vegetable gardens provide much inspiration, and there’s a homegrown wine from their own vineyard – though the excellent cellar stocks such a wide and well-chosen range that The Wine Spectator have given it their Award of Excellence. Open Daily 12noon-2pm & 7-9.30pm (10pm Fri-Sat) WHATLEY MANOR: THE DINING ROOM & LE MAZOT Easton Grey, Malmesbury, Wilts, SN16 0RB Tel: 01666 822888, web: www.whatleymanor.com ■ In a career that started in Bristol’s Brunel Tech, Martin Burge has notched up many achievements, including a spell at the Manoir Au Quat’ Saisons before inaugurating the kitchen at Whatley Manor. Nearly 10 years later, the Dining Room is one of the UK’s Michelin two-star elite, offering opulent dishes like venison loin roasted and served with its own sausage, 100% grated bitter chocolate and reduced shiraz wine, and crisp cannelloni of mango filled with its own mousse and dressed with lime curd and mint ice-cream. Given its status, however, you can dine for less than you might expect, with set lunches in the Swiss chalet-inspired Le Mazot (2 £19, 3 £24) and a three-course Sunday lunch for £28. Open Dining Room: Wed-Sun 7-10pm. Le Mazot: daily 12noon-2pm & 7-10pm WHEATSHEAF AT COMBE HAY Combe Hay, nr Bath, BA2 7EG Tel: 01225 833504, web: www.wheatsheafcombehay. co.uk ■ This stylish, historic inn in the quintessentially English village of Combe Hay (complete with divine alfresco opportunities) has deservedly earned itself great acclaim around these parts, thanks in no small part to head chef (and Gordon Ramsay/Michael Caines protégé) Eddy Raines, whose seasonally changing, modern British, locally sourced menus are an utter joy to behold. Squidgy fireside sofas, funky art and artfully laid-up tables within make the Wheatsheaf an all-weather paradise. Proprietors Ian and Adele Barton’s bring combined passions for game, wine and

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a genuinely warm welcome. EOW’s own country maiden declared it ‘prandial perfection in a pastoral paradise’.

Market Menu (lunch and early dinner) brings Eddy’s wares at down-to-earth prices (2 £14, 3 £18), Sun lunch brings a feast (2 £19.50, 3 £24.50) and the full-blown Tasting Menu is £60. Three ALC courses cost about £40, excluding tipples from the fabulous wine list. Food TueSun 12noon-2.30pm (last orders), Tue-Sun 6-9.30pm, Fri-Sat 6-10pm WILD DUCK INN Drakes Island, Ewen, Cirencester, Glos, GL7 6BY Tel: 01285 770310, web: www.thewildduckinn.co.uk ■ Everybody’s happy here. Vegetarians get a real choice, dietary needs are attended to, kids get their own menu. Light nibblers enjoy pan-European tapas (£3, £10 for four); hearty eaters tuck into grilled sea bass fillet, roasted red pepper, feta cheese & guacamole (£16.95) or wild boar & apple sausage cassoulet with beans, tomatoes and garlic (£14.95). Head chef Richard Mann often pops next door to Highgrove for his meat, and finds as much local organic produce as possible, hence the fresh-tasting excellence on offer at this fine 16th-century inn. Food Mon-Fri 12noon-2pm & from 6.45pm, Sat-Sun all day WOODFORD LODGE Chew Valley Lake, Chew Stoke, Bristol, BS40 8XH Tel: 01275 331365 ■ Given their idyllic lakeside setting it was an inspired decision when Woodford Lodge added an evening meal session for those blissfully calm moments after the day’s bird watchers, ramblers, fisherfolk and sailors have gone their way. Interesting bar-menu dishes for lunchtime and eves, including kids’ menu, jacket potatoes and mains like steamed smoked trout fillet with beer & onion sauce and fresh vegetables (£9.50).

Evening ALC in the restaurant brings whole Chew Valley trout en papillote with toasted almonds and parsley lemon butter (£12.50) and pork noisette and black pudding with sour cream & onion sauce (£10.50). Open Daily 8am-11pm Food Daily 12noon-2.30pm, Wed-Sat 5.30-9pm WOODLANDS COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL Hill Lane, Brent Knoll, Somerset, TA9 4DF Tel: 01278 760232, web: www.woodlands-hotel.co.uk ■ High tea is a proper recreation of the glories of cucumber sandwiches, pork pies and smoked salmon, with cream scones to follow (£15.95, under-10s halfprice). There’s a similar sense of West Country heritage about the evening ALC: garlic mushrooms, sirloin steak and roast breast of wild pheasant alongside the more exotic spanakopita or citrus prawns and the positively racy-sounding Menage a Trois (actually a triple dish of dessert treats). Open Daily 12noon-2pm & 5.30-9pm

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Out of Town Pubs

Out of Town Pubs ANCHOR Church Rd, Oldbury-on-Severn, BS35 1QA Tel: 01454 413331, web: www.anchorinnoldbury.co.uk ■ You’ve missed the village’s annual fun run (with the Anchor at its heart) but look out for a fancy dress comp, fairground, live music, skittles tournament and tug-of-war come June 2013. Rehydrate afterwards with draughts including Bass, Butcombe, Otter and weekly changing guest. Traditional English homecooked food (sirloin steak, lamb shank, belly of pork, lamb’s liver, lasagne, fish pie, ploughman’s and ham, bubble & squeak) using local produce is served in both dining room and bar. No under-18s in the bar, but they’re welcome in the lovely garden and dining room. Fourteen boules pistes to the rear.

CURRENTLY CLOSED ANCHOR Ham Green, nr Pill, N Somerset, BS20 0HB ■ Picturesquely situated pub, overlooking the village cricket ground, with panoramic views across the valley out back. As we go to press, our man in Ham Green tells us there’s a sign in the window saying that it’s currently closed.

APPLE TREE Shoscombe, nr Bath, BA2 8LS Tel: 01761 432263, web: www.appletree-inn.co.uk ■ ‘The steaks, from Terry’s of Bath, are so good that one regular won’t eat steak anywhere else. The fish, from Wing of St Mawes, gets here in no time,’ wrote our

chap of this homely boozer in a beautiful hamlet. Mark and Mandy preside over a 250-year-old hostelry with a handsome flagstone floor, wheelchair-friendly toilets, impressive smoking area and slider in a sizeable garden.

Baguettes, jackets, steaks, venison, kangaroo, sea bass, five-bean chilli and child-sized meals. There’s Bath Ales Gem and Wadworth’s 6X on draught, Stella and Foster’s, Cheddar Valley, Thatchers Dry, Thatchers Gold, Westons Traditional and a good wine selection. Nearby cycle route links Shoscombe parish with a national cycle network.

APPLE TREE INN West Pennard, Glastonbury, BA6 8ND Tel: 01749 890060, web: www.appletreeglastonbury.co.uk ■ Taken over in 2011 by renowned local chef Lee Evans and wife Ally. Fabulous modern British dining at this pub dating back to 1680, where fireplaces and rustic tables create a warm welcome. See Out of Town Restaurants and Cafes.

BATTLEAXES Bristol Rd, Wraxall, BS48 1LQ Tel: 01275 857473, web: www.flatcappers.co.uk ■ As we go to press, work is beginning on a downstairs cider bar and accommodation, due for completion in August 2012. ‘Sprawling over several areas, shiny floorboards lend a stately-home air aided by tasteful paintings and taxidermy – you half expect Bertie Wooster (or a ghost carrying its head) to appear. Look closer, and you’ll find furniture and menu items echoing the Lounge chain’s style. This may be Deco and Tinto’s posh country cousin, but their manner is relaxed, welcoming and similarly quirky,’ wrote our man. Find steak, fish, chicken breast, burgers, pies and chops, plus grazing dishes (sticky lemon chilli chicken wings, stuffed vine leaves, chorizo, crayfish, patatas bravas).

The men’s toilets have their charms, too.

BEAR & SWAN

Battleaxes

13 South Parade, Chew Magna, BS40 8SL Tel: 01275 331100, web: www.fullers.co.uk ■ ‘You’ll find that lovely London Pride on tap, but the uninspiring exterior gives no indication of the excellence within. Smart surroundings incorporating much reclaimed timber and some neat lighting create a feel as much of a bar as a pub. Indeed, there’s enough sophistication in the air to get you thinking of wine. I’m in a shirazy mood and the fantastically bodied beauty checks out wonderfully,’ wrote our man. Thirty-strong wine list accompanies mussels, chicken liver parfait, fish & chips, local steaks, passionfruit panna cotta, chocolate fudge brownies. The unusual name allegedly comes from there originally being two pubs on site. ‘True or not, today you’ll find a classy dining side, bustling bar and covered smoking area,’ our man continued. ‘Smokers sit outside and have the window opened to pass their drinks

PIC: MARK SIMMONS

Relaxed, welcoming, quirky

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Out of Town Pubs through. I’m told they spend the night there…’ Drinks include London Pride, Butcombe, Heineken, Ashton Press, Symonds Reserve, Aspall’s. August often brings a cider festival in the sunny garden.

BECKFORD ARMS Hindon Lane, Fonthill Gifford, SP3 6PX Tel: 01747 870385, web: www.thebeckfordarms.com ■ Following an extensive fire in July 2010 (just after the place won a Wiltshire Pub of the Year award), normal service has clearly been resumed at a pub praised by the likes of Times Online. Food (served all day) changes constantly, but expect salads such as twisty pig cheek, and Torbay crab with jersey royal potatoes. Other light dishes include green pea soup with ham and croutons; mains feature Pythouse lamb, chilli greens, sauteed potatoes and wild garlic, or homemade gnocchi with Dorset mushrooms, butternut squash puree, sage, pinenuts and parmesan. Eight bedrooms, with Wi-Fi, digital radios and Bramley bathroom products designed and created especially for the pub (also for sale at the bar). The popular sitting-room Sunday film screenings are back.

from Lincolnshire as much by Somerset’s beautiful scenery as by the debonair air of this destination diner.

“We’d have blokes in tweed smoking pipes all day if it were still legal!” they told our chap, whose mum tucked into ‘a marvellously meaty chicken & ham pie with “just right” pastry’. Real ales as went to press were Courage Best and Directors, and Rode Ale and Gold, joined on draught by Guinness, Thatchers Gold and Scrumpy.

Look out for country and western in August, and village cat Oscar (who sometimes goes by the name of Dave) strolling around the patio. “He talks to everyone!” Sally told EOW. ‘Come leaving time,’ said our man, ‘Rode’s campanologists’ joyous pealing drifts across on the mild evening air - a ringing endorsement for the most appealing Bell.’

BELL AT SAPPERTON Sapperton, nr Cirencester, Glos, GL7 6LE Tel: 01285 760298, web: www.foodatthebell.co.uk ■ Over the years, this pub - near the source of the Thames - has acquired much recognition: Gloucestershire Dining Pub of the Year, and the Good Pub Guide decreeing it one of the UK’s top 10 pubs.

BELL

BLUE BOWL

The Green, Frampton-on-Severn, Glos, GL2 7EP Tel: 01452 740346, web: www.thebellatframpton.co.uk ■ ‘The Bell stands beside the 22 acres of what’s reputedly England’s largest village green. It’s not so much a green as an ocean with grass, and is named after Fair Rosamund, a mistress of Henry II. With a thatched Tudor cottage and mighty oaks adjoining it, it’s only 25 minutes from Bristol but feels centuries away,’ wrote our man. There’s a big-family feel, with Shetland ponies, pygmy goats, miniature Gloucestershire Old Spots and petting opportunities. Kiwi cricketing immortal Sir Richard Hadlee – first to 400 Test wickets - is an honorary life member of the club playing on the green, and the food bowls our man over, too. Winter brings robust dishes (pork loin, lamb shank), fish includes whole lemon sole, and specials change weekly. August brings a beer and cider festival. Draughts as we go to press are London Pride, Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, Butcombe and a Moles Brewery brace - try Elmo’s Fire or Rucking Mole. Savouring a pint while watching the cricket is a thing of beauty, but dropping in to dine is even better. ‘The free-range chicken is four epic lumps of bird living happily in gravy that’s a meal in itself.

Railway sleeper-sized chips join a flavoursome spinach & mushroom lasagne. Portions are as big as the green.’

West Harptree, nr Bristol, BS40 6HJ Tel: 01761 221269, web: www.thebluebowl.co.uk ■ Hats off to the BB, headline sponsor of 2012’s Chew Valley Bed Race: ‘almost the best fun you can have in a bed’. This beautiful 18th-century Cask Marque Trustrated pub boasts a large beer garden, big playground and massive menus: Chew Lake trout (seasonal), excellent pub grub (pies, pasta, steak, burgers, veggie options, regular blackboard specials), kids’ menu and choice of roasts on Sun. Superb real ales – London Pride and guests - and an extensive wine list. Four

Bustling bar, classy dining Bear & Swan

BELL INN 13 Frome Rd, Rode, Somerset, BA11 6PW Tel: 01373 830356, web: www.thebellatrode.com ■ A change of ownership at this former Flatcapper pub since last year’s guide, with David and Sally drawn here

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Out of Town Pubs well-appointed letting rooms, kids welcome till 9pm, disabled access to both bars, and disabled toilet.

BOARS HEAD Main Rd, Aust, South Glos, BS35 4AX Tel: 01454 632278, web: www.boarsheadpub.co.uk ■ Olde-worlde traditional 16th-century building just off the M48 and near the site of the former Aust Ferry (don’t forget shades, drainpipes and camera if you’re after recreating the Bob Dylan No Direction Home soundtrack cover photo). Huge beer garden; beams, fireplaces and eye-catching wall stuff within.

Food is lasagne, burgers, sausages & mash, pie of the day and breaded plaice, with vegetarian options like aubergine pasta. Kids’ options, roast on Sun, and Wed is spice night (curry and drink £7.95), while Thur grill brings two meals and wine for £20, and a 2-4-1 offer runs Mon-Fri. Pedigree and Ringwood Best always on, plus guest, with Foster’s, Carlsberg and Kronenbourg draught lager and Strongbow on tap.

BOWL INN Church Rd, Lower Almondsbury, nr Bristol, BS32 4DT Tel: 01454 612757, web: www.thebowlinn.co.uk ■ Popular 16th-century inn in a quintessential English village, minutes from the Almondsbury interchange.

Find traditional pub favourites with a twist on a daily changing menu, plus kids’ meals and Tue steak night.

Six ales on draught, Peroni, Amstel and Thatchers on tap, and a good range of wines. Parts of this picturesque, whitewashed stone inn were originally the three cottages erected in 1146 to house the monks building the adjacent church of St Mary the Virgin.

Later, the tunnels between these cottages, the church and priory were created to afford protection against marauding foreign invaders. The present building

Opened in 1550 – and still going strong Bowl Inn

became a licensed inn in 1550, and was used by James II’s sheriffs in the 17th century to try supporters of the Duke of Monmouth. There’s no interrogation today, but you will find onsite accommodation and alfresco seating.

BULL INN AT HINTON Hinton, nr Dyrham, SN14 8HG Tel: 0117 937 2332, web: www.thebullathinton.co.uk ■ Don’t be mislead by the dialling code – when you get here you’ll know you’ve left Bristol, while Bath (and Castle Combe Circuit) are a 10-minute drive.

Find some of EOW’s most extensive game dining at the Bull, located in a converted dairy with 500 years of history and two huge fires. Venison, pheasant rabbit, partridge and other seasonal dishes are sourced locally and cooked expertly to order. Strong fish options on the specials board, plus mains like steak & ale pie, fish & chips, burgers, lamb’s liver, bacon, ham, egg & chips, and stilton, leek & mushroom crumble.

Permanent ales are 6X, IPA and Summersault. Huge lawn with outdoor seating.

BULL TERRIER Croscombe, Somerset, BA5 3QJ Tel: 01749 343658, web: www.bullterrierpub.co.uk ■ Nigel Vile’s Pub Walks Near Bristol & Bath is just one publication in which the Bull Terrier appears, a pub finding itself in more books than Roy Keane. Other references include Egon Ronay, the Good Pub Guide, Which?, Michelin and the AA. It’s one of Somerset’s oldest inns: the building, which follows the traditional pattern of a medieval house, was rebuilt in the late 1400s. The inglenook bar (once the main hall) had fireplace and ceiling added in the 1500s - check out those original beams. The beers are great: four always on, with Gorge Best ever present and the eponymous Bull Terrier Bitter appearing every couple of months.

Homecooked meals served daily, from homemade pasta and meaty pies to tasty veggie options. Kids welcome, overnight accommodation (suitable for over-16s, up steep stairs), and wheelchair access to the pub.

CAREW ARMS Crowcombe, nr Taunton, Somerset, TA4 4AD Tel: 01984 618631, web: www.thecarewarms.co.uk ■ Multi-award-winning destination-dining inn – eat in the restaurant with views over the well-established garden or the flagstone bar with inglenook. Food offerings across the board, from lighter summer dining through fresh fish to steaks, gammon and beyond (current offer of two courses for £10). Exmoor Ale and Otter Bright always on, with colourful guests.

The current Burnished Brass hails from independent Triscombe-based Six Trees Brewery, Somerset’s 13th and newest, with a PV solar array in the park to

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Out of Town Pubs its rear. Other guest Wills Neck from the Quantock Brewery takes its name from the highest point of the eponymous hill range. Quiz and bingo monthly, six accommodation rooms, private dining room. They’re thinking about holding another of their beer and blues festivals come August.

CARPENTER’S ARMS Stanton Wick, nr Pensford, Somerset, BS39 4BX Tel: 01761 490202, web: www.the-carpenters-arms. co.uk ■ Featuring in the Good Hotel Guide for the past two years, this charming pub created from a terrace of ivy-clad stone-fronted miners’ cottages boasts big fireplaces, plush leather furniture and solid wooden tables. Regularly changing menu uses top-quality seasonal produce in Thai chicken curry, sea bass fillet, belly of pork. Fish lovers get festivals, vegetarian dishes include mushroom, roasted red pepper & spinach risotto, and special diets are catered for, given prior notice. Dedicated kids’ menu, terrace garden, 12 ensuite rooms and real ales Butcombe, Otter and Doom Bar currently on.

CASTLE INN 10 Mount Pleasant, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1SJ Tel: 01225 865657, web: www.flatcappers.co.uk ■ “We get mums in for coffee and a natter at 9.15am after dropping the kids off. We function as a cafe-bar by day, with a mixed clientele,” our man was told. He noted that ‘with its reclaimed furniture and fittings and quirky black and white photographs, Lounge chain-lovers won’t be surprised to find one of its ranks with a stake in proceedings here’. This country cousin also boasts its city slickers’ laidback mood, with an informal approach to eating. No reservations – it’s a first-come-first-served basis and you’re free to chow down where you wish. Extensive breakfast/brunch menu (giving vegetarians an inventive twist on the full English), grazing choices, pub classics (fish pie) and comfort food (braised faggots), with all dishes chef-produced onsite and all appetite sizes catered for. Six real ales always on, including Flatcapper; other draughts include Estrella Damm, Stella 4, Stowford Press, Lilley’s Apples and Pears. ‘Upstairs accommodation overlooking Westbury’s equine landmark makes an evening stay very tempting - check the White Horse as night falls,’ concluded our man.

mistaken for the devil - you had to be there…’ wrote our chap, who wishes he had been. An impressive building, with much of it dating back to the 15th century. Highly regarded for its homecooked food: pies, steaks, game stew, chicken tarragon and gnocchi, with Heston Blumenthal, Hugh Grant and Stuart Pearce among former illustrious diners. Using local produce when available, all food is freshly prepared.

Eating areas include an elegant dining room and small sunny patio. Several real ales on, plus an excellent wine list and comfortable ensuite rooms.

CROSS GUNS Avoncliff, nr Bradford on Avon, BA15 2HB Tel: 01225 862335/867613, web: www.crossguns.net ■ Popular? They recently served 1,500 people over three days. Star-studded? Gary Oldman visited twice in August 2009, writing: ‘Thank you for the fantastic grub!’ Kevin Spacey, Ross Kemp, several of the Genesis collective and Mark McGann have also been in. Food worthy of the setting ranges from starters like deepfried brie or black pudding through classics like ham, egg & chips, lasagne and steak & ale pie, on to some marvellous mains. Stunning 17-strong fish menu takes in cod (in Tunnel Vision batter) & chips, salmon fishcakes and sardines, plus pangasius from Asia and North African river fish tilapia. Snapper comes Thaistyle; the ray wing boasts Cajun flavours. It’s all very impressive stuff, as is the poultry range (four chicken dishes plus duck). A gourmet grill selection, famed for decades, brings gammon, mixed grill and steaks ranging from 8oz rib-eye to 16oz T-bone. You want comfort food? The steak stick & chips is a grilled sirloin with sauté mushrooms in barbecue marinade with melted cheese topping, the chicken club baguette & chips features ham, chicken, tomato, onion and grated

Rural charm meets Pall Mall refinement Catherine Wheel

CATHERINE WHEEL

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PIC: MARK SIMMONS

High St, Marshfield, nr Bath, SN14 8LR Tel: 01225 892220, web: www.thecatherinewheel.co.uk ■ ‘Clean, smart and orderly, this is a rural pub with more than a hint of Pall Mall refinement. A chandelier hangs in the high-ceilinged dining room. It’s all a far cry from the day when a soot-covered monkey was

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Out of Town Pubs cheese, and Sunday’s roast pork roll boasts pork, sage stuffing and apple sauce in a seeded bun. Try resisting that on a cold December afternoon. Featured in 2012’s Good Beer Guide: expect five or six Box Steam Brewery beers (Piston Broke, Chuffing Ale) and Wold Gold, a blonde beer from Yorkshire. Ciders include Toodle Pip and Core Blimey, with fine wines (and Gale’s fruit wines) and about 20 malt whiskies. Reservations for the busy, popular restaurant are essential at weekends.

Onsite accommodation includes a four-poster bed, with attractive riverside decking new here since last year’s guide.

CROSS HOUSE High St, Doynton, South Glos, BS30 5TF Tel: 0117 937 2261 ■ Parts of this pub, which stands on an expansive crossroads, date back 300 years. Signature pies include chicken, mushroom & bacon, steak & kidney, with lamb shanks and hunter’s chicken also on. Owner Andre Large’s fondness for a good wine saw him give our chap a sample of a foxy shiraz when he popped in.

A beauty!

CROSS KEYS Midford Rd, Bath, BA2 5RZ Tel: 01225 849180, web: www.crosskeysbath.co.uk ■ Traditional, historic, picturesque, family-friendly (kids get their own menu) country pub. Previous

A fondness for fine wines Cross House

Septembers have seen a generation-spanning shindig with stalls, face painting and bouncy castle (check website for events). Originally a coaching inn, built in the early 1700s, it still has open fires in the woodpanelled bars. Everything’s cooked to order, wherever possible using fresh produce from local suppliers.

Meat, fish and vegetarian specials change frequently; a new tapas menu was due as we went to press. Gem, Landlord, Doom Bar and Butcombe on tap. Extensive garden (one of the prettiest hangouts for smokers), dogs and walkers welcomed, and the no-jukebox/fruitmachine rule makes indoors peaceful even when it’s crowded with ramblers.

CROWN Tolldown, Dyrham, nr Bath, SN14 8HZ Tel: 01225 891166, web: www.ohhcompany.co.uk ■ Traditional country inn infused with sublime contemporary flourishes, from decor to menus. Food is Medi/modern British (impressive fresh fish range).

Roaring log fires, low beams and artful use of Cotswold stone add to the easygoing, good-time atmospherics.

See website for foodie events. A triumvirate of Wadworth’s tipples: 6X, IPA, Horizon.

CROWN INN The Batch, Skinners Lane, Churchill, BS25 5PP Tel: 01934 852995 ■ Parts of this one-time coaching inn, 20 minutes from Bristol, date back twenty-score years from the 21st century. During our visit a local passed by on trusty steed Oliver, bidding good day to the friendly manager; cyclists and ramblers also incorporate it into their routes. Wonderfully unspoilt and unchanging, with a gloriously rustic interior, 450 years of history and regulars by whom you could set your watch. Our man sampled gorgeously flavoursome cauliflower cheese from a menu using locally sourced ingredients; the cattle in the field across the way star in the rare beef sandwiches. Dishes include casseroles, ploughman’s, chilli, lasagne, salads. Wonderfully bucolic pastimes include sloe-gin and carrot-growing competitions. When it’s sunny, the terrace is a gem; back indoors, the fireplace burns 10 months of the year. Numerous Camra awards for well-kept beer served from barrels behind the bar.

DOG INN Badminton Rd, Old Sodbury, BS37 6LZ Tel: 01454 312006, web: www.the-dog-inn.co.uk ■ Suffice to say, Facebook wasn’t around 500 years ago when this Dog was born, but in 2012 this pub’s page is used to engage regulars in all manner of activities. Charity walk sponsorship, musicians and singers (for jamming nights and shows), cooks, comments on community radio and support for a

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Out of Town Pubs performance event are all sought, proof of a very lively Dog indeed. This grade II-listed lovely on the Cotswold Way (all dogs like a walk) retains the character and charm of its half-a-millennium of history. Large menu includes fresh fish and veggie options; lunchtime mains from £5.15. Cosy indoors; small courtyard and large garden outside. Children get their own extensive menu. Roasts on Sun; two real ales on. Letting rooms, too.

DRUIDS ARMS Bromley Rd, Stanton Drew, BS39 4EJ Tel: 01275 332230 ■ ‘USPs don’t come more spectacular than the car-sized stones in the Druids Arms’ beer garden.

Possibly here 5,000 years, they’re an arresting sight for the least spiritually inclined, let alone the druids dropping in regularly,’ reported our chap, whose visit coincided with a druid wedding reception. Expect the unexpected whenever you drop in – the Morris men were doubtless back for the solstice, three ghosts allegedly reside here, and regular charity mouseracing evenings raise over £1,000. And there are unprintable goings-on behind Stanton Drew’s curtains if the stories that the barmaid’s daughters told our man are true. As we go to press, a holding manager is in place. She’s knocked food prices down a bit and added dishes like all-day breakfasts and gammon to accompany the traditional, homemade country fare (Full Monty omelette, casserole, curry, liver & onions, fish & chips) already on offer. Butcombe, Doom Bar, Courage Best, Ashton Press, Thatchers Gold and Stella among the draughts. ‘The pub isn’t merely at the heart of its village; it is its village, but newcomers are welcomed with open arms – druid or otherwise,’ said our man.

DUNDRY INN Church Rd, Dundry, nr Bristol, BS41 8LH Tel: 0117 964 1722, web: www.dundryinn.co.uk ■ Last year’s guide reported on this pub being sold. It looks as though the buyers have been doing a fantastic job since, with one diner declaring on the website that he’d eaten ‘the most outstanding meal’ of his 48 years within its walls. It is, we’re told, the only eatery in the area serving kopi luwak - civet coffee, the world’s most expensive, made in a most extraordinary way. (EOW’s researcher had to go all the way to Bali for his - a long story.) A makeover has brought stylish touches, and the seasons-reflecting ALC features a dozen options nightly, with pan-fried sea bass evincing the culinary calibre. ‘If you want to go upmarket,’ declared The Guardian in May 2012, ‘try the Dundry Inn.’ Two real ales (Doom Bar and guest), monthly quiz, and hog roasts when the sun’s shining. ‘The garden is a perfect spot from which to enjoy Ashton Court’s summer

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ballooning,’ commented our man, but ensure you come back of a dark night to experience the fantastic view of Bristol’s lights offered nearby. Hats off to a reinvention that’s created a pub worthy of its location.

FAILAND INN Clevedon Rd, Failand, nr Bristol, BS8 3TU Tel: 01275 392220 ■ Victorian coaching inn close to the gothic revival estate of Tyntesfield. Enticing menu boasts plenty of wholesome homecooked food (curries, chillies, lasagnes) plus lunchtime specials daily. Five real ales on at any time currently include Butcombe Mendip Spring, Doom Bar and Courage Best, Beck’s Vier and Butcombe Blond. The pub has a dubious claim to fame: in 1871 a former police constable hanged himself in the barn ‘during a state of temporary insanity’.

REOPENING CAMPAIGN UNDER WAY FLEECE INN Chapel Lane, Hillesley, Wotton-under-Edge, GL12 7RQ Tel: 01453 843751, email: info@thefleeceinnhillesley. com ■ ‘Arrive via the A46 and there’s a stunning view to behold as you descend to the achingly quaint village of Hillesley, which makes the setting for Miss Marple’s murder mysteries look like the Bronx,’ wrote our chap.

Arrive - via whichever road - today and it’s rather to be hoped you’ll find this pub newly reopened. As we go to press it’s currently closed, but negotiations have been under way since November 2011 for a community purchase comprising more than 70 investors from the aforementioned village, who’ve pledged to raise £350,000. Contracts have been exchanged and completion is due shortly after we go to press.

Essential repairs will then need to be completed, and

Proper-job village pub Druid Arms

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Out of Town Pubs plans are for the reopened pub to serve food daily, with coffee from 10am. Expect local, homemade, good-value, simple-but-quality dishes, local beers from the likes of Wickwar, Uley and Butcombe, and wines by the glass and bottle. EOW hopes that reports of the Fleece’s demise have been greatly exaggerated and that Miss Marple will have no mystery to solve after all.

FOX & BADGER Wellow, nr Bath, BA2 8QG Tel: 01225 832293, web: www.foxandbadger.co.uk ■ Wellow is the dinkiest little village in the most secluded setting, yet over the years it’s drawn visitors from far and wide. Author Michael Robotham chose the Fox & Badger as a location in his murder/mystery book Bleed for Me, which was reviewed on Channel 4’s The TV Book Club. Decades earlier, Sir Peter Blake (of Sgt Pepper’s fame, but just plain Peter then) lived in the village in a converted former railway property. Try the ploughman’s here in the safe custody of landlord Eric, a master cheeseman, along with steak & ale pie, lasagne, bangers & mash, faggots and ALC options, plus regularly changing specials like Thai curry.

Skittle alley, quiz first Thur monthly, and enduring attraction West Highland terrier Hamish, now 13. Four real ales - currently Doom Bar, Butcombe, London Pride, Old Speckled Hen.

GEORGE High St, Norton St Philip, BA2 7LH Tel: 01373 834224, web: www.georgeinnnsp.co.uk ■ The management come and go here but, thankfully, none are inclined to change the attractions at what’s reputedly one of England’s oldest continuously licensed public houses. This grade I-listed building has offered hospitality for nearly 700 years and stages medieval buffets for groups of up to 50. Two bars, two well-appointed dining rooms, a guest lounge and eight luxurious ensuite rooms. Even the courtyard’s ancient cobbles are worth contemplating - little wonder that numerous film/TV productions have been staged here. Seasonally changing food is served in both bar and restaurant, and beers include 6X, Henry’s IPA, Bishop’s Tipple and other Wadworth’s ales.

GEORGE Manor Rd, Abbots Leigh, nr Bristol, BS8 3RP Tel: 01275 372467, web: www.thegeorgeinn.uk.com ■ Now fulfilling its potential as a food-led destination pub, following something of a rollercoaster ride, this 18th-century inn, popular with walkers, reopened in late 2010. Since then, chef/owner Dan Powell has broken his arm, causing it to be closed for a month towards the end of 2011. All seems now set for a successful year, though, with a monthly newsletter

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keeping patrons informed. Dan’s CV includes time at Raymond Blanc’s two-Michelin-starred Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons. Permanent real ales include Doom Bar, Gem and Butcombe, with recent guests including Tribute and the lesser-spotted Betty Stogs.

GEORGE & DRAGON High St, Pensford, BS39 4BH Tel: 01761 490516 ■ New management arrived at this handsome, historic (over 400 years old) former coaching inn a few weeks before we went to press. They’ve been drawn to its pretty location (and no doubt its ties to the infamous Judge Jeffreys, roaring open fires, exposed brickwork and plentiful original beams). Traditional homecooked food takes in sausage & chips, burgers, homemade specials, Sunday roasts. Quiz and monthly bands due to arrive, or make your own fun via the pool table and skittle alley. Function room, too.

GEORGE & DRAGON High St, Rowde, SN10 2PN Tel: 01380 723053, web: www. thegeorgeanddragonrowde.co.uk ■ Award-winning gastropub where fish is particularly renowned (starter of scallops with black pudding, whole cracked crab straight from Cornwall) and veg is locally grown. Regarded as a restaurant that also serves beer, rather than the other way round, it serves lunch and dinner Mon-Sat, plus traditional Sun roasts. A great summer garden in which to enjoy your fabulous food (barbecues planned) and three letting rooms - two ensuite, one with a private bathroom.

Excellent value for money, with a three-course dinner around £60 for two. Party catering for anything from dinner parties of 10 to weddings for 150.

GEORGE INN West St, Lacock, nr Chippenham, Wilts, SN15 2LH Tel: 01249 730263, web: www.wadworth.co.uk/lacock/ george_inn ■ ‘Lacock – a Wiltshire village owned almost entirely by the National Trust – may be only 40 minutes’ drive from Bristol (and less from Bath) but its look is centuries away,’ said our man. ‘Mentioned in the Domesday Book, its ancient streets are routinely used for filming locations, with Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Cranford, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince among productions using its historical feel to ensure bygone authenticity. It’s no wonder that tourists flock there, with a goodly number of American accents overheard when we visited the George, a pub dating back to 1361.’ The pub’s dogwheel - a spit formerly turned by a specially bred dog called a turnspit - makes for compulsive viewing. Given Lacock’s popularity, you may not get a dining table immediately, but there’s

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Out of Town Pubs plenty to occupy any wait. A new boss has arrived here from Pucklechurch’s Rose & Crown since last year’s guide. He’s expanded the real ale range (now four to six at any time), while a simpler main menu (still changing every couple of months) offers pies, fish & chips, and ham, egg & chips, with grander dishes (mussels, sea bass, duck, tuna) on the specials board.

Sandwiches are joined by baguettes in colder weather and there’s seasonality within vegetarian offerings, such as spring’s pea & lemon risotto.

HOLCOMBE INN Stratton Rd, Holcombe, BA3 5EB Tel: 01761 232478, web: www.holcombeinn.co.uk ■ Featured in the Domesday book, and renowned for having one of the best beer gardens in Somerset (spectacular views over the surrounding countryside, Mendip Hills and Downside Abbey), it’s a famous spot for the most beautiful sunsets. A brilliant wine list has been personally selected by the owners, with more than 20 sold by the glass. Find local ales and ciders, lagers including an English one, and a huge collection of malt whiskies. Food offerings are similarly impressive. Garden and bar food brings maize-fed chicken salad with jersey royals, and smoked trout fillet with lemon mayonnaise and dill. Vegetarian choices include nut & seed mock meatballs with feta and kalamata olives. On the main menu, starters include pigeon breast salad, beetroot, locally bunched carrots, baby leaves and toasted seeds, while mains include scallops with black and white pudding and sweetcorn puree. The classics range is just that, with upgraded takes including trio of butcher’s sausages with herbed mash and red wine gravy, and honey-roasted ham, duck eggs, homemade chips and pineapple chutney. Double-sided wood-burning stove, eight accommodation rooms.

for soaking up summer sun. Butcombe, Bath Ales and Sharp’s on draught.

HORSE & GROOM INN The Street, Charlton, nr Malmesbury, Wilts, SN16 9DL Tel: 01666 823904, web: www.bespokehotels.com ■ Box Steam Brewery offering Golden Bolt (served here alongside 6X) takes its name from the legend (urban myth?) that Brunel incorporated a golden bolt into the construction of the Royal Albert Bridge linking Cornwall and Devon, a story infinitely too good to check. Bagger of four out of a possible five stars from the Daily Mail in 2010, this gorgeous 16th-century Cotswold stone coaching inn has traditional flagstone floors, roaring fires, a stunning walled garden and separate children’s play area. Pop in for a pint and a quick bite or linger with family and

Great in winter, splendid in summer Hope & Anchor

HOP POLE Limpley Stoke, nr Bath, BA2 7FS Tel: 01225 723134 ■ A star of the silver screen, with a scene from Creation (based on the life of Charles Darwin) and the pub scene from The Remains of the Day both filmed here. Hang around long enough and you might get a part as an extra. Over 400 years of history, a great garden, an impressive menu and finely kept ales.

HOPE & ANCHOR Midford Rd, Bath, BA2 7DD Tel: 01225 832296, web: www.hopeandanchormidford. co.uk ■ Freshly prepared traditional dishes, plus more modern counterparts, take in sausage & mash, fishcakes, fish and local venison. Great in winter, with its roaring fire, and the tiered garden is a godsend

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Out of Town Pubs friends - and Fido (they’re very pet-friendly here).

Quality food at sensible prices via seasonally changing, locally sourced menus full of imaginative modern British cuisine. Check website for events and offers.

HUNTER’S LODGE Priddy, Somerset, BA5 3AR Tel: 01749 672275 ■ Our man has fond memories of dropping in on research duty to discover a boozer belonging to a bygone era. Its remote location on a crossroad lends mystery, as though this is a place on earth where time truly does stand still. Not exactly a one-off - the reopened Tuckers Grave conveys a similar magic - but its rarity elevates it to almost national-treasure status.

Turn your mobile off, step through the door, then choose from an array of beers kept in casks resting in a line like cannons aboard HMS Victory. Landlord Roger Dors has been here 65 years (licensee for 42 of them), having arrived as a six-year-old, and it’s likely that little has changed since then. Locals, cavers, walkers and cyclists enjoy three to four real ales in the homely surrounds indoors or garden. Come here for conversation or quiet contemplation, but not karaoke. Find Roger Wilkins’ award-winning cider, and wholesome, hearty food including homemade soups, faggots & peas, cauliflower cheese, pasta, chilli.

INN AT FRESHFORD The Hill, Freshford, BA2 7WG Tel: 01225 722250, web: www.theinnatfreshford.co.uk ■ They’re seeing stars - in more ways than one - at this grade II-listed building (dating from 1745) that was once a wealthy family’s summerhouse. Word reaches EOW of Ross Kemp, accompanied by his dog (possibly an old English sheepdog, although details are

Fresh game a speciality Kings Arms

sketchy) dropping in recently, but better still are the star-gazing nights (on which stargazy pie is served) staged here on an ad hoc basis. Extremely clever chap Professor Michael Perryman gives a talk before skywatchers relocate to the sizeable garden’s telescopes to put theory into practice. Lamb cutlets, pan-fried medallions of venison, baked salmon fishcake and chargrilled horseshoe gammon steak evince the impressive food offerings, with beer-battered fish & chips and beef burger & chips to take away. Sideorders include a bucket of chips, suitable for two or more to share - another clever idea at a pub clearly coming up with more than most. Expect at least four beers from the Box Steam Brewery, with around 14 guest ales arriving for August’s beer festival.

JOLLY SAILOR Mead Lane, Saltford, BS31 3ER Tel: 01225 873002, web: www.jollysailorpub.com ■ Arrive via the winding narrow road, by bike along the cycle path or even by boat to this peaceful setting with its own river island and lock. Selection of quality bar snacks and more substantial meals to enjoy on the lovely heated patio or in the conservatory.

KING WILLIAM INN Tunley, nr Timsbury, Bath, BA2 0EB Tel: 0845 206 1376, web: www.kingwilliaminn.co.uk ■ A friendly welcome and classic country pub charm make this a fine place to head for, while the cobbled courtyard and renovated barn make a splendid setting to sample their cooking. Classic pub food, made with care and consideration for sourcing: good range of steaks and burgers, and mains like Butcombe beerbattered cod with chunky chips, or homemade chilli with mint yoghourt and crusty bread roll. BBQ out in the yard.

KINGS ARMS The Street, Didmarton, nr Badminton, Glos, GL9 1DT Tel: 01454 238245, web: www.kingsarmsdidmarton. co.uk ■ Built in 1652 and grade II-listed. Expect three real ales such as Uley, Butcombe and Brakspear.

Fresh game is a speciality, and the seasonal menu, complemented by fresh daily blackboard specials and a creative selection of lighter snacks and hearty meals, uses the freshest ingredients and best local produce.

Steak night Mon.

KINGS ARMS Litton, Somerset, BA3 4PW Tel: 01761 241301, web: www.kingsarmslitton.co.uk ■ Hats - or should that be laurel wreaths? - off to the Kings Arms for its fancy-dressed Olympics celebrations.

This quintessential country pub (fireplaces, old beams,

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Out of Town Pubs

Go wild in the country Druids Arms

Stanton Drew ■ Abbi Titmouse, Chris Mouse - and Bill Gates - have competed in mouse racing here. Expect more big names next time.

Pelican

Chew Magna ■ Cricket grudge match, street music, graffiti artists and Indian, Nigerian, West Indian & Chinese food, with pumpkin weigh-in come October.

Inn at Freshford

Freshford ■ One Beatle at July’s Olympics party, four Bootlegs here in August. Your choice...

flagstone floors) offers 600-year-old surroundings that include a restaurant and pub, with offerings in the latter including grilled sardine salad, Harptree ham & cheddar toast, lamb pie, steak & stilton pie, ploughman’s, pizza.

Abbott, Butcombe and Old Speckled Hen on draught; IPA, Old Bob and St Edmund in bottles. Food is served 12noon-11pm, there are six accommodation rooms, and the Chew Valley river runs outside.

KINGS ARMS Monkton Farleigh, nr Bath, BA15 2QH Tel: 01225 858705, web: www.kingsarms-bath.co.uk ■ ‘Indoors, an L-shaped room boasts fat leather sofas, perfect for chilling with cocktails, and a classy dining area leading on to the county’s largest inglenook,’ wrote our man. ‘Outdoors, guests find an attractive courtyard on arrival and a three-level garden to the rear.

Attractive, square parasols lend a colonial feel while the extensive ivy covering this beautiful building’s Bath stone hints at its 11th-century priory origins. A sizeable car park is perfect for parking the Bentley – or old banger.’ Food is English, seasonal and locally sourced: Scotch egg, crackling with apple sauce, crispy Devon whitebait, slow-roasted belly pork, pigeon breast.

Around 20 wines by the glass; lots more by the bottle.

This place is also known for its spirits - and not just its drinkable ones.

KINGS HEAD 36 High St, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2SG Tel: 01749 672141, web: www.kingsheadwells.co.uk ■ The building has been around for 700 years, though it only became a hotel/bar as recently as 1604 - the back bar’s stunning medieval ceiling is worthy of the journey alone. Grub is traditional yet contemporary: whitebait salad, cheeseboard, cod & chips, faggots, chicken & bacon stack, bangers & mash, ploughman’s. Three local ales: Merlin’s Magic, Potholer and guest. Function room, quiz, live music and karaoke; bingo on second Wed of the month brings prizes like wine and cash.

LANGFORD INN & RESTAURANT Lower Langford, nr Churchill, BS40 5BL Tel: 01934 863059, web: www.langfordinnbristol.co.uk ■ Award-winning rural pub with an excellent reputation for quality food and drink, attracting families and foodies alike.

LIVE & LET LIVE PIC: MARK SIMMONS

Clyde Rd, Frampton Cotterell, BS36 2EF Tel: 01454 772254, web: www.bathales.com ■ ‘Four years to the day after the best party at a brewery ever, Bath Ales are again Venue’s hosts for a congenial evening,’ wrote our man. You’re in the right place, then, for some ace drinking, with Bath Ales beauties complemented by some choice guests: RCH’s Steam

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Out of Town Pubs Showers and East Street Cream on offer as we go to press. Freshly made, homecooked food takes in pie of the day, home-battered cod & chips, slow-roasted belly of pork, rump steak. Expect a whole host of ales and ciders up for downing at Frampton Cotterell’s July beer fest. Sunday quiz.

LOCK KEEPER Bitton Rd, Keynsham, nr Bristol, BS31 2DD Tel: 0117 986 2383, web: www.lockkeeperbristol.com ■ Expect plenty of barrels (being emptied but not smoking) when this Keynsham stunner stages its fifth Lockstock music event in August 2012, with regular live music staged before and after then. ‘Samir and Azenora Hadzigrahic spent three years running establishments south of the Thames before winding up here, and it feels as though they’ve brought a pinch of Putney with them,’ wrote our man. ‘The extensive, modern, stylish conservatory here leads onto a similarly impressive decked area, beyond which lies the first of two sizeable gardens, both overlooking the river downstream of a magnificent weir. There’s a leisurely, slightly moneyed air to proceedings, confirmed by the presence of several groups of ladies who lunch. Indoors hangs an oar relating to the 1898 Boat Race.’ British classics include ham, eggs & chips, fish pie, and sausage & mash, with around 10 mains on a daily changing specials board. Wells Waggle Dance, made with Fairtrade South American honey, among cut-above quaffing opportunities. Check Facebook page for events.

wrote our chap when watching baby bunnies frolic here.

Young humans get an Xbox, PS3 and sandpit, with more natural delight to be derived from the aforementioned cottontails in the landscaped gardens, with fish pinging out of the stream gurgling by. Even anglers are catered for - the pub has its own fishing rights. ‘The location’s immense beauty makes it perfect for wedding ceremonies,’ noted our man. The setting appears in the Domesday book, and there’s been a mill onsite since around 1300. Visit today and you’ll find the waterwheel still housed within the pub. Seasonally changing menus feature pan-fried cutlet of Somerset pork, roasted barbary duck breast, locally reared sirloin, roasted root vegetable & puy lentil hotpot. Fixed weekday menu (2 £9.09, except bank hols) and set dinner (2 £14.95).

Butcombe on draught, comedy on middle Thur monthly.

‘The feel is of country club class mixed with a bar’s informality,’ said our chap.

MINERS REST Providence Lane, Long Ashton, nr Bristol, BS41 9DJ Tel: 01275 393449 ■ Charming and unpretentious 18th-century inn high above Long Ashton. Mining paraphernalia from the area’s past adorns the walls. Wholesome, homely food served lunchtimes includes ploughman’s, jackets and squire’s platter (meat & cheese combo). Super Sunday roasts, disabled access, large garden, suntrap patio and lovely views. Draughts include Butcombe, London Pride, Thatchers, Ashton Press, Black Rat, Blackthorn.

MAJOR’S RETREAT AT THE PORTCULLIS INN

NEW INN

Tormarton, South Glos, GL9 1HZ Tel: 01454 218263 ■ Creeper-clad treasure where food includes homemade steak & kidney pie, curries and steak. Splendid oakpanelled dining room/restaurant seats up to 40. Pigs Ear amid around four ales always on. Well-maintained garden features a fascinating mixture of trees and inviting clumps of greenery in which kids can play hide and seek.

Waterley Bottom, Dursley, Glos, GL11 6EF Tel: 01453 543659 ■ Colourful local events don’t get more colourful than this… Last year saw the 40th staging of a quirky

Utterly gorgeous Marco Pierre White's Pear Tree Inn

MARCO PIERRE WHITE’S PEAR TREE INN Top Lane, Whitley, nr Bath, SN12 8QX Tel: 01225 709131, web: www.wheelerspeartree.com ■ Gorgeous country nooks-and-crannies inn serving local ales, great after-dinner drinks, many wines by the glass and classic, fantastic MPW dishes, a la Wheeler’s of St James’s. Alfresco dining in summer, roaring fires in winter. See Out of Town Restaurants and Cafes.

MILL AT RODE Rode, Frome, Somerset, BA11 6AG Tel: 01373 831100, web: www.mill.butcombe.com ■ ‘I had a Thai massage once, and the bliss it brought is brought to mind when dusk gathers at the Mill at Rode,’

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Out of Town Pubs Cotswold sport, whereby a ball is thrown from over the hill from the New Inn, Woodmancote to the New Inn here at Waterley Bottom. You’ve missed this year’s fun, but diarise now for June 2013. Apparently they used a tank’s ball bearing rather than a lawn ball back in the day, before health and safety went mad. What was a 19th-century farm cottage, then cider house, morphed eventually into a pub-with-garden that The Times judged to be among the nation’s top 10, with a terrace enhancing the alfresco facilities. Traditional homecooked food changes every two to three months: lamb cutlets with creamy mash in orange & mint sauce, pork tenderloin in wholegrain mustard sauce, fine cod fillet topped with tiger prawns. Five draughts and nine bottled ciders bagged a Gloucester Cider Pub of the Year award. Cotley, Wye Valley, plus guest real ales.

NEW INN 86 West Town Rd, Backwell, nr Bristol, BS48 3BE Tel: 01275 462199, web: www.newinn-backwell.co.uk ■ Good-value pub food is the order of the day, with chef Todd Francis having worked with Nathan Muir (whose CV includes time at Sir Terence Conran’s Bibendum). Diners will soon be able to learn Todd’s tricks of the trade, with live show cooking and

Updated and upmarket Northey Arms

tastings set to accompany the New Inn’s presence at Nailsea Farmers’ Market. Back at base, an extensive wine list of 14 reds and as many whites evinces the calibre on offer at this 450-year-old charmer. Tue steak nights and a family fun day with bouncy castle may yet be on the horizon; here already are draught ales in Tribute, Butcombe and Gem form.

NEW INN Badminton Rd, Mayshill, nr Frampton Cotterell, BS36 2NT Tel: 01454 773161, web: www.newinn-mayshill.co.uk ■ ‘Something catches your eye – although, hopefully, not literally,’ said our man. ‘A gnarly metal hook hangs from a beam above the fireplace, from which a cradle was originally hung to give the infant within the snuggest possible snooze. The owners have been told that the only other one in the country is in Anne Hathaway’s Cottage.’ Former Camra Bristol District Pub of the Year, serving top ales. The host of diners arriving here is confirmation of the New Inn’s honest food, well-prepared and served with a smile.

NORTHEY ARMS Bath Rd, Box, nr Corsham, SN13 8AE Tel: 01225 742333, web: www.ohhcompany.co.uk ■ This pub would originally have served customers using the nearby railway. Visit today and you’ll find an updated, upmarket incarnation, where old and new sit comfortably together by way of a gracious and discreetly glamorous but cosy bar and restaurant.

OAKHILL INN Fosse Rd, Oakhill, Wilts, BA3 5HU Tel: 01749 840442, web: www.theoakhillinn.com ■ Whenever chef Neil Creese considers removing the uber-gorgeous chocolate pot from the menu, he’s overruled by chocolate lovers demanding that it stays. This is a smart rural inn, with Charlie and Amanda Digney continuing to enhance its appeal.

Ingredients for the seasonal British dishes are sourced locally, with some grown by Charlie. Even Amanda’s dad has been known to help out, with occasional supplies of monk’s beard and the like.

The AA has been in since last year’s guide, awarding a rosette for the quality of food on offer. The look is smart but relaxed, extending across several rooms.

Expect dishes like pork & rabbit terrine, devilled kidneys, spicy vegetable risotto with poached free-range egg and Lord of the Hundreds cheese, or venison steak with dauphinoise potatoes. Live music, five accommodation rooms, and Butcombe always on, currently standing alongside Radstock’s Devilfish and Box Steam Brewery’s Tunnel Vision.

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Out of Town Pubs OLD CROWN INN Kelston, nr Bath, BA1 9AQ Tel: 01225 423032, web: www.oldcrown.butcombe.com ■ Lovely country pub just a few minutes’ drive from the centre of Bath (or catch the bus - there’s a stop outside), with open fires, bare stone walls, oak settles, five real ales and excellent grub: fish in beer batter with homemade chips, classic BBQ chicken, substantial soups, excellent puds. Loads of parking opposite and plenty of alfresco seating. Three real ales. Ask the genial staff why one of the rooms is referred to as the mortuary.

OLD HOUSE AT HOME Burton, nr Castle Combe, Wilts, SN14 7LT Tel: 01454 218227, web: www.ohhcompany.co.uk ■ Characterful, atmospheric freehouse with a warm welcome, magnificent log fire and unpretentious, locally sourced, seasonally inspired menus. Fresh fish delivered daily from Cornwall. Sturdy range of local ales, extremely well-considered wine list, accommodation, and glorious Sunday roasts. Themed dining includes mussels and fish & chips nights.

OLD LOCK & WEIR 7 Ferry Rd, Hanham Mills, BS15 3NU Tel: 0117 967 3793, web: www.lockandweir.com ■ An absolute no-brainer when it’s sunny, this riverside wonder with much basking space boasts Thatchers Gold on ice, dispensed by a special machine creating a veritable cider slush.

Spontaneous jam sessions routinely break out here – bring your instrument and join in. Winter brings themed dining (fish, Mexican), while all-year faves include baguettes, ploughman’s, fish & chips, scampi, steak sandwiches, Sunday roasts. Plenty of real ale: Gem, 6X, Otter. Repeat of the August bank holiday beer festival looks on the cards.

OLD SPOT INN Hill Rd, Dursley, Glos, GL11 4JQ Tel: 01453 542870, web: www.oldspotinn.co.uk ■ ‘Steve and wife Belinda preside over Camra’s National Real Ale Pub 2007, and on a bustling Friday evening it’s easy to see why this oinker got anointed,’ reckoned our fellow. ‘It seems the entire town is here, with all ages, backgrounds and degrees of sartorial elegance present and correct. The feel is of sharing the week just gone and anticipating the weekend ahead, with everyone equally welcome to chip in their pennyworth.’ There’s clearly a great sense of community at this inn, and our man was told: “It’s a boozer, a pub as they used to be. The people make it - we had a Mexican night and they were outside smacking the piñata with great gusto.”

Up to 10 regularly changing ales always on, with

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as many wines accompanying the affordable grub (homemade cottage pie, fresh fish, fajitas). The smoking area is a thing of absolute wonder. Quiz on Sunday.

OLD STATION INN Hallatrow, nr Bath, BS39 6EN Tel: 01761 452228, web: www. theoldstationandcarriage.co.uk ■ Some of EOW’s most interesting external fixtures and fittings reside here, with a nine-hole crazy golf course for Tiger Woods wannabes and a 30x18ft polytunnel growing produce for the kitchen (supplementing that grown in the allotment).

The 40 alfresco seats on which you can enjoy the upmarket gastro fare are certainly noteworthy, but most eye-catching of all is the restaurant housed in an old 30-seater railway carriage. Food-wise, expect elevated dishes like roast breast of duck with port and summer berries, less grand options like jackets, baguettes and salads available lunchtimes, and the BBQ cranked up come summer. Huge beer garden, three real ales, five ensuite bedrooms and facilities for private hire and wedding receptions.

REOPENING CAMPAIGN UNDER WAY PACKHORSE INN Southstoke, Bath, BA2 7DU Web: www.southstoke.net, Facebook: Save the Packhorse ■ ‘Oh, to be in England! Patriotism comes easily when visiting this quintessential rural boozer dating from 1652,’ wrote our man. ‘Bumblebees the size of golf balls check bluebells for pollen and a woodpigeon flaps around a towering holly bush…’

But that was back in 2010, and EOW is saddened to report of the Packhorse’s subsequent closure - but time has not yet been called on this bucolic beauty.

The good folk of Southstoke are determined to see the pub return to its central role in village life and are currently exploring all legal avenues to that end.

The Sunday Times has provided sympathetic support, as villagers take inspiration from similar campaigns run at the Fleece, Hillesley (see earlier listing) and the Plough, Shepreth, Cambridgeshire. More than 1,200 people - from across the world - have signed an online petition to show their support. Campaign leaders are confident the pub can operate as a going concern and appeal to all interested to join their ranks, and warn inhabitants of similar villages that they risk losing their own local - or ‘asset of community value’ - if historic pubs go unregistered.

If this pub is reopened, glasses will be raised to and tales told of the redoubtable residents who fought a great fight. There’s life in this Packhorse yet, and EOW bids you the best of British.

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Out of Town Pubs PELICAN 10 South Parade, Chew Magna, BS40 8SL Tel: 01275 331777, web: www.pelicanchewmagna.com ■ Since early May they’ve been selling pumpkin plants (25 bought at time of going to press) for a competition bagging the winner £25, £50 or £100 of vouchers to spend in-house come Halloween. EOW approves wholeheartedly of such neat thinking. ‘Named after the vessel in which Drake circumnavigated the globe, this is a pub you’ll delight in discovering,’ wrote our intrepid investigator. ‘An open-plan bar boasts Clifton chic, an elegant slate-tiled courtyard leads on to a back garden complete with boules piste, and diverse food offerings feature prominently.’ Classic pub/ modern European dining includes club sandwiches, calves’ livers, gammon, free-range double egg & chips, chicken, mushroom & tarragon tagliatelle, seafood pot. Over 30 wines stocked, and it’s a top spot for smokers. “It’s like social life but work!” said boss Andy

Michelin-starred gastropub Pony & Trap

McClellan of an atmosphere where staff, management and punters interact harmoniously.

PLOUGH High St, Wrington, BS40 5QA Tel: 01934 862871, web: www.theploughatwrington.co.uk ■ Down the years this pub has been at the heart of its village’s Dickensian Christmas shindig. Now enjoying management stability after some earlier comingsand-goings, it’s coming up with food that would make Oliver Twist ask for more. Sandwiches, burgers, salads, rarebit and gammon feature on the bar snack menu, while country bistro with a modern twist describes the ALC offerings of seasonal, local game, spiced fish stew and roasted lamb rump. Five real ales include Young’s Kew Gold, inspired by hops grown at the iconic botanical gardens.

PLOUGH Pilning St, nr Pilning, BS35 4JJ Tel: 01454 632556, web: www.theploughpilning.co.uk ■ Food brings steak, sea bass, curries and £8.20 Sunday roasts, with IPA and 6X on draught. Live music Sat; nippers get an adjoining paddock and orchard.

PONY & TRAP Knowle Hill, Newtown, nr Chew Magna, BS40 8TQ Tel: 01275 332627, web: www.theponyandtrap.co.uk ■ Fabulous Michelin-starred gastropub, with brilliant young Josh Eggleton at the helm. See Out of Town Restaurants and Cafes.

PRINCE OF WATERLOO 1 High St, Winford, BS40 8AR Tel: 01275 474930, web: www.princeofwaterloo.com ■ The log burner and beer gardens here are rural pub stalwarts – it’s the upstairs sports bar that’s a rarer find. Impressive and varied menu includes baguettes, salads, ploughman’s, jackets, seafood and grills, plus extras, sides, children’s menu and veggie options.

Lounge area with leather sofas, kids’ play area, pool table.

QUARRYMANS ARMS Box Hill, Corsham, Wilts, SN13 8HN Tel: 01225 743569, web: www.quarrymans-arms.co.uk ■ ‘Irrespective of the sun actually shining from one end to the other on his birthday, there’s definitely some magic in the air at the Quarrymans Arms, 150 yards from Brunel’s Box Tunnel, once the world’s longest railway tunnel. We journey pleasingly from Bristol one bitterly cold January night, and just when directions get sketchy, a villager appears from out of nowhere to send us thither.’ Even in daylight, it can be fun finding this one, but reward awaits at a pub with a fascinating backstory. “It would have been a peasants’ dwelling in

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Out of Town Pubs the dark ages,” consummate host John Arundel told our man, who continues: ‘Visit today and you’ll find a beautiful roaring fireplace replicating Box Tunnel’s west portal in one-fifteenth scale.’ Cut-above food includes bangers & mash, macaroni cheese, stirfry. Admirable events schedule includes an Easter egg hunt, inter-pub cricket tournament, ‘pig & jig’ family event on Bastille Day and quiz every second Wed.

RAGGED COT Cirencester Rd, Hyde, Glos, GL6 8PE Tel: 01453 884643, web: www.theraggedcot.co.uk ■ Dating from the 17th century, this traditional coaching inn has a beamed bar with exposed Cotswold stonewalls and open fires offering a warm welcome to dogs, wellies and the local community. Dining room serves classic rustic dishes using local suppliers and ingredients grown on site: fresh daily soups, field mushroom & spinach pancakes, pan-fried sea bass, roasted duck breast, Cotswold beefburgers. Accommodation in nine guest rooms, all named after Penguin Classics. Eclectic real ales include Ringwood from Hampshire.

For miles and miles…

Quarrymans Arms

Corsham ■ Breathtaking vista across to Colerne from the restaurant or garden.

Rising Sun

Lacock ■ Watch balloons drift, hawks hover and night fall. See 40 miles from the conservatory and two-tier terrace – don’t forget your binoculars.

Cross Guns

Avoncliff ■ Spectacular view of the canal crossing the river, with plentiful seating all the way down to water level.

RATTLEBONE INN Church St, Sherston, Wilts, SN16 0LR Tel: 01666 840871, web: www.therattlebone.co.uk ■ ‘Dates back to the 16th century, but there’s been a hostelry on site since medieval times and its name has origins almost 1,000 years old. It comes from John Rattlebone, a Saxon warrior who fought in the Battle of Sherston in 1016. He was mortally wounded in the stomach but - and here’s where it gets sketchy - got a stone from the local quarry to staunch the flow of blood and resume fighting,’ reported our man. Despite 2012’s Badminton Horse Trials being wiped out by the weather, the Rattlebone and its regulars still had a respectable knees-up - expect normal service (venison spit-roasts, gourmet BBQ) to be resumed come 2013.

Doubtless the Rattlebone’s piste will stage much practice in the weeks preceding Sherston’s carnival and boules tournament. Classic country cooking on the expansive and imaginative menu, with most ingredients sourced locally, has included duck breast salad, spring lamb, sea trout, 10oz rump steak. Tribute, Butcombe and Young’s on draught, plus Stowford Press and Thatchers Gold, and lager lovers getting Kronenbourg and Grolsch.

RED LION High St, Lacock, Wilts, SN15 2LQ Tel: 01249 730456, web: www.redlionlacock.co.uk ■ Beauty of a boozer, whose many celluloid outings have included BBC period drama Cranford and The Wolf Man. Chef Linda, here for 19 years, is famed for her pies and casseroles, while stalwart Joan has served loyally for 38 years. Food is homecooked comfort faves: 10oz Wiltshire rib-eye, 8oz venison steak, sausages & mash (vegetarian

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option available), pork pie/vegetarian ploughman’s.

Pleasingly wonky floors, characterful furniture, a fireplace from the early 1700s. Beers include Henry’s IPA and 6X. Look out for a cider festival come summer.

RISING SUN Bowden Hill, Lacock, Wilts, SN15 2PP Tel: 01249 730363, web: www.therisingsunlacock.com ■ If ever proof were needed of the massive appeal of the region’s eateries, it’s illustrated wonderfully here.

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Out of Town Pubs Adam and partner Sarah were working in the food business in Lancashire - he as steakhouse head chef, she running pubs. A change was sought, with Adam applying for an internet-advertised role here on a Friday. Come Tuesday, the couple were swapping Wigan for Wiltshire. Upon arrival, they were blown away by the view across Salisbury Plain - 40 miles on a clear day - with Adam considering theirs the perfect jobs.

British pub food (ham, egg & chips, pork loin, sausage & mash, duck breast, cod & chips) gets some fancier ALC accompaniment, with BBQs in the pipeline to

River views come as standard Riverside

enhance the outside bar. Music last Wed of the month, and there’s the chance of a mini festival – although, to quote Adam, “When the pub’s this good, you don’t need events!” Moles Best always on, currently joined by Molecatcher. Child-tolerant, with a garden to die for.

RISING SUN Church St, Pensford, BS39 4AQ ■ A little dicky bird tells EOW of potential new owners arriving here shortly after we go to press.

Details are sketchy, but it’s thought that one of them is keen to bring their experience in running a cosy Bristol bar/nightspot to a cracking country pub, with locals having no fear of ensuing wine barstyle flouncing-up. If they do arrive, it’s not difficult to see what tempted them, with the pub’s extensive beer garden and adjoining river with nearby weir.

In the meantime, we understand that wedding congratulations are due, so EOW raises its glass to the dawn of a new life together, for the couple (hopefully) at the Rising Sun.

RIVERSIDE CAFE The Shallows, Saltford, nr Bristol, BS31 3EZ Tel: 01225 873862, web: www.riversideinnbristol. co.uk ■ Relaxing ambience and a menu of wholesome, traditional, homecooked food - old favourites abound. Picturesque riverside location with views over the lock.

RIVERSIDE INN 49 St Margaret’s St, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1DE Tel: 01225 863526, web: www.riversideboa.co.uk ■ Gorgeous listed pub on the riverbanks of Bradford on Avon. Fabulous food that’s easy on the wallet (mains around £7-£10), and a Sunday carvery.

Accommodation overlooking the river, and music on either Fri or Sat, plus karaoke. Large beer garden.

Three ales include Butcombe.

ROSE & CROWN Parkfield Rd, Pucklechurch, BS16 9PS Tel: 0117 937 2351, web: www. roseandcrownpucklechurch.co.uk ■ As with last year’s guide, EOW hits the streets several weeks too late to give notice of Pucklechurch’s staging of an annual scarecrow trail wherein people stroll through its streets attempting to guess the names of scarecrows displayed in residents’ gardens, meeting neighbours as they go.

This year’s event saw 49 made - and numerous locals identified all correctly. Thankfully, there’s nothing remotely scary about the welcome at this sweet little pub (with homely front bar) near the Bristol-Bath cyclepath. Expect baguettes, chilli, pie of the day,

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Out of Town Pubs burgers, ham, egg & chips, slow-roast belly of pork.

Four real ales at any time comprise Wadworth, IPA, Butcombe and guest.

ROYAL OAK 72 High St, Corsham, Wilts, SN13 0HF Tel: 01249 713607, web: www.corshamroyaloak.co.uk ■ Licensee Maggie Evans and husband Dave are heading off to pastures new, taking with them adopted pub cat Henry, here for 11 years, who’s been “spoilt to death” since first turning up. The chap replacing them will be arriving with two felines of his own, though, so things could have got nasty.

Said chap is likely to up the food ante (which has recently been fairly low key). Staying where they are are the adjoining Corsham Court’s strutting peacocks to patrol the beer garden. Drinks currently include 6X, Henry’s IPA, Bishop’s Tipple, Thatchers, Guinness, Henry’s Smooth. Popular pub folk club.

Before Maggie and Dave leave, they’ll make sure that the three accommodation rooms are spotless.

Best wishes, then, to the pair of them from all at EOW.

RUDGLEIGH INN Martcombe Rd, Easton in Gordano, BS20 0QD Tel: 01275 373959 ■ Historic pub minutes from the motorway on the dear old A369. All food is homecooked and GM-free, and they make their own steak, mushroom & beer pies as well as the batter for fish & chips. Around nine specials bring good fish and vegetarian options. All-day carvery on Sun. Sizeable garden overlooks cricket pitch - celebrate victory or drown sorrows with brews like Best or Doom Bar.

SALUTATION Ham, Berkeley, Glos, GL13 9QH Tel: 01453 810284, web: www.salutationinn.biz ■ ‘It’s not so much “Cider with Rosie” as “Ale with Sue (and Don)” at the Salutation, providing, as it does, a delectable dollop of dreamy Gloucestershire life,’ wrote our West Country lad when visiting Ham, a village of less than 100 people, minutes from Berkeley Castle. ‘Punters turn up in medieval gear and on steamrollers over joust and steam fair weekends, while regulars often arrive on tractor, quad bike and horse.’ The awards have been arriving by the skipload: Camra National Pub of the Year runner-up 2010, Camra County Pub of the Year 2012, 2011 and 2012. Suffice to say, the five (at least) ales on tap are always tip-top. ‘My rye malt brew and sturdy cheese & onion roll go together gorgeously,’ our lad added. You’ll also find steak pie & chips, faggots & mash, ploughman’s, fish & chips and kids’ meals served Tue-Sun lunchtimes, and keep

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an eye out for summer beer festivals with hog roast.

There are often horses and cattle nearby to delight the kids, while an off-sales hatch delights locals who arrive with empty milk containers to fill up. ‘A quirky, rare feature evoking parlour-pub charm,’ wrote our similarly delighted chap.

SEVEN STARS Winsley, Bradford on Avon, BA15 2LQ Tel: 01225 722204, web: www.sevenstarswinsley. co.uk ■ Food-led, award-winning (Taste of Gold 2011) public house and restaurant (dating back in part to the early 1700s) that’s rightly in the Good Pub Guide. Locally sourced menu changes constantly: modern and traditional British food takes in ham, egg & chips, steak & ale pie, beer-braised Bath chaps, and ox cheeks with horseradish mash.

Vegetarian choices include potato & spring cabbage rosti with English asparagus and smoked double gloucester rarebit. Children get their own menu and playhouse, and dogs are similarly welcome. Log fires, enclosed courtyard, garden, patio. Four real ales in summer (three in winter), with one beer from Somerset’s Devilfish microbrewery.

SEYMOUR ARMS Bath Rd, Blagdon, BS40 7TH Tel: 01761 462279, web: www.seymourarmsblagdon. co.uk ■ With five ensuite rooms, this is a fave for Blagdon Lake fishers staying close to their sport. Food includes sea bass, breaded scampi, lasagne, chicken breast, gammon, steak & ale pie. Fresh trout in season; six fresh vegetables go into the Sunday roasts. Well-equipped smoking area. Two Wickwar beers always on.

SHEPPEY Lower Godney, nr Wells, Somerset, BA5 1RZ Tel: 01458 831594, web: check Facebook page for updates ■ The Sheppey is getting close to realising its potential after reopening in spring 2011. Operations have been extending as the people here have set about their mission to create a “cider shed” look, illuminate the river running out back, serve “modern country” cooking and offer around eight local and guest ciders. An onsite bakery and deli, bike hire and letting rooms are among the overall plans. At time of going to press, dinner offerings included rump of English spring lamb, fish stew, portobello mushroom burger, potato gnocchi, Asian fish & chips. Mains from the charcoal oven were pork & apple burger, 8oz ribeye steak and half-chicken marinated in lemon, thyme, rosemary and garlic.

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Out of Town Pubs SNOOTY FOX Market Place, Tetbury, Glos, GL8 8DD Tel: 01666 502436, web: www.snooty-fox.co.uk ■ There’s sad news to report from the Snooty Fox, with the passing since last year’s guide of muchloved Great Dane Fred, a veritable child-magnet - no visit here was complete without seeing the big fella. Better news comes with the arrival of black Great Dane George, not a replacement but a wonderful new addition. A local manifestation of the Olympian spirit 0 Tetbury Wool Sack Races, staged every Whitsun - offers a free fun-filled family day. Before then, this grand old coaching inn’s exciting calendar includes Jazz Fridays, Wines from around the World and free tasting clubs, with jazz Sunday lunches on the way. A complete ground-floor refurb a few years back enhanced surroundings in which to enjoy varied dining options. Bar menu ranges from sandwiches and baguettes to bubble & squeak, bangers & mash, fish & chips and salmon fishcakes. Dinner options include beef wellington, calves’ livers and pork fillets. Pimm’s jelly and eton mess are among the sweets; finish off with the cheeseboard, dessert wine, port or a glass of Remy Martin Louis XIII, the world’s finest cognac. A diverse clientele creates a genial mood: “We get everyone from dry stonewallers to blokes parking their Ferrari or Bentley round the back,” GM Marc Gibbons told our man.

Not so Snooty a Fox after all, then.

SWAN Bath Rd, Swineford, BS30 6LN Tel: 0117 932 3101, web: www.bathales.com ■ Mid 19th-century pub (converted from three cottages in a row of six) where dishes include steak & ale pie, salmon & spring onion fishcakes, faggots and fish & chips and where veggies get variety. Meadows over the road offer a beautiful walk to the river, or just watch the little ones enjoying themselves in the pub’s play area (there’s a menu for them if they get hungry). Quiz on Mon, £10 pie-and-pint offer on Tue. Gem and Spa line up beside Bath Ales guests such as Summer Hare, with Bounders cider (including flat Bounders Traditional) also quashing thirsts.

SWAN HOTEL 1 Church St, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1LN Tel: 01225 868686, web: www.theswanbradford. co.uk ■ Music might be the food of love, but there’s poetry going on at this Wiltshire eatery, where traditional English dining comes with a twist across dishes like soup, fishcake, deli boards, sirloin steak, fish & seafood grill, beefsteak pie and pork

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belly. Monthly Words & Ears nights are staged in the hotel’s conference room, also used by a local Weight Watchers group and folk club. Separate lunch menu features light bites, sandwiches, baguettes (weekday offer brings 2-4-£12.95 lunches) – eat yours on the new sun-drenched terrace. Old Speckled Hen, IPA and guest on draught.

SWAN INN Kingsdown, Box, nr Bath, SN13 8BP Tel: 01225 742269, web: www.swan-kingsdown.com ■ A 300-year-old quarryman’s pub, chained to the quarry opposite to keep it attached to the hill, with amazing views over the Avon valley. Real log fires, traditional homecooked food daily (lunch and dinner). The ales have made the Good Beer Guide for several years now. A real country pub with real food and real beer (Bass, Doom Bar).

TALBOT INN Mells, nr Frome, BA11 3PN Tel: 01373 812254, web: www.talbotinn.com ■ Arrive at this 15th-century coaching inn after passing through jaw-droppingly beautiful scenery.

It stands over a tunnel leading to the nearby churchyard, home to Siegfried Sassoon’s grave.

Lots of fish dishes adorn a splendid evening menu. Everything’s cooked freshly to order, with Gidleigh Park-trained head chef Mark Jones, here for 19 years, even making his own paté. “We’ve continuity; he’s part of a big family. Chefs can be itinerant so it’s good to look after him,” GM Rob told our man. Food, served at lunch and dinner, is top-end traditional English: warm Cornish crab, calves’ liver and bacon, confit leg of barbary duck, fish & chips, cottage pie, Somerset lamb. Butcombe on draught, plus extensive wine selection.

Beautifully converted function room in a restored barn for parties of up to 100. Don’t miss the mural that magnificently depicts the area’s history.

TOLLGATE INN Ham Green, Holt, nr Trowbridge, BA14 6PX Tel: 01225 782326, web: www.tollgateholt.co.uk ■ ‘Holt! Who goes there? Pretty much everyone, as proven by the Tollgate’s visitors’ book: praise from Bordeaux, Texas and Durban, with the Harrisons from Oklahoma promising they’ll be back,’ wrote our man. ‘And a wall of awards confirms acknowledgement from august food bodies.’ A Taste of the West gold and Wiltshire in Bloom recognition for the beautiful floral display are two triumphs at this gorgeous gastropub where acceptance speeches are made almost as frequently as time is called.

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Out of Town Pubs REOPENED TUCKERS GRAVE Faukland, BA3 5XF Tel: 01373 834230 ■ Tuckers Grave has reopened! Standardisation is all at EOW, but if ever there were justification for adding several exclamation marks (or even smileyface emoticons) beside our standard ‘reopened’ designation, it would be for the return of trading at Tuckers Grave. When it closed in May 2011, much was rightly made of its being an exemplar of the dying parlour-pub breed, with beer dispensed straight from the barrel in what felt like someone’s living room, and minimal food offerings utterly at odds with the concept of destination dining. It had been serving for 200 years, but the couple who’d run it for the past 27 had been unable to find anyone to take it on.

Following three months of closure, however, landlady Glenda Swift welcomed back drinkers old and older.

Suffice to say, not much changes at Tuckers Grave, and it’s once again known as The Pub That Time Forgot.

‘The location brings Robert Johnson’s transaction with the devil to mind, with musicians still drawn to a wonderfully quirky boozer,’ said our man, who still hasn’t forgotten Glenda’s priceless anecdotes: ‘“We get strangers in on Saturday and the Stranglers in roughly monthly,” said Glenda, who didn’t recognise one extraordinarily famous punter. “Ten years ago a man came in with a craggy face and straw hat. I thought, I should know him, but couldn’t place him. Hugh [Cornwell, from the Stranglers] came in the next week and said he’d met this man at a party and he – the man – said he’d been here. By then I’d seen his photo in Hello! It was Mick Jagger!”’ Two Butcombe beers, Cheddar Valley and Ashton Press ciders plus Amstel.

Our man shared his Marmite crisps (but not his pickled egg) with friendly pub Lab Thai and noted, ‘Cheese or ham sandwiches made with bread thick enough to choke a horse served lunchtimes.’ Very traditional distractions like skittles and shove ha’penny to keep patrons entertained. At least once, you owe it to yourself to be one of them.

■ Stylish, historic inn with wonderful alfresco opportunities and a fabulous, seasonal, locally sourced, modern Bristol kitchen headed up by head chef (and Gordon Ramsay/Michael Caines protégé) Eddy Raines. See Out of Town Restaurants and Cafes.

WHEELWRIGHTS ARMS Church Lane, Monkton Combe, Bath, BA2 7HB Tel: 01225 722287, web: www.wheelwrightsarms.co.uk ■ Nestled in the peaceful village of Monkton Combe and surrounded by picturesque hills and valleys, this gastropub serves real ales, fine wines and great food.

Menus change regularly - expect takes on sausage & mash, chicken breast, shepherd’s pie and fish & chips, plus choice Sunday lunches. All dishes prepared and cooked on the premises, using local ingredients where possible. Butcombe on draught.

WHITE HART Littleton on Severn, BS35 1NR Tel: 01454 412275, web: www.whitehartbristol.com ■ Ancient whitewashed lovely, and former Camra and Evening Post Pub of the Year. Try the newly arrived cider grown in the rear orchard (Littleton Lifesaver is a possible name as we go to press). At this Young’s pub, find five real ales (two Young’s, three guests)

Stylish, historic and with a great kitchen Wheatsheaf

WEIGHBRIDGE INN Minchinhampton, nr Nailsworth, Glos, GL6 9AL Tel: 01453 832520, web: www.2in1pub.co.uk ■ You want history? The road to the front of this 17th-century Cotswold boozer became a turnpike in 1882, after which time tolls were levied at 1d per horse, 10d per 20 cattle, 3d per 20 pigs. Today, their signature two-in-one pie comes highly recommended.

Good range of ales and enormously friendly service.

WHEATSHEAF AT COMBE HAY Combe Hay, nr Bath, BA2 7EG Tel: 01225 833504, web: www.wheatsheafcombehay.co.uk

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Out of Town Pubs and an extensive wine selection. Menus feature chargrilled 35-day-aged Glamorgan rump steak, free-range Gloucestershire chicken, and trio of locally made sausages. Extremely kid-friendly, with family room, highchairs and neat garden out front (plus photo of the Littleton Whale guaranteed to engage them).

WHITE HART Wrington Rd, Congresbury, BS49 5AR Tel: 01934 833303, web: www.whitehartcongresbury.co.uk ■ The chap in charge here took over in October 2011, having known the White Hart for many years.

He wanted his own place, so now the traditional homemade food (including pies, burgers, bangers & mash, fish & chips, steaks and restaurant offerings) is in safe hands. Extended Sunday roast availability - now 12noon-6.30pm; special dietary requirements catered for. Three real ales, including Badger and Tanglefoot. A previous manager adorned the car park’s towering leylandii with lights at Christmas, while the incumbent plumped for music events last Yule and New Year’s Eve.

Highly individual funky hang-out Wookey Hole Inn

WHITE HORSE Biddestone, nr Chippenham, Wilts, SN14 7DG Tel 01249 713305, web: www. thewhitehorsebiddestone.co.uk ■ ‘With its green, duck pond, annual fete and agricultural vehicles trundling along its single road, Biddestone is the archetypal English village, and the White Horse the archetypal village pub.

Summer here makes for lazy afternoons and balmy evenings, while snow brings picture-postcard prettiness.’ Our man found just such beauty, arriving one deep-and-crisp-and-even December morning. ‘The bar’s open fire – an original feature in a building dating from the 18th century - brings maximum homeliness. My guest’s mulled wine warms the cockles, a mince pie hot from the range helping to keep out winter’s biting cold. Food is hale, hearty and distinctly affordable, with carnivores copping for a tasty game pie appearing regularly on the specials board, and vegetarians enjoying admirably diverse dining.’ Last year’s guide went to press the day before host Tony, here 24 years, was leaving. EOW has had confirmation from the new boss that he hasn’t changed a winning formula, with homemade pub grub still the order of the day. This little village thinks big – it had two international opera singers scheduled to appear at its Jubilee celebrations. Not bad for a place with 457 inhabitants - or should that be 459?

‘Punters, allegedly, include the ghosts of an old couple who fell in love with the place and didn’t want to leave. It’s not hard to see why.’

WOOKEY HOLE INN Wookey Hole, Wells, BA5 1BP Tel: 01749 676677, web: www.wookeyholeinn.com ■ A fab, funky interior hides behind the traditional frontage at this pub boasting the widest selection of continental beer on draught in England, as well as four guest ales and an extensive wine list. All food is locally sourced and free-range. Menu changes daily, but expect oven-roasted lamb rump, pan-fried fillet of beef, roast chicken breast. Walled sculpture garden seats over 100, with a sunken area and boat deck for decadent afternoons. Five ensuite individually designed rooms have Japanese king-style beds and cult video libraries.

WOOLPACK INN Beckington, nr Bath, BA11 6SP Tel: 01373 831244, web: www.woolpackhotel.co.uk ■ Formal and informal dining options at this 16th-century coaching inn proudly bagging a National Fish & Chip award earlier this year - the chicken & asparagus pie and lamb shank aren’t half bad, either.

Traditional English food accompanied by Butcombe, IPA and Abbot.

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Sandwich Shops BRISTOL

Sandwich Shops Bristol BOSTON TEA PARTY 75 Park St, BS1 5PF Tel: 0117 929 8601, web: www.bostonteaparty.co.uk ■ Perennially popular, laidback cafe-bar dishing up fresh, innovative food. Good sandwich and panini range at this venue praised by The Guardian and The Times. See also Cafes, and Restaurants: European & Mediterranean.

BREADSTORE 45 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AD Tel: 0117 942 1654 ■ Highly recommended bakery serving a small but good selection of pies plus filled rolls in fantastic flavours Chinese chicken, chicken tikka, BLT, ham salad, tuna & mayo, cheese salad, cheese & pickle, etc. Fantastic bread and top cakes, too.

CHANDOS DELI Quakers Friars, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BU Tel: 0117 927 9543 Bristol University Sports Centre, Tyndall Ave, BS8 1TQ Tel: 0117 922 7700 6 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BP Tel: 0117 974 3275 121 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2PL Tel: 0117 970 656597 Henleaze Rd, BS9 4JP Tel: 0117 907 4391, web: www.chandosdeli.com ■ Extremely popular deli stocking an eclectic range of cheese, charcuterie, fresh bread, olives, cakes, soups and bruschetta. Homemade savoury tarts come in flavours like goat’s cheese & onion marmalade, or smoked salmon & cream cheese.

Award-winning sandwiches and baguettes (some using Bertinet bread) filled with the likes of brie and local ham as well as mixed charcuterie. Open See Specialist Food Suppliers, Bristol for branch opening hours

BRUNEL BUTTERY Wapping Wharf, BS1 6DS Tel: 0117 929 1696 ■ Open every day for drinks, homemade cakes and pies, salads, quiches, vegetarian snacks and bacon sandwiches, all freshly prepared.

Harbourside institution Brunel Buttery

CAFFE GUSTO 3 Hanover Quay, BS1 5JE; 54 Prince St, BS1 4QH; 2 Clare St, BS1 1XR; British Empire & Commonwealth Museum Yard, Clock Tower Yard, Temple Meads, BS1 6QH; 28 Upper Maudlin St, BS2 8DJ; St Michaels Hill, Kingsdown, BS2 8BU; Clifton Down Shopping Centre, (Units 1-2 & Unit 3); Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2NN; 5 & 39 Queens Rd, Clifton, BS8 1QE; 9 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BX; Upper Level, The Mall, Cribbs Causeway BS34 5GF Web: www.caffegusto.com ■ Baguettes, sandwiches and rolls at good-value prices.

CAFFE NERO House of Fraser, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BD; 38 Corn St, BS1 1HT; 1 Union St, BS1 2DD; 7-9 Queens Rd, Clifton, BS8 1QE; 46 Regent St, Clifton Village, BS8 4HU Web: www.caffenero.com ■ Excellent coffees and very popular panini filled with the likes of mozzarella & pesto, tuna melt, and the everpopular ham & cheese.

CARWARDINES 5 St Stephen St, BS1 1EE Tel: 0117 925 0785 ■ Popular, long-established sandwich stop, with a vast selection of freshly prepared sarnies. Eat in or take away.

Open Mon-Fri 7.30am-3pm

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Sandwich Shops BRISTOL COFFEE NO 1 157 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, BS7 8BA Tel: 0117 942 9909 31 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BX Tel: 0117 923 8021 4 Canford Lane, Westbury on Trym, BS9 3DH Tel: 0117 959 1749, web: www.coffee1.co.uk ■ Terrific, ethical, great-tasting coffee to drink in or take away, plus excellent sarnies, panini and focaccia. Great cake and pastry selection.

DELICIOUS CAFE 33 Colston Ave, BS1 4UA Tel: 0117 925 6699 ■ Eat in or take away from a choice of fresh soups, sandwiches, panini, bagels and hot/cold drinks. Open Mon-Fri 7am-2.30pm

FANTASTIC SANDWICH CO 63 North Rd, BS6 5AD Tel: 0117 942 0470, web: www.fantasticsandwich.co.uk ■ Home of the legendary Errol Flynn, King of Tonga, Lincoln High Roller and sesame Nigella panini. Equally

Tastes of the Mediterranean Papadeli

fantastic salads include Thai chilli, crayfish & noodle, and pesto pasta with mozzarella pearls and cherry tomato.

Online orders taken and they can cater for buffets and business meetings.

GERT LUSH 9a Regent St, Clifton Village, BS8 4HW Tel: 0117 973 1003, web: www.lushsandwich-clifton.co.uk ■ Ever-popular sandwich shop with a versatile catering arm.

MAGIC ROLL St Thomas Court, Redcliff St, BS1 6GJ Tel: 0117 927 3897 Triangle South, BS8 1EZ Tel: 0117 922 1435, web: www.magicroll.co.uk ■ Fantastic staff at these stellar spots make Magic Rolls even more magic, with Rachel, Kate and co consistently conjuring up delicious bundles of delight indubitably worthy of their adjective. Fresh, healthy, nutritious khobez breads filled with falafel, chicken, chorizo, halloumi, zingy salad and mango salsa refuel office workers by day and clubbers/ pubbers at the end of full-on late nights (or early mornings).

Open Clifton: Mon-Sat 12noon-3am. Redcliff St: Mon-Fri, coffee from 9am, food 11am-2.30pm

MANGE TOUT 58 Corn St, BS1 1JG Tel: 0117 927 7927, web: www.mangetoutbuffets.co.uk ■ Central cafe serving sandwiches, savouries, pastries and coffees to eat in or take away. They’ll pack a breakfast for you if you phone in your order before 10.30am. Plenty of vegetarian options, and meal deals offer crisps, drink and sandwich for £3.95. As the website address suggests, buffets (for offices, etc) are also provided, for up to 100 people. They can even stage them at a pub near the Register Office if there’s some hitching going on. Open Mon-Fri from 7am, Sat from 9am

OKIDOKIS 4-5 St Augustine’s Place, BS1 4UD Tel: 0117 929 3712 ■ Small, friendly takeaway open for breakfast and lunch, with jacket spuds, sandwiches, panini, freshly made quiches and Illy coffee. Business buffets, too.

OLD CHEESE SHOP 1 Worrall Rd, off Blackboy Hill, BS8 2UF Tel: 0117 946 6940 ■ Possibly the South West’s most famous cheese shop in the 1970s, and nowadays an ultra-sophisticated sandwich emporium. All produce is prepared on site from fresh ingredients: a vast range of sandwiches, chicken schnitzel (the stuff of legend), chargrilled salmon, daily specials including chilli, curries and spag bol, and soup in winter.

Great cakes and fresh orange juice. Business buffets catered for. Open Mon-Fri 8.15am-4pm

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Sandwich Shops BRISTOL PAPA COSTA DELI 67 Queens Rd, Clifton, BS8 1QL Tel: 0117 929 1600, web: www.papacostadeli.co.uk ■ Mediterranean-style cafe and onsite deli dishing up panini, soup, savoury snacks, etc, with Italian, Greek, Spanish, French and Cypriot flavours. Cater for private functions, too. Open Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm

PAPADELI 84 Alma Rd, Clifton, BS8 2DJ Tel: 0117 973 6569, web: www.papadeli.co.uk ■ Much-feted, Mediterranean-inspired cafe where the sandwiches, ciabattas and baguettes feature Hobbs House bread, with serrano ham & tomato a menu highlight.

Locally sourced, Fairtrade and organic credentials.

Restaurant-quality dishes made daily on the premises.

PARSONS BAKERY

12 Baldwin St, BS1 1SA Tel: 0117 933 8685 134 St Michaels Hill, BS8 2DA Tel: 0117 933 0919 3 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BX Tel: 0117 923 9363, web: www.parsonsbakery.co.uk ■ Various branches dotted around Bristol, offering fresh bread and sandwiches, hot panini, breakfast baguettes, savouries and sweets, plus great fresh espresso and super croissants.

PRET A MANGER 29-31 Queens Rd, Clifton, BS8 1QE Tel: 0207 932 5293, web: www.pret.com ■ Enormous sarnie offerings including the diet-conscious Slim Pret range, plus coffee, sushi, cakes, pastries and a delivery service for local business lunches. Open Mon-Fri 7.30am-6pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm

SANDWICH DIRECT 112 Rodway Rd, Patchway, BS34 5PG Tel: 0117 969 8889, web: www.sandwichdirectbristol.co.uk ■ Their delivery vans are a common sight, bringing sandwiches, salads, pasta and more to hard-pressed office workers around Bristol and Kingswood. And with 20 years’ catering experience, they can arrange bespoke catering platters to suit.

SOUTHVILLE DELI 262 North St, Bedminster, BS3 1JA Tel: 0117 966 4507, web: www.southvilledeli.com ■ Sarnie offerings from (£2.60) change daily here depending on what they’ve got on the deli side of things.

Fillings include free-range chicken, cured meat and cheeses. Admirable vegan range includes a hummus, falafel & red pepper wonder. Great-value lunchboxes contain a hunk of bread, hummus, feta, olives, roasted red peppers and a stuffed vine leaf (£3), with wheat-free

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options. Clive’s Pies, sweet offerings courtesy of Bar Cake, and Fairtrade coffee to go. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm, Sun 10.30am-4.30pm

SPICE ROUTE 61 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AD Tel: 0117 904 0040 ■ Fabulous, top-notch cafe serving imaginative, reasonably priced and made-to-order baguettes and panini, soups, quiche, baklava, croissants, cake, juices, smoothies, etc. Take away or eat in, outside or indoors.

SUBWAY The Galleries, BS1 3XE; Unit 8, Transom Ho, Victoria St, BS1 6AH; Merchant St, Broadmead, BS1 3EP; 15-17 Clare St, BS1 1XH; 31 Union St, BS1 2DJ; 3b Broad Quay, BS1 4DA; Corner House, Hamilton Court, Montague St, BS2 8NY; 80-82 East St, Bedminster, BS3 4EY; Unit 29 Broadwalk, Knowle, BS4 2QB; 201 Stapleton Rd, Easton, BS5 0PA; 29 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AA; Berkeley Centre, 15-19 Queens Rd, BS8 1QE; 103 Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2PB; 80-82 Regent St, Kingswood, BS15 8HU; 790 Fishponds Rd, Fishponds, BS16 3TE; Willow Brook Centre, Savages Wood Rd, Bradley Stoke, BS32 8BS; 11b Shields Retail Park, Gloucester Rd, Filton, BS34 7QB; Brislington Retail Park, BS4 5NG; Unit 18 Imperial Retail Park, BS13 7TJ; Bristol International Airport, BS48 3DY Web: www.subway.co.uk ■ Toasted and cold submarine sandwiches and salads, deli-style sandwiches, salads and wraps, crisps and freshly baked cookies and muffins.

WOODES 18 Park St, BS1 5JA Tel: 0117 926 4041 ■ Nestling at the bottom of Park St, this cafe is something of an institution, and probably Bristol’s longest-established sarnie outlet, with over 40 years’ trading. Choice of around 25 different sandwiches, all made fresh daily (the white fish & prawn is delicious).

Great selection of patisseries and hot soups, plus good people-watching tables and chairs. Coffees and herbal teas.

ZAK’S SANDWICH BAR St Nicholas Market, St Nicholas St, BS1 1JQ Tel: 0117 927 7444 ■ English breakfasts, burgers, hot lunches, snacks, freshly made sandwiches and baguettes to eat in or take away.

ZULU 27 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, BS7 8AA Tel: 07580 363756 ■ Get back to the office with what-have-you-got-therefactor baguettes thanks to exotic fillings like kangaroo,

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Sandwich Shops BRISTOL/BATH camel, buffalo and ostrich. Less exotic fillings for the more traditional, plus onsite cafe and shop. Open TueWed 9am-3pm, Thur-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm

Bath BEST OF BRITISH 12 Broad St, BA1 5LJ Tel: 01225 448055, web: www.bestofbritishdeli.co.uk ■ Thriving grocery/deli stocking 100% organic ingredients and British produce, much of it locally sourced. Sandwiches, salads, quiches, homemade cakes, soup, quality coffee/tea, etc. Hampers/picnic specialists; domestic and corporate catering service available. Small seating area, free city-centre delivery for orders £25+. Open Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 10am-6pm

BOSTON TEA PARTY Kingsmead Square, BA1 2AE Tel: 01225 313901, web: www.bostonteaparty.co.uk ■ Healthy, hearty, largely wholemeal food, at very reasonable prices from this much-loved Bath cafe-society hotspot, strong on ethical sourcing and environmental responsibility. Open Mon-Wed 8am-6pm, Thur-Sat 8am-9pm

BRIDGE COFFEE SHOP

1 Lower Borough Walls, BA1 1QR Tel: 01225 780432, web: www.cornishbakehouse.com ■ Thick-cut sandwiches, baguettes, wraps, salads, coffee, cold drinks and fudge, plus award-winning pasties, baked throughout the day. Open Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 10am-6pm

NEW CRUMBAWUMBA! 10a Princess St, BA1 1HL Tel: 01225 333080, web: www.crumbawumba.co.uk ■ Top-notch sandwiches, panini, breakfasts, pies, quiches etc, alongside sturdier fare like jacket spuds, casseroles and bakes. Full catering and corporate services, bespoke wedding cakes. Open Mon-Fri 8am-4pm

DA VINCI ITALIAN DELI 33 Wellsway, Bear Flat, BA2 4RR Tel: 01225 471850, web: www.davincideliandpizza.co.uk ■ Authentic Italian deli serving fresh baguettes with yummy fillings, plus fresh pasta, hot lunches etc. Limited indoor/pavement seating, and a couple of tables in the lovely little garden out back. Also provide packages for business lunches and meetings, with sandwich, ciabatta or baguette platters for 10-20 people. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 8.30am-5pm

17 Pulteney Bridge, BA2 4AY Tel: 01225 483339 ■ Takeaway baguettes, pies, pasties, hot and cold drinks and cakes from this busy little cafe in a glorious location.

Open Sun-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-6pm

DEVON SAVOURIES

BUTTER PAT

EAT5STAR

18 Upper Borough Walls, BA1 1RJ Tel: 01225 310184 ■ Freshly made sandwiches, baguettes and wraps, homemade jams, tarts and cakes. Delivery service, and business lunches catered for. Resident ghost can’t always be guaranteed to make an appearance. Open Mon-Sat 9am-4pm

14 Kingsmead Square, BA1 2AD Tel: 01225 330555, web: www.eat5star.com ■ Upper-crust casual-but-tasty hotspot offering takeaway and corporate catering options. Brilliant breakfasts, perfect espresso and a lavish lunch menu featuring gourmet sandwiches and salads. Open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 9am-5pm

CHANDOS DELI St George St, BA1 2EH Tel: 01225 314418 Egg Cafe, Theatre Royal, Sawclose, BA1 1ET Tel: 01225 823408, web: www.chandosdeli.com ■ Multi-award-winning deli and takeaway with several outlets across Bath and Bristol, including a cafe at the Theatre Royal’s Egg theatre. Baguettes, sandwiches, salads, cakes, pastries etc, to eat in or take away. Open Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 10am-6pm

CORNISH BAKEHOUSE 11a The Corridor, BA1 5AP Tel: 01225 426635

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19 Lower Borough Walls, BA1 1QU Tel: 01225 442099 ■ Filled baguettes, sandwiches, hot pastries, coffee, tea and cold drinks. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm

FINE CHEESE CO 29-31 Walcot St, BA1 5BN Tel: 01225 483407, web: www.finecheese.co.uk ■ Daily changing sandwiches, baguettes and picnic foods from this gorgeous upmarket deli/cafe, plus excellent coffee and superb cakes. Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-5.30pm

GOODIES 2a St Saviours Rd, Larkhall, BA1 6RJ Tel: 01225 336033, web: www.goodiesdeli.co.uk ■ Popular, long-standing deli offering breads from their in-store French bakery alongside daily Hobbs House

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Sandwich Shops BATH deliveries. Fresh baguettes, ciabatta, granary/white breads etc, stuffed with the freshest fillings. Croissants and sweet pastries are the stuff of local legend. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm

GOURMET SCOFFS 9 Terrace Walk, BA1 1LN Tel: 01225 471137 ■ Bespoke sandwiches, filled rolls, sausage rolls, scotch eggs etc, to eat in or take away. Open Mon-Sat 8am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm

GUILDHALL DELICATESSEN 8a Guildhall Market, BA2 4AW Tel: 01225 427195, web: www.bathguildhallmarket.co.uk/ the-guildhall-delicatessen ■ Sandwiches, baguettes, sweet and savoury tarts, pies, pastries etc, plus continental and local meats, homemade cakes, olives, jams and chutneys, cheeses and vegetarian, Indian and Italian specialities. Catering service. Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat 9.30am-5.30pm

HARVEST NATURAL FOODS 37 Walcot St, BA1 5BN Tel: 01225 465519, web: www.harvest-bath.coop ■ Long-established veggie, wholefood, natural, ethical, organic and locally sourced emporium. Fresh vegetarian and vegan rolls, imaginative vegetarian and vegan savouries (including gluten-free pasta salads) and cakes.

Everything is freshly prepared - anything left over at the end of the day is given to the homeless. Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-6.30pm, Sat 9am-6pm

NEW INDULGENCE CAFE 31 Bathwick St, BA2 6NZ Tel: 01225 316265, web: www.indulgence-cafe.co.uk ■ Homemade daily specials include stews, pies and casseroles, alongside a fabulous deli counter and salad bar, hampers-to-go, jams, chutneys, and cakes made to order at this thoroughly modern foodie venture. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm

LA CROISSANTERIE 14 Northumberland Place, BA1 5AR Tel: 01225 469641 ■ Good-quality, reasonably priced eat-in or takeaway sandwiches, baguettes, pastries, soups and coffees, particularly popular with tourists. Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-5.30pm, Sun 9am-5pm

LES MUNCHIES 3 New St, Kingsmead Square, BA1 2AF Tel: 01225 480779 ■ Sandwiches, rolls, baguettes and panini (first-rate breakfast selection) freshly prepared to order, plus jacket spuds, homemade soup, Illy coffee. Open Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat 9.30am-5.30pm

NEW MAD HATTERS TEA PARTY 5 Orange Grove, BA1 1LP Tel: 01225 466733, web: www.themadhattersteaparty. moonfruit.com ■ Quirky, sweet little cafe offering a solid range of quality goodies-to-go. Open Mon-Thur 8am-6pm, Fri 8am-4pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm

NEW MADE BY BEN 100 Walcot St, BA1 5BG Tel: 01225 319999, web: www.madebyben.com ■ Exceptionally good sandwiches, salads, pies, quiches, tarts, cakes, treats etc, largely made from locally sourced, seasonal produce. Limited seating for those who like to linger long in vibrant, welcoming surroundings. Bespoke catering service.

Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-5pm

Sarnie heaven Southville Deli

INTERMEZZO EXPRESS 32 Barton St, BA1 1HH Tel: 01225 466583 ■ Gert big fat baguettes, sarnies etc, generously overstuffed with a massive choice of fillings, served with fullon Mediterranean panache. Open Mon-Fri 7am-4pm

LA BAGUETTE 3 Stall St, BA1 1QL Tel: 01225 480833 ■ Sandwiches, baguettes, freshly baked pasties, toasties, wraps and hot and cold drinks. Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-6pm, Sat 9am-6pm

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Sandwich Shops BATH MONTGOMERY’S 10a Queen St, BA1 1HE Tel: 01225 338803 ■ More than 40 sandwich fillings, conjuring up thousands of combinations. Office delivery service.

Open Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, Sat 10am-3pm

PICNIC IN THE PARK

Tel: 01225 465156, web: www.subway.co.uk ■ Chunky fresh subs from a huge list. Breads baked in store, with meat, fish and vegetarian options. Open WS: Mon-Wed 8am-12midnight, Thur-Sat 8am-3am, Sun 9am-12midnight. RC: Daily 7am-10.30pm (8am Sun)

TASTY 1

16 Lark Place, BA1 3BA Tel: 01225 461620 ■ This bright, breezy takeaway is the perfect pre-park pitstop. Sandwiches, baguettes, cakes, crisps etc, plus fruit, sweet stuff and hot/cold drinks. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm (occasional Sundays in summer)

14a Manvers St, BA1 1JH Tel: 01225 444288 ■ Filled sandwiches, rolls and croissants, pies, pastries, jacket spuds, cakes, coffee, tea etc, next to SouthGate shopping centre, across the road from Bath Spa station. Open Mon-Sat 7.30am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-5pm

PRESTO

THYME

7 Abbey Churchyard, BA1 1LY Tel: 01225 338803, web: www.pastypresto.com ■ Sandwiches, salads, soups and pastries alongside pasties and savouries freshly baked on the premises each day, plus 100% Arabica Fairtrade coffee. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm

27 Westgate St, BA1 1EP Tel: 01225 780078, web: www.thymechef.co.uk ■ Supremely fresh sandwiches, baguettes and salads made to order. Fillings range from standard egg/ tuna mayo variety (with low-fat options) to posh nosh like proper pastrami with dill pickle, oaksmoked salmon with cream cheese, hummus with roasted Mediterranean veg. Fresh homemade soup, imaginative salad pots, excellent coffee at bargain prices. Extensive catering service, including dinner parties, BBQs, weddings. Open Mon-Fri 7.30am-3pm, Sat 9am-3pm

PRET A MANGER 2 Stall St, BA1 1QL Tel: 020 7932 5370, web: www.pret.com ■ Popular chain specialising in additive/preservativefree fast food: gourmet sandwiches, fresh soups/ salads, falafel wraps, healthy snacks, sweet treats, fruit juices, smoothies. Gluten-, wheat, GM-, dairy-free options proliferate. Coffee is Fairtrade and organic.

Open Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 9am-5pm

RETRO TO GO 18 York St, BA1 1NG Tel: 01225 339347, web: www.caferetro.co.uk ■ Very reasonably priced baguettes, panini, soups, sandwiches, sweet treats and picnic fare, plus excellent coffee and tea, attached to Cafe Retro. Stock sublimely stylish ‘Aladdin’ thermal boxes and mugs.

Join the Bento Lunch Club and get a 20% discount.

Catering service. Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-3pm, Sat 10am-3.30pm

SEASONS WHOLEFOOD 10 George St, BA1 2EH Tel: 01225 469730 ■ Takeaway counter inside a lively wholefood grocery.

Frozen yogurts in summer, homemade soups in winter, plus salads and sandwiches. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm

SUBWAY 11 Westgate St, BA1 1EQ Tel: 01225 789958 Unit 2, Rosewell Court, BA1 2AG

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WEST CORNWALL PASTY COMPANY 4 Burton St, BA1 1BN Web: www.westcornwallpasty.co.uk ■ Proper pasty shop with magnificent selection of freshly prepared sandwiches, filled rolls etc, plus tea, coffee, water, juices. Small outdoor seating area on pavement out front. Company donates a chunk of its profits to the RNLI. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm

WHOLE BAGEL 4 Upper Borough Walls, BA1 1RG Tel: 01225 333259, web: www.thewholebagel.co.uk ■ A deli display of fillings (smoked salmon & cream cheese, pastrami, Nutty Swiss) for your bagel: multiseed, jalapeno, olive & sundried tomato or good old plain. They’re cholesterol, preservative, GM and additive-free, and contain almost no fat. Homemade soup, various salads, lunchtime meal deals. Open Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, Sat 9am-4pm

WILD CAFE 10a Queen St, BA1 1HE Tel: 01225 448673, web: www.wildcafe.co.uk ■ Local, seasonal, sustainable produce used in their takeaway salad and sandwich menu, plus simple allday menu in the cafe featuring local wild food. Open Mon-Sat 8am-5pm

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Takeaways & Deliveries BRISTOL

Takeaways & Deliveries Bristol BIG BANANA JUICE BAR St Nicholas Market, BS1 1LJ Tel: 0117 927 3274, web: www.thebigbananajuicebar.co.uk ■ Bristol’s original juice bar. Drink in or take away freshly prepared juices, smoothies and wheatgrass shots. All-fruit hangover cure comes highly recommended, even if you don’t have a hangover - replaces lost B vitamins, helps flush bad stuff out, and rehydrates.

BOBBY’S 17 Christmas Steps, BS1 5BT Tel: 07885 533216 ■ Housed in a seriously ancient building, this chippy is believed to be one of the nation’s first. The eponymous Bobby serves fish & chips, chicken, pies, scampi, spring rolls and more. Pics on the wall of Bobby’s hero, Che Guevara; small eat-in area. Open Mon-Sat 11am-3pm & 5-11pm, Sun 5-11pm

CARIBBEAN WRAP St Nicholas Market, BS1 1LG Tel: 07989 745944 ■ Authentic Caribbean cuisine to take away, or stop for a quick lunch - the menu never disappoints. Everything from jerk chicken or curried goat with rice and peas to a refreshing cucumber juice. Vegetarians and vegans catered for.

CEDARS EXPRESS 60 Park Row, BS1 5LE Tel: 0117 925 6085 ■ Falafels, stuffed vine leaves, gorgeous lamb samosas (or try the spinach variety), baklava, etc, with plenty for hungry vegetarians. Party catering, too.

small, medium, large and giant (£3) sizes. Three recently arrived flavours are beef curry, corned beef and ham, leek & cheese; we love the cheese & mushroom. Traditional and not-so-traditional pasties, plus panini, sandwiches, baguettes, pizzas, cakes, cold drinks.

NEW EAT A PITTA Glass Arcade, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1LJ Tel: 07825 659525 ■ This latest addition to St Nicholas Market and the Glass Arcade serves gorgeous, freshly prepared falafels, using the freshest ingredients and cooked before your eyes by friendly folk who’ll offer you a choice from the vast salad array. Lunchtime dining? Sorted. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm

EXCHANGE SNACK BAR St Nicholas Market, BS1 1LG Tel: 0117 922 4014 ■ English breakfasts, lunch, snacks.

FALAFEL KING City centre (nr Watershed), BS1 6 Cotham Hill, BS6 6LF Tel: 0117 329 4476 ■ City centre: welcome pitta pitstop, serving good falafels and other Middle Eastern foods to hungry shoppers, clubbers and dancers. Cotham Hill: Cafe and takeaway run by the same folk – see Cafes.

MASALA CAFE 2 Jacobs Wells Rd, Hotwells, BS8 1EA Tel: 0117 930 4194, web: www.ahmedsmasalacafe.co.uk ■ Quality Indian takeaway offering a 10% discount on £10+ orders. The wonderful prawn on puree starter,

City centre pitta pitstop Falafel King

CITY CAFE FOOD CENTRE Colston Ave (opp Hippodrome), BS1 ■ Staggeringly popular burger and kebab van, open till the early hours for the post-club crowd. Somehow Murat and his staff manage to keep smiling until around 5am at weekends. Too drunk to look out for the blue-and-white stripes? Just follow your nose to the aroma of frying onions. Open Daily 8pm-very late

CORNISH BAKEHOUSE 16 Castle Gallery, Galleries shopping centre, BS1 3XE Tel: 0117 930 4279, web: www.cornishbakehouse.com ■ Pasties are all made in the eponymous county to ensure authenticity, with the flagship Cornish variety coming in

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Takeaways & Deliveries BRISTOL formerly on the menu, can still be rustled up if you ask politely. Extensive range of house specials includes kormas, bhunas, tandooris.

MOORISH CAFE St Nicholas Market, BS1 1LG Tel: 07403 358046/07552 929489 ■ How bazaar, how bazaar! Formerly known as Al Bab Mansour and serving the same delicious menu of Moroccan food and drink to eat in or take away: couscous, traditional Moroccan lamb and chicken dishes, meatballs. A souk in the heart of the city. Food Mon-Sat 12noon-4.30pm

MISSION BURRITO 62 Park St, BS1 5JN Tel: 0117 927 3339, web: www.missionburrito.co.uk ■ Online ordering lets you line up your lunch (flavouredpacked burritos) ready for collection. See Cafes. Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thur-Sat 10am-11pm

NEW PEPE NERO 22 Bond St, BS1 3LU Tel: 0117 926 8057, web: Facebook, Twitter ■ Meaty/fishy/veggie/vegan pizza delivery to your office? Give Pepe Nero a call. Great consideration has been taken here to provide diverse (and delicious) choices to veggies and vegans as well as carnivores. All bread and dough is made and baked in-house and, quite fantastically, pizzas are available with up to four different toppings by the metre. Open Mon-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 11am-6pm

PORTUGUESE TASTE St Nicholas Market, BS1 1LG Tel: 07816 598576 ■ Funky little cafe/takeaway where one taste of the Portuguese national confection – pastel de nata – will take you all the way to Lisbon. Summer brings salads (tuna, Russian, chicken); winter means big-flavoured traditional dishes: feijoada (red beans & pork), chicken piri piri, beef stew with rice and potatoes, chickpeas with pork and rice, and cod with cream and potatoes. Daily vegetarian soup.

PRINCES PANTRY 61 Prince St, BS1 5PH Tel: 0117 925 0400 ■ Nestling alongside Bristol docks, this small, quality hut serves great sausage sarnies and bacon butties at low prices. Lots of colourful regulars. Their breakfast roll is a beauty of a baguette: tomatoes, bacon, eggs, sausage.

Open Daily till 3pm

PURE PASTA, SOUP & SANDWICH St Nicholas Market, BS1 1LG Tel: 07899 862403 ■ Italian (eat in or take away) specialising in hot pasta dishes, great lasagne, pizza, panini, soup, sandwiches.

The homemade tiramisu is a knockout.

RENDEZVOUS 9 Denmark St, BS1 5DQ Tel: 0117 929 8683 ■ Takeaway and seating area serving fish & chips, pies, pasties, sausages. It’s more expensive to eat in.

PIEMINISTER

RICE BOX

Glass Arcade, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1JQ Tel: 0117 302 0070, web: www.pieminister.co.uk See Takeaways, Bristol: North.

4 Christmas Steps, BS1 5BS Tel: 0117 927 3388, web: www.thericebox.co.uk ■ Bijou and boutique, serving funky and fantastic Chinese food. The eponymous box comprises main meal plus fried/boiled/rice/chow mein. The prawn toast is wonderful. Excellent range (plus admirable veggie choices) enhanced by daily specials. Open Mon-Fri 11.30am-7.30pm (not bank hols)

PIZZA HUT Web: www.pizzahut.co.uk ■ Check website for your nearest Pizza Hut: there’s a whole bunch in Bristol, some of which do home delivery.

Good range of pizzas at reasonable prices. See also Restaurants, Italian.

PIZZAEXPRESS 31 Berkeley Square, BS8 1HP Tel: 0117 926 0300 35 Corn St, BS1 1HT Tel: 0117 930 0239 Unit 1, Building 8, Harbourside, BS1 5TY Tel: 0117 927 3622, web: www.pizzaexpress.com ■ Renowned, busy restaurants offering great takeaway pizzas and delicious dough balls with garlic butter. See Restaurants, Italian.

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ROCOTILLOS 1 Queens Row, Triangle South, BS8 1EZ Tel: 0117 929 7207 ■ Breakfasts, pancakes, quesadillas and milkshakes (including Oreos version) from this Observer Food Monthly Best Breakfast award-winner. See also Restaurants, American. Open Mon-Wed 8am-5pm, Thur-Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 10am-5pm

SPICE UP YOUR LIFE 7 Exchange Ave, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1JP Tel: 0117 914 4448

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Takeaways & Deliveries BRISTOL ■ Quality cut-above Indian and Asian specialities. Eat at a table on the cobbles outside or take away. Bhajis, samosas, wraps, daily specials. Vegans catered for.

SUBWAY See Sandwich Shops, Bristol, for branch details Web: www.subway.co.uk ■ Chain selling a massive range of hot/cold submarine sandwiches with freshly baked bread, including Italian and wheat breads. Deli-style sandwiches, salads, wraps, cookies, muffins.

Bristol: West AHMED’S CURRY CAFE 1e Chandos Rd, Redland, BS6 6PG Tel: 0117 946 6466, web: www.ahmedscurrycafe.co.uk ■ Cosy curry cafe dishing out fresh, GM-free food at unbelievably great prices. Home delivery service. See Restaurants, Indian.

Take it away!

A Cappella

Wells Rd, Knowle ■ The Guardian’s Best Budget Italian 2011, serving ‘the best pizzas in Bristol’.

Pieminister

Stokes Croft ■ Chicken of Aragon and pm pies: Best in Britain at British Pie Awards 2012.

Tiffins

St Michaels Hill ■ BBC Radio 4 Food & Farming Awards 2010, runner-up Best Takeaway.

BLUE JUICE 39 Cotham Hill, BS6 6JY Tel: 0117 973 4800 ■ Fun, funky cafe and takeaway. Remarkable range of juices and smoothies, plus some seriously filling food.

BRISTOL RAJ 36 Alma Vale Rd, BS8 2HS Tel: 0117 973 1414/7969, web: www.bristolraj.co.uk ■ Saucy and spicy Indian restaurant that also offers delivery. Butter chicken and chicken tikka masala are excellent. Takeaway discount 20%; free delivery for £12.50+ orders within three miles. See also Restaurants, Indian. Open Sun-Thur 6-11.30pm, Fri-Sat 6pm-12midnight

CLIFTON VILLAGE FISH BAR 4 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BP Tel: 0117 974 1894, web: www.cliftonvillagefishbar.co.uk ■ Drop in (or make a special journey for) lovely, sustainable fish served with a smile by the friendly Maestri family. With a fishmonger at Chandos Deli next door, you’re in the right place for sea bass, mackerel, calamari and filo prawns, or choose pies and pasties. Open Daily lunchtime and eves, all day Sat-Sun from around lunchtime

DOMINO PIZZA 119 Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2PL Tel: 0117 973 3400, web: www.dominos.co.uk ■ Extensive menu, delivered or to take away, with online ordering available. Pizzas in four different sizes and crusts, with imaginative toppings (Mighty Meat: pepperoni, sausage, onion, mushrooms, beef, ham). Good side-orders, too: chicken strippers, garlic bread. Special offers and meal deals.

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DRAGON FOUNTAIN 4 Cotham Hill, BS6 6LF Tel: 0117 973 7749 ■ Family-run, with extensive menu of fantastic food at reasonable prices. Also do delivery.

FALAFEL KING 6 Cotham Hill, BS6 6LF Tel: 0117 329 4476 ■ See Takeaways, Bristol: Central.

FISHMINSTER 133 Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2PL Tel: 0117 933 5599, web: www.fishminster.co.uk ■ See Takeaways, Bristol: South.

PAPA COSTA DELI 67 Queens Rd, BS8 1QL

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Takeaways & Deliveries BRISTOL Tel: 0117 929 1600, web: www.papacostadeli.co.uk ■ Everything from Greek and Italian to English. See Specialist Food Suppliers.

PAPADELI 84 Alma Rd, BS8 2DJ Tel: 0117 973 6569, web: www.papadeli.co.uk ■ Bountiful deli, with charcuterie, cheeses, an emphasis on local sourcing and some of the friendliest staff around.

All takeaway food is prepared on the premises, including sandwiches, salads, casseroles, quiches, vegetarian options. See Specialist Food Suppliers.

PAULINE CHAN’S 205 Wellington Hill West, Henleaze, BS9 4QL Tel: 0117 962 3078 ■ Excellent Chinese takeaway specialising in Peking, Szechuan and Cantonese, with delivery service.

Favourites include spicy crispy chilli beef, Thai red curry, and curry with rice for a reasonable £5.80. Terrific special fried rice, great veggie options. Open Mon-Thur 5-10pm, Fri-Sat 5-10.30pm

NEW PIRI PIRI CORNER 11-12 Triangle South, BS8 1EY Tel: 0117 929 7777, web: www.piripiricorner.co.uk ■ Opening days after we go to press, this attractive fastfood restaurant/takeaway delivers free to a three-mile radius including Redland, Hotwells, Kingsdown, Leigh Woods. Open Daily 11-1am

PIZZAEXPRESS 2-10 Regent St, Clifton Village, BS8 4HG Tel: 0117 974 4259, web: www.pizzaexpress.com ■ See Bristol: Central.

STOKE BISHOP FISH BAR 13 Druid Hill, Stoke Bishop, BS9 1EW Tel: 0117 329 0366, web: www.cliftonvillagefishbar.co.uk ■ Opened last year, courtesy of the ace people at the long-established Clifton Village Fish Bar (see listing above). Open Evenings daily, lunchtimes Mon-Sat

THALI CAFE 1 Regent St, Clifton Village, BS8 4HW Tel: 0117 974 3793, web: www.thethalicafe.co.uk ■ See Takeaways, Bristol: North – One Stop Thali Cafe.

TIFFINS 151 St Michaels Hill, BS2 8DB Tel: 0117 973 4834, web: www.tiffinsbristol.com ■ Owners Jay and Nick Jethwa, officially the planet’s loveliest people (and BBC Radio 4 Food & Farming Award finalists 2010) serve up authentic Gujarat curries cooked in sunflower oil only and using more nutritional spices

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than most Indian food. Stone-baked pizzas made with their own fresh dough have toppings that straddle the curry/pizza worlds. Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 4.30-9pm, Sat 12noon-2pm & 5-9pm

YOYO BURGER 6 Byron Place, BS8 1JT Tel: 0117 930 4353, web: www.yoyoburger.com ■ ‘Once you’ve eaten here, you’ll keep coming back,’ wrote our man of this benchmark-setting burger bar, where the bar has been raised since last year’s guide. A futuristic screen-inlaid table and surroundings evoking the Michael/Janet Scream video will dazzle even the most dazed late-night reveller, but your eyes aren’t deceiving you - that really is lobster and waygu beef on the menu.

Seriously tasty wraps accompany uber-high-quality burgers (inc crocodile, springbok, ostrich, kangaroo) cooked freshly on site. Rocombe Organic ice-cream, and coffee and shakes made to perfection. Open Daily 12noon-late

Bristol: South A CAPPELLA 184c Wells Rd, Totterdown, BS4 2AL Tel: 0117 971 3377, web: www.acappellas.co.uk ■ Voted Bristol’s Best Budget Italian 2011 by The Guardian, this is a continental cafe by day, cosy BYO pizzeria by night. Wonderfully friendly owners and staff - it’s like being on your hols in Spain. Tapas and salads made to order, homemade desserts and stonebaked pizzas (huge range of handmade vegetarian, meat and fish options) prepared using traditional techniques, at affordable prices. Home deliveries from 5pm. Open TueThur 9am-10pm, Fri-Sat 9am-10.30pm

ALI BABA’S 40 DISHES 34 West St, Bedminster, BS3 3LH Tel: 0117 966 3713, web: www.alibabas40dishes.co.uk ■ Long-established, with 17 different varieties of naan, from mushroom & coriander to honey-glazed. Good selection of milder curries, specialities and veggie dishes.

Several ‘zatoon’ dishes are cooked in extra virgin olive oil, and most meat dishes can be converted to vegetarianfriendly. Two poppadoms, onion salad and onion bhaji/ bombay aloo/saag aloo free with £10+ orders. Open Daily 5.30pm-12midnight

AL’S TIKKA GRILL 33 Ashton Rd, Ashton Gate, BS3 2EG Tel: 0117 985 3016 ■ Hungry Bite cafe by day, smashing little Indian by night. Eat in or take away - complete with BYO policy.

It’s modest but good, and we like it a lot. Great food at cracking prices; chicken tikka masala and chicken balti both highly recommended.

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Takeaways & Deliveries BRISTOL DIM SUM

TEOHS

263 North St, BS3 1JN Tel: 0117 953 0606 ■ Very popular, long-established oriental takeaway, a firm favourite with locals. Big menu. Open Tue-Thur 6-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 6-11.30pm, Sun 6-10pm

Old Tobacco Factory, North St, Southville, BS3 1TF Tel: 0117 902 1122, web: www.teohs.net ■ Fabulous Thai, Japanese, Chinese and Malaysian specialists, with great vegetarian and vegan options. See Restaurants, Pan-Asian.

EASTERN TANDOORI

THALI CAFE

81 North St, BS3 1ES Tel: 0117 966 2365 ■ Established in 1987, a good-quality Indian with great service and excellent food, including baltis and tandoori.

1 William St, Totterdown, BS3 4TU Tel: 0117 933 2955, www.thethalicafe.co.uk ■ See Takeaways, Bristol: North – One Stop Thali Cafe.

FISHMINSTER 267 North St, BS3 1JN Tel: 0117 966 2226 133 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2PL Tel: 0117 933 5599, web: www.fishminster.co.uk ■ Sustainable fish caught by fishermen who care, locally sourced potatoes cut fresh each morning, and certified eco-friendly GreenPalm oil. Specialising very much in fish (don’t expect pies, sausages, etc), both premises boast clean, modern surroundings with fresh flowers. Cod, haddock, hake, plaice and pollack alongside whitebait, calamari, king prawns, fishcakes, fish pie. Veggies get a chickpea, carrot & beetroot burger. Seated eat-in areas, and Whiteladies site also has a licensed restaurant. Open Bedminster: Mon-Sat 11.30am-10.30pm, Sun 5-10.30pm. Clifton: Mon-Wed 11.30am-2.30pm & 5-11pm, Thur-Sat 11.30am-11.30pm, Sun 5-11pm

MAGNET 55 Dean Lane, BS3 1BS Tel: 0117 963 6444 ■ Once the location of a Badly Drawn Boy gig. Boss Sayed splashes out on top-quality oil (chips and fish can also be cooked in dripping if requested). Hailing from Tehran, he also does Persian ‘finger’ kebabs in lamb/ beef varieties. Firm, succulent cod, haddock and plaice, plus chicken, pies, homemade burgers (including veggie) and brilliant chips, with everything cooked to order. Pizzas, samosas, doners also on offer. Deliveries Thur-Sat in BS1, BS2, BS3 and BS4 postcode areas.

Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2pm, Sat 12noon-2.30pm, MonThur 5.30-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 5-10.30pm, Sun 5-10pm

PIZZA BELLA 102-106 West St, BS3 3LR Tel: 0117 963 3882 ■ Get chocolate, fags, even a bottle of vodka direct to your door thanks to this family-run Bedminster institution. It’s easy, you see, when you have your own offie, Belvino, next door. Pizzas from £4.70. Call for delivery details.

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Bristol: North ARCHES INDIAN FAST FOOD 210 Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5QU Tel: 0117 924 8062 ■ Casual BYO cafe offering Indian fast food. Great-value Mon special: onion bhaji, meat curry, naan or rice, and one mixed vegetable or bombay aloo for £7.50. Open eves only (closed Tue)

NEW ATOMIC BURGER 189 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8BG Tel: 0117 942 8600, web: www.atomicburger.co.uk ■ Wilfully funky burger bar and takeaway set to wow Bristol’s fast-foodies from mid-July 2012. See Cafes, Bristol.

BISHOPSTON FISH BAR 264 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8PB Tel: 0117 307 9390, web: www.bishopstonfishbar.co.uk ■ Picked up a gong at this year’s National Fish & Chip Awards to go with Feb 2011’s Fish & Chip Quality Award from the National Federation of Fish Friers. Impressive menu offers cod, haddock, plaice, scampi, burgers and faggots (made by a local butcher), pies and barbecue chicken. Even the garlic mayo is award-winning. Open Mon-Sat 11.30am-2pm & 4.30-10.30pm

BRISTOL FRYER 431 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8TZ Tel: 0117 951 5415 ■ Fantastic chippy popular with Gasheads and students.

Freshly cooked fish, burgers, pies, pasties, sausages, kebabs, chicken, omelettes and more extras than the cast of Ben Hur. Twelve-inch pizzas with three toppings for £5.99.

CIAO BURGER 207a Gloucester Rd, BS7 8NN Tel: 0117 942 6228, web: www.ciaoburger.co.uk ■ Gloucester Road fixture dishing up good burgers and more.

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Takeaways & Deliveries BRISTOL DOMINO PIZZA

OH! CALCUTTA! INDIAN KITCHEN

439 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8TZ Tel: 0117 951 2777 Simmonds View, Stoke Gifford, BS34 8HR Tel: 0117 979 8855, web: www.dominos.co.uk ■ See Bristol: West.

216 Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5QU Tel: 0117 924 0458, web: www.ohcalcutta.co.uk ■ Everything from the wussiest korma to a nuclear phall coming with the warning of being ‘painfully hot on both tongue and cheeks’. Emphasis on fresh ingredients.

Takeaways and home delivery service. See Restaurants, Indian.

GRECIAN KEBAB HOUSE 2 Cromwell Rd, St Andrews, BS6 5AA Tel: 0117 942 3456 ■ No Gloucester Road pub-crawl is complete without food from this legendary pizza and kebab house. The rather fantastic news is that the upstairs restaurant will open as a lounge just before this guide hits the streets (see Bars).

Mighty fine 12in pizza for a fiver, with chips or garlic bread thrown in while you wait. Doner and shish kebabs from £3.90, large doners £4.90/£5, two-skewer shish kebabs £6. Greek specialities include several vegetarian dishes, and there’s baklava and kataifi, too. Delivery service. Open Takeaway/ Lounge: Mon-Thur 4pm-3am, Fri-Sat 3pm-5am, Sun 3pm-3am

INDIAN FOOD CENTRE 366 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8TP Tel: 0117 942 3532 ■ Huge selection, from mild tikkas to blow-your-socks-off curries. The great-value chicken tikka masala is simply superb. Contemporary Indian cuisine, along with tandooris and baltis.

KELLAWAY FISH BAR 4 Kellaway Ave, BS6 7XR Tel: 0117 944 5220 ■ Seriously big pieces of fresh cod in crisp, non-greasy batter, huge portions of chips and consistently good quality.

Simply one of the best chippies you’ll find anywhere.

NEW TAJ TAKEAWAY 404 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8TR Tel: 0117 942 1992, web: www.newtaj.co.uk ■ See website for Sky News coverage of their ‘flu-indaloo’ hot and spicy cold remedy. They’ve been serving quality Indian food to customers (with or without a runny nose) for about 20 years. Mr Choudhury and family conjure up tandooris, curries, biryanis and south-Asian dishes, enjoyed by a loyal following, some of whom consider the takeaway part of their family. Open Wed-Mon 5.30pm-12midnight

NEW OH! BEIJING! 200 Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5QZ Tel: 0117 904 9345, web: www.ohbeijing.co.uk ■ Halal far eastern food - Chinese, Thai, Szechuan, Cantonese, Malaysian, Peking, Mongolian - at site of former New Happy Garden. Open Mon-Fri 5-11pm, Sat-Sun 5-11.30pm

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ONE STOP THALI CAFE 12 York Rd, Montpelier, BS6 5QE Tel: 0117 942 6687, web: www.thethalicafe.co.uk ■ Join the thousands-strong Tiffin takeaway club and get a beautifully insulated stainless-steel thali carrier to keep your food piping hot. Veggie meals cost a mere £7.95, with fish choices, too. This place has become a phenomenon thanks to its cheap, tasty, fresh combination thali and dishes inspired

by Asian street food. See also Restaurants, Indian & Nepalese.

Open Mon-Fri 6pm-close, Sat-Sun 10am-close

PIEMINISTER 24 Stokes Croft, BS1 3PR Tel: 0117 942 9372 Glass Arcade, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1JQ Tel: 0117 302 0070, web: www.pieminister.co.uk ■ The mantelpiece must be groaning under the weight of silverware accumulated at this fantastic eatery on Stokes Croft. All pies in their original range are Great Taste Award winners (four golds in 2006 alone), and their Heidi pie bagged Best Vegetarian Pie gong at the British Pie Awards.

Available on numerous pub menus around the region. Bijou St Nicks offshoot sells the same range as big bro HQ, and compact PieMINIsters cater for kids. You heard about the Secret Order of the Pastry, a special pie-tasting club where pie lovers gather four times annually? Sounds like the Bilderberg Group, only with fewer conspiracy theories and more pies.

Open Stokes Croft: Mon-Sat 11am-7pm, Sun 11am-5pm. St Nicks: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm

SIMPLY THAI 67 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AD Tel: 0117 924 4117 ■ Fresh, flavoursome Thai grub. Lots on the lunch menu (£5.95), including green/red Thai curries. You can pre-order by phone.

SMITHS FISH BAR 2 Kingsdown Parade, BS6 5UD Tel: 0117 921 4627 ■ Dating back decades, with charming decor (Formica and steel counter, tiled floors and walls) in keeping. Glutenfree fish & chips third Sat of every month; 10-strong pizza range (using 100% fresh dough) on its way. Clean, quick and decent-sized portions. Pies, pasties, burgers (BBQ blue cheese, sweet chilli) and hot tortilla wraps, too. Open Mon-Fri 11.45am-1.45pm & 5-10.30pm, Sat 5.30-10pm

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Takeaways & Deliveries BRISTOL SPICE ROUTE 61 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AD Tel: 0117 904 0040 ■ Pretty much everything this popular cafe prepares is also available to take away, including sandwiches, baguettes, panini, quiches, homemade soups. Good exotic juices, fresh fruit smoothies, coffees, teas. Open Mon-Fri from 8am, Sat from 9am

STAR FISH BAR 157 Greystoke Ave (next to Aldi), Southmead, BS10 6AS Tel: 0117 950 9505 ■ A diamond! Portions are legendarily large and OAPs get lunchtime fish & chips for £4.30. Greystoke Ave might not be Hollywood Boulevard, but this is a star of Harrison Ford proportions. Open Daily eves, lunchtimes Mon-Sat

NEW STREET FOOD @ FLOATING MARKET 39 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AD Tel: 0117 924 6786 ■ Authentic Thai starters and sides, noodles, stirfrys, curry and vegetarian dishes on offer at this recently opened eat-in and takeaway. Open Tue-Sun 12noon-3.30pm & 6-10.30pm

TEOHS 28-34 Lower Ashley Rd, St Agnes, BS2 9NP Tel: 0117 907 1191, web: www.teohs.net ■ Fabulous Thai, Japanese, Chinese and Malaysian specialists, with great vegetarian and vegan options. See Restaurants: Pan-Asian.

THAI PEPPER 215 Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5QP Tel: 0117 924 9402, web: www.thaipepper.co.uk ■ Restaurant, BYO and takeaway serving freshly cooked Thai food, including stunning Thai green curry made with either beef, pork, chicken, bean curd or prawns. Chicken with oyster sauce comes highly recommended. Free home delivery for £15+ orders within two miles, phone orders welcome. Open Tue-Sun 6-11pm

VIEN’S PALACE 166 Kellaway Ave, BS6 7YQ Tel: 0117 924 8792 ■ Fine Peking, Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine, great veggie options, and good range of dishes. Restaurant quality at takeaway prices.

VINCE’S ITALIAN PASTA & PIZZA 396 Filton Ave, BS7 0LJ Tel: 0117 904 1188, web: www.vincespizza.co.uk ■ The inventive Armato family have run this genuine Italian eatery since 1999. Massive 24-inch, four-topping, feeds-five family pizza, and a chocolate variety, too. An EOW first will be the appearance of a chip pizza around the time of publication.

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Popular in Sicily, apparently. Freshly baked pasta dishes and sides, plus drinks both soft and alcoholic. Delivery service.

Open Mon-Sat 5-11pm, Sun 6-11pm

Bristol: East ALWAHA 12 High St, Easton, BS5 6DL Tel: 0117 935 5339 ■ Offering a 100% halal menu. Dishes and opening hours not confirmed at time of going to press – call to check.

CHINA COURT 85 Bryants Hill, St George, BS5 8QZ Tel: 0117 961 6112 ■ Above-average Chinese takeaway with very competitive prices. Aromatic duck, spare ribs, smoked chicken and beef are all highly recommended. Good soup and chilli dishes for those who like it hot. Open Wed-Mon 5.30-11pm

CURRY SUPREME 77 High St, Staple Hill, BS16 5HE Tel: 0117 970 1292 ■ Sunday buffet: adult £9.50, child £4.90. Huge takeaway menu, all at fantastically low prices (onion bhajis £1.90).

Open Mon-Thur 5.30-11.30pm, Fri-Sat 5.30pm-12midnight, Sun 6-10pm

DOMINO PIZZA 10 Regent St, Kingswood, BS15 8JS Tel: 0117 961 6111, web: www.dominos.co.uk ■ See Bristol: West.

EASTON EXPRESS 186 Stapleton Rd, Easton, BS5 0NZ Tel: 0117 951 2267, web: www.easton-express.50webs.com ■ Specialise in Peking, Szechuan, Cantonese, vegetarian and Thai, with a vast number of Chinese dishes (plus set menus) and numerous Japanese dishes including pan-fried noodles, ramen, don buri, miso, bento. Most dishes on Chinese menu can be altered to suit vegetarians. Free delivery within a three-mile radius for £12+ orders. Open Daily 5-11pm

FARROWS FISH & CHIPS Kingsway Shopping Precinct, The Kingsway, near Hanham, BS5 8NS Tel: 0117 961 6626 ■ Good chippy, where the chips are always light, crispy and fluffy. Well worth the journey if you’re not from round these parts.

NEW OLDFIELDS FISH & CHIPS 84 Regent St, Kingswood, BS15 8HU Tel: 0117 967 3292

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Takeaways & Deliveries BRISTOL/BATH ■ Formerly Maguires at the Clock Tower, it became part of the Oldfield chip shop fleet in August 2011. Pies, faggots, burgers, etc, accompany the quality ocean-fresh fish.

Restaurant upstairs. Open Mon-Wed 11.30am-8pm, ThurSat 11.30am-9pm

RAJASTAN ROYAL 27 Badminton Rd, Downend, BS16 6BB Tel: 0117 301 4330, web: www.rajastanroyalbristol.co.uk ■ Was Jorna, then Indian Summer, and now a BYO restaurant with 40 years’ experience of serving duck specials, seafood, tandooris, baltis and specialities, with takeaway arm. Open Daily 5.30-11pm

TASTE OF CHINA 596 Fishponds Rd, BS16 3DA Tel: 0117 958 3304 ■ Standard Chinese faves, plus veggie dishes made using gluten. Open Wed-Mon 5-11pm

THALI CAFE 64-66 St Marks Rd, Easton, BS5 6JH Tel: 0117 951 4979, www.thethalicafe.co.uk ■ See Takeaways, Bristol: North – One Stop Thali Cafe.

Bath AL FALAFEL 3 Monmouth St, BA1 2AJ Tel: 01225 311133 ■ Kebabs and well-priced late-night faves, particularly popular after a night of revelling. Open Mon-Sat 12noon2.30pm, 5pm-1am

BILLY BURGER St Saviours Rd, Larkhall, BA1 6RT Tel: 01225 313393, web: www.eatmyburgers.co.uk ■ Burger paradise: more than 120 varieties and multiple combination options. Choose your basic burger (beef, chicken, breakfast, boar, kangaroo, bean/soya alternatives), then create your bespoke topping combo. Hot dogs, jackets, fries, potato skins, hash browns, garlic bread, etc, too. Free local delivery for £10+ orders. Open Mon-Thur 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-11.30pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30pm-12midnight, Sun & bank hols 6pm-12midnight

NEW CAVENDISH COOKS 8 St James St, BA1 6RS Tel: 01225 312805, web: www.cavendishcooks.co.uk ■ Definitely not your ‘average’ takeaway experience: two Cordon Bleu-trained chefs lovingly cook fresh food in their open kitchen for you to take away and enjoy that day, pre-order for parties and events, or take home and keep in the freezer. Lamb tagines, chicken casseroles, vegetable

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gratins, etc. Limited seating available. Open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-4pm

CHILLIES 2 Lambridge Buildings, Larkhall, BA1 6RS Tel: 01225 443030, web: www.chilliesbath.co.uk ■ Top-notch traditional and contemporary Indian grub.

Free delivery, online ordering. Open Mon-Sun 5.3010.30pm (last delivery orders 10.15pm)

NEW CHUNG YING 21 Walcot Buildings, BA1 6AD Tel: 01225 447677, web: www.newchungying.co.uk ■ Popular late-night destination for the post-pub munchbrunch crowd: big oriental menu and friendly staff. Open Daily 5.30-11.30pm

DESH INDIAN TAKEAWAY & RESTAURANT 10 Chelsea Rd, BA1 3DU Tel: 01225 314413/463388 ■ Good, fast, decent-priced Indian takeaway food, with 10% nurse/student discount. Also a busy, popular restaurant. Baltis and jalfrezis highly recommended.

DOMINO PIZZA 66 Walcot St, BA1 5BD Tel: 01225 421421, web: www.dominos.co.uk ■ Chain offering extensive menu and top-quality pizzas, in different sizes and crusts, with imaginative toppings.

FISH & CHIPS Upper Borough Walls, BA1 1RJ Tel: 01225 330195 ■ Traditional fish & chips, plus all the usual takeaway suspects (pies, sausages, mushy peas, canned drinks).

Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-10pm

FORTUNE COOKIE 378 Wellsway, BA2 5RN Tel: 01225 832223, web: www.fortune-cookie.uk.com ■ Classic, classy Far Eastern food, including Japanese udon noodle selection plus lesser-spotted far-flung treats. Open Sun-Tue & bank hols 5-11pm, Wed-Sat 12noon-2pm & 5-11pm. Home delivery daily 6-10pm (£1.50 charge within 3-mile radius)

NEW FRO YO 2 GO 42 Monmouth St, BA2 1AN ■ Frozen yoghurt (100% natural, totally fat-free), milkshakes, smoothies and smoogurts (work it out for yourself) made to order, plus a range of toppings and treats. Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm

GOLDEN PLAICE 13a Cleveland Place West, BA1 5DG

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Takeaways & Deliveries BATH Tel: 01225 338288 ■ Value for money, friendly service and decent-sized pieces of fish alongside pies, sausages, fishcakes and mountains of well-cooked chips. Open Tue-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 5.3010pm

NEW GONG FU NOODLE BAR 16 Kingsmead Square, BA1 2AE Tel: 01225 463442 ■ Choose your base (noodles, rice), topping (chicken, beef, seafood, beancurd) and vegetable (fresh daily), then choose a theme (Thai, Japanese, Chinese curries; tom yum, wonton, miso soup; black bean, sweet and sour, satay, tamarind sauces) for a vibrant bespoke takeaway. Excellent side dishes, dim sum, skewers, bubble and exotic teas. Free delivery on £10+ orders. Open Daily 11am-11pm

HERBIES 5 Moorland Rd, BA2 3PJ Tel: 01225 483772 ■ Classic chippy fare to eat in or take away. Open Mon-Sat 11.30am-2pm & 5.30-10.30pm

New kids on the block Gong Fu Noodle Bar

Kingsmead Square ■ A fresh, lively, personalised Far Eastern adventure.

Tambo Peruvian Kitchen Grove St ■ Proper Peruvian street food, freshly prepared and always served with a smile.

Mission Burrito

New St, Kingsmead Square ■ Fulfilling an admirable mission to bring bespoke burritos to the people of Bath.

HIPPIE SHAKE 20 Moorland Rd, BA2 3PW Tel: 01225 466200, web: www.hippieshake.co.uk ■ Freshly made, supremely stylish milk (and dairy-free, lowfat, diabetic-friendly) shakes, scrumptious sweet treats and hot/cold drinks, including smoothies and hot chocolate.

Open Mon-Thur 9am-5pm, Fri-Sat 9am-6pm

NEW INDIAN FUSION 37 Monmouth St, BA1 2AN Tel: 01225 316555/424262 ■ Really good curries and Caribbean faves (jerk chicken, curry goat, akee and saltfish, plaintain, rice and peas).

Chef’s specials include Indian lamb shank, chetagong chilli, makhanwala. Set Indian/Caribbean lunches £2.99, daily 1.305.30pm. Open Daily 1.30pm-5.30pm & 6-11pm

Tel: 01225 461946 ■ The takeaway section to the front of this long-established Turkish restaurant gets overrun with people placing orders for shish, doner and chicken kebabs, especially on Fri/ Sat evenings. Well worth the wait, though. Open Mon-Sat 12noon-1am

KEBAB HOUSE

MEGA BITE

16 Kingsmead Square, BA1 2AE Tel: 01225 461915 ■ Kebabs, pizzas, fried chicken. Open Mon-Sat 12noon2.30pm & 5pm-1am

26 Walcot Buildings, BA1 6AD Tel: 01225 444481 ■ Pizzas, kebabs, burgers, fish & chips, fried chicken and all the vital accessories (sides, canned drinks, etc). Open MonWed 4pm-2.30am, Thur-Sat 4pm-3am, Sun 5pm-2.30am

MANHATTAN BURGER 23 Claverton Buildings, BA2 4LD Tel: 01225 447365 ■ Beefburgers, chicken burgers, veggie burgers, kebabs, chips, canned drinks, etc. Open Daily 12noon-12midnight

MARMARIS 4-5 Grand Parade, BA2 4AN

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NEW MISSION BURRITO 4 New St, Kingsmead Square, BA1 2AF Tel: 01225 442599, web: www.missionburritos.co.uk ■ Freshly prepared, bespoke burritos and classic Tex-Mexinspired delights. Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thur-Sat 10am-11pm

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Takeaways & Deliveries BRISTOL MOGHUL

SEAFOODS

140 Walcot St, BA1 5BL Tel: 01225 464956 ■ Long-established Indian takeaway serving tandoori, biryani and vegetable dishes at sensible prices. Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 5-11.30pm

38 Kingsmead Square, BA1 2AA Tel: 01225 465190, web: www.fishandchipsbath.co.uk ■ Long-established, award-winning cafe (with pavement seating) serving traditional, perfectly cooked (to order) fresh fish with to-die-for old-school chips. Special catches (skate, trout, salmon, crab) often make guest appearances. Popular pies, sausages, pickled eggs. Open Mon-Sat 11.30am-11pm

MR D’s 8 St Georges Place, Upper Bristol Rd, BA1 3AA Tel: 01225 425204 Van at night on Milsom St/Orange Grove ■ Cheap grub for late-nighters: burgers (including veggie and chicken) and the ever-popular cheesy chips (excellent, especially after six pints). Open UBR: daily 6pm-3am. Van: Thur-Sat 8pm-2.30am

PEKING CHEF 84 St Kilda’s Rd, Oldfield Park, BA2 3QJ Tel: 01225 425685 ■ Top-notch Chinese and Thai cuisine from a massive menu. Take away or order for delivery 5-11pm (min order £6, delivery charge £1 within 2-mile radius, £2 thereafter).

Open Tue-Sun 12noon-2pm, daily 4.30-11pm

SHAKEAWAY 3 Beau St, BA1 1QY Tel: 01225 466200, web: www.shakeaway.com ■ About 150 different milk/ice-cream-based shakes alongside dairy-free and diet-friendly incarnations, plus coffee, tea, cold drinks. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm (Sat 6pm), Sun 10.30am-5pm

SUBWAY

1 Wellsway, Bear Flat, BA2 4QL Tel: 01225 429776 ■ Fresh, authentic Italian pizzas, decent fries, soft drinks.

Open Tue–Sun 6pm–late

11 Westgate St, BA1 1EQ Tel: 01225 789958 Unit 2, Rosewell Court, BA1 2AG Tel: 01225 465156, web: www.subway.co.uk ■ Chunky fresh subs from a huge list, with meat, fish and vegetarian options. Wraps, sauces, soups, salads, platters, drinks and breakfast choices, to eat in or take away, plus excellent-value-for-money combos. Credit cards accepted.

Open WS: Mon-Wed 8am-12midnight, Thur-Sat 8am-3am, Sun 9am-12midnight. RC: daily 7am-10.30pm (8am Sun)

REAL ITALIAN ICE CREAM CO

SULIS PIZZA

17 York St, BA1 1NG Tel: 01225 330121 ■ Probably the best ice-cream in Bath. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm (Sundays in summer)

2 Grand Parade, BA2 4DF Tel: 01225 447037, web: www.sulispizza.co.uk ■ Perfect pizzas to go, or order online for home delivery.

See website for 2-4-1s and regularly updated offers. Open Daily 12noon-10pm

PIZZA FRESCA

RUPOSHI 3 Sussex Place, BA2 4LA Tel: 01225 337294, web: www.ruposhitakeaway.co.uk ■ Small, friendly Indian takeaway with long-established reputation for high-quality, good-value curry and tandoori dishes, including excellent vegetarian/vegan options.

Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2pm & 5-10pm (Sat 10.30pm)

SCHWARTZ BROTHERS 4 Sawclose, BA1 1EY Tel: 01225 461726 102 Walcot St, BA1 5BG Tel: 01225 463613, web: www.schwartzbros.co.uk ■ Freshly flame-grilled burgers (legendary garlic-mayo and chilli), veggie and chicken options, dips and excellent chips. Handy mobile-phone top-up service. Pay by card if you’ve run out of cash. Phone orders, too. Open MonFri 12noon-12midnight, Sat 11.30am-12midnight, Sun 12noon-11pm

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NEW TAMBO PERUVIAN KITCHEN 1 Grove St, BA2 6PJ Web: www.tamboperuviankitchen.co.uk ■ An authentic taste of Peru courtesy of Peruvianthemed sandwiches (yes, really), street food (empanada, papa rellena, etc) and Andean fruit juices. The chilli hot chocolate delivers more kick than a donkey with sunstroke.

Catering service. Open Mon-Fri 9am-3pm, Sat 11am-3pm

TWERTON CHIPPY 145 High St, Twerton, BA2 1BZ Tel: 01225 425920 ■ Rig rock salmon, skate and cod’s roe alongside cod, plaice and haddock, with perfect chips. A couple of tables inside for when the weather’s iffy. Open Mon 12noon2pm & 6-9pm, Tue-Thur 12noon-2pm & 5-9.30pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-2pm & 5-9pm

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m an n a

ISSUE TWO

Encouraging

confidEnt

christian communitiEs

in Bath and

ace Pe on Earth?

Inside: Can war

Bringing peace ever be ‘just’? ●

to people in the

WElls

dEc 2010

Holy Land ● Faith

on the front line

03/11/2010

Dec 2010.indd

14/09/2010

FINAL PROGRAMME.indd

09:21:43

1

12:46:12

1

contact us venue publishing, 4th floor, bristol news & media, bristol bs99 7hd tel 0117 942 8491 email c.evans@venue.co.uk or bang@venue.co.uk web www.bangstudio.co.uk

BRANDPRINTWEBPUBLISHINGPHOTOGRAPHY

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Specialist Food Suppliers BRISTOL

Specialist Food Suppliers

star-garnering chef Chris Horridge likening Georgina and Tom’s cakes to his mum’s. Enjoyed at places like Bar Chocolat, Tobacco Factory and Watershed, among numerous other outlets.

Bristol

BAR CHOCOLAT

A BAR OF… 71-73 Covered Market, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1JQ Tel: 0117 927 9918, web: www.abarof.co.uk ■ As featured in Vogue, this chocolate nirvana stocks an astonishing array of truffles, bars and ice-creams - everything from Italian sipping chocolate to glutenfree, dairy-free and wheat-free options. Also make their own chocolate bars in flavours like crystallised rose and caramelised fudge. Choccy cigars, too! Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun (1st monthly) 11am-4pm

ALMOUROL 54 Filton Rd, Horfield, BS7 0PB Tel: 07768 439775, web: www.almourol.net ■ The South West’s only Portuguese and Brazilian minimarket, family-run and stocking savouries, desserts, snacks, sweets, soft drinks and spirits from the lands of fado and carnival. Helpful website in English and Portuguese. Everything from oils, sauces, meats, cheeses, fish, baking products, cereals, baby foods and sweets to pasta, tinned items, tea, brandy, beer. Onsite cafe serves desserts, deli treats, coffees and delicious Portuguese custard tarts made by the husband-and-wife team running this wonderful operation. Open Mon-Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 9am-4pm

ATTIC 115 Coldharbour Rd, Redland, BS6 7SD Tel: 0117 909 0357, web: www.attictea.com ■ All-The-Tea-In-China, in case you were wondering.

Brilliant selection of around 20 different teas, which these specialists will help you explore via tastings and notes (learn about the health benefits of drinking certain teas at certain times of day). Emphasis is on loose-leaf (try before you buy) - Attic’s blended herbal versions hit the spot whether you want uplifting or relaxing.

BAR CAKE Tel: 0117 967 0245, web: www.barcake.co.uk ■ This bro-and-sis duo have been making ‘cakes for discerning adults’ at their Kingswood bakery since the mid-noughties, with ‘mini treats’ for kids (Little Star, Clever Monkey) launched since last year’s guide. Their carrot cake bagged a one-star gold at 2010’s Great Taste Awards, their lemon & poppy seed cake, Belgian chocolate, cherry & coconut flapjack and orange almond chocolate truffle won gold at the 2007 awards, and their dark chocolate & beetroot grabbed more glory in 2008. Further endorsement has come with Michelin

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19 The Mall, Clifton Village, BS8 4JG Tel: 0117 974 7000, web: www.barchocolatclifton.co.uk ■ Now Bar (not MeMe) Chocolat but still a stylish homage to all things choccy. Drop in for chocolates to take away and box-set gifts. Cafe, too. Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10.30am-6.30pm

BAY TREE 176 Henleaze Rd, BS9 4NE Tel: 0117 962 1115, web: www.thebaytree.co.uk ■ Wide range of organic and natural foods, and one of the largest selections of vitamins and minerals in Bristol, plus herbal remedies and homeopathic medicines. Shop cafe sells homemade produce to eat in or take away.

BREAD SHOP 18 Chandos Rd, BS6 6PQ Tel: 0117 904 7227 ■ Salad bowls have arrived, and they’re due to expand their range at this very-long-established bakery.

Regulars come from far and wide for bread, cakes, sarnies, pastries and great slabs of pizza from this institution serving up love with their loaves. One shop window functions as a noticeboard promoting local events. Open Mon-Fri 7.30am-4pm

BREADSTORE 45 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AD Tel: 0117 942 1654, web: www.thebreadstore.co.uk ■ It’s comforting to know you can still buy a doughnut middle here for 5p - possibly the most affordable item anywhere in this guide? This big-hearted bakery also looks after tired revellers returning home along Gloucester Road in the wee small hours. Wonderful selection of around 40 different kinds of loaves, rolls and sticks (inc olive, walnut, basil, cranberry, nut). Excellent sundried tomato bread, low-salt soda bread, and rye and white sourdough loaves. Cakes, croissants, pizzas, pasties, and always something tasty in yesterday’s halfprice bargain basket. Open (officially) Mon-Sat 7am-6pm

BRISTOL CIDER SHOP 7 Christmas Steps, BS1 5BS Tel: 0117 382 1679, web: www.bristolcidershop.co.uk ■ This place tries to gather as much apple-/pear-related stuff as possible under one small roof. Over 80 ciders on draught or in bottles (all sourced from within 50 miles), plus cider vinegar, cider brandy, cider chutney.

They even have Wurzels CDs. Events, tastings and tours staged. Open Mon-Sat 11am-7pm

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Specialist Food Suppliers BRISTOL BRISTOL SAUSAGE SHOP 28-30 Glass Arcade, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1LJ Tel: 07817 478302, web: www.bristolsausageshop.co.uk ■ Twenty-strong banger range includes the St Nicholas 1743 (pork, cider, chives, wholegrain mustard). Up your brekkie ante with Bury black pudding (the world’s finest) plus white pudding, bacon, condiments, goose fat and bangers & mash or sausage sandwiches to take away. About 90% of what they buy is reared, grown, produced or sourced locally - pretty much everything except the aforementioned Bury black pud and Spanish chorizo. Cartmel sticky toffee pudding and lovely English honeys, too. Open Mon-Sat 10am-4.30pm

BRISTOL SLOW FOOD MARKET Corn St, BS1 Tel: 0117 922 4014, web: www.bristolslowfood.org ■ Find the very best local, seasonal, traditionally produced food and drink from all corners of the region, plus traders with produce from further afield, such as Italy and Spain. Everything you need for a perfect Sunday lunch, as well as cheese, bread, sausages, beer, cakes, preserves, olive oil, fine wines, Somerset cider, perry and apple brandy. Hot food, and regular cookery demos from top local chefs. Open Sunday market, 1st Sun of month, 10am-3pm

pork pies now made on site. Supply bacon, offal, wonderful faggots and more than 400kg of chitterlings a week to restaurants, caterers and the public.

CHANDOS DELI Quakers Friars, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BU Tel: 0117 927 9543 Bristol University Sports Centre, Tyndall Ave, BS8 1TQ Tel: 0117 922 7700 6 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BP Tel: 0117 974 3275 121 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2PL Tel: 0117 970 6565 97 Henleaze Rd, BS9 4JP Tel: 0117 907 4391, web: www.chandosdeli.com ■ This popular deli stocks an eclectic range of cheese, charcuterie, fresh bread, olives, homemade savoury tarts and cakes, fantastic wines and award-winning sandwiches.

Products are sourced directly from Italy, France and Spain, as well as local British producers - takeaway sourdough baguettes containing some tasty fillings are from Richard Bertinet. Clifton Village branch has a fab fresh fish counter: whole turbot, lobsters, fresh gleaming

Globe-straddling local legend Bristol Sweet Mart

BRISTOL SWEET MART 80 St Marks Rd, Easton, BS5 6JH Tel: 0117 951 2257, web: www.sweetmart.co.uk ■ Much more than just sweets. Find exotic frozen fish, for example, at its Fish Bazaar incorporation. Varieties such as tilapia, hilsa, pangasius, magur and boal from places like Thailand, Bangladesh and the West Indies to get the dinner-table conversation going. The international reputation is largely due to the success of their website, with recipes and email updates. A must for any lover of Indian food, but they also stock plenty of Asian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and African treats, plus shatkara, a particularly dry lemon used as a palate cleanser. Guava jelly, aloo gobi pie, Mexican orange blossom honey, halal meat, vast range of chilli sauces. Huge ethnic snack range includes sticky chicken, coconut prawn pekora, lamb roti, naga chilli pekora, samosas, kachori. Excellent, steadily growing organic selection includes bread, milk, coffee, dairy, pulses, grains. If they haven’t got it, they’ll do their best to find it for you.

BRITTAN’S PORK BUTCHER 17 Wade St, St Judes, BS2 9DR Tel: 0117 935 1800 ■ Historic, traditional butcher offering just about every conceivable and cookable part of a pig you can imagine, from trotters to ears and all parts in between, with

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Specialist Food Suppliers BRISTOL mackerel, plump juicy scallops. Open Henleaze: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 8am-5pm. Princess Victoria St: Mon-Wed 9am-5pm, Thur-Fri 8.30am-7pm, Sat 9am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-4pm. Whiteladies Rd: Mon-Thur 7.30am-4pm, Fri 7.30am-5pm, Sat 8.30am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm. Quakers Friars: Mon-Sat 9.30am-7pm, Sun 11am-5pm. Bristol University (term-time): Mon-Fri 7.30am-7.30pm, Sat 9.30am-4.30pm

CLIFTON CAKES 120 St Georges Rd, College Green, BS1 5UJ Tel: 0117 927 7693, web: www.cliftoncakes.co.uk ■ Light, airy cafe serving cake, coffee and tea, and home to workshops training devotees in chocolate sculpture and truffle making. For the ultimate hen party, how about getting the bride to make a life-sized chocolate stiletto, as stocked by Liberty and Harvey Nicks? Tastings, team-building events, cake-decorating packs. Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm, Sat 10am-5pm

DAVE GILES BUTCHER 170 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8NU Tel: 0117 942 5667 ■ Been around for some 20 years now, and the organic milk they supply via Jess’s Ladies has even longer lineage, with many cows being descendants of the herd of 1955 – Bluebird, Gypsy and Glow-worm. Find mostly locally sourced, organic/non-organic meat, cheese, preserves and other goodies. Most meat comes from Somerset, with organic pork from Salisbury, plus organic chicken and loads of great sausages. Traditional farmhouse cheeses from Alvis Bros (the people behind

Fish doesn’t come much fresher Fishminister

Lye Cross Organics); preserves and chutneys from Rose Farm in Weston-super-Mare.

DR BURNORIUM’S HOT SAUCE EMPORIUM Exchange Hall, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1JQ Tel: 07855 395150, web: www.hotsauceemporium.co.uk ■ Those with asbestos mouths who want to make steam come out of their ears should head to this, the only shop of its kind in the country, for around 200 of the world’s finest hot chilli sauces, spicy barbecue sauces, wing sauces, salsas, hot mustards, chilli rubs and seasonings.

Find Blair’s Death Sauces from New Jersey and Marie Sharp’s offerings from Belize, plus fiery snacks, chilli extracts and chilli-head gift packs. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm

EARTHBOUND 8 Abbotsford Rd, Cotham, Bristol, BS6 6HB Tel: 0117 904 2260 ■ See Specialist Food Suppliers, Organic.

ESSENTIAL TRADING Unit 3, Lodge Causeway Trading Estate, Fishponds, BS16 3JB Tel: 0845 458 0201, web: www.essential-trading.coop ■ See Specialist Food Suppliers, Organic.

FISHMINSTER 267 North St, Bedminster, BS3 1JN Tel: 0117 966 2226 133 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2PL Tel: 0117 933 5599, web: www.fishminster.co.uk ■ Wet fish counter currently in place at Clifton (may return to Bedminster), offering an array of fresh fish and seafood delivered daily from Devon.

GINGELL BUTCHER 19 Nags Head Hill, St George, BS5 8LN Tel: 0117 967 2142 ■ Butcher’s shop R Gingell has been here for a good half-century at least. If you’re lighting the barbie, mosey on over for the shop’s own bangers (inc caramelised red onion and gluten-free). The unsmoked back bacon is particularly renowned, the staff friendly, the sauces, chutneys and preserves locally sourced, and the pies things of wonder.

HARVEY NICHOLS FOODMARKET Quakers Friars, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BZ Tel: 0117 916 8898, web: www.harveynichols.com ■ Wide range of home-brand and speciality produce, including teas, coffees, American treats, Indian curry mixes, chocolate, chutneys, cooking books. This emporium of specially sourced products from around the world also stocks an extensive range of wines and spirits, many of them exclusive and/or hard to obtain.

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Specialist Food Suppliers BRISTOL HERBERTS BAKERY Wellington Ave, Montpelier, BS6 5HP Tel: 0117 924 7713, web: www.herbertsbakery.co.uk ■ A Bristol baking institution, based in Montpelier for four decades now. The mural alone, covering one side of this much-loved, distinguished bakery, justifies any journey. Different types of bread and cakes draw inspiration from around the globe - Irish soda, Tuscan and Grecian olive, Italian tomato, American bagels, Swiss rye and overnight dough made to a traditional English recipe. Pasties, sandwiches and drinks, too. Deliver wholesale to loads of outlets, sandwich shops, restaurants. Open Mon-Fri 7.30am-5pm, Sat 7.30am-2pm

JOHN SHEPPARD BUTCHER Unit 6, Ashley Trading Estate, Ashley Parade, BS2 9XS Tel: 0117 955 7775, web: www.johnshepparddirect.com ■ Their locations may have changed in the 60-plus years they’ve been in the trade, but the Sheppard family’s commitment to quality has been a permanent fixture. Supplying some of the country’s finest restaurants and hotels, they offer home delivery of fresh meat - everything from steaks to roasting joints. Hugely popular packs and hampers for special occasions, BBQs, dinner parties. Excellent, easy-to-use website: order hampers, barbecue packs and joints.

Something special La Ruca

Gloucester Rd ■ Bazooka that hunger with a bargain, freshly made £2 falafel wrap nicknamed ‘The Torpedo’.

Earthbound

Abbotsford Rd, Cotham ■ Lots of tofu/soya/ Quorn meat-free alternatives (gluten-free items, too) from ace couple previously running a veggie B&B.

Scoopaway

Gloucester Rd ■ Recycle that Diamond Jubilee bunting! Scoopaway celebrate their silver shindig in 2012.

KALAHARI MOON 88-91 Covered Market, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1JQ Tel: 0117 929 9879, web: www.kalaharimoon.co.uk ■ Explanations of the differences between droewors and boerewors await at this South African one-stop shop supplying excellent options in both. Biltong range, marinades, chilli sauces. If you’re after something not in stock, they’ll do their best to order it in. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm

KIN YIP HON SUPERMARKET 16a-16b St Thomas St, BS1 6JJ Tel: 0117 929 9098, web: www.kin-yip-hon.co.uk ■ Excellent city-centre Chinese specialists with helpful staff and everything for your oriental banquet, including seafood and frozen meat. Fresh foods like tofu and Chinese vegetables, oils, pickles, flavourings, fresh and instant noodles, Chinese beer and rice wine, authentic kitchenware. Very competitive prices. Open Daily 10am-6pm

KINGSWOOD FARM SHOP 23 Regent St, Kingswood, BS15 8JX Tel: 0117 967 0773 ■ Burgers and bangers come in impressive flavours at this butcher’s shop (formerly Stan Butt’s Kingswood operation). Mexican pork, beef & three pepper, pork & apple, lamb & mint and chicken & sweet chilli line up

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alongside pork & stilton, chilli & garlic. Curried goat, too. Drop in early for bacon or bangers for breakfast.

BBQ packs and onsite deli. Open Mon-Sat 6.30am-5pm

NEW LA DAME GATEAU Within No1 Harbourside, 1 Canons Rd, BS1 5UH Tel: 0117 303 5141, web: www.ladamegateau.co.uk ■ When those No1 Harbourside people think outside the box, they do it with style. As well as being possibly the only Bristol bar with an onsite oyster counter, and definitely the only Bristol bar with a ferry service (Bristol Ferry Boat Co) operating under their roof, they’re also an outlet for one of the city’s classiest cake concerns, La Dame Gateau. Try the likes of lemon drizzle, rocky road and carrot & walnut, with greater variety on weekends. Take away or eat in (get your tea/ coffee from the No1 bar). Open Tue-Sun 10am-5pm

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Specialist Food Suppliers BRISTOL LA RUCA 89 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AS Tel: 0117 944 6810, web: www.laruca.co.uk ■ Local speciality healthfood shop serving cosmopolitan, globally inspired meals and a good selection of natural and organic foods. Deli counter bargains include wrapped vine leaves, falafels, spinach & couscous tortilla, renowned veggie chimichangas. Huge amount of Fairtrade teas and coffees, delicious chocolate, herbs and spices, organic soups and cheeses, wonderful olives.

Everything’s sold by the friendliest, most helpful staff.

■ Four generations of the Bracey family have been trading in Staple Hill, providing homecured artisan hams, speciality roast meats, handmade pies and deli produce. With award-winning, home-produced foods and knowledgeable staff, they support local, small, specialist producers, farmers and businesses by carefully selecting handmade chutneys and pickles, cheeses, handmade cakes, rare-breed pork sausages.

National Great Taste Awards gold 2005 for their homeproduced gammon; two silvers at the 2006 Taste of the West Awards (where they’ve bagged nine in total).

LICATA’S

MARK’S BREAD

36 Picton St, Montpelier, BS6 5QA Tel: 0117 924 7725 332 Gloucester Rd, Horfield, BS7 8TJ Tel: 0117 924 7718, web: www.licata.co.uk ■ The C&T Licata & Son story started in 1957 when the Licatas (Carmelo and Teresa) left the Sicilian village of Aragona to come to Bristol, forming their company two years later. Still very popular with locals and Italophiles in search of a prosciutto or parmesan fix, they also operate as a wholesaler: catering-sized mounds of mozzarella, huge bags of pizza flour, tins of every conceivable bean or vegetable. Find cheese, salami, excellent olives, good vegetables, flour, polenta, Italian wines and beers and biscotti. Dozens of different types of pasta - often cheaper than the supermarket.

291 North St, Bedminster, BS3 1JR Tel: 07910 979384, web: www.marksbread.co.uk ■ The wonder of the slow food movement in action.

Using organic flour from Gloucestershire’s Shipton Mill, wild breads come in varieties like Bristol sourdough, miche and malthouse. Plus rye and spelt wheat-free breads, and yeasted breads in baguette, ciabatta and olive sunshine varieties. Find their pork pies at Rare Butchers of Southville, just up the street. Bread sold Mon-Sat direct from the oven from 8am, with baking usually over by 1pm, and sales continuing until 6pm or until sold out. Also at Southville Community Centre (Thur 4.30-6.30pm).

Deliver wholesale to pubs and bars along North Street on an authentic Dutch bicycle. Friendly chap, helpful staff, enthusiastic customers.

MANOR KITCHEN 3 Soundwell Rd, Staple Hill, BS16 4QG Tel: 0117 956 9291, web: www.manorkitchen.co.uk

Dockside deli and restaurant Olive Shed

MELANIE’S KITCHEN 2 Downend Rd, BS16 5UJ Tel: 0117 957 2662, web: www.melanieskitchen.co.uk ■ Peter and the eponymous Melanie source a wide range of produce from the South West and beyond, mainly from small producers, for their Downend shop and onsite cafe. Fresh bread arrives daily from the local bakery, and there’s a great selection of cheeses and olives. Tea, coffee, preserves, local ham, cereals and a popular hamper service for gift-seekers. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm

MURRAY’S BUTCHER 153 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8BA Tel: 0117 942 4025 ■ Congratulations to butchers T&PA Murray on turning 18 - a vote for their 10-strong, regularly changing sausage range (inc pork & caramelised onion) or their Saturday pavement BBQ is a vote for common sense. Dry-cure bacon from Sandridge Farm, pork from Woodland Pigs on the Glos/Herefordshire border, and additive-free and free-range meats. Deli side includes 2.5-year-old parmesan among cheeses, chorizo, salamis, parma ham and excellent chutneys and jams. The olive oil used here is recycled as biofuel.

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Specialist Food Suppliers BRISTOL OLIVE SHED Princes Wharf, BS1 4RN Tel: 0117 929 1960 123 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AX Tel: 0117 924 0572, web: www.theoliveshed.com ■ Fantastically popular dockside restaurant, which also houses a downstairs deli – check out the lovely array of tapas, from seafood to Lombardy peppers. Gloucester Rd shop stocks an even wider range, including organic bread and coffee, gourmet juices, cakes, sandwiches.

Open Princes Wharf: Tue-Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 10am-4pm. Gloucester Rd: Mon-Thur 9am-5pm, Fri-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm

PAECKERT BUTCHERS 230 Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5QU Tel: 0117 924 5454 ■ Traditional butcher’s shop run by two brothers.

Original shop opened in Broadmead in 1962 and relocated here in the 1990s. Varieties include the flagship Toulouse, South African, Spanish and Hungarian. The pork, honey & mustard comes highly recommended and the Thai special may return come summer. Catering supplies, too. Open Tue-Sat 8am-5.30pm

PAPA COSTA DELI 67 Queens Rd, Clifton, BS8 1QL Tel: 0117 929 1600, web: www.papacostadeli.co.uk ■ Deli offerings have been slightly reduced here since last year’s guide as they concentrate on the cafe and outside catering sides, but it’s still worth dropping in if you’re after continental beers from Cyprus, Italy and France or Greek cakes.

PAPADELI 84 Alma Rd, Clifton, BS8 2DJ Tel: 0117 973 6569, web: www.papadeli.co.uk ■ Chef-owned/run Aladdin’s cave of delights. Dozens of artisan cheeses, excellent charcuterie and antipasti, much local sourcing and restaurant-quality dishes and cakes, made daily on site, to take home or enjoy in the air-conditioned cafe upstairs. Handmade chocolate, delicious biscuits, olives and olive oils, and everything you need for authentic paella. Mail-order gifts and hampers via website or phone. Voted top in 2006’s Cheap Eats category by Observer Food Monthly readers; in 2007 they featured in The Guardian’s directory and have been nominated as UKTV Food Heroes.

PAWSON’S GREENGROCER 186 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8NU Tel: 0117 942 8464 ■ Wonderful community greengrocer, run by the same family for over 50 years. Ace mother-and-daughter team preside over an astonishing range of fresh fruit and veg:

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everydays as well as exotics, seasonal goodies, chutneys and sauces, and speciality ingredients like coconut milk. Oyster mushrooms, butternut squash, lemongrass, and an amazing variety of fresh herbs at half the price of the supermarket. The local honey is particularly sublime.

RARE BUTCHERS OF SOUTHVILLE 250 North St, Southville, BS3 1JD Tel: 0117 966 3593 ■ The queue of people snaking out onto North Street waiting patiently for their weekend breakfast/Sunday roast/picnic ingredients on Saturday mornings confirms the quality on offer here, as does the sight of passers-by stopping to pick up hotdogs, burgers and bacon rolls from the pavement cook-off. In premises formerly home to the legendary Bob Wherlock, expert butchers bring the best-quality, free-range meat from impressively local sources, with suppliers starting mere minutes away at Dundry (check blackboard for provenance details). Livestock welfare is a priority, with meat carefully hung and butchered using traditional methods. Prepare all their own meat, from beautifully marbled local steaks, dry-aged onsite on the bone, to free-range English and European sausages, also made with local meat. Artisan pork pies from Mark’s Bread down the road. Easily one of the city’s top butcher’s and well worth the journey if you’re not from round these parts. Open Mon 8am-1pm, TueThur & Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-3pm

REAL OLIVE CO 40-42 Glass Arcade, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1LJ Tel: 0117 909 9587, web: www.therealolivecompany. co.uk Also Thornbury Precinct (Sat) ■ Fifty olive varieties, antipasti (feta-stuffed bell peppers), homemade hummus, pesto and more.

SCOOPAWAY HEALTH FOODS: NATURAL & ORGANIC WHOLEFOODS 113 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AT Tel: 0117 987 2199, web: www.scoopawayhealthfoods. co.uk ■ Specialists in natural, organic, wholesome foods and remedies for the whole family, including natural food supplements and natural body care. Organic and Fairtrade teas and coffee, herbs and spices, chilled and frozen convenience foods. Also cater for speciality diets such as vegetarian, vegan and coeliac. They minimise packaging and food waste by making their best-selling lines available loose - scoop as much or as little as you need. Over 4,000 product lines, many of them Fairtrade and organic, and all GM-free and ethically produced. Well-trained staff to give advice if required. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm

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Specialist Food Suppliers BRISTOL SMITHFISH 23 North View, Westbury Park, BS6 7PT Tel: 0117 973 1666, web: www.smithfish.co.uk ■ Wonderful, slightly old-fashioned, family-run shop where a slower, more respectable pace to life remains and smartly dressed ladies of retirement age are still addressed as Mrs So-and-So. Find kippers, mackerel, mussels, bream, cod, skate, trout. Cooked and dressed seafood/salmon platters, booked in adv for parties, remain a speciality. Open Tue & Thur 8am-4.30pm, Wed 8am-4pm, Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-1pm

SOURCE

cheese, sausage, vegetarian and vegan outlets. Enjoy world foods from the Caribbean, Morocco, Italy and India. Or just a good old English breakfast. Great coffees, freshly prepared juices and smoothies. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm

STAN BUTT BUTCHER 137 East St, Bedminster, BS3 4RJ Tel: 0117 966 3488 ■ Quality traditional community butcher, with excellent meat and poultry, supplying restaurants, caterers and the public.

1-3 Exchange Ave, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1JW Tel: 0117 927 2998, web: www.source-food.co.uk ■ The essence of this specialist shop and cafe is to connect with food’s source, be it field or sea. Meat comes from North Somerset, free-range chicken from Devon, and seasonality on the fish counter means, over the course of a year, you’ll find cod cheeks, razor clams, monkfish, red mullet and brill. Events include courses (Make Friends with Fish), with plans for an oyster celebration. Offlicence adds to this foodie heaven. Open Mon 9am-5pm, Tue-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun (1st monthly) 10am-4pm

TART CAFE & FOOD STORE

SOURDOUGH CAFE

St Nicks

16 The Promenade, Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AE Tel: 0117 924 7628, web: www.lovelytart.com ■ Cafe, private dining/function room and shop selling chutneys and preserves, tea, chocolates, real fruit liquors and more, sourced as locally as possible. Jams, muesli and granola add to the range; gifts and vouchers available. Some food served in the cafe can also be bought to take home. Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-5.30pm

Food to eat in, food to go

Glass Arcade, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1LJ Email: sourdoughcafe@gmail.com ■ Bijou and enthusiastic little place specialising in all things yummy: artisan bread, tasty toasties, homemade cakes and delectable treats accompanied by Extract coffee and wide loose tea selection. Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-5pm

SOUTHVILLE DELI 262 North St, Southville, BS3 1JA Tel: 0117 966 4507, web: www.southvilledeli.com ■ Seasonal dining comes on a micro and macro scale here. Sandwich options change daily, and the Vacherin Mont d’Or cheese (imbued with flavour by its spruce bark wrapping) is available Oct-Feb. Spanish manchego cheese, the revered Stinking Bishop, an excellent variety of organic produce and health foods, olives, roasted peppers, cured meats, salamis and other Mediterranean fare. Self-serve wholefoods from Bristol’s Essential Trading, beers from Bristol Beer Factory and Bath Ales, wines and spirits, plus certified organic bread from Herberts and a great range of gluten/wheat-free produce.

Espresso machine, tables outdoors, Ecover refills. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm, Sun 10.30am-4.30pm

ST NICHOLAS MARKET Corn St, BS1 1JQ Web: www.stnicholasmarketbristol.co.uk ■ Popular city-centre destination for a diverse range of foods to eat in, take away or take home, with specialist

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Specialist Food Suppliers BRISTOL TEOHS 28-34 Lower Ashley Rd, St Agnes, BS2 9NP Tel: 0117 907 1191, web: www.teohs.net ■ Fabulous emporium of Far Eastern foods and goods, specialising in Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Malaysian, Philippine and Indonesian items. Excellent range of oils, sauces, snacks, seasonings and lots of fresh goodies like tofu, fresh oriental vegetables and herbs. If they want to do it themselves, a Teohs’ cookery school voucher will do the trick in style.

TOBACCO FACTORY MARKET Tobacco Factory, Raleigh Rd, Southville, BS3 1TF Tel: 07974 683038, web: www.tobaccofactory.com ■ Weekly Sunday market serving up affordable food and crafts: locally made bread, fresh farm food, homemade cakes and pies (as well as flowers, clothing, jewellery, etc). Cafe serves brunch from 10am. More than just a place to shop, the market has become a focus and meeting point for the community, and occasionally spills out into Raleigh Rd. Open Sunday market, 10am-2.30pm

TONY’S CARIBBEAN FOOD 128 Grosvenor Rd, BS2 8YA Tel: 0117 941 4266 ■ Caribbean food shop with a 50-year history as a specialist supplier of spices, produce and fresh fruit and veg. Wonderful, family-run outfit stocking kingfish, tilapia, goatfish and plenty more from the sea sold whole, cut and filleted, plus cow’s foot for a tasty stew. Exotic fresh fruit and veg - from matoki

Natural food pioneers Wild Oats

(African banana), cho-cho (a type of squash) and sweet yam to akee and callaloo (broadleaf vegetable similar to spinach). Authentic treats include Busta sweets from Jamaica and Kool Aid. More English-type food Herberts bread, dairy, cheese, margarine, tinned goods - and some organic lines also stocked. Open Mon-Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 9am-5pm

TOVEY’S SEAFOODS 198-200 Stapleton Rd, Easton, BS5 0NY Tel: 0117 951 0987, web: www.toveys.co.uk ■ Enjoy fish and game (rabbit, deer, duck, from Cornwall, Scotland, Shetland, etc) from this family-run wholesaler, known since 1935 for its fantastic range of fresh fish and shellfish, with suppliers across Europe.

In turn, Tovey’s supply many businesses, but the shop’s also open to the public, with a range of stock capable of broadening anyone’s culinary horizons. Poultry, too.

Open Mon 9am-12noon, Tue-Sat 9am-5pm

TREASURE ISLAND SWEETS 70 Covered Market, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1JQ Tel: 0117 927 9918, web: www.treasureislandsweets.co.uk ■ Old-fashioned and innovative confectionery. Chilli chocolate bars, plus dairy-free, wheat-free and sugarfree items. Seasonal section is top for gifts. Mail-order available. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm

TRETHOWAN’S DAIRY SHOP 33-34 The Glass Arcade, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1LJ Tel: 07590 960329, web: www.trethowansdairy.co.uk ■ Yummy cheeses include their own Gorwydd Caerphilly. Toasties made using ‘shepherd’s’ loafs designed specifically for toasting available Wed. Wedding cakes made, cheese-tasting evenings staged.

Open Mon-Thur 9.30am-4.30pm, Fri-Sat 9.30am-5pm

TWO DAY COFFEE ROASTERS 135 St Michaels Hill, BS2 8BS Tel: 0117 929 9191, web: www.twodaycoffee.co.uk ■ Cups, cafetieres, grinders – just about everything you could want for the perfect cup – alongside ethically sourced coffee beans and coffee to go. Coffees from single estates or small co-ops in developing countries, and stunning espresso range. The ‘Two Day’ name stems from their mission to sell everything within a maximum of 48 hours of roasting.

WAI YEE HONG SUPERMARKET Eastgate Oriental City, Eastgate Rd, Eastville, BS5 6XX Tel: 0845 873 3388, web: www.waiyeehong.com ■ Fantastic Chinese supermarket with around 9,000 lines of oriental cooking ingredients and equipment at amazingly cheap prices. Exotic fresh fruits and veg, plus frozen fish. Beers include Singha and Chang from Thailand and Japanese Asahi. Open Daily 9.30am-6pm

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Specialist Food Suppliers BRISTOL/BATH WILD OATS 9-11 Lower Redland Rd, BS6 6TB Tel: 0117 973 1967, web: www.wild-oats.co.uk ■ Pioneering wellbeing through good eating in Bristol for years, with expert advice tailored to the individual.

More like an extensive grocery than a health store, with one of the region’s most comprehensive stocks of natural foods and goodies. Much emphasis on raw (uncooked) foods, such as chocolate, kale chips, sprouted grains, etc. Huge selection of produce, from grains, pulses, yogurts, spreads, jams, flours and deli products to fresh and organic bread. Large deli counter; special diets catered for. Website is a virtual guided tour of the shop; highly trained staff are knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5.45pm, Sun 11am-5pm.

ZULU 27 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AA Tel: 07580 363756, web: www.zulurestaurants.co.uk ■ Anyone for worm crisps? Impressive array of over 25 meats includes wild boar, ostrich, kangaroo, python and kudu. Throw a screwball at dinner parties with chocolate-covered ants and scorpions, crickets and locusts. Onsite cafe, if you’d rather someone else did the cooking. Open Tue-Wed 9am-3pm, Thur-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm

Bath BANTHON ORIENTAL SUPERMARKET 10 Brookside House, High St, Weston, BA1 4BY Tel: 01225 420468 ■ Wide range of cooking ingredients, herbs, spices and remedies, all with Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino and other Far Eastern influences. Open Tue-Sat 10am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-4pm

BARTLETT & SONS BUTCHERS 10-11 Green St, BA1 2JZ Tel: 01225 466731, web: www.bartlettandsons.co.uk ■ Traditional family butcher, established 1931. All meat is locally sourced and largely chemical/additive free, prepared using traditional methods. Sausages and burgers are made in-house. Good selection of cooked meats, cheeses, pastries, pickles and occasionally cakes.

Open Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm

BATH BAKERY 3 Chelsea Rd, BA1 3DU Tel: 01225 421702 37 Moorland Rd, BA2 3PN Tel 01225 481477, web: www.bathbakery.co.uk Other branches in High St (Upper Weston), BA1 4BY; Bradford Rd (Combe Down), BA2 5BP; St Margaret’s St

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(Bradford on Avon), BA15 1DE ■ No preservatives, mould inhibitors or bleached flour in any of this yeasty loveliness, from sandwich loaves, organic variations, lardy cake, Cornish pasties, sausage rolls and croissants to malted, spelt, multigrain, oat, olive and rye versions. Cafe at the Moorland Rd branch.

Open Mon-Sat 8am-4.30pm

BATH FARMERS’ MARKET Green Park Station, BA1 1JB Tel: 01225 787910, web: www.bathfarmersmarket.co.uk ■ Kickstarted the whole Farmers’ Market movement, and now held every Sat. Dozens of stalls sell locally produced fresh and organic meat, dairy, breads and veg, plus foods for people on restricted diets, hot food to nibble as you browse and plenty of tasting experiences.

Open Sat 8.30am-1pm

BEEHIVE BAKERY Noads Corner, Odd Down, BA2 2RX Tel: 01225 833322 ■ Proper, traditional, community baker. Open Mon-Sat 8am-4pm

BEN’S COOKIES 21 Union Passage, BA1 1RD Tel: 01225 460983, web: www.benscookies.com ■ Funky, chunky fresh cookies (priced by the kilo) to take away or enjoy at a table on the traffic-free lane out front. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm

NEW BERTINET BAKERY & CAFE 6 New Bond St Place, BA1 1BH Tel: 01225 445531, web: www.thebertinetkitchen.com ■ Bakery shop and cafe courtesy of award-winning doughboy Richard Bertinet and his team, with their acclaimed bread-related treats alongside amazing pastries, sandwiches, cakes etc. Open Mon-Sat 8am-6pm (Sun opening hours in the pipeline)

BEST OF BRITISH 12 Broad St, BA1 5LJ Tel: 01225 448055, web: www.bestofbritishdeli.co.uk ■ Organic deli and takeaway. See Specialist Food Suppliers – Organic.

NEW CAVENDISH COOKS 8 St James St, BA1 6RS Tel: 01225 312805, web: www.cavendishcooks.co.uk ■ Two Cordon Bleu-trained chefs lovingly prepare fresh food in their open kitchen for you to take away and enjoy that day, pre-order for parties and events, or take home and keep in the freezer. Gorgeous! Open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-4pm

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Specialist Food Suppliers BATH

Voyages of discovery Upton Cheyney Chilli Company

Upton Cheyney ■ All things chilli-related (including an annual Chilli Festival) just up the road from Bath - hot stuff indeed.

Lovejoys

Melksham, Wilts ■ Love locally sourced seasonal produce? Love Lovejoys.

Puxton Park

Hewish, Weston-super-Mare ■ Fully working farm incorporating shop, falconry, two restaurants and all manner of family fun.

COUNTRY CUPCAKES & BATH CAKE COMPANY 2 Lansdown Mews, BA1 5DY Tel: 07834 270198, web: www.countrycupcakes.com, www.bathcakecompany.co.uk ■ Cutest cupcakes and fanciest special-occasion cakes for miles around, using top-notch ingredients and decorated with imagination and flair, as supplied to many of Bath’s best cafes. See websites for details of where to buy (or how to order) and forthcoming Cupcake Class events. Also home to a splendid Sugarcraft shop. Open Tue-Fri 10am-3pm, Sat 9am-1pm

CULPEPER 28 Milsom St, BA1 1DG Tel: 01225 425875, web: www.culpeper.co.uk ■ Herbs, relishes, pickles, spices, honey, ginger, homemade jams, fruit drinks (many organic) and stock/soup bases. Friendly, knowledgeable staff are as happy to advise on natural remedies as they are on curry ingredients. Mail-order available. Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm

DA VINCI ITALIAN DELI 33 Wellsway, Bear Flat, BA2 4RR Tel: 01225 471850, web: www.davincideli.co.uk ■ Properly authentic Italian cured meats, cheeses, fresh and dried pasta, breads and rolls, oils, wines and puddings, plus fresh baguettes. Outside catering service. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 8.30am-5pm

FINE CHEESE CO 29-31 Walcot St, BA1 5BN Tel: 01225 448748, web: www.finecheese.co.uk ■ Gourmet grocery with, of course, a strong emphasis on cheese, plus an excellent deli, bakery and cafe. Find everything from olive oil and homemade chutney to fine wine, chocolate and sweet/savoury delights. Website ordering/delivery service available. Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-5.30pm

NEW FRIENDS FOREVER St James Parade, BA1 1UL ■ Well-stocked, utterly charming Asian grocery store.

Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm

CHANDOS DELI St George St, BA1 2EH Tel: 01225 314418 Egg Cafe, St Johns Place, BA1 1ET Tel: 01225 823408, web: www.chandosdeli.com ■ Very popular upmarket deli. See Specialist Food Suppliers, Bristol.

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GOODIES 2a St Saviours Rd, Larkhall, BA1 6RJ Tel: 01225 336033, web: www.goodiesdeli.co.uk ■ English and continental deli with in-store French bakery. Freshly baked bread all day, plus specialist beers, organic wines and inspired selection of cheeses, olives, filled baguettes, pastries etc. Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-5pm

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Specialist Food Suppliers BATH GUILDHALL DELICATESSEN

PAXTON & WHITFIELD

8a Guildhall Market, BA2 4AW Tel: 01225 427195, web: www.bathguildhallmarket. co.uk/the-guildhall-delicatessen ■ Wide range of continental and local meats, homemade cakes, olives, jams, chutneys, cheeses and vegetarian, Indian and Italian specialities. Catering service. Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat 9.30am-5.30pm

1 John St, BA1 2JL Tel: 01225 466403, web: www.cheesemongers.co.uk ■ Established in 1797 and holders of three Royal Warrants. Premier-quality traditional English and continental cheeses, luxury olive oils, pickles and preserves, good selection of wines, beers and spirits, plus cheese-related equipment. Occasionally conducts cheese-tasting events. Online mail-order service. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-6pm

LONDON ROAD STORES 3 Cleveland Place East, London Rd, BA1 5DJ Tel: 01225 336307 ■ Excellent source of lesser-spotted (in Bath, anyway) West Indian cooking supplies, including fresh yams, mangoes, plantains, coriander and ackee. Spices include the infamous West Indian hot pepper sauces.

Also doubles up as a traditional English corner shop.

Fresh bhajis, pakoras and Greek pastries often appear on the counter. Open Mon-Sun 10am-8pm

MANGIA BENE 5-6 St James St, BA1 2TW Tel: 01225 336106 ■ Enticing range of largely Medi-sourced cheeses, smoked and cured meats, wine and champagne, handmade chocolates. Outside catering service, small cafe. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 8.30am-5pm (cafe till 4.30pm)

PICNICS 8 Chelsea Rd, BA2 3DU Tel: 01225 482045 ■ Lovely, lively, long-standing family-run deli specialising in authentic foods imported from the Med. Cured meats, olives, cheeses, speciality oils etc, plus a fine deli counter. Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-5pm

POLISH DELICATESSEN James St West, BA1 2BX ■ Lots of traditional Polish foodstuffs including fascinating sweet treats. Open Mon-Sun 10am-6pm

Bath’s authentic gelateria Real Italian Ice Cream Co

MINERVA CHOCOLATES & BATH CHOCOLATE MUSEUM 15 Abbey Church Yard, BA1 1NA Tel: 01225 464999, web: www.bathchocolatemuseum. com ■ Massive range of indulgent, flamboyant confectionery, from carefully made truffles and pralines to exclusive handcrafted chocolates based on characters and fables from Bath’s past (hence the ‘museum’). Cafe serves what’s probably the best hot chocolate in Bath, and the live chocolate-making demos/workshops (see website) are great fun. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm

NIBBLES Stall 53, Guildhall Market, BA1 4AW Tel: 01225 460213 ■ Quality cheeses from around the UK and further afield, alongside British and continental bacon and hams at wallet-friendly prices. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm

PARKER’S BAKERY, FRUIT & VEG 51-52 Guildhall Market, BA2 4AW ■ Thoroughly decent greengrocer and bakery at the heart of the thriving Guildhall Market. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm

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Specialist Food Suppliers BATH PRIOR PARK GARDEN CENTRE & FARM SHOP Prior Park Rd, BA2 4NF Tel: 01225 427175, web: www.priorparkgardencentre. co.uk ■ Garden/petcare centre incorporating a thriving cafe and well-stocked farm shop. There’s produce from butcher Jon Thorner (Shepton Mallet), Hobbs House bread, dairy from Ivy House Farm, Paxcroft Farm eggs, Marshfield Farm/Bakery ice-cream, cakes, biscuits and a small range of Bath and Abbey Ales. Impressive range of jams, chutneys, cooking sauces, larder essentials, frozen ready meals/pies etc, wines and ciders. Visit towards closing time to find bargain prices for fresh produce. Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-5.30pm (summer 6pm), Sun 10.30am-4.30pm

REAL ITALIAN ICE CREAM CO 17 York St, BA1 1NG Tel: 01225 330121 ■ One of only a handful of authentic Italian gelaterias in the UK.

REAL MEAT CO 7 Hayes Place, BA2 4QW Tel: 01225 335139, web: www.realmeat.co.uk ■ Established over 21 years ago. All meat (from sausage rolls to steak, chops and cooked ham on the bone) has been reared according to a strictly monitored welfare code, and lacks hormones, growth promoters, preemptive medication and additives. Ready meals and pies, plus dairy produce, free-range eggs, chocolate, breakfast cereals, puddings, wholefoods, preserves and

Handmade specialities Sausage Shop

an excellent vegetarian larder range, too. Friendly, knowledgeable staff; local delivery service. Open MonSat 10am-5.30pm

SAUSAGE SHOP 7 Green St, BA1 2JY Tel: 01225 318300, web: www.sausage-shop.co.uk ■ Dozens of speciality sausages handmade with the finest ingredients by E-number-free traditional methods. Favourites include Somerset Scrumpy, traditional Cumberland and Newmarket chipolata.

Gourmet/exotic delights, vegetarian/gluten-free versions and award-winning black pudding. Deli counter offers olives, cured continental meats and their own locally famous pork pies, takeaway hot sausages of the day, plus mustards and tracklements. Great recipe ideas on website. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm

SEASONS WHOLEFOOD 10 George St, BA1 2EH Tel: 01225 469730 ■ Popular, well-stocked healthfood shop with serveyourself bins for dried fruits and nuts, cereals, mixes, beans, pulses. Fruit and herb teas and coffees, plus tins and packets for veggie store cupboards. Staff are knowledgeable and helpful. Takeaway counter for frozen yogurts in summer, homemade soups in winter, plus salads and sandwiches. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm

SOUTHSIDE FOOD CO-OP Twerton, Whiteway & Southdown Tel: 01225 787924 ■ Offers people in south-west Bath fresh, high-quality veg, fruit and eggs at wholesale prices, with bags of seasonal, locally grown produce, or order from their price list. Collect orders on Wed from Twerton (and save 50p), or they’ll deliver to homes in Twerton/Whiteway/ Southdown. Also run courses in simple, healthy cookery. Host a city-wide initiative, with volunteers offering drop-off points in their own homes and receiving credits towards the cost of their own boxes of fruit/veg. Produce mostly grown in Batheaston by a traditional market gardener, with minimal use of sprays and chemicals. Co-op membership £1 per year.

STOKES THE GREENGROCERS 38 Moorland Rd, Oldfield Park, BA2 3PN Tel: 01225 424414, web: www.stokesplc.com ■ The original Stokes went into administration a couple of years ago, but fortunately this lovely shop is back on track again courtesy of Argyle Trading/ Premier Fruits. A keen supporter of local growers, the new-look Stokes continues to stock all manner of fivea-day essentials from pink ladies to pineapples, maris pipers to mouli, at very healthy prices. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm

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Specialist Food Suppliers BATH/OUT OF TOWN THAI BALCONY MINI MART 40 Monmouth St, BA1 2AN Tel: 01225 337213 ■ If you can’t get a table at the popular Thai Balcony restaurant, DIY at home instead. Everything Thai, from storecupboard ingredients (noodles, dipping sauces, exotic fruit in cans, jars, soup bases) to frozen dim sum, fresh herbs and spices and freshly cooked Thai ready meals to take away, and some fascinating fish in the freezer. Staff are happy to talk you through the whole lot. Open Mon-Sat 10am-8pm

THOUGHTFUL BREAD CO Unit 1e, Charmborough Farm Rural Industrial Estate, Charlton Rd, Holcombe, Radstock, BA3 5EX Tel: 01761 239074, web: www. thethoughtfulbreadcompany.com Shop: Green Park Station Market, Green Park Rd, BA1 1JB ■ Ethically minded, environmentally friendly bakery producing fresh and seasonal baked specialities, also supplied to many of Bath’s best restaurants, cafes and delis. Buy direct from the bakery (visitors welcome), or visit the stall at Green Park Station Market. Open Shop: Mon-Sat 10am-4pm. Bakery: see website

VOM FASS Shires Yard, BA1 1DN Tel: 01225 447660, web: www.vomfass.net ■ Exquisite oils, vinegars, wines, liqueurs and spirits, straight from the cask in any quantity. Speciality chocolates, regular tastings and personalised inscription/gift-wrapping service. Free delivery on £45+ online orders. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm

Out of Town CANTERBURY HOUSE 10 Silver St, Bradford on Avon, Wilts, BA15 1JY Tel: 01225 309385 ■ Wonderful range with a strong emphasis on local sourcing. Fresh, free-range poultry, local game, freerange pork, organic Dorset lamb, fresh fish and seafood.

Full English breakfasts, lunch, afternoon teas, coffee and cakes all day. Open Mon 8.30am-1.30pm, Tue-Sat 8.30am-5.30pm

DICK WILLOWS FARM & CIDER SHOP Box Rd, Bathford, BA1 7LR Tel: 01225 859780, web: www.dickwillows.com ■ Find everything from handmade chocolates to largely organic and/or free-range artisan breads, cheeses, charcuterie, jams, chutneys, larder/supper party necessities and even pet food at this quirky, characterful shop with a strong commitment to ecofriendly principals, regional identity and sustainable

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living. Dick’s own Broadlands Cider Company range (made on the premises to traditional methods from apples grown in the adjacent orchard) sits alongside local ales (including Bath Ales) and local country wines and liqueurs. The onsite cafe is utterly charming. Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm

FARRINGTON’S FARM SHOP Home Farm, Farrington Gurney, nr Bristol, BS39 6UB Tel: 01761 452266, web: www.farringtons.co.uk ■ The massive range at this award-winning, ecofriendly farm shop complex includes locally sourced cheese, bread, fruit, veg, ready meals, homemade soups and Fairtrade goods. Udder Room cafe (also available for private hire) serves lunches and snacks freshly prepared on the premises and largely wrought from produce available in the shop. Farm itself hosts educational visits, tractor tours and events (see website). Children’s party and outside catering service, Rural Business Consultancy, and Loyalty Card offering great discounts and bonuses to regular shoppers. Open Mon-Sat 8am-7pm (cafe 9am-5pm), Sun 10am-4pm (cafe 10am-3.30pm)

HOBBS HOUSE Bakery: Unit 6, Chipping Edge Estate, Hatters Lane, Chipping Sodbury, BS37 6AA Tel: 01454 321629 Shops: 39 High St, Chipping Sodbury, BS37 6BA Tel: 01454 317525 18-20 Church St, Tetbury, Glos, GL8 8JG Tel: 01666 504533 4 George St, Nailsworth, Glos, GL6 0AG Tel: 01453 839396, web: www.hobbshousebakery.co.uk ■ Home of the Fabulous Baker Brothers Tom and Henry Herbert, this highly acclaimed bakery enjoys a longstanding reputation that’s earned the family countless awards for their artisan breads and baked goodies, including an organic range. Supplies many of the region’s best shops, restaurants and takeaways. Bistro attached; limited opening hours.

Open See website for details of bistro & individual outlet details

INDULGENCE 12a Hill Rd, Clevedon, BS21 7NZ Tel: 01275 878978, web: www.indulgencechocolates. co.uk ■ Bespoke chocolate and confectionery specialists. A sumptuous range of classic, contemporary and quirky sweet stuff including celebratory cakes, wedding/ christening ‘favours’ and party supplies. Luxurious handmade Belgian chocolates, kiddie-themed novelties, gifts, recipe books etc complete the Willy Wonka experience. Orders taken via the shop, phone or online.

Open Tue-Sat 9am-5.30pm

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Specialist Food Suppliers OUT OF TOWN LOVEJOYS 53 High St, Melksham, Wilts, SN12 6JY Tel: 01225 708838, www.lovejoyswholesale.com ■ Source the very best local produce (including vegetables, fruit, dairy products, bread) from the immediate surrounding region, to sell via the lively greengrocery shop or wholesale to restaurants and cafes within a one-hour radius of their West Wilts wholesale base.

LOVELY DRINKS Old School Mill, Home Farm, Barrow Court Lane, Barrow Gurney, BS48 3RW Tel 0845 224 1086, web: www.lovelydrinks.co.uk ■ It all began in 2008 when Rick Freeman was given the recipe for elderflower cordial. He began production in his garden shed; things took off and he planted 100 elderflower trees in 2009. Three years later you’ll find them at places like Watershed, Arch House Deli and Cafe Kino in Bristol as well as Komedia and Colonna & Small’s in Bath. Still a family concern, their drinks are made using elderflowers, fresh ginger, lemons, lavender, single-variety Somerset pressed apples and other English fruits and flowers. Their apple & blackcurrant variety bagged gold at 2010’s Great Taste Awards. New flavours just launched include apple & gooseberry, mulberry & elderflower sparkle and apple & cranberry.

MANOR FARM SHOP Upton Cheyney, Bitton, Bristol, BS30 6NQ Tel: 0117 932 3064, web: www.manorfarm-shop.co.uk ■ Tucked away up a narrow, winding side road between Bristol and Bath, this busy 280-acre, organic, familyrun farm (with cafe) sells meat, homemade sausages, pies, faggots, bacon and venison from the farm, plus veg, groceries and dry products. Cafe serves scrumptious homemade stews, soups, panini, coffee, tea, cakes.

See website for regularly updated news. Open Fri-Sun 10am-6pm

MARSHFIELD ICE CREAM & BAKERY Marshfield, Chippenham, Wilts, SN14 8LE Tel: 01225 891221, web: www.marshfield-icecream.co.uk ■ Ice-creams made with milk from their own organically reared herd, cream from neighbouring farms and natural, largely locally sourced ingredients (including fudge and chocolate). Excellent fresh bread from the bakery. Call/see website for opening hours and details of farm tours.

PJ’S FARM Copperfield Farm, Marshfield Lane, Beach, BS30 6NP Tel: 0117 932 4173, web: www.pjs-farm.co.uk ■ Home to a rare-breed pig, the British Lop. Small but perfectly formed range of handmade sausages, bacon, ham and various cuts of pork (including roasting joints

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and tenderloin). If you can’t hoof along to the farm itself, find PJ produce in Bath. Open Farm: call in adv.

Stall at Bath Farmers’ Market every Fri-Sat.

PUMPKIN DELI 1 The Borough Mall, The Borough, Wedmore, Somerset, BS28 4EB Tel: 01934 713289, web: www.pumpkinwedmore.co.uk ■ Star-spangled roll-call of local producers includes Hobbs House bread, James’ Chocolates, Bee Farm Somerset Honey, Luscombe Organics drinks and Mendip Moments ice-cream, plus locally produced cheeses, homemade quiches, tarts, handmade chocolates and a Home Entertainment menu. Fully licensed cafe with outside seating. Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-5pm

PUXTON PARK Cowslip Lane, Hewish, Weston-super-Mare, BS24 6AH Tel: 01934 523500, web: www.puxton.co.uk ■ Incorporating two restaurants, children’s play area, falconry centre, working organic dairy farm, educational facility and a fabulous farm shop, set in acres of lush Somerset farmland. Find high-quality local produce from Somerset-based producers, including an onsite butcher who sources meat from within a 35-mile radius.

Restaurant food is made from the same fresh ingredients you can buy in the shop. Open Park: daily 9am-5.30pm.

Shop 8am-6pm (9am Sun)

SANDRIDGE FARMHOUSE BACON Sandridge Farm, Bromham, nr Chippenham, Wilts, SN15 2JL Tel: 01380 850304, web: www.sandridgefarmhousebacon.co.uk ■ Specialise in two methods of curing bacon: Wiltshire curing (no water added, so really sizzles when it hits the pan) and dry curing (packed in a salt, molasses & spice mixture for 28-56 days). Try the Devyses, with its rich flavour of hops, or the Golden Rind, naturally smoked over oak and beech sawdust to recreate the essence of farmhouse inglenook smoking. Speciality hams, too.

Open Tue-Sat 9am-5pm

SCALLOP SHELL Whiterow Farm, Beckington, nr Frome, Somerset, BA11 6TN Tel: 01373 831641, web: www.thescallopshell.co.uk ■ Fresh fish and seafood (and all the advice that comes with it) courtesy of former FishWorks head chef Gary Rosser, shipped direct every morning from south Devon and Cornwall by suppliers committed to sustainability, including small artisan fisheries whose livelihoods depend on the future availability of their catches. Deli-counter classics (seafood salad, prawn cocktail, potted shrimps, taramasalata, dressed crabs and lobsters) are freshly prepared daily on the premises. Cookery school attached, and online ordering/home-delivery service, Wed and Fri, to Bath and surrounding areas. Open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm

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Specialist Food Suppliers OUT OF TOWN/ORGANIC SKIDMORE’S Old Bell House, 17 High St, Sherston, Wilts, SN16 0LH Tel: 01666 840268 ■ Quality butcher specialising in delicious homemade sausages and fabulous game (organic and locally sourced).

The owner’s grandmother used the word ‘tracklements’ to describe savoury, saucy accompaniments, and her grandson revived it: Skidmore’s are now the main outlet for these quintessentially English treats – more than 50 varieties, including the world-renowned cider mustard with honey. Open Mon & Thur 8am-1pm, Tue-Wed & FriSat 8am-3pm

TORTWORTH ESTATE SHOP Box Walk, Tortworth, nr Wotton-under-Edge, Glos, GL12 8HF Tel: 01454 261633, web: www.tortworthestateshop.co.uk ■ Browse, taste and buy from more than 100 local suppliers including estate-reared, prize-winning aged beef, local lamb, free-range pork and poultry, local honey and eggs, Hobbs House bread, vegetables, cheeses and fruit juices, plus homemade pies, savouries, cakes and a fantastic range of coffees, handmade chocolates and soaps.

See website for news of fascinating foodie events. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm

UPTON CHEYNEY CHILLI COMPANY Manor Farm, Upton Cheyney, BS30 6NQ Tel: 07817 844802/07833 604642, web: www.uptonchilli. co.uk ■ Specialists in the cultivation of British chillies, either to be used fresh at home or already incorporated into sauces, jams, salsas, relishes, chocolates and more on your behalf. Farm is open to visitors throughout the growing season (Mar-Nov) and hosts a Chilli Festival every autumn.

Campsite facilities all year. Hot stuff!

British produce, much of it locally sourced. Organic gift hampers; free city-centre delivery for £25+ orders. Open Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 10am-6pm

BETTER FOOD COMPANY BIG SHOP & CAFE Bristol Proving House, Sevier St, St Werburghs, Bristol, BS2 9QS Tel: 0117 935 1725

BETTER FOOD COMPANY FOOD HALL & DELI 94 Whiteladies Rd, Bristol, BS8 2QX Tel: 0117 946 6957, web: www.betterfood.co.uk ■ Acclaimed, exemplary purveyors of all things organic: fresh fruit and veg from the BFC’s own organic farm overlooking Chew Valley Lake, fresh local meat, poultry and line-caught fish, artisan breads, organic cheeses, olives and sausages and all kinds of everything else, from vodka and non-homogenised milk to chocolate, Welsh bacon, Cornish chicken, books, clothes, beauty and homewares at the original St Werburghs site, which also features a fabulous cafe (excellent breakfasts and wholesome food all day). Veg box delivery service (free delivery for £15+ orders). See website for great seasonal recipes, plus news of local campaigns and events.

Exemplary purveyors of all things organic Better Food Company

WING OF ST MAWES Unit 4, Warren Rd, Indian Queens Industrial Estate, Indian Queens, Cornwall, TR9 6TL Tel: 01726 861666, web: www.thecornishfishmonger.co.uk ■ Suppliers to numerous restaurants and members of the public, Bob Wing delivers fresh, expertly and sustainably caught fish and shellfish from Cornish waters to your doorstep, anywhere in the country, within hours. From Falmouth Bay king scallops, silvery Newlyn hake and deep blue Padstow lobsters to handpicked Cornish crab meat, River Fowey mussels and handsliced smoked salmon.

Organic BEST OF BRITISH 12 Broad St, Bath, BA1 5LJ Tel: 01225 448055, web: www.bestofbritishdeli.co.uk ■ This welcoming, well-stocked deli and takeaway uses and supplies 100% organic ingredients and mostly

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Specialist Food Suppliers ORGANIC Open Sevier St: Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm. Whiteladies Rd: Mon-Sat 8am-8pm, Sun 10am-6pm

BORDEAUX QUAY V-Shed, Canons Way, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5UH Tel: 0117 943 1200, web: www.bordeaux-quay.co.uk ■ Stylish eco-haven, home to a cookery school, bar, restaurant, brasserie, deli and bakery producing traditional and modern breads, pastries, tarts, pan au chocolat, cookies and muffins. BQ’s guiding principle of sourcing the very best local, seasonal, sustainable and organic produce is writ large at every turn.

EARTHBOUND 8 Abbotsford Rd, Cotham, BS6 6HB Tel: 0117 904 2260 ■ Friendly local shop run by an ever-helpful husbandand-wife team. Excellent range of organic and fine foods, good-value wholefoods, organic fruit and veg, fine breads and superb chocolates. Local produce is important: paté from Bath’s Natural Vitality and honey from Sea Mills, plus Helsett Farm organic Cornish ice-cream. Marmalade, chutneys and jams from Stroud’s Kitchen Garden, and handmade organic choccy from Austria’s Zotter. Large range of pasta, pesto, juices, teas and coffees, ethically caught canned fish (mostly in organic oil) and Fairtrade goodies. Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm

This workers’ co-op offers a comprehensive self-service herbs and spices section, bins for cereals, dried fruits and pulses, and loads of gluten/dairy-free products. Deli section stocks fresh, locally prepared vegetarian/vegan rolls and specialities, plus their famous luxury gourmet hummus. Raw foods and superfoods stocked - look out for kale chips and raw chocolate.

MASALA 18 North St, Southville, Bristol, BS3 1HW Tel: 0117 963 6062, web: www.masala.uk.com ■ Unique organic ethnic shopping experience, with an eclectic range of locally sourced, largely Fairtrade/ organic products. Fine selection of local cheeses and dairy produce, and fresh fish direct from Cornwall. Huge range of global recipe ingredients and lots of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Asian foods, organic herbs and spices, and locally made frozen curries. Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm

NATURAL VITALITY Tunley Farm, Tunley, nr Bath, BA2 0DL Tel: 01761 479555, web: www.natural-vitality.co.uk ■ Delicious, nutritious organic vegetarian and vegan food (including legendary dips) supplied to farm shops, wholefood specialists, delis, grocers and cafes around the region. Also available direct from their stalls at Bristol and Bath’s weekly Farmers’ Markets. See website for stockists.

ESSENTIAL TRADING

RADFORD MILL FARM SHOP

Unit 3, Lodge Causeway Trading Estate, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 3JB Tel: 0845 458 0201, web: www.essential-trading.coop ■ Supplier of natural and organic wholefoods to many of Bristol’s retailers, restaurants and cafes. All products are GM-free, vegetarian or vegan, and many are Fairtrade.

International partnerships with organic farmers and co-ops mean they can source fab-quality foods at excellent prices: the Italian ‘tomatoey stuff’ is a mustbuy. Ever-growing own-brand range includes organic (and Fairtrade) coconut milk, dates, quinoa, basmati, goji berries, chocolate spread and pastas in shops throughout the area. Manufacture, mix and label wholefoods for stores around the UK. Essential also have two 100% vegetarian shops, Harvest Natural Foods, in Bath and Bristol.

39-41 Picton St, Montpelier, Bristol, BS6 5PZ Tel: 0117 942 6644, web: www.radfordmillfarm.com ■ Bristol’s original wholefood and organic food suppliers, and main outlet for Radford Mill Farm produce (see website).

Vast range of GM-free and organic products at really reasonable prices. Small deli offers local cheeses, vegan and vegetarian specialities, sandwiches and cakes. Fresh juices in the cafe - they’ll juice just about anything they sell in the shop. Open Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 10am-6pm

HARVEST 11 Gloucester Rd, Bristol, BS7 8AA Tel: 0117 942 5997, web: www.harvest-bristol.coop 37 Walcot St, Bath, BA1 5BN Tel: 01225 465519, web: www.harvest-bath.coop ■ An entirely GM-free organic zone, stocking everything from organic fruit and veg (much of it sourced locally) and bread to Fairtrade chocolate, teas, coffees, organic wines, international specialities and Essential products.

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SCOOPAWAY HEALTH FOODS 113 Gloucester Rd, Bristol, BS7 8AT Tel: 0117 987 2199, web: www.scoopawayhealthfoods.co.uk ■ See Specialist Food Suppliers, Bristol.

SHEEPDROVE ORGANIC FARM BUTCHERS 3 Lower Redland Rd, Bristol, BS6 9TB Tel: 0117 973 4643, web: www.sheepdrove.com ■ Bristol’s only fully organic butcher. Superb organic lamb, mutton, beef, pork, chicken, black and white pudding and turkey direct from their Berkshire farm.

Organic wines, own-brand honey, preserves and flour too, while the farm itself (see website) is home to an Eco Conference Centre (available for event hire, weddings etc). You can order via phone or online, too. Open MonSat 8am-6.30pm, Sun 10am-2pm

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Specialist Food Suppliers ORGANIC/HOME DELIVERIES TOBACCO FACTORY MARKET Raleigh Rd, Southville, Bristol, BS3 1TF Web: www.tobaccofactory.com ■ Food, plus crafts, clothes etc, with occasional live music and other events, a strong community vibe and a strong bias towards organic and local products. Open Sun 10.30am-2.30pm

WHITELADIES FARMERS’ MARKET Whiteladies Rd/Apsley Rd, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 Web: www.sustainableredland.org.uk ■ Locally produced, fairly traded, largely organic goodies in a lively atmosphere. Open Market 1st & 3rd Sat of month, 8.30am-2pm

WILD OATS 9-11 Lower Redland Rd, Bristol, BS6 6TB Tel: 0117 973 1967, web: www.wild-oats.co.uk ■ See Specialist Food Suppliers: Bristol.

WRINGTON GREENS ORGANIC FARM Nates Lane, Wrington, N Somerset, BS40 5RS Tel: 01934 863636, web: www.wringtongreens.co.uk ■ Freshness, flavour and food miles are the three guiding principles at this complex with top-quality market garden. Fully organic farm follows the Soil Association’s strict environmental standards. Stock Herberts bread, Somerset Dairy organic milk and cream, Yeo Valley and Godminster organic cheeses. Box scheme delivers to Bristol and North Somerset, or can be preordered and collected at the farm shop (see website).

Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (7pm Tue), Sat 9am-1pm

■ Established in 1987, Riverford are now one of the country’s largest independent growers, delivering boxes of organic produce (veg, fruit and/or meat) to households across the southern half of the country every week using local distributors.

WILTSHIRE FARM FOODS Tel: 01225 756019, web: www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com ■ Menu contains around 175 different frozen dishes, from roasts, pies and stews to fillet of trout with prawns.

Very reasonably priced, and popular with senior citizens and people with limited mobility. Mini Meals for lighter appetites, vegetarians and restricted diets well catered for, and good-value weekly selection packs. Free delivery; friendly drivers will even put the meals in the freezer for you.

WRINGTON GREENS ORGANIC FARM Nates Lane, Wrington, N Somerset, BS40 5RS Tel: 01934 863636, web: www.wringtongreens.co.uk ■ Box scheme deliveries to Bristol and North Somerset.

See Organic for more info.

Organic deliveries to your door Riverford Organic

Home Deliveries BETTER FOOD COMPANY Bristol Proving House, Sevier St, St Werburghs, Bristol, BS2 9QS Tel: 0117 935 1725, web: www.betterfood.co.uk ■ Deliver fruit and veg boxes across Bristol and areas of neighbouring counties. See Organic for more info.

JP ORGANICS Littledown Farm, Lansdown, Bath, BA1 5TH Tel: 01225 460674, web: www.jporganics.co.uk ■ Family-run business operating weekly/fortnightly organic veg box delivery scheme in the Bath area.

Produce, sourced as close to home base as possible, includes veg, fruit, eggs, Hobbs House bread, Adey’s Farm meat and dried goods, all certified by the Soil Association.

RIVERFORD ORGANIC Wash Barn, Buckfastleigh, Devon, TQ11 0LD Tel: 0845 600 2311, web: www.riverford.co.uk

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Caterers

Caterers

praise them for coping with varying diets and ethnic preferences.

NEW 40 ALFRED PLACE 40 Alfred Place, Kingsdown, Bristol, BS2 8HD Tel: 0117 944 3060, web: www.40alfredplace.net ■ They claim they’re the only fully functioning restaurant for hire in the country (or maybe the world!) and it’s certainly a brilliant idea. You can hire it out and do your own thing or take advantage of the ever-growing network of popper-uppers that use the place to have a bespoke catering experience, from working breakfasts through to mega sit-down meals with entertainment. Call them up with your requirements and see what they can offer.

DARLING DELI Isabella House, The Avenue, Combe Down, Bath, BA2 5EH Tel: 01225 835118, web: www.darlingdeli.co.uk ■ Repeat winners of the Great Taste Gold Award, ‘the Darlings’ offer fabulous prepared food, from classic British casseroles to Middle Eastern tagines and Mediterranean specialities. It’s all available in 10-portion servings, with sides like couscous and potatoes dauphinoise, subject to ordering a week in advance (longer for large functions).

AVON CATERING EQUIPMENT Birds Farm, Kingdown Rd, Winford, nr Bristol, BS40 8DW Tel: 01275 475283, web: www.avoncateringequipment. co.uk ■ You’ll find pretty much anything you need for your catering business at the South West’s largest supplier of quality used catering equipment. Most stock viewable on the website; onsite viewing by appointment. Everything’s guaranteed, too.

CATERING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL 6 Bladud Buildings, Bath, BA1 5LS Tel: 01225 480239/480240 56 Baldwin St, Bristol, BS1 1QR Tel: 0117 929 4777, web: www.cateringinternational. co.uk ■ Bath-based nationwide organisation that recruits and supplies all grades of catering industry staff to businesses and events. Very useful if you’re looking to find work or planning larger-scale events.

CHOCOLATE NIRVANA PO Box 284, Bristol, BS10 6WX Tel: 0117 950 3825/07800 811431/07762 915192, web: www.chocolate-nirvana.co.uk ■ These illuminated chocolate fountain suppliers use fine Belgian chocolate with no added oils. Try a Baileys fountain - you can even have colour-changing LED lights. Trained staff accompany them, so no risk of a chocolate tsunami overwhelming your event.

NEW CRUMBAWUMBA! 10a Princess St, Bath, BA1 1HL Tel: 01225 333080, web: www.crumbawumba.co.uk ■ Highly rated sandwich business, with catering ranging from the obvious sarnie’n’crisps platters to hot homemade food in insulated boxes. Testimonials

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DEL SOLE DELI 37 Moorland Rd, Oldfield Park, Bath, BA2 3PN Tel: 01225 481477, web: www.delsole.co.uk ■ Authentic, freshly prepared Italian food, with a commitment to sourcing local, organic ingredients.

Dedicated catering service offers buffet and dinnerparty menus.

DINE WITH STYLE Unit 9, Foxcote Ave, Bath Business Park, Peasedown St John, Bath, BA2 8SF Tel: 01761 439483, web: www.dinewithstyle.co.uk ■ If you think you know canapes, wait till you see the selection that this lot can rustle up. Offering French-influenced top-quality catering for every type of event, they happily cater for vegans/vegetarians and can create bespoke menus.

EASTERN EYE 8a Quiet St, Bath, BA1 2JS Tel: 01225 422323/466401, web: www.easterneye. co.uk ■ Their highly rated Indian restaurant was picked as Les Routiers’ top UK restaurant (in any category) for 2011 so, naturally, there’s much demand for their catering arm, which can provide Indian food for parties of up to 170.

EAT5STAR Tel: 01225 330555, web: www.eat5star.com ■ Behind the popular city-centre sandwich bar is a major catering operation geared to corporate hospitality, weddings and parties. See website for menus, from finger food and canapes to three-course sit-down meals, with options for cars, flowers, cakes, entertainments.

FARRINGTON’S FARM SHOP Home Farm, Farrington Gurney, nr Bristol, BS39 6UB Tel: 01761 452266, web: www.farringtons.co.uk ■ Crowned 2012 UK Farm Retailer of the Year by

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Caterers trade organisation Farma, their home-produced foods are also available for party catering. A big emphasis on local sourcing and eco-friendliness; from soups to sponge cakes, it’s all made freshly for the occasion.

FLINTY RED 34 Cotham Hill, Bristol, BS6 6LA Tel: 0117 923 8755, web: www.flintyred.co.uk, www. corksof.com ■ In keeping with Flinty Red’s close working relationship with neighbouring wine sellers Corks of Cotham, their catering operation offers the kind of well-matched wine and small-plate tapas-style dishes that keep their restaurant at the top of the tree in Bristol.

FOSTERS EVENT CATERING Unit 5, Avonside Rd, Bristol, BS2 0UQ Tel: 0117 977 6611, web: www.fostersevents.co.uk ■ Bristol-based event caterers operating nationally and offering one of the widest ranges of packages imaginable. With 50 years’ experience, they’re ‘small enough to care but big enough to deliver’. Menus selection is a 10-page (downloadable) pack; bespoke options are available.

GODWIN & GODWIN Kensington Warehouse, Kensington Place, London Rd, Bath, BA1 6AW Tel: 01225 337081, web: www.godwinandgodwin. co.uk/bars.htm ■ From their enormous converted chapel warehouse, this lot offer full event bar services for anything from major festivals to intimate social gatherings.

GOURMET DELICIOUS Brassknocker Hill, Monkton Combe, Bath, BA2 7JD Tel: 01225 723483, web: www.gourmetdelicious.co.uk ■ Check the website for choices including the floating delights of the John Rennie canal boat as a dinnerparty option. Chef Lionel Meaden oversees event catering, from simple sandwich lunches to full silverservice meals.

drawing on a wide menu of North Indian and Bangladeshi dishes.

LA CUIZINE Tel: 0117 376 3495, web: www.lacuizine.co.uk ■ Long before the current ‘pop-up’ craze, French chef Iza Redon was popping up in people’s houses, running cookery courses or catering for parties. Tell her what you have in mind and she’ll prepare a menu with you and cook it at your house on the day.

NEW MADE BY BEN 100 Walcot St, Bath, BA1 5BG Tel: 01225 319999, web: www.madebyben.com ■ This impressive new sandwich place using top local produce also offers a range of catering options, from the obvious sandwich/antipasti platters and office lunch buffets to dinner for six to 18 people (all you need is an oven) and picnic hampers complete with rugs.

MANGIA BENE 5-6 St James St, Bath, BA1 2TW Tel: 01225 336106 ■ Deli and coffee shop that also does party catering.

The place itself is available for hire for private parties.

OLIVE SHED Princes Wharf, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 4RN Tel: 0117 929 1960, www.theoliveshed.com ■ From their dockside base they’ll send their distinctive tapas food (and excellent olives) to your

Tapas-style dishes to go Flinty Red

J&S CATERING 15 Rodfords Mead, Hengrove, Bristol, BS14 9UE Tel: 0117 300 9990 ■ The family-run catering operation from Bristol University’s Sports Centre can also provide external catering for private functions.

KASHMIR 15 High St, Easton, Bristol, BS5 6DX Tel: 0117 952 0004, web: www.kashmirrestaurant.co.uk ■ This friendly neighbourhood curry house will prepare party orders and cater for social gatherings,

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Caterers event. Choose from basic delivery or serving staff too, and from a range of menu choices and prices.

PAPA COSTA DELI 67 Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1QL Tel: 0117 929 1600, web: www.papacostadeli.co.uk ■ Another aspect of this Tardis-like Greek deli-cumcafe is the offer of Mediterranean-style catering for private functions.

PAPADELI 84 Alma Rd, Bristol, BS8 2DJ Tel: 0117 973 6569, web: www.papadeli.co.uk ■ They can cover pretty much any catering request, big or small, posh or casual. There’s the full fivecourse-with-waiters service, platters of canapes, buffet selections or Spanish pinchos (and a whole lot in between).

PEAR CATERING COMPANY The Coach House, 2 Upper York St, Bristol, BS2 8QN Tel: 0117 942 8392, web: www.thepearcafe.com ■ Hidden away in the Coach House’s cobbled courtyard, the tiny Pear takeaway uses quality fresh ingredients to make a range of great sandwiches.

They’ll happily plan a bespoke spread for your event.

STRAWBERRY FIELD Old Bakery, Old Jews Lane, Bath, BA2 3DG Tel: 01225 339394, web: www.strawberryfieldcatering. co.uk ■ Experienced, versatile catering operation that offers a taste-boggling range of catering options, from hog roasts and chocolate fountains to the use of their own river boat, plus full service for sit-down weddings and corporate events, complete with maître’d.

TAKE FIVE CAFE 72 Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS1 3QY Tel: 0117 907 7502 ■ Using fresh organic ingredients wherever possible, their mix of Indian and Thai food is available for external catering as well as party bookings within the cafe. Their prepared meal packages can be renegotiated to allow for dietary preferences.

TEOHS 28-34 Lower Ashley Rd, St Agnes, Bristol, BS2 9NP Tobacco Factory, North St, Southville, Bristol, BS3 1TF Tel: 0117 907 1191, web: www.teohs.net ■ With both their restaurants firmly established neighbourhood favourites, family-run Teohs also offer their pan-Asian mix of Thai, Japanese, Chinese and Malaysian food for outside events, with menus tailored to suit your budget.

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THYME 27 Westgate St, Bath, BA1 1EP Tel: 07584 053146, web: www.thymefood.co.uk ■ With experience of catering for anything from 50 to 3,000, there’s not much that Thyme can’t offer.

Operating largely within 10 miles of Bath, wedding packages include traditional, ‘summer marquee’ and themed ideas including Caribbean and Harry Potter, with your ideas always up for a bespoke offer.

TIFFINS 151 St Michaels Hill, Bristol, BS2 8DB Tel: 0117 973 4834, web: www.tiffinsbristol.com ■ The clean, fresh taste of Tiffins’ Gujerati food has always been a stand-out feature of Bristol’s Indian cooking scene, and they even made it to Radio 4’s annual Food and Farming Awards in 2010. Plenty of vegan/vegetarian choices (and gluten-free always a possibility), and event catering for all sizes of party.

TIKKA FLAME South Building, Anchor Sq, Canons Rd, Bristol, BS1 5UH Tel: 0117 316 9393, web: www.tikkaflame.co.uk ■ This contemporary Indian and Pakistani restaurant offers a distinctive choice of meat, fish and vegetable dishes, all available for outside events and parties TOPLINE CATERING Hazel Cottage, Knowle Hill, Chew Magna, Bristol, BS40 8QT Tel: 01275 333308, web: www.toplinecatering.co.uk ■ Cater for balls, banquets and funerals as well as weddings and corporate functions. This highly experienced outfit will tailor a catering package to suit your requirements for any event within a 50-mile radius of Bristol or Bath.

NEW ULTIMATE BITE Tel: 0117 369 1078, web: www.ultimatebite.co.uk ■ Inventors of the ‘Yorkshire Wrap’ at their Baldwin St sandwich bar Nom Nom, and offering an extensive catering service with their own portable ‘catering hut’, which can be up and serving hot food within an hour. All sizes and types of events catered for, from private parties and business buffets to festivals.

WILLIAM’S KITCHEN AT CALCOT Calcot Manor, Tetbury, Glos, GL8 8YJ Tel: 01666 891240, web: www.williamskitchenatcalcot. co.uk ■ With venues including Gloucester Cathedral and Chavenage House as partners, this Cotswold-based company offer full event management as well as a bespoke catering service tailored to suit your budget.

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Dining Clubs / Cookery Schools

Dining Clubs / Cookery Schools

Pop-Ups & Dining Clubs NEW 40 ALFRED PLACE 40 Alfred Place, Kingsdown, Bristol, BS2 8HD Tel: 0117 944 3060, web: www.40alfredplace.net ■ Just what Bristol’s burgeoning pop-up scene needed – and a brilliant idea by owners Robert Birse and Kate Hawking to make the splendid facilities of the former A Cozinha restaurant available to erstwhile up-poppers of an evening. The place has seen a cavalcade of great nights including pizzerias, tapas, Moroccan eating and even Barny Haughton recreating the wonderful Rocinantes. Keep your eye on the place – anything can happen.

NEW ATCATHARINES Web: www.atcatharines.blogspot.co.uk ■ Bath’s first pop-up has been a great success thanks to the personable duo of Cat and Kat. Their monthly events are dinner party-style meals for around 15 people in a home environment and can range from a stylish Sunday lunch to a Malaysian feast (thanks to Cat’s Malaysian background).

DINNER CLUB Tel: 01244 677030, web: www.thedinnerclubuk.com ■ Originally started in Australia 25 years ago, this now claims to be the largest singles dining club in the UK, organising dinner party-style gatherings in hotels and restaurants nationwide.

NEW KATIE AND KIMS KITCHEN Next to Motorcycle Showroom, Stokes Croft, Bristol Web: www.katieandkimskitchen.blogspot.co.uk ■ The address says it all really – working out of a horse box parked up on Stokes Croft, Katie and Kim offer delicious street food that you can eat alfresco under cover or take home. Food can range from proper breakfasts to fancy Indian or French dishes. And they’re there Tue-Sat for ‘lunches and dusk suppers’.

MI CASA Web: http://www.micasapopup.co.uk/home/, Twitter: @micasapopuprestaurant ■ The dynamic duo of Kristjan Bigland and Alexis John continue to offer one of the most successful pop-ups in Bristol, with regular evenings offering six-course delights such as spiced quail with membrillo, rose petals and watercress, at venues including 40 Alfred Place.

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NEW PICTON POP-UP CAFE 42 Picton St, Bristol, BS6 5QA Tel: 07719 070830, web: www.facebook.com/pages/ picton-pop-up/121310421312162 ■ In a front room on Picton Street, lively hostesses Tess and Lily oversee a weekly dining club offering a three-course set meal (with veggie options if needed) every Wed. Recent evenings have been cuisine-themed (an Indian feast) or influenced by seasonal ingredients.

Meals start 8pm; BYO for drinks.

SECRET SERVICE SUPPER CLUB Web: www.facebook.com/thesecretservicesupperclub ■ Bristol’s first secret restaurant – see website for details.

SUPPER CLUB Web: www.bristolsupperclub.org.uk ■ With a track record of over 25 years, this membershiprun non-profit social club aims to provide members with opportunities for dining in restaurants in and around Bristol. Sample one of their weekly events before joining, then the first year’s membership is £40 (£25 thereafter).

TABLE FOR SIX Tel: 01934 712617, web: www.table-forsix.co.uk ■ Recognising that people like to eat out and enjoy company but that many single people have busy lives, these folk arrange for six diners to meet at a restaurant and share an evening. Not a dating agency, more the chance to widen your social circle, and everyone is billed separately.

Cookery Schools & Courses NEW 102 COOKERY SCHOOL 102 Gloucester Rd, Bristol, BS7 8BN Tel: 0117 244 0047, web: www.102cookeryschool.co.uk ■ Brand new school with state of the art kitchens and the chance to learn from top local chefs like Nathan Muir, Ronnie Faulkner and Scott Lucas. Mix of hands-on classes and demo sessions includes chef’s table events: a bespoke evening creating a special meal with complementary wines.

ASHBURTON Hare’s Lane Cottage, 76 East St, Ashburton, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ13 7AX Tel: 01364 652784, web: www.ashburtoncookeryschool.co.uk ■ Extensive programme: learn the basics, get fancy in the kitchen, launch a career as a professional chef.

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Cookery Schools BABY BITES 38 Berkeley Rd, Bishopston, Bristol, BS7 8HE Tel: 07531 237527, web: www.babybites.co.uk ■ Small, informal, three-hour workshop classes run by organic baby food manufacturer Louise Barnard, helping parents of tinies get to grips with nutrition and learn recipes suitable for kids as they develop.

BALMY KITCHEN 4 Kensington Place, Bath, BA1 6AW Tel: 01225 428309, web: www.balmykitchen.co.uk ■ Get to grips with seasonal ingredients as you prepare a threecourse meal (to eat, with wine) in a small group, then take home a folder of recipes and further ideas. Sessions for couples and individual tuition, too.

BERTINET KITCHEN 12 St Andrews Terrace, Bath, BA1 2QR Tel: 01225 445531, web: www.thebertinetkitchen.com ■ Naturally there’s bread on the agenda in the baking legend’s kitchen, plus courses on French country cooking, the food of Catalonia and celebrity chef appearances by the likes of Levi Roots and Valentina Harris. Very popular – book in advance.

BERWICK LODGE COOKERY SCHOOL Berwick Drive, Bristol, BS10 7TD Tel: 0117 958 1590, web: www.berwicklodge.co.uk ■ In a specially adapted stable block in Berwick Lodge’s grand gardens, the BW cookery school offers courses in bread and pasta making, plus specialised butchery courses with lamb and game (including venison). Take your choice cuts home with you.

NEW BRISTOL SCHOOL OF FOOD AND WINE Bordeaux Quay, V-Shed, Canons Way, Bristol, BS1 5UH Tel: 0117 904 6679, web: www.bordeaux-quay.co.uk ■ Situated in Bordeaux Quay’s purpose-built cookery school, with a strong wine theme running through the programme.

Sessions on Sushi and Sake, Tapas and Wine and Ultimate Food & Wine Matching, plus more conventional items like The Veg Box. NEW CHERRY PICKED COOKERY SCHOOL 1a Avon Crescent, Hotwells, Bristol, BS1 6XQ Tel: 0117 930 0776, web: www.cherrypickedcatering.co.uk ■ Newly opened at the old Howard’s restaurant premises and offering short one-off sessions like Chocolate Galore, Domestic Goddess and Dinner Party Skills, and a Kids Cookery School for 9-13-year-olds.

CHOCOLATE TART 43 Kent Rd, Congresbury, North Somerset, BS49 5BD Tel: 01934 876881, web: www.thechocolatetart.co.uk ■ Lisa Clarke’s Congresbury workshop has something of the

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Willy Wonka about it: munch your way through one of her hands-on classes before reeling home with your handmade goodies. Special diabetic courses, and children’s workshops that also welcome grandparents.

DEVILLED EGG Latchford House, Downfield Rd, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2TH Tel: 0117 973 2823, web: www.thedevilledegg.com ■ Lots of courses, aimed at bridging the gap between fine dining and home cooking: learn the basics, make the most of your veg box, master the art of patisserie. Bespoke courses available, too.

EXQUISITE CAKE COMPANY Web: www.exquisitecakecompany.com ■ Ever wanted to Perfect the Covered Sponge Cake? Or make and decorate an immaculate cupcake? They’ll come to your home, bringing all the ingredients, tools and whatever else it takes to get you (or the kids) baking.

FLAVOURS OF BATH 3 Abbey Green Guest House, Bath, BA1 1NW Tel: 07771 782838, web: www.cookerycoach.co.uk ■ Before lunch, Nev Leaning starts by taking you shopping in Bath. Spend the afternoon cooking up what you bought into dinner.

GABLES SCHOOL OF COOKERY Pipers Lodge, Bristol Rd, Falfield, South Glos, GL12 8DF Tel: 01454 260444, web: www.thegablesschoolofcookery.co.uk ■ Popular one-day courses include Indian, Thai, Greek and Italian cookery, plus a four-week chef training to get your career started.

GOOD COOK SCHOOL Tel: 0117 983 2521, web: www.thegoodcookschool.co.uk ■ Workshops with children and young people that combine the fun creativity of cooking with an understanding of nutrition and healthy eating. Cook-it-yourself kids’ party with a choice of menus.

LA CUIZINE Tel: 0117 376 3495, web: www.lacuizine.co.uk ■ Chef Iza Redon’s bespoke/individual/group sessions start with shopping for the groceries and end with delicious French cuisine that you’ve learned to prepare.

LA PERLA 12a North Parade, Bath, BA2 4AL Tel: 01225 463626, web: www.la-perla.co.uk ■ Learn traditional and contemporary tapas cookery from the Spanish chef team behind Bath’s popular Iberian restaurant.

LOUISE WALKER 8 The Tyning, Widcombe Hill, Bath, BA2 6AL Tel: 01225 442861, web: www.louise-walker.co.uk

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Cookery Schools / Wine Merchants ■ Relaxed one-day courses, many using the Aga to cook on, with themes like Easy Weekend Meals and Oriental Flavours.

Sessions incorporate a late, light lunch with wine.

full-day courses teach you everything from picking out your fish to preparing and cooking it, with guidance on wine matching and tasty sampling.

MYRISTICA 51 Welsh Back, Bristol, BS1 4AN Tel: 0117 927 2277, web: www.myristica.co.uk ■ With the restaurant’s reputation for authentic regional Indian cookery, there’s much to learn from head chef Bhaskar Pilar as he makes chutneys, curries and breads in demo sessions.

SPOONFUL OF SUGAR Tel: 07748 644673, web: www.spoonfulofsugarcooking.co.uk ■ Amber Morgan runs cookery courses for two-to-four-yearolds (and parents) at her home in Larkhall, Bath. Sessions last 1.25 hours (max six kids per group) and include singing, storytelling and craft activities.

NATURAL FOOD SCHOOL Tel: 01363 82794, web: www.naturalfoodschool.co.uk ■ Working from a basis of naturopathic nutrition, these workshops help you understand the relationship between what you cook and eat and your emotional/mental wellbeing.

NEW ORIENT EXPRESS 24 Bridge St, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1BY Tel: 01225 862123, web: www.orientexpressrestaurant.co.uk ■ Thai cookery secrets revealed (including how to make those amazing little carvings of fruit and vegetables, as well as Thai green curry, spring rolls and other traditional foods) in fourhour workshops in the restaurant.

PAPADELI COOKERY SCHOOL 84 Alma Rd, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2DJ Tel: 0117 973 6569, web: http://news.papadeli.co.uk ■ Simon ‘Papa’ MacDonnell and visiting speciality chefs lead evening cookery courses, usually themed around a particular cuisine – Italian, Provencale, Catalan. Afternoon children’s classes (ages 8-14) during school hols.

ROCKFISH GRILL & SEAFOOD MARKET 128 Whiteladies Rd, Bristol, BS8 2RS Tel: 0117 973 7384, web: www.rockfishgrill.co.uk ■ Learn how to buy and prepare fresh fish and seafood with the guidance of their expert fishmonger and chef as you spend a day combining hands-on cookery, chef demos, eating and wine matching.

SARAH BRITTON COOKERY CLASSES Lemons & Honey Cookery Studio, White Baines, Wellow, Bath, BA2 8QS Tel: 01225 833133, web: www.darlingdeli.co.uk/cookery.html ■ Learn about seasonal cookery, world cuisine and cooking for the freezer from the chef behind Darling Deli’s awardwinning ready meals.

SCALLOP SHELL The Grange Cookery School, Whatley, nr Frome, BA11 3AU Tel: 01373 831641, web: www.thescallopshell.co.uk ■ The SS’s expert fishmonger Gary Rosser is also a fine seafood chef with many years’ experience of running courses. Monthly

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NEW SQUARE FOOD FOUNDATION The Park, Daventry Rd, Bristol, BS4 1DQ Tel: 0117 904 6679, web: www.squarefoodfoundation.co.uk ■ This new centre in Knowle is the latest stage in eco-food guru Barny Haughton’s ongoing mission to share the love of good food and the joy of cooking. Packed programme of courses for adults and children.

VEGETARIAN COOKERY SCHOOL 6 Terrace Walk, Bath, BA1 1LN Tel: 01225 427938, web: www.vegetariancookeryschool.com ■ Courses range from Persian to Pakistani, Mexican to Moroccan, tapas to mezze – even raw food. The one thing they all have in common is meatlessness. Rachel Demuth’s longestablished vegetarian academy is a national institution.

YOUR SUSHI Tel: 020 3287 2299, web: www.yoursushi.co.uk ■ Visiting sushi chefs from London offer regular opportunities to learn the skills of building those delicious rice, fish and vegetable delicacies at local venues throughout the year.

Wine Merchants AVALON VINEYARD The Drove, East Pennard, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6UA Tel: 01749 860393, web: www.pennardorganicwines.co.uk ■ One of the first registered organic drinks producers. All Avalon/Pennard wine, mead and cider is produced by hand from pure ingredients mostly grown in house. Order online or take a guided tour at their vineyard near Shepton Mallet.

AVERYS OF BRISTOL 9 Culver St, Bristol, BS1 5LD Tel: 0117 921 4146 4 High St, Nailsea, North Somerset, BS48 1BT Tel: 0845 863 0995, web: www.averys.com ■ Still selling wine from their historic vaulted cellars beneath Bristol’s Park Street, the Avery family have been dealing in wine for more than 200 years. As well as time-honoured vintages, find whatever’s best in the world of contemporary wine making, with new discoveries coming in all the time.

Helpful staff and a fact-packed website.

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Wine Merchants CLIFTON CELLARS 22 The Mall, Clifton Village, Bristol, BS8 4DS Tel: 0117 973 0287, web: www.cliftoncellars.co.uk ■ It’s worth checking out the monthly mixed cases that Clifton Cellars put together: 12 different reds and whites from £75-£125 a case. Popular themed tasting evenings.

CORKS OF COTHAM 54 Cotham Hill, Bristol, BS6 6JX Tel: 0117 973 1620, web: www.corksof.com ■ Their partnership with neighbouring top-notch restaurant Flinty Red means that Corks can always showcase their exhaustive, well-chosen stock with some excellent food.

Tasting/matching evenings are as eclectic as their shelves.

GODWIN & GODWIN Kensington Warehouse, London Rd, Bath, BA1 6AW Tel: 01225 337081, web: www.kensingtonwinewarehouse. co.uk ■ The fine old walls of a converted chapel ensure that their stock of more than 400 different wines is always maturing at a constant temperature, reflecting the care they show in hand-selecting wines from chosen vineyards. Prices to suit all pockets; online orders delivered anywhere in the UK. GRAPE & GRIND 101 Gloucester Rd, Bristol, BS7 8AT Tel: 0117 924 8718, web: www.grapeandgrind.co.uk ■ A welcome arrival on Gloucester Rd last year, this independent wine seller is already a valued part of the local scene. A fine range of independently produced wines from around the world, plus spirits, artisan ales and ciders, teas and coffees, too. Thriving wine club. Regular tasting evenings always sell out in advance.

GREAT WESTERN WINE COMPANY Wine Warehouse, Wells Rd, Bath, BA2 3AP Tel: 01225 322800, web: www.greatwesternwine.co.uk ■ A fantastically informative website lets you browse by country, style or price. Prices are good, but check the ‘bin ends’ pages for even better bargains. Monthly mixed case offers are great, too.

HARVEY NICHOLS WINE SHOP Quakers Friars, Cabot Circus, Bristol, BS1 3BZ Tel: 0117 916 8898, web: www.harveynichols.com ■ A select collection of quality wines, much of it on HN’s own label and some of it exclusive to the shop. Champagne figures large, spirits and some unusual cocktails.

HERITAGE WINE Old Brewery, 61 Station Rd, Wickwar, Glos, GL12 8NB Tel: 0844 871 0040, web: www.heritagewine.co.uk ■ This lot make a point of being selective, with more than 30 years spent building relationships with winemakers, and some wines made exclusively for them.

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MAJESTIC WINE WAREHOUSE 349 Bath Rd, Arnos Vale, Bristol, BS4 3EW; 127 Westbury Rd, Westbury on Trym, Bristol, BS9 3AP; Unit 10, Shield Retail Park, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7BR; 12 Wellsway, Bath, BA2 2AA; 68 Winchcombe St, Cheltenham, Glos, GL52 2ND Web: www.majestic.co.uk ■ More than 800 wines and counting – and prices from £4 (29 choices below £6 a bottle), with instore tastings. Online customers get free delivery on orders of over 12 bottles.

MUMFORDS VINEYARD Shockerwick Lane, Bannerdown Rd, Bath, BA1 7LQ Tel: 01225 858367, web: www.mumfordsvineyard.co.uk ■ Wine-wise, Mumfords’ range of white, red and rose is available from the vineyard just outside Bath, where they’ll happily arrange a tour (call in advance). Buy via mail-order or order online from Waitrose Wine Direct.

Q WINES 33 The Mall, Clifton Village, Bristol, BS8 4JG Tel: 0117 973 1009, web: www.qwines.co.uk ■ Stefan Gorda has personally tried and tested every wine that he stocks. His compact shop hosts his final selection as well as regular tasting sessions that have proved very popular .

RS WINES Parklands Rd, Bower Ashton, Bristol, BS3 2JW Tel: 0117 963 6000, web: www.rswines.co.uk ■ Proprietor Raj Soni has become an authority on artisan and family producers from around the world. Website is a very browseable; online orders delivered within five to seven days.

TASTING ROOM 4 St Saviours Rd, Larkhall, Bath, BA1 6RT Tel: 01225 463392, web: www.tastingroom.co.uk ■ Starting from their own tasting panel to select stock, and extending to bimonthly tutored tastings and private sessions for groups of four or more, it’s all part of passing on the enthusiasm of founder William Baber for individual wines of excellent quality.

VINCEREMOS 74 Kirkgate, Leeds, LS2 7DJ Web: www.vinceremos.co.uk ■ All-organic online supplier, a pioneer of chemical-free wines more than 30 years ago. Website gives extensive information on producers, including Fairtrade wine and rum makers, and there’s loads of cider, ale and lager – all organic, of course.

VINTAGE ROOTS Holdshott Farm, Reading Rd, Heckfield, Hook, Hants, RG27 0JZ Tel: 0800 980 4992, web: www.vintageroots.co.uk ■ Award-winning organic/Fairtrade business which supplies the River Cottage operation with booze. Beer, ciders, juices and chocolate as well as wines and spirits. Their website is one of the biggest collections of organic produce on offer.

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Events

Events BRITISH FOOD FORTNIGHT 27 July-12 Aug, various venues Web: www.lovebritishfood.co.uk ■ Check website for more details of this year’s celebration of all things locally sourced (the South Devon Crab Festival is an early eye-catcher).

ORGANIC SEPTEMBER 1-30 Sept, nationwide Web: www.soilassociation.org/organicseptember ■ Check website for news of events and promotions throughout the month as the Soil Association encourage us all to celebrate the pesticide-free life.

Bristol GRILLSTOCK 30 Jun-1 July, Amphitheatre, Harbourside, BS1 Web: www.grillstock.co.uk ■ Watch Kings of the Grill teams doing their best to impress venerable Floridian barbecue superchef and judge Dr BBQ. Spectacular range of BBQ products to taste, chilli-eating contest and a top-quality soundtrack of live alt-Americana.

LOVE FOOD FESTIVAL 1 July & 30 Sept, Dyrham Park, Chippenham, Wilts, SN14 8ER 15 July & 18 Oct, Paintworks, Bath Rd, Bristol, BS4 3EH Dates tbc, Green Park Station, Bath, BA1 1JB Web: www.lovefoodfestival.com ■ The once exclusively Bristol-based treat for foodies now pops up in Bath’s Green Park Station and the lush National Trust surroundings of Dyrham Park. Quality local artisan produce, food-related workshops, kids’ activities.

BRISTOL CIDER FESTIVAL

■ Bath’s wealth of culinary superstars always ensures that this foodie celebration in Milsom Place’s cool courtyards is a real treat. This year, veggie guru Rachel Demuth and Michelin-starred Hywel Jones from Lucknam Park are among the attractions, with Cath Kidston showing how to fancy up a cupcake.

LOVE FOOD FESTIVAL Dates tbc, Green Park Station, BA1 1JB Web: www.lovefoodfestival.com ■ Keep an eye on the website for your chance to sample the goodies and enjoy the fun at Love Food. See Bristol listing for more.

BATH PAVILION BEER FESTIVAL 19-20 Oct, North Parade Rd, BA2 4EU Web: www.clstickets.co.uk ■ A very popular autumn event, thanks to a top selection of more than 70 real ales and some locally produced ciders alongside hot food and live music. (Photo ID may be required as it’s strictly over-18s.)

BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET 22 Nov-9 Dec (TBC), Abbey Square & surrounding areas, BA1 Web: www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk ■ Bath’s heritage streets gain a festive maze of little wooden chalet huts, bringing shoppers from far and wide in search of unusual gifts and quality food and drinks.

You’ll find plenty of the best local produce tucked away behind the Abbey.

BATH CIDER FESTIVAL 8-9 Feb 2013, The Pavilion, North Parade Rd, BA2 4EU Web: www.clstickets.co.uk ■ See Bristol listing.

Sizzling BBQ festival Grillstock

3-4 Aug & 25-26 Jan 2013, Brunel Passenger Shed, British Empire & Commonwealth Museum, Temple Meads, BS1 6QH Web: www.clstickets.co.uk ■ Redeem your ‘scrump’ tokens for a choice of 100-plus ciders and perries representing the best local producers (and some tasty visitors, too), then fill up on hog roast and cheese platters. Always an early sell-out, so book early.

Bath FLAVOURS OF THE WEST 30 June-1 July, Milsom Place, BA1 1BZ Web: www.milsomplace.co.uk

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Events

Out of Town FROME FESTIVAL FEAST 7 July, Market Yard, Frome, BA11 Web: www.fromefestival.co.uk ■ Follow the celebratory procession from St John’s Church to this annual foodfest by the riverside, with local producers celebrating global cuisine. Live folk and jazz acoustic music, plus indoors electronic dance finale.

DORSET SEAFOOD FESTIVAL 7-8 July, Weymouth Harbour, Dorset, DT4 8ED Web: www.dorsetseafood.co.uk ■ This immense festival of Dorset seafood naturally features oysters big time, and a pop-up hands-on cookery school run by Ready Steady Cook’s Lesley Waters, alongside lots of other activities and heaps of (sustainably caught) marine tastiness.

CHILLI FEST UK 14-15 July, Coronation Green, Shoreham on Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5EE Web: www.chillifest.net ■ Feeling hot, hot, hot? Whether or not you enter the chilli-eating contest, your taste-buds will be sizzling when you sample the goods at this enormous gathering of fiery foodstuffs just outside Brighton.

THE BIG CHEESE FESTIVAL 27 July, various venues, Caerphilly, Wales, CF83 1JL Web: www.caerphilly.gov.uk/bigcheese ■ Mainly based around the magnificent Caerphilly Castle, with reenactments and displays, a splendid food and cheese market, cheese-rolling races, cookery demos, live music and comedy.

GREAT DORSET CHILLI FESTIVAL 4-5 Aug, St Giles House, Wimborne St Giles, East Dorset BH21 5NF Web: www.greatdorsetchillifestival.co.uk ■ There are plenty of local beers on offer to help your mouth recover from the fine range of highly-spiced foods, with cookery demos and stalls selling everything from seeds to salsa.

Hot stuff Chillifest

GREAT BRITISH BEER FESTIVAL 7-11 Aug, Olympia, London, W14 8UX Web: www.gbbf.org.uk ■ With Camra behind it, this has to be the annual big one for lovers of ale and beer: more than 800 cask and bottled ales and beers (and a few ciders, too). World food stalls and live music, too, but essentially it’s all about the beer.

ISLE OF WIGHT GARLIC FESTIVAL 18-19 Aug, Sandown, IoW, PO36 0LU Web: www.garlic-festival.co.uk ■ Promising their biggest-ever garlic marquee and entertainments including contortionists, a strongwoman and Jenny the Human Jukebox, it should have all the charm for which the island is famed.

FROME AGRICULTURAL & CHEESE SHOW 8 Sept, West Woodlands Showground, nr Frome, Somerset, BA11 2AH Web: www.fromecheeseshow.co.uk ■ This ‘village green’ event combines a livestock show and entertainment with one of the most inclusive cheese festivals around. Cheesemakers from all over the world compete in more than 150 categories to become Global Supreme Champion - and you can taste their entries.

FISHSTOCK 8 Sept, Fish Quay, Brixham, Devon, TQ5 8AW Web: www.fishstockbrixham.co.uk ■ Combines a sense of the place’s fishing heritage and its current role as the region’s major supplier of sustainably caught fish. Enjoy really fine seafood and learn about how it’s caught, plus tips on how to cook it yourself.

VEGAN FESTIVAL OF LIFE 29 Sept, Conway Hall, London, WC1 4RL Web: www.festivaloflife.net ■ All about simple and non-consumerist living, this annual smoke/drug/alcohol-free event has talks, workshops, stalls, demos and recipes for healthy vegan/organic meals and wholefoods. Evening dance, too.

DARTMOUTH FOOD FESTIVAL 26-28 Oct, various venues, Dartmouth, TQ6 9AL Web: www.dartmouthfoodfestival.com ■ One of the few food events to offer directions by boat, they’re celebrating their 10th year; favourites like Great British Pud Night and the children’s food festival are sure to be on the menu.

BBC GOOD FOOD SHOW (&WINE SHOW) 9-11 Nov, Olympia, London, W14 8UX Web: www.bbcgoodfoodshowlondon.com ■ Based on the popular TV programme, this year’s London show has a new 600-seat ‘supertheatre’ for celebrity chef demos, plus the Great British Bake-Off, Producers Village of selected regional foodstuff and Restaurant Experience featuring top London restaurants. Wine Show on board now, too.

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Numbers in bold refer to profiles or display ads Numbers in light refer to listings A A BAR OF… 238 A CAPPELLA 79, 138, 230 ABBEY HOTEL: ALLIUM BRASSERIE 103 ADAM & EVE 171 ADVENTURE CAFE 147 AFENDI RESTAURANT & CAFE 127 AHMED’S CURRY CAFE 17, 103, 229 AIO 121 AL FALAFEL 234 AL’S TIKKA GRILL 104, 230 ALBION 171 ALFRESCO & VELLORE AT THE BATH SPA HOTEL 72 ALI BABA’S 40 DISHES 230 ALL BAR ONE (Bath) 167 ALL BAR ONE (Bristol) 154 ALLIUM BRASSERIE AT THE ABBEY HOTEL 72, 168 ALMA TAVERN 171 ALMOUROL 138, 238 ALWAHA 233 AMOEBA 18, 154 ANCHOR (Bristol) 171 ANCHOR (Ham Green) 200 ANCHOR (Oldbury) 200 ANGELFISH 194 ANNEXE 171 ANTIX 154 APPLE 171 APPLE TREE (Shoscombe) 200 APPLE TREE INN (West Pennard) 194, 200 AQUA ITALIA (Bath) 44, 93, 122 AQUA ITALIA (Bristol) 19, 79, 114 ARCHES INDIAN FAST FOOD 231 ARNOLFINI CAFE-BAR 79, 138, 154 ARTS HOUSE 138 ASHBURTON 259 ASHTON COURT COURTYARD CAFE 138 ASK (Bath) 122 ASK (Bristol) 114 ASSEMBLY INN 188 AT THE SIGN OF THE ANGEL 194 ATCATHARINES 259 ATOMIC BURGER 138, 154, 231 ATRIUM CAFE 138 ATTIC 238 AVALON VINEYARD 261 AVENUE CAFÉ 139 AVERYS OF BRISTOL 2, 261 AVON CATERING EQUIPMENT 256 AVON PACKET 172 B BABY BITES 260 BACCHUS 99, 139 BALMY KITCHEN 260 BANCO LOUNGE 155 BANGLO 73 BANK OF STOKES CROFT 155 BANK TAVERN 172 BANTHON ORIENTAL SUPERMARKET 247 BAR CAKE 238 BAR CHOCOLAT 139, 238 BAR HUMBUG 155 BARLEY MOW 172, 189 BARLEY WOOD WALLED GARDEN 194 BARTLETT & SONS BUTCHERS 247 BATH BAKERY 247 BATH BAKERY CAFÉ 148 BATH BUN 148 BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET 263 BATH CIDER FESTIVAL 263 BATH FARMERS’ MARKET 247 BATH PAVILION BEER FESTIVAL 263 BATH PRIORY HOTEL & RESTAURANT 73, 103 BATH SPA: ALFRESCO & VELLORE 103 BATHAMPTON MILL 45, 194 BATHWICK BOATMAN 73 BATTLEAXES 200 BAUHINIA 129 BAY BAR & KITCHEN 155 BAY TREE 238 BBC GOOD FOOD SHOW (&WINE SHOW) 264 BEA’S VINTAGE TEA ROOMS 148 BEAR & SWAN 200 BEAR 189 BEAU NASH 189 BEAUJOLAIS BISTRO BAR 97 BECKFORD ARMS 201 BEEHIVE BAKERY 247

BEERD 172 BEESES BAR & TEA GARDENS 139, 155 BELL (Bristol) 172 BELL (Frampton-on-Severn) 201 BELL AT SAPPERTON 201 BELL INN (Rode) 201 BELL’S DINER 20, 79 BELLA ITALIA 114 BELUSHI’S 168 BEN’S COOKIES 148, 247 BENGAL BRASSERIE 111 BERTINET BAKERY CAFE 148, 247 BERTINET KITCHEN 260 BERWICK LODGE 80, 103 BERWICK LODGE COOKERY SCHOOL 260 BEST OF BRITISH 224, 247, 253 BETTER FOOD COMPANY 139, 243, 253, 255 BIG BANANA JUICE BAR 139, 227 BIG CHEESE FESTIVAL 264 BIG CHILL 155 BILLY BURGER 234 BISHOPS 172 BISHOPSTON FISH BAR 231 BISTRO BIERE 95 BISTRO LA BARRIQUE 97 BLACKBOY INN 172 BLATHWAYT 189 BLUE BOWL 201 BLUE JUICE 139, 229 BOARS HEAD 202 BOATER 189 BOATHOUSE 189 BOATHOUSE 73 BOBBY’S 227 BOCABAR 21, 156 BOMBAY SPICE 104 BONGHY-BO’S 148 BOOJON TANDOORI 111 BORDEAUX QUAY 80, 139, 156, 254 BOSTON TEA PARTY (Bath) 148, 224 BOSTON TEA PARTY (Bristol) 81, 140, 221 BOTANIST BRISTOL 22, 156 BOTTELINO’S (Bath) 122 BOTTELINO’S (Bristol) 114 BOWL INN 202 BRACE & BROWNS 156 BRASSERIE BLANC 7, 23, 46, 96, 98, 168 BRAVAS 81 BRAZZ AT THE CASTLE 194 BREAD SHOP 238 BREADSTORE 221, 238 BRIDGE CAFÉ 81 BRIDGE COFFEE SHOP 148, 224 BRIDGE INN 172 BRIGSTOW CAFE 140 BRISTOL BREAK ‘N’ TAKE 140 BRISTOL BRIDGE 82 BRISTOL CIDER FESTIVAL 263 BRISTOL CIDER HOUSE 173 BRISTOL CIDER SHOP 9, 238 BRISTOL CONCORDE 68 BRISTOL FASHION BEEFEATER 82 BRISTOL FLYER 173 BRISTOL FRYER 231 BRISTOL GUILD CAFE 140 BRISTOL HOTEL: RIVER GRILLE 103 BRISTOL RAJ 104, 229 BRISTOL RAM 173 BRISTOL SAUSAGE SHOP 239 BRISTOL SCHOOL OF FOOD AND WINE 260 BRISTOL SLOW FOOD MARKET 239 BRISTOL SWEET MART 239, 243 BRITISH FOOD FORTNIGHT 263 BRITTAN’S PORK BUTCHER 239 BROWNS (Bath) 74, 168 BROWNS (Bristol) 68, 157 BRUNEL BUTTERY 140, 221 BRUNEL RAJ 104 BRUNEL WINE BAR 157 BRUNEL’S AT THE ROYAL HOTEL 74 BULL INN AT HINTON 202 BULL TERRIER 202 BURGER JOINT 24, 62, 157 BUTTER PAT 224 BYZANTIUM 25, 82, 157 C CADBURY HOUSE 173 CAFE AU LAIT 148 CAFE BRITALIA 140 CAFE CREATE 140 CAFE DU GLOBE 129, 148 CAFE DU JOUR 141

Eating Out West 2012 Index.indd 265

CAFE KINO 141 CAFE LA STRADA 194 CAFE LUCCA 148 CAFE MAITREYA 82, 137 CAFE RETREAT (THE DOWNS) 141 CAFE RETREAT 141 CAFE RETRO 148 CAFE ROUGE (Bath) 98, 149, 168 CAFE ROUGE (Bristol) 96, 141, 157 CAFE SHOON 149 CAFFE CLIFTON 141 CAFFE EXCHANGE 141 CAFFE GUSTO 141, 221 CAFFE NERO 149, 221 CAKE CAFE 149 CALCOT MANOR 194 CAMBRIDGE ARMS 173 CANTEEN 157 CANTERBURY HOUSE 251 CAREW ARMS 202 CARIBBEAN WRAP 227 CARLUCCIO’S (Bath) 122 CARLUCCIO’S (Bristol) 115 CARPENTER’S ARMS 203 CARVERY COMPANY 68 CARWARDINES 221 CASA MEXICANA 126 CASAMIA 115 CASANIS 98 CASTLE INN 203 CATERING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL 256 CATHAY RENDEZVOUS 65 CATHERINE WHEEL 56, 203 CAVENDISH AT THE DUKES HOTEL 74 CAVENDISH COOKS 149, 234, 247 CEDARS EXPRESS 227 CEDARS RESTAURANT AT HOLBROOK HOUSE 195 CELLAR 157, 195 CENTRAL BAR 168 CHANDOS DELI (Bath) 149, 224, 248 CHANDOS DELI (Bristol) 221, 239 CHANNINGS 158 CHAPEL ARTS CENTRE CAFE 149 CHE’S CAFE BAR 158 CHEQUERS 189 CHERRY PICKED 141 CHERRY PICKED COOKERY SCHOOL 260 CHEUNG KONG CHINESE 65 CHILLI FEST UK 264 CHILLIES 234 CHIMP HOUSE 158 CHIN! CHIN! BAR & KITCHEN 69 CHINA COURT 233 CHOCOLATE NIRVANA 256 CHOCOLATE TART 260 CHOPHOUSE RESTAURANT & BAR 62 CIAO BURGER 231 CIAO ITALIA 115 CIBO RISTORANTE 116 CIDER PRESS 174 CIRCO 168 CIRCUS CAFE & RESTAURANT 74, 149 CITY CAFÉ 83, 158 CITY CAFE FOOD CENTRE 227 CLAVELSHAY BARN 195 CLEAN BEAN LAUNDERETTE/ INTERNET CAFE 141 CLIFTON 174 CLIFTON CAKES 240 CLIFTON CELLARS 262 CLIFTON HOTEL: RACKS 103 CLIFTON SAUSAGE 26, 69 CLIFTON VILLAGE FISH BAR 229 CLIFTON WINE BAR 158 COACH & HORSES 174 COAL GRILL & BAR 83 COEUR DE LION 190 COFFEE#1 142, 222 COFFEE@CAMDEN 149 COLONNA & SMALL’S ESPRESSO ROOM 149 COLSTON YARD 174 COMBE GROVE MANOR HOTEL 195 COMBE HOUSE HOTEL & RESTAURANT 195 CORAL QUAY CAFÉ 150 CORDIAL & GRACE 142 CORK 42, 190 CORKS OF COTHAM 262 CORNISH BAKEHOUSE 224, 227 COSIES 158 COSMO 129, 133

COSY CLUB 75, 168 COTE BRASSERIE (Bath) 47, 98, 168 COTE BRASSERIE (Bristol) 27, 96, 159 COTTAGE INN 175 COUNTRY CUPCAKES & BATH CAKE COMPANY 248 COWSHED 69, 159 CROFT 159 CROSS GUNS 203 CROSS HANDS 209, 175 CROSS HOUSE 204 CROSS KEYS 204 CROWN (Dyrham) 204 CROWN INN (Churchill) 204 CRUMBAWUMBA! 224, 256 CRYSTAL PALACE 190 CULINARIA 83 CULPEPER 248 CURRY HOUSE 105 CURRY MAHAL 111 CURRY SUPREME 233 D DA VINCI ITALIAN DELI 224, 248 DARLING DELI 150, 256 DARTMOUTH FOOD FESTIVAL 264 DAVE GILES BUTCHER 240 DECO LOUNGE 159 DEL SOLE DELI 256 DELICIOUS CAFE 222 DELMONICO 84 DEMUTHS 93, 137 DESH 112, 234 DEV’S KERALA 105 DEVILLED EGG 260 DEVON SAVOURIES 224 DICK WILLOWS FARM & CIDER SHOP 251 DIM SUM 231 DINE WITH STYLE 256 DINNER CLUB 259 DOCKYARD CAFE-BAR 142 DOG INN 204 DOMINO PIZZA 229, 232, 233, 234 DORSET SEAFOOD FESTIVAL 264 DOWER HOUSE AT THE ROYAL CRESCENT HOTEL 75 DR BURNORIUM’S HOT SAUCE EMPORIUM 240 DRAGON FOUNTAIN 229 DRUIDS ARMS 205 DUKE OF YORK 175 DUKES HOTEL: CAVENDISH 103 DUNDRY INN 205 DYNASTY 65 E EARTHBOUND 240, 254 EASTERN EYE 112, 256 EASTERN SPICE 105 EASTERN TANDOORI 231 EASTERN TASTE 105 EASTON EXPRESS 233 EAT A PITTA 227 EAT5STAR 49, 150, 224, 256 EGG CAFE 150 EL BAHDJA 101, 128 EL PUERTO 131, 159 EL RINCON 131, 159 ELBOW ROOM 159 ELDON HOUSE 175 ELLIPSE AT MERCURE BRIGSTOW HOTEL 69 ELSTON’S@507 195 ENTELIA 101 ENZO’S 122 ESSENTIAL TRADING 240, 254 EXCHANGE 159 EXCHANGE SNACK BAR 227 EXQUISITE CAKE COMPANY 260 EZO 102 F FAILAND INN 205 FAIRFIELD ARMS 190 FALAFEL KING 142, 227, 229 FAMOUS ROYAL NAVAL VOLUNTEER 175 FANTASTIC SANDWICH CO 222 FARM 175 FARRINGTON’S FARM SHOP 251, 256 FARROWS FISH & CHIPS 233 FAT FOWL 195 FILINI 60 FINE CHEESE CO 150, 224, 248 FIREHOUSE ROTISSERIE 64 FISH & CHIPS 234 FISHERS 94 FISHMINSTER 229, 231, 240 FISHSTOCK 264 FLAVOURS OF BATH 260 FLAVOURS OF THE WEST 263 FLEECE INN 205

FLINTY RED 84, 257 FOLK HOUSE CAFE & BAR 142 FORESTERS ARMS 176 FORTUNE COOKIE 234 40 ALFRED PLACE 98, 256, 259 FOSTERS EVENT CATERING 28, 257 4500 MILES FROM DELHI 103 FOX & BADGER 206 FRANCIS HOTEL: BRASSERIE BLANC 103 FRANKIE & BENNY’S NEW YORK ITALIAN 63 FRIARY 142 FRIENDS FOREVER 248 FRISKA 142 FRO YO 2 GO 234 FROME AGRICULTURAL & CHEESE SHOW 264 FROME FESTIVAL FEAST 264 FUBAR 75 FULL MOON & ATTIC BAR 29, 176 G GABLES SCHOOL OF COOKERY 260 GALA CASINO BRISTOL HARBOURSIDE 70 GALLEY 142 GALLIMAUFRY 160 GANESHA 105 GANGES 106 GARDEN CAFÉ 196 GARDEN CAFE AT THE HOLBURNE MUSEUM 150 GARFUNKEL’S 64, 168 GARRICK’S HEAD 190 GASCOYNE PLACE 75, 168, 190 GEORGE & DRAGON (Pensford) 206 GEORGE & DRAGON (Rowde) 206 GEORGE (Abbots Leigh) 206 GEORGE (Norton St Philip) 206 GEORGE INN (Bath) 191 GEORGE INN (Lacock) 206 GERT LUSH 222 GINGELL BUTCHER 240 GIRAFFE (Bath) 101 GIRAFFE (Bristol) 99 GIUSEPPE’S 116 GLASSBOAT 84 GODWIN & GODWIN 257, 262 GOLDBRICK HOUSE 85, 160 GOLDEN GUINEA 176 GOLDEN PLAICE 234 GONG FU NOODLE BAR 235 GOOD COOK SCHOOL 260 GOODIES 224, 248 GOURMET BURGER KITCHEN 63 GOURMET DELICIOUS 257 GOURMET SCOFFS 150, 225 GRAIN BARGE 160 GRAND HOTEL: TYRELLS 103 GRAPE & GRIND 9, 262 GRAPPA 169 GRAZE BAR & CHOPHOUSE 70, 160 GREAT BRITISH BEER FESTIVAL 264 GREAT DORSET CHILLI FESTIVAL 264 GREAT WESTERN WINE COMPANY 262 GRECIAN KEBAB HOUSE 232 GRECIAN KEBAB HOUSE LOUNGE 160 GREEN MAN 176 GREEN PARK BRASSERIE 93 GREEN PARK TAVERN 191 GREEN ROOM AT THE MISSION THEATRE 150 GREENS’ DINING ROOM 70 GRIFFIN INN 191 GRILLSTOCK 263 GUILDHALL DELICATESSEN 225, 249 GUILDHALL MARKET CAFE 150 H H BAR 85, 161 HALL & WOODHOUSE 76, 169 HALO 162 HANDS TEAROOM & COFFEE LOUNGE 150 HANSEL UND GRETEL SHOP & STRUDEL BAR 150 HARDWICK 196 HARE & HOUNDS 191 HARE ON THE HILL 176 HARLEQUIN CAFE 196 HARVEST 225, 254 HARVEY NICHOLS 85, 161 HARVEY NICHOLS FOODMARKET 240 HARVEY NICHOLS WINE

Index

SHOP 262 HAUSBAR 161 HAVANA COFFEE 143 HEARTFELT 143 HEN & CHICKEN 176 HERBERTS BAKERY 241 HERBIES 235 HERITAGE WINE 262 HERMANOS 143 HIGHBURY VAULTS 176 HILL 161 HIPPIE SHAKE 235 HOBBS HOUSE 251 HOI FAAN 67 HOLCOMBE INN 207 HOLIDAY INN, BRISTOL CITY CENTRE: SPOT 103 HON FUSION 67 HONG KONG BISTRO 68 HOOPER HOUSE CAFE 143 HOP POLE (Bath) 191 HOP POLE (Limpley Stoke) 207 HOPE & ANCHOR (Bristol) 177 HOPE & ANCHOR (Midford Rd, Bath) 207 HOPHOUSE 177 HORSE & GROOM INN 207 HORTS 177 HOTEL DU VIN & BISTRO 85, 103 HUDSON BAR & GRILL 64, 169 HUNGRY BITE CAFE 143 HUNTER’S LODGE 208 HUONG QUE 133 HUSH HUSH 162 HYDE & CO 162 I INDIAN FOOD CENTRE 232 INDIAN FUSION 235 INDULGENCE (Clevedon) 251 INDULGENCE CAFÉ (Bath) 151, 225 INN AT FRESHFORD 208 INN ON THE GREEN 177 INTERMEZZO EXPRESS 225 IROKO 99 ISLE OF WIGHT GARLIC FESTIVAL 264 J J&S CATERING 257 JACK’S RESTAURANT (Corsham) 196 JACKS BAR & BRASSERIE (Bristol) 30, 70 JACKS BAR & BRASSERIE (Portishead) 196 JACOB’S COFFEE HOUSE 151 JADE PALACE 65 JAMIE’S ITALIAN (Bath) 122 JAMIE’S ITALIAN (Bristol) 116 JAMUNA 112 JAZZ CAFE 151 JERSEY LILY 177 JIKA JIKA COFFEE HOUSE & CANTEEN 151 JIMMY SPICE’S 101, 112 JOHN SHEPPARD BUTCHER 241 JOLLY SAILOR 208 JOYA 123, 169 JP ORGANICS 255 JUNIPER 86 K KALAHARI MOON 241 KASHMIR 106, 257 KATHMANDU 106 KATIE AND KIMS KITCHEN 259 KEBAB HOUSE 235 KELLAWAY 179 KELLAWAY FISH BAR 232 KENSINGTON ARMS 179 KILN AT THE RAMADA PLAZA HOTEL 86 KIN YIP HON SUPERMARKET 241 KINDLING 151 KING OF WESSEX 191 KING WILLIAM (Bristol) 179 KING WILLIAM INN (Tunley) 208 KING WILLIAM PUB & DINING ROOMS (Bath) 191 KINGS ARMS (Bristol) 31, 162, 179 KINGS ARMS (Didmarton) 208 KINGS ARMS (Litton) 208 KINGS ARMS (Monkton Farleigh) 210 KINGS HEAD (Wells) 210 KINGSDOWN VAULTS 179 KINGSWOOD FARM SHOP 241 KOBE KARAOKE 65, 162 KOHI NOOR 106 KOMEDIA CANTEEN 76, 151 KRISHNA’S INN 107 L LA BAGUETTE 225 LA CAMPAGNUOLA 116

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Index

LA CASBAH 143 LA CROISSANTERIE 151, 225 LA CUIZINE 257, 260 LA DAME GATEAU 241 LA GROTTA 116 LA PERLA 132, 260 LA RUCA 143, 242 LA TASCA (Bath) 133 LA TASCA (Bristol) 132 LA TAVERNA DELL’ARTISTA 33, 117 LA TOMATINA 162 LAL JOMI PAVILION 107 LANGFORD INN & RESTAURANT 210 LANSDOWN 180 LAS IGUANAS (Bath) 127 LAS IGUANAS (Bristol) 126, 162 LAZY DOG 180 LE PARISIEN 151 LES MUNCHIES 225 LICATA’S 242 LIDO 86 LIME LOUNGE 76, 151 LIME RESTAURANT AT HOMEWOOD PARK 196 LION 180 LITTLE LIME LOUNGE 76, 151 LIVE & LET LIVE 210 LIVING ROOM 13, 87, 162 LOCH FYNE (Bristol) 48, 94 LOCH FYNE (Bath) 48, 95 LOCK KEEPER 211 LOCKSIDE 87, 143 LONDON ROAD STORES 249 LORDS OF THE MANOR 196 LOUISE WALKER 260 LOUISIANA 180 LOUNGE (Bristol) 162 LOVE FOOD FESTIVAL 263 LOVEJOYS 252 LOVELY DRINKS 252 LUCKNAM PARK HOTEL: THE PARK & THE BRASSERIE 57, 196 M MAD HATTERS TEA PARTY 151, 225 MADE BY BEN 151, 225, 257 MADRAS EXPRESS 107 MAGDALEN CHAPTER 54 MAGIC ROLL 222 MAGNET 231 MAI THAI 135 MAJESTIC WINE WAREHOUSE 262 MAJOR’S RETREAT AT THE PORTCULLIS INN 211 MAMMA MIA 117 MANGE TOUT 222 MANGIA BENE 151, 249, 257 MANHATTAN BURGER 235 MANOR FARM SHOP 252 MANOR HOUSE HOTEL: BYBROOK RESTAURANT 197 MANOR KITCHEN 242 MARCO PIERRE WHITE STEAKHOUSE BAR & GRILL AT CADBURY HOUSE 197 MARCO PIERRE WHITE’S PEAR TREE INN 197, 211 MARCO’S OLIVE BRANCH 118, 143 MARK’S BREAD 242 MARKET 77, 169 MARLBOROUGH TAVERN 49, 191 MARMARIS 102, 235 MARRIOTT ROYAL 87, 103 MARSHFIELD ICE CREAM & BAKERY 252 MARTINI 123 MASA 124 MASALA 108, 227, 254 MASONS ARMS 180 MAYFLOWER 66 MAZATI LEBANESE CUISINE 128 MEGA BITE 235 MELANIE’S KITCHEN 143, 242 MENU GORDON JONES 77 MERCHANTS ARMS 180 MERCURE BRIGSTOW: ELLIPSE 103 METROPOLITAN CAFÉ 152 MEZZALUNA 87, 123 MI CASA 259 MILK THISTLE 163 MILL AT RODE 211 MINERS ARMS 180 MINERS REST 211 MINERVA CHOCOLATES & BATH CHOCOLATE MUSEUM 249 MINT ROOM 112 MISSION BURRITO (Bath) 127, 152, 163, 235 MISSION BURRITO (Bristol) 127,

266 Index.indd 266

143, 228 MOGHUL 236 MOLES MUSIC CAFE 152, 169 MONTGOMERY’S 226 MOODY GOOSE AT THE OLD PRIORY 197 MOORISH CAFÉ 228 MOREISH 88 MOTHER’S RUIN 32, 180 MOUCHUCK 113 MOUSE 181 MR D’s 236 MR WOLF’S 163 MRS BROWN’S CAFÉ 144 MUD DOCK 88, 144, 163 MUMFORDS VINEYARD 262 MURRAY’S BUTCHER 242 MUSET BY RONNIE 88 MY BURRITO 127 MYRISTICA 108, 261 N NANDO’S (Bath) 133 NANDO’S (Bristol) 132 NATURAL FOOD SCHOOL 261 NATURAL VITALITY 254 NEW CHUNG YING 234 NEW EMPEROR COURT 66 NEW INN (Backwell) 212 NEW INN (Dursley) 211 NEW INN (Mayshill) 212 NEW TAJ TAKEAWAY 232 NIBBLES 249 NO1 HARBOURSIDE 163 NO4 89 NO51 STOKES CROFT 16, 163 NOA 124 NORTHEY ARMS 212 NOVA SCOTIA 181 NUMBER 10 144 O OAKHILL INN 50, 212 OAKWOOD AT TRACY PARK 197 OBENTO 124 OH! BEIJING! 232 OH! CALCUTTA! INDIAN KITCHEN 108, 232 OKIDOKIS 222 OLD BOOKSHOP 164 OLD BUTCHER’S 197 OLD CHEESE SHOP 222 OLD CROWN INN 213 OLD DOWN BISTRO 58, 197 OLD FISH MARKET 181 OLD GREEN TREE 192 OLD HOUSE AT HOME 213 OLD INDIA 108 OLD LOCK & WEIR 213 OLD Q BAR 169 OLD SPOT INN 213 OLD STATION INN 213 OLDFIELDS FISH & CHIPS 233 OLIVE SHED 89, 244, 257 OLIVE TREE 53, 77 ONE BEAUFORT 192 102 COOKERY SCHOOL 259 ONE STOP THALI CAFÉ 109, 144, 232 OPA 102, 170 ORGANIC SEPTEMBER 263 ORIENT EXPRESS 261 OSTRICH INN 181 OZ 102 P PACKHORSE INN 213 PAECKERT BUTCHERS 244 PANAHAR 113 PANASIA ORIENTAL 131 PAPA COSTA DELI 144, 223, 229, 244, 258 PAPADELI 144, 223, 230, 244, 258 PAPADELI AT THE RWA 144 PAPADELI COOKERY SCHOOL 261 PAPAJI’S BAR, KITCHEN & TEASMITHS 164 PARK STREET CAFE 164 PARKER’S BAKERY, FRUIT & VEG 249 PARSONS BAKERY 223 PATISSERIE VALERIE 152 PAULINE CHAN’S 230 PAWSON’S GREENGROCER 244 PAXTON & WHITFIELD 249 PEAR CAFE 144 PEAR CATERING COMPANY 258 PEKING CHEF 236 PEKING 68 PELICAN 214 PEPE NERO 144, 228 PEPPER POT 198 PICCOLINO 118 PICNIC IN THE PARK 226 PICNICS 249 PICTON POP-UP CAFE 259

PIEMINISTER 145, 228, 232, 237 PIG & FIDDLE 192 PIPE & SLIPPERS 182 PIRI PIRI CORNER 145, 230 PITCHER & PIANO 164 PIZZA BELLA 231 PIZZA FRESCA 236 PIZZA HUT (Bath) 123 PIZZA HUT (Bristol) 118, 228 PIZZA PROVENCALE 118 PIZZAEXPRESS (Bath) 123 PIZZAEXPRESS (Bristol) 118, 228, 230 PJ’S FARM 252 PLANET PIZZA 119 PLANTATION CARIBBEAN BAR & RESTAURANT 62 PLOUGH (Pilning) 214 PLOUGH (Wrington) 214 POCO 99 POLISH DELICATESSEN 249 PONY & TRAP 198, 214 PORT OF CALL 182 PORTCULLIS 182 PORTER 192 PORTO LOUNGE 164 PORTUGUESE TASTE 228 PORTVCALE LOUNGE 133, 170 POST OFFICE TAVERN 182 PREMIER 113 PRESTO 152, 226 PRET A MANGER (Bath) 152, 226 PRET A MANGER (Bristol) 223 PREVIEW BUFFET BAR 100 PRIMROSE CAFE & BISTRO 145 PRINCE OF WALES (Glos Rd, Bristol) 182 PRINCE OF WALES (Peasedown) 198 PRINCE OF WALES (Westburyon-Trym, Bristol) 183 PRINCE OF WATERLOO 214 PRINCES PANTRY 228 PRIOR PARK GARDEN CENTRE & FARM SHOP 250 PRIORY INN 198 PROSECCO 119 PULP 170 PULTENEY ARMS 192 PUMP HOUSE 89, 183 PUMP ROOM 152 PUMPKIN DELI 252 PURE PASTA, SOUP & SANDWICH 145, 228 PUXTON PARK 252 Q Q WINES 262 QUADRANT 183 QUARRYMANS ARMS 214 QUEENSBERRY HOTEL: OLIVE TREE 103 QUINTON HOUSE 183 R RACKS BAR & KITCHEN 70, 164 RADFORD MILL FARM SHOP 254 RAGGED COT 215 RAINBOW CAFE 145 RAJ BARI 109 RAJ TANDOORI 109 RAJASTAN ROYAL 109, 234 RAJPOOT (Bath) 113 RAJPOOT (Bristol) 109 RAM 192 RAMADA PLAZA: KILN 103 RAPHAEL 93 RARE BUTCHERS OF SOUTHVILLE 244 RATTLEBONE INN 215 RAVEN 192 REAL CHINA ORIENTAL BUFFET 68 REAL ITALIAN ICE CREAM CO 152, 236, 250 REAL MEAT CO 250 REAL OLIVE CO 244 RED LION 215 REGENCY TEA ROOMS 152 RENATO’S NUMERO UNO 119 RENDEZVOUS 228 RETRO TO GO 226 REVOLUTION (Bath) 170 REVOLUTION (Bristol) 164 RICE & THINGS 62 RICE BOX 228 RICHMOND ARMS 192 RICHMOND PUBLIC HOUSE & KITCHEN 34, 183 RING O’BELLS 193 RISING SUN (Lacock) 215 RISING SUN (Pensford) 216 RIVER CANTEEN 123 RIVER GRILLE AT THE BRISTOL HOTEL 35, 71

RIVERFORD ORGANIC 255 RIVERSIDE CAFÉ (Saltford) 216 RIVERSIDE CAFÉ (Bath) 93, 152 RIVERSIDE GARDEN CENTRE 145 RIVERSIDE INN 216 RIVERSTATION 90, 165 ROBIN HOOD 184 ROBIN HOOD’S RETREAT 184 ROCKFISH GRILL & SEAFOOD MARKET 94, 261 ROCOTILLOS 63, 228 RODNEY HOTEL: NO4 103 ROMAN BATHS KITCHEN 78, 152 RONNIES 198 ROSCOFF DELI 152 ROSE & CROWN 216 ROSE OF DENMARK 184 ROSHNI 109 ROYAL CRESCENT: DOWER HOUSE 103 ROYAL HOTEL: BRUNEL’S 103 ROYAL OAK (Clifton, Bristol) 184 ROYAL OAK (Glos Rd, Bristol) 184 ROYAL OAK (Corsham) 217 ROYAL PAVILION CAFÉ 153 ROYCE ROLLS WHOLEFOOD CAFE 145 RS WINES 262 RUBICON CAFE & CHOCOLATIER 145 RUDGLEIGH INN 217 RUMMER HOTEL 184 RUNCIBLE SPOON 71 RUPOSHI 236 RUSTICO BISTRO ITALIANO 123 S SALAMANDER 193 SALATHAI 135 SALLY LUNN’S 78, 153 SALUTATION 217 SALVATORE’S KITCHEN 119 SAM WELLERS 193 SAM’S KITCHEN 153 SAME, SAME BUT DIFFERENT 94, 153 SAN CARLO 120 SANDRIDGE FARMHOUSE BACON 252 SANDWICH DIRECT 223 SARACEN’S HEAD 193 SARAH BRITTON COOKERY CLASSES 261 SASPARILLA 165 SAUSAGE SHOP 250 SAVANA COFFEE 146 SCALLOP SHELL 252, 261 SCHWARTZ BROTHERS 236 SCOOPAWAY HEALTH FOODS 244, 254 SCOTCHMAN & HIS PACK 185 SEAFOODS 236 SEASONS WHOLEFOOD 226, 250 SECRET GARDEN CAFE AT PRIOR PARK GARDEN CENTRE 153 SECRET SERVICE SUPPER CLUB 259 SERGIO’S 120 SEVEN STARS 217 SEVERNSHED 90, 165 SEYMOUR ARMS 217 SHAKEAWAY 236 SHAKESPEARE TAVERN 185 SHANGHAI NIGHTS 66 SHEEPDROVE ORGANIC FARM BUTCHERS 254 SHEESH MAHAL 109 SHEPPEY 217 SHIRAZ 128 SIAM HARBOURSIDE 134 SIMPLY THAI 232 SKIDMORE’S 253 SLUG & LETTUCE (Bath) 170 SLUG & LETTUCE (Bristol) 165 SMITHFISH 245 SMITHS FISH BAR 232 SNOOTY FOX 218 SOCIAL 165 SOCIETY CAFE 153 SOLO PIZZA 123 SOMERSET HOUSE 185 SORREL AT STON EASTON PARK HOTEL 198 SOTTO SOTTO 124 SOUK KITCHEN 128, 146 SOURCE 146, 245 SOURDOUGH CAFE 245 SOUTHSIDE FOOD CO-OP 250 SOUTHVILLE CENTRE CAFE 146 SOUTHVILLE DELI 223, 243, 245 SPICE OF INDIA 109 SPICE ROUTE 146, 223, 233 SPICE UP YOUR LIFE 228

SPIKE ISLAND CAFE 146 SPOONFUL OF SUGAR 261 SPORTSMAN 185 SPOT 72 SPOTTED COW 185 SPRINGS CAFE & RESTAURANT 153 SPYGLASS BARBECUE & GRILL 90 SQUARE BAR 166 SQUARE FOOD FOUNDATION 261 SQUARE KITCHEN 91 ST MICHAEL’S CAFE 153 ST NICHOLAS MARKET 245 ST STEPHEN’S CAFE 146 ST WERBURGHS CITY FARM CAFE 146 STAG & HOUNDS 36, 185 STAN BUTT BUTCHER 245 STAR & DOVE 72, 186 STAR FISH BAR 233 STAR INN 193 START THE BUS 166 STOKE BISHOP FISH BAR 230 STOKES THE GREENGROCERS 250 STRADA (Bath) 124 STRADA (Bristol) 120 STRAWBERRY FIELD 258 STREET FOOD @ FLOATING MARKET 233 STREET FOOD @BANGKOK 129, 134 STREETFOOD 134 STUDIO ONE AT CINEMA DE LUX 100 SUBWAY (Bath) 226, 236 SUBWAY (Bristol) 223, 229 SUGO 91, 166 SULIS PIZZA 236 SUPPER CLUB 259 SURAKHAN 125 SWAN (Swineford) 218 SWAN HOTEL (Bradford on Avon) 218 SWAN INN (Box) 218 T TABLE FOR SIX 259 TAKE FIVE CAFE 146, 258 TALBOT INN 218 TAMBO PERUVIAN KITCHEN 236 TAMPOPO 130 TART CAFE & FOOD STORE 146, 245 TASTE OF CHINA 234 TASTING ROOM 51, 78, 262 TASTY 1 226 TEA TIME 153 TEAHOUSE EMPORIUM 153 TEOHS 67, 125, 129, 134, 231, 233, 246, 258 TERRACE 37, 166 TERRY M AT CELTIC MANOR 198 TGI FRIDAY’S (Bath) 65 TGI FRIDAY’S (Bristol) 63 THAI BALCONY 136 THAI BALCONY MINI MART 251 THAI BASIL 136 THAI BY THE WEIR 136 THAI CLASSIC 135 THAI EDGE 135 THAI KITCHEN 135 THAI PEPPER 233 THALI CAFÉ 38, 111, 146, 230, 231, 234 THEATRE VAULTS RESTAURANT 78 THORNBURY CASTLE 14, 199 THOUGHTFUL BREAD CO 251 THREE SUGAR LOAVES 39, 186 THYME 226, 258 TIFFINS 40, 147, 230, 258 TIKKA FLAME 111, 258 TILLEYS BISTRO 94 TIME OUT 153 TINTO LOUNGE 166 TOBACCO FACTORY CAFE-BAR 147, 166 TOBACCO FACTORY MARKET 246, 255 TOLLGATE INN 218 TONY’S CARIBBEAN FOOD 246 TOPLINE CATERING 258 TORO PAN ASIAN 130 TORTWORTH ESTATE SHOP 253 TOVEY’S SEAFOODS 246 TOWNHOUSE BAR & RESTAURANT 41, 72 TRAMSHED 52, 78, 170 TRATTORIA DA RENATO 120 TREASURE ISLAND SWEETS 246 TRETHOWAN’S DAIRY SHOP 246 TUBE DINER 147 TUCKERS GRAVE 219 TURMERIC 111

TWERTON CHIPPY 236 TWO DAY COFFEE ROASTERS 246 TYRELLS AT THE GRAND 91 U ULTIMATE BITE 258 UPTON CHEYNEY CHILLI COMPANY 253 URBAN WOOD 92, 147 V VALENTINO 120 VAULTS 101 VEGAN FESTIVAL OF LIFE 264 VEGETARIAN COOKERY SCHOOL 261 VELLORE AT THE BATH SPA HOTEL 78 VELO LOUNGE 170 VICTORIA (Clifton, Bristol) 186 VICTORIA (Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol) 187 VICTORIA PARK PUB & KITCHEN 187 VIEN’S PALACE 233 VILLAGE POTTERY 147 VILLAGER 92 VINCE’S ITALIAN PASTA & PIZZA 233 VINCENZO’S PIZZA HOUSE 120 VINCEREMOS 262 VINTAGE ROOTS 262 VITTORIA 187 VOLUNTEER RIFLEMAN’S ARMS 193 VOM FASS 251 W WAGAMAMA (Bath) 125, 131 WAGAMAMA (Bristol) 125, 130 WAI YEE HONG SUPERMARKET 246 WATER SKY BRISTOL 67 WATERSHED CAFE-BAR 92, 167 WEES LOUNGE BAR 167 WEIGHBRIDGE INN 219 WELLINGTON 187 WEST CORNWALL PASTY COMPANY 226 WESTBURY PARK TAVERN 187 WESTGATE 193 WHATLEY MANOR: THE DINING ROOM & LE MAZOT 59, 199 WHEATSHEAF AT COMBE HAY 199, 219 WHEELWRIGHTS ARMS 219 WHITE BEAR 188 WHITE HART (Bath) 193 WHITE HART (Congresbury) 220 WHITE HART (Littleton on Severn) 219 WHITE HORSE 220 WHITE LION BAR & TERRACE 167 WHITELADIES FARMERS’ MARKET 255 WHOLE BAGEL 226 WILD CAFE 153, 226 WILD DUCK INN 199 WILD OATS 247, 255 WILLIAM’S KITCHEN AT CALCOT 258 WILTSHIRE FARM FOODS 255 WINDMILL 188 WINDMILL HILL CITY FARM 147 WING OF ST MAWES 253 WONGS 67 WOODES 223 WOODFORD LODGE 199 WOODLANDS COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL 199 WOODS 94, 167 WOOKEY HOLE INN 220 WOOLPACK INN 220 WORKHOUSE CAFE 147 WRINGTON GREENS ORGANIC FARM 255 Y YAK YETI YAK 113 YE SHAKESPEARE 188 YEN SUSHI 125 YMCA 153 YO! SUSHI (Bath) 126 YO! SUSHI (Bristol) 125 YOUR SUSHI 261 YOYO BURGER 230 YUM YUM THAI 136 Z ZAK’S SANDWICH BAR 223 ZAZA BAZAAR 4, 100 ZAZU’S KITCHEN 92 ZEN HARBOURSIDE 67 ZERODEGREES 92, 167 ZEST BISTRO 72 ZEST CAFE, LOUNGE & BAR 167 ZIO 121 ZIZZI 121 ZULU 147, 223, 247

Eating Out West 2012 6/25/2012 10:14:27 AM

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6/22/2012 2:50:23 PM

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6/22/2012 2:53:49 PM

Eating OUT WEST 2012/13

EATING OUT WEST 2012/13