It’s pretty hard to argue that we aren’t spoiled for choice in Bristol when it comes to food. The city is home to a wide variety of cuisines, independent & chain restaurants, as well as some of the best street food the country has to offer. It would be hard to imagine anything is missing from the city’s culinary scene, and yet these new venues opening later this year are certainly bound to make a name for themselves, offering unique, local produce in some of the most eclectic venues.
Boxpark
Street-food lovers rejoice: London’s beloved Boxpark, a vibrant hub for all things food and drink, is coming to Bristol. Featuring a wide range of independent traders, craft beers, and lively entertainment, the Boxpark’s sister venue will transform the harbourside location at Welsh Back O&M’s sheds into a foodie-focused cultural and social hub. Expect dishes from your favourite Bristol restaurant operators, as well as authentic cuisine from local, independent traders, all wonderfully spread over 20,000 sq ft, with the interior designed by hospitality adept Macaulay Sinclair, whose past design projects include the Alchemist and wistful Bombay-inspired Dishoom.
The venue is set to open in the summer of this year, no doubt timed to make perfect use of the venue’s external terrace overlooking the floating harbour and feel-good events from local talent. If you’ve exhausted the likes of St Nick’s market and the harbourside street food selection, then be sure to keep an eye out for the opening of this exciting new project by following @boxpark on Instagram.
Artist Residence
Whilst this newly opened, stylish boutique hotel has offered a glimpse of what it has to offer, with its library serving breakfasts and drinks all day, expect only bigger and better things when the venue opens its main bar and cafe and kitchen later this spring. The venue assures that it will be a buzzing neighbourhood hangout for night or day, work or play.” From the fresh, homely vibes of its breakfast menu, offering wholesome and hearty options such as homemade pecan granola and yogurt with mango compote, to the bar’s charcuterie boards, it is fair to assume that we can expect casual yet soulful, nourishing food when the full menu launches. Located just minutes from Bristol’s city centre, in a revamped Georgian townhouse and old boot factory, the stylish and eclectic venue is perfect for a catch-up with friends. If a relaxed, social vibe is what you’re after, then Artist Residence is certainly one to keep an eye out for.
Hoba
If you’ve never tried one of the Berlin-inspired kebabs from the stall on King’s Street, you are massively missing out. Owned by couple duo, Hope and Annie, Hoba slings Berlin standard kebabs, spurred by a desire to recreate the culinary delight of aforementioned German kebab houses. From their homemade sauces and marinades to their teamwork with a local bakery to create the perfect bread, and not to mention the seriously addictive sweet potato hummus, Hoba offers a truly unique kebab experience that it is, frankly, impossible to find elsewhere in the UK, let alone Bristol. It is truly well deserved, then, that Hoba is set to open a new permanent shop at Harbourside, poignantly positioned where Hoba began its journey as a market vendor. With a wide range, catering to vegans and meat-eaters, Hoba Kebab offers some of the best street food the city has to offer, and it’s great to see these self-proclaimed “kebabes” making a name for themselves amongst some of the fabulous foodie spots adorning the harbourside. If you don’t keep an eye on their Instagram, check the opening date, get down there as soon as they open, and grab a portion of their insane spicy beef-loaded fries… you’re doing it wrong.
Cow and Sow
If you can’t wait to try something new, then head to the Cow & Sow, which opened in January 2022. This contemporary chophouse located on Queens Square promises “incredible steaks & chops from the very best butchers across the South West”, alongside unique and tantalising appetisers such as black pudding bonbons and pigs head & ham hock terrine. With something for everyone, from miso rubbed pork belly to tender fillet steaks, Cow & Sow is definitely worth a visit for any meat eaters seeking out the best produce the county has to offer.
This is, of course, just to name a few, and there are plenty more small food spots and independent businesses opening up around the city this year, so keep an eye out and remember to support locals. Given the evident success of street food in the city, it wouldn’t be a surprise if we were to see more independent traders branching out and opening full sizes stores. Given the blow the past 24 months have had on the hospitality sector, it’s great to see small businesses claiming spaces amongst popular chains and local gems, and, if this lineup is anything to go by, 2022 looks set to be a great year for discovering new favourites in an already culinary rich city.