Al fresco dining returns to Bristol

With coronavirus restrictions eased, many Bristol restaurants have now reopened – but for outdoor dining only.

Gardens, terraces and courtyards are being used to wine and dine customers over the next month, with indoor eating and drinking not permitted until May 17 at the earliest.

Many restaurants have been inundated with bookings ahead of reopening, with Bambalan taking more than 2,000 reservations for its opening week. Its terrace gives customers a view over the city centre while they enjoy cocktails and Mediterranean-inspired dishes.

Counting down the days…!! Who else is excited for Monday because we sure are! ? pic.twitter.com/XA0wtY3mvk

— Bambalan (@BAM_BA_LAN) April 8, 2021

Also now open for outdoor dining in the city centre is Zerodegrees, which is a microbrewery as well as restaurant, and has lined up some special brews for its first week back.

“Bristol fans get a chance to enjoy fresh tank beer straight out of the brewery in our beer garden and balcony spaces with views of the city,” says Zerodegrees.

Caribbean restaurant and cocktail bar Turtle Bay in Broad Quay, meanwhile, has reopened with an outdoor seating area for 30 customers.

“Think 2’4’1 cocktails in the sun as you catch up with friends and enjoy delicious Caribbean flavours. It’s the tropical escape you’ve been waiting for,” adds Turtle Bay.

Almost a third of Bristol’s restaurants have revamped or increased their outdoor space since the start of the pandemic, food surplus app Too Good To Go has found.

This includes Indian restaurant Nutmeg in Clifton Village, which has reopened with a new al fresco dining area.

Nutmeg in Clifton Village has put up a seating area on a patch of pavement. Photo by Nutmeg

Nutmeg founder Raja Munuswamy says: “After over four months of being closed, like everyone else in our industry, we’re incredibly excited to be reopening, so we felt it was the perfect time to launch our brand new tasting menu.”

The new tasting menu celebrates the diversity of Indian cuisine and includes curry dishes such as Delhi Butter Chicken, Kashmiri Rogan Josh, and Palak and Paneer Kofta.

Raja adds: “We’ve been overwhelmed with the support from our regulars with takeaways throughout lockdown, so we wanted to give them and our new customers a real treat, and we feel our tasting menu is a real ‘taste of Nutmeg’ in one dining experience.”

Tents have been put up to create al fresco dining areas across Bristol, including at Underfall Yard. Photo by Martin Booth

Over in Stokes Croft, The Canteen is returning from the lockdown period with a new all-vegetarian menu that is seasonal, local and organic.

“We are delighted to be able to present to you, our all sunny, all dancing, refurbed Canteen terrace,” says The Canteen’s Anna Blightman.

“Get together with your much missed mates and enjoy a pint or two, on our very own secluded sun-trap.

“We’ll be unveiling some fresh new artwork to keep your peepers happy too. It’s our own little oasis right in the heart of Stokes Croft.”

Restaurants, such as Seven Lucky Gods in Whapping Wharf, are reopening for outdoor dining across Bristol. Photo by Martin Booth

In Wapping Wharf, a stretch tent has been put up along the walkway for food hub CARGO so that people can dine al fresco at the restaurants there.

The Bib Gourmand restaurant BOX-E, for example, is reopening for outdoor dining from April 21, and is fully booked on Saturdays until mid-June.

“Wapping Wharf’s strong collaborative ethos and an extremely supportive landlord have helped small businesses survive, and in many cases flourish, during this difficult year,” says Tessa Lidstone, co-owner of BOX-E.

Other Wapping Wharf restaurants reopening for al fresco dining include the Japanese-style Seven Lucky Gods, the Caribbean-themed Calypso Kitchen and the Spanish-inspired Gambas.

But perhaps the most exclusive al fresco dining area in Bristol is that for The Cauldron. This restaurant in St Werburghs has just one table on its front decking, which sits just six people. People had to register for a ballot in order to secure a seat at ‘The Table’.

Read more: New street food hub to open

Main photo by Nutmeg