Features / Food
Christmas 2016 dining in Bristol
Why toil over a hot stove on one of the most important days of the year? Banish burned sprouts and dry turkey and take the family out for a festive experience they’ll remember for all the right reasons.
Granted, eating out on or around Christmas Day can be expensive, so here’s our round up of some of the best places in and near Bristol for the Christmas season, with a range of styles and prices.
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Brasserie Blanc
The Friary Building, Cabot Circus, BS1 3DF
The newly refurbished restaurant in Quakers Friar opens its doors for Christmas for a “relaxed and joyous occasions, serving a mix of traditional French and seasonal favourites”. Toast in Christmas with a glass of bucks fizz and tuck into an indulgent festive menu including Robert Caldecotts’s Holly Farm roast turkey breast and chestnut stuffed thigh and for vegetarians risotto of pearl barley, sweetcorn and Swiss chard with baked pumpkin. Stop off on the actual day for Christmas dinner (£79.50, children £25).
Browns
38 Queen’s Road, BS8 1RE
The Bristol institution has a luxurious five course menu for £64.95. Dine on the likes of lobster and champagne tart and herb crusted rack of lamb finished off with dessert, cheeseboard and if you still have room chocolate truffles and mini mince pies.
Hotel du Vin
The Sugar House , Narrow Lewins Mead, BS1 2NU
Promising ‘decadent and delicious’ Christmas dining you can enjoy a three-course lunch for £95 per person. Starters include lobster and king prawn cocktail, or how about turbot boulangerie if you fancy a change from turkey and deserts from the classic Christmas pudding, panettone and chocolate bomb or eggnog and gingerbread trifle. You can dine in the bistro or choose a private dining room (room hire extra).
Bristol Harbour Hotel
55 Corn Street, BS1 1HT
If you can’t face a long drive around Christmas, treat yourself to an overnight stay at Bristol’s newest and coolest hotel. Christmas day packages at the Corn Street hotel include a full English breakfast, a five-course lunch and then a Christmas buffet created by chef Alex Aitken. Lunch on the day is also open for non-residents for £95 per person.
www.bristol-harbour-hotel.co.uk
The Rose of Denmark
6 Dowry Place, BS8 4QL
Alehouse and eatery are offering festive meals around Christmas as well as a special Victorian meal on Christmas Day. A selection of the most delicious puddings include almond topped apples, sea salted caramels and homemade chutney and fruit cake can be tasted this season, or stop by after opening presents and try the rib of beef stew, wild boar or rose turkey crown. A two-course dinner is £23 or a three-course dinner is £29. Christmas Day menu is £70 a head.
Lucknam Park
Colerne, Chippenham, SN14 8AZ
If you really want to push the festive boat out then Lucknam Park offers a ‘simply magical’ Christmas break. There’s a special deal which allows you to arrive on Christmas Eve and enjoy a champagne reception and carols and midnight mass. On Christmas day Santa arrives by Victorian horse drawn carriage and eat your way through a traditional Christmas lunch before listening to the Queen’s speech. Boxing Day include a panto at the Theatre Royal and black tie dinner. Price for a three-night stay starts at £2880 per person (children under 12 £100 per night)
Backwell House
Backwell House, Farleigh Road, Bristol, BS48 3QA
With the venison from Somerset roe deer, the ham sourced from Blagdon butchers, pheasant from Backwell or Wills Estate, cod from MSC sustainable fisheries and salmon from Loch Duart, the staff at Backwell House are as concerned for ethics and sustainability as they are for making sure you have a delicious meal this festive season. £35 a head
The Christmas Steps
2 Christmas Steps, BS1 5BS
The Christmas Steps could easily lay claim to being the most ‘Christmas’ pub in Bristol. The setting may be pure Dickensian but the menu is 21st century. The Christmas menu has been created using suppliers such as meat from renowned ethical butchers Powells of Olveston, Veg from Growswell Farm and the fish is direct from Brixham. This year the menu also has a vegan option for every course plus a vegetarian option alongside the meat and fish. £23 for two courses/£28 for 3 courses
Bocabar
Paintworks, Bath Road, BS4 3EH
It’s easy to feel Christmassy at Bocabar under the canopy of fairy lights in this wonderful warehouse venue at the Paintworks in Totterdown. Lounge on sofas, enjoy a Christmas cocktail and choose one of the legendary Boca Pizzas. Or dine in the chandelier lit back dining room and tuck into the likes of balsamic beetroot tarte tatin, venison wellington and mulled wine poached pear. Two or three course lunch and dinner menus start from £17. Carry on the party every Friday and Saturday night with DJs and dancing until 1am or even hire out a private event space with a Christmas buffet and DJ.
Grounded
Various Bristol locations.
Have a Grounded Christmas this year with some festive twists on the Grounded classics. Try a turkey burger with apricot stuffing, and a Christmas dinner pizza (complete with pigs in blankets). There is also a selection of small plates, including breaded Camembert with spiced apple chutney and pan-fried sprouts with pancetta and chestnuts. Still hungry? Try a traditional Christmas pudding, alongside a rather special toffee apple cheesecake. Or if you’re just not that into Christmas food the regular menu will still be available. Booking is recommended if there are six or more in your party.
The Spotted Cow
139 North Street, BS3 1EZ
Enjoy a roaring log fire and plenty of festive cheer at The Spotted Cow this Christmas. The kitchen at the Spotted Cow has gone from strength to strength in 2016 and this is a credit to the passionate kitchen headed up by Iain Webb who uses fantastic local suppliers to create an imaginative menu. Enjoy a Christmas meal out without breaking the bank; two courses £22.50 / three courses £27.00 and comes with a free glass of Gin Fizz for all diners.
Kings Weston House Winter Ball
Kings Weston Lane, BS11 0UR
Enjoy cocktails and canapes at the Grade 1 listed house before dinner from street food kitchen Wild and Rustic. Their menu has been specifically chosen to fit in with their winter woodland theme, and they are using many local ingredients and producers such as venison from Ashton Court Estate and vegetables from the Severn Project. After a breath-taking performance by The Invisible Circus Djs take over for you to strut your stuff on the dance floor. It takes places on December 1, 2, 7 and 8.
Hype Parties
Brunel’s Old Station, BS1 6QH
This year Hype have taken over the Passenger Shed to create Christmas in Lapland. Expect themed meals, festive characters and live performances. Parties begin on November 25.
Christmas at the Spiegeltent
Waterfront Square, BS1 5LL
Nothing says Christmas more than the Spiegeltent arriving on Bristol harbourside. Enjoy fine food, performances, live music in a decadent festive atmosphere. Parties run from December 1-16.
www.christmasspiegeltent.co.uk
M Shed
Princes Wharf, BS1 4RN
Have you got a Golden Ticket to the M Shed’s Willy Wonka themed lunch and evening parties? Sip cocktails while enjoying a panoramic view of Bristol then enjoy a sumptuous feast. Prices start from £37.50.
www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/m-shed
Biblos
Gloucester Road, Mina Road and Stokes Croft (and due to open in Wapping Wharf before Christmas)
Biblos are offering an 11 course Christmas mezze dinner tasting menu for two, to satisfy all of your seasonal tastes. At £22.50 a head try a courses like feta and cranberry parcels, sous vide Jerky turkey breast, homemade tzatziki and bread sauce and spiced chocolate orange.
Thali Café
Various Bristol locations.
Why not get all the family together and head as a group to Thali Café, who are offering the ultimate Christmas feast by Meera Sodha with luxury seasonal thalis. The menu includes sumptuous venison samosa with cranberry chutney, pig cheek vindaloo thali and chocolate kheer with almond chikki. 15% off your bill for bookings confirmed before 15th October 15.
The Stable
Canons Road, BS1 5UH
The stable is famous for their enormous range of cider, but this Christmas the choice shouldn’t be too difficult, with a glass of mulled cider provided with your meal. Pizza makes for a less traditional Christmas meal, but enjoy the turkey gobbler Christmas special and you might just make a new tradition. £19.50 a head including mulled cider, pizza and a pudding.
www.stablepizza.com/locations/the-stable-bristol/
Zazu’s Kitchen
Gloucester Road and North Street
Let Zazu’s take the effort off you and party at their place. For lunch, choose from a tasty menu including potted pork, sage butter and spiced date chutney to start, cranberry and mushroom nut roast tart for mains and finish off with chocolate mousse, crumble or cave aged Keens cheddar. For dinner try something more traditional with roast turkey breast or guinea fowl. Two-course dinner menu £24.95, three-course dinner menu £29.95. Book before 20th November and receive a complimentary burnt orange and cardamom fizz.
At-Bristol
Anchor Road, BS1 5DB
And finally if you’re still not booked the office party then At-Bristol is a unique venue for your seasonal celebration this year; enjoy sparkling drinks, glittering stargazing & spectacular 3D Planetarium shows. With space for up to 300 people prices are from £40 per head for a three-course meal and dancing.
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