People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Mark Chapman
Australia-born Mark Chapman is the new head chef at Bravas on Cotham Hill. Here are his top-five Bristol favourites:
Wapping Wharf
is needed now More than ever
“Gaol Ferry Steps reminds me a lot of circular quay and rocks of Sydney, with its casual dining and drinking scene near the water. The coffee and food scene here is very easy, social and relaxing. Weather it be coffee at Little Victories or drinks at Wild Beer. Wapping Wharf is my new favourite place to walk through and grab a morning coffee en-route to work every morning, and is a great area to start the weekend with Friday night beverages.”
Cycling
“I love the cycling culture in Bristol and am a big fan of the work carried out by The Bristol Bike Project. The freedom and availability to cycle to and from work, through the city or out to the nearby countryside; Bristol has so many great green spaces.”
Dining culture
“The most exciting element of the Bristol food scene is that it’s still young and fresh. And the fact that everyone is excited about it makes it even more exciting. There are so many new, independent brilliant cafes, bistros and bars popping up. The Michelin food scene is branching out. The standard for ‘good food’ is increasing as well as its option. You can get a great pork bun or ramen at Sticks n’ Broth, or a great sourdough pizza at Bertha’s, or a great brunch at Bakers & Co, which all offer different qualities to unique and local styles of dining. This variety of dining reminds me so much of Australia’s and in particular Sydney’s food scene, and it definitely wasn’t here back in 2012. So in the few years since I arrived, I have noticed a big change.”
Gloucester Road
“Gloucester Road is my favourite place to spend any of my free time by myself or with friends, always starting with a late brunch at Bakers & Co. G-Road offers everything: vinyl shops, cafes, bars, specialist wine shops, a butchers, fishmonger and much more. It’s a foodie’s heaven.”
Food
“Food is one of the rare forms of expressions that both evokes and transcends its origin, and Bristol’s embrace of this is huge. The best part about Bristol is that it doesn’t forget that it’s a small city – some may say a big village – in the South West. It embraces its history of food and drinks while accepting new, local artisan producers. It does help that the food scene is hugely independent and supported by everyone. I’m an especially big fan of Hart’s Bakery, Better Food and many of the stalls in St Nicks Market, not forgetting the pubs and bars on King Street.”