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Meet the Makers at a Huge Indie English Wine Tasting in Averys' Cellars

If you think you know English wine, an event landing in Bristol next month is setting out to change your life.

Our main sponsor this week is the Independent English Wine Awards (IEWA), a Bristol-based team that, after 10 years of running their competition, are finally hosting a public tasting. And they've picked the perfect local spot: the historic, atmospheric vaulted cellars at Averys.

On Saturday, 22nd November, "English Wine Will Change Your Life" brings 15 medal-winning, independent producers from across England right to our doorstep. This is a rare chance to sample over 65 artisan wines (or 70, depending on the session), covering everything from world-class fizz and crisp whites to characterful reds and eye-opening orange wines.

The best part? This is a "no middlemen, no fluff" event. You'll be sipping and sampling while chatting directly to the passionate owners and winemakers themselves—the people behind the bottles. The vibe is informal, buzzing, and all about discovery.

There are two public sessions, with tickets limited to 120 for each:

• Tasting 1: 13:00 - 15:30 (£32.50)

• Tasting 2: 16:00 - 18:30 (£37.50)

Tickets are selling now. You can find out more and book via the links below:

Book Tasting 1 | Book Tasting 2 | About IEWA

New Openings & Recent Reviews

Bokman Ranked UK's #2, Soft Serve on Welsh Back & Two New Stokes Croft Bars

Bokman Named #2 Best Restaurant in the UK by Time Out!: Huge news for Bristol. The Stokes Croft restaurant has been ranked as the Number 2 best restaurant in the entire UK by Time Out, and was also named the best spot for Korean food in the country. This is a massive, well-deserved achievement.

Grilled Cheese & Soft Serve Kiosk Opens on Welsh Back: There's a lot of buzz around this one. A new kiosk called Soft Buoys has opened on Welsh Back. It's run by James Smith, the restaurant manager at the aforementioned Bokman. The menu features five grilled cheese options and creative soft serves like 'potato crisps and miso caramel'.

Steam Bar to Open Second Site in Stokes Croft: Clifton's popular student hotspot, Steam, is opening its second site. It's taking over the old Left Handed Giant bar (Farside) in the Carriageworks. A poster promises "great beers, great deals and great vibes".

New Bar & Venue 'Last Chance Saloon' Opens on Stokes Croft: The unmissable building on the corner of Stokes Croft and Nine Tree Hill, covered in that huge Silent Hobo mural, has just opened its doors. It's a new bar, cafe, and venue, adding another great independent spot to the area.

Upcoming Food Events

This Week's Global Flavours Pop-up, Sunday Markets & Festive Dates

Global Flavour Pop-Up Series on Wine Street: A new pop-up series celebrating global flavours is taking place on Wine Street for the next three Fridays. Head down between 12pm - 4pm this Friday (Oct 24th) and the following two (Oct 31st, Nov 7th). Traders include Tasty Kitchen (Hong Kong), Afia Kitchen, and Salha's Sudanese Kitchen.

Sunday Market at Tobacco Factory: The Tobacco Factory Sunday Market is back this Sunday, October 26th (10am - 2:30pm). This week's line up of street food includes fan faves like Miz Street Food, Los Hermanos, Turkish Street Flavours, Ah Ma's Dumplings, The Roti Shack, For Mice and Men, Fat Rice, and Janifa's Kitchen.

Wapping Wharf Christmas Light Switch-On: One for the diary. Kick off the festive season at Wapping Wharf on Thursday, November 27th, from 5:30 PM. They'll be lighting up the harbourside with live music, festive food and drink, and a visit from Father Christmas.

Burger Theory's 'Bottomless Burgers': Burger Theory's "Bottomless Burger Club" is back on December 13th. For £45, you get two hours of unlimited sliders (9 options), unlimited sides (halloumi fries, wings), and bottomless booze (Prosecco, Asahi, cider). Tickets are reportedly selling fast.

Eatchu Opens Christmas Party Bookings: If you're the designated festive planner, Eatchu has officially opened its diary for Christmas events. The gyoza specialist is taking group bookings for up to 26 people. Drop them a DM to book.

Local Highlight

Bokman

Following its huge national recognition from Time Out this week, it felt right to put the spotlight on Bokman. Describing itself as a "casual Korean restaurant in Stokes Croft that's serious about authentic food," it's this seriousness that has captured the attention of critics and locals alike. Fermentation is the "keystone" of the kitchen; the team makes its own soy sauce, kimchi, pickles, and kombucha in-house, preserving traditional culinary methods. The menu itself is rich in Korean heritage, inspired by the owners' favourite spots in Seoul and beyond.

Those owners are chefs Kyu Jeon and Duncan Robertson, whose backgrounds are seriously impressive. Kyu grew up in Seoul and Duncan in Norfolk and Wiltshire, but they met in Paris while cooking at the one-Michelin-starred L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon. They went on to open Restaurant L'Envie in southwest France, gaining a Michelin star of their own just two years later. After nearly a decade in Korea, they returned to the UK to open Bokman here in Bristol. This deep, international experience, combined with a passion for authentic Korean flavours, is what makes Bokman one of our city's most important restaurants. And for those who are already fans, you can now also visit their newer restaurant, Dongnae, on Chandos Road.

More info: bokman.co.uk

That’s it for this week.

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