…and we need your opinion!

Bristol’s food scene is moving faster than ever right now. Between the secret supper clubs, the blink-and-you-miss-it pop-ups, and keeping track of who is doing the best mid-week deals, eating out is practically a full-time job (luckily, it’s ours!).

We’re working on a little side project to help you finally get on top of the food scene. Our goal? To help you easily find brilliant new spots, save a bit of cash, and see exactly what’s happening across the city for the entire year. But before we add the finishing touches, we need your say. If you have 60 seconds to spare, we’d love your feedback.

Enjoy the newsletter! - BFN team.

Noah's Takes Silver at National Awards: The family-run fish and chip restaurant, located beneath the Cumberland Basin flyover, has just been named runner-up in the Restaurant of the Year category at the National Fish and Chip Awards 2026. They narrowly missed out on the top prize to Trenchers of Whitby, but successfully improved upon their third-place finish from 2024.

Rick Stein Alum Opens Crave: Sameer Shetty, a restaurateur with experience at the Rick Stein Group, is officially opening a new restaurant on Whiteladies Road this spring. Crave will feature Mediterranean and Eastern influences, focusing heavily on small plates, seafood, sharing dishes, and a full cocktail bar. Due to open spring 2026.

Honky-Tonk Bar Lil’ Nashville Arrives: A brand new live country and western experience is coming to All Saints Street. The honky-tonk bar and restaurant will feature BBQ platters smoked on-site, regular live music, line dancing, and weekend opening hours until 2.30am.

Billie's Brings Brunch to Gloucester Road: A new brunch cafe has officially opened its doors on the junction of Gloucester Road and Merton Road, taking over the former Deck cafe site. Run by Billie Mountain and her stepfather Dave Brayley, the cafe serves Wogan coffee, homemade soups, fresh salads, and chunky focaccia sandos.

Flow Team Launches Ripple Cafe: The team behind the former Flow restaurant has launched a brand new cafe within the St Werburgh’s Community Centre. Open Monday to Friday, Ripple promises Bristol coffee, homemade bakes, and lush lunches like slow-cooked bean soft tacos and poached eggs on toast.

100 Free Coffees for Little Loaf Launch (March 4th): To celebrate the launch of Little Loaf in Redland, they have teamed up with Boardwalk Bristol to give away the first 100 coffees completely free starting at 8.30am on Wednesday.

Food & Drink Legends Awards at Ashton Gate (March 6th): Ashton Gate Stadium will host a unique celebration and awards night to honour Bristol’s outstanding food and drink people and organisations. The shortlisted legends include Big Nath’s BBQ, Matina, Bristol Sweet Mart, Corks of Cotham, and Wai Yee Hong.

Local Vendors Hit Fishponds Market (March 7th): Get down to the old library to explore a lineup of 25 local independent makers, bakers, and creators. Alongside a huge variety of crafts, gifts, and food, expect to find artisan breads and vegan bakes from Everest Bread, local farm cheeses from The Cheese Connection, and gourmet patties from Taste Lyke Yaad.

UK's Only Free-From Festival (March 7th & 8th): The UK’s only gluten and dairy-free food festival is taking over DOCUMENT in St Jude's for the weekend. Enjoy exclusive talks, expert demos, and a complimentary welcome drink while discovering incredible free-from brands.

Sunday Scran #3 Shared Feast (March 29th): Head to The Scrandit on Christmas Steps for a wonderfully chaotic five-course shared dining experience from A Black Heart & Bad Decisions. For just £40pp, you'll grab a seat at the communal table and tuck into a seriously playful set menu. Expect wild flavour combos like ramen egg on toast with pickled onion Monster Munch furikake, Stella battered whiting with brown crab tartare, and a rhubarb bakewell with horlicks cream and whiskey caramel. A full vegetarian menu is available, but due to the set nature of the feast, vegan and gluten-free diets cannot be accommodated.

Root Chefs Cook for MAZI Project (April 9th): The team from Root is taking over the MAZI community kitchen to cook up a feast for this intimate monthly dinner series. All funds raised will directly support The MAZI Project’s work in using food to reduce youth isolation and build confidence.

Vietnamese Feast at The Saigon Kitchen (April 22nd): Trung Trinh is hosting a supper club for fans of Vietnamese cuisine from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM at The Saigon Kitchen. Tickets are £85 per person, which includes all of your food and drinks for the evening.

MasterChef Winner's Lido Supper Club (April 29th): Bristol Lido is welcoming 2024 MasterChef winner Brin Pirathapan to host a vibrant supper club in honour of his upcoming cookbook, "Elevate". Expect a mouthwatering Lido-style menu inspired by his Tamil Sri Lankan roots and British upbringing.

If you are after a bakery with serious local heritage, Pullin's is a Bristol must-visit. Founded in 1925 by former farmer Thomas George Pullin in North Somerset, this family business recently celebrated its milestone 100th birthday. They have spent the last century perfecting their craft, which is backed by an impressive trophy cabinet featuring Great Taste Golds, Taste of the West awards, and a Baking Industry Award.

For your local fix, Pullin's has two fantastic Bristol shops open Monday to Saturday from 8.00am to 4.00pm. Head to the newer of the two spots at 8 Cotham Hill for daily cruffins, piled-high sourdough, and fresh coffee. Alternatively, visit their original Bristol location at 7 Charlecombe Court on Stoke Lane in Westbury-on-Trym for heaps of fresh buns and artisan bread. Whichever branch you pop into, we highly recommend picking up a loaf of their signature sourdough. If you find yourself further afield, they also have highly rated shops in Clevedon and Yatton, plus a Saturday morning stall at Green Park Station in Bath.

Pullin’s online shop | Pullin’s locations

Green Light for Wapping Wharf North Redevelopment: Bristol City Council has officially approved the proposals for Wapping Wharf North. This massive redevelopment will finally create permanent homes for the current CARGO businesses, along with 245 new homes and flexible workspaces. With major construction still at least two years away, the community is encouraged to continue supporting the current independent restaurants and shops in the meantime.

As a small, independent newsletter, your support means the world to us and is what keeps this project alive. If you enjoy what we do, here are a couple of ways you can help:

1. Spread the word: The easiest way to support us is by helping our community grow. Forward this email to a mate or share this subscribe link with them. Every new reader makes a huge difference!

2. ☕ Buy us a coffee: We're a tiny team, and every single contribution is hugely appreciated. It genuinely helps us dedicate more time to bringing you the best of Bristol's food scene each week. You can buy us a coffee here.

Interested in being featured in the newsletter? View our partnership options here.