When in... Bristol
When in... Bristol
We’re very excited to start the New Year with our 17th store opening in the UK in a city not too far away from our head office here in Wiltshire – Bristol. Nestled away on the leafy Whiteladies Road in the Clifton suburb, our new store sits nestled amongst the beautiful Georgian buildings that make the area so iconic. Neptune Bristol opened its doors just before Christmas, but in a few days’ time we’ll be hosting our official opening weekend. So we thought we’d recommend some of our other must-visit locations so you can make the loveliest day of it.
To do
The Harbourside area is an upbeat mix of all things historic, cultural and fun. There are a handful of heritage attractions which we particularly recommend for people visiting Bristol for the day or the weekend, such as M Shed which is all about the history of Bristol and the masterpiece that is Brunel’s SS Great Britain. It’s not all about the history though, Bristol’s docks are full of contemporary eateries and shops, and on a Sunday it’s filled with independent market stalls.
On the topic of all things cultural, Ashton Court Estate is just a fifteen minute drive from the centre of Bristol and has over 850 acres of woodland and meadows. The house itself is magnificent, but we have to say, it’s the towering oak trees and grazing deer that we love the most.
And it goes without saying, if you’re not a Bristol resident, you can’t really visit without stopping by the world-famous Clifton Suspension Bridge.
To eat
The Ethicurean
You’ll need to jump back in your car to get to the exquisite Ethicurean restaurant but it’s well worth it (it’ll take about 30 minutes to drive there). Set within a restored Victorian walled garden, the food is terrific and the setting idyllic. The menu changes twice a day and is full of home-grown ingredients. It’s perfect for lunch, dinner or even just coffee and cake.
Wilks
If you’re looking for somewhere a little fancy, this contemporary cuisine foodhouse is just perfect (plus it has a Michelin star). Set in the Redland district of Bristol, less than a ten-minute walk from Neptune Bristol, we love it for a special occasion lunch or early evening supper. It also serves a rather exceptional Sunday roast.
Pieminster
We love a good pie. When it’s cold outside, a hearty and humble pie is precisely what we crave in wintery months. British brand, Pieminster, makes all of its award-winning pies in Bristol using responsibly-sourced ingredients. They have two restaurant locations in Bristol (in Stokes Croft and Broad Quay) as well as a more informal café in the glass arcade of St Nick’s Market. We highly, highly recommend the minted mushy peas.
The Stock Exchange Bakery
If you’re simply looking for coffee and cake, we suggest this new addition to Bristol’s bakery scene. Set in the Old St Nick’s area, it has large windows and lots of original features so it’s a lovely place to sit, not to mention eat and drink! If you decide to pop in to visit Neptune Bristol in the morning, they also serve delicious cinnamon buns and croissants as a late breakfast option.
To shop
Clifton village
This is more of a quiet and composed shopping district than one particular shop to recommend. Not only does it have some of Bristol’s most well-known spots (the Suspension Bridge and Observatory to name two), but it’s also a bit of a shopper’s heaven with boutiques independent and high-street.
Bristol Cider Shop
All of the cider inside the Bristol Cider Shop is made from 100% juice and by independent producers within 80km of Bristol. There are flagons of draft cider on tap for tasting and shelf upon shelf of more than a hundred bottled varieties.
Park Street
Amongst the slightly ‘quirky’ boutiques on Bristol’s Park Street are some of the loveliest emporiums selling everything from clothes and accessories to homewares and art. It’s definitely worth a wander.
Now go explore and have a lovely time.
Neptune Bristol
And while you're in town, we'd love for you to come see us.
