Bristol is seeing a rise in wine bar venues, with some big names in the world of food and drink adding them to their portfolios.
From Michelin recognised chefs and restaurant owners, to pub landlords looking to expand, there’s recently been an influx of the spots opening up in the city. What’s more, many names in the industry have announced plans to open their own versions in the coming months.
We’ve compiled a short list of wine bars that have are either open now, or are coming to a street near you within the next 12 months…
Marmo
Where: 31 Baldwin Street, Bristol, BS1 1RG
Popular Baldwin Street restaurant Marmo has opened its brand new wine bar, and we can share a peek inside. The ‘intimate and informal space’ is open on Friday and Saturday evenings, with no reservations required, and the team will be serving up a regularly changing bar menu and ‘eclectic’ selection of wines.
Lily Sterck, who owns and runs Marmo alongside her husband Cosmo, told BristolLive: “It’s an intimate space to have an aperitif before or a nightcap after a booking upstairs, or just for a drink and a bite. The food menu will change frequently, currently featuring Cornish bluefin tuna crudo, pumpkin caponata and taleggio toasties.
“We will be pouring an eclectic selection of wines by the glass, picked from the cellar each night. Looking ahead to the new year, we’ll offer the space for private parties, events and wine tastings!”
The wine bar space can fit some 16 people sitting, and Lily says there has already been huge support for the new opening. “It’s been a long time in the making, so we are so happy to be able to use the space at last,” she said.
You can find out more and take a look inside here.
Tapps
Where: Whiteladies Road
A new Bristol wine bar is currently in the works, and hoping to open its doors on Whiteladies Road next year. According to a brand new Instagram account, Tapps Wine Bar and Kitchen promises “drinks, food and music“, and will be situated at 87 Whiteladies Road, the former home of restaurant Thai Classic.
It’s set to be the new venture from the owners of The Shakespeare Pub in Redland. The historic pub, rumoured to have stood on the same site since 1803, has been in the hands of Neil and Olivia Greenwood since 2014 – and now it seems the couple have taken on a new challenge.
Posting to its Instagram page, The Shakespeare wrote: “News is out, our Shakespeare has a sister! @tappswinebarandkitchen on Whiteladies Road, due to open next spring. Give us a follow for updates.”
Neil and Olivia will also be known to many a Bristol pubgoers as being the landlord couple who took over and transformed the former John Cabot pub on Gloucester Road, reopening it as The Royal Oak. They announced back in 2021 that they would be ‘moving on’ from the Gloucester Road pub after 14 years at the helm, as building owners Stonegate wanted to operate it as a managed house.
Tare Bar
Where: Unit 14, Cargo 2, Wapping Wharf
Tare Bar has opened in Wapping Wharf in the former home of the previous Tare Restaurant – and near to the Tare Bistro, all of which are owned and run by Matt Hampshire.
The popular brand, which has previously been recognised by The Michelin Guide, is serving up ‘expertly selected wines, locally sourced spirits, moreish bar snacks, and a welcoming atmosphere’ at the new bar venue. You can find Tare Bar at Unit 14 of Cargo 2 – it’s open Wednesday to Saturday.
The bar has a rotating wine menu and a specially curated selection of signature cocktails and drinks from local distilleries and breweries. There’s also a regularly changing bar menu with dishes such as glazed stuffed chicken wings, tempura oyster mushrooms and pork belly skewers.
Inside, you’ll find a modern interior with elements inspired by the team’s background in the world of wine and music. The striking bar is surrounded by shelves filled with bottles, glasses and an abundance of books.
What’s more, the outdoor terrace allows guests to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the Harbour, no matter the weather. And the bar venue will have a calendar full of live music and tasting events to look forward to, all to be announced in the coming months.
Take a peek inside here.
Carmen Street Wine
Where: Carmen Beckford Street, Stokes Croft, BS1 3FG
Carmen Street Wine has opened in St Paul’s and is the latest venture from the team behind Caper and Cure, a popular restaurant in Stokes Croft, which was recently named among the Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Local Restaurants for 2024. The new wine bar opened up shop on an entirely new street this month – Carmen Beckford Street – near the Carriage Works development.
The street sits just off Ashley Road in St Paul’s and is named after Carmen Beckford, a midwife who was the first race relations officer in Bristol, one of the founders of St Paul’s Carnival and the first Black recipient of an MBE in the South West. According to its Instagram profile, Carmen Street Wine is not only a wine bar, but will also offer events and private dining.
In a post, the team said: “Please come and see us for lunches, wines, oysters, Guinness and bottles to purchase and take away. Carmen Street Wine can seat up to 24 and can be hired for dinner parties and events – and of course, with the same top quality food and service you’ll find @caperandcure.
It’s open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays each week – find out more here.
35 King Street – TBC
Back in August, BristolLive reported that a new wine bar could be set to open in a historic building in the city centre of Bristol. The new wine bar would be located at 35 King Street and serve a variety of food and alcoholic drinks.
The basement of the Grade II-listed building has been home to Indian restaurant The Raj for years, with the new wine bar, which applied for a premises licence, possibly taking over former office space located at the property. The application at the time listed Christina Kremmyda as the applicant, and stated that the wine bar would serve cold and hot food by way of meze and small plates. Christina Kremmyda also runs Greek restaurant Hat Bistro on Denmark Street.
There has been no further update on this at time of writing.