Here at MADE, we like to do things a little differently. So what better city to host one of our pop-up stores than Bristol, the home of the contrarian and a city bursting at the seams with creativity.
Once you’ve had a browse in our temporary showroom, take some time to sample Bristol’s legendary street art and renowned culinary scene, with a pit stop for coffee and cake. We asked some of the city’s key players to reveal their favourite haunts and best-kept secrets.
Poco Tapas
Founder of Foozie Bristol, Thom Whitchurch has made a career out of touring the city’s bars and restaurants. Always on the run, plotting his next event, he knows the importance of refuelling:
“Tapas bar, Poco, in Stokes Croft, is my happy place – I’m there three or four times a week. There’s something addictive about watching the craziness unfold outside and I love how you can just grab a coffee while your friend, next to you, tucks into delicious tapas.
Pasta Loco
“When it comes to a sit-down dinner, though, I can’t get enough of Pasta Loco on Cotham Hill. It’s the best restaurant to open in the past twelve months, offering a modern and rebellious spin on Italian dining.
“For that all-important nightcap, I’d recommend The Old Bookshop on North Street. If I could move any bar nearer to my home, it would be this one; it’s quirky, attracts a diverse crowd and serves smashing drinks.”
Someone who needs no convincing of this is Danny Walker, co-founder of the Psychopomp Microdistillery, an independent gin distillery on St Michael’s Hill. Besides The Old Bookshop, which has a space dedicated to Psychopomp’s craft cocktails, Danny gives his take on the best watering holes around:
“Right now, I’d say the best cocktails are being served in Hyde & Co, a cosy speakeasy buried amongst the craziness of The Triangle. They have the strongest team of bartenders going. For a fun bar that doesn’t take itself too seriously, I’d also recommend Her Majesty’s Secret Service (just off Whiteladies Road). Their cocktails always have a visual impact, served in quirky containers like wellies or noodle boxes.
“King Street, where you have the likes of Small Bar, is the ultimate home of the craft beer, and if you’re after great wine, I’d head to Corks at Cargo – an intimate shipping container in the new indie quarter, Wapping Wharf.
BOX-E
Birch
Little Victories
“Here you’ll also find BOX-E – which, along with the likes of Birch, is leading the way when it comes to exceptional dining – not to mention Little Victories. From the same team behind Small St Espresso, this serves some of the best coffee in the city.”
And coffee, a much-needed boost for even the most seasoned shopper, is certainly taken seriously in Bristol. Sam Baum, owner of the design studio, Studio Baum, and creator of ‘Bean: The Bristol Coffee Map’, knows exactly where to get your caffeine fix:
“For the best flat white in town, head to Full Court Press, near to St Nick’s Market. Not too far from there, you’ll also find Playground Coffee House, which has an impressive variety of coffee-related drinks, including espresso martinis. The tactile, wooden board games and the use of swings, rather than chairs, makes for a great interior, adding something more to the café experience.”
Montpelier Window Shop
Papersmiths
“When it comes to other design spots, I’m a big fan of the Montpelier Window Shop, run by local artist Alex Lucas. She regularly sells her artwork outside her front window, in a beautifully painted house on Picton Street. Then there’s Papersmiths, the stationer located opposite Anna, a patisserie in the heart of Clifton village. Beautiful stationery and a decadent cake; a trip there is a real indulgence.”
Stokes Croft
For those interested in Bristol’s art scene, there are few people who know the city’s offerings as well as Stephen Hayles, owner of Upfest Gallery and the brains behind Europe’s largest street art and graffiti festival:
“The highest concentration of street art can be found in Bedminster and Stokes Croft, which is the cultural home of graffiti. Of course the world’s most well-known stencil artist, Banksy, has left his mark across his home city, but nowadays it’s emerging artists who make use of the city’s urban canvas.”
“When it comes to sampling the work of Bristol’s many creatives, one of my favourite spots is Centrespace, which – despite its central location - feels tucked away from the main thoroughfares of the city. A not-for-profit, volunteer-run gallery, it champions up-and-coming artists in the community.”
Paper Plane
It’s this strong sense of community which keeps Bristol’s many independents not only alive, but thriving. Amy Cox, a former art director and co-owner of the charming vintage tearoom, Cox and Baloney, selects a few of her favourites:
“For quality vintage pieces, dating back to as early as the 1920s, I’d recommend Heartfelt, a charming boutique in Clifton. And if you’re after cool, retro fare from the sixties onwards, then head to Urban Fox, a firm favourite on Corn Street.”
“Of course, Gloucester Road is a real hub for independents. There is a flurry of art shops – Fig, Paper Plane and Room212 in particular – that I love, and from there you can walk through the Arches and into Stokes Croft. If you were to stop at every great shop along the way, that route could literally take you all day. It’s surely the best way to get some exercise, though!”
The Ethicurean
If, after all that walking, you’re still in the mood to explore, Amanda Nicholls, Editor of The Bristol Magazine, the city’s leading lifestyle publication, has some insider tips for you:
“The Ethicurean is one of Bristol’s best kept secrets. Not only does it offer impressive, culinary alchemy, but it is tucked away in a picturesque walled garden, boasting stunning rural surrounds.”
“Another great, but hidden, venue is The Loco Klub, a kooky performance space located underneath the Passenger Shed by Temple Meads Station. There I saw the amazing Trainspotting adaptation that came to Bristol last year, and it has the perfect underground feel to it.”
Our pop-up showroom –is located in Quakers Friars, Cabot Circus and is open from 10am until 8pm Monday to Friday, and 11am until 5pm on Sunday.
Feature by Cate Brown
Photography by Emli Bendixen