Independent brewer and restaurant chain Bath Ales has unveiled its two new-look café/bars at Bristol’s Colston Hall music venue following a major refurbishment.
The firm, based between Bath and Bristol at Warmley, took over the iconic building’s food and drink contract last November. It has transformed the first-floor restaurant into a charcuterie bar called Gordito, while the lower level café bar has become the Colston Street Bar & Kitchen with a menu drawn from modern American and European influences.
The brewery and eaterie group, which is developing the Graze chain of restaurants around the West of England as well as its distinctive pubs, says its Colston Hall contract has allowed it to bring some new dining concepts to the region. 
The 56-cover Gordito restaurant has been inspired in part by the La Boqueria market in Barcelona and will serve charcuterie and cheese while the 80-cover Colston Street Bar & Kitchen has undergone a refurbishment to make it, says Bath Ales “a stylish haven for diners”.
Bath Ales managing director Robin Couling said: “Colston Hall is the perfect setting for a new concept for Bristol and we’ve been able to bring our ambitious ideas to life at this landmark location.
“With each new venue we try to offer consumers something original and genuinely exciting and I feel that we’ve achieved that with Gordito and the Colston Street Bar & Kitchen. Colston Hall is a centre for music and culture so we couldn’t think of a better partner to work with on these new venues.”
Bath Ales executive chef Alice Bowyer added: “Top quality food is at the heart of both new venues in Colston Hall. We’ve wanted to open a wine and charcuterie bar for a long time and this location is a perfect fit for Gordito.
“We have put a lot of care and attention into getting the menu and ambiance right. For the food we’ve sourced the best cured meats and cheeses from home and abroad, which I’m sure will please foodie diners.
“Colston Street Bar & Kitchen serves food all day with the focus on a fun breakfast offer, an American-European influenced menu, and great coffee and cakes. We’ve created some exciting dishes, not seen in Bristol before, but still using classic combinations of big flavours.
“We’ve worked hard to try and create an area that can be enjoyed at any time of the day, and hope that this venue will please those coming to see a show as well as becoming a destination in its own right.”
Since opening in 1867, Colston Hall has been Bristol’s main live music and comedy venue, attracting major international artists. This weekend it hosts the second Bristol International Jazz and Blues Festival.
A major upgrade was completed in 2009 including a new foyer, meeting spaces, restaurant and café/bar. Operator Bristol Music Trust’s plans are well underway for a second phase of development will include improvements to the auditorium and historic old foyer areas, including some major upgrades to the building which has been in constant use since it first opened in 1951. The Trust is looking at all ways to raise the £40m required to begin work.
Trust finance and commercial director Marguerite Jenkin said: “We’re very excited to be working with Bath Ales, and the newly-designed spaces look fantastic, stylish and welcoming. They have a real buzz about them and are a great fit with our vibrant foyer building.
“We’ll be catering for the lunchtime and business crowd as well as pre-concert and evening dining. The restaurants will also benefit from the programme of free concerts which take place on a regular basis. The partnership will ensure we deliver an exceptional audience experience, on a par with the entertainment we offer as the city’s leading concert venue.”
Bath Ales is also known for its distinctive beer range including Gem, Dark Side and Wild Hare. Its Bath venues include Graze next to Bath Spa railway station, The Hop Pole and The Salamander.
