The Boardroom Bristol...

A part of my writing work which I really enjoy is the chance to experience dining concepts which I have not really come across before, and this is exactly what happened recently when I was fortunate enough to be invited to try the newly opened  drinking and dining concept The Boardroom* in Bristol.

I love historic buildings (blame growing up in a 400 year old Derbyshire farmhouse!) so I was delighted to find out that The Boardroom is housed in a former coaching inn which dates back to the 16th century in part and was rebuilt in 1853, with many original architectural features still visible throughout such as fireplaces and flooring. 

I was given a warm welcome by the proprietors of The Boardroom,  Alex and Sandra Hazzard who have channelled their decades of experience in the hospitality industry in to the new venue. I sipped delicious sparkling rosé as they told me all about the inspiration behind the venue, which is the first venture by The Way out West Pub Company.

I am not very familiar with Bristol, so it was fun for me to get the chance to travel to a different city and to enjoy a totally new experience. The Boardroom prides itself on offering ‘the art of grazing’, a convivial con amici style of dining which is very relaxed and ideal for sharing. The menu is centred on boards, hence the name of the venue, and there are plenty of tantalising goodies on offer including sweet and savoury options as well as an impressive drinks menu. 

Serving cheese, charcuterie, gourmet chocolates and fine wines as well as ales and ciders which are all sourced within the local area, the idea is to support as many local suppliers as possible. I started the evening with a mixed cheese board which was groaning under the weight of delectable locally sourced cheeses. I am a great lover of a good cheeseboard and this one offered an excellent variety of cheddar, blue cheese, smoked and soft cheese, and there was a perfect quantity to share. Yum! To complement the cheeses I also sampled a board of charcuterie, which you can customise from an array of options including Somerset cider chorizo, Sage, mustard & cider salami, Red wine & draycott blue salami, Pork & venison with Indonesian long pepper and Pork & wild boar with juniper and cara. The meats were tender and full of flavour, perfect to pair with wine!
I love the stylish and cosy interior design aesthetic which features a wraparound walnut bar area, wooden floors, feature lighting and stained glass. Upstairs there is a relaxed area with chesterfield sofas, custom art work and banquette seating.
After the sumptuous cheese and charcuterie platters, it was time for a treat from the Indulgences menu, which features a selection of fudge and chocolates. I was spoiled with Gilbert & Swayne handmade chocolates, which are so decadent and irresistible, I think that supporting local artisan suppliers like this really sets The Boardroom apart. Enriching the local economy and complementing the existing businesses in the area is central to the Way Out West philosophy and this is something I find admirable about any business, as there are so many artisan produce makers as well as suppliers and growers who struggle to get a foothold in such a competitive industry nowadays. I love discovering produce from companies I have not come across before, and The Boardroom uses so many smaller suppliers who focus on quality over quantity.

I got the inside scoop on how the concept came about, from co-owner Sandra Hazzard: “The concept for The Boardroom came about when we realised that we enjoyed drinking fine wines alongside cheese and charcuterie boards at home. Frustratingly, we found that there were no restaurants offering the relaxed style of dining which we enjoy, so we decided to open our own and The Boardroom concept was born. We are delighted to offer wine and whiskey flights, artisan beers and local ciders paired with gourmet boards of charcuterie, cheeses and handmade chocolates. We are passionate about sourcing premium produce within the local area; supporting as many individual suppliers as possible is paramount to us” 

I loved the relaxed and informal style of dining offered at The Boardroom and I found the food to be superb; the local provenance and high grade quality of the produce used is reflected in the taste. I think this style of dining lends itself perfectly to date nights, a catch up with family or a bite to eat with friends. Attention to detail is evident in the bespoke artworks, vintage meat slicers, wine display case and artisan bread ovens. The welcoming and cosy candlelit ambience is so pleasant and I am already looking forward to popping in again soon for some more of those delicious boards!

The lovely owners of The Boardroom, Alex and Sandra Hazzard. It was a pleasure to try what I am sure will be the first of many prosperous ventures for their company, The Way Out West Pub Company. Thank you so much for a lovely evening!

The Boardroom

20 St Nicholas Street

Bristol

BS1 1UB

0117 925 4617

http://www.theboardroombristol.com/

What do you all think, do you like the idea of 'the art of grazing' and which of these sharing boards would you like to sample first? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post!

Until next time,

Camille 

xo 

*Disclaimer

 I was invited to try the menu at The Boardroom, the meal was complimentary for review purposes. All opinions expressed herein are my own and honest.