From a former Michelin-Starred restaurant, to beloved cafes – and a famous music venue
Paco Tapas terrace (Image: Faydit Photography)
May was another month that saw a number of closures in the hospitality industry here in Bristol.
While not as many as previous months so far this year, the past 30 days or so have seen some much loved names in the world of food and drink close their doors for good – but also one particular beloved haunt rise from the ashes.
Each month, we here at BristolLive give you a rundown of the restaurants, bars, pubs, and cafes that we’ve lost.
And this time round locals were saddened to hear that we have lost a former Michelin-starred restaurant, and a city centre coffee shop. While a quirky cafe in some Edwardian loos finds itself on the market…
Paco Tapas
Address: 3, The General, Lower Guinea St, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6FU
Back at the end of May, BristolLive reported that this Lower Guinea Street restaurant would close with immediate effect.
The popular venue, which described itself as being “deeply rooted in Spanish tradition and family heritage”, gained a Michelin Star less than a year after opening in 2017 – but lost it last year.
Writing on Instagram, the restaurant announced its closure. It said: “This decision has not come easily, and it marks the end of a chapter filled with incredible memories, dedicated teamwork, and the joy of sharing our passion for Spanish food and hospitality with all of you.
“To all of you, thank you, Your support, love, and enthusiasm have meant the world to us. We’ve been privileged to be part of your celebrations, your everyday moments, and everything in between.
“To our team past and present, thank you for your hard work, creativity, and commitment. You’ve been the heartbeat of this place, and we are endlessly proud of what we’ve built together.
Peter Sanchez-Inglesias in the kitchen at Paco Tapas(Image: Mr Nick Hook Photography)
“Though this is goodbye for now, the spirit of Paco lives on in every memory made around our tables.
“We are deeply grateful for every one of you who has walked through our doors. With love and gratitude, Peter, Paco and Sue.”
The restaurant’s closure marks the end of the family’s time running restaurants in Bristol. They originally opened Casamia in Westbury-on-Trym in 1999 before moving the operation to The General in 2016.
Casamia closed in August 2022. At the time, chef-patron Peter Sanchez-Iglesias told Big Hospitality that rapidly increasing costs had made the business “financially unviable” and that “losing just a few covers per service is often the difference between making a profit and making a loss”.
The Cloakroom
The Cloakroom is now up for sale(Image: BristolLive)
Address: Woodland Rd, Bristol, BS8 1US
A quirky Bristol cafe which is situated in what was formerly a block of toilets, is up for sale, BristolLive reported on May 19.
The Cloakroom on the junction of Woodland Road and Park Row, sits in a Grade II listed building in the Tyndall’s Park conservation area that used to be a block of Edwardian loos.
Sitting on the Redland, Kingsdown and Park Street borders, and within a short walk of the University of Bristol, the Clifton Triangle and City Centre, the cafe is known for serving up fresh food like cakes and sandwiches, and speciality coffee.
The building itself, which spans 651 square feet according to the property listing, dates back to 1904 and is considered a rarity due to most such buildings having been demolished over the years.
Before it was bought at auction in 2017 for £215,000 and opened as a cafe in August 2019, The Cloakroom was also used as an art studio and even a film set.
Back in 2019, BristolLive spoke to Alfred Fitzgerald, who purchased the Edwardian building and who said at the time: “I didn’t want to open a cafe in Bristol – I just fell in love with the building.”
He said he realised straight away that the building would make a “great café space” because of its character.
Dareshack
Dareshack on Christmas Steps
Address: 4 Christmas Steps, Bristol, BS1 5BS
Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, May 6, the team at Dareshack wrote: “Hey all, it brings us great sadness to inform you that we’ve come to the decision to permanently close our Christmas Steps location.
“Although this decision wasn’t made lightly, we all feel that it’s one that will benefit Dareshack in the long run.
“Over the last few months, as a team, we have come up with lots of really fun and exciting ideas, and now with the closure of DS2, we can put our full focus into making these ideas into a reality.
“Although we are sad to see it go, we’re looking to the future to see what other endeavours we as a shop can venture toward! Watch this space!”
BristolLive reported the opening of Dareshack’s Christmas Steps store in June 2024 – four years after the opening of its Wine Street branch in 2020.
In 2022, BristolLive reported that Dareshack on Wine Street was on a mission to ‘unleash creative opportunities’ through the speciality coffee it served, raising funds for local projects ‘one cup at a time’.
But there was some good news in May…
The Crofters Rights on Stokes Croft(Image: Zoe Glascow)
BristolLive reported back on May 15 that The Crofters Rights, which closed its doors in July 2024, will reopen under its former name – The Croft – as part of new plans.
The news comes after BristolLive reported local music lovers had been speculating about the future of the venue when strange signs were put up on the building, hinting at an announcement on May 15.
Now it has been announced that The Croft is one of seven venues in the country to be part of the Own Our Venues initiative, led by Music Venue Properties.
Between May 15 and July 31, music lovers and locals can invest via a Crowdfunder, which has a target of £1m to go towards these venues – the much loved Stokes Croft venue being one of them.
The Croft, which was established in 2000, was a hugely popular live music venue in the city, known and loved for its intimate 110-capacity live room and 250-capacity club space.
Some of the biggest names in the world of music played here early on in their careers, including the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Bastille, Ed Sheeran, Idles, and Bring Me The Horizon.