From a nearby seafront cafe, to a beloved Bristol bar, a pizzeria and some of Bristolians’ favourite restaurants
The Woods at the top of Park Street is closed, with windows boarded up on Wednesday, April 30(Image: Paul Gillis/Reach Plc)
Bristol is new stranger to comings and goings on the food and drink scene.
And so we at BristolLive have decided to shine a regular spotlight – and wave a final farewell – to the foodie spots, watering holes, and others that have closed their doors for the last time over the past month.
This month has seen much heartbreak from locals who have lost some of their favourite haunts for a bite to eat, an exceptional tipple, and some socialising.
In amongst the list for April is a seafront cafe, a beloved Bristol bar, a pizzeria and some of Bristolians’ favourite restaurants.
Which of this are you going to miss most – and which would you campaign to bring back immediately?
The Bay, Weston
The Bay at Weston-super-Mare is closing soon to make way for the new Tropicana.(Image: Phoebe Hobbs)
Address: Marine Parade, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1BE
BristolLive reported that The Bay Cafe in Weston-super-Mare had written a farewell letter, which it displayed in its window on April 15.
The Bay, which was located on Weston-super-Mare’s famous seafront, announced it would be closing to make way for the newly-renovated Tropicana events venue.
Work on The Tropicana, which has received £8.7 million from the government’s levelling up fund, is set to finish by March 2026.
It is hoped that the 5,000 seater venue will put the town back on the map.
The Bay closed its doors on Monday, April 21 to clear space for the project.
In early 2022, The Food Hub (Passion and Soul Food) was selected by North Somerset Council to operate The Bay Café as a concession, in preparation for the exciting SEEMonster installation at the Tropicana.
It had originally been planned as a six month venture, but was extended to three years in the end. Read the full story here.
Dough Heads(Image: Google Maps)
Address: 86 Whitehall Road, Redfield, BS5 9BQ
On April 19, BristolLive reported how devastated locals were of the announcement that Dough Heads on Whitehall Road would be closing.
It’s not quite closed yet, however. According to the official Dough Heads website, the independent pizzeria – which serves up Neapolitan-style pizzas using its own four-day ferment dough – will be closing in June, with its last trading day falling on Friday, June 6.
In a statement, the team said: “Espensen Spirit our landlords and friends, are selling 86 Whitehall Road this year to move into a new space and we have made the difficult decision not to move on to a new premises of our own.
“For the past five years, we’ve had an amazing time serving up pizza and cocktails to the brilliant people of Easton, St George and beyond. But as is the case with many small businesses at the moment, rising costs and an uncertain financial future for the hospitality industry have applied many pressures over the years.”We’re proud to have survived the lockdowns and the difficult years afterwards and we truly have our customers and incredible staff to thank for this.”
Read the full story here.
Turtle Bay
The Turtle Bay restaurant in Cheltenham Road, Bristol, closed in April 2025(Image: Google)
Address: 221-223 Cheltenham Road, St Andrew’s, BS6 5QP
On April 5, BristolLive reported the sudden closure of a Turtle Bay restaurant in Bristol.
The chain, whose headquarters are reportedly in Bristol, closed its restaurant on Cheltenham Road, among others elsewhere, without explanation.
The website said: “Turtle Bay Cheltenham Road has served up its last round of jerk chicken and rum cocktails, but the good times aren’t over.
“You can still find us bringing the island spirit in our other Turtle Bay restaurant in Bristol Broad Quay.”
The Cheltenham Road outlet’s Facebook page has been removed and the restaurant is classed as “permanently closed” on Google. Read the full story here.
Four Wise Monkeys
Four Wise Monkeys on Clare Street(Image: Four Wise Monkeys)
Address: 30 Clare Street, BS1 1YH
On April 15, BristolLive reported that an Asian ‘super diner’ in Bristol’s Old City would be closing its doors for good that very same night.
The team behind Four Wise Monkeys, which is one of several venues from the Bristol-based Hyde and Co Group, who also own the likes of The Raven, Bambalan, The Milk Thistle, Seven Lucky Gods, and The Ox, will be starting a new chapter as it moves out of number 30 Clare Street.
Co-founder of Hyde & Co Group, Nathan Lee, told BristolLive that they weren’t able to “meet the landlords demands for a rent increase of 25 per cent” and so found a buyer for the building.
It’s not the end for the popular food spot though, as Nathan said fans will still be able to get their hands on some of the delicious dishes on the menu online, before it moves to a new physical location.
Read the full story here.
The Woods
The Woods at the top of Park Street is closed, with windows boarded up on Wednesday, April 30(Image: Paul Gillis/Reach Plc)
Address: 1 Park Street Avenue, BS1 5LQ
At the end of April (April 30), BristolLive reported the shock closure of a beloved Bristol bar described as a ‘Bristol institution and a mecca for whisky lovers’.
The owners put the reason behind the closure down to its landlord. The Woods, which was located at the top of Park Street, took to Instagram to announce the news.
It said: “Due to the landlord aggressive stance and the serving of a demand for Covid rent arrears, it has pushed business over the edge of viability.
“We’d like to thank you all for your loyal custom over the years, with many great memories created at The Woods.”
Read the full story here.
Nook (announced)
Nook Cafe(Image: Nook)
Address: 24 North Street, Southville/Bedminster, BS3 1HW
North Street cafe Nook announced towards the end of April that it would be closing the doors to its remaining Bristol site.
Nook, which formerly boasted another branch in Knowle but closed this at the start of 2024, posted a message to its social media pages on April 22, to say: “Nook will be closing on May 4, after 2.5 years of service in the Bedminster community.
“Unfortunately with the current economy, ever rising costs for hospitality businesses and super tight profit margins the cafe is simply not financially viable to continue trading.
“I’d like to thank our local Bedminster customers and our super amazing team at the Bristol cafe.
“The current team will be transferring to our Bath cafe and pursuing their own new adventures.
“Our Bath cafe is thriving and will be extending its opening hours until 5pm from May. So that’s 8.30am-5pm Monday-Sunday.
“We will also be having summer residency in Frome at Station Approach from May-September in our horse trailer/smoothie box.”
Read the full story here.