Steak of the Art’s parent company collapsed into administration last month but the Bristol site is open for business
10:17, 12 May 2025Updated 10:18, 12 May 2025
Steak of the Art is based on Canons Way(Image: Dominika Scheibinger)
An embattled steak restaurant in Bristol has launched a series of deals in the hope of attracting more business after its sister site was forced to close.
Steak of the Art, on Canons Way, was established by restaurateur Steve Bowen in 2012 as a dining and art gallery concept, and once had venues in Southampton, Cardiff and Bristol.
But after years of financial struggles caused by the pandemic, the rising price of food and the cost-of-living crisis, the company that ran the restaurant – GroupCo Ltd – fell into administration last month.
The chain’s branch in Cardiff has closed permanently and its staff made redundant, but the Bristol site is “very much open for business as usual”, according to Mr Bowen.
He said: “It’s tough being a restaurateur. Steak isn’t cheap and it’s not getting cheaper. Europe has foot and mouth at the moment, so a lot of beef imports have stopped. That has meant local beef is going up in price.
“We are evolving our menu and offering other dishes including vegan, chicken and fish, as well as promotions to encourage people in, but it’s difficult.”
Steak of the Art Bristol is launching a series of deals this month to attract more people into the restaurant, including an ‘express menu’, which includes a steak (or alternative meal) and a house drink, on Monday to Friday between midday and 5pm for £12.95.
“I don’t know anywhere else you would be able to buy a steak and drink that cheaply,” said Mr Bowen. “We are trying to evolve the menu and we do have veggie options, and we do have fish. But we are looking to try and ensure there is something cheaper than the steak.”
The restaurant is also trying to entice people in with a ‘book for six people and only pay for four’ offer during May. And next week it is launching a two cocktails for £15 deal all week from midday to 6pm.
“We are an independent so we don’t have a big business sitting behind us that can sustain us through rough times. Rough times absolutely hurt us.
“People used to go out two, three or even four times a week midweek. But now we are trying to compete with food-to-door delivery companies.”
Mr Bowen said scaffolding that had surrounded his Bristol restaurant for a year had also added to the problems.
“You couldn’t see our restaurant and it was a no-go zone for a long time. We missed a significant amount of walk-in trade.
“The only business we were picking up had made a decision because they knew where we were. The scaffolding is coming down now and the hope is the trade we lost is going to come back.”