Established in 2015, The Beckford Bottle Shop is a firm fixture on Bath’s culinary circuit. Initially the delicious secret of locals and savvy visitors, its cover was well and truly blown when Observer critic Jay Rayner gave it a glowing review in 2022 – the same year it picked up Best Restaurant at the Food Reader Awards.
Like all Beckford Group venues, this bijou bistro and wine merchant makes a point of doing simple things well. Head chef James Harris spends his weekends foraging for the freshest produce, from which he crafts ingredient-led small plates with a focus on flavour over frills. Think Bath chaps with Bramley apple, cured ChalkStream trout with fennel and wild garlic flowers, and epic charcuterie boards, accompanied by a wine from the superb collection in the adjoining bottle shop.
From impromptu lunches to milestone celebrations, any occasion is amplified at this effortlessly cool setting which features tin-clad ceilings and Chesterfield sofas.
Winter dinners are best devoured in the basement dining room with its low lighting, dark wood and original features. In summer, guests can graze on local artisan cheeses, charcuterie and wines by the glass under the alfresco awning.
Trencherman’s tip: Stroll down the road to check out new sister venue Beckford Canteen, which opened in a former Georgian greenhouse in January 2023. Dine at the window countertop for the ultimate people-watching perch.
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