You needn’t hit the city for quality tapas when Escala Tapas Bar & Restaurant, in the coastal surroundings of Clevedon Beach and Pier, delivers an authentic experience by the bucketload.

The laid-back small-plates restaurant sees Richard Range at the kitchen pass. Formerly of Bristol’s Pasture, the chef excels in this intimate setting, and central to his MO is nurturing the next generation of chefs and instilling in them a passion for dishes crafted from top-quality produce.

The menu is switched up numerous times each week, since seasonality and quality are of paramount importance – whether in the speciality ingredients imported from Spain (including an extensive selection of wines) or fish that’s freshly landed on South West shores.

Start with the satisfying crunch and smooth interior of Spanish croquettes: Richard serves them with micro-seasonal flavours such as wild garlic, and in pairings like short rib with smoked paprika aioli. In this setting it would be criminal not to sample some of the seafood plates, so try plump vieras (Brixham scallops) paired with sweet maple syrup, fiery sriracha and a crunchy sprinkle of bacon. Meat dishes are equally memorable, with the likes of muslo de pollo (chicken thigh with sticky sherry glaze, romesco sauce, pickled cabbage and fennel, and hazelnuts) showcasing the chef’s flair for fermentation and flavour.

Trencherman’s tip

Owners Dom and Alex Lamy own two other venues in town: modern British restaurant Puro, and smart bottle shop and bar Vintage and Vine.