If you are visiting Bristol for the very first time, exploring Bristol's independent businesses (including Mon Pote of course) is a must.   Time to get off the beaten track as the majority of Bristol's independent businesses can be found in the neighborhoods around the city centre like Bedminster.  Just south of the river and city centre, Bedminster is a very cool Bristol neighborhood known for its many independent shops, restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, bars, its street art, markets and so much more.  You may also be surprised to find how close Bedminster is to the beautiful countryside of Leigh Woods and Ashton court, ideal for getting out of the city and away from it all.  You can walk easily to Bedminster from the city centre or Temple Meads, either stopping to enjoy the food, drink and shops on the way, gaze at the street art and, if you are feeling adventurous, end up walking along the river Avon tow path or venture up to the parklands of Ashton Court.

  No visit to Bristol is complete without a visit to Bedminster and we wanted to share with you a local's guide to visiting Bedminster with our top tips and recommendations for our favourite places to eat and drink and what to do in Bedminster from exploring the street art to finding the perfect brunch.  Each independent shop and restaurant has its own personality and vibe and you'll never know what you'll find around the next corner. It's inspiring to see so many people creating something they're passionate about. Below I have put together a simple guide of local hidden gems to Mon Pote that we thought you would enjoy. 

The general area of Bristol is home to the Upfest Street Art festival, bringing street artists from all over the world to paint their murals while festival goers enjoy food and music as well as the art.  Some of the artists' work is given a permanent home on the walls of the area and is changed and refreshed annually so there is always something new to see.  Pop into the Upfest shop and gallery to pick up amazing art and get a map of where the murals are located in the area.

While there are plenty of places to eat and drink on North Street, Bedminster is also a foodie's paradise if you like amazing ingredients to prepare at home.  You can find hand selected wine in Cork's of North Street, incredible fruit, vegetables and groceries in Hugo's the Green Grocer, feel like you are in France in the Cheese Shop and take in the Tobacco Factory Sunday Market for artisan bread, locally produced cakes, meats and so much more.

One of our absolute favourite things about living in the suburb of Bedminster is the proximity to countryside.  While you may be able to reach North Street in about a 20-30 minute walk from either the city centre of Temple Meads, if you would like your visit to Bristol to include some greenery and fresh air then keep heading West along North Street until you reach Greville Smyth Park.  From here you can access the beautiful parklands of Ashton Court and the cool shade of the River Avon Tow Path.  Both are great for walking and cycling and you can even walk via Ashton Court to the Clifton Suspension Bridge and Clifton.  Along the River you can reach Portishead on a bike or on foot.

We would love for you to come and visit Bedminster in Bristol and sample some of the delights of the area.  We would love to see you in our shop or in some of the other independent businesses on North Street.  We have highlighted some of our favourites in this journal but there is so much more to do and see in Bedminster and certainly no visit to Bristol would be complete without a trip here, especially if you are someone who wants to find the local secrets in the places you visit. 

Thank you for reading!