It’s all change at The PROM on Gloucester Road. Having been taken over in 1997 by John Rossetti, 26 The Promenade has become a popular cafe-bar during the day, and a live music venue at night. With other pressures preventing John from spending the time on The PROM that the venue deserves, the reins have now been handed over to a new team of four.
With a soft launch on Saturday, March 17th, the venue is soon to be known as The Gallimaufry (“The Galli” for short): a word meaning “making the best out of what’s available to you”. The new team will be striving to apply this word in both a culinary and creative sense.
The new team includes names already familiar to Bristolians. James Smailes – founder of Hermanos and The Colour Inn, and James Koch (The Colour Inn) will be joined by manager Holly Aylward to launch this exciting new venture. Says Holly, “We’ve already been made to feel very welcome on the Gloucester Road. We hope The Gallimaufry will be somewhere you’ll want to eat, drink, relax and play.”
Chef John Watson, formerly of the Michelin-starred Casamia, has created a short, rustic and affordable menu, with main courses all priced at under £10. “I want to fill people’s bellies with hearty British fare, supplying simple dishes that rely on the availability of local produce”, says John.
“There are fantastic suppliers in the South-West that naturally provoke mouth watering ideas. We are really looking forward to working with the people behind the great produce on Gloucester Road and throughout the Bristol area. Jonray and Pete of Casamia are really inspiring chefs. They showed me the importance of respecting every aspect of the ingredient. At The Galli we’re striving for simpler, home cooking that’s reminiscent of childhood dishes, but still devotes itself totally to the produce.”
Expect to find dishes including Bubble and Squeak, soft boiled egg and beetroot sauce; Pork belly, radishes and apple; Sausages with stewed lentils; Neck of lamb, courgettes and mint; Confit chicken leg, elderflower jelly and toast.
All of this will be washed down with local ales, a range of wines and a small cocktail list, created with The Colour Inn.
Local artwork, live local musicians and DJs will continue the musical heritage of The PROM, and the team have big plans for great Sunday lunches.
If you want to head over and see what’s going on, The Gallimaufry will have a soft launch this Saturday, March 17th, followed by a proper launch night once the finishing touches have been made. Bookings are now being taken for both Saturday 17th, and Sunday lunch on Sunday 18th. Drop them an email at thegallibristol@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page if you’re interested…
Find The Gallimaufry on the Bristol Bites Directory…
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[…] week saw me on a midweek jaunt up Gloucester Road, popping into The Gallimaufry prior to our dinner reservation at Delmonico. Owner Nick Hennessy had invited a friend and I to […]