I love it when new places that offer something a bit different open in Bristol: and there’s no denying that the Ironworks Supply Company on Broad Street, which opened on Friday, July 10th, is one of these.
Husband and wife team Buster and Jackie spent eight years in Australia before moving to Bristol to create, says Buster, “a place that’s all about the stuff we like: food, wine, music, beer, art and hot rods!”
Serving breakfast, lunch and supper, the Ironworks Supply Company is located at 51 Broad Street and is open from 8am to 9pm Monday to Wednesday, and from 8am to 10pm Thursday to Saturday. “A good vibe and good value for money” is what they’re all about – and Buster’s passion for what he’s doing certainly showed when I spoke to him.
It took just 7 weeks and 3 days to pull the place together ready to open – impressive, considering that moving to Bristol wasn’t their original plan. “We were thinking of London first of all”, says Buster, “but soon decided that the city wasn’t as great for independents as we’d thought. Jackie’s brother lives in Bristol and we spent two days here over the Easter weekend before deciding to change our plans.”
So what exactly is the Ironworks Supply Company? Head to the back of the premises and you’ll find a range of clothing from Aussie brand Deus Ex Machina: a company founded by Dare Jennings, the man behind iconic surf clothing brand Mambo. The range is set to expand still further over the coming months, making the Ironworks Supply Company the biggest Deus Ex Machina stockist in the UK.
The rest of the building is dedicated to Buster and Jackie’s food and drink offering: pancakes, open toast and breakfast burritos at the start of the day; baguettes and salads for lunch and coffee from Australian roaster Di Lorenzo. They’re the only business to use Di Lorenzo coffee in the UK and have it shipped over especially via DHL, but charging around the £2 mark for a coffee (similar to if not cheaper than other places nearby), it’s clear that these costs aren’t being passed on to the customer. And with barista Daniella being Italian and having worked in both Melbourne and Auckland – two cities with huge coffee cultures – I’m looking forward to trying it myself.
Most of their bread is made in house, although the ciabattas come from the Stock Exchange Bakery, where they’re custom-made to the dimensions that Buster and Jackie require. There’s also a small selection of bar snacks from which to choose, for those who don’t want a full meal.
When the clock hits 5.30pm or so, the vibe changes from that of a café to that of a bar. The Ironworks Supply Co. offers a range of red and white wines from around the world, starting from £4 per glass or £16.50 per bottle, as well as a selection of beers that include Pistonhead, Hells Lager, Camden Pale Ale, Brooklyn Lager, Old Engine Oil and more. With just Old Mout and Kopparberg available, the cider selection leaves a lot to be desired…but a short but well thought out cocktail list more than makes up for it.
Food-wise, the evenings offer a bowl, bread and drink deal for £10: when I visited there was just one meal option (stout beef stew), served with house-baked bread plus beer, wine or a soft drink. I was told that before too long there will be two options available in the evenings.
Down the line, says Buster, there are also plans afoot for whisky tasting evenings, beer nights, fashion parties and more. It’s certainly an interesting place – I’ll be heading over for a bite to eat in the near future, so keep your eyes peeled for a review!
To find out more about the Ironworks Supply Company, find them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.
Need to try it out 🙂