If you’re a MEATliquor fan, get yourself down to Stokes Croft before 8pm on Sunday, October 22nd, as that’s when they’ll be closing their doors for the final time.
In a statement sent out via email and shared on their Facebook page, MEATliquor Bristol give their reasons for closing as follows:
Almost two years to the day since we opened, it’s with a heavy heart that we have to announce MEATliquor Bristol, 77 Stokes Croft, will close for business on Sunday 22nd October. Our decision has not been an easy one, but after a series of incidents, both in the local area and in the restaurant itself, we have decided to put the safety of our staff first, something which is of paramount importance to us. We still adore Bristol, and will be actively looking for another site. Watch this space…
We have thoroughly enjoyed our time here, and would like to thank all of our amazing customers and the local businesses who have joined us for the ride.
Comments on their Facebook post announcing the decision range from shock and sadness to cynicism. Some suggest that opening a meat-focused restaurant in an area like Stokes Croft may have been the real issue, while others suggest that the restaurant simply didn’t have enough custom to keep it going.
With restaurants such as Poco, Zitto & Bevi and The Canteen flourishing in the area – and with Jamaica Street Stores having recently opened just around the corner to great acclaim – it seems surprising that the area is being blamed. MEATliquor’s TripAdvisor ratings give them a middle-of-the-road score of 3.5, and when we visited back in November 2015, we were impressed with the burgers, but the sides let the meal down.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens next for MEATliquor Bristol – and whether their dreams of a new site elsewhere in the city are realised in the future.