Food and Drink May 14, 2010
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Bristol
Thekla Social
Location: The Grove, East Mud Dock, Bristol, BS1 4RB [map]
Phone: 0845 206 1394
Open: Mon-Sat noon-7.30pm; Sun 11am-5pm
Website: www.theklasocial.com

If cultural institutions were graded by the fondness they engender from their clientele, Thekla would surely be Bristol’s number one. Generations of people have tales to tell of raucus nights out on the floating nightclub, dancing, socialising and listening to dynamic live music.

Thekla has been totally revamped with cutting edge design and sympathetic maritime styling.

Don’t worry, Thekla’s heart and soul are most definitely intact with gigs and club nights a-plenty (it’s also available for private hire). There are DJs upstairs throughout the week and during the day on Sunday who perform to a cool, chilled, mixed-age bunch, there to make the most of the friendly atmosphere. Come evening time though, the mood cranks up several notches and is hectic, vibrant and fun.

But you may have noticed that the Thekla is not just the plain old Thekla any more – it’s the Thekla Social. This slight shift of focus now takes in a wood-lined bar on the top deck that also serves as a surprisingly comfortable restaurant seating area, with old-fashioned jukebox to boot. Large windows give fantastic views over the comings and goings of harbour life and the pastel painted Georgian houses opposite. The adjoining terrace is an ideal summer suntrap and is heated during the winter. Extra details such as newspapers on Sundays, board games and free wireless internet all help to make Thekla Social the perfect place for work, relaxation or play.

Top local chefs are now installed in the kitchen and are serving up some excellent locally-sourced and often organic food. From all day weekend breakfasts and sandwiches to à la carte dishes (a wonderfully homely beef stew, for example) and simply delicious Sunday roasts, you’ll find yourself planning what to order next time you come. If you fancy something light, there’s a good choice of tapas and salads too.

The puddings are all so lip-smackingly good it would be hard to choose between them, but if pushed the banoffee pie (fresh bananas and cream with a ginger biscuit and chocolate chip base) wins by a whisker.

There are some great deals at the bar between 5pm and 7pm Monday to Friday and 11am-7pm on Sunday when selected beers are £1.50 a pint, single shots of spirits and a mixer £1.50 and cocktails are two for one.

With its excellent food, well stocked bar and busy events calendar, the Thekla Social really does have it all under one distinctive boat-shaped roof.


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