Tobacco Factory Bar & Restaurant

The Tobacco Factory, in the heart of vibrant Southville, is best known as the home of Bristol's studio theatre, with a Café bar that offers much more than a pre-theatre supper or an interval drink. The Café is hugely popular with students, parents, shoppers and foodies as well as with the theatre crowd. The menu offers a selection of delicious tapas priced from just £2.80. We tried patatas bravas with chorizo - piping-hot roasted new potatoes, seasoned with sea salt and served with spicy Spanish sausage. This was complemented by hot peppers stuffed with feta and ricotta, Serrano ham and marinated artichoke hearts with aioli.

If popping in for something less filling, the 'light' menu comprises soup, mezze, a cheese platter, a lovely selection of salads with plenty of vegetarian options, and a choice of baguettes, paninis and muffins served at lunchtime. The weekday 'crunch lunch' offers a hearty meal for £5, which on our visit was blackbean, chorizo and vegetable hotpot, and main courses, priced from £8, include baked salmon fillet with lemon basmati rice and crisp pan-fried duck breast with plum sauce. A selection of homemade desserts and cakes is available as well as wines by the glass or bottle, and draft and bottled beers and ciders. Thursday night is DJ night, band night is Sunday and a farmers' market visits on Sunday mornings. Whatever your reason for visiting the Tobacco Factory, a friendly welcome and relaxed environment await.