Food Cultures and Ideas Brought Together
The Granary is an independent Bristol restaurant shaped by food, people and the remarkable building we call home.
Built as a grain store in 1869, our Grade II* listed building is one of Bristol’s finest examples of the Byzantine Revival style. Constantinople – modern-day Istanbul – stood at a meeting point between continents and cultures, where Mediterranean, Persian, Indian and Eastern traditions encountered and influenced one another.
We draw softly on that spirit of exchange: not by trying to recreate one place or period, but by allowing ingredients, flavours, people and ideas to find a new expression together. At The Granary, this becomes seasonal food cooked over fire, served generously and designed to be shared.
Our Food Philosophy
Food takes centre stage. Our menus begin with carefully sourced seasonal ingredients and the elemental techniques of roasting, charring, grilling and slow cooking.
Persian, Mediterranean and Levantine influences bring fragrance, colour and warmth through saffron, sumac, pomegranate, preserved lemon, garlic, herbs and spice. These flavours sit naturally alongside excellent British produce, creating food that is generous, comforting and full of character.
Sharing is central to the experience. Vegetables, meat, fish, flatbreads, rice and vibrant salads arrive at the table to be passed around and enjoyed together.
Architecture and Design
The Granary’s design brings the building’s past into conversation with the present.
Original flagstones, substantial wooden columns and the brickwork of the former grain store sit alongside contemporary colours, reclaimed materials and commissioned artwork.
At the centre of the restaurant is our century-old butcher’s block, carefully restored and transformed into the Chef’s Table – a symbol of preserving something beautifully made, giving it a new purpose and allowing its story to continue.
Reclaimed handmade Moroccan tiles, natural textures and softly layered colours reference the landscapes and cultures that inspire our food. Bespoke murals by Ellen Donohue, woven wall hangings by Honest Weaves, restored furniture by Bristol Upholstery Collective and specialist work by Twist of Somerset bring a local and human quality to the space.
Victory Colours specially developed the eco paint used within The Granary. Women artists, designers and craftspeople were deliberately given opportunities to shape the restaurant; their work forms an important part of its identity.
Ellen Donohue: instagram.com/ellendonohueart
Honest Weaves: instagram.com/honest.weaves
Bristol Upholstery Collective: bristolupholsterycollective.com
Twist of Somerset: twistofsomerset.co.uk
Victory Colours: victorycolours.co.uk
Sustainability and Craft
For us, sustainability begins with valuing what already exists: preserving a historic building, restoring furniture and materials, commissioning local makers and allowing craftsmanship to endure.
We work predominantly with independent producers, growers and makers from Bristol and the South West. Most of our named suppliers are based within 30 miles of the restaurant, complemented by selected West Country dairy and responsibly sourced seasonal seafood from Devon and Cornwall.
Kitchen trimmings can find a second life in stocks, sauces and preserves, while fruit and vegetable offcuts are used in syrups, infusions and cocktails. We separate and recycle waste, convert used cooking oil into biofuel and work with Too Good To Go to reduce avoidable food waste.
We are working towards Green Mark accreditation. Sustainability is an ongoing responsibility rather than a finished claim.