Josh Eggleton's guide to Bristol

Recently named the fifty-seventh best restaurant in the UK despite only being open a short while, Josh’s veg-centric restaurant Root is one of the most exciting places to eat in the city. Originally opened as a chicken restaurant (Chicken Shed), Josh and head chef Rob Howell turned it into somewhere that gives vegetables just as much as attention as fish and meat.

Unit 9, CARGO, Gaol Ferry Steps, Bristol BS1 6WP. eatdrinkbristolfashion.co.uk/root

There are pubs and bars for every kind of occasion all over Bristol, but Corks manages to be both a fantastic wine shop and somewhere you’d like to stop for a quick glass of something tasty. The focus is certainly on wine, but there are plenty of beers and spirits to peruse as well. Try one of the wines by the glass that are on offer whilst you’re there, or pay a small corkage fee to open any of the bottles on sale to drink in the shop or on one of the tables outside (when the sun’s shining).

Josh says: ‘Corks is an independent wine store that’s been going for years in Bristol, and there are another two shops in the city. But when CARGO opened up it was a natural place for a third site as it represents the independent businesses in Bristol. They have such a fantastic range of drinks.’

Unit 6, CARGO, Bristol, BS1 6WP. corksofbristol.com/cargo

Bristol certainly isn’t short of fish and chip shops, but the one that stands out from the crowd is definitely Josh’s own Salt & Malt. Josh’s first job was at a chippy, so it seems fitting that he’s come full-circle and opened his own. Expect incredibly fresh fish and some seriously chunky, proper chip shop chips – the best thing about Salt & Malt’s fish, however, has to be the batter, which Josh says took several years to develop, is gluten-free and is impossibly crunchy and crisp.

Josh says: ‘The part of the harbour where CARGO is now was the last part to be developed. Bristol’s harbour has always been beautiful, but there wasn’t a fish and chip shop here until I opened Salt & Malt. I love fish and chips and get so excited about it, and it’s great seeing people buy it and then sit looking out over the harbour as they open the box.’

CARGO 2, Bristol, BS1 4RN. saltmalt.com

Josh is a pioneer of Bristol’s food scene, but he’s not alone – Peter Sanchez-Iglesias (who went to school with Josh) is at the helm of his own mini-empire, with several restaurants under his belt. The most famous is the Michelin-starred Casamia, which is definitely a special occasion kind of place, but Paco Tapas offers up incredible Spanish tapas with a Michelin star to boot. This is where you’ll find some of the finest cooking in the city.

3A, The General, Lower Guinea Street, Bristol, BS1 6SY. pacotapas.co.uk

There always seems to be an incredible number of coffee shops (both chain and independent) in big cities, but there are always a few that rise to the top to become the best in the area. Emmeline in Stokes Croft is a prime example of this. Named after owner Shona Graham’s niece, it is a bright, airy space serving very good coffee, fresh juices, generously filled sandwiches and the odd house plant. With a focus on local produce, it’s a little oasis to escape to in the midst of a busy city.

A few months ago a car crashed into the front of Emmeline, which means it has to close until structural damage is repaired. The local community rallied around the business, setting up a page where people can donate to cover lost earnings.

Josh says: ‘Shona used to work for me and it was great when she set up Emmeline as her own thing. It’s everything you want from a good café, and it’s a fantastic addition to Stokes Croft.’

116 Cheltenham Road, Bristol, BS6 5RW. facebook.com/emmeline.bristol

When it comes to pubs, you can’t get much better than The Kensington Arms (or ‘The Kenny’ to locals). Josh bought the pub when it was listed for sale as he’d enjoyed drinking in there when he was younger, and naturally he improved the food offering tenfold. It now serves quality beer on cask and keg, and has a relaxed gastropub menu which caters to everyone from foodies to students.

Josh says: ‘As soon as I heard The Kenny was up for sale I was interested. We have some fun in the kitchen, getting guest chefs to hold dinners and try different things, but at the heart of it is just a great pub, whether you want a quick pint or a proper meal.’

35–37 Stanley Road, Bristol, BS6 6NP. thekensingtonarms.co.uk

Every Sunday between 10am and 2.30pm, around forty different traders descend on Bristol’s Tobacco Factory site to create a must-visit market that has a little bit of everything. With a focus on eco-friendly, fair trade and organic produce, it’s a shining example of the city’s dedication to supporting independent businesses and the local economy.

Josh says: ‘You’ve got producers, people making little gifts, bits of furniture, great coffee, fantastic sushi, bread and bakes from Farro Bakery… there’s a bit of everything there.’

Tobacco Factory, Bristol, BS3 1TF. tobaccofactory.com/sunday-market