The Atrium, Bristol

Official site of The Atrium - www.theatriumnailsea.co.uk

Official site of The Atrium - www.theatriumnailsea.co.uk

This was fairly short lived in it’s previous guise and has now changed hands yet again and this time it has a completely different name. Farrell’s has been established as a restaurant in Keynsham for some time and they also added a Portishead branch a year or so ago. Obviously things are going well and they are now in Nailsea as well although here it has retained it’s drinking credentials besides offering restaurant style food. The interior doesn’t appear to have changed that much from my previous visit, although I did notice that the exposed brickwork has now been painted, in some cases in a blue/grey colour and a pale purple elsewhere. The plasma at the end has been replaced with a gilt framed mirror and there is a selection of cakes on the bar. The original half of the pub still seems very much focused on drinkers and only a minority of punters were eating, creating a busy and buzzy atmosphere and Irish music is on once a month and I may well return and check this out. The conservatory area meanwhile looks to be much more dining orientated. The theme of the menu is Irish/Italian and it offered a concise choice with six or eight options for each course. My starter of Scallops with Irish Black Pudding on a bed of Cauliflower Puree was a very good dish as was a main course of Pork Belly. Prices are very much more restaurant like than pub like though, with most of the main courses being in the £15 - £20 range. You get what you pay for though, and I thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely return. The solitary beer on tap was Butcombe, whilst ciders were Thatcher’s Gold and Ashton Press. All in all I really liked this and hope they make a success of a their new venture, but if you’re after something a bit more “pubby” then it may not be quite for you.