The Architect, Bath

A recent opening on the site of a former Garfunkel’s restaurant, this is still very much a food led establishment with a large, high-ceilinged dining room, but there is nonetheless a bar area with a surprisingly good selection of real ale for such an establishment, as well as a small terrace with views across to the abbey. It appears that no expense had been spared on the refurbishment and the whole place has a very elegant feel to it. The entrance vestibule leads you in to a small lounge area with some seating off to the right, whilst the bar is beyond this to the left. Large arched windows let in plenty of light and the traditional wooden bat counter supports decent array of beer engines as well as keg fonts with a large selection of spirits on the shelves behind being bookended by wine racks. Beyond this is the dining room which is really quite enormous. Décor is broadly similar throughout with dark wood strip on the floor, a mixture of royal blue and pale green paint on the walls with painted wood panelling on the lower part, and all manner of pictures including old black and white photographs and old maps of the locale, portraits, old advertising prints for such random companies as Linton’s and Raleigh as well as Bath itself. Lighting was large chandeliers supplemented by ornate globe lamps and the whole feeling was of rather elegant splendour, which is perhaps appropriate given it’s location and history, having started it’s life as an upmarket hotel). The menu offered a decent selection of dishes with options such as fish pie, sausage and mash, fish & chips, etc., as well as a few more adventurous options with most of the main courses coming in somewhere around the £16 mark. My smoked haddock and salmon fishcake with poached egg and heritage tomatoes was a decent and tasty dish, and I’d happily return to try something else. Beers on tap were Bath Ales’ Red IPA and Gem, Proper Job, Butcombe Gold and Brunning & Price’s Traditional Bitter. Cider’s meanwhile were Honey’s Midford and Thatcher’s Gold. Overall, whilst this certainly isn’t the cosy, traditional style of pub that I usually go for, I quite liked it here with it’s refined ambience, decent food and friendly service and it’s good to see that they have made something of an effort with the drink selection too.

Official site of The Architect - www.brunningandprice.co.uk

Official site of The Architect - www.brunningandprice.co.uk