Charmed as always by The Beckford Bottle Shop
Towards the top end of town – favoured by locals and free from the hustle and bustle of Bath’s tourist trail – The Beckford Bottle Shop couldn’t be better situated. My first visit was on a particularly sunny summer’s day two years back. I recall fond memories of sitting at one of their terrace tables drinking sparkling wine from chic coupe glasses. Part wine shop, part bistro, it’s an incredibly charming place that’ll have you hooked and booking a table every time you’re back in Bath. At least, that’s been my experience…
The seasonal menu is designed for sharing, which bodes well because there’s plenty to pique interest. Starting with one of their cheese boards – their selection comes from The Fine Cheese Company, which is just down the road – I opted for the Gouda and Nababbo. These came served alongside crackers and a dollop of a chutney so good I wished I could take a jar home. Of course, I couldn’t go without ordering one of the menu’s staple dishes – rich but light Bath chaps with Bramley apple sauce.
Isle of Wight Heirloom tomatoes with goat’s curd came next – the sweet tomatoes, unctuous goat’s curd and the fresh oil were a summer’s harmony. The cured chalk stream trout with fennel and confit garlic purée was my particular favourite dish. The delicate taste of the trout and the punchy flavour of the fennel paired brilliantly.
All of this, washed down with a bottle of crisp Italian rosé, made for a blissful lunch and a bright respite from the rather dreary day outside. So much so, that by the time I was heading back out of the door, the rain had stopped and the clouds had started to clear…
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After my visit, I spoke with General Manager, Gemma to find out a bit more about The Beckford Bottle shop and its menu…
It would be great to hear more about The Beckford Bottle Shop and how the idea behind it came to life…
“The Beckford Group had been up and running for many years before the bottle shop came to life. Inspired by a French cave à vin, our wine shop and bistro work collaboratively, embodying the same genuine and approachable style of hospitality shown by our sister pubs. We offer incredible wine, delicious food and a warm welcome. Whether it’s your first or thousandth visit, we aim to make every experience enjoyable and memorable.”
Your menu is really inventive – what are your main influences when shaping it?
“We are very fortunate to have a brigade of experienced, passionate and creative chefs working with us. Their main influences stem largely from their personal passions for local and seasonal produce, hence why you will often see foraged, preserved or pickled items on the menu. Ultimately though, it all comes down to simplicity; we allow the best available ingredients to speak for themselves. Clean flavours, deliberately cooked.”
Wine is, of course, a very central part of The Beckford Bottle Shop. Does your wine selection shape the dishes you offer, and/or vice versa?
“We have a very dynamic and varied range of wines in our wine shop. Most of the wines are very food friendly and will match well with a whole host of dishes. We are always keen to introduce our guests to new and different styles of wine and we find that the opportunity to sit down and try a glass alongside some small plates allows people to engage with wines that otherwise might be out of their comfort zone. Our staff are very good at encouraging this too!
We also run a host of dinners and tastings in which we pair food from the kitchen team with specific wines based either on a region or an individual winery. This allows the kitchen to really branch out with creative dishes and interesting pairings.”
