‘Strawberry Thief’ is one of William Morris’ most enduring patterns. And, originally made at the Edward Everard building in Bristol, still adorns the walls of this Broad Street bar around the corner—also called The Strawberry Thief, or it was… Because this award-winning beer bar has changed its name to Froth & Fries.
“Sounds like a dog trying to say ‘sausages’,” someone said on Reddit, and I can’t shake that thought out of my head now. It’s proven to be a controversial move across social media (and we can only assume offline too). With one person saying it “sounds like a stag and hen venue,” and others describing it as “awful”, “terrible”, and a “gimmick”.
Still, while the name has changed, its owners promise “the soul hasn’t.” The Strawberry Thief built an award-winning reputation as a Belgian beer specialist. And that’s not changing. Choose from a rotating selection of classic and rare bottles (served in their proper glassware), as well as local favourites on tap—including IPAs, lagers, and stouts.
“I’m happy to report that I’ve visited since the name change, and there’s still the same excellent selection of Belgian beers, a good food offering, and friendly, attentive staff,” said Kevin Moseley on Facebook. “Personally, I preferred the old name, but please don’t let the title of the business put you off from the good things it offers!”
Beer not your thing? You’ll also find a carefully handpicked selection of wines, as well as small-batch rums, artisanal gins, smooth whiskies, and premium vodkas. Plus, there are plenty of food options to choose from, “rooted in European culinary traditions,” with a menu that includes everything from classic burgers to Flemish beef stew (stoofvlees), and desserts like chocolate torte, cheesecake, and panna cotta.
Another cornerstone of Froth & Fries, as it was The Strawberry Thief, is the crispy and golden, triple-cooked fries, too. You may recognise them more as ‘chips’, mind, but they still taste great and that’s all that matters—and they match perfectly with a Belgian beer, of course. To learn more about Froth & Fries head here.