Wilson’s in Redland has truly taken the farm-to-table ethos to new heights. Every vegetable, fruit and herb at the Michelin Green Star restaurant is grown at its ‘no dig’ farm – located only five miles away. Co-founders Mary Wilson and Jan Ostle source everything else from local producers using ethical and low-impact methods. (It’s also one of Bristol’s best restaurants.)
Going the extra mile is what many have come to expect from fine dining restaurants though. But what about a bakery? Well, this farm-to-table ethos is extended to the newly opened Wilson’s Bread Shop too. After a soft launch last Autumn, the bread shop is now fully up and running. Selling some of the best fresh produce for miles around.
Sat two doors down from the main restaurant in a small corner shop, Wilson’s Bread Shop sits in a building used as a bakery for over 100 years. Eagle-eyed visitors will spot a large HOVIS sign hanging outside. So the pressure is on to impress. Selling plenty of home-baked bread, patisserie and desserts and hot drinks, it more than does! Plus you’ll more than likely find plenty of surplus homegrown fruit and vegetables from the Wilson’s Market Garden too.
“Mary and I knew that Wilson’s was growing in size and ambition, but didn’t want to change the neighbourhood feel of the restaurant,” said co-founder Jan. “Having so much incredible food growing on the farm, we wanted our community to be able to access the produce we grow – to take it home and create their own dishes from it.”
Open only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Wilson’s Bread Shop has also nailed the weekend hangover cure (in our eyes). First, get yourself a Koji bacon roll using bacon cured in-house – making it maybe the best bacon sarnie in Bristol – then order a Bloody Mary made with mezcal and fermented home-grown tomatoes. If that doesn’t take the edge off, nothing will.
Locals to the bakery will also be able to pick up a range of warm weekend loaves including sourdough bread baked with WildFarmed regenerative flour, two-day proved slabs of focaccia and Icelandic-style rye bread. For a small treat, grab one of Wilson’s special rum-spiked Canelés de Bordeaux (a small French pastry). To learn more about Wilson’s Bread Shop head here.