If Bristol Culture was a bit more like Heat magazine, and boy do we aspire to reach those giddy heights, we might have a Spotted section. And in that section we might include celebrities spotted around the city. I already have two (NB Justin Lee Collins spots do not count): Marc Warren from Hustle and Band of Brothers jogging through Castle Park, and former Doctor Who and Withnail and I star Paul McGann filling up his sports car in the garage on Blackboy Hill.
Yesterday, I got a third: Bristol comedy kingpin Mark Olver walking into Grounded café in Redfield, walking out again, walking in again five minutes later and then kindly returning a walking stick to an old man who had dropped it on the floor. Okay, even Olver wouldn’t consider himself a celebrity, and this is Bristol not Primrose Hill.
But Olver, as well as being a very funny man, and the genial host of most of Bristol’s best comedy events, has a fine taste in cafés. Ever since discovering it, Grounded has been one of my favourite cafés in Bristol.
Marooned among nail bars and discount supermarkets, Grounded is quite a find. When I first started visiting two years ago, it was all about their coffee and brownies. For me, it still is, but now the owners have branched out into more food and evening openings in their now licensed premises with stone-baked pizzas a speciality (the cheapest option is £7.25 for a 12″ margarita, the most expensive £14.25 with Italian pepperoni and all the trimmings) and occasional live music.
Grounded has an exposed wooden floor, two comfy sofas in the front window, a lovely little garden out the back, art for sale on the walls and newspapers to read by the bar, next to the delicious cakes and brownies (£1.95 for the choc chip), including an amazing meringue cheese cake brownie and sticky toffee pudding. As I was there, one of the staff was writing the day’s new special on the board: gammon steak with spicy potato wedges and avocado and mango salsa (£6.95).
When I told a friend who has lived in Bristol for two years that I had just been to Redfield, she didn’t know where it was. If you don’t, get out your A to Z and pay Grounded a visit, you never know who you might spot.
Large latte: £2.40
Grounded, 287 Church Road, Redfield. 0117 955 5668.
Oh dear. Cafe Grounded is a favourite of mine as well, but I’m a little hurt to be described as an old man! I’m Mark’s dad, and yes I do feel old as he’s my youngest but, apart from the walking stick, I still have most of my own teeth and some of my hair!
Is Mark from Brislington not Bristol proper? Umpire’s decision required, Mr Olver!
Bizarrely enough I saw Grounded for the first time today whilst trapped on a slow moving 75. It inspired me to start a ‘Names That Are Puns’ picture blog post category.
He was born in the old BMH, which I think makes him a true Bristolian.
@BristleKRS – i think there is another on bedminster parade (which you would have seen from the 75) havent tried it yet. I also think there might be one in downend or somewhere else.
I hope we get a few more nice places like this up the church road. i live up on clouds hill aside from this and the park there is nothing you can really walk to locally, but lots of young people around who have bought houses and would easily fill up a few more of these types of places
There is a Grounded in Bedminster, its at 66-68 Bedminster Parade opposite the library. There’s definitely not one in Downend – thats a very poor imitation and now called Ground after we had words!!
Watch out for the new Grounded next year!!
That’s so funny! Might be moving to Redfield in the summer, maybe see you there.