What a fascinating place Paintworks is. ‘Bristol’s creative quarter’ contains an eclectic mix of creative types in a regenerated site just off the Bath Road. It has a wonderful variety of businesses in beautifully designed surroundings, with furniture makers next to publishers, photographers next to website designers.

Towards the Brislington side of Paintworks is the Endemol studios where Deal Or No Deal among is filmed. I have yet to bump into Noel Edmonds (left) in Bocabar, the large bar and restaurant near the entrance to the Paintworks site, but he is a regular visitor.

There cannot be too many trendier bars in Bristol than Bocabar, nor ones that fulfil such a variety of functions. By day it is a restaurant and cafe, frequented by creative types who work at Paintworks, hip young Totterdown residents, and mothers with babies. By night, it is a hugely popular bar, with live music and DJs.

The huge glitterball hanging from the centre of the ceiling is a reminder of what the bar transforms into when the sun sets, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. It is also ideal for large private parties, with a few 40th birthday balloons from a recent soiree hovering above my head when I visited.

Bocabar is a very light and airy building, with plenty of windows in the exposed brick walls and large skylights in the ceiling that is criss-crossed with metal girders. All the artwork on the walls is for sale, and flyers scattered about advertise the numerous events happening at Paintworks, such as food festivals and art markets.

There is a large salad bar during the day, and a specials board which last Thursday lunchtime had cauliflower, carrot, green beans and stilton soup (£4.25), burger (£7.50), organic pork belly (£8.95) and baked goat’s cheese (£8.95).

The drinks selection is so varied that it fits onto two sides of laminated A3. There are seven reds, seven whites, four roses and seven sparkling varieties, including Organic Pig sparkling cider (£20 for a bottle).

Pints of draught beer are on the expensive side, but there is once again a great choice, including Asahi (£3.50) and Zatec (£3.30). Bottled beers come from all over the world. The cheapest is Tsingtao from China (£3.25) while the most expensive is the Belgian Duvel, costing a whopping £4.50. There are also Addlestones and Orchard Pig cider on tap and a choice of five bottles.

Then there are the famous Bocabar cocktails and capirinhas, all of which cost £6.50. When I have visited Bocabar during the evening, I have headed straight for the capirinhas, of which there are seven different varieties, all made with tender love and care.

Bocabar’s variety and quirkiness is right at home at Paintworks. Please say hi to Noel if you ever see him propping up the bar.

Bocabar, Unit 3.1, Paintworks, Bath Road, Arnos Vale. 0117 972 8838.

www.bocabar.co.uk