Family-owned restaurant Aqua has announced it will be opening a new restaurant concept in Clifton. Aqua Grand Café is launching at the restaurant group's existing site on Whiteladies Road next month.
The first Aqua restaurant was founded in Bristol in 1998 by proprietor Richard Smithson and remains an independent family business. His son and restaurant manager, Ben Smithson, has said the group is promising something "new, exciting and very special" in Bristol, and bringing back some classic dishes to the menu.
In a video shared on the restaurant's Instagram page, Mr Smithson said: "It's a pleasure to bring this new restaurant, this new concept the grand café, to you. We're going to be opening on February 6. It's going to be an exquisite restaurant, a real experience - something I'm very excited and passionate to show you all. I'm looking forward to it, I hope you are too."
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Work is currently underway to transform the site into a grand café. The former restaurant on Whiteladies Road was known for its brunch and a la carte menus, offering pasta, pizza and nibbles. It is not yet clear what the menu will consist of for the new concept.
At its peak, the group formerly known as Aqua Italia had seven restaurants across the South of England. It closed three sites in 2019 in Lewes, Worthing and Milton Keynes. In 2018 there was national debate about tipping policy at restaurants following a Bristol Live article about Aqua.
The Clifton restaurant is taking bookings now for February 6 onwards through its website.
Aqua Grand Café is located at 153 Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2RF
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