Josh and Holly Eggleton’s Pony Bistro to close its doors

By Joe Lutrario

- Last updated on GMT

Josh and Holly Eggleton’s Pony Bistro restaurant in Bedminster to close its doors

Related tags Josh eggleton Bristol London Chefs Holly Eggleton The Pony Chew Valley

Josh and Holly Eggleton’s Pony Bistro restaurant in the Bristol suburb of Bedminster will close its doors at the end of the year to allow the siblings to focus on the upcoming relaunch of their Chew Valley flagship The Pony and Trap as the Pony Chew Valley.

Located within Bristol Beer Factory on North Street, the site opened in May 2021 immediately after Covid indoor-restrictions on hospitality were lifted. 

Offering a keenly-priced-yet-ambitious set menu, the restaurant was well-received and the pair have teased that it ‘will be back’. 

The final few months at the Pony Bistro will see the venue going out with a bang, the duo say.

Following the success of its monthly Sunday lunch specials, the Pony Bistro will be open every Sunday for a Roast menu from now until it closes. 

The venue will also launch a two course dinner menu for £28 served between 5.30pm and 7pm to complement its four-course £43 bistro menu. 

Lunchtimes, meanwhile, will see the continuation of the individually priced Small Plates menu. 

"The modern British restaurant was an opportunity which presented itself out of the blue, we were really excited by the project and we simply had to do it," Holly explains. "The timing couldn’t have been better – we knew we were going to embark on the refurbishment of the Pony Chew Valley at this point, so it ensured we could keep our entire Pony team in a job in the interim."

Josh adds: "For us Pony Bistro represents a few things: a fun pop-up project, a chance to have a restaurant in Bristol, and the ability to create a space that is more modern, which is reflected in both the menu and atmosphere. Where it was similar to the Pony Chew Valley was its dedication to celebrate its surroundings; the Pony Chew Valley celebrates the beautiful landscape that surrounds it, while Pony Bistro champions the city, particularly the music and art scene synonymous with Bristol."

"Where the Ponies converge is the dedication to source and serve outstanding local produce which we fill both our food and drink menus with. Our time at the Bistro ending is bittersweet, but there are still a few months in which guests can come and enjoy lunch or dinner with us."

Earlier this month, the pair launched a crowdfund to support the opening of The Pony Chew Valley ahead of its autumn launch.

The new venture is located on the site of the family’s highly-rated gastropub The Pony and Trap, which closed in 2020 to make way for the new project. 

The money will be used to help finish the site’s complete refurbishment into a ‘produce-led restaurant, event venue, cookery school and kitchen garden’.

The Eggleton's are amongst Bristol's most prominent operators, running a string of venues including the vegetable-focused Root, two Salt & Malt fish and chip restaurants, the Kensington Arms in Redland, a high-profile food festival and numerous charity-led projects. 

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