December 2016
southbristolvoice
22
n NEWS Market with Santa appeal FESTIVE spirit will be in the air at dozens of stalls in the BS4 Christmas Market on Sunday December 11 in Wells Road. Gaines grocers has arranged for a choir to sing outside their shop, and Santa’s Grotto will be open to under-12s. There will be mulled wine and mince pies and shops and cafés including St Peter’s Hospice, the Eating Room, the Little Butcher, Totterdown Canteen and Floriography will open from 11am-3pm. • facebook.com/Bs4market
Extravaganza STUDENTS at Bedminster Down school host a Winter Extravaganza on Thursday December 1. They will perform numbers from musicals such as Oliver! Annie; The Sound of Music and more. Dancers and the new Stomp group will also be in action. www.bedminsterdown.com
Landmark café is back in family hands
ONE of South Bristol’s best know cafés is back in its original family ownership. George’s in East Street, Bedminster, is popular not only with local people but with visitors from all over the South West. Owner Vas Soteriou said: “We have had customers coming from Bath, Keynsham, Newport and further afield – some of them spend the day shopping in the city, then come to Bedminster just to eat with us.” George’s was opened in 1970 by Vas’s father in law, George. Many people now address Vas, who took over in 1986, as George, but he doesn’t contradict them. The traditional café has been
Flashback: George’s Restaurant in about 1982 with founder George Zographou, his wife Miriam, and children Eva, Nick and Andrew
run by the family in much the same way for 46 years – except for the the three years until October, when another manager took the lease. Now Vas has reunited many of the original staff, including Kosta the chef and Michelle on serving duties. And customers who have been regulars for decades but may have drifted away in the past three years are
George’s
SERVING SOUTH BRISTOL
starting to return.“A lot of customers said to me that Bedminster wasn’t Bedminster without George’s,” said Vas. Asked the secret of such a large and loyal following, he said: “The only secret is hard work. Independent restaurants can do well if the owners are prepared to put in the hard work.” He’s also careful not to stray from the traditional English café menu which – like the portion sizes – is huge. There are almost 50 main dishes, not counting the sandwiches and children’s meals. Everything, including the chips, is made fresh. The coleslaw is made to a secret recipe and another popular accompaniment is the gravy – “People think that there’s a special secret to that too, but there isn’t!” said Vas.
SINCE 1970
The original George’s is back! Now supervised once more by the founding family • Same great menu – almost 50 main courses • Everything cooked fresh – including chips • Omelettes, steaks, breakfasts, sandwiches • Children’s meals and snacks
Chef Kosta, owner Vas and server Livia welcome you
• Sunday roast served Sundays 11am-4pm
• Have you tried our secret coleslaw recipe? • Always a welcome to friends old and new
OPEN Monday-Saturday 8am to 5.30 pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm 111 East St, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4EX To advertise, contact sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or Ruth on 07590 527664