2025 edit: The Old Bookshop is now under new ownership and the name has changed to Lupe Bar & Kitchen.
I headed down to my favourite local Bristol pub, The Old Bookshop to try out their boozy brunch menu – chef Alex Bluett’s delicious breakfasts perfectly paired with Psychopomp Microdistillery cocktails. Be quick if you want to indulge, as the Psychopomp pop up cocktail bar will be no more by the end of May.
On the brunch menu at The Old Bookshop, there are 3 breakfasts and 3 cocktails to choose from. They have made pairing suggestions based on the flavours, but they won’t judge you for veering off course.
I chose the Full English cocktail, which had beautiful, delicate flavours of Earl Grey. It was very refreshing, and subtly sweet. I went along with the pairing suggestion and had it with the Bookshop Fry Up, which I’d had before and therefore couldn’t resist having again – it is the best I’ve ever had.
The quality of the ingredients is evident, there’s a generous helping of kale hidden beneath perfectly poached eggs, and those homemade baked beans are heavenly.
Everyone on my table either went for the fry up, or the smoked haddock kedgeree, which looked very tasty & green. The rice was super creamy – quite different to the usual kedgeree I have – this was much more decadent.
After we’d polished off as much food as our bellies could hold, we decided to try another cocktail, for review purposes only of course, as you have to be professional and get a well-rounded review. Maybe while you’re here, you can read my last review of Alex Bluett’s evening offerings at The Old Bookshop.
I went for the Salty Dog cocktail this time around – mainly for that amazing pale pink colour (an Instagrammer’s dream) and partly out of curiosity about the saltiness. I’m still relatively new to drinks on the savoury side of the spectrum, but I’ve had some that I really like, such as a rosemary G&T, and of course, a Bloody Mary or two.
A warning: do not drink this if you have sore, chapped lips. I learned the hard way that the salted rim will not be your friend. Other than that, it’s delicious – with grapefruit and lemon cutting through the pickle juice and salt.
Tummies full, and rather tipsy, we all parted ways and got on with our Saturdays. I headed into town to meet up with a BFF who was visiting the city. Inevitably, we ended up back in Bedminster, where I was drawn back into The Old Bookshop.
I’d seen Psychopomp’s post on Instagram about Emilio’s quest to make the perfect Bee’s Knees, and I was too intrigued (and too tipsy) to fight the urge. The story involved honey from Hollywood being sent to Paris – you can read more about it here.
Inspired by the romance of it all and the dedication to the cause, I ordered a Bee’s Knees and asked Mim to tell my friend the story behind it. He gladly told it in the animated and excitable way he does, and gave me a very cheery coaster/word of the day along with my cocktail.
Emilio will only be serving up cocktails until the 19th of May – so make sure you head down to try them and the paired brunches ASAP.
Brunch is served Wednesday-Saturday, but the cocktail pairing menu is only available on Saturdays from 11-3, and will set you back £12.50 – bloody bargain, I’d say.
(Please note, The Old Bookshop is now under new ownership – find out more on their new website)
