The Bristol guide to Dry January

We love Wilsons not only for the fact that the team grows its own produce for the weekly changing menu paired with natural and biodynamic wines, but also because of the homemade non-alcoholic drinks. Using herbs, fruit and flowers to create delicious drinks, this independent, intimate eatery is a brilliant venue for a stunning sober lunch.

A stunning venue spread over four floors, The Milk Thistle is a brilliant bar with an extensive menu offering the option for any of the award-winning cocktails to be turned into a mocktail. The venue features bars, private function rooms and dining areas, making it an ideal venue for a special family occasion or big event.

Bristol Beer Factory is an epic venue serving both cracking alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Our preferred alcohol-free IPA is the 0.5% ABV Clear Head, with 5% of total sales being donated to Talk Club meaning you can enjoy the social and support a good cause without a hangover all in one go!

We love this sophisticated and classy Clifton Village venue. Known for its champagne breakfasts, stunning afternoon teas and cocktails, we also wanted to let you know about The Ivy’s brilliant mocktail menu using non-alcoholic spirits, meaning you can enjoy all the flavour without any of the alcohol. Stunning.

Offering cracking Sunday roasts, affordable lunch menus and live sport, Racks is a great Clifton venue for a relaxed weekend afternoon enjoying a non-alcoholic pint or mocktail. Serving the ever popular Clear Head from Bristol Beer Factory, we love how Racks supports the local community by offering local produce.

The Strawberry Thief is an award -winning beer bar in Bristol that features an ever growing selection of low and no alcohol beers and ciders. You can also find a menu serving hearty plates inspired by the European classics, including Holstein Chicken Schnitzel, Giant Pretzel, Stoofvlees, Stuffed Squash, and Carbonnade de Legume.

Bar 44 not only boasts a combination of seasonal dishes, made with some of the finest ingredients from both Spain and the UK, but it’s also got a pretty banging mocktail menu! This a fantastic combination because it means you can have a great night out with your friends and family, enjoying each other’s company over some delicious tapas, minus the hangover the following day. The mocktail menu includes a G&T Total, an Elderberry Sling, a Ginger & Grapefruit Mojito and a Cucumber & Rosemary Collins.

Turtle Bay is well worth considering if you want great food, a cracking mocktail and vibes. The food is inspired by the laid back beach shacks and street vendors of the Caribbean, so you can expect fragrant jerk marinades and slowly simmered curries. Yum. You can wash these flavours down with tasty mocktails, which include a Virgin Kolada, Virgin Passion Punch and Virgin Raspberry Reggae. There’s also a fantastic selection of ‘Homemade Softs’, which range from Watermelon Slush to Pineappleade and Fizzy Mango.

Fancy a cheeky little date night in Dry January? We’ve got just the place. Hyde & Co is one of Bristol’s original speakeasy cocktail bars and is a must-visit. Hidden in plain sight, just off Clifton Triangle, the creative cocktails, exceptional customer service and unique atmosphere has won this place numerous awards. Some of the cocktails on the menu can be made without alcohol using Lyre’s Non Alcoholic Spirits. These include the Stolen Rose, made with cardamom, lime and rose, and the Midnight Dancer, made with orange, rosemary, gentian and soda.

Want great tasting food to distract you this Dry January? Then consider It’s Not Hotpot, a place on Bristol’s Harbourside offering a wonderful new style of eating in the city. There are various tastes for you to explore: start by choosing a soup base for your hotpot (we love the Chonqing Spicy Butter Pot), and then choose from meats, seafood, handmade balls with different fillings, vegetables, mushrooms and more! Better yet, there’s a great selection of soft drinks available, from jasmine tea to iced tea, plum juice, aloe vera, coconut milk and more. This is also a solid option if you’re vegetarian or gluten-free.