I tried the boozy bottomless brunch at Bristol restaurant Browns and my head was spinning

It’s just after 11am, I’ve already polished off my third cocktail and now I’m eyeing up a fourth. All in the name of forensic research of course.

‘Why don’t you review the new bottomless brunch at Browns’ came the suggestion from the editor, an invitation too tempting to ignore, but I was already starting to wonder what I’d let myself in for.

Especially when the bottomless brunch includes ‘unlimited’ booze and food for £35 per person (or £55 if you’re feeling really extravagant and like Moet & Chandon Imperial Champagne instead).

The cheaper option I went for includes prosecco, Bloody Marys, Bellinis or Aperol Spritz, and they really mean ‘unlimited’ as I soon discovered.

Sticking with Aperol Spritz (Aperol, prosecco and soda), which normally costs £11 each in Browns, I soon realised what a brilliant offer this was.

I’d already consumed £33 worth of cocktails in the first 40 minutes. It’s no wonder most of the guests who rock up to Browns for the bottomless brunches from Friday to Sunday leave much merrier than when they arrive.

I asked the waitress just how merry they get but she was impressively discreet, just saying people always had a good time.

She reassured me that nobody had left via the side door and a waiting ambulance and I’ll believe her.

Originally a museum and library, the Venetian-style Victorian building that houses Browns was once the university refectory and it’s still one of the most sumptuous venues in Bristol with its stone pillars and church-like arches.

The bottomless brunch runs alongside the usual breakfast menu and as it’s served from opening time (Friday 10am and 9am on Saturday and Sunday) through to 2pm, it’s also available when other diners are ordering lunch.

The food on the bottomless brunch menu includes pancetta buttermilk pancakes with maple syrup and salted seed granola; scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on toasted sourdough and chargrilled chicken and bacon club sandwich with beef tomato, hen egg mayo and fries.

I went for the best-selling Browns lobster Benedict, which carries a £5 supplement. OK, there wasn’t a huge amount of lobster meat - it was just half a small tail’s worth - but it tasted sweet and of the sea.

On top of the warm English muffin was a pillow of wilted spinach, two perfectly poached eggs with deep golden yolks and a blanket of rich and buttery hollandaise.

It was a well executed dish that was much more than simply something to soak up the booze.

I was only in Browns an hour and my head was already starting to spin after the third Aperol Spritz and lobster Benedict. Apparently most people stay for twice as long and I can see why. It was a shame I had work to do afterwards or I would have happily outstayed my welcome.

With soft jazz in the background competing with laughter and clinking glasses, it felt as if the party was only just starting. And it still wasn’t even midday.

Browns, 38 Queens Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1RE.