New restaurant opens with 'best shisha garden' in Bristol

A new restaurant with a non-alcoholic bar and shisha garden has opened in Bristol.

Clifton Palms, on Oakfield Place just off St Paul’s Road in Clifton, has been opened by a group of six former school friends.  

Co-owner and manager Farooq Siddique says the business, which is behind OYO the Regency hotel, offers the ‘best shisha in the city'.    

He told BristolWorld: "We wanted to create an environment where people can go with their families and where young people can enjoy quality shisha.

“What we're aiming to provide is a shisha environment where the standard is that it’s the best shisha they’ve had in the city, beating all the over places.

“The shisha itself is state-of-the-art, no-expense-spared. Everybody’s that come here is bringing back more and more people, it's becoming the new place to hang out."

Siddique, who’s from Easton, is a former government advisor and Muslim community leader. 

Clifton Palms is the 55-year-old’s first venture into the restaurant and hospitality industry.

The restaurant has a bar but does not serve alcohol, with Siddique saying he wants to create “a buzz without the booze”. 

He added: “There’s no shisha bars around here and a really good student population. They love alcohol but we will try to wean them off it and get them to focus on their studies!  

“We want to catch in on the sobriety trend and we want to hit the crest of the wave on it, we’re trying to create a new market."  

The restaurant has a fusion menu, including burgers (from £15), steaks (from £22) and skewers (£19) for mains, with plans to adapt this overtime.  

It is currently open 4-11pm but there are plans to eventually open 8am-12am, serving all-day breakfasts.

Clifton Palms, 42-44 St Paul's Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1LR.