Hundreds pack opening of Bottelino's in Portishead

 

HUNDREDS of people flocked to Portishead’s new Bottelino’s restaurant for a special opening night party.

People from across the south west packed into the new restaurant on the ground floor of the Mirage Building at Harbour Road on Sunday night.

Celebrities including Eddie Large and Johnny Briggs – aka Mike Baldwin from Coronation Street – were among the revellers.

And what an opening party it was – with live music, fine wines and some of the most delicious food I have ever tasted.

The restaurant is the latest venture for the Botta family which has eight successful Bottelino’s restaurants across the south west.

They have spent £500,000 on transforming the ground floor of the landmark building into a light, airy and contemporary 160-seater restaurant which has stunning views across the marina.

The kitchens are open plan so diners can see their meals - and fresh hand-made pasta - being prepared by a team of top chefs.

Diners tucked into to a delicious range of culinary treats, including lobster, pizza and a range of pizzas and crisp salads.

And the food was mouth-wateringly good.

I was lucky enough to try the lobster and salmon. Cooked to perfection, fresh and utterly delicious.

It was melt in the mouth, quality fayre which I am sure will have customers coming back for more.

Bottelino’s already has a first class reputation and there is no doubt the new Portishead restaurant will continue to strengthen this.

And guests at the party agreed, with all saying they would make a return visit to Portishead’s newest and most vibrant restaurant.

Diner Mike Baker from Portishead said: “I was delighted when I heard Bottelino’s was coming to Portishead.

“It has definetly been worth the wait.

“The restaurant looks amazing and the quality of the food is phenomenal.

“I wasn’t sure what to try first because it was all so delicious.

“I will certainly be making a return visit.”

The restaurant itself is bright and airy and the floor to ceiling glass windows ensure diners have a fantastic view across the marina.

The staff are also attentive and friendly, making sure customers had everything they needed and that plates and tables were cleared quickly.

The Botta family, which has Bottelino's restaurants in Weston-super-Mare, Emersons Green, Bristol, Nailsea, Bath, Broadmead, Cheltenham, Bedminster and Swindon and has been operating since 1978, say they are delighted to open in Portishead.

The restaurant, which has created around 20 new jobs, will open to the public on August 10.

The new restaurant  has created around 20 new jobs and will open from 11.30am to  2.30pm, 5.30pm to 11.30pm and all day on Sundays.

Portishead Town Council chairman, Councillor Reyna Knight, welcomed Bottelino's to the town.

Mrs Knight said: "It's great to see Bottelino's arrive in Portishead.

"People have been waiting for a long time to see the social development of the marina this is another step forward in the overall vision for the marina.

"Bottelino's has had huge success in other towns and is a respected business with a good reputation.

"Having a business of this calibre in Portishead is a real boost for the town."

The restaurant chain has won a number of awards and accolades over the years.

In 2006 and 2007 it was named as Independent Pizza restaurant of the year and in 2008 it won the honour of becoming the Independent Restaurant Chain of the Year.

The Botta family is also looking to expand its restaurants in Taunton and Trowbridge.

For more information log onto www.bottelinos.net