On Saturday afternoon, Sue wanted to go to have a look at the new Lakeshore development at Hartcliffe, built in the old Imperial Tobacco Head Office building. We both worked there back in the 80's and so it held a special interest for us.
The web site sales blurb says:
Lakeshore, Crox Bottom, Bristol, is a unique development of eco homes sitting over its own lake, offering studio, one and two bedroom apartments. The Grade II Listed building, former home of Imperial Tobacco, has 10 acres of green space, and numerous great eco features.
You can check it out here:
http://www.urbansplash.co.uk/residential/lakeshore
When we arrived we found it all locked up and deserted, so we could have had a wasted journey.
However, undeterred, we decided to press on and head for Chew Valley Lake via Dundry. The drive up Dundry Hill played havoc with my hearing as my ears were still full of fluid following a recent cold (Probably too much information there).
We ended up at the Blue Bowl at West Harptree.
The car park was packed, as was the pub and restaurant area. Surprising for a Saturday lunchtime we thought. Everyone was eating and the meals looked enormous and very nice. There was also a large party of children, presumably celebrating a birthday.
We ordered a diet tonic for Sue and a full fat coke for me and sat in a remote, quiet part of the pub. This area was inhabited by just a few older people, who we guessed were regulars. There was a large fish tank in the room full with a variety of species of aquatic life. We looked at the menu.
One of the children from the party came to look at the fish, accompanied presumably by his father who proved to be ineffective in controlling his offspring. The kid shrieked with excitement at the top of his voice and banged on the side of the fish tank. This sent the fish scurrying in all directions which made him scream even louder. He continued in this way despite his father's protestations, until he was thankfully returned to the rest of the party. If only the drive up Dundry could have dulled my hearing even more.
We ordered a jacket potato with cheese and beans for Sue and a broccoli and stilton soup with crusty baguette for me. Both meals were superb. Made a mental note to return.
Afterwards we headed back to Bradley Stoke stopping off at the Mall on the way for Sue to visit Monsoon. Later that evening we were off out to the Taj Brasserie in Winterbourne to celebrate Howard's birthday with a curry and a few pints of Kingfisher.
Howard's birthday was on Thursday 1st March and as a surprise, Sara came home from Uni for the weekend and Suzanne had booked a table for 8 of us at the Taj Brasserie for 8:30 pm. Sue and I and Sam and Gemma arrived in the car park at 8:20 as it was a surprise for Howard that we were going. Or maybe not.
Over the last few months, Sue and I have made friends with Rupee, one of the waiters. He says we are now his sister and brother.
We all had a good time.
Following up regarding the Lakeshore development, I discovered this on the interweb:
'More than 400 people who put a deposit on a new flat at the former Imperial Tobacco factory face waiting another year to move in.
Buyers who deposited tens of thousands of pounds with developer Urban Splash for flats at the Lake Shore project in Hartcliffe fear they may lose their money after the firm hit financial difficulties.'
This could explain why the Lakeshore site was closed on Saturday afternoon.
