Beckford Canteen

The Beckford Group, Which has the Beckford Bottle Shop and Beckford Canteen in Bath, as well as a group of pubs across the surrounding southwest region, has announced plans for two small hotels. Speaking to industry journal restaurantonline.co.uk, co-founder Dan Brod said the two ventures will “very much be restaurants as well”. The first will open in the middle of next year and the second towards the end of 2024 (beckford.group).

If you want a conventional meal, it's a short walk to Beckford Canteen. Serving creative modern British dishes, this buzzy restaurant has quickly established itself as one of the top places to dine in Bath.

Highly rated when it opened in 2023, this spinoff from the nearby Beckford Bottle Shop (see also), attractively set in an old greenhouse, attracted a little more criticism this year. Fair to say that all diners continue to rate the food here decently well, but there are more caveats: “want to like it, but was disappointed this time around” is one comment; “poor service let down some reasonably cooking” another. It’s still a “very good favourite” for other diners, though – perhaps these are blips following the departure of launch chef George Barson in February 2024 after a year at the stoves.

Best for: elevated dinner with friendsBest dish to order: lamb rump with salsa verde and wild garlic. Opened in 2022 inside a former Georgian greenhouse, the Beckford Canteen is a two-minute hop down the street from the Beckford Bottle Shop. Its heritage is given a nod via the restaurant's green-hued interiors, from the pea-green booth-style seating and olive green mid-century chairs to the moss green water glasses and wall tiles, the wall adorned with its emerald and forest green signature plates, and the handful of luscious plants hanging from the ceiling.

Also from the team behind Beckford, this old Georgian greenhouse, now a modern British restaurant, sits on a cobbled mews street in the top half of the city and is a true asset to the food scene in Bath. The space is beautiful, bright and airy with elegant touches, like the iconic wall of Majolica plates. The food here is confident and comforting: snacks to start, such as crab potato rosti followed by seasonal stars of asparagus with coddled eggs and anchovies, and for mains, perfectly-cooked meat and fish dishes with a comforting side of mash.

It wasn’t until locals were competing with tourists for a seat at The Beckford Bottle Shop that they knew the secret was out: The shop was so much more than a wine purveyor — it was a spot that served wine and small plates. The group behind the name decided to ride the wave and in 2022, they opened a standalone restaurant, The Beckford Canteen, to much of the same acclaim. A high-ceilinged space in a former Georgian greenhouse, the menu puts a clever riff on English classics: rarebit crumpets, juicy pork loin, and milk and cookies for pudding.

The sister site to James Harris’ wine merchant Beckford Bottle Shop, Beckford Canteen is a restaurant set in a former Georgian greenhouse serving twists on British classics. A seasonal menu currently features the likes of courgettes with pistachio and sheep’s curd, smoked eel with leek and yolk, and plaice with harissa butter, alongside a stellar roast on Sundays. Small dogs are welcome for lunch here, but make sure you put in a request when you make a reservation to ensure there’s a dog-friendly table available.

To be fair, it’s easy to see why Beckford Canteen is enjoying such precocious praise, of being one of the best restaurants in Bath already. First off, the dining room (set in a former Georgian greenhouse) is airy and easy-going, with plenty of window seating for watching the hustle and bustle of Bartlett Street go by. Service here, as with the bottle shop north up Saville Row, is flawless, cheery and mellow, a great encouragement to settle in for the afternoon.

The name Beckford Canteen somewhat belies its approach – it is not democratic, cheap, or communal in the way you’d expect a canteen to be. It is however a gentle nod to the ‘modern British’ genre – that which may originate from somewhere else, but now has a strong local accent, like the ravioli made with UK flour, or the Cornish-caught plaice basted with a Cafe de Paris sauce made with Somerset butter. Good for: Special occasions in Bath.

SquareMeal says: "Taking up residence in an old Georgian greenhouse, Beckford Canteen offers indulgent dining down one of Bath’s cobbled streets. Here, you’ll find reinvented and delicious dishes that pay homage to the south west’s incredible produce.". Locally known as an excellent restaurant, the restaurant has won rave reviews for its range of food choices, atmosphere and staff.

Modern British dining has been having a moment in Bath for a while but it’s been having even more of a moment since Beckford Canteen set up shop in 2022. Housed in a former Georgian greenhouse, the restaurant doesn’t just have heaps of character but has class in spades too. Head chef George Barson has written a menu that’s stuffed to the gills with hard decisions.

Sunday lunch is a popular affair at the stylish Beckford Canteen, where you can book a table or walk in to nab a table in the window. Options include squash pithivier, roast lamb, roast chicken breast or roast beef, all served with greens, cauliflower cheese, confit potatoes and a Yorkshire pudding. Image - Beckford Canteen

Taking up residence in a former Georgian greenhouse, Beckford Canteen embodies a clean and natural environment with plus green leather chairs and window countertops, perfect for people watching as you dine. Ideal for any occasion, whether you're there for a quick lunch catchup or a longer dinner.

AboveSpinach & ricotta ravioli, pea and almond (Instagram: @beckfordcanteen). Cuisine: Modern BritishOrder this: Roast beef or roast chicken breast. “This place is not only in one of the prettiest parts of Bath, but the interior is the perfect setting for a Sunday roast.

Beckford Canteen – nostalgia-inspired modern dishes served in a former Georgian greenhouse. Check out their sister establishment – The Beckford Bottle Shop if you get the chance, which is just further up the street

Aesthetically pleasing set in a former Georgian greenhouse on pretty Bartlett street, Beckford Canteen offers modern and creative British dining in Bath and has fans as famous as Giles Coren for The Times.

This restaurant is set in a former Georgian Greenhouse, a light and airy space. It is simple and beautifully decorated. They offer a wonderful modern and seasonal menu, all beautifully plated.