Harveys Cellars opens from January 2012 in Bristol

08/01/2012

Categories: Official press releases

The world famous HarveysCellars is set to reopen as an up-market, contemporarywine, sherry and cocktail lounge, in the former home and birthplace of Harveys Bristol Cream Sherry.

• Location:
  12, Denmark St, Bristol, BS1 5DQ 
  www.harveyscellars.co.uk
• Opening date: Monday January 9th, 2012
• VIP launch event: Thursday January 19^th 2012 (invitation only)

The former Harveys restaurant, which held a coveted Michelin star for many years, has been bought by property developer Clinton Mcleary, with the aim of bringing sherry back to Denmark St and tapping into the current vogue of people enjoying sherry again, both straight and mixed in various cocktails.

Clinton and office manager Claire Judd have created an upmarket bar where fine sherries from Harveys, including the VORS range, will be served with tapas dishes that have been specifically devised to complement them.

The new venture is expected to be a big hit with the local business market and theatre crowd who want something individual and stylish, and with tourists who are interested in the History of Harveys.

Bristol businessman Clinton knew immediately that this historic site was right for his business and he and Claire have spent the last 6 months bringing the building back to life and researching the Harveys heritage.

The original Harveys restaurant was designed by Sir Terrance Conran in 1961 and featured simply-painted brick walls and Hans Wenger furniture. Along with the museum, Harveys was a Bristol ‘destination’ for sherry lovers, foodies and tourists for over 40 years.

Harveys Cellars retains much of the 1960’s feel along with modern furnishings and a new ‘island’ bar, a separate VIP area, music room and a small room which can be available for private meetings.

Harveys posters and advertisements from the past 40 years decorate the walls, and large sherry barrels have been made into tables for guests to sit.

The content of the original Harveys museum was sold off in 2003 and the collection dispersed, however there will be a small museum of Harveys memorabilia. Clinton and Claire have scoured the internet in order to trace original items which have been bought or borrowed from private collectors to create the new museum area. They have even found the original baby grand piano that once entertained diners and which now has pride of place in the new music room.

They also hope, in time, to be able to expose parts of the building that have been bricked up since the Second World War and which are believed to lead to the original tunnels that once ran from Harveys’ cellars to the dockside on St Augustine’s Reach. In the meantime, bespoke trompe l’oeil panels have been commissioned from a local artist in order to re-create some of the atmosphere from days gone by when barrels were pushed along the tunnels from the docks to Denmark St and back.

The heritage of the brand and the site should mean that Harveys Cellars will be a great attraction for tourists to Bristol, being also just few steps away from the historic Harbourside.

Claire Judd said: “Interest in Harveys is huge both here and across the world and there is a big tourist trade that we are hoping to tap into. We are always getting people popping in to see what we are up to and there is a lot of interest in the brand. I am feeling very confident about the project."

Learn more about the history of Harveys Bristol Cream and the former Harveys Restaurant

For high resolution images and media details, contact  jessica.mcdonald@destinationbristol.co.uk or dial +44(0)117 230 9461.

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