News / Restaurants
Vertical farming at new Gloucester Road restaurant
A new Gloucester Road restaurant is believed to be the first in Bristol to feature a vertical farm on the premises.
The hydroponic ‘v-farm’ at Suncraft, which opened on Thursday, is an innovation which has been developed with the support of Grow Bristol to help create a more sustainable and transparent food system, as well as to spark conversations.
The restaurant is being opened by the team behind The Gallimaufry almost on the other side of the road, with co-owner James Koch looking forward to introducing diners to its pioneering plant-based menu.
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Suncraft’s menu is Asian-inspired and feature sushi rolls, noodle and rice bowls, wraps, salads and sharers, with all ingredients locally sourced. As soon as possible, James and the team also want to be concocting their own pro-biotic yogurts.
The restaurant itself is an unexpected tropical haven, flooded with light and green plants, as well as a garden strung with fairy lights.
In one corner is the v-farm; with elsewhere table tops made from yogurt pots, and wine that flows from boxes.
“This was an idea all of us felt passionately about,” James told Bristol24/7. “It’s a combination of time, ideas and the people involved.”
He added: “I think people are interested in veganism for various valid reasons. Most of us aren’t vegans, but we’re cutting down on our meat, fish and dairy.”
James said that the v-farm is “a nod to futurism” and is not intended to make the restaurant self-sustainable: “Realistically it’s a small percentage of our use but it’s an important conversation point to look at how we can become more sustainable and take control of that food chain a bit.”
Find Suncraft at 39 Gloucester Road and on Twitter at @SuncraftBristol
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