By Rosie Napthine, Third Year, English
This article is a guide based on the experiences of the author and does not guarantee the safety of any establishment mentioned.
Navigating student life with an autoimmune disease can be tricky, especially when it’s easy to get tripped up by the perils of a shared kitchen where crumbs seem to always find a way into your cutlery drawer.
As a recently diagnosed coeliac, I let my naivety shine through, deciding to buy lunch on campus one afternoon. I marched myself into Senate House with purpose, encouraging my friend to hurry and order the pizza she so badly craved. I scoured the fridge and found nothing. The one gluten free sandwich option I was later told they stocked had sold out at 12pm. Having passed through multiple members of staff with the same lack of certainty regarding the safety of all the other food options, I decided uncertainty was unsafe. With nothing to eat there, the hunt began.
Our search took us over the road to Waitrose where I left having spent £12 tragically recreating my own meal deal, placing my pre-sliced cheese into a gluten-free bagel before looking down and seeing that half of them had fallen to the floor.
Where can a coeliac eat in Bristol?
Gail’s
As much as I dislike praising chain coffee shops, my extensive bread hunt has revealed Gail’s to be superior. Pre-packaged, and with some display of structural integrity, it makes a solid sandwich, but at £4.90 per loaf I am relying purely on the rewards scheme and referral program to keep this aligned with a student budget. For days where time is on your side, this makes a decent sandwich. However, if you are looking for anything else, you would be better off searching elsewhere.
Fed
I suggest the search for a sweet treat take you here for their banana bread, which I recently discovered to be safe for me, and delicious with the chocolate buttercream.
Chaya Canteen
Known for its £6 vegan lunch deals, this cute campus-adjacent location is well reviewed for gluten free options too. I would be careful, however, with your coffee order, as being a vegan establishment, there is a risk of oat milk being used.
Primrose Café
For those of us based in or near Clifton, Primrose is a great option. The staff are really accommodating, and many options can be made gluten free. Having been for both breakfast and lunch, I have always been pleasantly surprised. It is also a lovely place to be sat in the street watching Clifton life move by.
Mercy Mercy Mercy
Staying in Clifton, it’s also worth heading into Mercy Mercy Mercy, with their many gluten free options and stellar reviews. It is a certified student staple, ask anyone you know, and they will have been and gone again. Both Primrose Café and Mercy Mercy Mercy are conveniently located by the Richmond Building, should a study session be on the cards.
Condesa
A Mexican restaurant with a fully gluten free menu. Need I say more. Conveniently located on Whiteladies Road, this is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, surely?
Mangosteen
Possibly my favourite restaurant in Bristol, Mangosteen takes what I’m coining an allergen-first approach, highlighting not what is gluten free, but what contains it. With most of the menu being gluten free there is so much variety, and being on First Table, it is a great option to keep costs that bit lower.
Annabel Bienfait
Pizza On The Park
My first restaurant experience post diagnosis, this is a really accommodating spot. The gluten free pizza oven is reassuring, and with both great cocktails and frequent deals, it’s always a good shout. Notably, it’s a nice place to be in the festive season. Last Christmas, my house chose here, desperate to go out for dinner but scared of me being ill, and the vibes were fabulous.
Honest Burger
Most of the menu is gluten free (minus the buns, with gluten free alternatives available) which always feels a low-risk option. With multiple locations, and a focus on local produce it is a top tier burger spot. If you’re looking for more, however, its generous Aperol spritzes and location near King Street makes it the perfect place for a chilled night out, or to get a quick bite to line your stomach!
Featured image: Epigram / Rosie Napthine
Which spot would you like to try?
