By Savannah Coombe, The Croft Co-Editor-in-Chief
The Balloon Bar is back! After a year without their student-friendly prices, Epigram was pleased to attend their soft launch yesterday afternoon.
Starting on Monday 13th September, the SU bar will be open from 9am to 3pm and following Sunday the 19th of September, they will adjust to their regular hours from 9am to 11pm.
To kick off they will be hosting two Welcome Week events in the Anson Rooms in collaboration with the Bristol Student Union. The bar will also be hosting several other freshers’ events in The Balloon Bar itself throughout Welcome Week.
Pints are incredibly affordable, starting at £2.65 for a pint of Carlsberg or Somersby Cider. You can also get a four-pint pitcher for £9.50. Catering Cluster Manager, Matt Phillips, says that one of their principal focuses was simplifying the menu to make it as affordable as possible for students. They’ve certainly succeeded with their cheapest pints beating the same at Spoons.
The new menu includes waffles with a new Wafflemeister station at its centre stage. A standard waffle is £2.65 and goes up from there. The food options are now geared towards snacks and nibbles rather than meals. Nachos, popcorn, waffles, sandwiches and pasties are all available with an emphasis on locally sourced produce.
The Balloon Bar has also secured some great sponsorships in the likes of 6 O’clock Gin and 8 Track Rum. Both companies are local to the surrounding area and are family-run. 8 Track Rum was on site during our visit and their spiced rum is definitely going to be popular.
Starting in mid-September, the SU will be hosting a beer garden in the Anson Rooms with help from The Balloon Bar. The main Richmond Building Hall with be transformed into a luscious garden for two weeks. There will be drink deals and events, including a RAG quiz and comedy night.
The bar has several other events planned for the year ahead but would also like to invite societies to contact them if they would like to use the space. Nothing is too big or small, The Balloon Bar has previously hosted events from karaoke nights to pub quizzes. Please reach out to bristolsu-spaces@bristol.ac.uk for more information or to book an event. If you would like a more intimate space, the recently refurbished Clifton Hill House bar, The Three Horses, is also available to be rented through The Balloon Bar.
Looking for a great term-time job? The Balloon Bar is also looking for part-time staff to help provide excellent customer service. Apply for a position through the Temporary Staffing Service.
It looks like it will be a great year for The Balloon Bar. Follow them on Instagram to keep up to date.
Featured Image: Savannah Coombe / Epigram
The Balloon Bar is located in the Richmond Building, 105 Queens Rd, Clifton BS8 1LN.
What do you think of their new menu and prices?
