Tucked away in Beehive Yard (past Waitrose and the Hilton but before Walcot Street really gets going) The Tramshed is easy to miss…
But miss it and you’ll be missing out.
The building that once held HaHa! has been reinvented and is now a bar and restaurant that is bright, stylish and full of character.
The décor is a quirky mixture of styles – think bright colours, wooden tables and benches softened with faux fur throws, comfy sofas, walls adorned with tram-related art and a striking piece of artwork behind the bar created by an artist who uses a remote-controlled car to paint. The result is a fun and relaxed atmosphere. The large windows mean that it is flooded with natural light, but as dusk draws on the atmosphere becomes cosy and candlelit.
Inside, the building is more or less divided in two – one side for drinkers and the other side for diners (although the rules aren’t hard and fast).
There’s a range of deals to draw people in, from early-evening cut price cocktails to fixed price and express menus, pizza deals and fish specials on a Friday.
The cocktails are excellent with a good range including all the usual suspects as well as a few twists on the classics.
But the food is where The Tramshed really comes into its own.
Food is served all day from breakfast to light bites to indulgent three course meals.
The menu is large and varied with dishes taking inspiration from around the world and a range of options far beyond the usual pub fayre.
With such a wide choice making a decision can be difficult but fortunately the staff are friendly and knowledgeable and are more than willing to make recommendations for both food and wine.
Following our wairtress’ advice I started with the chorizo and potato hash served with a poached egg and hollandaise sauce. It was very tasty and surprisingly light considering the rich ingredients.
My partner’s crispy pumpkin ravioli was a fun take on an Italian classic.
As a main course I chose the pan fried sea bass fillet with aubergine and sweet potato tagine. The sea bass was perfectly cooked and the tagine was packed with flavour and was an interesting accompaniment to the fish with the spices well balanced so as not to overpower the delicate sea bass.
My partner enjoyed the confit duck which was packed with flavour.
I’m always a sucker for a chocolate brownie and The Tramshed’s version of my favourite dessert was soft and gooey and extremely chocolatey – just as it should it be.
If you are looking for an extra treat, or can’t quite squeeze in anything else but still fancy something sweet to finish with there is a tempting range of dessert cocktails which are deliciously decadent.
I was very pleasantly surprised how good the food at The Tramshed turned out to be.
It may be better known as a bar but the food should not be overlooked.
With its fun and relaxed atmosphere it’s the perfect choice for any occasion.
For more details about The Tramshed visit www.thetramshedbath.co.uk.
Our thanks to Emma Dance for this feature.
