New wine bar completes East Street rejuvenation

Tristan’s Restaurant will open the new bar on Tuesday September 13 on the site of the old Purdies Linens store.

The restaurant was opened above Purdies three years ago and former Michelin starred head chef Tristan Mason says the opening of a downstairs bar on the street will be key to attracting more customers.

“It’s a really exciting new theme,” said 33-year-old Tristan, who has worked in some of the most demanding kitchens in the UK, and for TV chef Marco Pierre White at Mirabelle in London.

“It’s been a nightmare getting the planning through but now we’ll have an area where people can come and have a relaxed drink before dinner.

“Getting street frontage was so important. We’ve been surviving on word of mouth but now people will be able to see how busy we are.”

The new development marks further progress in the effort to rejuvenate East Street, which a few years ago was run down and neglected, prior to its recent semi-pedestrianisation.

After Pizza Express, Strada, Côte, Giraffe and the Japanese restaurant Wabi transformed the street into a thriving dining district, Tristan believes his new wine bar completes East Street’s regeneration.

“It’s the final piece of the puzzle,” said Tristan, who has described his food as ‘eclectic modern French’.

“People come all the way from London to eat here now.

“We’ll be putting chairs and tables out front to add to the continental feel of the area.”

The new bar will be open all day from 9am, serving breakfast and lunch, with tea, coffee and fresh cakes on sale.

Restaurant Tristan was judged Restaurant of the Year Award runner up at the both the 2010 and 2011 County Times Business Awards.

Tristan says customers can expect the same excellent standard of cooking in the downstairs bar as in his established restaurant.