After nearly four years, Birch owners Sam Leach & Beccy Massy have decided to sell up to focus on growing and cider making. The Bristol restaurant is now on the market and they are hoping the sale will take place this summer.

The duo honed their talents in some of Bristol and London’s top gastro-spots (St John, 40 Maltby Street) and received heaps of praise from our survey reporters for their “fantastic neighbourhood restaurant”, in Southville; the “exquisite” small plates – many of the ingredients sourced from their own field on the outskirts of town – are a “total bargain” and “well worth more than one visit”.

If you haven’t paid Birch a visit yet there’s still time to do so. The restaurant will be open as usual until the sale takes place.

Sam & Beccy said: “We have had a brilliant time growing, cooking and serving food in our lovely little neighbourhood restaurant. It has introduced us to wonderful people, we have learnt a huge amount, worked with some of the finest cooks and waiters in Bristol, bought us a house, developed a market garden from scratch on poor soil, and nurtured a long held interest in cider into the small seed of a future business. None of this could have happened without the support of our customers, particularly our regulars and local customers, and we thank those of you who have spent money with us wholeheartedly.”

The pair have rented an ancient orchard in Chew Magna, a barn in Failand, and will take on some more land for vegetable growing in Whitchurch. They have long term plans to move into farming, and now say the time now seems right.