A new European city-style restaurant, Aqua Grand Café, opens next month in Bristol’s Whiteladies Road, from veteran restaurateur Richard Smithson and his son Ben.

Richard opened Bristol’s original Aqua in 1998, growing it into the Aqua Italia group with branches across southern England. The company went into administration in 2019, with sites closed in Milton Keynes, Lewes and Worthing. A new company, Smithson & Sons, bought the remaining venues in Bristol, Bath and Portishead.

Ben said the new Grand Café would be serving a menu based around the classics of European cuisine: “It’s going to be an exquisite restaurant – a real experience, something I’m really excited and passionate to show you all.”