Peter takes on pub where he had first pint
A much-loved pub in Bath has been turned into a cosy restaurant serving food and cocktails.
When Peter Merriam heard the lease was up at the Green Park Tavern last year, he made up his mind to take on the venue.
The brand-new Smokehouse Kitchen opened in June and has already proved a hit with locals on the Lower Bristol Road.
Peter, 38, said: “We have been waiting for over a year to try and get in here.
“It was the first pub in Bath I had a drink in as a teenager when I lived around the corner and my mum had her 50th birthday here, so I felt drawn to the place.
“When we took it on, it wasn’t in a great state and I was a bit worried. It was unloved and took around two months to overhaul.
“I couldn’t have done it without my friends and family helping me. My grandfather, who’s 74, painted all the chairs and we’ve spent £75,000 upgrading the kitchen.”
But although the original pub has been spruced up inside, you can still spot its iconic facade, proudly overlooking the Lower Bristol Road.
“Some people said, ‘Are you going to get rid of those horrible flowers?’ and I said ‘Actually no, I think they’re quite nice,’” Peter laughed. As the name suggests, The Smokehouse Kitchen will specialise in slow-cooked meat dishes inspired by the southern states of America.
“We pride ourselves on our meat and we are known for our Louisiana ribs, which are specially supplied made for us by Tunley Butchers,” Peter said.
“We braze our food, we don’t heavily smoke it, and our famous brisket is actually cooked for 10 hours before it’s served.
“When people finish work they can come down here and have a hearty, slow-cooked meal that they wouldn’t have time to make at home.”
It’s also a good spot for Friday night cocktails and Peter has even branched out into creating his own mixtures – like blueberry and pancake.
As he is gluten intolerant himself, Peter was keen to include plenty of gluten-free options on his Smokehouse menu, including gluten-free southern fried chicken and a gluten-free roast dinner on Sundays.
❝ It was the first pub in Bath I had a drink in as a teenager
Peter Merriam