About

Set on Bristol's historic waterfront in one of the Southwest's last surviving 19th-century transit sheds, Harbour House offers international visitors a quintessentially Bristol welcome steeped in maritime history.

The building is rumoured to have been the private boathouse of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, whose transatlantic steamships linked Bristol to New York, with original features said to be prototypes for London's Paddington Station.

In 2000, a then-unknown local artist called Banksy held his very first exhibition here, making the venue a pilgrimage point for fans worldwide.

Today it's a critically acclaimed restaurant and bar, featured in The Michelin Guide and named Best Bar at the 2023 Bristol Life Awards. Step-free, family and dog friendly, 10 minutes from Temple Meads.

Key selling points for groups

• Harbour House welcomes groups of all sizes, seating 10 to 120 in the Dining Room and up to 200 standing, with full exclusive hire of the restaurant, bar and waterfront terrace available.

• Seasonal set and sharing menus make group dining easy to pre-order and keep large parties moving, with dietary requirements happily accommodated. 

• Accessibility is a real standout: the venue is entirely street level with no stairs anywhere, every space is step-free, and assistance dogs are welcome, making it ideal for groups of mixed mobility.

• It sits just a 10-minute walk from Bristol Temple Meads, with parking nearby and the SS Great Britain and M Shed close by. 

• The restaurant is happy to offer the coach driver and tour leader a complimentary meal

• For large groups they can arrange a discount.

• A dedicated events team manages every detail from first enquiry to the day itself. 

Useful information for travel trade

Group booking procedures 

• Justyna Kicia, Events Manager, is your single point of contact for all group and travel trade enquiries.
• Enquiries can be submitted directly via the online form. Justyna will then confirm availability, pricing and any pre-order requirements.

Rates and pricing 

• Commissionable rates for travel trade partners. FIT rates can be agreed on a case-by-case basis, subject to group requirements and availability.

Group sizes and event capacity 

• Minimum 6, maximum 120 guests.

Coach access and parking 

• Guests can be dropped off close to the venue, with the nearest dedicated coach parking at Cumberland Road (BS1 6SG), approximately 0.4 miles / 0.65 km away.

Enhanced and exclusive experiences

Private tours: They can arrange guided walking tours of the city, including Bristol harbourside walks and Banksy-themed street-art tours, a natural pairing with a meal or drinks at Harbour House. 

Tastings & masterclasses: Bespoke tastings and cocktail masterclasses can be arranged on request, tailored to the group's interests. 

Live entertainment: The team can build in live music or performance to turn your booking into a full evening out. 

Harbour cruises: A Bristol harbour cruise can be woven into a bespoke itinerary or package. 

Exclusive use: The venue can be taken on an exclusive-hire basis, subject to availability. 

Bespoke menus: The team can create made-to-measure set menus for groups and travel trade partners, from relaxed sharing feasts to multi-course occasions. 

Product development and partnerships

Harbour House  actively collaborates with local businesses and cultural partners to build joint packages and itineraries, exactly the kind of ready-made building blocks that work well for groups and FAM trips. Potential partners include: 

Theatre & live performance: Bristol Hippodrome and Bristol Old Vic, ideal for pre- or post-show dining packages, pairing a meal with us alongside a night at two of the city's flagship venues. 

Tours & entertainment: Only Fools and Horses tours and other guided experiences add a comedy or themed angle to a wider Bristol itinerary. 

Harbour & sightseeing: Bristol Packet Boats for harbour cruises, easily woven into a day on the waterfront. 

Accommodation: The Bristol Hotel, a natural overnight pairing for residential groups and multi-day trips. 

Food & drink (within its own group): Sister venues: The Gaffe, Dareshack, The Granary and The Granary Club let the team build multi-stop food and drink experiences across the city under one point of contact. 

Together these allow us to put together complete cultural, culinary and waterfront itineraries that complement Harbour House as an anchor venue. 

Accessibility

Harbour House is a street level venue, there are no stairs in the building, with every part of the venue accessible. Accessible toilets are also easy to navigate. Assistance dogs are welcome.