Having been recomended by a friend as a place to dine near our new flat we were looking forward to our first visit to The Severnshed.

The bouncer at the door should have been a clue but we accepted that our table wasn't ready and put up with a half hour wait (standing as all the seating was taken) in a very noisy crowded bar - plainly full of people out for a night on the beer.

Eventually we were shown to our table right next to the kitchen and rather cramped and our order taken. Our starters arrived, by which time we were just over an hour later than the time we had booked for and we were disappointed to find that they had got one of the orders wrong. Despite being so close to the 'engine room' service was slow and it took an age to attract the waitress to ask where our mains were - they had lost the order.

It was to turn out to be a night of apologies as they then served half cooked food, added someone elses bar bill to ours (it was only when we explained that we wouldn't be standing if we had drunk that much that they relented) and spilled a glass of wine over my partner.

All in all not an experience I would recommend to anyone - though it might suit office parties, which seemed to make up the rest of the customers.

Located in Bristol City's thriving Harbourside restaurant quarter, the Severnshed Restaurant and Bar was a lovely venue. Good food, good service, nice decor. The restaurant was a former boathouse built engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The manager informs me that it has Europe's only floating bar, which can rotate 360 degrees or glide down the length of the building - great for functions. The restaurant offers both light lunches and contemporary a la carte menu. With an elegant mix of marble, stainless steel and white linen, they have created an environment of luxurious but laid back sophistication for the ultimate dining experience. Reasonably priced food and wine, my husband and I will definately go back.
Expect to pay around £35-£45 for a meal for two with wine. Address: The Severnshed Restaurant, Harbourside, The Grove, Bristol, BS1 4RB.