An award-winning Japanese restaurant and bar chain is opening its latest site in Bristol this autumn.
Kibou Japanese Kitchen & Bar, which has restaurants in Cheltenham and London, is continuing its rapid expansion with a launch in Clifton Village, in the building previously occupied by the Nettle & Rye pub on King's Road.
With a design that the owners say will transport diners to the streets of Tokyo, Kibou will feature frieze panel murals and projector animations depicting iconic Japanese life and street scenes created by Gloucestershire artist Martyna Sabadasz.
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The 80-cover bar and restaurant will be set across two floors and include a range of intimate dining areas, a spacious lounge, a standalone marble decked bar and open sushi kitchen with high top seating.
The décor will focus on a range of natural stone, wood and marble finishes against a backdrop of traditional Japanese block print fabrics, neon signage and dramatic lighting. Outside, the terrace will have additional space for 20 covers.
As with Kibou’s Cheltenham and London sites, Japanese foliage will play an important role throughout the venue, with a network of iconic burgundy Japanese trees and shrubs.
The menu will focus on Kibou’s signature sushi rolls, such as the Volcano Roll - salmon, avocado and tobiko futomaki, tempura fried and served with house sauce.
There will also be a range of classic and contemporary Japanese dishes including steaming bowls of ramen made with pork, chicken or vegan broth; freshly prepared katsu curry, crisp tempura including soft shell crab, and a selection of steamed bao buns and gyozas with a variety of fillings.
A standalone bar will serve an ambitious selection of Japanese whisky and sake along with Japanese-brewed beers and signature Japanese-inspired cocktails.
Alex Major, managing director of the Scarlett Pub Company, which owned Nettle & Rye, said the offer made by Kibou to take the site on was too good to turn down.
The acquisition will allow his business to take on The Strand in Cheltenham and The Butcher's Hook in Thornbury.
Kibou is due to open in October at 16 King's Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4AB.
More information about Kibou can be found on its website.
