We recently had a long weekend down near Bristol seeing family and made the most of it by having a day out in Bristol.

Bristol is often hailed as having a similar vibe to Brighton and as we all know, I left a big bit of my heart in Brighton so I was keen to explore Bristol.

A sprawling city, Bristol is colourful, architecturally and culturally diverse and boasts a bustling art & music scene and the most independent shops on any one street in Britain! From the harbour all the way up to Stokes Croft, there’s plenty to do and see.

I started the day with gelato on a hot cross bun at Swoon Gelato (well, it was Easter (and I am pregnant)) and a delicious decaf coffee.

But the highlight of the day was most definitely our lunch at Caribbean Croft. Venturing past the Bearpit – think Shangri La at Glastonbury but in the middle of an underpass on one of the busiest roundabouts in Bristol (!) – Stokes Croft hosts a meddly of independent shops, flea markets, restaurants and street art.

We both went for the Jerk Pork Belly with rice and peas and some crispy fries to share. Pork belly falling apart and just the right amount of spice to warm the cockles, it was just what we needed on a chilly day after exploring this amazing city.