Strong primary colours are the first thing you notice about the new Lashings cafe on Lower Redland Road. The awning outside, a few of the walls inside, even a trio of flying wooden ducks. All are painted in stripes of blue, red, purple and green like a design by Paul Smith.
The wooden counter is also a vibrant shade of red , while a small dresser backed by three large custard cream biscuits (sadly not edible) has plastic beakers for water in a variety of hues.
Lashings’ Redland incarnation is the third Lashings to open in Bristol in less than three years. “This is a chain, essentially,” a barista told one customer when she asked where had seen a Lashings before: on the centre and at the top of the Gloucester Road next to Sainsbury’s (review here) to answer her question.
This Lashings shares many similarities with its older siblings; a love of Teapigs tea and many of its wares stored in oversize glass jam jars to name but two.
But the newest member of the family also has its own personality. A small extension with three windows on the ceiling lets in bundles of natural light, and a small courtyard has ivy creeping up the old stone walls and should be a popular place to sit in the summer.
Lashings is completely unrecognisable from its former incarnation as Redland Fruitery, a local institution that was here for 31 years until closing 12 months ago. But its replacement will no doubt be welcoming a new clientele as word spreads of this colourful new cafe.
Lashings, 7 Lower Redland Road, Redland, Bristol.
Bristol Culture 
Maybe the step will deter a few baby buggies – which are so much a difficulty for non baby-carers at Lashings on Gloucester Road.
I had a good hour with my friends in this child friendly cafe this morning. I’d like to comment on the coffee. We had three latttes and a flat white and I’d have to say the first round was exceptional. The young lady Batista really knows her stuff. The intense but smooth flavour of the Columbian beans was punctuated well with the rich creamy foam in my Flat White. The decoration on all the coffees was fabulous too. It’s great to be able to fully appreciate such talent. Our second round of coffees by the only guy serving was not quite as good even though the decoration was top drawer. The foam in my flat white floated on the milky coffee and there was signs of separation in the top of the froth.
Our experience was great and we really appreciated the passion and flair the team delivered. The girl who served us at the till had an impeccable manner and engaged us fully with a caring nature.
8 out of 10 overall and highly recommended.
I’m no coffee Nazi, but I can do without the unnecessary faffing with the coffee art if the coffee itself is good & still hot. My wasn’t. The cap was more like a latte (on a good cap, the foam doesn’t wobble when you move the cup, mainly because there shouldn’t be that much milk in it) & the coffee itself was burnt (water in machine too hot).
Maybe they’ll get better when they start worrying more about their product tastes than how it looks.
Conclusion? Typical Clifton crap…excellent service, but seriously sub-standard, over priced product.