The Pony Group to open Root in Bath

The Pony Restaurant Group's veg-led restaurant Root is set to expand with an opening in Bath next month. 

Slated to open on 16 October, the venue will be the group's first in Bath and the largest Root restaurant to date, joining the existing sites in Bristol and Wells. 

Josh and Holly Eggleton, founders of The Pony Group, along with co-patrons Rob Howell and Meg Oakley-Howell, have taken on the former Jamie's Italian restaurant site, occupying a space with two floors and a rooftop terrace with views of the city. 

The first Root, located on the banks of Bristol's harbourside at Wapping Wharf, has become a key player in the city's food scene. Keen to build on that success, Howell and Oakley-Howell launched a second site in Wells in 2022. Both restaurants were awarded Michelin Bib Gourmands shortly after opening. 

The menu

The restaurant will centre on Root's signature veg-led plates, drawing on local produce from the Bath and Somerset area and the group's existing network of artisan suppliers. 

The menu will draw inspiration from a range of European cuisines, with seasonal produce complemented by sustainably sourced meat and fish. Howell and the team have an inventive approach to veg prep and presentation, using them from root to tip to create inventive dishes such as celeriac pastrami and leek mayonnaise. 

Sample dishes include cheese puffs with Old Winchester and brown sauce; Homewood Ewe's curd dumplings with braised greens and brown butter; grilled mackerel with cucumber, apple and jalapeño mayonnaise; and saffron brioche with blackcurrants and clotted cream. 

As with all Root restaurants, the team will put together a thoughtful and varied drinks list, including artisanal Somerset ciders and local beers. A concise list of cocktails and mocktails will also be offered, using seasonal fruits, herbs and homemade cordials. 

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