Leading caterer Elior UK and the SS Great Britain Trust have announced the next step in their long-standing partnership, with the opening of The Board Walk, an all-day waterside restaurant and social hub. This coincides with the renewal of Elior’s catering contract for up to five more years.
The renewed multi-million-pound partnership builds on a successful collaboration between the Trust and Elior since 2020. Together, they aim to create exceptional dining experiences, boost visitor numbers, and ensure that the ship and museum continue to inspire and educate for years to come.
This marks the beginning of an ambitious programme for the Trust to transform the visitor experience, support the financial sustainability of the Trust, and help conserve Brunel’s SS Great Britain for future generations, while welcoming more audiences to this historic site.
The Board Walk: A new dining destination
The Board Walk has been carefully designed to offer visitors, locals and event guests a vibrant, welcoming space that reflects the ship’s rich heritage while bringing something fresh to Bristol’s waterfront, a vibrant cultural and culinary hotspot in the city.
Open from breakfast through to dinner, the restaurant combines a relaxed atmosphere with high-quality food and drink. Highlights include:
· An all-day café and restaurant serving breakfasts, lunches, freshly baked cakes, snacks, cocktails, local beers and evening meals.
· An evening menu featuring wood-fired dishes, small plates and sharing boards designed for social dining.
· Coffee from Wogan’s, a Bristol-based, family-run roastery known for ethical and sustainable beans.
· Interiors inspired by the ship’s history, including a feature wall made from reclaimed timber from SS Great Britain’s hull, with a choice of banquettes, bistro tables, pub-style corners and outdoor terraces overlooking the water.
The site also offers versatile event spaces, from intimate rooms and open-air decks to grand halls seating up to 160 guests, perfect for meetings, weddings, and gala dinners, all set against the backdrop of the beautifully restored 19th-century steamship.
Claire Small, Venues Director at Elior UK, said: “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with SS Great Britain and to create this exciting new waterside dining experience. The Board Walk is a space where great food, sustainability and community come together. From our seasonally crafted evening menu, to the beautiful, reclaimed design elements, every detail has been carefully considered to enhance the visitor experience.”
Andrew Edward, CEO at SS Great Britain Trust, added: “We’re excited to launch this new phase of our partnership with Elior, which is helping us secure the future of the SS Great Britain and open up the site to more audiences. The Board Walk creates a fantastic new space for visitors and supports the long-term sustainability of the Trust, ensuring we can continue to care for this important part of Britain’s history for generations to come.”
