I tried the new menu at Bristol Turtle Bay and it brought a smile to my face

I’ve never been to Jamaica so can’t vouch for the authenticity of Caribbean chain Turtle Bay but it certainly brings a sun-drenched holiday vibe to Bristol city centre on a cold November evening.

This Caribbean-inspired restaurant must be one of the busiest places in central Bristol. In the run-up to Christmas, it’s also one of the city’s go-to venues for post-work cocktails and office parties.

And it’s not hard to see why. It’s spacious, buzzy and the alluring Caribbean smells waft from the open kitchen.

When I arrived, there was a large crowd ordering cocktails at the central beach shack-style bar. On the walls, colourful murals and vintage reggae posters for Island Records and Jimmy Cliff.

In the background, obscure mid-60s reggae from the likes of The Melodians and Ronnie Davis meant everybody was tapping their feet. The waitresses seemed to be enjoying the beach party vibe as much as the customers.

There are a number of new dishes on the pre-Christmas menu launched earlier this month. They include Rum BBQ Ribs (whole rack of baby back pork ribs in a sweet and sticky rum BBQ sauce with pineapple chow, coconut rice and peas), Trini Cod (steamed cod fillet with creamy mashed potatoes, roasted greens and garlic butter sauce) and a classic Brown Chicken (marinated chicken thighs, slowly braised with onion, a blend of spices and tomatoes with sweet plantain and coconut rice and peas).

There are also some new cocktails (it’s 2-4-1 every day until 6.30pm and then from 9pm until closing time). They all cost £10.30 and include Mango Paloma (tequila, triple sec, mango and grapefruit) and the deliciously boozy Montego Bae (Wray & Nephew rum, falernum, apple, pineapple and fresh lime) I tried.

From the new dishes, I started with fish tacos (£7.90), a generous plate of food for the money and easily enough for two people to share. The crisp, fried lozenges of hake were served on small, soft roti breads and topped with a crunchy, tangy slaw and a fruity pepper salsa.

For main, another new dish was the beef cheek stew (£16). A twist on the classic oxtail stew, the chunks of beef had been cooked for a long time to ensure maximum tenderness in a dark, fiery sauce that soaked into the coconut rice and peas - on a cold and damp November evening, it was proper comfort food.

I finished with a slice of buttery toffee cheesecake (£5.70), the rich creaminess of which was balanced out by the sharp and zesty mango coulis.

Large portions of Caribbean favourites and well made cocktails served by smiley, cheery staff who seem to be enjoying the place as much as the punters - Turtle Bay has a feelgood factor that genuinely makes you forget your troubles and brings a smile to your face.

Turtle Bay, 8 Broad Quay, Bristol, BS1 4DA.