Situated in picturesque Clevedon, Puro is an intimate modern British restaurant showcasing the best of local produce in innovative ways, headed up by Masterchef: The Professionals finalist Tommy Thorn.
Puro originally opened in 2017, but didn’t recruit Thorn until early 2024, off the back of his top three performance on the hit BBC1 show. The 28-year-old star chef aims to put Puro and Clevedon on the map as a foodie destination worth the 20 minute journey from Bristol for, or as a road trip stop-off on the way to the restaurant hubs of Devon and Cornwall.
The menu is restricted and carefully refined, with only three or four options per course, but there’s still a punchy variety of flavours on offer. Start with a bang with miso-glazed poussin with artichoke and reindeer moss, or Isle of Wight tomatoes with ponzu, courgette, and granita, both highly typical of Thorn’s philosophy of local produce combined with international flavours.
The adventure then continues with a series of main dishes revolving around a familiar cut of meat - including celeriac for the vegetarians - but presenting them alongside flavours and flavour combinations that might not be so familiar. Think BBQ monkfish with sesame and lemongrass, for example, or duck with turnip, rainbow chard, and blackberry.
Dessert is kept comparatively simple, with the menu comprising British classics chocolate cremeux and strawberries and cream, as well as a cheeseboard. All this comes in at a surprisingly affordable £55 a head, and for the only slightly pricier £80 you can indulge in a nine-course tasting menu of several main menu highlights (including the aforementioned monkfish and chocolate cremeux).
If all that wasn’t enough, Puro also shows a welcome commitment to spotlighting outside culinary talent, with its monthly Guest Chef Series featuring different chefs who share Thorn’s passion for contemporary British cuisine. Recent highlights have included Josh Eggleton and Thorn’s fellow Masterchef contestant Kasae Fraser.