Papaji's House of Teas opens for business on Whiteladies Road

Fancy a tea cocktail for two? Papaji’s House of Teas has opened on Whiteladies Road, and the young ambitious owner is confident his first solo venture will be a success when people discover tea the way it should be drunk.

Andy Dodd, 31, (pictured above) has been working in bars as barman or manager in Clifton for the past 12 years, and has now opened his own place described as a new and unique concept for Whiteladies Road, which includes some tea-based cocktails.

A restaurant, tea house and cocktail lounge in one place, Papaji’s has taken over the former Tequila Max bar, and the months of hard work have clearly been worth it as nobody who knew the bar beforehand would recognise the new place.

Andy, who is from London originally but fell in love with Bristol after studying here, is a man on a mission to do with tea what has been done with coffee in the city over the past ten years, and introduce some finer brews to Bristolians’ palettes.

But although Clifton is swamped with coffee shops and bars, there is some competition in the tea market, not least a couple of doors down on Whiteladies at Boston Tea Party.

And of course opening in the middle of a recession is a brave move, but Andy is confident he has got the product right for Clifton.

Thursday’s opening also represents another victory in the fight against the economic downturn.

Andy said: “I’m really passionate about tea and everything we do here, and I feel that there is a lot for people to discover in terms of all the different types and how to brew it for the best taste.

“I feel there is a gap in the market for people who want to come to a restaurant for a meal, but don’t want to get hurried out once the bill has been paid.

“The idea is that when you get a table you won’t be rushed off it, and you can stay for tea or whatever you like.

“It’s a restaurant for lunch and dinner, but we have breakfast and brunch as well and I think it will be a great place to fill that gap between lunch and dinner.”

So whether it’s an earl grey with scones for afternoon tea you want, or perhaps the earl grey with gin cocktail in the evening, Papaji’s is now open for business.

And if you're wondering about the name, it's a nickname for Andy's dad who is supporting him in the business, and now has somewhere he knows he can get a decent cuppa in Clifton.