The Botanist Bar & Restaurant Cheltenham

We had a table booked at an independent restaurant nearby but had 45 minutes to spare and the restaurant had not cleared the table yet from the previous sitting. Having had recent spinal surgery we looked for somewhere to sit and have a quick drink rather than wait in the cold outside . We were planning to stay a maximum of 30 minutes. On entering the Botanist and explaining our situation we were told we could only have a table if we ordered food. Fine we can order a sharing plate . Except you can't order food as we are full for food tables. ... really? You can have a drink but you must stand. Again explained situation. No you must stand in the crowd of people at the bar who were penned in one area and be jostled about. Again explained . No compromise for disability allowed . Thankfully in time my mobility will return. Sadly my experience will mean I will not return to the Botanist . Photos attached of the crowded fully booked Botanist.

Food wasn’t terrible but very disappointed by the portion size of the “curry” (pork belly swimming in a north sauce) and a very limited choice of dishes on the menu. Fortunately I’d also ordered the flatbread with zataar dip which tasted amazing and my friend enjoyed their pork belly skewer but said it wasn’t anything special. I would give 5 stars for the aesthetic as it is very beautiful but unfortunately it seems they’ve paid more attention to this than what’s important, the food. The drinks were well presented and tasted nice but again not anything amazing.

This restaurant came recommended from the hotel I was staying at and it was excellent. Love the greenery atmosphere, the dimly lit vibe created by the hanging lightbulbs and the bar setting is very appealing as well. Food was fantastic but the cocktails vastly exceeded expectations. Would highly recommend.

The service was brilliant. The food really good and the staff was very friendly …. Always around and making life easier when placing orders!

Wow, wow, wow! What an excellent venue for my sisters Hen do!
We started off with bottomless brunch followed by a fantastic cocktail making masterclass, hosted by the wonderful Leon.
The staff and management were so accommodating, especially after my slight error in timings. Nothing was too much trouble and Leon really helped us find our vibe for the day.

The food and cocktails were delicious 😋
If you are looking for somewhere to celebrate a special occasion with a cocktail masterclass I would highly recommend the botanist. Leon took the time to get to know our group and he personalized the session to us perfectly. So far as to ensure our 2 pregnant attendees could make 2 different cocktails.
Absolute legend! Thank you Leon!!

Super nice place for any any age.
Many veggie and vegan option.
Staff was super nice and prompt.
Food was excellent. The vegan platter was perfect.
Bingo with songs was a super nice way to have fun.
100% recommend.

me and my partner went here for my birthday meal, Staff were helpful and friendly to us, as well as the security man,The food took a bit longer than we expected, however when it arrived it was delicious. my partner has allergies and we felt this was taken seriously. I recommend here.

Lovely restaurant for when you’re visiting the area. It’s certainly an experience: very “instagrammable” space/location for pictures and good drinks with yummy food.
Unfortunately, the service was very slow (although, super friendly); we waited very long for the food and also for the bill.