Pieminister

Pieminister occupies a stall in the Covered Market selling proper, handmade pies with fillings that go well beyond the standard. The steak and ale is the reliable constant — rich gravy, decent pastry, and enough meat to justify the word "proper." The specials rotate seasonally and are usually worth trying.

You can eat in at the small counter seating or take a pie to go. A pie and a coffee from one of the nearby market stalls is a legitimate lunch that won't break the bank. Pieminister is a Bristol-based chain, but the Covered Market stall feels more market trader than franchise — it fits the building's character. Vegetarian and vegan pies are available and are genuinely good rather than token offerings.