A popular Greek restaurant in the heart of Bristol has expanded by opening a wine bar next door after securing a £95,000 loan from the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund through fund manager SWIG Finance.
Christina Kremmyda and her husband Ioannis Kolovadis have run Hat Bistro for more than eight years. With the restaurant regularly full in the evenings, they saw an opportunity to create a dedicated space where customers could enjoy drinks and discover premium Greek wines.
When the premises next door became available, they joined forces with long-time friend and business partner Thomas Liddell to open Rhapsody Wine Bar, bringing a new destination to Bristol.
Rhapsody Wine Bar has opened it’s doors, thanks for a £95k South West Investment Fund loan, delivered by SWIG Finance.
The £95,000 loan supported the refurbishment of the premises, stock imports and the creation of two full-time jobs. Today, the business includes the popular city-centre wine bar, a successful online bottle shop and a growing wholesale operation.
The South West Investment Fund covers the entire South West region and provides loans from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help small and medium sized businesses in the region grow.
Christina is passionate about introducing more people to Greek wine. She explained: “Greek vineyards have been experimenting with indigenous grapes for over fifteen years, with many wine experts suggesting Assyrtiko is similar in profile and flavour to a great Chablis.
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“The demand for Greek wine is strong across Europe (especially the UK and Germany). Lots of our wines chosen at Rhapsody have won awards in international competitions and are being praised by the Masters of Wine.
“Without our loan from the South West Investment Fund, we wouldn’t have been able to bring our vision to life and refurbish as we hoped. We’ve also created two full-time job positions for the wine bar.”
Located just a short walk from Bristol Hippodrome, Rhapsody Wine Bar is a popular spot for pre-theatre drinks and Mediterranean small plates, with staff on hand to recommend the ideal wine pairing. Christina and Tom are now planning to introduce more immersive wine tasting experiences and the venue is also available for corporate events and private hire, with seating for up to 70 guests and capacity for up to 120 people for standing receptions.
Co-Owner, Christina Kremmyda, is passionate about introducing more people to Greek wines.
Adele Jones, SWIG Finance Associate Business Manager who helped with the funding application, said: “After my initial discussions with Christina, Ioannis, and Tom, it was clear they had a strong vision and drawing on their hospitality experience, they developed a well-considered business plan with a clear understanding of their market and objectives. It has been a pleasure to watch their journey and see how the loan has helped transform an empty premises into a vibrant and welcoming venue.”
Lizzy Upton, Senior Investment Manager at the British Business Bank, said: “The South West Investment Fund exists to help smaller businesses turn ambitious plans into reality. In a region known for its thriving independent hospitality sector, Rhapsody Wine Bar is a great example of how access to finance can help established businesses grow, create jobs and enhance the region’s hospitality offer.”
The purpose of the South West Investment Fund is to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the South West. It is increasing the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for South West smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and helping to break down barriers in access to finance.
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About SWIG Finance
SWIG Finance is a people-based lender that provides loans and support to help smaller businesses in the South and West Country grow. We base our lending decisions on potential rather than collateral, which means that we can often support businesses when others can't.
We’re growing every year. In 2025/26, we lent £18.4m to 506 businesses, helping to create and secure over 1,134 jobs and generate £95.2m in social impact. Download the report here.
If you’d like an informal chat about your funding requirements, get in touch with our friendly and professional team to see how we can help: info@swigfinance.co.uk / 01872 227 930