A sustainable Bristol restaurant now has a decor to match its Michelin-starred food, thanks to a £50,000 loan from the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund (SWIF), delivered by SWIG Finance.
Wilsons Restaurant in Chandos Road, Redland received a prestigious Michelin star in February, and has undergone a major revamp to elevate its ambience and increase its capacity.
The £200m 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 a range of small and medium sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead. The smaller loans part of the fund is manged by SWIG Finance in the region.
Wilsons is run by husband-and-wife team Jan Ostle and Mary Wilson and drew praise from Michelin inspectors for its “expertly crafted dishes” and “careful sourcing of superb ingredients”. They added: “There is so much to enjoy, and so much to admire, when dining at Wilsons. It’s one of those appealing neighbourhood operations that works in pure harmony, with everyone from the chefs to the service team sharing the same ethos.”
Jan said: “The investment from the South West Investment Fund helped us to meet the expectations of customers who are now coming to us because we have a Michelin star. We used the money to pay for a refurbishment that elevated what we do and gave us a few more covers so we can really maximise capacity.”
Wilsons launched in 2016 as a farm-to-table restaurant, with its menu devised around the availability of seasonal vegetables, herbs and flowers grown at its two-acre market garden, 20 minutes up the road in Barrow Gurney. The remaining ingredients are sourced locally from small-scale, like-minded farmers using low-intervention agricultural methods, while Wilsons’ fermenting, curing and preserving operation ensures there is produce to see the restaurant through the fallow months.
This approach saw the restaurant awarded a Green Michelin star in 2022 in recognition of its dedication to sustainable practices. In June this year, a panel of food experts ranked Wilsons among the top 100 UK restaurants in a list announced at the National Restaurant Awards.
The couple, who employ 17 people, hope to maintain this reputation. “Our future plans are for Wilsons to be a stable place that provides great food, great wine, great service and great jobs, and to be part of the community,” says Jan.
He and Mary had worked with SWIG Finance previously, and were happy to return for the next stage of their business. “Our case manager Adele really wanted us to succeed and for the investment to work,” Jan recalls. “To that end, she spent so much time going through our workings, it helped solidify why we were borrowing the money. As a business development exercise, that’s really healthy. Our economy needs people to support small-scale businesses.”
Adele Jones, Associate Business Manager for SWIG Finance, said: “Being from Bristol myself, I think it’s important to help support local businesses. After meeting Jan and Mary, it was clear they had passion and big ideas for Wilsons. I wanted to be part of that, and supported them with their plans for a refit, ensuring they maximise the space they have. When they were awarded their Michelin star in February, I felt proud to have helped them on that journey.”
David Tindall from the British Business Bank, said: “Wilsons is another example of the kind of business the South West Investment Fund was created to support – innovative, rooted in its community and with sustainability at its core. We’re proud to have backed Jan and Mary as they elevate their award-winning dining experience, grow their team, and expand their impact. Access to early-stage finance like this helps ensure that businesses across the South West can continue to thrive and realise their full potential.”
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. The fund is increasing the supply and diversity of early-stage finance, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and helping to break down barriers in access to finance.
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 2024/25, we lent £14.8m to 501 businesses, helping to create and secure over 1,272 jobs and generate £75.7m 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