Wine personality Tom Gilbey launches debut book at KASK² as Cheltenham Road bar opens its new ‘Book Nook’

On Wednesday 12 November at 6.30pm, KASK 2 will host the Bristol launch of Thirsty: 100 Great Wines and Stories by Tom Gilbey - wine expert, accidental internet sensation and one of the most charismatic new voices in wine. The book launches nationally today (Thursday 6th November) and tickets for the event are now on sale at https://www.kaskwine.co.uk/shop/tomgilbey/

The evening promises a freewheeling mix of storytelling, sipping and shared chaos, including a ‘taste-along’ of two wines picked by the KASK team and critiqued live by Gilbey. Known for his humour and down-to-earth approach, Tom shot to fame for running the London Marathon while tasting a wine at the end of each mile. Thirsty captures that same irreverent spirit, blending deep knowledge with a sense of fun and generosity.

Just a few days later, on Sunday 16th November, KASK² will open its latest addition: the Book Nook. Knocking through the wall of an old store-room, the team have created a mezzanine level in the venue, which will be part Bookshop / part Library / part Tasting Room. The book selection, curated in partnership with Max Minerva’s Bookshop in Henleaze (owned by the brother/brother-in-law and sister-in-law of KASK’s owners Charlie and Natalie) focus on wine, food and travel titles, alongside fiction inspired by the regions that influence the bar’s wine list. 

The Book Nook has been designed as an invitation to linger. Guests are encouraged to enjoy a glass of wine while browsing or reading, creating a space equally suited to solo afternoons or spontaneous catch-ups

Charlie Taylor, KASK’s co-owner said: “At KASK in Bedminster, we’ve always had regulars who turn up with a book and spend a few hours with a couple of glasses. It made sense to take that idea and give it a home at KASK². Guests can pick up a book from the shelf, order a glass, and if they’re hooked, buy the book when they leave.”

In addition to new titles, the shelves will include a second-hand swap section, some of the team’s own well-loved books, and magazines such as Noble Rot, Swirl, Bristol Life and Nearfield. By night, the room will transform into a private Tasting Room for group bookings, and from early December, KASK² will also begin serving coffee and boozy hot chocolate, extending its opening hours into the day.

Thirsty will of course be available to buy both on the night, and in the Book Nook. Part memoir, part guide, the book pairs 100 unforgettable wines with the stories behind them - from supermarket bargains to Bordeaux classics, family cellars to finish-line tastings. It’s a celebration of slowing down, pouring generously and enjoying the moment. The launch at KASK² will bring that philosophy to life.

KASK and Tom Gilbey share a mission: to take the pretension out of wine and make it fun again.While KASK proudly flies its “Say No To Sh*t Wine” flag above its Cheltenham Road bar, Gilbey has built a reputation for finding joy in unexpected places - whether that’s a Grand Cru Burgundy or a £6 bottle from Lidl. What unites them is a belief that good wine is for everyone.

Gilbey visited KASK’s Bedminster bar earlier this year, where the idea for this collaboration was born - over, naturally, a few glasses of wine.