Bristol Republic, the Southern barbecue and live music spot that spent years in Columbus's Short North, will open a new multi-level home at 4495 Bridge Park Avenue this fall with a dedicated cocktail lounge called The Saddle Club.

The dual-concept venue gives Bridge Park its first live music destination, according to a Bridge Park press release. Bristol Republic will occupy the main level with slow-smoked meats, Southern brunch, and live entertainment, while The Saddle Club upstairs offers an intimate whiskey-and-cocktail program with live jazz Wednesday through Saturday and DJs on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Experience Hospitality Group, the Columbus restaurant company founded by Brian Swanson, owns and operates both concepts. The group's portfolio also includes Bodega, Worthington Tavern, and West Palm Cowboy Club.

"We're taking everything that's made Bristol what it is — great food, live music, and a welcoming atmosphere — and building on it," Swanson said in the April 28 press release. "At the same time, we're introducing something completely new with The Saddle Club."

The relocation was first announced in March 2025, according to NBC4i. Bristol Republic's former Short North location at 1124 N. High St. has since closed. The opening timeline has shifted: the original press release targeted summer 2026, but a July 27 CityScene Columbus profile of the restaurant now says fall.

Head Chef Greg Roy, who is Columbus-born and Cleveland-raised and has been cooking since age 14, will run a kitchen built around 18-hour brisket, Texas-style ribs, dry-aged meats, and seasonal dishes prepared on Southern Pride smokers and a stone-fired hearth. Roy told CityScene he sees central Ohio as underserved for barbecue and wants to fill that gap.

Beverage Director Kevin Thompson draws on years spent living across the South for The Saddle Club's cocktail menu. One signature drink: the Piña Drama Mama, an ube-centered tropical cocktail with vanilla, coconut, pineapple, and lime. The lounge will also stock a collection of rare bourbons and can host private events for up to 50 guests.

Bob Hoying, a principal at Bridge Park developer Crawford Hoying, called the opening a milestone for the neighborhood's first live music venue and said community excitement has been strong.

Bridge Park currently holds roughly 200,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space alongside 456,000 square feet of offices and nearly 750 residential units, with expansion expected to continue for another five to seven years. An exact opening date for Bristol Republic has not been announced; the restaurant's website still lists "summer 2026" as of Monday, Aug. 3.