The Bristol Magazine August 2021

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THE

Issue 201

I

august 2021

MAGAZINE THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

£3.95 where sold

10 THINGS WE LOVE SONIC STREET FOOD

...About top TV twosome JoJo and Gran Gran

BOGNOR OR BAHAMAS...

Paraorchestra drops a dollop of pop on Knowle West

What’s your summer garden saying?

Amstell and his age of enlightenment

Bristol’s got form for moving its men of influence

SIMON SAYS ROOTS CAUSE

MUSICAL STATUES

Dragon slayer Levi shares his Carnival goals

SEA CHANGE In the shipping news: the ocean returns to the SS Great Britain in collaboration with Saili Katebe and Limbic Cinema. The artistic, immersive transformation of Iron Island looks set to be a summer highlight PLUS... S O M U C H M O R E I N T H E C I T Y ’ S B I G G E S T G U I D E T O L I V I N G I N B R I S T O L

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Official fuel consumption for the Audi Q4 e-tron range in mpg (l/100km): N/A. CO2 emissions: 0g/km.

The Audi Q4 e-tron is a battery electric vehicle requiring mains electricity for charging. Range figures were obtained after the battery had been fully charged, are for comparability purposes and may not reflect real life driving results. Zero emissions while driving. Please consult your Audi Centre for further information. Image for illustrative purposes. Model shown is not UK specification and features optional equipment.

A wonderful residential facade by SQRL for 75 Walls

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14 Contents August 2021 18

Levi Roots has been made chair of the St Paul’s Carnival board

REGULARS ZEITGEIST

CITY HISTORY

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10

BARTLEBY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 ...Talks tricks, new and old ...........................................................................

14

Catch up on local news and meet a new-wave jazz artist

ANTIQUES

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44

Andrew Swift reminds us that Bristol is no stranger to statue toppling

Top activities for the month to come

CITYIST

Poet Saili Katebe (centre) with Limbic Cinema founders Tom Newell (left) and Thom Buttery (right)

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COMPUTER SCIENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 How Bristol organisations are benefiting from the innovative real-world work of computer science students

FOOD & DRINK NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

40

Updates from our most delicious city sector

Chris Yeo on 1960s interior design, the focus of a new city exhibition

RECIPES

BRISTOL UPDATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Two kitchen treats to try from boozy new book Cooking With Alcohol

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Business and community news

HABITAT

COVER FEATURE SS GREAT BRITAIN: IRON ISLAND

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24

Saili Katebe and Limbic Cinema bring the ocean back to the good ship

ARTS & CULTURE CARNIVAL

18

New chair of the board, Levi Roots, on his love of St Paul’s .....................................................................

20

10 things we love about top TV twosome JoJo and GranGran

WHAT’S ON

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PETS AT HOME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 They were there for us during lockdown; let’s repay the favour.

Making the city more pooch-friendly post-pandemic

GARDENING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

30

How to make a holiday space at home, even if your back garden is more Bognor than Bahamas

Paraorchestra’s Charles Hazlewood on a new Knowle West street show plus Elder Island on remaining genre neutral on the second album

ARTS & EXHIBITIONS

Don’t ditch all the outdoor socialising just yet – now’s the perfect time to for a picnic and wild swim at a city sun-trap

26

A cross-section of upcoming happenings

MUSIC

Professor David Goode looks at our modern-day connection with the environment and why this is meaningful for the future

WILD SWIMMING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

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ANIMATION

URBAN ECOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

34

SPATHROOMS

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Local interiors experts have their say on the home wellness trend, offering their top tips for achieving a sumptuous personal sanctuary

What’s on at our local galleries and creative spaces

ARTIST PROFILE

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38

Scottish artist Midge Naylor’s landscapes of the psyche

LEARNING & EDUCATION UPSKILLING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Looking to widen your horizons and broaden your sphere of thinking We’ve collated some of the city’s best workshops and courses to help you on your way...

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ON THE COVER Saili Katebe at the SS Great Britain. The performance poet has been helping bring the ocean back to the historic ship, along with Limbic Cinema, who have been transforming the dry dock into a huge digital projection theatre, filled with the energy of the underwater world.

Image by Adam Gasson

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Image: Adam Gasson

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Oli T work on North Street for Upfest’s 75 Walls project

THIS MONTH WE’RE...

Partying...

Under disco balls bedecking select city streets – symbols of support for the nighttime economy

Thanking... ...The South West’s RNLI and HM Coastguard for their work to keep beachgoers safe. Lifeguard crews are having a busy summer as we holiday at home.

Image: Nathan Williams

from the

EDITOR

F

or the first time in some half a century – since she was saved from a rusty fate on the Falklands seabed in July 1970 – the sights, sounds and movements of the sea are to surround the hull of the SS Great Britain once more, thanks to an artistic transformation by local creatives.

Experts in immersive video, Limbic Cinema are making a huge digital projection theatre of the dry dock, filled with all the energy of the underwater world, with Hidden Orchestra composer Joe Acheson soundtracking the storms and icefields visitors will find themselves navigating through. The installation has been shaped by the work of West Country performance poet Saili Katebe (seen on our front cover) who was inspired by the ship’s spirited stories. Designed to show us the historic ocean liner as the resilient, graceful, dynamic vessel she once was, the spoken word and visual art collaboration also aims to convey the continued relevance of her most timeless cargo – experiences of emigration and memories of transition that we can learn from.

As we put this issue together, there was big news all around the city; all sorts of fun new features coinciding with the summer awakening. Bedminster was awash with new colour as soon as Upfest’s 75 Walls got underway, glittering disco balls were installed on selected city streets to signal support for the nighttime economy as we were finally nudged back into nightlife, Bristol Old Vic launched a new restaurant and pop-up series, new zoo plans were ago and capacious party hubs such as Propyard on Feeder Road and Lost Horizon in St Jude’s had joined the likes of Lakota Gardens and Outer Space.

Not forgetting St Paul’s Carnival’s major appointment – Levi Roots as chair of the board.

The musician, entrepreneur and food writer who made it big on Dragons’ Den, and is currently working on a movie about his life, aims to make Carnival one of the most popular cultural street festivals in the world. He chats to us about his love for Bristol on p18.

Speaking of musicians, we’ve got Bristol trio Elder Island, too. On p32 Katy Sargent, Luke Thornton and David Havard talk Bristol influences, their fave bits of the second album, and remaining genre neutral, while on p22 James Mottram speaks to quirky, confessional comedian Simon Amstell about his latest stand-up tour.

We recommend making the roasted plum and port ripple ice cream on p48 this month – recipe courtesy of West Country cooks Susannah and Aaron Rickard – and taking Elly West’s tips for creating a summer holiday space in your garden, even if yours is currently more Bognor than Bahamas (p64). Elsewhere, we’re wild swimming (p58), antiques expert Chris Yeo recalls 1960s interior design (p40), and Andrew Swift reminds us (p44) that Bristol is no stranger to statue toppling (the city’s got form for making a statement with its stone effigies of the influential). See you in September.

• rnli.org/beachuk2021

Praying...

...We don’t get pinged. But if we do, we might treat ourselves and brighten up the old four walls.

Something like Science Fiction (mixed media on canvas) by Bristol artist Scott Molumby would definitely do the trick.

• scottmolumby.com

Fun for the diary: Bristol South Swimming Pool is now open following a £200,000 programme of repair works. Serving the community since 1931, the Grade-II listed building houses one of the most historically significant pools in the area and was once a filming location for Sherlock.

AMANDA NICHOLLS EDITOR

@thebristolmag

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Tips: Visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags. Check the tides and winds. Take a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch when paddleboarding; in an emergency, call 999 and ask for the coastguard. Leave inflatables at home; they’re not designed for open water where the wind and current can quickly take you out to sea. If you get into trouble in deep water, ‘float to live’ – lie on your back and relax, resisting the urge to thrash about.

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@thebristolmag

• everyoneactive.com

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ZEITGEIST

top things to do in AUGUST

Be entertained The Wardrobe Ensemble will celebrate its 10th anniversary with an ambitious new theatre festival, running from 7 August to 2 October. Pop-up venue The Mix, designed by Studio Three Sixty, will become The Theatre on the Downs at Breaking Bread. Kicking off the festival will be world premiere of The Wardrobe Ensemble’s WINNERS. In their own inimitable style, this exciting new show explores capitalism and tracks the shift of labour in the history of food. Wild Swimming

by FullRogue is also a must-see – a kaleidoscopic exploration of cultural progress, it is an interrogation of gender and privilege and a wilfully ignorant history of English literature. With more family shows yet to be announced, keep your eyes peeled!

• theatreonthedowns.co.uk

We The Curious re-opened earlier this year with a brand new, multi-million-pound ground-floor experience, inspired by 10,000 questions from the people of Bristol. Project What If is a space where art and science collide, where big ideas and the human side of science can be explored in new and surprising ways.

“Have you ever wished you could slow time down or wondered if there is such a thing as the soul?”, it asks. Play with 68 new exhibits and 25 art pieces, all clustered around seven questions that explore very different themes including rainbows, sand, universe, time, invisibility, illness and soul. There’s also a walk-through tornado as well as the UK’s only 3D planetarium. So, discuss ideas, connect with others and ask questions – you never know what you might inspire.

• wethecurious.org

Drink Fancy a pleasant trip outside of the city? The Trowbridge Craft Beer and Cider Festival will be held at Innox Mills from 27 – 30 August, featuring up to 60 regional beers and ciders, plus street food and live music.

DeCanter Mobile bar will be providing a range of different alcoholic drinks including gins and wines, plus a selection of soft drinks to make sure no one is left thirsty.

Set against the backdrop of the historic buildings at Innox Mills, the festival will be hosted within the courtyard, which is set to become the Innox Quarter once development has been completed.

A strictly over-18s event, there will be eight sessions across four days over the bank holiday weekend. The earlier sessions will run each day from 11.30am – 4pm, with the later sessions running from 6pm – 10.30pm. Tickets cost £12.50, including two beer tokens.

• trowbridgebeerfest.co.uk

Enjoy Wiltshire Game and Country Fair is returning to Bowood on 14 & 15 August with a redesigned show layout to cater for any remaining Covid restrictions, all designed to bring back the good times.

Organisers are welcoming back jousting to the arena entertainment – go and watch the perennial evil Black Knight meet his comeuppance. Also new this year, is a lumberjack competition organised by the British Lumberjack Sports Association – a fast-moving competition that is complemented by the ever-popular chainsaw carving competitions. Visit the website for details and book your tickets in advance.

Watch

• livingheritagecountryshows.com

• bristolshakespearefestival.org.uk

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A summer of stunning theatre is in full swing, as the Bristol Shakespeare Festival continues into August. The festival is back to its signature blend of indoor and outdoor performances, online events, workshops and quirky takes on favourite plays. With renowned touring companies such as Folksy, The Natural Theatre Company and The Lord Chamberlain’s Men performing in beloved Bristol venues, the festival is successfully helping to reignite the city’s famous theatre scene. With family-friendly shows, intriguing fringe events, and the festival’s in-house company putting on the hilarious, all-new King Lear the Musical, there’s plenty for everyone. Visit the website for the full programme.

Image: Julian Welsh

Explore

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THE

B R I S TO L MAGAZINE

Contact us:

Old tricks

D

o you have skills? Of course you do. We all do. The trouble is they’re not necessarily the right ones, at least not for the world we live in at the moment. When I was eight or nine, for example, I knew how to adjust the points in a car engine so that it would run smoothly. At the time I knew what ‘points’ did, where to find them and how to tweak them with the aid of a brilliantly simple but absolutely essential tool comprising metal strips of differing thicknesses. 1/16th of an inch. 1/24th of an inch. That sort of thing.

I knew this because my stepdad used to do all his own car maintenance, and I helped him. I changed oil. I replaced brake pads.

I would probably have built my own car by now had my apprenticeship not come to a halt almost as abrupt as the one we experienced halfway to Edinburgh. Someone, it seemed, had dropped a nut into the engine (no, not that kind of nut) which… well, you can probably guess that it wasn’t very good for the car.

But I learned a skill, to wit using the points-measuring-tool, which at the time was quite useful. Nowadays I imagine the job of the ‘points’ is done by something electronic, and any fault diagnosed with a laptop. When we’re told that we all need more skills, it’s about learning how to use software rather than working with antique measuring devices and whatnot. But then there are those, and our Ms B is one, who are quite sure that the whole digital universe will implode one day, at which time we will need all our old analogue skills and we will be found wanting! When electricity becomes extinct (no I’m not sure how this is supposed to happen), we won’t remember how to operate a manual typewriter or whisk an egg by hand – or will we?

Some would argue that those skills are gone and forgotten and that without digital technology we will be as helpless as babies, but I disagree. You only have to look at the dog, who has been so badly trained that he barely knows how to sit, but who nevertheless possesses a startling array of skills. When no more than six months old he found his way into a sheep field and, as I chased after him crying ‘Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!’ for the benefit of any farmers who might be watching, herded them into a corner. He then separated one from the flock and took it to a different corner, ready for – I don’t know, shearing?

Now he is six and too old for new tricks, you would think. Ha! Recently we were visiting relatives in the country. They have a lawn with bushes along one side and a tree at the end, and we were sitting under the tree, facing the other way. Suddenly we hear an excited bark. Almost ‘I found a rabbit!’ but with a note of perplexity: ‘I found a… this?’ We went over and there, in the middle of the lawn, curled up tight, its spines covered in wisps of grass, was a massive hedgehog.

Very much alive and, to judge from the snoring, fast asleep. There was no way it had transported itself into the middle of the lawn. It had been moved there, presumably by the dog. But how? We considered ‘nudging with the snout’, but a dog-owning friend assured us that this would have left the dog with a nose full of prickles.

‘Rolling with the paws’ would have had a similar result.

All we can think is that this city dog, this – let’s face it – cockerpoo, has deeply buried, almost magical skills designed to help him survive in situations quite different from the life he knows.

I, meanwhile, have tracked down the points-measuring-device.

Together we are ready for anything. ■

Publisher Email:

Steve Miklos steve@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Financial Director Email:

Jane Miklos jane@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Editor Tel: Email:

Amanda Nicholls 0117 974 2800 amanda@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Assistant Editor/Web Editor Millie Bruce-Watt Tel: 0117 974 2800 Email: millie@thebristolmagazine.co.uk Production Manager Email:

Jeff Osborne production@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Advertising Sales

Liz Grey liz@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

For advertising enquiries please contact us on: 0117 974 2800

Email: sales@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

The Bristol Magazine is published by MC Publishing Ltd. An independent publisher.

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The Bristol Magazine Tel: 0117 974 2800 www.thebristolmagazine.co.uk © MC Publishing Ltd 2021

2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED Disclaimer: Whilst every reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to The Bristol Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. This publication is copyright and may not be reproduced in any form either in part or whole without written permission from the publishers.

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ist

THE CITY THE BUZZ

My

BRISTOL Meet new-wave jazz/soul artist Samantha Lindo I’ve just released Those Kids, a single about hope, healing and finding home. It combines cinematic strings reminiscent of the 1950s jazz standards of my grandfather’s record collection; the R&B harmonies that marked my teenage years; and the Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohenlike poeticism that inspired me in my early twenties. The single started with a personal meaning about finding home in myself but through making the video, the subject matter expanded to comment on youth homelessness.

I live alongside young people at risk of homelessness at the UK’s first zero-carbon social housing project. Having moved 25 times – partly due to being in a single-parent family when I was young, and insecure renting – I have first and second-hand experience of the need for secure, just housing.

Without it we can’t heal, build and fulfil our potential. I’ve been talking about the importance of community since my 2017 TEDx performance at Bristol Beacon [on YouTube] and always chosen to live in community settings. It’s a counter-cultural way to live in a society often defined by individualism – causing lots of the mental health, loneliness and environmental crises we face.

Wall-to-wall works of wonder

After seeing Beyonce headline Glastonbury with an all-female band, I co-founded allfemale arts collective Girls Girls Girls. I figured that by collaborating, we could empower other womxn in music – still quite a male-dominated industry. We connected with UK charity The Orchid Project, campaigning to put an end to FGC, and used shows to raise awareness. To celebrate our 10th anniversary I performed in an all-female show at St George’s Bristol (I love the acoustics there) featuring Brit nominee Beth Rowley, ethereal grunger Eliza Shaddad and the Murmuration Choir. It was amazing to reflect on what we’d done in 10 years, including touring the UK and singing at the Museum of London’s Votes for Women exhibition.

We’ve really enjoyed this year’s approach to Upfest – Bedminster’s walls becoming ever-more vibrant and awash with new colour but incrementally, for 75 Walls.

With 75 murals being painted over 75 days for the project, while there’s perhaps slightly less fanfare for artists than when thousands would witness them painting live during buzzing Upfest weekend – customary prepandemic – we’ve loved the surreptitious appearances, day by day; incredible pieces steadily materialising every time we pop out to North Street for groceries or a cheeky cocktail.

75 Walls also features a landmark 50/50 gender split for the artist lineup, adding to the phenomenal amount of female artist talent on show already on Southville streets.

My favourite urban place is probably St Paul’s as I’ve lived there the longest. It’s full of art reflecting my own Jamaican heritage – where I grew up, on the outskirts of London until we moved to the South West when I was in my late teens, I didn’t have any of that. And I love Carnival. My favourite natural place is Conham River Park. It feels like you could be across the world on a sunny day – there’s a community of year-round bathers there.

• upfest.co.uk Images: Wonderful Inkie and Zabou work on West Street and Winterstoke Road respectively, and Liam Bonini’s beaut of a piece beside North Street Standard

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I start the day with a stretch on the yoga mat and a shot of cider vinegar – I swear by it. I do

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Samantha has always chosen to live in community settings as a counter-cultural way of life in a society often defined by individualism

a few hours of creative work then run before I listen to Woman’s Hour – I started in lockdown and can’t give it up! I try to practice or write, do some online lessons and listen to PM rewound. I’ll have the front door open so I can chat with whoever is passing.

I love Rising Arts Agency’s citywide exhibition on care. They are contributing powerfully to some of the most important conversations we are having. Isolde (who runs the Murmuration Choir) is doing great work creating art that engages with the climate crisis. That needs to happen more to connect what can, sometimes, be quite a heady issue, to the heart. I also love Holly from the Ishmael Collective, a Bristol jazz group just breaking. Her voice is insane and she has such an ethereal stage presence – she is clearly channelling something so deep.

I don’t eat much meat but when I do, I make it Star & Garter jerk chicken with rice, peas, coleslaw and dumpling by Lisa. Radek’s vegan raw chocolate brownie is the best Bristol-made treat – gluten and refined sugar-free. I used to be in a band with Radek and test out his recipes. For vegan breakfast with yummy beans and Columbian flavours: Este in Easton. Jubilee Food Hub in St Werburghs also do amazing coffee, pastries and homemade ice lollies.

Political leadership is incredibly complex and the mayor deals with competing issues really quite well. One thing I’d do is gather partners/stakeholders in education, sustainability, business and social justice to cocreate a citywide apprenticeship programme, specifically favouring Black and minority ethnic young people, and those from economically neglected white working-class areas, to build industries of the future: insulation and retrofitting, hydrogen, electric batteries, innovative tech and regenerative farming.

• @samanthalindouk

Image: Paul Driver/Hubbub

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Support the Spennylympics A brave couple is taking part in every Olympic sport over the 17 days of the Tokyo games, in memory of a loved one taken too soon.

From weightlifting to dressage and sailing to pole vaulting, Charlotte Nichols and Stuart Bates are running, throwing and jumping their way through nearly 100 sports and believe they’re the first to attempt the impressive feat. Not only do they need to complete a triathlon, 50km speed walk, 10km swim and 240km road cycle, but also a full marathon.

Charlotte has been fitting a rigorous training regime around studying to become a doctor in Bristol and Stuart around a full-time job as a window cleaner in Oxford. This year marks 10 years since the passing of Stuart’s brother Spencer ‘Spenny’ Bates, a father of two who died tragically young – aged 49 – due to motor neurone disease. Charlotte and Stuart hope to raise £10,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association with the ‘Spennylympics’ challenge. “The training has been tough, particularly fitting it around studying medicine,” said Charlotte. “But there have been some incredible moments – such as sailing in Weymouth as the sun was setting. It has been a chance for us both to think about Spenny a lot too. When you’re feeling achey and tired and you don’t want to go out and train, having him in your mind really helps.” Stuart describes Spenny as “a truly one-off character who was universally loved by all that met him. He was many things to many people – a loyal and trusted friend, a completely devoted father and husband and just the best company you could wish for. He was always at the centre of any mischief and his parties will be remembered for ever!”

More than 55 former and current Olympians have been recruited as challenge ambassadors, including rower Ollie Cooke, pole vaulter Holly Bradshaw and runner Sally Gunnell. Dozens offered lessons in everything from canoeing to rhythmic gymnastics.

Included in the challenge is a trip to Bath for track and field, time in Bristol at surf venue The Wave, and Weymouth – Spenny’s home town – for sailing and windsurfing. On the penultimate day, they will play football with friends and family of Spenny – well known in Weymouth as a drummer – with the final day the dreaded marathon!

• justgiving.com/fundraising/spennylympics

Images: @scherryvisuals

Fashion-fundraising fusion

FUZE finished their fundraising with a fashion extravaganza

Bristol students recently raised £23,500 for social justice charity Black South West Network, and Art Refuge – which uses art and art therapy to support displaced people – through a series of fashion and dance events that ended with a theatrical extravaganza.

FUZE Bristol, made up of nearly 50 University of Bristol creatives and launches in 2003, is focused on raising money through performance and the end-of-year show saw a cast and crew of 250 put on a ‘fashion musical’ at Lakota Gardens in Stokes Croft, with a theme of utopia. “Coming out of the pandemic, we wanted to show what a perfect new normal could look like: a utopia based on diversity, inclusion and sustainability,” explained Pippa Adamthwaite-Cook, FUZE Bristol’s managing director. “We wanted to do something really creative, while also creating an event that had a meaning behind it.

Black South West Network will put the money towards their new site, to make it accessible to local Black-led business, organisations and communities for cultural and business purposes. Art Refuge said the donations would be reinvested directly into delivering frontline projects with displaced people and those who support them.

Meanwhile Pippa has plans to grow FUZE into an even bigger organisation while she works in Bristol as a freelance radio producer. Watch said space...

OUT OF OFFICE: GONE FISHING A new vessel intended to clean up pollution in waterways has made its maiden voyage in Bristol. Launched by environmental charity Hubbub, the 12seater punt is made from 99% recycled single-use plastic and will be permanently based in Bristol Harbour.

‘Seacycler’ has been donated to the education consultants at Sustainable Hive and will take locals out on ‘plastic fishing’ trips to raise awareness of the levels of plastic pollution in Bristol, educating schoolchildren and businesses about the impact of litter on the environment as well as the value of recycling plastic.

The craftsman tasked with building the boat is Mark Edwards MBE, who built the Queen’s barge, Gloriana. The design is based on a traditional punt and has been made from the most modern of materials, Plaswood. The vessel is powered by a rechargeable electric motor too.

Seacycler will be moored at Young Bristol pontoon where the plastic fishing trips will set off from. With each trip, the boat will help remove more debris from Bristol Harbour, which will then be recycled and go towards making further boats with the same aim – a great example of a circular economy in action.

“By involving schools and businesses in a fun and engaging way, the plastic fishing trips will not only help clean up the harbour and reduce the impact of litter on wildlife, but demonstrate that plastic has a value and can be turned into something useful,” said Gavin Ellis, Hubbub co-founder.

Plastic fishing trips in Bristol Harbour will be available to local schools for free and to local businesses for a fee – those interested in taking part should contact olivia@sustainablehive.com.

• hubbub.org.uk

• @fuzebristol Twitter

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THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE 17

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In the 1970s, sound system culture was massive and St Paul’s was a favourite place for the big sounds to play. Levi was a part of one of London’s top sounds and made his first visit to St Paul’s in 1975

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CULTURE

Roots cause

There’s a movement that one musician, entrepreneur and food writer – that one who made it big on Dragons’ Den – cares deeply about. It’s called Carnival. Next month Levi Roots will begin a new role as chair of the board for this community calendar highlight, and he can’t wait

L

What did you spend your time doing during the lockdown?

evi Roots remembers well his trips to Bristol during the 1970s – playing in St Paul’s as part of the Sir Coxsone Outernational Sound System. It would be close to four decades later that he’d become a household name once he’d appeared on the BBC to pitch his Reggae Reggae sauce to the Dragons, but many in Bristol already knew him well. He had already been selling at food fairs for 16 years – as well as from shops in Stapleton Road, stalls in St Nicholas Market and Clifton – and not long after his sauce launched, he was invited to return to St Paul’s Carnival to gig live with his band.

Having been a regular in the city for so long, and given his passion for fusing music and food via carnival culture, along with his experience as a businessman, Levi was a clear choice for the Carnival board. In September he takes over from interim chair Carole Johnson and he’s really looking forward to it – he told us so.

My family and I used lockdown time to get fit, exercise more and eat healthily, doing it all indoors. I actually feel better now and less heavy than I have been in a very long time.

What have you been cooking recently?

Eating organically and healthily has become a passion. So the inside of our food cupboard and fridge looks a lot different than it did a few years ago.

Which Bristol music acts are you enjoying?

At the moment I am listening to and bigging up a new artist from Bristol called Zed Regal, who has a debut CD entitled Suh Mi Grow.

He approached me with a copy a couple of weeks ago; I played it on my radio show on Colourful.com and it sounded brilliant. I really liked his approach to me on the day and the CD’s production was spot on. I think we will be hearing a lot more from him.

TBM: What ambitions do you have for Carnival in your new role?

Levi: My aim is to make St Paul’s Carnival one of the most popular cultural street festivals in the world – one that is able to attract global sponsorships and support and to appeal and reach out to local businesses and other potential partners worldwide.

What would you say to those starting out in business?

Covid-19 has changed the way people look at businesses, especially start-ups. Being able to adapt to changes has become a norm for all aspiring entrepreneurs. The ability to be resilient is a must; to be able to survive the storm until the calm. My advice is to be prepared for every foreseeable eventuality. That way, even if you don’t know what is going to happen, you will be ready to seize the opportunity if it’s there.

Why is it so important for Carnival to continue, in real or virtual form?

Carnival represents the heart and soul of the people of St Paul’s; it’s their way of expressing who they are, to remind the world and themselves of their Caribbean roots, their cuisine and culture.

Carnival is the soul of the city: music, laughter, food and party vibe.

It’s when the city shouts the loudest, when our voice is heard. That message of “one love, let’s get together and feel alright” is what the celebration is all about, calling to people of all races, faiths, colours, political affiliations, who live here in this amazing city, with that eternal message of love and respect.

What have been your most memorable moments since Dragons’ Den? The birth of my son Christopher (now eight) has, by far, been the most amazing moment of my life since the Den; I thought I was done having children but apparently not. Also taking part in a bucket-list sky-dive in Dubai a few years ago – that was pretty cool.

Tell us a little more about your Bristol memories from the ’70s...

What’s next for you, other than driving St Paul’s Carnival forward?

In the 1970s, sound system culture was massive in the UK and St Paul’s was a favourite place for the big sounds from London to go and play. The people were friendly, loved reggae music and had a few really good local sounds who would challenge the Londoners in musical clashes. I was a part of one of London’s top sounds; I made my first visit in 1975 and continued every month for about four decades.

Bristol is a place that is expressing herself to the world now. There is no holding back from this amazing city – one that has so much to offer, to say and show to the rest of world – and St Paul’s Carnival is the heartbeat and rhythm of the community.

• stpaulscarnival.net; leviroots.com Image: UNTL Film

What have you noticed about how Bristol has changed since then?

Working on a cinematic movie about my life. We go into production in the new year. The film will highlight my life in Jamaica as a child and then coming to the UK, and cover the sauce and my Dragons’ Den pitch through to Sainsburys, Tesco, etc, etc. ■

How do you feel about Bristolians who supported you in the early days?

I will always feel a sense of gratitude to all the local shops and stores in St Paul’s who supported my Reggae Reggae sauce by stocking and distributing it, especially in those early years before my appearance on Dragons’ Den. It was precisely because of this backing by the stores and by their customers which allowed me to continue with the business in the most difficult times.

With Carnival’s LaToyah McAllister-Jones

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ANIMATION

Credit and copyright: BBC Children’s Productions Ltd 2020

10 things we love about top TV twosome JoJo and Gran Gran

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A local independent animation studio has scooped a British TV industry award for its efforts in producing the first UK pre-school animation centring around a Black British family. Millie Bruce-Watt catches up with the creators

he Bristol studio, A Productions, together with BBC Children’s In-House Productions, recently impressed in the best pre-school programme category at the Broadcast Awards – which celebrates the very best in British TV programming – and won.

JoJo And Gran Gran: It’s Time To Go To The Hairdresser’s – the 11-minute episode that got them the gong – was written by comedian Nathan Caton, who has appeared on some of the nation’s muchloved comedy shows including Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week and Russell Howard’s Good News, to name just a few. The A Productions series, which has broken new ground in pre-school programming, first aired on 6 March 2020 and has already been picked up by global networks and commissioned for a second and third series, set to hit our screens in 2022.

The series is based on the semi-autobiographical picture book JoJo And Gran Gran: All In A Week by international early years author, speaker and associate producer of the series, Laura Henry-Allain MBE. Laura was inspired by her close relationship with her Saint Lucian-born grandmother, who moved to London as part of the Windrush generation. The character JoJo is a nod to Laura’s middle 20 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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name, Josephine, and she wove her own heritage, lifestyle and upbringing into the characters.

Behind the successful series was a team of over 100 creative minds working tirelessly to make all 44 episodes the very best they could be.

We sought out A Productions’ joint managing director Katherine McQueen for the inside track on their top TV twosome and chatted to author Laura about her next ground-breaking creation.

A Productions helped produce the animated segments KM: For people not familiar with the show, JoJo is a curious five year old who loves her grandma, Gran Gran. While her mum and dad are at work, Gran Gran looks after JoJo and always has an exciting activity planned for their day together. The series was created by BBC Children’s In-House Productions in Salford; we are proud to produce the animated segments of the show in collaboration with them.

The team used Toonboom to create a picture-book look KM: The BBC in-house team wanted to create a painterly textured look for the series and we were fortunate that they were able to provide us with concept art and photo boards to inspire our team. Our aim was to

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ANIMATION

have it look and feel like a moving children’s picture book. We used a software called Toonboom, which allows us to keep the painterly textures of an illustration while allowing it to be animated.

Each episode took half a year to produce KM: Our part of the process takes around six months, from receiving a script from the BBC to delivering the finished animation back to them for post production – we do work on many episodes all at the same time. Animation has many, many stages and it’s certainly not a quick process but the final product is worth the long wait!

The background characters all have stories of their own KM: Eagle-eyed viewers on the first series will have spotted a pregnant couple at the start of the series and by episode 44 they had their baby. The hope is to expand the background character stories even more in the next two series, so keep an eye on which relationships unfold.

It is the first UK pre-school animation centred around a Black British family KM: As such, making sure that the show had an authentic voice was key. The BBC wanted us to ensure accurate cultural representation and we are proud this has resonated with the audience. The feedback we have had from people has included how excited they are to see ‘hair like ours’ and JoJo wearing her sleeping hair bonnet.

A cultural panel ensured the animation remained authentic KM: On the first series, there was a cultural panel made up of people from the broader Afro-Caribbean community. The panel fed back on scripts, storylines, set design and cultural references. You can see their input in everything from the artwork displayed in Gran Gran’s hallway to the hot pepper sauce on her kitchen worktop. Laura Henry-Allain MBE’s relationship with her grandmother was the inspiration behind the two central characters and Laura worked with the BBC as a consultant on the series.

A Productions were also the animators behind the Tweenies KM: We have been involved with so many great shows over the last 30-odd years but we are really proud of the work we did on the Tweenies, which feels a million years ago now, and more recently we produced Sesame Street’s first ever animated special for HBO Max.

Laura Henry-Allain MBE

Katherine McQueen

The series tackles real-life issues KM: JoJo and Gran Gran is a beautiful animated series that is rich in detail and multi-layered in its approach towards handling universal themes of diversity, multi-generational relationships, life cycles and the passing of time.

The animation has been signed on for two more series KM: There are two new series in the pipeline which we will be working on – they also include some very exciting double episodes! I can’t give anything away about what happens, but in true JoJo style I think the viewers will really enjoy them.

The team wanted authentically told everyday stories KM: Hairdresser is one of my favourite episodes. The hard work both the BBC production team and ourselves put in beautifully encapsulates everything we hoped to achieve on the series – an authentically told everyday story.

• Watch series one of JoJo and Gran Gran on BBC iPlayer.

From the creator: Laura Henry-Allain MBE “The series was everything I imagined. The CBeebies team and A Productions took on everything I was saying about my grandmother – her love for the community and how she loved all her grandchildren. Everything about her is woven into Gran Gran. The first time I saw an episode I burst into tears because I thought if my gran were here to see this, she would be super delighted.

“It’s great that JoJo and Gran Gran is recognised as the first animation that features a Black British family and I hope that there will be other shows that feature Black characters in the future – I hope it becomes the norm. I feel that is so important that we don’t only have JoJo and Gran Gran but that we see diversity in animation and live action. One of the things that I am passionate about is making sure we have diversity woven all the way through children’s media and we think more about how we feature disability, the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities and LGBTQ+ issues for example.

“I have recently written a new children’s book called My Skin, Your Skin. It is a powerful book to help children and adults have meaningful discussions about race and anti-racism. The book empowers children to be the best versions of themselves; to have self-love, self-esteem and self-worth, irrespective of their skin colour. Following recent events, I believe this is a well-needed book right now.”

• My Skin, Your Skin by Laura Henry-Allain, illustrated by Onyinye Iwu, will be published on 7 October; £9.99 (available to pre-order).

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COMEDY

Age of enlightenment

Image: David Levene, eyevine

Bearing fresh fruits of a fertile mind, Simon Amstell’s latest stand-up tour brings his quirky brand of confessional comedy back to Bristol. Words by James Mottram

Ageing is one of the show’s themes, says Amstell, who struggled with the milestone of turning 40

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“

’ve never felt more excited about a tour in my life,” says Simon Amstell. The British comedian and filmmaker is talking up his return to the world of stand-up, as he prepares to bring his new show Spirit Hole to audiences this autumn. ‘A blissful, spiritual, sensational exploration of love, sex, shame, mushrooms and more’, this 39-gig odyssey promises to be on a par with his 2019 Netflix special Set Free, which took viewers on a surreal meander through Amstell’s fertile mind.

“When I first started touring, I thought it was a silly thing to be doing,” he admits. “I felt like I should just stay in London. And people should come to me! Like The Lion King… I thought I should be like The Lion King!”

But after months of lockdown left him contemplating life, the universe, and his stand-up, Amstell is more than ready to go back out on the road.

“The show’s better now as a result of all this,” he says. “If there’s a silver lining, I may be funnier!” Certainly, fans of his acute observational humour won’t be disappointed. Right back to his early forays at the Edinburgh Fringe and shows like 2010’s Do Nothing, Amstell has proved himself a master at skewering his own social embarrassment. Like a self-help guru, but a thousand times funnier.

Image: Harry Carr

COMEDY

Amstell has proved himself a master at skewering his own social embarrassment.

Like a self-help guru, but a thousand times funnier

Take shame, an emotion he tackles in this new show. “I feel like I clear away a lot of shame by saying the stuff out loud that I’m worried about saying,” he says. “What I’m really scared of is not saying everything [but] leaving something out and then it remains this little demon in my head that’s making me feel like there’s something wrong with me. But the second I say the thing out loud that I feel embarrassed or ashamed to say, and realise that nothing happened, nobody walked out the room, it’s incredibly freeing.”

In fact, there may be no more enlightened comedian on the circuit than Amstell. “This year, thanks to a lot of magic mushrooms, I feel like I really know some stuff now that I didn’t know before,” he says. He’s taken the hallucinogenic drug, which has been used to treat depression in some cases, for “medicinal” purposes. “I’m very respectful of the mushroom. The mushroom is very powerful. I mean, it can be fun, but it’s not just a fun trip to me. It’s a healing, spiritual journey. I do it very ceremonially. There’s a lot of ritual.”

While many have fallen prey during lockdown to dark thoughts, Amstell seems to be flourishing. “I think I really learned to surrender. Finally. We’re all under the illusion that we’re in control of our lives. And this was pretty strong evidence that we’re definitely not.”

Ageing – another thing we can’t control – is also a big theme. “A lot of the show is about getting older,” he says. Amstell turned 40 in November 2019, a milestone he struggled with. “We’re in a culture where we’re told there are options and we’re sold anti-ageing products, whereas really the advert should say: ‘Hi. Nothing can be done. Maybe get a hobby.’”

Amstell has honed his style of confessional comedy, not just in stand-up but also on the BBC Two sitcom Grandma’s House, which he wrote and starred in. He continued this semi-autobiographical streak with 2018’s feature film Benjamin, which he wrote and directed. Dubbed ‘funny, charming and overpoweringly personal’ by The Guardian, it told the story of a filmmaker, played by Colin Morgan, preparing to premiere his second movie as he falls in love with a French music student named Noah. “I really loved directing,” Amstell reflects. “I had an idea that I would love to do it. But then

when I was actually doing it… every day it was just such a joy, working with actors and hearing and seeing what you’ve written come to life.”

Such were the artistic pleasures of Benjamin, Amstell is already planning another experience behind the camera. He’s written a script, this time with a female protagonist, and has already begun the long process of getting it financed and cast.

I really learned to surrender. Finally. We’re all under the illusion that we’re in control of our lives. And this was pretty strong evidence that we’re definitely not

“Ideally we will shoot it next year,” he explains. Before that, there’s the little matter of the Spirit Hole tour, which concludes at the prestigious London Palladium in November – almost fulfilling his fantasy of a Lion King-style West End residency.

He feels “optimistic” – a light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel feeling – after the year that the world has endured. “This is a planet we’re not treating very well,” he says, “and my hope is that we have been challenged enough to change in some way.” Rest assured, though: Spirit Hole won’t be one long gig about Coronavirus. “I feel like not mentioning would be a bit peculiar, but then going on about it would be slightly unbearable. I’ll only be discussing it through the prism of my own weird emotions.”

We wouldn’t want it any other way. ■ • See Simon perform as part of his Spirit Hole tour at The Redgrave Theatre in Bristol on 18 September; simonamstell.com

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CREATIVE BRISTOL

Saili’s poetry was the starting point for the installation (image: Danielle Vincent)

The laminated glass will be darkened for projection-mapped imagery (image: Danielle Vincent)

Limbic Cinema is using projections to recreate the energy of the underwater world (image: Danielle Vincent)

Voyage on the Iron Island

A spoken word and visual art collaboration is bringing big ocean energy back to the SS Great Britain to convey the continued relevance of its timeless cargo – experiences of emigration and transition that we can learn from

N

ot since she was rescued some half a century ago has the SS Great Britain been surrounded by the sights, sounds and movements of the sea. Now, in Bristol’s multimedia design studio Limbic Cinema and Wiltshire writer and performance poet Saili Katebe, the SS Great Britain has ignited a contemporary creative response that has resulted in a new immersive multimedia experience for visitors.

Known as the world’s first great ocean liner, the SS Great Britain was saved from the Falklands seabed in July 1970 when her rusty hull was at risk of splitting in two. Back in her original dockyard and beautifully restored, the ship now enjoys 200,000 visitors a year to Europe’s most welcoming museum (it’s true, the European Museum of the Year Awards said so in 2019).

“I was taken by the stories and history,” said Saili Katebe, whose latest poem Iron Island provided the inspiration for the installation (extract at the end of this article).

“She is clearly very special; there was a lot of

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hard work and dedication that went into bringing her back and preserving her.

“The ship carried thousands of people to America and Australia – many of them leaving home forever. She still bears the cargo of their stories – so much hope, fear and ambition. I imagined the ship as an island made of iron, something which stays strong even in the upheaval of change and challenge.

“Now more than ever, it’s invaluable to hear and explore stories from across the globe, and as the first ship of her time to travel as far and as often as she did, there are so many stories still to be discovered; so much truth and life to be uncovered.

“It was an honour to celebrate the ingenuity of the ship and that passion for what we can learn from its stories.”

The installation combines projection, lighting and surround sound to transport audiences through underwater worlds. Much of the 1,000 square metres of laminated glass will be darkened, making for a unique space for projection-mapped imagery to materialise on the walls and iron hull. Speakers,

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John Henry Chatterton Voyage 11 return

Whilst serving out the bread this morning we heard that there was an iceberg in sight.

Got out my telescope and looked at it. It appeared to be about six or seven miles off. The sun was shining brightly at the time, and it looked exceedingly pretty.

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CREATIVE BRISTOL

Image: Adam Gasson

Explore Iron Island by night on 2 September.

Below: the audio team tried to detect low frequency sounds to record for the soundtrack

Charles Albert Chumley Voyage 20 return

Extract from Iron Island We are a rabble of dreamers waving at the harbour, where friends and family blur into confetti.

...No one who has not seen an iceberg can form an idea of the appearance of them, there was one which we were very close to, about 50ft high, over which waves literally broke themselves till the whole thing appeared, when the sun shone, like a volcano of glass throwing out showers of diamonds...

They watch us disappear from all the familiar spaces leaving silence in our place.

From here on out we will be absent from community gatherings, family reunions and evening meals.

We are joining a community aboard an iron island, carrying promises we made on borrowed courage.

more reflective as the ship navigates carefully through an icefield. The events depicted have been developed from passenger diaries, providing a feeling of revisiting the ship’s long and dramatic history.

As part of the experience there’ll also be a ‘museum late’ event on 2 September for people to explore after hours, with the added bonus of pop-up bars with Iron Island cocktails, prosecco and a full bar.

“The SS Great Britain rests, today, back in her original dry dock, but she was designed for a completely different environment – the world’s oceans,” said Kate Rambridge, head of interpretation. “This astonishing ship travelled more than a million miles at sea, and she still carries traces of salt in her iron hull.

Although she’ll never sail again, digital multimedia can bring the sea back to the ship and show how she performed in that element – so that audiences can see her, once again, as resilient, graceful and dynamic.”

• Experience Iron Island 23 August – 19 September; ssgreatbritain.org/ironisland Image: Danielle Vincent

meanwhile, set within the dry dock, will resonate with sounds of the ocean, with an original score composed by multiinstrumentalist Joe Acheson of Hidden Orchestra. Saili’s spoken-word piece leads the narrative, exploring themes of invention, discovery, migration and freedom.

Limbic Cinema brought their multimedia and projection-mapping expertise to the project, developing a story inspired by the ship’s voyages. “The combination of the iron hull, glass sea overhead and centuries-old brickwork make this a spectacular location acoustically and visually,” said founder Thom Buttery. “Layer on the history and sense of bringing the sea back to the ship, and you capture a powerful sense of journey. Digital storytelling enables us to expand beyond the confines of the space and by augmenting the moving image with the ship itself we are able to create a real sense that the ship is in motion again.”

So what’s the deal when you descend under the ‘glass sea’ to walk around the iron hull, becoming immersed in multisensory storytelling as you reach the bow? Divided into three acts – ‘departure’, ‘storm’ and ‘icefield’ – the journey takes visitors off across the ocean, encountering various forms of sea life before a storm has the ship rising and falling in the waves with thunder and lightning all around. Glowing icebergs signal a mood

We confront the water knowing nothing about the sea sailing the full length of the globe to make a difference.

By virtue of hazard and hope we unravel our comforts, float past what was once possible exploring the road less traveled.

Remember to carry a compass when facing the unknown, a strong current could break your bearings. When the wind is up, where you came from can feel like a distant constellation.

...As I was looking at it through a glass a large block slowly disengaged itself and rolled into the water with a tremendous splash... ...The cold was intense while we were close to it and is even at this moment almost freezing my fingers, which circumstance added to the rolling of the ship makes this document rather illegible. We certainly had a most providential escape as steering one degree farther to the North would have sent us right against the ice...

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LOCAL | EVENTS

What’s on in August The Blind Exit by Conor Harrington Vanguard: Bristol Street Art

Katy J Pearson

Vanguard: Bristol Street Art n Throughout August, M Shed From anarchist origins in the ’80s and ’90s through to the explosion of the scene in the early ’00s, this exhibition brings together one of the largest collections of original works and memorabilia ever seen in the UK. The show examines the creative response of the city’s pioneering underground scene throughout the UK’s turbulent social and political history and reflects on how a new generation of global creatives are advocating for social and environmental awareness through art on the streets. bristolmuseums.org.uk The Future is Here: The Swinging Sixties Collection n Throughout August, The Ken Stradling The swinging Sixties are back in focus this month at The Ken Stradling Collection, where there’s a brand new exhibition.

Running until 25 September, ‘The Future Is Here: The Swinging Sixties’ explores the futuristic feel of the decade through design in the home. Whether you’re old enough to remember the era or young enough to only imagine its grooviness, head to this exhibition if you’re keen to explore designs by the women and men who devoted their lives to creating new and lively products to delight people in their homes. stradlingcollection.org 26 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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The Colston Statue: What Next? n Throughout August, M Shed A year since the Edward Colston statue was removed during protests in the centre of Bristol, the city is being asked what should happen to it next. The exhibit is part of a temporary display with a survey drafted by the We Are Bristol History Commission, canvassing citizens’ views on the future of the statue. The statue itself sits alongside a selection of placards from the Black Lives Matter protest of that day as well as a timeline of key events. bristolmuseums.org.uk Fiesta Fortnight n 1 – 14 August, various locations Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is holding a ‘Fiesta Fortnight’ instead of its annual event at Ashton Court Estate.

Determined to continue to put on a show for the city, the Fiesta will deliver a number of launches during the first two weeks of August. These events will be designed for members of the public to enjoy at a distance, from the safety of their own homes and communities. Keep an eye on Bristol International Balloon Fiesta’s website for more details. bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk Terrace Sessions n 5 – 29 August, Bristol Beacon Bristol Beacon presents its sixth year of No 201

Terrace Sessions, and this year it’s a full month of free and ticketed parties featuring the absolute cream of party-organisers from Bristol and beyond, all on Bristol Beacon’s sun-drenched terrace, looking out over the city. Taking place from Thursdays to Saturdays throughout August, each session starts straight after clocking off time at 6pm for the ultimate weekend party vibes. So head on over, crack open a beer and soak up some summer rays. bristolbeacon.org Apollo Sessions: Greg Cordez n 6 August, St George’s Bristol In June 2021, the stylish bassist and composer Greg Cordez released his third album Magnolia on Ropeadope Records.

For this performance, Cordez is joined by a stellar line-up: Rebecca Nash (on keys), Nicholas Dover (on saxophone), Steve Banks (on guitar), Andrew Bain (on drums). stgeorgesbristol.co.uk The Museum of the Moon n 11 – 30 August, Bristol Cathedral Over its lifetime, the Museum of the Moon is being presented in a number of different ways both indoors and outdoors, so as to alter the experience and interpretation of the artwork. As it travels from place to place, it gathers new musical compositions and an ongoing collection of personal responses, stories and mythologies, as well

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Picnic Prom with Classico Latino at Iford Festival

as highlighting the latest moon science. The moon will be on display in the crossing of Bristol Cathedral from 11 August to 30 August. bristol-cathedral.co.uk Candlelight: Chopin's Best Works n 12 August, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery Whether you’re looking for a beautifully unique classical music performance or a romantic candlelit experience, this performance is for you. You don’t need to know all things Chopin to enjoy the evening – simply sit back and savour the atmosphere and stunning pieces you’ll hear. Walk into one of Bristol’s emblematic buildings where the walls will be flickering with magical candlelight.

Prepare to be taken into the clouds with Chopin’s most treasured masterpieces. feverup.com The Iford Festival n 21 August, Belcombe Court The Iford Festival is returning to the gorgeous 18th-century grounds of Belcombe Court on 21 August. Rarely open to the public, the Grade I listed house is set in 60 acres of glorious formal gardens, parkland and woodland, and the organisers are taking full advantage of the outdoors for this exciting series of events in a spectacular saddlespan structure, starting with an everpopular evening picnic prom. ifordarts.org.uk Disney’s Beauty and the Beast n From 25 August, Bristol Hippodrome Disney proudly invites you to be its guest as possibly the most enchanted musical of all time returns to the UK stage.

Spectacularly reimagined using the latest theatrical innovations, this beloved ‘tale as old as time’ will be brought to life on stage like never before. atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome Katy J Pearson n 25 & 26 August, The Louisiana The Louisiana is welcoming Katy J Pearson for two intimate sessions this August. Influenced by western Americana, her powerful voice and impressive songwriting talent has seen her become one of the UK’s most talked-about rising stars. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out Katy’s music video for her track Miracle from her debut album, Return. Katy recruited comedian Joe Lycett to direct the wonderfully surreal video. thelouisiana.net THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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“We’re asking our very large ensemble of musicians to be like a giant mobile human jukebox.”

A dollop of love

Bristol is home to Paraorchestra – the world’s only large-scale orchestra of professional disabled and non-disabled musicians. As they gear up for their biggest commission to date, Millie Bruce-Watt chats to their conductor and artistic director

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bright shining light in the music industry today is, without a doubt, Paraorchestra – the world’s only integrated orchestra of professional disabled and nondisabled musicians. Founded in 2012 by award-winning international conductor and musical revolutionary Charles Hazlewood, the Paraorchestra made its debut performance at the Paralympics’ closing ceremony in London. As the world’s eyes watched an orchestra of 18 world-class musicians play alongside Coldplay, a dream was born, a ripple of hope was sent across the world and a powerful message played out – music is a birthright not a luxury.

Almost a decade later and the Paraorchestra has grown into a 90piece ensemble with around 40 musicians identifying as disabled.

From Glastonbury Festival to Carlyon Bay, the orchestra has been spreading the word, encouraging musicians to stand up and be counted. They are undeniably a shining example of the joy and the brilliance that emerges when positive change is achieved.

This year, the Paraorchestra is bringing its biggest commission to date to the streets of Knowle West. Described as sonic street food, SMOOSH! will see a core of 20 musicians from the Paraorchestra ensemble join 50 community wind and brass players and a troop of dancers performing tub-thumping karaoke tunes on the move. As rehearsals kicked off, we caught up with the conductor, who told us all about the ‘smooshability’ of their mobile ‘masseoke’; why he’s decided to work exclusively with the Paraorchestra; and the exciting plans that lie in wait.

“One of the trademark aspects of the wonderful Paraorchestra is that we pride ourselves on working in so many different contexts and in so many different kinds of styles of music and approach and nature of show,” says Hazlewood. “This is an interesting one in that we’re asking our very large ensemble of musicians to be like a giant mobile human jukebox. It’s bringing hopefully a great big dollop of love to the streets of Knowle West. It’s not often that you get world-class wind, brass and percussion players and a giant crazy band banging out Kate Bush, Adele, Basement Jaxx and all this music that’s in our 30 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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bloodstreams. After the year that we’ve all had, I really hope it will bring people out to their front gardens with that sense of celebration of joy, the joy of humanity in one great big outpouring.”

The ensemble will start at Filwood Community centre on 17 September and make its way through the suburban streets, inviting everyone and anyone to join the celebrations.

But what does SMOOSH! mean? “I love looking at the etymology of strange words and I have for a long time known about the word smoosh,” Hazlewood says with a laugh. “It’s basically American English and it’s got two meanings which sort of relate to each other.

The first meaning... if you cook a cauliflower and you cook it really thoroughly so it’s really soft and then you want to mash in some grated cheese the process of smashing in some grated cheese is called smooshing. The second meaning... if you see a little kitten that’s freaking adorable and you just want to cuddle it, you want to smoosh it. It’s such a tactile word and hopefully the production is just a glorious great big smoosh, which should open up Knowle West and its smooshability.”

The journey In his 30-year career, Hazlewood has conducted some of the greatest in the classical repertoire with some of the best orchestras in the world. He’s been a significant presence on British television and radio for decades and his innovations continue to attract new audiences to orchestral music as he reimagines what an orchestra is. The Paraorchestra, however, is clearly held in a special place in his heart.

Hazlewood talks with such passion, speed and spirit that it’s not hard to be carried along with him. His mission is clear and concise – he wants to bring the ever-more modern joy of orchestral music to the 21st century audience and, in doing so, change lives and communities for the better.

“Paraorchestra is the only orchestra in the world that is a reflection of modern society. The starting point came for it when my youngest daughter was born with cerebral palsy. Very quickly it got me thinking, I’ve had a 30-year career conducting orchestras around the world and I

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MUSIC can count on the fingers of one hand the number of musicians who are disabled that I’ve encountered – it’s absurd, you can’t tell me that there aren’t millions of prodigiously gifted musicians who happen to identify as disabled.

“Where is their platform? Where is their voice? It’s not just that – of course it’s about equity – but it’s also about not missing out on talent.

At the moment, we’re missing out on millions of talented people because we haven’t got a system in place which allows them to take part.”

Hazlewood has carved a reputation as quite the maverick when it comes to mixing musical genres – pushing the creative boundaries in every way possible, to serve as a template for generations of forwardthinking artists, and inspiring elation. “The orchestral industry, as it currently is, is very much about the custodians of a tradition – and there’s nothing wrong with that – we all need our Brahms and our Beethoven – but at the same time there needs to be more forward thinking and forward moving. You show me any other kind of aspect of human experience that hasn’t continued to evolve with current technologies, and why would you want to miss out on the wonder of analogue synthesisers or digital instruments? It makes no sense.

Bristol has become the hotspot for this work [creating opportunity for young artists who identify as disabled] more than any other city in this country or, indeed, anywhere in the world “The orchestra is alive and well in everyone’s living rooms if you think about it – all video games invariably have big orchestral backing, and all those movie scores. It’s just that people having a live experience of it is rare and there aren’t that many, perhaps – if you look at the population as whole – that will darken the door of the Royal Festival Hall and that’s a shame. We really hope we can bring about change.”

Sky Arts ambassador In January of this year, Hazlewood became Sky Arts’ ambassador for music – one of five ambassadors appointed – which now marks Paraorchestra as the channel’s flagship orchestra. As part of this, Sky Arts will invest £60,000 over two years into the musicians. This has created a musicians-in-residence scheme that, under Hazlewood’s support and mentoring, enables Paraorchestra to cultivate some of the extraordinary D/deaf and disabled talent within the ensemble.

“Sky Arts are doing what they can out in the communities, catalysing change and inspiration and fresh possibilities so it seemed like a natural fit for me to take on an ambassadorial role, taking Paraorchestra with me. It will also give us an opportunity to reach out to people who may never come to one of our gigs.

It’s not often you get world-class wind and brass players banging out Kate Bush and Basement Jaxx...

Conductor Charles Hazlewood.

“Paraorchestra is the only orchestra in the world that is a reflection of modern society.”

“We have three musicians who are the first of this year’s musicians in residence and they are doing all kinds of things like taking the viola into the world of drum and bass, learning how to compose a film, learning how to produce, learning how to orchestrate – it’s all about the ecogology within the orchestra of growing talent. We are already benefiting from it but seeing it grow exponentially and perhaps in unexpected directions. Sky Arts has helped us and made it possible for us to do that so that’s wonderful.”

Paraorchestra is always on the look-out for emerging talent and it is of utmost importance to support those joining the family. “Every 18 months to two years we do a musicians call-out, which is specifically for musicians who identify as disabled. Our most recent call gave us 12 new musicians so each time we’re adding more to our flock.”

A year of recalibration As the pandemic ground us all to a halt, Hazlewood saw it as an opportunity to look inwards and identify the ways in which the orchestra could better support its musicians. Having said goodbye to his international production company and the orchestras he’s worked with for 30 years, he is now dedicating his full time and commitment to the Paraorchestra, he says.

“Lockdown has been an opportunity for us to pause and really think about the ecology of our orchestra. The music industry is a tough one; it can be brutal. We don’t want to be another replicant of that model, we want to create something that is much more holistic – family-based – where we listen to each other and support each other in every way that we can.

“Our number one mantra at Paraorchestra is “if the only purpose to life is joy, then anything is possible” – very simple but very helpful.

The best city in the world Hazlewood credits Bristol as part of Paraorchestra’s success, naming it his favourite city on the planet. “Everything changed for us when we moved to Bristol. It’s a special vibe and we really love our Bristol audience, they have taken us to their hearts. This is the first time we’re playing in Knowle West and we can’t wait to get there. They’ve welcomed us with such wonderfully wide open arms, which has meant a huge amount to us.

“The wonderful Bristol Beacon, which we’re doing this show with, is also doing so much great work with another initiative called OpenUp Music, helping to level the playing field and create training and opportunity for young artists who identify as disabled. Bristol has become the hotspot for this work more than any other city in this country or, indeed, anywhere in the world.”

Look out for Paraorchestra’s lockdown project Death Songbook on Sky Arts, coming soon, as well as the 21st Century Orchestra, a new Sky Arts series that the ensemble will soon begin filming for. “It will look at all the innovations that we have discovered are possible in terms of placing an orchestra front and centre, in real people’s lives, normal people’s lives, every person’s life,” says Hazlewood. n • SMOOSH! is taking place on 17 September at Filwood Community Centre; paraorchestra.com THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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Island with the streams

Katy Sargent, Luke Thornton and David Havard’s debut album saw their three-piece band amass over one million monthly listeners on Spotify and 200 million global streams. Having now released the follow-up, Elder Island talk with us about their Bristol influences and remaining genre neutral

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eople talk about that ‘difficult second album’ syndrome at the best of times – imagine throwing a mega-challenging pandemic in for good measure. It makes Bristol’s trio Elder Island’s latest output all the sweeter. Heavily inspired by our local indie and electronic scenes, as well as the city itself, the shimmery, hypnotic tunes on Swimming Static thread poetic lyricism and unfamiliar instruments over synth-heavy dance beats.

Cherry-picking elements of pop and neo-soul to boot, vocalist/cellist Katy Sargent, bassist/beat maestro Luke Thornton and guitarist/synth master David Havard have woven a strong web of sound to follow The Omnitone Collection (2019) which saw them fly off to perform around the world – London, New York City, San Francisco – then back to their beloved Bristol, for far longer than anticipated, for round two. Let’s find out how that went...

Strange Brew started hammering out amazing shows from as soon as they were able and Zoggs, containing the Noods Radio studio, is an institution in the making

selection of touring DJs. We were very fortunate at the time as it all felt so raw and exciting. The venues have now changed but there’s still a hugely rich and varied live music scene in Bristol.

You meld a few genres – does each of you lean towards a certain one?

There’s a large crossover in the music we like to listen to; a spacious area in the centre of our Venn diagram. It’s not very easy to separate out – I guess you could say Luke leans to jazz, dub and soul; Katy to pop, dancehall, ambient; Dave to disco and house, but it all crosses over. On the whole we like to remain ‘genre neutral’.

Which song or lyric holds the most meaning for each of you?

Katy: Intertwine; I love a good, emotional, brooding track. I developed the lyrics from a poem I had written previously which enriched it. Plus, my mum says it always makes her tearful; that’s good enough for me.

Luke: Late At Night; I really enjoyed sinking my teeth into this one, I’m a big fan of a late-night groove.

Dave: “I’m a modern woman” from Queen of Kings. I like how it opens that section of the track up and how it’s delivered. Also Cannonball for more meaning; it’s got a real raw edge to it.

What are your favourite venues in Bristol?

TBM: Tell us a little about how the past year has been for you, with the making of the second album Elder Island: The past year has been a rollercoaster of emotions and creativity. From the beginning of 2020 we set out the task of writing and finishing a new album. To be honest, it would have taken a lot more than a pandemic to stop us. At first, when we heard the whispers of Covid spreading, it was unsettling, but it just meant we spent a bit more time in the studio reflecting on what was happening. If anything, lockdown forced us to work harder. At points it was intense, but we tried to use the feeling to motivate us.

It inspired us to escape the chaos by creating hidden soundscapes within the music.

How has Bristol shaped your music?

We first came to Bristol in 2007 for university and apart from some brief trips back home (Birmingham/Bournemouth) it’s been the main arena for our musical upbringing. As students we would be out at clubs and gigs most nights. Mostly things we could dance to.

Dubstep was on the rise, French electro was having a big impact, and Bristol was a common stop for overseas bands touring the UK. Clockwork was still around, Motion was just opening its doors and there was a good selection of small, sweaty subterranean clubs like Timbuk2, Native, Basement 45 and Take Five that had a great 32 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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Too tricky! Trinity is one; the community vibes, the building itself and the variety of shows they put on. We’d love to play there again.

The last show we played at Motion – Marble Factory – was also amazing. The crowd was so hyped it was infectious. It felt like a proper homecoming show.

What are the best/most memorable gigs you’ve been to here?

Gigs of the past, off the top of our heads: Roots Manuva, Lykke Li, Flying Lotus (Thekla); Metronomy, The Invisible (The Louisiana); MSTRKRFT, The Apples, Baths (Start the Bus). We also want to do a big shout out to two new venues: Strange Brew and Micky Zoggs.

Both are excellent additions to Bristol’s music scene. Strange Brew started hammering out a variety of amazing shows from as soon as they were able and Zoggs, paired with and containing the Noods Radio studio, is an institution in the making. Check them out!

Who in Bristol inspired or encouraged you in your musical journey?

He’ll laugh at this but probably producer Ali Chant. We worked with him on The Omnitone Collection and a selection of Swimming Static tracks. We first met him when we were trying to finish our second EP. He invited us to go see him at his studio where we listened to a few tracks. At the time we had no money to work with anyone but he helped us out and gave us a few pointers. We always remembered that. When we finally got to work with him, he

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Image by Nic Kane

MUSIC

Bristol has been the main arena for the band’s musical upbringing, and they remember its small, sweaty, subterranean clubs fondly

introduced us to a new level of studio production and recording.

It was an exciting and creative process producing The Omnitone Collection with him. Ali raised the bar for us. It inspired us to work on the quality of our own studio.

We’re loving new Bristol band Heka. Catchy songs with great synthy productions and the music videos are a sight to behold!

Which up-and-coming Bristol acts are you rating?

Really loving the tracks from new band Heka. Catchy songs with great synthy productions and the music videos are a sight to behold!

Eyes on our friend Daisy Moon, and hyped for the new Kinlaw & Franco Franco release coming soon. After having a sneak preview, it’s safe to say it’s sounding bigger and better than ever.

If you could have dinner with any musician, who would it be?

Luke: Prince – ’cause its Prince... Or Stevie Wonder. I have so many questions to ask him and I bet he has loads of stories to tell. Or Tom Waits. Or Frank Zappa. Or Joni Mitchell. Can I have all of them!?

Katy: I’m not too good with large groups at dinner parties so I’m going for Brian Eno and Kate Bush.

Dave: Can I have dinner with musical instrument makers?

Bob Moog, Alan R Pearlman and Tatsuya Takahashi.

Where in Bristol have you lived and what do you like about it?

There have been many places, all with their own special charm.

The first house we all lived in was situated at the bottom of Brandon Hill – amazing for being right in the centre of town and on the harbourside at the same time. We’ve also lived south of the river, split between Southville and Totterdown; of course, over the years North Street has boomed, providing new record shops, pubs and bars. Plus Photographique is a popular spot for us as we use them when making the artwork for our records. Now we’re situated more east of the centre, spread out from Montpelier to Easton. We love the diverse, vibrant energy that seems to be unique to this side of the city.

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

Luke: We get asked this question a lot. Over time, after mentioning musicians like Anderson Paak or producers like Moodymann, I think that most of all I would like to collaborate with some visual artists for a project. Ryoji Ikeda or Olafur Eliasson, for example. I think an artist of this kind could elevate the music we make as we make it. Also we could create one hell of a live experience to take on the road. ■ • Swimming Static is out now. Elder Island are due to perform at Bristol’s SWX on 28 & 29 October; elderisland.com THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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EXHIBITIONS

STATE OF THE ART Summer Blues, Rainmaker Gallery, until 28 August Rainmaker Gallery is celebrating 30 years of exhibiting contemporary Native American art in the UK. Throughout the year, the gallery is showcasing artworks selected in accordance with seasonal colour palettes, including as many artists from the three decades as possible. The current exhibition emphasises ‘summer blues’, bringing together paintings, drawings, original prints and fine art photography by more than a dozen artists from diverse tribal nations.

• rainmakerart.co.uk Image: To Greet the Summer Storms by Shonto Begay (Diné)

Clifton Arts, 11th Annual Open Summer Exhibition, Victoria Methodist Church, 1 Whiteladies Road, until 15 August After a year’s forced absence Clifton Arts is back, showing 400-plus pieces of art. This will be Bristol’s largest art exhibition since the pandemic broke in 2020. “We think this is the first major exhibition for the public to enjoy in Bristol for at least 15 months,” says exhibition organiser Anne Elliott. “We are so happy that we can get back to business, and show off the art of professionals and amateurs alike.”

On show will be paintings, drawings and sculptures selected by a distinguished independent panel of judges.

For more information visit Clifton Arts’ website.

• cliftonarts.co.uk Image: Bodmin by Julie Mainstone (prize-winning selectors choice of 2019)

Summer Exhibition, Lime Tree Gallery, until 31 August Lime Tree Gallery has a wide-ranging, strong and vibrant exhibition for the summer months, featuring work by many favourite gallery artists including Chris Brooks, John Evans, Phil Johns, Alan James McLeod, Luis Morris, Pete Newell, Philip Richardson, Alexander Robb and Elsa Taylor. Ranging from the traditional to the modern, the figurative to the abstract, the painterly exhibition is complemented by a fine collection of glass, ceramics, sculpture

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by Helen Sinclair as well as jewellery by Moa Smith.

Lime Tree Gallery specialises in contemporary fine art and glass, and holds regular exhibitions throughout the year, each one accompanied by a fully illustrated web catalogue. The team have a particular love of contemporary Scottish artists, and will always have a varied selection of their art on show.

• limetreegallery.com Image: Blossom by Elsa Taylor

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EXHIBITIONS

Staycation, Room 212, throughout August

BS9 Arts Trail, various locations in BS9, 4 & 5 September

Celebrate your British holiday this summer! ‘Staycation’ features images, from Bristol to Cornwall, in a range of media: original paintings and prints, ceramics and jewellery.

Room 212 is a Gloucester Road gallery, home to a range of popular local artists who are inspired by their monthly themes. The exhibition will feature coastal paintings by Emma Catherine and Jenny Urquhart, quirky pictures by Rosie Webb and Maita Robinson, mugs by Sophie Delarny, copper and enamel earrings by Kath Williams and Katie Johnston and lampshades by batik artist Jo Whiteland, along with the usual array of Bristol images.

BS9 Arts Trail kicks off this year’s Bristol art trail season on 4 September, back after an enforced pandemic break. There’s so much to see in one postcode which includes Henleaze, Stoke Bishop and Westbury-on-Trym and there’s plenty of green space too. Sixty-five artists are exhibiting in a mixture of group venues and private houses. It’s a great way to buy affordable art of all varieties: jewellery, mosaics, paintings, prints, ceramics, photography, sculpture, textiles and more. You also have the opportunity to chat to the artists about their work.

• room212.co.uk

• bs9arts.co.uk

Image: Surfs Up by Emma Catherine

Image: artwork by Nancy Chambers

Sir Frank Bowling, Arnolfini, until 26 September Arnolfini is showcasing a major exhibition with pioneering painter Sir Frank Bowling as part of its 60th anniversary celebrations. The exhibition features new and recent works which demonstrate the continued exploration and experimentation with the painted surface for which Bowling is renowned. This is the artist’s first museum exhibition since his critically acclaimed and long overdue retrospective at Tate Britain in 2019, which cemented his reputation as a modern master. It includes new and previously unseen works – including several created during the pandemic – alongside key paintings from the last decade, providing a fascinating insight into Bowling’s work.

• arnolfini.org.uk Image: Sir Frank Bowling OBE, RA. Photograph © Sacha Bowling

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Cerulean Jug with Orange by Lucy McKie ROI.

Lime Tree Gallery, 84 Hotwell Road, Bristol BS8 4UB

Tel 0117 929 2527 • www.limetreegallery.com

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ARTS

Landscapes of the psyche

Midge Naylor’s work sparkles with energetic imagination. Eschewing any physical visual references, she draws inspiration from her memories of the Scottish landscapes of her childhood. Words by Emma Clegg

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ainters who depict the landscape around them can spend a lifetime exploring their subjects. For Claude Monet it was plein air landscapes in his Giverny garden; for Paul Gaugin it was the rich and glowing hues of the islands of West Polynesia; for John Constable it was the glorification of nature in his Sussex home in Dedham Vale.

Landscapes in contemporary painting – with its compulsion to find a new vocabulary – may feel less accessible because we don’t always recognise the story. But Bristol-based painter Midge Naylor’s artistic imagination has such a connection, indelibly linked to the fishing and mining community where she grew up and the landscape of her childhood, the Lammermuir Hills in East Lothian. “I have such strong memories of looking out to sea in my mum’s house in East Lothian.

That is what haunts me. And these are the landscapes of my imagination,” she says.

“Everything I do is a result of a visual experience that’s stored inside me. If I think of it now I can see the landscape, quite clearly, that I used to look out on when I was a child.”

I start painting and I have no idea what’s going to happen and I work the paint in layers driven by the paint and by mark-making

Midge wanted to go to art school when she was 18, but she was persuaded not to by her mother. “My mum was terrified that I would become unemployable, so I didn’t go.” So Midge worked for years as a commercial painter and decorator in film and television, including productions such as Casualty when it was filmed in Bristol, which she tells me firmly was not a creative role, it just paid the bills. So her art education started later, when she made her way to study fine art at UWE in Bristol in the early 1990s when she was living in Bath and her daughter first started school. “Art college is a wonderful thing, because it gives you an overview of what you are doing while you are doing it, but my work was completely different then because I was fascinated by figurative art.”

The definitive spur for the creative journey she has been on since came during a visit to St Ives, Midge says. “Even as a mature student I was quite naïve and being at art school brought me up short. So I came out after four years and went straight back to work and nothing much happened for a few years. And then suddenly I had this revelation in St Ives when I saw this painting by Peter Lanyon, the Cornish artist, and it just clicked with me, and something set me off. I thought ‘Right, I’m going to go back to work’, and I started working again, part time. I’ve had a studio at BV Studios [Bedminster] since it opened in 2010.”

Midge remembers one of her art teachers at school telling her that she had an exceptional visual imagination. “I didn’t know what he was

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talking about then,” she explains. “Now I realise that I have. The way I paint now is driven by the materials I use, and it’s based on the East Lothian landscape that I grew up in. I start painting and I have no idea what’s going to happen and I work the paint in layers driven by the paint and by mark-making.”

This creative instinct and almost mystical process can be seen clearly in Midge’s paintings, with their fluid marks and amorphous, textured brushwork and palette knife applications, where you see the energy of the broad landscape but also the gauzy, scratched impressions of trees, boats, structures, pieces of furniture. Sometimes they are buried in the landsape of the canvas; at other times they sit centre stage.

“I begin with a relaxed application of paint using a palette knife and brushes then introduce improvised marks – scratched, scraped, rubbed and brushed and often smoothed with a gloved hand. Drawing into the wet paint with charcoal, graphite and oil bars sees the emergence of figurative motifs which are developed through an extended dialogue with the painting itself, which hovers between abstract and figuration a lot of the time,” she says.

“Markmaking is very important in the construction of an artwork.

In my case the most important thing is layering and form and I will keep layering and changing until it feels as if it works. Colour and surface are important, too. And you get beautiful marks and effects by breaking through the surface by scraping. My canvases are psychological landscapes, painting using landscape as a kind of state of being.”

Midge’s work has an established niche and she has won the Best Regional Artist award at the Royal West of England Academy where she became an academician in 2012. During lockdown, Midge explains, Instagram has been the stand-out forum for artists to sell their work, but this hasn’t been a natural transition for her. “Generally selling art is all about baring your soul to the public, and a lot of people do that on Instagram. I’m just not keen on that. I put pictures up and I get lots of ‘likes’ but I don’t expose myself that much.

Sometimes it feels as if buyers want to own you a little bit, but that’s natural if they like the work.”

Perhaps this anti let’s-confess-all approach is needed to keep the sweeping mystique of this work intact. Bring back the subtlety, the unexplained, is the rally cry.

In the words of Vanessa Lacey, the owner of the Irving Contemporary gallery in Oxford where Midge sells her work, “These paintings defy any sort of literal reading; even when there is a landscape within the picture, it does not abide by the rules of the real world, since here we are in a different landscape of the psyche.” n • midgenaylor.co.uk

Opposite(clockwise from top): Drift; Little Dream; Temporary. Midge’s creative instinct and almost mystical process can be seen in her paintings, with their fluid marks and amorphous, textured brushwork and palette knife applications. They show the energy of the broad landscape but also the gauzy, scratched impressions of trees, boats, structures, furniture

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COLUMN | CHRIS YEO ON ANTIQUES

Expert opinion ...From Chris Yeo, valuer at Clevedon Salerooms, curator of the Ken Stradling Collection in Bristol and expert on BBC Antiques Roadshow

1966 and all that unprecedented levels of disposable income. They had money in their pocket, took their fashion tips from Carnaby Street and the audience on Top of the Pops and, when the time came to set up a home of their own, they had no intention of copying their parents’ Regency stripe wallpaper. British manufacturers quickly realised that if they wanted to get on, they had to get with it.

Long established firms like Poole Pottery and Whitefriars Glass kept their fingers on the pulse, recruiting graduates fresh from art school. They translated the trends of swinging London and the artistic avant-garde into material form with the result that a teapot, vase or table can be as evocative an expression of ’60s style as a Mary Quant mini dress. The changes in design over the course of the period mirrored those being wrought in society during a decade of rapid change – from stylistic conformity and the rule of ‘correct taste’ at the start of it to self-expression and doing your own thing at its end.

My personal favourite piece from the ‘60s? That would have to be the Lumitron lamp of 1966 by the Cotswolds designer Robert Welch.

Drawing its inspiration from the global race to put a man on the moon, its smoked acrylic and Perspex shade was inspired by astronauts’ helmets. You could say it’s a case of Chipping Camden, we have lift off! ■ • clevedonsalerooms.com; @chrisyeo_antiques (Instagram) An exhibition on the design of this period – ‘The Future Is Here: The Swinging Sixties’ – is on show until 25 September at the Stradling Gallery, 48 Park Row, Bristol, BS1 5LH. Details and opening times can be found at stradlingcollection.org/whats-on

Whitefriars Glass Banjo Vase, 1967

Robert Welch Lumitron Lamp, 1966

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Portmeirion Totem Coffee Pot, 1962

Centre and right images courtesy of Stephen Morris; stephen-morris.co.uk

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s she embarked on her journey to international stardom, I wonder if it occurred to Diana Ross that she might one day be compared to a fork? In the unlikely event that it did then 1965 would have been an auspicious year for her as that was when Design magazine opined that it would be a ‘great day when British furniture and cutlery learn to swing like the Supremes’.

Of all the decades of the 20th century, the 1960s still exerts the most powerful grip on popular memory. Think of the design of the period, and it’s the usual suspects – minis (cars and skirts), Beatles album covers and psychedelic posters – which hog the limelight. Less well remembered is the impact the decade’s dynamic creativity had on the home – a glaring omission given this was the decade that ‘design’ as we know it arrived in British homes for the first time.

1960s interiors were all about swirling psychedelic colours, bright plastics and inflatable furniture as the whole country turned on to the tune-in drop-out ethos freshly blown in from the hippy communes of San Francisco. Well, that is what any number of ‘retro’ themed magazine articles and the makers of Austin Powers would have you believe. Never normally one to let the facts get in the way of a good story, on this occasion I’m afraid I am going to be a party pooper.

The story of design in Britain in the ’60s was less about groovy colour schemes and hallucinogens and more white-hot creativity. For sheer verve and originality few other decades came close. At its heart was a fertile cross-pollination of ideas and influences from the worlds of art, music, fashion and even science. While this was nothing new, in the ’60s the tempo reached fever pitch – and it was largely due to the young generation and LSD, by which I mean pounds, shillings and pence. With near-enough full employment, young people enjoyed

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FURTHER EDUCATION

LOVE TO LEARN

Looking to widen your horizons and broaden your sphere of thinking this summer?

We’ve collated some of the city’s best workshops and courses to help you on your way...

UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL bristol.ac.uk/english/study/part-time; english-lifelong@bristol.ac.uk; 0117 928 8924 Do you have a love of literature? Are you a mature student who needs the flexibility to study part-time? Applications for the unique part-time BA degree programme in English literature and community engagement are now open for entry in September 2021.

The university is also offering a pathway course for graduates of any discipline who wish to sharpen their study skills, bridging the gap between undergraduate and postgraduate. The course, entitled Mastering English Literature, will run on Tuesday evenings, 6pm-8pm from November 2021 to February 2022.

For those looking for an enjoyable introduction to the study of classic and modern literature, the university is welcoming all levels to join its Reading English Literature pathway course. It will run from January to June 2022 on Wednesday evenings from 6pm-8.45pm. For applications and to find out more about all three courses, visit the university’s website.

YUUP: MAKE A SILVER PENDANT Old Market Manor CIC, Bristol, BS2 0RL yuup.co/experiences/make-a-silver-pendant Bristol silversmith The Silver Duck – aka Charlotte Duckworth – has been running silver jewellery making workshops since 2013 and is the expert host behind this 3.5 hour private experience where you can unleash your creative side to design and make your own bespoke silver pendant from start to finish. With Charlotte’s 1:1 guidance, you’ll learn to use a piercing saw to cut out your design, solder on jump rings and add any finishing touches by using hammers and stamps, or try techniques like doming and forming or make your pendant even more unique. With a silver chain and jewellery box included in the experience as well, it’s the perfect, one-of-a-kind treat for yourself, or someone who deserves a special gift. The private experience costs £80 per person and is available to book online.

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FURTHER EDUCATION

RWA: DRAWING SCHOOL Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft, BS1 3QY rwa.org.uk/collections/drawing-school-course

YUUP: CONVERT A CAMPERVAN

The RWA (Royal West of England Academy) Drawing School courses and workshops are back in person – hooray! For the timebeing they will be held at Hamilton House while the RWA works on a £3.8m capital build project to transform its beautiful building. A selection of classes is being offered via Zoom, and can be done from anywhere in the world. The programme is designed for all abilities and includes watercolour for wellbeing, paper arts, experimental drawing in the city (around Bristol), drawing trees, illustration for picture cooks and a colour intensive class. Head to the website to browse all...

9 Silver Street, Glastonbury, BA6 8BS yuup.co/experiences/key-skills-for-converting-vans-into-campervans Have you ever watched George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces on TV and felt inspired to take on a project like that? Yuup – Bristol’s online marketplace for unique experiences and things to do – has a workshop that will give you the hands-on knowledge to plan and start your very own converted campervan. This two-day experience is led by hosts Scott and Sue from Black Paw in Glastonbury, where you will build a freestanding sink and cooker unit to buy and use in your converted space for the cost of materials. You will also cover all aspects of your project including layout, van design and storage. The experience costs £255 per person – no skills required, just a can-do attitude! Head to Yuup’s website for more information.

MAKERSHED Photo by Holly Jane Sutor

St. Paul’s Learning Centre, 94 Grosvenor Road, Bristol, BS2 8XJ 07599 67036; themakershedbristol.co.uk

ART & PEOPLE Cigar Factory, 127-131 Raleigh Road, Bristol, BS3 1QU 07507 427503; artandpeople.co

The Makershed mission is to provide space for making, learning and for everyone, no matter their level of experience, to be as creative as possible. You’ll receive a friendly welcome by the team of talented tutors who offer a vast range of skill sets, knowledge and experience to teach students. After expanding their workshop spaces at St Paul’s Learning Centre, they offer plenty of courses and workshops alongside their already popular woodwork, upholstery, upholstered furniture, sharpening, finishing and pallet wood workshops. Their varied timetable now includes wood carving, fabric and tapestry weaving, woodwork with power tools, lino printing and sewing classes with daytime, evening and weekend courses for all skill levels, bookable from now until autumn/winter via their website.

Art & People – a Bristol-based art advisory service, established by Claudia Kennaugh in 2019 – is set to launch streamable tutorials that offer accessible guidance to artists and collectors.

The company provides affordable access to specialist advice, granting artists and collectors convenient guidance in their own time from their own homes. From September 2021, the artist coaching will be available as individual tutorials on Teachable with topics including: writing and talking about your work; pricing your artwork; and exhibiting your work and gallery submissions. Each one is an easily digestible 20-30 minutes that comes with downloadable worksheets, affordably priced at £25. The curating course comes in a pack of three half-hour tutorials, divided into bite-sized chapters entitled, ‘Curating Art at Home – How To Buy, Frame And Hang Your Own Art Collection,’ all for £95. It covers everything from how to find and buy your first artwork to hanging an existing collection, making collecting art easy and enjoyable.

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CITY HISTORY

No stranger to statue toppling Bristol has got form for making a statement with its statues – and the moving of them. Just rewind back to before living memory, says Andrew Swift

O

n the evening of 23 March 1813, after attending a rally outside the Exchange to hear Henry ‘Orator’ Hunt make an impassioned plea for parliamentary reform, a group of men made their way to Portland Square, where they toppled a statue of King George III which had been unveiled to commemorate his golden jubilee three years earlier. Although one of the perpetrators was apprehended and sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, the statue was never restored and the matter seems to have quickly been forgotten about.

Instead of destroying [William III] the rioters rebranded it to become an emblem of their cause, with one of them climbing up to plant a cap of liberty on William’s head

Although this was probably Bristol’s most ephemeral statue, others have had equally dramatic careers. Take the statue of William III. When Queen Square was laid siege to during the Reform Riots of 1831, and many of its buildings were destroyed, the authorities probably feared it would suffer a similar fate. Instead of destroying it, however, the rioters rebranded it to become an emblem of their cause, with one of them climbing up to plant a cap of liberty on William’s head. The authorities weren’t prepared to tempt fate a

Samuel Morley shortly before his move from Bristol Bridge

44 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

second time, however, and during the Second World War it was entrusted to the care of the Duke of Beaufort at Badminton, only returning to the square in 1948.

William got away lightly with only one move. The honour of Bristol’s most peripatetic statue must go to Neptune, first erected over the reservoir of Temple Conduit in Redcliffe in 1723. It was later moved three times to other locations in Redcliffe, before crossing the river and being set up at the head of St Augustine’s Reach in 1949. Fifty years later, when the Centre was pedestrianised, it was moved a little further north. Given all that shifting about, Neptune has survived remarkably well – something that can’t be said about Bristol’s medieval High Cross.

The High Cross stood in the heart of the medieval city, at the east end of Corn Street, and featured statues of King John, Henry III, Edward III and Edward IV. In 1663, statues of Henry VI, Elizabeth, James I and Charles I were added, but only 70 years later the High Cross was declared ‘a ruinous and superstitious relic’ and dismantled. Such was the outcry that a crowdfunding campaign was launched, and three years later, in 1736, it was re-erected on College Green. The Dean and Chapter of Bristol Cathedral were clearly unhappy with this arrangement, however, and in 1757 ordered its removal on grounds of public safety, claiming that improvements needed to be made to the area. The stones were moved to the cathedral for safe keeping, but two years later – to pre-empt calls for it to be reinstated once the improvements were complete – they were offered to Henry Hoare, who carted them off to his estate at Stourhead and re-erected them there. A poem published in Felix Farley’s Bristol Journal shortly afterwards summed up the indignation felt by many Bristolians:

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CITY HISTORY

Neptune, erected over the reservoir of Temple Conduit in Redcliffe in 1723. It was set up at the head of St Augustine’s Reach in 1949

Ye people of Bristol, deplore the sad loss Of the kings and the queens that once reigned in your Cross Your great men’s great wisdom you surely must pity Who’ve banished what all men admired from the city That should have been the end of the story but, almost a century later, in 1850, a replica of the original cross was erected at the east end of College Green, thanks to another crowdfunding campaign.

Unfortunately, this fell short of its target; not only did inferior stone have to be used, but the statues had to be dropped from the design.

One statue was added five years later, but the other seven had to wait until 1888, when the replica cross was moved to the centre of College Green to make way for a statue of Queen Victoria.

There it remained until 1950, when Emanuel Harris, the architect of the new Council House (now City Hall), insisted that College Green should be lowered, the trees cut down and everything else that impeded the view of his building cleared out of the way. So it was that the replica High Cross and the statue of Queen Victoria were unceremoniously bundled off to a council yard on Redcliffe Wharf.

Three years later, after trying – and failing – to come up with an alternative site for Queen Victoria, the council bowed to public pressure and returned her to College Green, where, apart from being moved a few metres in 1994, she has remained ever since.

The replica cross was less fortunate. Repeated calls for it be reinstated were ignored, until it was finally revealed that, as it had been damaged beyond repair, this would be not be possible. At this point the Civic Society stepped in, salvaged what they could and reerected the top of the Cross in Berkeley Square, where it languishes today. As for the original High Cross, although it still stands by the lake at Stourhead, the statues were removed in 1981 to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

Another statue whose lustre has faded somewhat is that of Samuel Morley, industrialist, philanthropist and Liberal MP for Bristol from 1868 to 1885. This originally stood at the north end of Bristol Bridge – probably the most prominent site in the city. When it was moved – to improve traffic flow – in 1921, the Western Daily Press lamented that ‘the statue of Samuel Morley no longer adorns Bristol Bridge, with extended hand and familiar smile to welcome visitors and citizens as they enter the city’. It was relocated to the Horsefair, moved again in 1954 when Broadmead was redeveloped, and finally, in 1997, stuck on a leafy traffic island in Lewin’s Mead with very little footfall.

Morley was an ardent abolitionist, and led the campaign to support Josiah Henson, an escaped American slave After such banishment, it’s hardly surprising that most Bristolians have no idea who Morley was. So it comes as something of a surprise to read, on his plinth, that the statue was paid for by ‘more than 5,000 citizens of Bristol… to preserve for their children the face and form of one who was an example of justice, generosity and public spirit’. Of his many achievements, there is one that may strike a chord today, for Morley was an ardent abolitionist, and led the campaign to support Josiah Henson, an escaped American slave.

Henson was the model for the central character in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and, when he published his autobiography (under the title Uncle Tom’s Story of his Life), he invited Morley to contribute to the introduction.

The fate of Samuel Morley’s statue may have been less dramatic than that of others, but, given the ringing endorsement he once received and the inclusive nature of his philanthropy, it seems a pity that it has been banished to such an unfrequented spot. ■

Replica High Cross on College Green

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FOOD & DRINK TASTY TIDBITS FROM THE CITY’S RESTAURANTS, CHEFS AND PRODUCERS Katy is made with the apples first to be harvested at Myrtle Farm

NICE ONE, KATY

BRISTOL OLD VIC PRESENTS...

At the end of July, the city’s beloved King Street theatre opened a new restaurant in Coopers’ Hall, put together by theatre designer Ti Green. It will play host to a series of pop-up collaborations with favourites from the city’s food scene. The series has kicked off with an Italian theme: Pizzarova x Grano Kitchen. These two, known for handmade sourdough pizzas and delicious homemade Italian food respectively, came together to create Mediterranean-inspired food for the summer, with a oneoff menu of pizzas and pastas, burrata, arancini, Caprese salad, tiramisu, panna cotta and Italian ice cream. “After the challenges of the past year we really wanted to bring something special to Bristol,” said Charlotte Geeves, Bristol Old Vic’s executive director. “With our new food series we’re helping shine the spotlight on some of our favourite Bristol food destinations in the beautiful surroundings of our theatre. Because the spirit of collaboration is what Bristol’s all about!”

One of Somerset cider maker Thatchers’ favourites, Katy, has scooped the best-inOli has worked in wine • bristololdvic.org.uk/eat-drink class trophy for new world-style cidersforat years and has nowand started the 2021 International Cider Challenge, his own a gold Taste of the West medal.

Centre stage: the new Made with the rosy red apples always business Cooper’s Hall eatery first to be harvested at Myrtle Farm, the 7.4% cider, with subtle sweetness, refreshing sparkle and crisp, tangy finish, has been crafted by the fourth generation cider maker for over two decades. “We put our heart and soul into our ciders, so to receive this amazing recognition is really appreciated and testament to absolutely everyone who has helped us craft such a much-loved cider,” says Martin Thatcher.

• thatcherscider.co.uk Brazilian fish stew

SIBLINGS SHARE THEIR SPAIN

Harvey Nichols Bristol has launched its popular summer dining menu at the Second Floor Restaurant, with three courses and a cocktail for £30 available until 30 September. Created using regionally sourced ingredients, it offers diners the choice of dishes such as falafel, red pepper hummus, tahini, pickled onions and rocket to start, followed by Brazilian fish stew with coconut, tomato and chilli broth, rice and lime for main. Desserts include vanilla parfait accompanied by raspberry coulis, elderflower, with the Beluga Garden Spritz and the Russian Passion the two-cocktail toss up.

Bar 44 brothers Owen and Tom Morgan are releasing a new cookbook containing over 100 beautifully photographed recipes elevating traditional Spanish cuisine to exciting new heights.

Bar 44 Tapas y Copas: This Is Our Spain will feature creations including chorizo in cider, beetroot gazpacho, dates in bacon, lamb empanada, pigeon and lentils, roast cauliflower and romesco, strawberry and cava sorbet, pear and olive oil cake and blood orange salad. In addition to plenty of appealing recipes, the book is peppered with vignettes of how the Morgan brothers became restauranteurs, and the lengths they go to source ingredients and discover new dishes. The mountains, coasts and plains of the country are their larder as they visit caves full of cheese and taste sherry at the many Spanish ferias (fairs).

Illustrating the passion of two of the most knowledgeable people when it comes to modern Spanish food, drink and culture in the UK, this celebration of the Iberian packs in fun, food and flavour between its beautifully designed covers.

• harveynichols.com

• bar44.co.uk

SUMMER DINING

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FOOD & DRINK | RECIPES

Just add alcohol

Experimental West Country cooks Susannah and Aaron Rickard have a way with booze – using it as a key ingredient in their food – and fortunately they have written it all down in a recipe book

W

hen the idea of cooking with alcohol captured our imagination, we couldn’t figure out why it isn’t more popular. Alcoholic drinks are delicious, and they have been fermented or distilled primarily for flavour and enjoyment.

Just think of how many spices you have in your cupboard, and all the drinks in the grocery store or along the back of a bar! Each of those ingredients can bring a lot to the table.

We’ve always been experimental cooks, and eaters. As a child, Aaron travelled to over 50 countries, and spent years living in the United States – developing a taste for wild and wonderful flavour combinations. Susannah, on the other hand, grew up with classic British and Australian home cooking, and then went to work for a spice recipe kit company (The Spicery) after university. This included a year in the recipe development kitchen, and instilled a passion for creating great food at home in an approachable way. So when we started cooking with alcohol, and realised just how intriguing and rewarding it could be, we got a bit carried away. Five years later, after countless hours creating this cookbook from our flat, our excitement about the topic has only increased.

As we developed recipes with these flavour pairings, we found that there’s almost always another way that the alcohol impacts the dish – the texture, caramelisation, gluten formation, acidity, or something else entirely. And in truth this was the most fascinating part of the recipe development process – discovering the science behind each dish, and figuring out how to explain it succinctly. For example, our prosecco panna cotta recipe uses slightly less gelatine than a traditional panna cotta, because prosecco itself is mildly acidic and this causes the cream to thicken and set. It was these discoveries that set us on a path to writing a book, where we could share the fascination and fun with others.

Developing dishes, discovering the science Recipe development is tricky, but most of the recipes in Cooking with Alcohol started out as a question: how could the flavours of this particular alcohol be used in cooking? In some cases, we started by looking for matching flavour characteristics to find the best uses for an ingredient. Both chorizo and red wine can be smoky and spicy, so we paired these together in our very first recipe – chorizo in red wine and honey – where they get along beautifully.

We also considered how a dish could be adapted and improved with the addition of alcohol, using alcohol as a seasoning or garnish to add depth and complexity that might otherwise be missing from a dish, or take hours to develop with traditional cooking. A white wine might be described as zesty or buttery, and when we bring it into the kitchen, these flavours can enhance a recipe where zestiness or butteriness are desired – an example of this is our fennel and white wine tagliatelle.

Overall, the savoury and sweet baking chapters of this book were the most challenging – baked goods need to end up solid, and alcohol is liquid! This required a huge amount of recipe testing (and recipe failures), as we figured out the delicate balance of flavour and texture. We were really thankful for long-suffering colleagues and neighbours, who ate the results of these early recipe tests! A particularly runny batch of Kahlua fudge springs to mind…

We really enjoyed writing this book, and hope it brings joy to others. After all, Cooking with Alcohol isn’t just a collection of recipes. It’s about encouraging you to think about alcohol as more than a drink, by showing how the flavours and functions can help to create some truly amazing food. We firmly believe that alcohol deserves a place in your kitchen, as well as in your glass.

Susannah and Aaron

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Our prosecco panna cotta uses slightly less gelatine because prosecco itself is mildly acidic and this causes the cream to thicken

• Cooking With Alcohol, £25, Lendal Press; cookingwithalcohol.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK | RECIPES

Parsnip and cider tarte tatin

It’s really fun to make a tarte tatin, and strangely satisfying – parsnips and onions are caramelised in dry cider, then puff pastry goes on top and it’s baked upside down before being turned out to reveal the beautiful design.

Serves 4; prep time 30 minutes; cook time 25 minutes Ingredients 250ml dry apple cider 3 large parsnips (approx. 400-450g total), scrubbed and trimmed 1 tbsp olive oil 2 red onions – peeled, sliced into 6 wedges 1 clove of garlic – peeled, and crushed or finely chopped 1 tsp dried rosemary 1 large sheet of ready rolled puff pastry (approx. 320g) Plain flour for rolling Salt and freshly ground black pepper Green salad and horseradish sauce, to serve

Equipment Wide ovenproof frying pan Rolling pin

Method • Preheat your oven to 200ºC/gas mark 6/ 400ºF. Slice the parsnips lengthwise into 4-6 wedges, depending on their size.

• Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a wide ovenproof frying pan over a medium heat. Add the parsnip wedges, and fry for 5 minutes or

until the parsnips are browning.

• Add a generous splash of the cider and bring the pan to a gentle simmer then cook for a few minutes, occasionally turning each parsnip wedge.

• Scatter the onion wedges, garlic and rosemary over the parsnips, along with a grinding of black pepper and ½ tsp salt.

• Add another splash of the cider and cook for a further 10-15 minutes until the parsnips are just tender, adding the cider a splash at a time and allowing it to evaporate in between each addition, turning the parsnips occasionally.

• Meanwhile, lay out the puff pastry on a clean floured surface and using a rolling pin, roll it to around 3mm (⅛ inch) thick.

Cut out a rough circle about 2 inches wider than the pan.

• When all the cider has evaporated, turn off the heat and use tongs or a fork to arrange the parsnips into a pretty pattern in the pan.

• Lay the pastry circle over the top, tucking it in at the edges. Make a small slit in the

top with a knife then place the whole pan into the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the pastry is puffy and deep golden brown.

• Remove the pan from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes, then invert the whole dish onto a large plate so that the parsnips are now on top of the pastry.

• Serve slices of the tarte alongside a green salad with a dollop of horseradish sauce.

Roasted plum and port ripple ice cream

Adding port to sticky roasted plums provides complex notes of caramel, figs and spice, swirled through luscious ice cream.

Ingredients 100ml port 250g plums – stoned and quartered 1 tbsp butter 1 tsp mixed spice or pumpkin spice 1 litre good quality vanilla or clotted cream ice cream ½ an orange – zested (optional)

Equipment

•

•

Small roasting tray Freezer-proof dish or loaf tin

Method • Preheat the oven to 170ºC/gas mark 3½/ 350ºF. Combine the plums, butter and mixed spice in a roasting tray. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes, stirring after 5 minutes to spread the melting butter around the plums.

• After 20 minutes add the port and the

•

•

orange zest, and return the tray to the oven for a further 15 minutes until the plums are sticky and jammy. Remove the tray from the oven, give it another stir then allow to cool completely.

Once the plums have cooled, take the ice cream out of the freezer and leave it at room temperature for 10-15 minutes or until the ice cream is soft enough to spread.

In a small freezer-proof dish, spread about one third of the ice cream in a layer. Dollop half of the plum mixture across the ice cream. Add half the remaining ice cream, and then the rest of the roasted plums, and finally top with the rest of the ice cream.

Gently swirl through the mixture once or twice with a knife to create a few ripples, then cover with cling film or a lid and freeze for at least 2 hours.

To serve, take the ice cream out of the freezer and allow to soften for a minute before scooping into bowls. n

Food photography by Aaron Rickard

Makes 1.2 litres; prep time 15 minutes; cook time 35 minutes + 2 hours chilling

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BRISTOL UPDATES NEWS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

Image: J Brown Photography

LET’S CONNECT

Bendy Studio was created by world pole champion ‘Bendy Kate’

GET BENDY IN BRISTOL A new studio has launched in an old dairy in Bedminster, offering classes in pole dance, aerial hoop and silks, aerial straps, pilates, adult breakdance, contemporary dance, flexibility, acro yoga, adult gymnastics and more. Bendy Studio is a two-floor holistic training centre, where Bristolians can learn exciting new disciplines, while learning about their body and getting fit.

Bendy Studio was created by Bristol’s world pole champion ‘Bendy Kate’, who has always had a vision of creating a place where everyone is welcome, to meet like-minded people and to learn from some of Bristol’s best instructors. The studio is also home to a clothing outlet – The Bendy Brand – which also offers books and stretching equipment for the city’s ‘upside down people’. Find the Bendy Studio class schedule via the website.

University of Bristol alumni are launching an app that links up like-minded strangers. Fethr was born during the first lockdown when Julian Issa and Miguel Bravo, who met while studying at Bristol, were sharing a London flat.

Discussing loneliness with fellow flatmate Gerardo Rodriguez, the trio realised they had felt isolated long before the pandemic struck. Julian’s business analyst job meant he ended up living in 10 cities in two years, which made it difficult to build friendships. Researching the topic, he discovered that 45% of adults in England felt lonely at least some of the time. “Meaningful human connection shouldn’t be such a difficult thing to find in the 21st century and that is why we started Fethr,” said Julian. “There is nothing more exciting than being sat in a hostel and chatting to people from across the world. However, it’s difficult to recreate that in your normal life. Fethr is going to disrupt the way people socialise. Traditional avenues for making friends continue to be squeezed by the pandemic, working from home and digitisation. People want it to be easier to make meaningful connections.”

Fethr co-founders Julian Issa, Miguel Bravo and Gerardo Rodriguez

• thebendystudio.com/timetables-booking

21ST-CENTURY ZOO Bristol Zoological Society has appointed pioneering landscape architects Grant Associates and design practice Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios to a specialist creative team that will be responsible for delivering its new vision for a world-leading zoo in the South West.

The Society looks likely to develop this at its Wild Place Project site on the northern edge of Bristol, due to open in 2024, which aims to set the standard for a modern, forward-looking zoo in the 21st century.

Grant Associates have been appointed as lead designers and landscape architects for the new Bristol Zoo, tasked with helping to deliver the greatest possible visitor experience, through an ecosystem planning approach optimising the sense of separation from the wider world.

Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios will take the role of lead architects, conservation architects and renewable/zero carbon specialists with responsibility for the building design elements of the scheme, creating buildings with engaging spaces and sensitivity to external surroundings.

Albie the brown bear at Wild Place

• bristolzoo.org.uk

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Miguel used his mathematics studies to craft a sophisticated algorithm that uses AI to match strangers together – no swiping required. Users of Fethr, which draws on research from psychologist Dr Kelly Campbell, fill out a questionnaire about their personality, values, interests and friendship preferences. In groups of four to six they can then do anything from drinks and dinner to yoga and gallery-hopping. After their mate date, attendees anonymously feedback on who they clicked with. If both parties liked one another, the app puts them in contact to continue their friendship. After a successful trial in Sydney, the app is in the final development stages, launching in London on 17 August and, all being well, rolling out to UK cities including Bristol by the end of the year.

• fethr.app

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“Founded in 2011 by Marcus Spanswick, who already had 20 years’ experience in the industry, Mardan Removals and Storage Ltd is a, family run, professional full service removals and storage company based in Bath. Marcus wanted to build a company that he and his team would be proud of. The key to the company’s success is providing a personalised service, treating each customer as an individual to ensure they get an excellent removal service. Mardan have a fleet of vehicles allowing them to offer; commercial moving, local to international moves and storage”.

DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL MOVERS • PACKERS • STORERS • SHIPPERS

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EDUCATION

Getting real

The practical application of students’ computer skills is already benefitting Bristolians says Dr Dan Schien

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ristol is a student city. There are more than 20,000 students enrolled at the University of Bristol and contributing to the vibrant city life. What you might not know is just how UOB computer science students have been contributing their knowledge and skills to organisations in Bristol while they undertake a compulsory software engineering project in their second year of study.

Students learn to build software, from idea to finished product. The twist: instead of working on theoretical projects for their teachers, they’re doing it for real – to the benefit of Bristol businesses and individuals. Over the past six years, senior lecturer in computer science Dr Dan Schien has been running the unit, working with more than 100 SMEs, charities, public sector and international corporations; mainly from Bristol, but also elsewhere in the UK and beyond. One of the organisations that has been working with students throughout this whole period is Bristol Museum. Mark Pajak, head of digital at Bristol Museums Galleries and Archives, has largely had students develop prototypes of novel information management solutions for the museums’ burgeoning archival data.

“The programme has enabled us to get novel solutions to technology problems and a way to prototype our ideas around digital products for museum audiences,” he says. “Through working with the students we have learnt as an organisation how to improve our approach to open data in order to enable new products to be designed, for example mobile gallery interpretations systems. This has often challenged internal processes where we find that we need to update our terminology to meet the needs and expectations of external collaborators and our own audiences. It has enabled skills sharing with our in-house digital team around software design and agile development methods.”

The students have built prototypes for the museum to help annotate hand-written texts, increase the performance of databases and help add location information to photos from around Bristol. But not all software solutions were meant for the back offices of archival management. One of the more unusual projects created with Mark was a computer vision-based visitor counter that the students built from an old Xbox. The student even crafted a wooden gateway that could be placed at the entrance to the museum.

Many of the projects are prototypes of solutions that help kick-start nascent ideas. But not all – two projects built for Children’s Hospital charity The Grand Appeal were released and utilised by many

A second group built a collage maker that combined hundreds of the public’s photos such that they would resemble famous scenes from Wallace & Gromit movies

members of the public. For the legendary 2018 Wallace & Gromit trail, run with support from Aardman, the students contributed to the trail mobile app. In an augmented reality feature, trail visitors could have their selfies decorated with Wallace & Gromit paraphernalia and share them on social media. A second group built a collage maker that cleverly combined hundreds of the shared photos in tone and colour such that they would resemble famous scenes from Wallace & Gromit movies.

The bulk of projects comes from small businesses and charities. The folks at Pilgrim Brewery, who had the Ale Trail App built for them to guide pub visitors, said: “The students have gone above and beyond the brief, and have created a fantastic and professional app that we can’t wait for our clients to use.” Another project that produced output seen by many Bristol locals was a sustainability metrics info board for Cabot Circus. For the students, it’s a unique learning experience.

Rather unlike what students experience within the lectures in the university walls, the workplace that awaits graduates is constantly evolving: requirements respond to changes within organisations and their environments, clients increase their understanding of what software should do for them as projects go on, and data that was anticipated does not become available in time.

This is all in stark contrast to traditional computer science projects which are typically isolated from the end users – “with our group projects, students see first-hand the output of their work making a real difference to people’s lives,” says Simon Lock, who teaches the unit with Dan Schien. “It can’t be understated the motivating influence that this has on our student cohort.”

The experience makes for an excellent highpoint in students’ CVs. Projects developed with large organisations and international brands (such as the Environment Agency, Hewlett Packard or Mozilla/Firefox) really make their work portfolios stand out from the crowd. Feedback from students indicates that such high-profile and challenging projects provides essential topics of discussion for interviews and other recruitment activities.

The benefits are manifold for all, it would seem; Dan Schien certainly finds it rewarding. “Through the work with the students we have had a unique chance to work with so many individuals and companies in Bristol,” he says. “It is a huge privilege.” n • If you have a project idea and would like help from Bristol’s students to make it a reality, find out more at bristol.ac.uk/software-engineering

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ECOLOGY

Back to nature

Urban ecologist Professor David Goode looks back at our modern-day connection with the environment, assesses how nature in recent years has become more centre stage, and explains why this is meaningful for the future

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hroughout my working life as an ecologist I have been acutely aware of two critical impacts on the global environment. One is the enormous scale and rate of species extinction, the second is climate change. Both have intensified with each passing decade. Both result directly from human activities. From a global perspective it is clear that human actions continue to have a disastrous effect on natural ecosystems. So it will be no surprise to hear that I can become despondent. But I am recently becoming more optimistic.

For several years in the UK we have seen growing concern about environmental matters, with increased recognition of the value of nature to humanity. Creating greater connection between people and nature has become a major feature of the environmental agenda, spawning a wealth of new initiatives at every level, from local residents’ groups and primary school activities right through to local and national government.

How has this come about? Television documentaries, notably Sir David Attenborough’s series Planet Earth, no doubt played a part in raising public consciousness of environmental problems. Blue Planet II in 2017 was the most-watched television show in the UK that year, attracting more than 14 million viewers. Any bookseller will tell you there has also been a huge surge in ‘nature writing’, with a large number of new and distinguished authors involved. They include academics, naturalists, farmers and journalists who have promoted a climate of enthusiasm for nature that is beginning to permeate society across many different fields. The quality of the literature in this genre is a major driving force. There are spellbinding tales for younger readers too, such as David Almond’s Bone Music which explores long-established deep connections between ourselves and nature.

The value of nature in promoting health and wellbeing, including mental health, is also well-established. The NHS has links with environmental centres to which patients are referred by their GPs to take part in activities that allow them to ‘regain their own health’.

The Eden Project in Cornwall is one such centre. Others are specifically designed to help people to get involved with nature in towns and cities. At a very local level there are numerous opportunities for people to connect with nature, such as by joining 56 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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natural history society field meetings, joining a group to listen to the dawn chorus or taking part in a bug hunt. You can even participate in citizen science projects monitoring changes in the distribution of species or use an app to explore a local wildlife site. The Avon Wildlife Trust organises a host of activities for families and is currently looking for volunteer wildlife watch leaders to set up new nature clubs for young children. If you want to delve deeper, the Bristol Naturalists’ Society has a busy programme investigating everything from beetles and butterflies to badgers and bats.

The second issue is climate change. I first read about it in the 1960s when it was referred to as the greenhouse effect. Although the issue had hardly entered the public arena, climate scientists and ecologists were already clear that the earth’s atmosphere was getting warmer as a result of the increased concentration of CO2 due to burning of coal and oil. I predicted in 1982 that there would be severe environmental and economic consequences within the next 50 years. The wider public woke up to the problem in the 1980s and decisions were taken at the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 for countries to limit emission of greenhouse gases. Sadly, emissions have continued to rise over the past 30 years and are still rising. Without immediate action to reduce emissions it will become impossible to prevent an increase in temperature exceeding 1.5°C, a goal that would prevent the most damaging effects of warming.

However, I am heartened by the new awareness that has spread across the world since 2018. Greta Thunberg has had an astonishing impact since she embarked on her school strike for climate outside the Stockholm Parliament in August that year. She mobilised millions of young people into action to persuade governments to take climate change seriously as a global crisis. In a series of speeches to world leaders she made it clear through plain speaking that they have failed to address the simple truth that use of fossil fuel has to stop. That means now. “If the emissions have to stop, then we must stop the emissions. To me that is black or white. There are no grey areas when it comes to survival. Either we go on as a civilization or we don’t” (Thunberg, October 2018 in London). Bristol was quick off the mark, the following month declaring a climate emergency and pledging to become carbon neutral by 2030. This year the new US president Joe Biden has put climate change at the top of his agenda

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ECOLOGY

Any bookseller will tell you there has also been a huge surge in ‘nature writing’, with a large number of new and distinguished authors and is already pressing world leaders to take real action. This year is crucial. The UK will chair the UN Climate Summit in November. We have been waiting too long for positive action. This time it has to happen.

Coronavirus struck in January 2020. Can we ever forget the extraordinary effect of the first lockdown in March? My first impression was that air pollution had suddenly abated, the sky was clear and unusually blue, and at night it was filled with stars. The Milky Way was magnificent. But for me it was the silence that was most profound when we first experienced the lack of background noise. It was eerily quiet with hardly any road traffic, trains or other sounds of the city. The only sounds were the birds. Their songs seemed to be enhanced by the stillness. Many people commented that they had never noticed them before. Others asked why the birds were singing so loudly. Most striking, of course, was the absence of people. City centres were suddenly deserted and even on our local walks around home we hardly saw a soul. Everyone was indoors. It seemed at times as if we were living through a science fiction drama.

Animals reacted in different ways. Even in the first days of lockdown there were reports of wildlife taking advantage of the absence of people to invade towns and cities. A herd of feral Kashmiri goats hit the headlines, browsing in gardens along streets in the centre of Llandudno, and there were reports of wild boar running amok in several Italian cities, having invaded from surrounding forests. In contrast, the gulls that nest on city rooftops seemed nonplussed by the absence of people. Small groups flew around in disarray, frantically searching for scraps of food, all to no avail. Very few pairs raised young in 2020, partly because of lockdown but probably also as a result of the unusually hot weather in spring and early summer.

During lockdown I made a recording of the dawn chorus near my home in Bath. The performance was unusually long, lasting for well over an hour instead of the usual 20 or 30 minutes. I recorded 24 different species that morning. Sometimes it was a cacophony of blackbirds, robins and wrens; at other times song-thrushes and blackcaps dominated the chorus. Intermittently I heard fluty notes of

a nuthatch, and at times the deep croak of a raven from its nest nearby. There were even soft, tinkling voices of goldcrests, our smallest British bird. You can hear the recording, together with a commentary identifying individual species, on the Bath Natural History Society website.

One of the most profound effects of lockdown has been the realisation by many people that nature is all around us. Certainly, people have appreciated the numerous parks and green spaces available in Bristol, from the open expanse of the Downs, and more formal parks and gardens, to some wilder places such as Leigh Woods and Arnos Vale Cemetery. The Office for National Statistics reports a huge increase in use of green space during the pandemic.

Nearly 40% of people said nature was more important than ever to their wellbeing. National media have also recognised that links with nature have been crucial for both physical and mental health. For some, lockdown meant getting to know their local patch, gaining an intimate knowledge of all that nature offers. The spring of 2020 was exceptional. The Consolation of Nature: Spring in the Time of Coronavirus claims that it was the loveliest spring in living memory.

This book brings together the experiences of three well-known nature writers as they explored their particular local patches in southern England. It is a glorious account of spring, in which exhilaration abounds. Another book that captures the spirit of our time is A Song of Gladness by Michael Morpurgo and Emily Gravett. Subtitled ‘a story of hope for us and our planet’, it is a children’s tale that shows us the beauty of nature and what is at stake. One thing I have learnt from the pandemic is that we can all play a part in putting things right. ■ • David Goode is author of the acclaimed New Naturalist book Nature in Towns and Cities (Harper Collins). He is a past president of the Institute of Ecology and an honorary professor at University College London. Bristol Naturalists’ Society: bristolnats.org.uk; Avon Wildlife Trust: avonwildlifetrust.org.uk. Listen to the dawn chorus: bathnats.org.uk/international-dawn-chorus-day-3-may-2020

Opposite page: a bug hunt taking place on Troopers Hill in Bristol This page ( top left): a nuthatch at its nest hole; Arnos Vale Cemetery, the wildlife oasis close to the city centre;’s doorstep; and (left) keep an eye open for these extraordinary flower beetles while you’re out on your walks.

All photos by David Goode

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HEALTH & RECREATION

In the swim

Don’t ditch all the outdoor socialising just yet – now’s the perfect time for a picnic, a wild swim and a playful day of wholesome pleasures at a city sun-trap

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herever you land on the wild swimming scale – flat refusal, willing when well-prepared in wetsuit, spiritously spluttering in nothing but swimwear – there seems to be no denying it’s damn good for us. Looking at the evidence stacking up – some anecdotal, some more scientific – it certainly appears that there’s plenty of value in it, perhaps even in clinical terms.

It can help improve mental health – think of all the endorphins released when you plunge into cold water, plus there are few greater distractions from the mithering minutiae of the daily grind than wondering whether your lungs are about to seize up. The physical side is equally beneficial: it’s believed to improve muscle recovery, reduce inflammation, and boost both circulation and immune system.

Aside from all that, though, it’s a ton of fun even if you’re not generally a fan of being freezing. We’ve had to get our kicks where we can this past year and this hobby is (mostly) free and easy. Find our favourite open-air swimming locations below, from the closest to within an hour’s drive (taking Temple Meads as our starting point).

Publow and Pensford – 20 minutes

Pensford is well known for its picture-postcard pub The Rising Sun, which lays claim to what was voted Britain’s best beer garden not long ago and sits beside a small waterfall under the awesome arches of an imposing viaduct. To swim in the River Chew, head for the Publow church area, and dry off with a circular stroll around the millpond.

Henleaze Lake – 20 minutes

You’ll have to find someone in the inner swimmer circle and employ your best schmoozing skills to get into this exclusive freshwater haven established in 1919 in a former quarry and only open to members... with a maximum of two guests. Front crawl from May to September (there are some winter swimming sessions), glimpse moorhens, mallards and herons, and enjoy beautiful trees and a sauna – fancy!

Membership is currently full so keep an eye on the website from next spring to find out if and when the waiting list is re-opening.

Conham River Park/Hanham Weir – 20 minutes

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areas – which have accrued a real community of year-round bathers – offer serious holiday vibes.

Clevedon Marine lake – 30 minutes

This man-made tidal marine lake, around since the 1920s, is about as natural-looking as infinity pools get. Plus you get Clevedon’s Victorian pier, where One Direction once filmed, to explore into the bargain. An £800,000 lottery grant in 2014 saw the seawater sanctuary restored to glory and open almost all year round (check the calendar) for SUP, canoeing, crabbing or simply paddling and doing a few lengths. Join the swim-run on 14 August, or the historic long swim on 28 August.

River Yeo, Yatton – 30 minutes

Heading to the beach? Why not stop off at Yatton for a more tranquil outer-city escape. On the way to Weston Super Mare, this North Somerset village awaits with its own watery oasis. Make the short drive out or hop on the train and pick a place to sunbathe – there’s plenty of grassy riverbank.

Warleigh Weir – 40 minutes

Kick off your shoes and join the kingfishers delighting in these cool Avon Valley waters between Bath and Bradford on Avon. Head in from the west bank, early doors, to get a picnic place in the meadow because this beauty spot can get busy. Pad carefully across the top of the waterfall and splash around in the sunshine. It’s probably best to cycle there if you can (an hour and a half via the Bristol and Bath Railway Path); make a proper day of it, eh?

Kensington Meadows – 40 minutes

For a relaxing recreational dip in the River Avon, try this quiet wooded area; a large riverside green space in Bath, about midway between Larkhall and Bathwick. Part of the pretty woodland is designated as a local nature reserve.

Farleigh Hungerford – 45 minutes

The Farleigh stretch of the River Frome has it all: parking, lovely lawn space that makes for a great picnicking area, a rope swing, even changing rooms and toilets. It’s home to aClevedon swim club, Marine and Lake: membership probably our is now open again. n favourite local infinity pool

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Switching to a plant-based diet cleared up all my health issues Mays Al Ali, CNM Nutritional Therapy Graduate

I

worked as an advertising producer for 18 years but I became unhappy and dissatisfied with my very stressful corporate career that negatively impacted my health. I was teaching yoga on the side for many years but it wasn’t enough and I knew it was my calling to be in service.

During my yoga teacher training in India, I was introduced to raw vegan food and the concept of conscious clean eating which changed my life. Before that I ate a standard western diet, drank alcohol and had lots of late nights living the typical London party lifestyle; and as a result, I suffered with serious gut health, skin and mood issues.

Eating a natural, plant-based diet while doing my yoga training for a month increased my energy levels and I felt amazing. So, I naturally transitioned to a plant-based diet and all my health issues slowly cleared up.

A friend recommended the College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) and told me their Naturopathic Nutrition course was excellent. I enrolled on the course and never looked back. What I loved about CNM’s course was the naturopathic element. I’m a big believer in the healing powers of nature and having looked at other courses, none of them had this important holistic element.

The lecturers were amazing and so inspiring.

Initially, I signed up to the course for my own interests; I never thought I would quit my advertising job and become a nutritionist. However, by the start of the third year, I knew there was no turning back and that I’d found my calling. I left my job in advertising and launched my clinic as soon as I qualified.

I can honestly say I’ve never been happier.

Being able to help people every day and change their lives for the better is so rewarding and brings me so much joy on a daily basis.

Attend CNM’s Online Open Day Saturday 4th September 2021 Claim your free ticket – Scan the QR code or visit www.naturopathy-uk.com/bbmod or call 01342 777 747

My clinic is in London but I mostly work virtually now. Many of my clients suffer with burn-out, stress, insomnia and anxiety, often linking to gut problems, so I help them overcome these issues. I host webinars, group weight loss programmes, including one for the NHS, and transformational wellness retreats.

I love helping people transform their lives and feel great inside and out. I work holistically and look at the overall mind body soul connection; their diet, lifestyle, connection to others, spiritual connection and purpose.

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Geoff Don

CNM has an exceptional 22-year track record training successful natural health practitioners online and in class.

Over 80% of graduates are practising.

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PETS

No dog left behind

Want your four-legged friend to be as much a part of your daily life as they were during lockdown? As some owners sadly consider rehoming, The Kennel Club is encouraging a more dog-friendly society post-pandemic

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s life begins to return to ‘normal’, many people are excited to go out and explore again – some alongside four-legged friends, who were a lifeline to thousands during lockdown. During this period, dogs and owners got used to being together all the time, and now many are worried about the fate of man’s best friend, as restrictions lift.

New research from The Kennel Club shows that more than one in three dog owners have concerns about what their pet will do if they can’t go with them to the places they usually socialise and work when Covid-19 restrictions have eased. Some 23% fear they won’t be able to provide a suitable home for their dog after lockdown, and nearly one in five are considering rehoming as an option.

Research also shows that plenty of us in the South West want to share more spaces, including pubs and offices, with canine companions – 60 per cent would like there to be more places open to dogs and almost as many agreed that struggling establishments could benefit from being dog-friendly. The majority feel that more people will visit if their dog can come as well, and that a pooch or two makes the atmosphere friendlier. Moreover, almost half agree that workplaces could also benefit from being dog friendly, with employees’ dogs or an office pet commonly believed to help alleviate stress in the workplace.

To help tackle the potential welfare crisis for a generation of dogs and support businesses and workplaces that want to welcome man’s best friend, The Kennel Club has launched a campaign – Open for Dogs – with top tips for owners who don’t want to be parted from their pal as the world opens up.

Furry punter

Photography: Rachel Oates/The Kennel Club

• Check the dog-friendly status of places you are planning to visit.

• Consider if your pooch is ready and trained to visit new places, and prepared to be surrounded by other people and dogs. If you are only introducing your dog to situations like these, start with a short visit and increase the length over time.

• Make sure your dog is well-behaved and can happily sit and stay.

• Feed and exercise your dog before visiting a pub or other establishment so they can settle.

• Make sure you bring treats and toys in case you need to distract them and don’t forget poo bags!

• Keep an eye on your dog to make sure they are relaxed, safe and comfortable, and make sure they are not giving other guests unwanted attention.

Canine travel companion

• Always check out the rules about travelling with a dog on your chosen mode of transport.

• Travel during quieter periods, avoiding rush hour, and always during cooler times to prevent hot weather dangers.

• Make sure your dog has had enough exercise and time to go the toilet so they will settle for the journey.

• Bring your dog lead, collar and ID tag as well as treats, toys, poo bags, and water with a bowl.

• Always keep your dog on a short lead close to you.

Four-legged colleague

• Find out whether your company has an office dog policy and what it says.

• Make sure that your dog is confident and happy in new environments, around people and other dogs.

• During the day, make sure to keep an eye on your pup and take them for regular walks and breaks.

• Know your dog’s whereabouts, especially if there are other dogs in the office.

• Bring food, treats, bags, and a bed for your dog and consider bringing a bowl if they aren’t provided in the office. n *Figures based on survey of 2,001 general consumer and dog owner respondents, carried out for The Kennel Club by Censuswide in June 2021; thekennelclub.org.uk/openfordogs

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Former professional boxer, Johnny Nelson recently underwent MBST treatment at one of our associate clinics for neck pain and lower back damage. Johnny said ‘I wish I’d known about this!!...If I’d had this treatment at the end of my career it would have bought me another two or three years at the top level’.

Here at Cura, we’ve recently had the pleasure of working with the Bristol Bears. We spoke with Jack Targett, Head of Recovery and Medical Logistics for the Bears:

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FASHION & BEAUTY

Wedding

DRESSING

Victoria, Victoria Beckham light pink crepe mini dress, £395 Soft pastel shades and feminine silhouettes are a calling card of Victoria, Victoria Beckham and this pale pink dress delivers both. Cut to a sweet shift silhouette, this mini style is framed with elegant balloon sleeves.

NARS Air Matte lip colour, £23 Seductively soft; a matte that moves with you. The Air Matte lip colour from NARS uses cushiony, air-kissed pigments that float featherweight colour onto lips, while the silky colour diffusion complex instantly diffuses light from all angles to create a soft-focus finish with a creamy feel.

Get to the aisle in style Whether you’re a traditionalist or opting for a tailored two-piece, the bride or the best friend, Harvey Nichols Bristol has everything you need to sashay through the day.

Alexander McQueen skull-embellished gold-tone ring, £180

All products are available at Harvey Nichols Bristol or harveynichols.com

Make a statement with this Swarovski crystalembellished skull ring with faux pearl and a brushed finish.

Saint Laurent, College medium white leather cross-body bag, £1,700 Proudly ornamented with the iconic YSL logo plaque, this chic white piece is crafted from leather that’s worked with a chevron matelassé pattern and features a top handle and chain cross-body strap for versatile styling.

With 3D rose petal effect, pointed toe and buckle-fastening slingback strap, these mules will add the perfect pop of colour to many an outfit.

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Emily-London Amanyara beaded headpiece, £385 Beautiful headpiece hand-beaded in white and gold, with beads interspersed with gold stars. Effortlessly light to wear, the headpiece is secured with a comb.

A tribute to femininity, Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s À La Rose is a crisp yet tender fragrance, rich in precious rose and deeply evocative.

Valentino Garavani Atelier 50 leather mules, £800

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With a crystal-embellished strap and pointed toe, these slip-on leather mules come with a heel that measures approximately 2.5 inches.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian, À La Rose eau de parfum, 70ml, £180

Self Portrait white polkadot taffeta midi dress, £340 Self-Portrait’s white midi dress reinterprets retro styling for the modern event wardrobe. Artfully balancing proportions, this polka-dot design is tailored from crisp taffeta to feature a gathered bust, puff sleeves and a playfully flared hem panel.

Jimmy Choo blush patent leather mules, £750

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Staying safe in the sun Summer is here, which is typically the time when people start to become more conscious of their skin.

Dr Genevieve Osborne, a Consultant Dermatologist at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, gives advice on the sort of things we should be aware of when spending time in the sun.

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kin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK – but most is curable if caught early. Sun is the primary cause of skin cancer; the sun’s ultra violet (UV) rays – both UVA and UVB – can cause genetic and immune changes in the skin that can lead to skin cancer in the future.

The two main categories of skin cancer are melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer.

Melanoma skin cancer can be a serious form which can spread more rapidly internally if not treated early. Over the last 20 years, it has become the fastest increasing cancer, probably reflecting changes in people’s sun exposure habits, and in particular can affect a younger population – although all forms of skin cancer become more common with advancing years.

Non-melanoma skin cancer includes basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

The reactions that immediate sun exposure can cause are redness (‘sunburn’), tanning (caused by an increased amount of the pigment melanin) and freckling (where the melanin occurs in clumps). All these changes can be risk factors for the development of skin cancer, but sunburn is particularly risky, especially in children. Use of sunscreen at least SPF 30 with 5* UVA cover, protective clothing and wide-brimmed hats helps prevent sunburn, as does avoiding exposure to the most intense sun between 11am - 3pm.

Individuals who are more light-skinned, with fair or red hair, who have a freckling tendency, or those with a lot of moles are all more prone to skin cancer.

Moles are common ordinary skin spots that represent clumps of pigment-making cells

called melanocytes. They’re usually brown, sometimes pink and can be flat or raised. They start to appear in early childhood, more so in response to sun exposure, but they can also occur spontaneously at non-sun exposed sites and may be hereditary. When moles become cancerous, they’re called ‘melanoma’. A change in a mole, such as enlargement, change in colour, shape or size may be signs that it has become a melanoma. Less often, melanoma may cause bleeding, irritation and itching.

Melanoma can also develop on normal skin, where there was no mole present before. Many people aren’t in the habit of checking their moles for change but this does help to pick up melanoma early. A typical melanoma is a brown, irregular-shaped mark that may show several shades of colour and have a fuzzy border; occasionally a melanoma can be pink.

As most melanomas develop silently, it can be helpful to have your moles assessed by a Dermatologist, particularly if you have risk factors such as fair skin, many moles, a family history or have had considerable sun exposure or used a sun bed. If a suspicious mole is seen, it may be surgically removed and sent for analysis, and early detection of melanoma can be life-saving. The Dermatology team at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital can make a risk assessment of your skin, photographically map suspicious moles for surveillance purposes, treat pre-cancerous changes and surgically treat many skin cancers where present.

People who have accumulated much sunexposure over the years are prone to precancerous skin conditions that can turn into SCC, and they are at greater risk of BCC too.

These skin cancers are usually managed surgically. Individuals who have had a nonmelanoma skin cancer are more prone to further such cancers in the future and therefore benefit from regular skin surveillance by a Dermatologist for early diagnosis.

Dermatologists would never view a sun tan as ‘healthy’ because it is a sign that there has been damage which may later lead to skin cancer. Some exposure to the sun is required to maintain Vitamin D levels, so we don’t need to avoid it completely, and Vitamin D can still be made in the body when a sunscreen is applied. Certain skin conditions, such as psoriasis, are actually improved by UV exposure from the sun, so the important message is to avoid sunburn and prolonged exposure, and know your own risk factors, regularly inspecting your skin for changes.

If you would like to book an appointment with Dr Osborne, or one of the other Consultant Dermatologists at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, Dr Helen Audrain and Dr Adam Bray, call 0117 911 5339, or visit our website: www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/bristol.

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Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital 3 Clifton Hill, Bristol BS8 1BN nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/bristol

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GARDENING

Summer sanctuary

If we can’t go away on holiday, we can, at least, look to our gardens to bring us pleasure. But if yours is more Bognor than Bahamas, it could be time to think about ways to add some zing, says Elly West

S

taying at home this summer? You’re certainly not alone, and many of us have been looking to our gardens to provide that holiday vibe. The landscaping industry is one of the more fortunate ones that saw a boom as the pandemic went on (and on). Materials and plant shortages aside, many landscapers and designers have never been so busy. I saw enquiries for garden design services rocket at the start of the year and levels stayed high, as everyone spent more time at home and in the garden, and we faced another staycation summer with limited travel.

My clients’ wish lists have mostly been very similar – somewhere to entertain, socialise, relax, cook and eat – an outdoor room that can be enjoyed as an extension of the home, while still providing the visual attraction of year-round colour and soothing greenery. Hot tubs, outdoor kitchens and garden buildings are in demand, along with furniture, barbecues, garden bars and many other outdoor-living products.

If we can’t go away on holiday, then at least we can look to our gardens to bring us pleasure, and stepping out of the back door into our own summer sanctuary can be the next best thing. But if your garden is currently more Bognor than Bahamas, it could be time to think about ways to add some zing.

A good starting point is the seating area. All gardens need somewhere to sit and relax, so take a look at where the sun rises and sets, and consider what time of day you’re most likely to be outside.

Do you prefer to sit in the sun or shade? Are you looking for a spot for a morning coffee, evening sundowner, or do you have room for more than one seating area? South-facing will get the most direct sunshine during the day, or west-facing for the evening, and you can always add 64 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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a sail shade, screening or large parasol for days when the sun is strong.

Summer houses often turn into glorified sheds in my experience, but a simple pergola with a covered roof or sail strung between the posts is an effective way to define a seating area, provide shelter and a sense of enclosure, and also provides the opportunity to grow climbers such as clematis or roses. A pergola makes a good focal point and gives instant structure and height.

A simple pergola with a covered roof or sail strung between the posts is an effective way to define a seating area

Somewhere sunny for loungers and comfy sofas, combined with a shadier spot for outdoor dining, is a good idea if you have the space.

Surround your seating with fragrant plants such as herbs, jasmine, lilies and lavender, and hang some bunting, and you'll soon feel in holiday mood. If you’re lucky enough to have well-positioned trees, string up a hammock for the ultimate in holiday relaxation!

Alfresco dining is also synonymous with summer holidays, so a place to cook outside could be a good investment, whether it’s a small barbecue or full-on kitchen with worktops, a sink and places to grill, bake and fry. Pizza ovens and Japanese-style ceramic kamado grills have soared in popularity and make stylish garden features that create

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GARDENING

Pizza ovens and Japanese-style ceramic kamado grills have soared in popularity and make stylish garden features a focal point in your cooking space. A brick-built barbecue is another option if you want to keep things simple. Again, think carefully about where you want the kitchen area to be. Unless it’s deluxe enough to have everything you need, then a spot close to the house (and the actual kitchen) makes sense, as well as not too far away from where you’ll be eating the food.

Long evenings spent outdoors will always be enhanced with garden lighting, and switching on lights immediately invokes a holiday-party vibe, especially if you go for fun colour-changing bulbs controllable from an app on your phone. There are also lots of hanging pendant lights that give that indoor-outdoor look, or you might want a festival feel with festoon or fairy lights. String them along fences, through trees and shrubs or over an arch or pergola. Solar lights are a good option if you don’t have an outdoor electricity supply, although they won’t be as bright or reliable, or even a collection of tealights in jam jars will provide evening atmosphere for very little cost.

Lots of accessories on the market have the indoor-outdoor look in mind, and a cosy space filled with blankets and cushions, plus an outdoor patterned rug, will entice you and your family and friends to spend longer outdoors.

And when the temperature drops, a free-standing fire pit makes another good addition to keep you warm, while creating an attractive centrepiece. Some even come with a cooking grill. Go for one with a gas tank for instant, reliable heat, Love Island style! n

Plant of the month: Hollyhock Hollyhocks are reminiscent of holidays in France – their stately flowers towering against the rough stone walls of a rustic gîte – but they’re favourites in English country cottage gardens as well and it’s easy to see why. They’re easy to grow from seed and appear later in the summer after many other perennials and annuals have burnt out, their statuesque blooms ideal for the back of a border or against a house wall. I’d always thought of these as biennials, according to the books, meaning that they flower in their second year and then die. However, I moved to my current house more than seven years ago and I inherited a near-black variety that’s sprouted reliably right at the base of a cherry tree every year, proving that plants don’t follow the rules!

They’re loved by bees and butterflies, and come in a range of jewel-like colours, from soft pinks through yellows and creams, red, white, blue and black. The petals can be added to salads or crystallised for cake decorations. Hollyhocks are easy to grow from seed either indoors or out, and appreciate well-drained soil in full sun, where they will reward you with a plethora of flowers that can tower at over 2m tall. The stems may need staking in a windy spot.

• ellyswellies.co.uk; Instagram: @ellyswellies1

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INTERIORS

Would you take the plunge and transform a space in your house to accommodate Ursell Pools’ wow-factor wooden hot tub?

You’ll always find me in the spathroom at parties Local interiors experts have their say on a home wellness trend on the up, and offer their top tips for achieving a sumptuous personal sanctuary

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INTERIORS

W

hether it’s a portmanteau that fills you with dread or delight, we daresay there are few among us that actually disagree with what a ‘spathroom’ represents.

A spot for mindfulness, meditation or just more high-quality me-time, if you’re no longer keen on sharing steam with others while mingling at hotels, health clubs and retreats, upgrading to one of these could be a decent investment.

Now, more than ever, we want a bathroom that can be our own personal sanctuary, agree the folks at Mandarin Stone. “If luxury hotel bathrooms and spas are but a distant memory, now’s the time to create your very own. From impressive large-format marble effects to retrostyle terrazzo, allow yourself to indulge with no limitations. Using tiles like this will create the perfect ambience to the bathroom. The bathroom is also the perfect place to experiment with colour, pattern and texture.

It’s all about creating a space with personality and individuality.”

Ursell Pools have created some great one and two-person saunas and steam rooms that have fitted into some tight spaces to wonderful effect.

The seasoned spathroom experts take projects from design to completion with their in-house designers, makers and builders, and fully equipped workshop where they build spa products such as small plunge pools and ‘experience’ showers. “Currently many people are focusing on developing and improving their homes as well as focusing on their health and wellbeing,” they say. “Creating the perfect home spa is a wise investment for both home and wellness.”

Long gone are the days when a bathroom was simply a utilitarian space, one of function rather than enjoyment, says interior designer John Law. “Today the bathroom offers, in its place, more of a space for self-care and relaxation. During and following lockdown, as we navigate such uncertain times, this value of such a retreat has undoubtedly gained greater appreciation.

“In creating such a sanctuary within our own home, cues and inspiration might very well be taken from luxury spas, perhaps of Bristol’s best-known retreats, or indeed from spas further afield. Key elements such as materials, soothing colour tones and finishes for instance. A spa doesn’t necessarily have to look zen however, unless you want it to, of course.

Whatever you are drawn to – and there’s a look for every taste, ranging from the rustic to the uber-glam – a spa environment is almost universally restful and calm. Many design elements combine to achieve this, but my top ten tips would be:

Woodhouse & Law’s Combe Park project

Plants are great in spathrooms such as this gorgeous one from Mandarin Stone, soaking up excess water in a damp environment

1. Keep calm and carry on Introduce calming and relaxing colours and materials. Spas often incorporate natural materials such as timber, stone and marble, helping us reconnect with the natural and creating a sense of calm.

This can easily be applied to a home spa by adding marble tiles to the walls, or a vanity in a natural material.

2. Just add large plants The addition of large plants to a bathroom scheme, or several smaller plants in wall-mounted containers or on shelves. This can instantly make a space feel more relaxing.

3. Reduce the clutter By all means, go all out on the self-care treatments but keep the space as clutter-free as possible. This might mean investing in clever storage; a bespoke vanity that can be adapted to accommodate your individual requirements, or a shallow drawer perhaps for cosmetics. Equally, refillable dispensers can make the bathroom look more stylish and allow you to reduce waste at the same time.

4. Scale up When selecting a shower head, scale up. This will ensure your day-today experience feels more decadent. Whether you have the budget for a rain shower or not, the addition of a wider fixed shower head can make all the difference to your daily showering routine.

5. Focus on comfort Consider incorporating demisters on mirrors and underfloor heating to ensure the room is warm and cosy, even on the coldest nights. Dual fuel radiators also enable you to dry towels in summer.

Ursell Pools make spathroom products, including ‘experience’ showers, in their workshop

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INTERIORS decadent. This could come from the fronds of a fern, a rug on the floor or thick, fluffy towels. A spa is all about being pampered, which involves a sensory experience. Light a candle infused with relaxing scents and include space for bath oils, loofahs and a bath pillow.

9. Let’s get lit Invest in good lighting. This is key to creating a spa environment within the home; add, for instance, additional circuits on dimmers so you can control the level of light. Always introduce lighting within niches and at low level so that you can quickly create a softer ambience.

10. Hybrid theory If you have the space, try incorporating your bathroom into the bedroom to create a suite. The WC can always be separated off, while the bathtub and shower become decorative features. We have recently designed two spa bathrooms with a wet and dry space, separated by a large glass wall. The shower and bathtub sit side by side in a wet room environment. On a practical level, this makes the bathroom warm, inviting and easy to maintain. But it also adds a sense of decadence as you step into a large glass enclosure to bathe.

We are used to seeing large kitchen extensions with luxurious marbled worktops. Now this trend is seeping into our bathrooms

Home sauna installation can be completed in a day

6. Take it easy with the tiles Don’t be tempted to tile every surface. Paint walls and introduce wallpaper to individualise the space and add artwork (appropriately framed) to create interest and make the space more atmospheric and individual. Pieces conducive to rest and relaxation work best here.

7. Avoid the conventional Set out to design a room you really wish to spend time in. For example, in place of standard bathroom furniture, do you have an antique chest you could adapt for a washbasin, or an old stool that could sit by the bath for your reading book or glass of wine? If you have space, consider adding a chair, chaise or sofa to the room; somewhere you can relax while you draw a bath.

8. All the feels Introduce texture; this will help the space feel tactile, more relaxed and

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One of Bristol’s leading bathroom designers, Paul Whittaker, urges those creating a spathroom to think of the practicalites as well as the aesthetics, and how these combine. “Spathrooms must smell nice all the time so it’s important you create a design that is easy to keep clean,” he says. “That means no unslightly pipework on view and no dust traps between products. Look at products such as wall-hung toilets and basins. It makes life so much easier to keep your bathroom clean and smelling like a five-star spa.

“If you don’t have room for a large freestanding bath, don’t panic: you can convert any standard size bath into a jacuzzi. Many of the leading bath manufacturers offer this option, but if doing this is beyond your budget, then a simple bath headrest is a great, inexpensive relaxing addition.”

If you have room for a shower in your bathroom, Paul recommends considering a tiled wetroom tray rather than a standard stone resin tray. “Not only do they offer better long-term reliability, you can enjoy the luxury of having underfloor heating in the shower area. If your shower area is longer than 1400mm in length, it may be worth investing in a tiled bench or seat. After a gym session or long-distance cycle, it’s a great feature to be able to relax and sit down in your shower area and rest/stretch those tired muscles.

“Within the shower, think about a large shower head recessed into the ceiling, body jets and a hand-held shower that you can hold and blast at the back of your neck and other pressure points in the body to relieve stress and tension. If you are thinking of going down this route, please do check with your installer that you have the necessary water pressure for these outlets to perform at their full potential.

“Finally a good spathroom design will always incorporate useful areas for you to accessorise your space and put candles, perfumes and plants on display. Recesses, niches and shelving should always be included in the design stage. Plants are, by far, the best accessory to put in any bathroom as they soak up excess water in a damp environment and balance space.”

“We are used to seeing images of large kitchen extensions with luxurious marbled worktops laid over beautiful bespoke cabinetry and posh-looking brass taps,” say Dave Collins and Carine Butcher at Gardiner Haskins Bristol. “Now this trend is seeping into our bathrooms. We are longing for the luxury spa features without the price tags, that will also fit into our bathroom space and provide some relaxing glamour. For some, this means a bath tub complete with shiny brass taps and brass accessories. Others may prefer to substitute their bath for a large shower reminding you of holidays far away. Add plenty of plants to the mix inside or create your own living wall outside as your window view, to create a more tropical vibe and that feeling of being on holiday.

“Glossy bathroom cabinetry and Corian worktops are versatile and an exciting addition to your spathroom. They come in a variety of colours and textures designed to suit your interior. Furthermore, shower trays are not just white anymore. The Doccia shower tray is

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INTERIORS

Vanity Hall collections’ Corian cabinetry in patterned grey onyx, from Gardiner Haskins

The Doccia shower tray and wall panel

made of a textured stone composite material available in a multitude of colours. At Gardiner Haskins we have a pink shower tray with matching wall panelling allowing a degree of symmetry to bathroom designs and, of course, it looks fabulously indulgent, though we know pink is not for everyone so you can choose your own colour.

“And how about a wet room with a heated seating enclosure and a wet-room tray hidden under the tiles complete with an integrated thermostatic shower head?”

“It’s all about choosing the right sanitary ware, carefully planned multifunctional lighting, using natural materials and adding relaxing aromas and luxurious accessories,” says West Country interior designer Clair Strong. “To give your bathroom a unique spa-like feel, choose one feature that gives it a standout designer look; a rolltop bath, marble tiles, designer mirrors and his-and-her sinks will create a glamorous look. If you have a big enough room, start with a freestanding rolltop bath with double ends so you can really lie back and relax. Splash out and choose one with an in-built jacuzzi for the total spa experience. If you have the space, think about installing a sauna. Installing a prefabricated indoor sauna is pretty straightforward nowadays and it can be completed in a day. In smaller bathrooms, a walk-in shower or wetroom with an oversized rainfall showerhead is a stylish alternative. Look for a shower head that has multiple settings, including a massage head.

“Natural materials and earthy tones are essential to create a zen-like feeling in your bathroom. Choose white sanitary ware and muted shades of green, grey and brown and then add tiles. These bring colour, pattern, texture, a natural look or even a bit of glamour.

Natural stone has character, marble looks opulent, and ceramic and porcelain tiles give a minimalist contemporary look.

“Your choice of lighting is very important. Think about how you will use the bathroom at different times of day. You want it bright and functional in the morning but you want to be able to relax in the evenings. The trick is to use multiple layers of light from a variety of sources. Direct lights above the key areas, layered with task lighting around bathroom mirrors for close-up activities, like putting on makeup or shaving, will give you options. Install a dimmer switch for mood lighting. You’ll instantly create the perfect ambience for late-night pamper sessions.

“It’s all about the right accessories, too. Think designer mirrors, greenery and immaculate white towels resting on a wooden stool.

Mirrors come in so many different shapes and sizes and make a real statement. Round mirrors are very on trend, rectangular mirrors are timeless and oval mirrors elegant. For a really cool designer look, go for two round mirrors hanging by a chain or strap, over a pair of hisand-hers sinks. Think of mirrors in bathrooms as design elements that

expand the room visually and add light to the room.

“Clever storage solutions are key to a tidy, uncluttered, spa-like bathroom. Keep your essentials at hand and everything else neatly tucked away. Give everything – makeup, cleaning products, bath linens – a home. Try using clear glass jars, wicker baskets and designer soaps and lotion in chic glass pumps.

“Look for natural wood cabinets, towel ladders and stools. Fluffy white towels are often associated with spas or boutique hotels and work with any scheme. They are classic, timeless and easy to replace.

If you want to add colour, soft blues and greens are calming and dark grey towels look sophisticated and chic. A towel-warmer is essential for the luxury of toasty towels to wrap up in anytime.

“House plants create a healthy, tranquil environment and one big designer plant by the bath or a group of hanging plants will add an exotic touch. Finally, aromatherapy. Essential oils, scented soap and candles set the mood: choose scents like lavender, lemon or jasmine to create a calm, relaxing atmosphere.” n

Some like it steamy: so how about installing your own steam room?

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PROMOTED CONTENT

Welcome to the new home of Park Furnishers

A

s lockdown eased and retailers were given the go ahead to open, Park Furnishers, the familyowned furniture retailer had more reasons than most to be delighted to see the day arrive.

Having waited patiently, the company, which has successfully celebrated over 50 years as a much loved independent Bristol based retailer, had recently moved to its new home, located at the city’s Eastgate Retail Park near Ikea.

The team had been busy preparing the new store, located in the old Mothercare unit, behind the scenes. The new store allows a range of different looks to be displayed in beautiful room sets providing plenty of ideas for customers considering a room refresh.

Offering an unrivalled range of quality furniture and furnishings presented in an inspirational setting, the new store showcases furniture from the best brands including sofas, chairs, beds, and dining furniture. The store also features a flooring studio and is beautifully propped with lovely accessories, lights, pictures and mirrors so even if you are not looking to make a big purchase just yet, there are lots of beautiful products to help customers update their look.

For those looking to update the hub of their home the store features impressive fitted kitchen and Hammonds fitted bedroom studios with the latest innovations from the best brands on display. Expert designers are also on hand to provide advice and with a wealth of experience, they can ensure that customers choose the right solution to suit their home and lifestyle.

For further information about the new store or to book a free kitchen design or flooring appointment visit the Park Furnishers website. ■ Park Furnishers, Eastgate Retail Park, Bristol BS5 6XX www.parkfurnishers.co.uk

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THE

KI TC HEN PAR TNER S DESIGN STUDIO

www.thekitchenpartners.co.uk 102 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2QY 01179 466433

Founders and Lead Designers - Fiona & Clinton

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New Build Extensions Renovation

Say hello.

0117 259 1591

Visit our design studio at: 23 Chandos Road, Redland, Bristol BS6 6PG www.halbuild.co.uk info@halgroup.co.uk

Building excellence by design

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Rupert Oliver PIF full Page.qxp_PIF Full Page 19/07/2021 15:19 Page 1

BRISTOL PROPERTY | IN FOCUS

T

his is a sumptuous and beautifully presented garden flat, arranged over the lower ground floor of a stunning Grade II Listed townhouse, built in the Italianate villa style with the added benefit of off-street parking, private entrance and superb rear garden.

Lovingly restored and beautifully maintained by the current owner, the accommodation is spacious and occupies the lower ground floor. Steps lead down from the cobbled front parking space to an entrance hall and inner hall which leads to a beautiful and well equiped kitchen and open-plan dining room at the rear of the property. From here, there is access (as well as from the entrance hall) to a delighful sitting room, with high ceilings and original features is filled with light from the rear garden. Double doors lead to the main bedroom, which can also be accessed via the inner hall, it’s a wonderfully proportioned room and has French doors leading out to the front terrace. In addition, there are two further bedrooms, with a particularly spacious second bedroom which offers a huge degree of versatility and makes a perfect work-from-home office space - still with plenty of room for a king size sofa bed. The bathroom is well-appointed with beautiful fittings. To the side of the property (which can be accessed independently from the front and rear), is a storage wing, with vaulted ceilings it has a variety of rooms as well as a utility room and separate WC. Outside, the rear garden has been beautifully landscaped with thought given to space to sit, dine, relax and entertain.

Pembroke Road, Clifton, BS8 • Beautifully presented period apartment • Highly sought-after location • 3 Bedrooms • Off-street parking, private entrance • Vaulted storage wing • Private rear garden

Guide price £895,000

For further details visit - rupertoliver.co.uk

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THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE 73

Bristol & Clifton’s premier Commercial Property Agents Keep up-to-date with our latest news, deals, testimonials and market comment at our website: www.burstoncook.co.uk

(0117) 934 9977 HIGH QUALITY GREAT VALUE OFFICES – VERONA HOUSE BS16

INVESTMENT FOR SALE • St Stephen St BS1

• 3,800 sq ft – VG parking • Air con, raised floors, DDA compliant, manned reception & bike stores • Only £12.50 per sq ft

• Office 1,293 sq ft • Office 440 sq ft • Nightclub 2,000 sq ft • ERV £48,000 pax • C £525,000 25/27 CLARE STREET BS1

MONARCH COURT, EMERSONS GREEN

• Landmark office building

• Open plan,over two floors

• 2,651 sq ft

• 3,110 sq ft with an excellent amount of car parking

• Prime city location • New lease – rent on application

• £17.50 per sq ft

8/10 WHITELADIES ROAD

WATERFRONT OFFICE SUITES

• Hall floor office suite

• Penthouse 1,800 sq ft

• 1,475 sq ft

• First Floor 2,375 sq ft

• 4 car spaces

• 7 car spaces total

• Competitive rent • New lease

• Stunning views

PRIME RESTAURANT, BS1

VANTAGE PK OFFICES NORTH BRISTOL

• Prime city location between Hippodrome Theatre and Bristol Beacon concert venue • Sunny side of town • 2,500 sq ft • Sensible rent

• Prime out of town offices • 1,950 sq ft – 7 car spaces • Close to M-way • New lease – rent on application

CITY CENTRE OFFICE

7 QUEEN SQUARE, BS1

• Queen Charlotte Street

• Prime office space • Whole office building 2,898 sq ft

• 1,808 sq ft

• Or suites of 913 sq ft, 1,067 sq ft, 1,618 sq ft

• 2 car spaces • New refurbishment • Only £17 per sq ft

Julian Cook FRICS

Jayne Rixon MRICS

Charlie Kershaw MRICS

Finola Ingham MRICS

Tom Coyte MRICS

Holly Boulton BSc(Hons)

• Sales / Lettings • Acquisitions • Valuations • Landlord & tenant • Auction Sales

• Rent reviews • Property Management • Investment Sales / Purchase • Development & Planning • Dilapidations Advice

Bristol & Clifton’s premier Commercial Property Agents Keep up-to-date with our latest news, deals, testimonials and market comment at our website: www.burstoncook.co.uk

(0117) 934 9977

PRIME SHOP / CAFÉ FRONTING ST AUGUSTINES PARADE BS1

58A UNION ST, BROADMEAD • Prime city centre unit

• Lock up shop + suit coffee bar

• 808 sq ft

• Sunny location – pos outside area

• Busy trading site

• Established and busy position

• Only £29,500 pax

• Rent £17,000 pax – new lease HIGH STREET SHIREHAMPTON

REFURBISHED OFFICES (OFF WHITELADIES ROAD)

• Fantastic large retail / showroom unit

• A most attractive period office building • C 1,200 sq ft • Contemporary refurb • New lease – rent on application

• Established high street pitch • 4,105 sq ft + customer parking

COMMERCIAL PREMISES + 3 BED FLAT BLAGDON, NORTH SOMERSET

BRIDGEWATER ROAD (‘AIRPORT ROAD’), BRISTOL • Retail/showroom • 1st floor office separately available if required • Close to Bristol Airport yet 15 minutes from BS1 • New leases – low rent

• Former coach depot, garage, office, storage + yard • C 11,455 sq ft.

• Suit other commercial uses – to let (might sell) GROVE HOUSE, CLIFTON

92A WHITELADIES ROAD

• 2,793 sq ft

• Busy retail pitch

• Office building

• 1,305 sq ft unit

• Suit other commercial uses

• New lease • No premium!

• To let

BRADLEY STOKE OFFICES

FRANKLYN STREET, ST PAULS, BRISTOL *A converted Victorian end of terrace house comprising:

• 1st floor high quality offices

• Offices 1,259 sq ft

• On the popular Willow Brook Centre • 3,550 sq ft + parking • GREAT SPACE – TO LET

• Stores 291 sq ft • Open store 1,549 sq ft *Suit various commercial uses *TO RENT (MIGHT SELL)

Julian Cook FRICS

Jayne Rixon MRICS

Charlie Kershaw MRICS

Finola Ingham MRICS

Tom Coyte MRICS

Holly Boulton BSc(Hons)

• Sales / Lettings • Acquisitions • Valuations • Landlord & tenant • Auction Sales

• Rent reviews • Property Management • Investment Sales / Purchase • Development & Planning • Dilapidations Advice

P76.qxp_Layout 23 23/07/2021 11:54 Page 49

First time buyers find perfect homes at Factory No.1

F

actory No.1 is located at the gateway to vibrant Bedminster.

The Grade II listed buildings and grounds of the former tobacco factory are being transformed into stylish new and conversion apartments by award-winning restoration specialists City & Country.

The historic buildings are some of the most distinctive in Bristol and have a rich industrial past. Designed by Sir Frank Wills, the site is known for being the first factory of tobacco importers and manufacturers W.D & H.O Wills in 1886, hence the development name.

The apartments are designed with modern living in mind, boasting generous, flexible living spaces, premium interiors, private outdoor spaces, and ultra-fast broadband. Properties also benefit from secure underground parking, private gardens, and a concierge.

Twenty-seven-year-old Alex Winn skipped renting and bought his first home at Factory No.1 last year, thanks to Help To Buy. He says: “Factory No.1 caught my eye, as anything I’d seen of this quality before was much further out of Bristol. The finish of the homes is exceptional – the ceilings and large windows of my onebedroom flat make it feel so spacious.

“The location is also a huge draw for me. My commute has dropped from over an hour by train or in the car to a short walk into Redcliffe. I’ve spent time around North Street and its amenities before, so being able to live so close to it is exciting and I can’t wait to explore further.”

One- and two-bedroom apartments are now available, with some ready to move into. A new show home has recently been unveiled, offering a glimpse into life at the new development.

Apartments at Factory No.1 are priced from £278,000 and many are available with Help to Buy*. The Sales Suite is open for private appointments Thursday – Monday from 10am to 5pm. To arrange a private viewing, please call 01173 219 729, or visit www.cityandcountry.co.uk/factoryno1 *Prices correct at time of writing and are subject to change. Help to Buy T&Cs apply visit HelptoBuy.gov.uk for more information.

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Redland Court – “An opportunity not to be missed”

For several months Sheila and Peter Campbell watched the development of Redland Court from a distance. The lofty position of their large family home in the BS7 area provided the perfect vantage point to see just what was unfolding on this historic site.

“We love living in this area, but once our children moved out, we found ourselves in a large house with so many unused rooms. Moving was something we’d talked about, but without making any firm plans.

We knew very early on that Redland Court was going to be special and thought we’d go along to an open day in September 2020 just to see what was on offer. We loved it and reserved our beautiful apartment the next day! It was the quickest decision we ever made. I never thought I’d buy off plan, but the information provided and the quality of the finishes that we saw gave us confidence. We didn’t look anywhere else and as one of our neighbours said recently ‘opportunities like this don’t come along very often’ she was so right. ” Sheila and her husband were the first people to move into Redland Court, buying a ground floor 2-bedroom apartment in the Science Building. This was also the development’s acclaimed first show apartment. “Now we are finally in and everything is just as we expected. The quality is amazing, nothing was too much trouble for Juniper Homes and even though the site isn’t completely finished, the building team are so polite, it’s really not a problem. Our surrounding terrace is much larger than we’d anticipated and we love sitting out watching the evening sun light up the beautiful stone of the Manor House – it feels like being on holiday in Italy”.

Sheila was also impressed by the attention to detail across the site; an old metal support on the end of their terrace has been expertly clad in stone, “it looks as if it has always been there” she said. “After so many years in a large Victorian house, we were concerned we’d feel cramped but absolutely not, this apartment feels so light and spacious. People step in to the living room and genuinely say WOW”.

1-bed apartments from £395,000 • 2-bed apartments from £525,000 3 and 4-bed apartments from £895,000 - £1.5m.

To view these individual homes please call Savills on 0117 910 0360 or Ocean on 0117 946 9838

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FAILAND BS8

GUIDE PRICE

£1,250,000

An impressive 5-bedroom family home arranged over 3 floors. Versatile and generous interior finished to a very high standard throughout. Exceptional kitchen/breakfast room. Electric gates and set back front driveway, garden offering a great deal of privacy. Superb location. Viewing highly recommended.

REDLAND BS6

GUIDE PRICE

£425,000

A stunning two bedroom first and second floor masionette. Forming part of a beautiful church conversion with period features throughout, spectacular light filled vaulted living space. Allocated off street parking. Superb Redland location. No onward chain.

0117 923 8238

www.howard-homes.co.uk

hello@howard-homes.co.uk

CLIFTON BS8

GUIDE PRICE

£665,000

A period Grade II listed town house situated in the heart of Clifton Village. Versatile interior set over four floors. Areas of modernising required throughout. Roof terrace with roof top views. No onward chain.

COTHAM BS6

GUIDE PRICE

£500,000

Updated period family house in Cotham. Lounge/ dining area plus a separate modern kitchen Three generous double bedrooms, large quality bathroom with a claw foot bath and separate shower. Front garden and rear decked courtyard garden and a cellar room. No onward chain.

203 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2XT

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Clifton, Bristol | Guide Price £950,000 A wonderfully versatile apartment in a desirable Grade II Listed building, with a private courtyard garden, off-street parking, extensive cellar and generous communal garden.

Private entrance and off-street parking | Extensive lateral accommodation with a cellar below | Fabulous sitting room and a separate study | Generous open-plan kitchen and dining room | Master bedroom and en-suite bathroom | Two further double bedrooms and a separate shower room | Utility room and extensive storage throughout | Superb suite of vaulted cellar rooms | Allocated off-street parking space | Private southerly facing courtyard garden with an elevated communal garden and private resident's gate onto Christchurch Road

In all circa 2880 sq. ft (268 sq. m)

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Long Ashton, Bristol | Guide Price £1,450,000 A substantial detached family-house situated on a quiet and private road providing extensive accommodation over two floors with five bedrooms, three bathrooms, four reception rooms, family kitchen and dining room, integrated double garage, off-street parking and enclosed family garden.

Built just 20 years ago by renowned builders Linden Homes | Same owner occupiers since new | Modern conveniences coupled with a charming “Georgian” exterior | Accessed via a private road | Integrated double garage and off-street parking | Fully enclosed family garden | Five double bedrooms and three bathrooms | Family kitchen and open plan dining room | Four reception rooms | Utility room and separate cloakroom | No onward chain

In all circa 3475 sq. ft (323 sq. m)

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