The Bristol Magazine April 2015

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THE

ISSUE 130 • APRIL 2015

M A G A £3.00 Z Iwhere N sold E

THE MAGAZINE FOR THE CITY OF BRISTOL www.thebristolmagazine.co.uk

CALL 0F THE WILD THE CREATURES THAT ROAM THE AVON GORGE & DOWNS

ENTER STAGE RIGHT FOUR DIRECTORS MAKE THEIR DEBUT AT BOVTS

190 YEARS OF GARDINER HASKINS

SPRING ZESTY COLOURS ARE FLAVOUR OF THE MONTH CASAMIA - BRISTOL’S MICHELIN STAR T H E

C I T Y ’ S

F I N E S T

M O N T H LY

G U I D E T O

L I F E A N D

L I V I N G

I N

B R I S T O L

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NEW COLLECTIONS

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NEW COLLECTIONS OF FABRICS, SOFA STYLES AND CABINET FURNITURE IN STORE FROM MID MARCH

UP TO 65% OFF Clearance Sofas

Sofa delivery time 2/3 weeks Bespoke Cabinet Furniture 2/4 weeks We have the largest selection of fabrics in Bristol and any sofa can be made in any fabric

FABRICS

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TEL: 01173 292746

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THE | CONTENTS

2015

APRIL 62

84

32 12

ZEITGEIST

54

Five things to do in Bristol

14

THE CITYIST SOCIETY Bristol’s movers and shakers

20

BARTLEBY

56

84 OUT & ABOUT

BRISTOL HISTORY

A rewarding canal side walk

86 FIT & FAB April showers SOS

Do you know your boundaries?

58

PARTY HATS ON

97 SPRINGSPIRATION Fresh interior ideas for the new season

Celebrate 190 years of Gardiner Haskins

60

Under pressure

WRITTEN IN THE STARS Spot the spring constellations

My Bristol, the buzz & book of the month

16

46

98

FOOD & DRINK NEWS

106 GARDENING Design it yourself

What’s hot in the city kitchens

22

STYLE FILE On your marks... set... go!

28

32

70

50

ARTS & EXHIBITIONS April’s art picks

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HOT ROD

72 FAMILY FUN 75

46 DIRECTORS’ CUTS Meet Bristol Old Vic Theatre School’s graduating directors

BRISTOL UPDATES

TBM tests drives a sporty little number

WHAT’S ON This month’s dates for your diary

108 PROPERTY PROFILE An architectural masterpiece

110 PROPERTY The best homes in and around Bristol

Who’s been doing what

GO OUTDOORS And explore the nature in our city

38

66

FACE THE MUSIC Mig Schillace picks his favourite songs

RESTAURANT REVIEW A stellar meal at Casamia

BRISTOL AT WORK Take a trip to Windmill Hill City Farm

30

62

BRI ST OL twitter@thebristolmag

Easter treats for the kiddies

ON THE COVER

FREELANCE MUM

The Whimsical Archipelago range by Cole & Son, available at Whittaker Wells, 105 Glenfrome Road, BS2 9UY. Tel: 0117 959 5773 or visit: www.whittakerwells.com

Turning children’s drawings into wearable art

78

THE

EDUCATION NEWS Bristol schools have been busy over the last month

thebristolmagazine.co.uk

MAGAZINE

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Knight Frank April.qxp_full page 18/03/2015 11:03 Page 1

BuyErS uP By 42% Guide Price: £450,000 Clifton An immaculate Grade II listed apartment (1,496 sq ft). Open plan kitchen/ breakfast/ dining room, drawing room. 2 bedrooms, bathroom, shower room.

Courtyard garden, communal gardens. EPC - C.

Guide Price: £465,000 Harbourside An immaculate apartment (1,293 sq ft). Open plan drawing/dining room, kitchen. Master bedroom with ensuite bath/shower. 2 further bedrooms, bathroom. 2 sun terraces and garage. EPC - C.

Continuing from a very successful 2014, 2015 is attracting an increasing number of buyers both locally and further afield

To find out how we can help you please contact us

Knightfrank.co.uk/bristol bristol@knightfrank.com

0117 295 0425

Guide Price: £1,895,000 Clifton Impressive family townhouse (4,647 sq ft).

3 reception rooms, kitchen/dining/sitting room.

6 bedrooms, 3 bath/shower rooms (1 ensuite), laundry, utility. Paved garden, garage. EPC - E.

Guide Price: £899,950 Sneyd Park A recently built detached home (2,485 sq ft) on the boundary of Sneyd Park. 1/2 reception rooms, kitchen/dining room. 4/5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, garden, parking, double garage. EPC - C.

Guide: £1,450,000 Stoke Bishop A substantial detached family home (4,170 sq ft) with good sized level gardens. 5 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room. 6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, shower room, store room. Former coach house with garage and storage above.

KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

nTheMarket.com

Guide: £965,000 Clifton Stunning Clifton townhouse (2,939 sq ft). Dining room, kitchen, drawing room, library, master bedroom with ensuite, 3 further bedrooms, bathroom. Self-contained one bedroom apartment and vaulted storage. Attractive town gardens front and rear.

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VIEwInGs uP by 28% Guide Price: £1,750,000 Clapton in Gordano An immaculate family home (4,326 sq ft) on a desirable private lane. 3 reception rooms, kitchen/ breakfast room. 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms. Outdoor swimming pool. Gardens, woodland. EPC - C.

Guide Price: £1,450,000 Clifton An attractive and well presented family home (3,447 sq ft). 3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, cellar. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Potential for separate annexe. Gardens, parking, garage.

Continuing from a very successful 2014, 2015 is attracting an increasing number of buyers both locally and further afield

To find out how we can help you please contact us

Knightfrank.co.uk/bristol bristol@knightfrank.com

0117 295 0425

Guide Price: £1,295,000 Stoke Bishop A beautiful detached home (4,018 sq ft).

3 reception rooms, kitchen, breakfast room.

5 bedrooms, bathroom, 3 ensuites, dressing room to master. Double garage, cellar/stores. EPC - E.

Guide Price: £1,250,000 Sneyd Park Immaculate period family home overlooking The Downs. 3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, cellar. 4 bedrooms, ensuite shower room, bathroom. Gardens, parking. EPC - D.

Guide Price: £1,100,000 Clifton An impressive Victorian townhouse (2,998 sq ft) close to Clifton Village.

4 reception rooms, kitchen / breakfast room. 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms.

Front and rear gardens, garage. EPC - E.

KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

nTheMarket.com

Guide Price: £950,000 Lower Failand A detached house (2,295 sq ft) enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. 2 reception rooms, kitchen. 4 bedrooms, 4 bath/shower rooms (3 ensuite). 1 bed annexe. Garden, garage, workshop, paddock. In all about 1.9 acres. EPC - D.

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OffErS mADE uP By 14% Guide price £1,750,000 Belluton A beautiful Grade II listed Georgian house (7,500 sq ft) enjoying immaculate gardens. 4/5 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. 3 bedroom cottage. All in about 3 acres.

Guide price £899,950 Portishead A superbly renovated house (3,947 sq ft) with views across Portishead. 4 reception rooms, kitchen/ sitting/dining area. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (2 ensuite). South facing garden. EPC - D.

Continuing from a very successful 2014, 2015 is attracting an increasing number of buyers both locally and further afield

To find out how we can help you please contact us

Knightfrank.co.uk/bristol bristol@knightfrank.com

0117 295 0425

Guide price £935,000 Olveston A handsome Grade II listed property (2,963 sq ft).

3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, conservatory, utility. 5 bedrooms (1 ensuite), bathroom. 2 bed coach house (1,008 sq ft). Garden.

Guide price £2,250,000 Rowberrow A Grade II listed property (5,716 sq ft). 4 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room. 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Outbuildings, garages, 2 bed annexe, indoor pool. About 5.12 acres.

Guide price £1,225,000 Chew Stoke Beautiful home in a quiet location enjoying views (3,790 sq ft). 3 reception rooms, kitchen, breakfast room. 5 bedrooms, 4 bath/shower rooms. Pool house, swimming pool, garage, landscaped gardens. EPC - E.

KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

nTheMarket.com

Guide price £1,200,000 Badgworth Attractive Grade II listed house adjoining farmland situated in a classic village setting (5,198 sq ft). 3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, wine cellar, 7 bedrooms, study, games room, 3 bathrooms, study, coach house/garage, stables, tennis court, walled gardens.

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L

ast month’s solar eclipse was a truly beautiful thing. Not only did it make many of us pause for just a moment in our busy lives to ponder – bear with me while I don my philosopher’s cap – the mindboggling magnitude of the universe beyond, but it also made the spring equinox and the changes it brings with it seem even more poignant.

To me, it seemed as though the universe were giving me a huge and horribly unsubtle hint that it was time to get started on the spring cleaning – out with the old and in with the new, as they say. But it’s easy to get carried away by this bout of organising, and allow your mind to wander down the rather dangerous avenue of contemplating a little DIY... is this the year you should finally build that conservatory? Perhaps it would be a good idea to knock through that wall between the kitchen and dining room to create that spacious ‘family hub’ you’ve always dreamed of? But before you reach for the sledgehammer and embark on a project that will render you living amid rubble and dust for the next 18 months, why not turn to our extended interiors section on p. 97 to find simpler ways to brighten up your home this spring. You’ll find tips to help you transform your tired sitting room into a sunny haven, breathe a fresh lease of life into your old kitchen, and turn your bedroom into the sort of space that dreams are made of.

If the thought of being cooped up indoors when the sun in shining outside strikes horror into your very soul, turn instead to p. 32 and read all about the wildlife that is waiting to be explored on the Downs and Avon Gorge. April is the month that the peregrine falcons are nesting in the cliffs, the butterflies are fluttering about in the meadow, and Bristol’s rare whitebeams are bursting into bud on both sides of the Gorge. So pull on your trainers, grab your binoculars, and head outside to see what you can spot.

After a busy day in the great outdoors, you’ll deserve a cold pint in one of the city’s cool night spots. And why not take in a bit of Bristol’s brilliant live music scene while you’re at it? In this month’s Face the Music (p. 30) owner of legendary music venue The Louisiana, Mig Schillace, tells us all about its rise to greatness, the now famous bands who found their feet on its stage, upcoming acts that he’d tip for success, and picks his must-have tickets for April.

If you’re looking to really treat yourself this month though, I’d suggest you turn to p. 62 and read all about the incredibly scrummy lunch I enjoyed at Michelin starred Casamia. What a place! Those clever SanchezIglesias brothers have created a menu that is exquisite yet totally unpretentious, and a restaurant environment to match. But my review comes with a warning – there’s no way you’ll be able to read it without immediately picking up the phone to book yourself a table and try it all for yourself.

And that’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the upcoming delights to be found inside this month’s magazine. I’ve even squeezed in a little preview of a very exciting event that’s taking place in May – Bristol Old Vic Theatre School’s Directors’ Cuts season at The Brewery Theatre.

This year’s batch of top directing talent making their debut at the Tobacco Factory are four young women determined to bring fresh faces and new voices to the stage. To find out just how they plan to shake up the theatre scene, turn to p. 46.

Phew – what a lot there is to tell you about and, alas, I’ve run out of space. You’ll just have to dive in yourself and see what’s going on in our city this month that tickles your fancy. Happy reading!

JENNY HAYES ACTING EDITOR

All paper used to make this magazine is taken from good sustainable sources and we encourage our suppliers to join an accredited green scheme. Magazines are now fully recyclable. By recycling magazines, you can help to reduce waste and contribute to the six million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paper industry each year. Please recycle this magazine, but if you are not able to participate in a recycling scheme, then why not pass your magazine on to a friend or colleague.

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THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE 11

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ZEITGEIST

The top

5

things to do in APRIL

Birdsong in Bristol

B Snowdrop tree © Gina Mills

Joys of spring With the onset of spring, The Forestry Commission’s National Arboretum at Westonbirt is preparing for a stunning international display. Silk Wood becomes carpeted with bluebells, the Himalayan Rhododendrons produce a heady mix of scent and colour, and the Chinese Magnolia sprengeri ‘Westonbirt Diva’ lives up to its name in a 21m tall display of abundant pink blooms. Pick up a leaflet at reception for directions along two spring trails, and there are also guided walks on offer on Saturday, Sundays, Wednesdays and Bank Holidays. Admission: £9 adults (£3 children) – Wednesdays are half price in March, April and May. For details, visit: www.forestry.gov.uk

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Vroom vroom

ased on the haunting novel by Sebastian Faulks, the critically acclaimed Birdsong stage show comes to Bristol this month.

In pre-war France, the young Englishman Stephen Wraysford embarks on a passionate and dangerous affair with the beautiful Isabelle Azaire that turns their world upside down. As the war breaks out over the idyll of his former life, Stephen must lead his men through the carnage of the Battle of the Somme, clinging to the memory of Isabelle as his world explodes around him. Ages 12+, performances at 7.30pm with a 2.30pm matinee on Thursday and Saturday. Tickets: £7.50 – £27.50, available from the box office on tel: 0117 987 7877 or visit: www.bristololdvic.org.uk

Sail away Luke Jerram’s Withdrawn launches on 17 April, so make sure you take a wander through Leigh Woods to see the haunting apparition of his ghost boats for yourself. Produced in conjunction with The National Trust as part of its Trust New Art initiative, the installation is designed to raise discussion about climate change, extreme weather, and our impact on the marine environment. The exhibition is open to explore for six months, and there will be a variety of talks, workshops and events taking place throughout. For more information, visit: www.trustnewartbristol.org or www.lukejerram.com

The Bristol Italian Automoto Festival returns to Corn Street for its 12th year running. The historic centre of Bristol is transformed into a little corner of Italy as hundreds of Italian cars and motorcycles line the street. This year, the featured marques are the super-sleek Lamborghini and the stylishly classic Moto Morini. If you are the lucky owner of a gorgeous Italian motor yourself, you are welcome to exhibit your vehicle – just go to the website for details of how to register (please note, registration payment must be received by 17th April). This year’s event takes place on Saturday 25 April, and if you’d like more information, visit: www.biamf.co.uk

The bittersweet tale of Muscovado A heady mix of sexual intrigue, piercing choral music and extreme racial tension, BurntOut Theatre and Matilda Ibini’s visceral new play Muscovado is truly compelling. Uncovering the British involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, it depicts life on a sugar plantation in the period between the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act and actual emancipation, and is about the tragedy of knowing freedom but never experiencing it. Alma Tavern Theatre, Tuesday 14 – Saturday 18 April.

Tickets: £8 (£6 concs), tel: 0117 973 5171 or visit: www.almataverntheatre.co.uk

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ist

THE CITY THE BUZZ

My BRISTOL We ask Kathryn Davis, head of tourism at Destination Bristol, what she’s doing this month... © Jon Craig

Cider & Sausage Festival Bristol Cider Shop’s fifth annual Cider & Sausage Festival. As usual it will take place over the May Day bank holiday weekend, and feature the very best in local artisan cider and sausages. This year’s event will be held at The Trinity Centre, and there will be over 40 varieties of the new season’s very best cider and perry on offer, plus cider-fuelled music, a cider-themed BBQ, and lots of cider prizes to be won. There will also be a competition to find the best sausage in Bristol! Volunteers are always needed, as are bands who’d like to play over the weekend, so if you’re interested get in touch.

Tickets: £5 for afternoons and £10 for evenings, available from: www.bristolcidershop.co.uk

Book now for...

The Producers, a hilarious musical comedy based on Mel Brooks’ Academy Award winning movie, will be at Bristol Hippodrome from Monday 27 April – Saturday 2 May. Impoverished by a string of flops, New York producer Max Bialystock recruits downtrodden accountant Leo Bloom to help him pull off Broadway's greatest scam. Together they aim to produce the worst show in history and run away to Rio with millions, but they learn that Showbusiness can always find a way to kick you in the teeth. Featuring a riotous mix of eccentric characters and the all-time classic song ‘Springtime For Hitler’, The Producers is one of the funniest Broadway musicals of all time. Tickets are available from Bristol Hippodrome box office on tel: 0844 871 3012 or visit: www.atgtickets.com

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What brought you to Bristol?

I’m from this area originally and came back to stay with my parents’ briefly after university.

That was 20 years ago and I’m still here – although, to their eternal relief, no longer at my parents.

What are you reading?

I get random local history booklets from central library to help with continuing to build my knowledge of Bristol, and for fun, I am currently reading Mark Kermode’s Hatchet Job. What’s on your MP3 player?

Everything from opera to OPM... and a disturbing amount of show tunes.

Which café or restaurant takes your fancy?

Bakers & Co for breakfast, #1 Harbourside for lunch and The Ox for dinner.

Favourite watering hole?

Lazy Dog or Royal Oak on Gloucester Road with family, and Urban Standard for cocktails.

Evening in or evening out?

Definitely out.

Film or play? What will you be going to see?

Am I allowed to say both? Lots of interesting stuff coming for Mayfest this year that I need to hurry up and sort out plus Stand Up for

Slapstick. Films? Quite looking forward to Avengers Age of Electron and Spongebob Squarepants…

Which museum or gallery will you be visiting?

It’s not technically a museum, but very excited about At-Bristol’s new 3D Planetarium.

What hobbies or interests will you be pursuing?

I plan to complete the Shaun in the City trail over the summer.

What local event will you be attending?

As many as I can – the Bristol Proms, Balloon Fiesta, Kite Festival. I’ll over indulge at Food Connections and Eat Drink Bristol Fashion too.

Favourite local walk?

Saturday stroll along Gloucester Road for both practical and browsing purposes. The woodland walk at Wild Place is great too.

Any projects/work in progress?

So many… we have the new VisitBristol website launching, followed by the new Destination Bristol trade site, new SAS route in Bristol Airport and associated campaign, the summer stats round up to look forward to, summer and autumn campaigns .. the job is endless but I feel very privileged to do what I do. www.visitbristol.co.uk

BOOK OF THE MONTH...

Bristol Explored: Twelve Architectural Walks

by Timothy Mowl £10, paperback (Stephen Morris) A new Bristol book is always a treat, but doubly thrilling to have one from distinguished local author Timothy Mowl. Tim’s previous Bristol book, Bristol: City on the Edge was our alltime local best-seller and we have very high hopes for his new one. The city’s rich architectural heritage with its unique maritime history is vividly brought to life through Tim’s engaging writing and trademark subversive humour. There are walks to suit all ages and abilities with plenty of featured pubs, cafes and restaurants for rest and refreshment. If, like me, you thought you knew Bristol, then prepare to be surprised! I guarantee you will see our home city with newly opened eyes. With spring and summer on the horizon, this book makes the perfect companion for a memorable day out. Reviewed by Kathryn Atkins of the Durdham Down Bookshop, tel: 0117 973 9095 or visit: www.durdhamdownbooks.co.uk

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BRISTOL | SOCIETY

PEOPLE & PARTIES Snapshots from events, parties and launches in the city

Party with Hype Agency

A

fter another hugely successful Christmas in 2014 Hype Agency are extremely proud to present 2015’s theme – Carnival Christmas. The party will begin the moment you arrive, with fire eaters greeting you from the street and insistent rhythms from within setting the tone of things to come. Entering the carnival to the beat of the drums, you’ll be struck by a riotous parade of colour, movement and sounds that never let up throughout the night.

While sipping a delicious glass of sparkling wine, marvel at the mesmerizing costumes on show, let the music take control, as lose your inhibitions for the duration of the carnival!

Carnival Christmas has been devised to exceed all expectations, and puts

Pictures from the 2014 Alice in Winterland party © Chas Breton

a wonderful twist on our planet’s most exciting, lively and thrilling events.

From Rio Carnival to St Paul’s Carnival and all others in between, this will be a Christmas party you won’t forget...

Hype Agency, Feeder Road, BS2 0UQ. Tel: 0117 971 0320 or visit: www.hypeagency.co.uk

Charity partnership Anderson Financial Management Anderson Financial Management proudly announced their 2015 charity partner, Teenage Cancer Trust, at a champagne reception at the new Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre. Tony Anderson, director and founder of the chartered financial planning firm, spoke of what the partnership meant to him and his team and the important work carried out by the charity. For more information visit: www.andersonfinancial.co.uk or www.teenagecancertrust.org

Bridget Woodard, regional appeal manager south west at Teenage Cancer Trust, with Jodie, who is currently receiving treatment via TCT, and Tony Anderson

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Tony Anderson

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APRIL 2015

Acting Editor Tel: Email:

Jenny Hayes 0117 974 2800 jenny@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Deputy Editor Email:

Georgette McCready georgette@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Production Manager Email:

Jeff Osborne production@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Art & Design Email:

Zoe Tabourajis Zoe@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Publisher Email:

Steve Miklos steve@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Advertising Sales

Kathy Williams Sue Parker Liz Grey

For advertising enquiries please contact us on: 0117 974 2800 Email: sales@thebristolmagazine.co.uk Financial Director Email:

Jane Miklos jane@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

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

The Bristol Magazine is distributed free every month to more than 20,000 homes and businesses throughout the city. We also have special distribution units in the following stores and many coffee shops, hotels and convenient pick-up points.

THE

BRIST OL MAGAZINE Bristol and Exeter House, Lower Approach, Temple Meads, Bristol BS1 6QS Telephone: 0117 974 2800 www.thebristolmagazine.co.uk Š MC Publishing Ltd 2015 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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A dog’s life

I

t’s that time of year again. The birds are tweeting, buds opening and bumblebees bumbling from flower to flower. Eyes turn to the green hills beyond the sprawling suburbs. Suddenly the outdoors is no longer something to hide from. It’s time for long rambles in fields that were, until now, under water or waist deep in mud, and in woods alive with squeaking bluetits. The first tentative picnics see whole families squeezed onto one child’s raincoat spread on the damp grass. A quick sandwich between showers. Tea from a thermos.

At Bartleby Towers the new season brings an old debate back to life.

Wouldn’t it be lovely, Ms Bartleby says, gazing longingly down the street towards distant greenery, to live in the country? Imagine waking up with the birds singing and going for a walk after work – with the dog.

The last part of this speech is rather pointed in delivery. Along with the debate about moving to the country is another, equally long-running, conversation about a canine addition to the family. Certain members of the family, those endowed with good common sense, maintain that it isn’t really fair to keep a dog cooped up in a city house, with a long trudge on hard pavements to a park where anxious mothers freak out every time a friendly mutt lollops over to see what their kids are up to.

If we lived in the country it would be different of course, as the doggier members of the family would be able to run about in the garden. Nobody is worried by dogs in the country, because everyone has one. And several cats.

And quite possibly a horse.

❝

IMAGINE WAKING UP WITH THE BIRDS SINGING AND GOING FOR A WALK ... WITH THE DOG

❞

In previous years the debate about moving to the country has occasionally gone beyond the talking stage to the looking-into-options stage, which is one away from doing-something-about-it. A couple of years ago we actually arranged to look at a house in a village not a million miles from Bristol, one of the few that seemed faintly affordable. I forget the details, but the place definitely could, as the estate agent suggested, have benefited from some modernisation, and the garden was hardly bigger than ours.

We realised fairly quickly that any move to the country was going to require a tectonic shift in the family fortunes, and subsequent Aprils have seen the ‘Wouldn’t it be lovely…’ debate conducted in a spirit of wistful if-only-ness.

The truth is we’re too set in our ways to move. And if we really did up sticks the kids would probably refuse to come with us, instead seizing the opportunity to move in with friends whose families have better computers and bigger TVs. So, to pick up where we left off… I agree that, yes, it would be lovely to live in the country if only you didn’t have to be a millionaire or a character in The Archers to do so, and yes, if we did live in the country (which we don’t) an evening stroll with a dog would indeed be pleasant.

The thing is, Ms Bartleby counters, lots of people do live in the city and have a dog, and take walks after work in the long summer evenings. Don’t they? And if we wait until we move to the country to get a dog, we will never get one.

There’s something in her tone of voice I don’t like. Then a child joins in. It’s so unfair. You’re condemning us to a whole childhood without pets! We want a dog! A puppy! Have you seen this website? (They’re talking among themselves now, giving the cold shoulder to common sense.) The puppies are so adorable! Look at that one with the floppy ears – ahhhhhh! And what about those paws? So tiny!

I try to point out that those paws will become large and muddy, but what’s the use? I’m being outmanoeuvred. The battle is nearly lost. n 20 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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BRISTOL | FASHION

“Label M’s Texturising Volume Spray and lots of soft backcombing form the foundations of this tousled ballerina bun. We used an elasticated Alice band to secure and give the sport luxe edge. Less is more, so assemble the shape, then pick pieces down to soften the frame.”

Ella Hawkey www.atelierclifton.co.uk

Harriet wears: graphic striped extra long lambswool scarf with monogram, £150 by Amber Hards Knitwear; neoprene reversible skirt, POA by Sara Ladd; Lenka chunky soled heel, £46, and Borg faux fur sweat, £28, both from Topshop; leggings Harriet’s own.

Main image: © Amanda Thomas, amandathomasphotographer.co.uk Location: Stawberry Thief, Broad Street, www.strawberrytheifbar.com

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Shari Knowles, makeup: “I used Bobbi Brown foundation stick to achieve a flawless, velvety base. The eye makeup is playful with a hint of whimsy. It incorporates the colours used in the scarf but in a wearable way. I used black gel liner to frame and define the eyes. I used a MAC pencil brush to precisely apply MAC Aquadisiac eyeshadow near the tear duct for a pop of colour – it’s a fun way to wear bold shades! To complete the look, I chose Coral Bliss lipstick

by MAC finished with a clear gloss on top.”

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BRISTOL | FASHION

STYLE FILE Spring into action with sports luxe, says Bristol stylist Harriet de Winton

S

ports stars have long been heralded with rockstar status. In the 1990s, their legions of fans religiously followed any trainer or tracksuit endorsement but in spite of sport’s mass appeal the gulf remained wide between street wear and the fashion pack.

The stigma surrounding sportswear as everyday wear started to evaporate with visionary Stella McCartney’s first collaboration with Adidas 8 years ago.

McCartney gave the time and attention normally reserved for a mainstream collection to a sports range, and it soon became apparent that it was good enough to wear outside of the gym. Sports luxe began to explode into the fashion conscious public who previously would have given a wide birth to the likes of JJB Sports.

In 2014, sports luxe defined fashion’s new obsession with comfort. This didn't put off the high end couturiers or style obsessed celebrities – Karl Lagerfeld sent models down the runway in trainers, and Kanye West threw himself into a collaboration with Adidas, finally able to express his creative vision in a way he felt had been long deserved.

The high street is also pulling up its tennis socks and embracing sports luxe with a bit of help from some top designers. H&M is collaborating with Alexander Wang, whose unmistakable sporty minimalism hits a harmonious note. We are yet to see the fruits of Beyonce and Philip Green’s sport luxe partnership, but you can be sure the trend is here to stay with Net-a-Porter setting up sister site Net-a-sporter.

Trainers were seen adorning the feet of the front row crowd at London Fashion Week. Frankly, this is long overdue. With the amount of schlepping across town from show to show, many slaves to fashion will be praising the gods for this sartorial sea change.

But how does the average person wear the sports luxe look? I love trainers, but when wearing them anywhere other than the gym I still feel more like a Florida pensioner than a fashionista. I even tried the heeled trainer, but ended up looking like I had club foot. Thankfully, the high street has has taken the sports luxe materials and transformed them into gorgeous sandals and wedges.

When putting this outfit together, I started with the bonded neoprene knit skirt from Bristol graduate designer Sara Ladd. Her sports luxe collection is full of practical and beautiful garments, and 90% of it is reversible. Topshop has mastered sport inspired footwear for the more vertically challenged like myself, and these Lenka heels are massively comfortable as well as bold and brilliant (although I wouldn’t recommend a lap of the track in them).

When it comes to colour palettes, sporty collections can’t seem to pull away from a nostalgic fondness for the grey sweatshirt. Neutral palettes of slate and stone are off set by zingy brights and neon tones, much like any adult gym kit.

Instead of my favourite team’s scarf, I got local knitwear designer Amber Hards to channel another 2014 trend and monogram my initials on one of her gorgeous scarves. The lambswool scarf itself is slightly felted to create a luxuriously soft fabric, knitted in fresh colours, shot through with grey and black, all in accordance with the sports luxe wearer’s manual. I am also wearing what Topshop call a Borg faux fur sweat, although it’s more that glorious fluffy texture of the inside of a brand new sports sweatshirt.

I wholeheartedly believe there is a lot to love about ‘athleisure’, in spite of some camps seeing it as uninspiring and unfeminine. It has the colours, the comfort and now the unequivocal endorsement from the fashion pages – sports luxe is another example of retro fashions swinging back into style, so better start saving for that new pair of trainers.

HARRIET ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS I am 22, and going to a few weddings this summer. I like the idea of wearing a hat, but I am really bored by the current high street offerings. I don't want a feathery fascinator and all the hats seem to old for my style. I am wearing a simple, tailored dream dress and I’d love a splash of colour with the headgear. I have a fairly healthy budget as I’d like to buy a piece I can wear for years with different outfits – Rosa, Bristol The key with headgear is not being afraid to make a statement. A polite, neutral headpiece can look tired and insipid. I found a world class milliner called Patricia Buffuna (1) in Seville last summer whose avant garde take on summer straw breathed new, fashionable life into classic British staples. Her flamboyant creations are contemporary and stunning. Being over in Spain it takes a little more effort to source her work but I insist you look her up for inspiration.

The Milliner’s Guild (www.millinersguild.co.uk) in Bristol is home to a very talented collective.

With a beautiful shop and workshop nestled in St James arcade, Broadmead, they feature designers from across the UK and also provide a made to measure, bespoke service.

1. Vintage boater on Etsy, prices range from £20.

2. Grosgrain ribbon at Creativity, prices vary.

3. Foxglove Button, £165 by Tamsyn Brocks.

①

③

The best thing about the Milliner’s Guild is the service. Instead of risking an online purchase, you can walk in the shop and feel the quality of each piece. They offer personal touches like matching the band of a fascinator to your hair colour. If you’re feeling particularly creative, they also offer workshops and summer schools to create a unique piece.

Now you’ve sourced a supplier, but what to wear? Successful headgear falls into two categories. Option one: sharp and classic, encompassing traditional styles like the boater, top hat, trilby or pork pie. These recognisable silhouettes have recently been restyled brilliantly for the female market. I have worn a vintage boater (2) (www.etsy.com/uk is full of them) to

weddings over the past two years, changing up the ribbon band with something gorgeous from haberdashery Creativity (3) on Worrall Road.

Option two: go flamboyant. Some of my favourite creations from the Milliner’s Guild are their most bonkers and daring. Foxglove Button (4) by Tamsyn Brocks is a prime example: an oversized and brightly coloured foxglove draped across a crisp eau de nil button with handpainted, traditionally tooled foxglove detailing creates a stunning statement. The hat does all the work, allowing you to dress simply.

For behind the scenes pictures of this shoot and to find some of Harriet’s popular Fashion Fixes, visit: www.fixuplookchic.blogspot.co.uk

②

Adidas high tops, £60, Schuh Holly velcro sandal, £140, Whistles

MSGM dress, £310, Harvey Nichols Bomber jacket, £130, Topshop

Do you have a wardrobe worry that Harriet could help with?

Email her at harriet@harrietdewinton.com, and we might publish her answer WWW.THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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CITY | TRENDING

Style

NOTES

Mark’s must-haves for SS15 Stylist Mark Heyes, host of Bristol Fashion Week at The Mall at Cribbs Causeway selects his hottest high street finds right now This is a fantastic time of year for updating your wardrobe – we’re leaving the winter behind and there are all sorts of new looks to choose from. I showed you loads of these on the catwalk at Bristol Fashion Week, but if you missed it or need a little reminder, here are some of my top picks.

BRIGHTS & STRIPES There were a lot of stripes on the catwalk, from Victoria Beckham, to Emporio Armani and Givenchy, so this is one print that isn’t going away. Invest in some bright stripes to update your look for Spring/Summer – and bonus points if you manage to work in this season’s musthave item, a pair of culottes.

They seem scary at first, I know, but find a pair that fits you just right and you’ll be a total convert.

Left: outfit by M&S

EASILY SUEDE This suede trench is very similar to one that sashayed down the runway at Gucci this season, and it’s a worthwhile buy because suede is everywhere right now. This kind of 70s thrift shop chic is very on trend too – think Amy Adams in American Hustle.

Right: coat and bag by River Island

Want to keep up with the latest trends?

These are just a few of the looks you won’t want to miss. We’re also seeing florals, mesh fabrics, sports luxe, 70s boho and lots more, so make sure you head over to The Mall Cribbs Causeway this season to get inspired! n Please note that the garments shown are taken from current stock and are subject to availability.

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FLARE FOR STYLE After years of getting you to trade in your bootcut jeans for skinnies, I’m afraid it’s time for another change. The flare is back ladies and, what’s more, it’s really flattering on all sorts of shapes, so there are no excuses for not trying it out this time!

Left: outfit by Topshop

DIVINE DENIM It’s all about statement denim right now – you might have seen a similar little shift dress to this on the catwalk at Chloe this season. Denim is so wearable and, when you mix it with fringing or embellishments you can really make it your own.

Right: outfit by Dorothy Perkins

FUNCTIONAL FASHION

One look you won’t be able to escape this season is utility/military chic. You don’t have to go all-over safari Jane on this one – a simple but practical trench like this worn with carefully chosen separates could be all you need for a subtle nod to this look.

Left: outfit by Oasis

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Spring stock now in!

Village Green is a boutique where ladies can buy beautiful pre-loved designer labels at affordable prices.

From Prada, Gucci and Joseph to Reiss, Hobbs and Ted Baker.

5 The Mall, Clifton, BS8 4DP 0117 9706776

www.villagegreenboutique.co.uk villagegreen5

villagegreenboutique

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BRISTOL AT WORK Our series of photographic portraits by Charlotte Stone shows Bristol people at work

Windmill Hill City Farm Educational, recreational and therapeutic events for all ages

W

indmill Hill City Farm is a welcome green oasis only ten minutes walk from the city centre. It is open seven days a week, and entrance is free. The farm is a beacon for sustainable living, where people can experience, see, understand and learn about animals and plants, their environment, how to care for them, and food production.

There are a wide variety of animals on the farm, including Gloucester Old Spot pigs, Jacob sheep, Pygmy goats, several kinds of chicken and an array of pets such as guinea pigs and rabbits to pat.

As well as a variety of animals, the farm has beautiful community gardens, an outdoor kitchen, day-care nursery, and fantastic play areas. There is also a family friendly café serving locally sourced, seasonal food – some of which is grown on the farm – so after being out and about in the fresh air you’ll find plenty to tempt your rumbling tummy.

And what better time of year to visit than spring, when all the flowers are in bloom, the plants are thriving, and there are gorgeous baby animals bounding around. If that isn’t enough to keep the kiddies occupied, there are plenty of regular events taking place throughout the week to ensure the whole family has a great day out.

On Monday mornings, Stay and Play runs for families with children under 5. There is bug hunting, gardening, music and perhaps even some playtime in the mud kitchen! For slightly older children, Farm Adventurers runs through the week and is a great way to experience nature through a range of activities including forest school and farming activities. There’s also an after school club on Thursdays during term time, for children aged 6–9.

As well as activities for the youngsters, the farm also runs workshops and events for adults, as well as older people’s groups, and programmes for people with learning difficulties or those in recovery from addiction. There is also an extensive volunteer programme.

Pictured here with two bull calves is Tim Child, the farm manager, who is passionate about food education and regularly takes groups of children on informative and fun tours around the farm, as well as running animal husbandry courses, throughout the year. He is especially keen to promote the ethical farming of British rose veal, which you can buy – along with pork – direct from the farm. n Windmill Hill City Farm, Philip Street, BS3 4EA. For more information about upcoming events, tel: 0117 963 3252 or visit: www.windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk

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www.charlottestonephoto.com WWW.THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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FACE | THE MUSIC

GOT RHYTHM Mig Schillace talks to Jenny Hayes about life at legendary local music venue The Louisiana, and shares his top ten tunes

M

y life hit a high note when Mig Schillace, professional drummer and owner/manager of The Louisiana, agreed to meet me for a chat about the city’s well-loved live music venue. Like many other music-mad Bristolians, this pub was the scene of some truly formative moments in my youth, and pretty much everyone who’s anyone has played here over the 28 years Mig and his family have been running it. And returning to talk to Mig reminds me exactly why The Louisiana has remained enduringly popular, and garnered a worldwide reputation as a top live-music venue. It’s because it has real integrity.

It has music at its heart, and that is something local, national and international fans alike truly value. Oh, and it also helps that they put on pretty awesome bands here, time and time again. But where did it all start?

“When we took over The Louisiana, it was pretty spit-and-sawdust,” says Mig. “But we turned it around and created a successful restaurant. My family has always been into food and music, so the venture was going to go down one of those routes and that’s where we took it first.”

So when did the live music start?

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“There was a fire at The Fleece in 1996, and two local promoters asked if they could use the room upstairs at The Louisiana instead. We said yes, and in the first week Placebo and Super Furry Animals played here. We didn’t even have a stage,” he laughs.

“Dad built one a week later, which was lucky because within weeks more promoters were involved and we were staging gigs seven nights a week. We even started doing club nights in the upstairs room at weekends, getting upand-coming DJs in and charging people 50p entry. The Chemical Brothers did a slot there once, which was pretty fun.” I can’t help thinking that it was, most likely, very fun indeed – and turning slightly green with envy.

“Over the years, The Louisiana has been seen as a barometer for new bands,” Mig goes on to explain. “The Scissor Sisters played here first as middle support to a Bristol band, but by the third time they did a gig here we had to escort them to the stage so they wouldn’t get mobbed. It was the same with Florence and the Machine, and The National – they played here first to 20 people and now they’re playing to 20,000. That’s why we’ve always been the first port of call for most new bands doing a national tour.”

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FACE | THE MUSIC While external promoters book the national bands that perform at The Louisiana, Mig also makes sure the venue is a platform for home grown talent.

“Lots of local bands approach us, and we try and give them slots as much as possible. And we don’t just push crowd pleasers – if we believe a band has real talent we’ll try and support them as much as we can.

“We always look after the bands that play here, local and national, which means they have a good time here and want to come back time and time again,” he says. “So we start off by giving an unknown band a chance, and then when they go on to become a big band they still want to come back to play, even though we are a small venue.

“It’s great being part of bigger, citywide events too. We’re a fringe venue at the Harbourside Festival, and last year the whole road was closed off as we had a jazz band playing outside and people were jiving in the sunshine. We are also one of the eight venues for Bristol’s Dot-to-Dot Festival every May, which sees the best new bands descend on the city and play back-to-back throughout the day. It’s a music marathon, and the atmosphere is incredible.”

Despite being a popular venue with artists and audiences alike, keeping The Louisiana going as a live music venue hasn’t been without its challenges.

“When we started out it was the strongest time in British music history,” Mig explains. “There were lots of bands coming through and lots of money in the industry, so bands could afford to tour more. We had Coldplay here three times, and Muse took up a residency for six months – it was great.

“But then the internet came in and made it easy to access free music. It was hard to make money selling records anymore, and there was less investment in touring. For a while things were tough, but now the scene is recovering. Smaller record labels are springing up, the internet has been good in giving bands the freedom to set up and get themselves out there without even needing a label.

“And the scene in Bristol is healthy.

There are lots of great musicians and The Temptations songwriters coming through, like George Ezra who developed his style and sound while studying here. It’s also a city that is very supportive of music, and bands like Massive Attack, Portishead and Tricky have opened up more experimental approaches to making different kinds of music.

“Here at The Louis, we’ll keep promoting emerging artists as much as we can. Last year, we opened up the cellar as a more intimate venue for acoustic acts and it’s working really well. It’s great to be able to have an even wider variety of music performed here.”

Speaking of up-and-coming bands, Mig’s clearly the man to ask about who we should be looking out for in the future. So which of the acts that have taken the stage here recently would he tip for success?

“I reckon B.C. Camplight is one to look out for,” Mig replies, before thinking a bit more. “And Josef Salvat – he played here back in February, and the gig sold out four or five times over.”

And any upcoming bands to book for?

“There are some really good local bands that are worth checking out,” says Mig, “like The Naturals, Elder Island, Beak> and Idles.”

You heard it here first, readers…

For more information about upcoming gigs and events at The Louisiana, tel: 0117 926 5978 or visit: www.thelouisiana.net

❷ Hollywood Forever Cemetery by Father John Misty My partner Sophia played this to me last year after she was recommended it by her brother and it has become one of my favourite songs. Father John Misty was the drummer with Fleet Foxes and left to pursue a solo career.

He’s multi talented (a great singer, drummer and guitarist). I saw him play live recently, and I have to say, it was of the best shows I have ever seen. ❸ Tomorrow Never Knows by The Beatles My uncle Ed played this to me when I just turned 16. It was a life changing experience. It’s been a huge influence on me. It got me to go out and discover so many great bands that were more experimental. It showed me that when it came to music, there weren’t any rules. ❹ Be My Baby by The Ronettes This has to be one of the most perfect pop songs ever written. Phil Spector’s ‘Wagnerian’ approach to rock & roll which was to become known as ‘The Wall Of Sound’ on Be My Baby, had a huge influence on the likes of Brian Wilson (from the Beach Boys) and The Beatles, as well as many other song writers and producers. ❺ You Made Me Realise by My Bloody Valentine You Made Me Realise was another ear opening experience. It’s an incredible song – the stunning layered guitar sounds and the laid back, almost folky style vocals, on top of a post punk rhythm section.

Another song that would go on to influence so many bands.

The Ronettes © General Artists Corporation

❻ Chemtrails by Beck I don’t think Chemtrails is the best song that Beck has written. Rather, I have a selfish reason for loving it – the drums! Beck is one of the best songwriter and performers to come out in the last 20 years. I’ve been lucky enough to see him play live seven times. It’s a great song with so many interwoven textures, layered above an incredible drum track. ❼ This is Music by The Verve I love this song primarily because of its attitude. As soon as Nick McCabe’s guitar kicks in, you’re hooked. It has a certain rawness and is full of attitude. Incredible song.

❽ French Disko by Stereolab The first time I heard this song was Father John Misty on The Word. Again, it was so instant and immediate that it started a long time love of Stereolab. They were also a huge influence on me. It made me go out and discover the likes of Can, Faust, Krafwerk, Neu! and Amon Düül II. ❾ Heartbeats by Jose Gonzalez (The Knife cover) A friend got me into Jose Gonzalez. She played me his first album Veneer and I was completely blown away by it. I can remember spending a night listening to Veneer on repeat with another friend and both of us saying how great it was. Around this time, we were lucky enough to put Jose Gonzalez on at The Louisiana. It was a sold out show. You could hear a pin drop when he was playing. It was a fantastic, intimate atmosphere, with Heartbeats and his cover of Massive Attack’s Teardrop, being the highlights. It was, by far, one of the best shows we’ve ever put on at The Louis.

Mig’s top 10: ❶ Get Ready by The Temptations I can remember staying at my auntie Anne’s house and she was a big fan of Motown, Stax records. It had a huge influence on me when I was younger.

Get Ready by The Temptations still stands out as one of my favourite songs and sounds as fresh as the first time I heard it.

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❿ Histoire de Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg Geoff Barrow (Portishead / Beak>) got me into Serge Gainsbourg. It’s really hard to choose any one track from this album, as all the songs are incredible. Also, the album works as a whole concept, so just choosing one track would be an injustice. The songs, production and musicianship are exceptional. n

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LOCAL | WILDLIFE

THE WILD, WILD WEST Jenny Hayes explores the world famous flora and fauna of the Downs and Avon Gorge

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LOCAL | WILDLIFE

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hatever the season, there is little I find more uplifting than a walk across the Downs. Whether picnicking in the shade of my favourite old tree in summer, watching the leaves turn from green to gold in autumn, or crunching across the frost wearing welly boots in winter, it is an area that holds unrivalled delight for me. And this is a feeling I know is shared by many fellow Bristolians.

At this time of year, there is the unmissable whisper of magic in the air. As March passes, the wet and windy winter weather subsides into a stillness tantalisingly laced with the anticipation of warmer weeks ahead. This promise blossoms in April, when the warm sun spreads its rejuvenating rays down on the land awakening plants, animals and people alike. Life bursts into view from every angle – flowers bloom, birds sing and even a few butterflies will begin to flutter across my path as I wander my familiar route.

But just what is it that I’m seeing? To be honest, up until a week ago I barely knew my horse chestnut tree from my hawthorn, and since some of the flora and fauna of the area is unique in the UK – and even, in some cases, the world – this lack of knowledge seemed rather an oversight on my part. So I donned my trainers and hot-footed it over to Bristol Zoo where education officer for The Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project, Mandy Leivers, is based. And she very kindly spent two hours teaching me all about the abundance of wildlife we’ll be able to spot when we venture out on walks over the next couple of months.

Spring in the Avon Gorge kicks off with the emergence of an unassuming little plant, whose pretty white flowers begin to peek out from among the rocks at the end of March. This is the Bristol rockcress, a delicate alpine plant that grows nowhere else in the UK, and it is the first of several rarities that emerge to decorate the sheer cliffs over the forthcoming months.

❝ I DONNED MY TRAINERS AND HOT-FOOTED IT OVER TO BRISTOL ZOO TO MEET MANDY LEIVERS FROM THE AVON GORGE AND DOWNS WILDLIFE PROJECT

❞ As the cooler temperatures of early spring give way to the heat of the summer, the Bristol rock-cress is replaced by other distinctive plants such as the Bristol onion, which resembles a magenta lollipop. Like the Bristol rock-cress, the gorge is the only place in the UK where the Bristol onion grows naturally. Unlike its seasonal predecessor, however, the Bristol onion is Mediterranean in origin, as is the autumn squill with that can be distinguished by its mauve star-shaped flowers. These warm weather loving species thrive here because of the limestone rocks beneath them, whose strata tips southward, keeping the microclimate of the gorge a slight but vital 1˚C warmer than that of the surrounding countryside.

While you are looking out for the Bristol rock-cress this month, it’s also worth keeping your eyes peeled for the Avon Gorge’s most glamorous residents – the peregrine falcons. Hailed as the fastest animals on the planet, capable of reaching speeds of over 200mph in pursuit of prey, these fearsome predators are the lions of the sky and spine-tingly impressive in action. But, in April, they reveal a softer side…

Continued over

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Main image: The Avon Gorge © Shutterstock.com, above: Adult peregrine falcon © Helen Hall

LOCAL | WILDLIFE

The female lays her eggs at the end of March, and dedicates April to incubating them. Unlike other birds, she doesn’t sit on a nest but rather a scrape – a slight depression dug from the earth on the cliff – with the male taking over incubation duties when she eats. While she is busy with their brood, her partner will fly back and forth gathering small morsels to feed to her, and later the new arrivals. Once the chicks hatch, both parents share the hunting role. Female peregrines, as with all birds of prey, are approximately 33% larger than their mates, and for very good reason. While the male is quick and agile enough to catch the nippy smaller birds required to feed the young chicks, she is bigger and more powerful so can hunt larger prey capable of sating the increasing appetite of her offspring as they get older, and hungrier.

It is a strategy that works, and over the past 25 years the peregrines that have nested in the Avon Gorge have raised over 60 chicks. This is not only testimony to their excellent parenting skills and the prime habitat offered by this location, but also the dedicated Peregrine Watch that was set up by the Bristol Ornithological Club in 1990 to protect these rare and remarkable birds, after two nestlings were illegally killed. Throughout April and May, you’ll find a huddle of birdwatchers at the Peregrine Watch Point, their binoculars scanning the skies to make sure the peregrine family is thriving.

The Bristol Ornithological Club also continues to run Peregrine Watch weekends in the summer – this year on 26/27 June and 11/12 July – when you can see the youngsters leaving the nest. If you’re really lucky, you may witness the adults and their offspring performing the dramatic mid air ‘food pass’, which is a truly incredible feat of aerobatic agility.

Before these young birds fly the nest forever, Ed Drewitt, a member of the club who studies the peregrines, rings each of them. And for good reason, as it isn’t unknown for the youngsters to lose themselves in the process of finding their wings. In 2014, one crash-landed on playing fields in Keynsham.

Fortunately, the RSPCA rounded it up and used its ring to determine that it came from the family in the Avon Gorge, with who it was reunited later that day.

The peregrine falcons aren’t the only beautiful winged creatures to look out for, however, as butterflies are also on the wing throughout April, both in the gorge and on the Downs. The first to arrive on the scene are the tortoiseshell with its familiar black, brown and orange markings, the distinctive orange-tip, and the brimstone whose name evokes its gorgeous vivid yellow hue. Come May, several other species can be also spotted, including the bright holly blue and the brown and yellow speckled wood.

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The latter may give you a surprise if you walk through the wooded area on the bank opposite the Zoo. My advice is to tread quietly in the hope of spotting them basking in the sunshine, and if you do rouse them be prepared to be divebombed by these tenacious little creatures as they bravely defend their territory.

Athough the delights of the butterfly season stretch right through to October, monitoring only takes place from April to September and is carried out by a team of volunteers from Friends of the Downs and Avon Gorge. This dedicated team undertake extensive surveys to count the butterflies, the results of which directly influence the management of the area. For example, more or less of a certain species can indicate whether the grass in the meadow needs to be cut sooner, later, or perhaps even twice over the summer season to provide these glorious little insects with the optimum habitat in which to thrive.

May is also the month that you may be fortunate enough to encounter the incredibly rare small blue butterfly. Until 2007, it hadn’t been seen in the Avon Gorge area since 1957, and it was thought that it had disappeared forever. Its re-emergence 50 years later coincided with the implementation of The Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project’s management programme, specifically devised to re-establish and maintain the unique habitat of the gorge. It’s heartening to know that the organisation’s thoughtful and sensitive conservation work has proved, and continues to be, successful in encouraging such wildlife to thrive.

Which brings us on to another animal attraction – the snowy white goats that can be found in the steeply sloping Gully, just round the corner from the Sea Walls. The Downs were once home to grazing sheep, but in the 1920s an outbreak of sheep scab combined with the increasing use of the Downs for recreational rather than agricultural purposes put an end to this. While the flat areas of the Downs could be kept short by mowing, in the steeper area of the gorge trees and shrubs grew up, blocking out the sun and threatening a number of unique wildflower species that struggled to grow beneath their canopy. To redress this issue, the decision was taken to reintroduce grazing animals into a small fenced area of the gorge known as the Gully. In 2011 six big billy goats arrived from the Great Orme in North Wales, tasked with gradually and naturally nibbling away at the trees, brambles and shrubs to make space for the rare wildflowers once again.

These particular goats were deemed a good match for the land because the Great Orme has similar grassland habitat to that of the Avon Gorge, and is home to many of the same wild plants. Six animals was determined the optimum number for the size of the site, and only males were introduced to prevent breeding. These boys have formed a happy gang and are doing a great

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job in preserving this special patch of land. The project was funded by Natural England.

May is also the perfect month to spot the gorge’s famous whitebeams, some of which are found here and nowhere else in the world. If you look across to Leigh Woods from either the Peregrine Watch Point or the Sea Walls, you’ll be able to pick out these splendid trees as their white-haired leaves begin to emerge from the buds, casting an ethereal, silvery shimmer across the gorge when they are ruffled by the breeze.

Among these elegant trees are four kinds that are endemic to the Avon Gorge – the Leigh Woods whitebeam, the Bristol whitebeam, Wilmott’s whitebeam, and Houston’s whitebeam. The latter is named after local botanist Libby Houston who, together with the country’s leading whitebeam specialist and scientists from Bristol University, carried out a five year study on these and other trees found in the gorge. Houston’s whitebeam is a rare treasure – a hybrid of the common whitebeam and the Bristol whitebeam, it is the only tree of its kind known to exist in the world.

While you won’t be able to spot these rare trees with the naked eye, it is worth remembering that, as you look out across the gorge at the rustling white leaves beyond, among them are at least four species that are found nowhere else in the world. It’s just one more mind-bogglingly brilliant reason to appreciate how incredibly lucky we are to have such rare and beautiful wildlife on our doorstep. n With huge thanks to Mandy Leivers, Avon Gorge & Downs Biodiversity Education Officer, for sharing her knowledge with me for this article. The Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to protecting and maintaining the unique flora and fauna of Avon Gorge and the Downs, and sharing it with the people of Bristol. It works in partnership with Bristol City Council, Bristol Zoo Gardens, Natural England, University of Bristol, the Society of Merchant Venturers, the Downs Committee and Bristol Zoological Society. For more information about its work and forthcoming events, go to the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/avongorge, tel: 0117 903 0609 or visit: www.avongorge.org.uk

Bristol whitebeam © Denice Stout

Gully goat © Chris Westcott, Natural England

Spring events diary…

Family animal sing-along Wednesday 1 April, 2pm – 3pm, £4 per child A wild and wonderful musical adventure on the Downs, featuring original songs from Poco Crom who’ll have children and adults alike roaring, dancing and laughing along.

Early birds and bacon butties Sunday 19 April, 6am – 8.30am, £10.50 Work up an appetite on this early morning walk with bird expert Michael Johnson, then enjoy a hot drink and bap back at the Zoo.

Birdsong on the Downs Friday 24 & Saturday 25 April, 7pm – 9pm & 8am – 10am, £20 Respected local ornithologist Ed Drewitt leads a multimedia introduction to the birds of the Downs on Friday evening, followed by an identification walk on the Saturday morning.

Candles and blossom tree walk Saturday 16 May, 10.30am – 12pm, £5 Tony Titchen takes you on a stroll round the Downs to admire the candle flowers of the majestic horse chestnuts, and abundant cream blossoms of the historic hawthorns.

Brilliant butterflies Thursday 28 May, 10am – 3.30pm, £10 per child Spend the morning butterfly spotting and discover the amazing world of these colourful insects, then plant up a mini butterfly garden in the afternoon to take home.

These are only a selection of the wide array of events on offer throughout April and May. Full Events Programme leaflets can be picked up at Café Retreat on the Downs, in local libraries and at the tourist information centre, where you’ll also find details of walks and trails you can follow yourself. You’ll also find complete listings online at: www.avongorge.org.uk

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CULTURE BOOK This month’s events and entertainments

WNO perform The Magic Flute

Courtney Pine at St George’s

Penelope Retold at Tobacco Factory Theatre

UNTIL APRIL 11

Nish Kumar, The Wardrobe Theatre, The White Bear, Thursday 2 April, 8pm

Under the Dark Moon, Bristol Old Vic, Friday 10 – Saturday 18 April, 7.30pm & 2.30pm (Saturday matinee)

Depending on your opinion, Nish Kumar is either a subtle, innovative stand up or a comedian you’ve never heard of. If the latter, it’s time to change that by heading over to one of Bristol’s leading fringe theatres to catch his new show, Ruminations on the Nature of Subjectivity. Tickets: £8 from Tobacco Factory Theatres box office on tel: 0117 902 0344 or visit: www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Collaborating with Bristol Old Vic, The Invisible Circus return with this show that journeys into the heart of darkness, telling of fairytales and questionable desires across a psychologically scorched dreamscape. Directed by Sarah Fielding. Tickets: £21 – £10 from the box office on tel: 0117 987 7877 or visit: www.bristololdvic.org.uk

An Evening with Tony Hawks, Colston Hall Lantern, Wednesday 8 April, 7.30pm Comedian, author and one-hit wonder (Stutter Rap by Morris Minor and the Majors, if you’re wondering) Tony Hawks brings a silly evening of random fun to the Lantern. Tickets: £16.13 from the box office on tel: 0844 887 1500 or visit: www.colstonhall.org

Welsh National Opera, Bristol Hippodrome, Wednesday 8 – Saturday 11 April, 7.15 pm Spellbound is the theme for the WNO’s spring performances, which highlight the natural affinity between music and magic with revivals of Hansel & Gretel, The Magic Flute and the new production Chorus! Tickets: £11.40 – £44.90, visit: www.wno.org.uk

Courtney Pine presents ‘Song’ with Zoe Rahman, St George’s, Thursday 9 April, 8pm Courtney Pine strips everything back for the most intimate set of shows in his long and illustrious career, playing a repertoire of ballads and nothing but, in a sensitive duo with featured pianist Zoe Rahman. Tickets: £20 (£5 concs) from the box office on tel: 0845 402 4001 or visit: www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

The Full Monty, Bristol Hippodrome, Monday 13 – Saturday 18 April, performance times vary In 1997, a British film about six out-of-work Sheffield steelworkers with nothing to lose, took the world by storm becoming one of the most successful British films ever made. Now, the boys are back, only this time, they really have to go The Full Monty… live on stage. Gary Lucy stars in this adaptation

by Simon Beaufoy. Tickets: £14.40 – £37.90 from the box office on tel: 0844 871 3012 or visit: www.atgtickets.com

FROM APRIL 12

Bristol Artists Book Event, Arnolfini, Saturday 11 April & Sunday 12 April, 11am – 6pm Taking place throughout the building, more than 80 artist bookmakers, dealers and small presses from Bristol and around the world will come together at Arnolfini to show and sell their work. There will also be a programme of workshops, surgeries, performances and readings throughout the weekend. Admission is free. For more information tel: 0117 917 2300 or visit: www.arnolfini.org.uk

Clifton Rocks Railway Open Day, Sunday 12 April, 10am – 4pm

Paintings by Rosalind Robinson and poetry by Roger Zair will be showcased in this exhibition. On Wednesday 15 there will be an informal discussion with Roger at 2.30pm, and Rosalind will give an illustrated talk on Thursday at 7pm. Places are limited, email: rosalind.robinson@me.com

Thousands of people pass the bottom entrance to the Clifton Rocks Railway everyday, as they drive along the Portway. But most don’t know the secret that is buried within the Avon Gorge – a Victorian funicular railway. So why not discover this engineering masterpiece yourself and enjoy a guided tour of the top station. There will also be an accompanying exhibition at the Avon Gorge Hotel, celebrating the railway and 10 years of the Clifton Rocks Railway project. No booking required, just show up on the day. For more information email: visit: www.cliftonrocksrailway.org.uk

Penelope Retold, Tobacco Factory Theatre, Thursday 9 – Saturday 11 April, 8.15pm

VOCES8, St Mary Redcliffe Church, Friday 17 April, 7.30pm

Unpredictable Explorations, The Jenyns Room, Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute, Friday 10 – Saturday 18 April, 10am – 4pm

Caroline Horton, revisits her highly acclaimed adaptation of The Odyssey.

Welcome to Ithaca. Island paradise and home to Penelope. She’s married to a world famous war hero and she’s had enough of waiting quietly. Made with input from soldiers and military spouses, Penelope Retold is an irreverent collision of classic myth and contemporary rage. Directed by Lucy Skilbeck. Tickets: £12 (£8 concs) from the box office on tel: 0117 902 0344 or visit: www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com 38 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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This British vocal ensemble is one of the most versatile and best-loved singing groups in the world, famed for engaging, entertaining and perfectly blended vocal performances. They’ll be performing a wide-ranging programme of a capella music from Renaissance anthems and madrigals to traditional spirituals and jazz and contemporary songs by Duke Ellington, Nat ‘King’ Cole and Jerome Kern. Tickets: £10 – £15 from Opus 13 or on the door.

Opus 13, tel: 0117 923 0164 or visit: www.opus13.co.uk

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The London Swing Orchestra, St George’s, Sunday 12 April, 7.30pm Graham Dalby and The London Swing Orchestra played their first concert on the anniversary of VE Day 1985 at the Hammersmith Palais and have since performed around the world from Buckingham Palace to Beijing. Their thirtieth anniversary is celebrated in a national concert tour in which they present a fabulous chronology of the rise of jazz and swing, from Scott Joplin in 1900 to Frank Sinatra in 1965. The concert features classics from ragtime, the Roaring Twenties, the swing era, 50s jump jive and, of course, Ol’ Blue Eyes himself. A real treat for connoisseurs and beginners alike. Profits from this concert are in aid of The Trussell Trust – the UK's largest foodbank. Tickets: £20 (£10 concs) from the box office on tel: 0845 402 4001 or visit: www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk The London Swing Orchestra at St George’s

FROM APRIL 13

Lorraine and Alan, Tobacco Factory Theatre, Monday 13 – Saturday 18 April, 8.15pm A humorous and poignant retelling of a Scottish myth with song, electronic sound design and hundreds of plastic bottles, Lorraine and Alan is the story of a boy who falls in love with a seal. It’s about codependency and how those we love shape who we are. It’s about moving out of your parents’ house and the sleepiness of little England. And it’s about delicious salty peanuts and a woman who eats them. Directed by Nel Crouch. Tickets: £12 (£8 concs) from the box office on tel: 0117 902 0344 or visit: www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Lorraine and Alan at Tobacco Factory Theatre

The Leisure Society, Colston Hall Lantern, Monday 13 April, 7pm The double Ivor Novello nominees perform their fourth album, The Fine Art of Hanging On. Expect intricate production, playing, arrangements, songwriting and instrumentation from an outfit at its most purposeful and assured best. Tickets: £16.13 from the box office on tel: 0844 887 1500 or visit: www.colstonhall.org

FROM APRIL 18

The Light Burns Blue, Bristol Old Vic Studio, Wednesday 15 – Saturday 18 April, 8pm & 3pm (Saturday matinee)

The Leisure Society at Colston Hall

Elsie Wright takes her camera to the bottom of the garden and takes photographs that make everyone sit up and take notice. She takes photographs that make the world gasp. Inspired by the story of the Cottingley Fairies and following the Bristol Old Vic Young Company's award-winning run of innovative work, this is the premiere of the new play by Silva Semerciyan, devised by the Young Company and directed by Lisa Gregan. In collaboration with Tonic Theatre. Tickets: £12 (£8 concs) from the box office on tel: 0117 987 7877 or visit: www.bristololdvic.org.uk

Bristol Phoenix Choir, St Alban’s Church, Saturday 18 April, 7.30pm

The Light Burns Blue Bristol Old Vic

EDITOR’S PICK...

Bristol Phoenix Choir presents a feast of the best that 17th and 18th century music has to offer, including Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Handel’s My Heart is Inditing, Durante’s Magnificat, two wonderful pieces by Purcell, and Haydn’s The Heavens are Telling. Soloists Elinor Cooper, Matthew Paine, Mike Gormley and Daniel Robson, and Matthew Davies (organ) with conductor Paul Walton. Tickets £12.50 (free for under 16s) from BPC tel: 07775 915155 or email: tickets@bristolphoenixchoir.org.uk, or from Opus 13 tel: 0117 9230164.

A Weekend of Birthday Celebrations, The Curzon Cinema, Clevedon, Friday 17 – Sunday 19 April, various times Events will kick off on Friday night with live music from Cocoa and the Butterfields, and then throughout the weekend there will be activities and films for children, tours of the cinema and opportunitites to get some hands-on experience with the vintage film equipment. On Sunday at 2pm, there will be a screening of 1912 Remembered, a British Film Institution compilation that has been curated especially for The Curzon.

Newsreels will show the aftermath of the sinking of Titanic, Scott’s ill-fated Antarctic expedition and other short films of local interest, accompanied by Stephen Horne – one of the UK’s premier silent film pianists.

For tickets tel: 01275 871 000 or visit: www.curzon.org.uk

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Summer Term Courses and Workshops, Bristol Folk House, Monday 20 April – Monday 6 July, class times vary Fancy sewing your own summer frock? Setting the dance floor alight with some samba steps? Or learning Italian, the language of love, in time for when the weather heats up this summer? Or perhaps you’re in need of some stress relief in the form of yoga or qi gong? Whatever you’re looking to learn, there’s a course to suit you at Bristol Folk House. Enrolment for the summer term is now open, so get booking! Tel: 0117 926 2987 or visit: www.bristolfolkhouse.co.uk

Chasing the Dream in the Least Harmful Way, Alma Tavern Theatre, Wednesday 22 & Thursday 23 April, 8pm Award-winning Theatre 6 return to the Alma with this play by Dominic Lindsay-Bethune. Guy has arrived in London to find his fortune. Guy's father is an astrologist who talks with starlight. They both have dreams that, for better and for worse, keep them awake at night. This show is inspired by real events and fictional events from real dreams. Tickets: £10 (£8 concs), tel: 0117 973 5171 or visit: www.almataverntheatre.co.uk

Jack in the Green procession

Glos Rd Central Mayfest, Gloucester Road, Saturday 2 May, all day Tying in with the arrival of the Jack in the Green procession, this community spirited festival has something for everyone. From a bike powered carousel and smoothie maker, art workshops and a puppet show to biscuit decorating, food and drink and creative competitions, this fantastic free event launches the start of the Redland, Cotham and Bishopston Neighbourhood Partnership Community Festival week. Many local green groups such as the local allotments and Horfield Common will be promoting their wonderful calendar of events while Bristol Pound will be hosting a pound swap, Sustrans will be sharing eco travel tips and the Avon Wildlife Trust will be promoting wildflower gardens in our city.

Encouraging green activities and shopping local, key themes during our year as European Green Capital.

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FROM APRIL 24

What the Frock! Comedy, Riproar, Friday 24 April, 7.30pm Returning for its third year, the What The Frock! Comedy Newcomer Award celebrates the up-and-coming female comedy talent on the circuit. The award was won by Bethan Roberts in 2013 and by Dotty Winters in 2014 – both of whose careers have soared. The awards will be hosted by resident compere Cerys Nelmes. Why not go along and watch the finalists put through their paces to find the new queen of comedy? Tickets: £10 (£9 concs), visit: www.wegottickets.com

Bristol Ensemble, Trinity-Henleaze URC, Saturday 25 April, 7.30pm The Bristol Ensemble’s founder and artistic director Roger Huckle is the soloist in a performance of Mendelssohn’s youthful work, the Violin Concerto in D minor. The work is paired with the Argentine composer Astor

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Pinhole photography workshops at Clifton Suspension Bridge, image © Joe D

Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, full of infectious Latin American rhythms. Tickets: £16, £5 for under 25 years, available from Opus 13 music shop on tel: 0117 923 0164, online at: www.henleazeconcertsociety.org.uk, or on the door.

Pinhole Photography Workshops, Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre, Sunday 26 April, 9.30am – 4pm Celebrate World Pinhole Day with photographer Justin Quinnell by making your own pinhole camera from an empty drink can, then take a photograph of the bridge and watch it develop in chemicals in a dark room. This image can then be uploaded to be part of the international gallery of pinhole images taken on this day around the world. This workshop is suitable for ages 7+ and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Booking is essential, and please book one ticket for each single exposure camera being built. For further details visit: www.cliftonbridge.org.uk

Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean, Alma Tavern Theatre, Thursday 30 April – Saturday 2 May, 7.30pm Set in West Texas, this comical yet dramatic piece by Ed Graczyk chronicles the reunions of the Disciples of James Dean. It flashes between their lives as young teenage girls in 1955 and then later in life, in 1975. Their teenage interactions and the 20-year reunion unfold simultaneously, rapidly escalating into a series of explosive confrontations between the characters. Tickets: £8 (£6 concs), tel: 0117 973 5171 or visit: www.almataverntheatre.co.uk

BOOK NOW FOR...

Map-reading & Compass Navigation with Ordnance Survey, Stanfords, Wednesday 6 May, 6.30pm Turn a stroll into an adventure, for the right reasons! Learn how to fully understand a map, take grid references and use a compass properly with this helpful workshop, run by an Ordnance Survey expert. Tickets are free but limited to 30 places. Register in store or visit: bit.ly/OSBmag

Thornbury Choral Society, The Castle School, Saturday 9 May, 7.30pm In Praise of Life Itself is a première designed to set your spirits soaring.

Thornbury Choral Society will perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 that offers a truly glorious vision of love, tolerance and universal brotherhood, and Dvořák’s Te Deum which brings with a sense of joy befitting the arrival of spring. Conductor: Steven Kings. Soloists: Stephanie Edwards (soprano), Louise Crane (alto), Justin Lavendar (tenor), Edmund Saddington (bass) and the Bristol Ensemble orchestra. Tickets: £12 (£2 concs) from the box office on tel: 01454 416 518 or visit: www.thornburychoralsociety.org.uk

Duende Flamenco Dance Workshop, Wiltshire Music Centre, Sunday 17 May, 3pm – 4pm Flamenco is a dance of passion, pain and longing, of the soul laid bare, its roots in 15th century Andalusia where the cultural influences of Moors, Jews and Gitanos (gypsies) mixed with native folk music to lay the foundations for this famous gypsy art. Experience a fun, informal snapshot of the essential forms of flamenco – its rhythms, steps and styles, and its relation to music – with the dancers and musicians of Jaleo. Open to all, no dress requirements.

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DIRECTORS’ CUTS Jenny Hayes visits Bristol Old Vic Theatre School to meet four women changing the face of performance

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B

ristol Old Vic Theatre School has intrigued me ever since I jogged past one day, on my usual route round the Downs, and saw a group of students practicing their sword fighting skills on the front lawn. This brief encounter was enough to transform my daily run from the routine to the extraordinary, and it made me realise that this little patch of the city was the home of the unexpected. It’s a place where creativity thrives and the everyday is challenged and turned on its head until the norm becomes the new.

The drama directing MA programme is proof of this pioneering spirit.

Offering only four places, competition for the course is fierce and in 2014, for the first time, all of the successful candidates were women. Laura Jasper, Josey O’Neal, Laura McLean and Siobhán Cannon-Brownlie are now only weeks from graduating, and in the midst of rehearsals for the Directors’ Cuts season in which they will each direct a play featuring work by fellow BOVTS acting, design and production students. So what better time to catch up with them to find out more about their work, what it means to them to be an emerging female voice in a traditionally male-dominated industry, and whether this is indicative of a broader movement across theatre as a whole.

“We’ve all come from different backgrounds,” says Laura M. “I studied production and stage management in Vancouver, Josey has just completed her undergraduate degree in English literature and cultural theory in London, and Laura J and Siobhán were both actresses. But we’d all dabbled in directing on the side, and realised that was what we wanted to pursue.”

“Having these different perspectives was really valuable in how we worked as a group, though,” says Josey. “I’ve learnt a lot from the others over the last year, not least finding the confidence to be more assertive in getting my voice and my work out there.”

“That’s definitely true,” agrees Laura J. “These three are really widely read, which encouraged me to read more and also meant they’ve introduced me to lots of plays that I might not have encountered otherwise.”

“And while we’ve been reading plays throughout the year, whenever we’ve come across something we think another of us would like, we’ve always shared it with them. It’s a really supportive group and we’re all inspired by each other’s work,” says Laura M. “Through watching how the other girls direct, I’ve definitely become freer and more experimental myself.”

“I’ve found the process really empowering,” Siobhán adds, “because working with the others has highlighted where my own interests lie as a Main image: The Brewery Theatre at the Tobacco Factory; this image: The Boy on the Swing, directed by Laura Jasper © Graham Burke

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Woman and Scarecrow, directed by Siobhán Cannon-Brownlie © Graham Burke

director. Seeing how each of their distinct tastes and styles have grown has shown me that knowing your strengths and pursuing them is a very positive thing, and helped me see where and how I fit into the wider, very competitive field of directing.

“We are all women,” she continues, “ but that doesn’t mean we are all predominantly concerned with the gender question, although it does happen to be a specific interest of mine. As a director I want to bring more women on to the stage in roles that haven’t previously existed for them.

“That’s why I chose Woman and Scarecrow by Marina Carr as my play for the Directors’ Cuts season. Not only is the playwright female, but so are three of the four characters. Essentially, it is about a woman dying and reflecting on her life, and what I like about it is that what she is saying has universal relevance that translates across gender boundaries, and those of race and class. We all understand the dilemma of having to choose between following your head or your heart, and the regrets this can lead to. The fact that she is female is actually irrelevant, it is just refreshing to find such a part written for a woman as opposed to a man. For me, it gives me the opportunity to direct an actress in a very strong role, giving a woman a powerful and resonant voice on stage.”

In contrast, Laura J’s play, The Boy on the Swing, is written for a completely male cast. Was she not tempted to follow the example of the contemporary, renowned director Phyllida Lloyd who staged an all-female production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, and put actresses in at least some of the roles?

“No, I wasn’t,” she replies decisively. “While I’m completely open to crossing gender boundaries and putting women in male roles, and vice versa, there’s no need to do it arbitrarily. Shakespeare works well for doing that because his plays as a whole are accessible and doing so doesn’t confuse the underlying message, but I felt that with this play mixing the sexes could introduce a different layer into their relationships that would compromise the story I wanted to tell.

“The play is essentially about the meaning of life. What are we all doing here, and is there something more at the end of it all? It resonated with me when I read it aged 28, as I was reaching a point in my life when I was looking for something a bit more than just going out every weekend. And that’s the beauty of the play – it doesn’t really say anything, and yet it says everything. It is like a painting that can be interpreted in a variety of ways depending on the person looking at it. This will have significance to people in different ways, at different points in their life.”

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roles for women and men of any age, ethnicity, background and disability.

Doing so will bring new perspectives on to the stage and in front of the audience, so that eventually these become the norm and theatre will relate more to the public sphere.”

“You can’t be what you can’t see,” Siobhán sums up neatly, “and as directors we are all concerned with bringing something new to the stage. The more diversity that is seen, the greater the variety of people who will become engaged and involved with theatre in the future, perpetuating the cycle of change.”

“That is one of the key things our artistic director, Jenny Stephens, has brought to the School,” continues Josey. “She is concerned with nurturing everyone as individuals – whether as actors, directors, designers or producers.

Instead of teaching a particular method, the School provides us all with a toolkit that we can use to explore and develop our unique talents.”

“Jenny has a very relaxed, unpretentious approach to the stage,” explains Laura J, “and she wants to break down the perceived boundaries. She encourages us all to find what it is about us that makes us different from everyone else and to make the most of that in our work. It means that students can confidently go on to become part of the movement that is gradually changing the face of theatre.”

“It’s going to be a slow process,” says Laura M, “but if we look back in ten years’ time we’ll hopefully see that theatre has come a long way in becoming more open and representative of modern society. And it’s a change we can see happening across all kinds of industries at the moment, which can only be a positive thing for the future.”

It’s an optimistic note to end on, and it has been incredibly inspiring talking to all four women about their work and their aspirations, both as individual directors and as part of a wider movement pushing at ground level for greater equality and diversity in the arts. n

Little One, directed by Laura McLean © Graham Burke

Laura M’s play, Little One by Hannah Moscovitch, moves beyond the relationship we have with ourselves to explore that which we have with our family.

“Hannah Moscovitch’s work has always touched me,” she explains, “so when I found that she’d written this new play I got her agent to send me the script. As soon as I read it I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do. It explores the complicated relationship between two siblings who were both adopted into a family. Claire, the younger of the two, was subject to severe abuse before she was adopted at the age of four, which meant she was violent and disturbed thoughout her childhood without ever really understanding why. Her older brother, Aaron, spent much of his time taking care of her as they grew up.

“It is dark, thrilling and full of suspense, but at its heart it is a beautiful story about unconditional love and relationships. How far can we push each other until we reach breaking point? And what happens when we do? I also like the fact that it discusses mental illness, which is a conversation that I think needs to be had openly in the public realm.”

Josey’s play, Treats by Christopher Hampton, explores romantic relationships, and the process she went through in choosing it is as turbulent as the tale itself. “The first time I read the script I threw it across the room in anger,” she laughs. “I felt like I’d just wasted my time reading a set of trite domestic one-liners. Then for the next two weeks I walked around talking non-stop about how much it had irritated me, and I realised that I had to return to it and explore why it had affected me in such a visceral way.

“I found that I liked the unassuming, conventional facade of the living room setting, because it offered me the chance to transform what is usually a comfortable space into something abstract, surreal and unsettling. And that element underpins the whole attraction of the play for me. The roles are malleable too, so I could cast actors whose energy would transform the characters as opposed to being constrained by them, which is one of my key interests as a director.

“But the play still makes me furious. The difference now is that what started out as passionate hatred is now creative passion. It’s like being in a boxing ring, wrestling the text into submission, which is challenging but also what makes it so interesting.”

Hearing the four women talk about the plays and their reasons for choosing them, it strikes me that their goal is not only to promote the female voice in theatre, but also to make it more representative of society as a whole?

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The Directors’ Cuts season runs from Tuesday 28 April – Saturday 23 May at the Brewery Theatre at the Tobacco Factory. Tickets: £12 (£8) concs from Tobacco Factory Theatres’ box office on tel: 0117 902 0344 or visit: www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com. Bristol Old Vic Theatre School is a member Main image: AvonItGorge Jearey of the prestigious Conservatoire for Dance and The Drama. runs©a Phil variety of above: Adult peregrine falcon © Helen Hall courses across all aspects of acting, technical, production and management for the theatre. For more information visit: www.oldvic.ac.uk

Treats, directed by Josey O’Neal © Graham Burke

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Royal School of Needlework Hand Embroidery Classes in Bristol • Join us for fun Day Classes: beginners and all levels welcome • Learn traditional embroidery techniques to a high technical standard on the Royal School of Needlework Certificate and Diploma • Study on our two week Summer Intensive Course in July 2015 Venue: 38 Old School House, Kingswood Estate, Britannia Road, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 8DB

Join us at Bath in Fashion 2015 on 25 March and pre-book for: ‘Beautiful Buttons’ Workshops at 10.30am & 2pm Anthropologie, New Bond Street ‘Embellishing Fashion’ Lecture, at 2pm Assembly Rooms For more information visit www.royal-needlework.org.uk Contact Anne Butcher - T: 020 3166 6937 anne.butcher@royal-needlework.org.uk RCN 312774

Invitation to consign:

A collection of Bristol and surrounding area related fine & decorative arts, objects and historical ephemera. If you have Bristol related items that you may be thinking of selling why not attend one of our FREE VALUATION DAYS (see below for dates) or email images to: valuation@clevedonsalerooms.com

The

To speak to a valuer telephone 01934 830111

Bristol Sale

Closing date for entries 6th May.

Thursday 4th June

Interiors, Antiques, Collectables & Jewellery Auction Thurs 16th & Thurs 30th April at 10am On view day before, 10am – 7.30pm and sale day from 9am to start

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FREE VALUATION DAYS at the Salerooms 30, 31 March & 1, 20, 21,22 April 9.30 – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm

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Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers The Auction Centre Kenn Road, Kenn Clevedon, BS21 6TT

Tel: 01934 830111 www.clevedon-salerooms.com

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CITYgardens

ARTS | & EXHIBITIONS

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SPRING SHOWS Faces and Places, Lime Tree Gallery, Thursday 19 March – Saturday 25 April Throughout April, Lime Tree Gallery is home to a stunning exhibition of beautiful paintings, portraits and landscapes by award winning artists, including Travel Award winner in the BP Portrait exhibition Sophie Ploeg, Aspect Prize runner up Steven Lindsay and Aspect Prize winner and Lime Tree Gallery newcomer Patricia Cain. Another debutant is Michael Corsar, a well known figure in Glasgow and a painter much respected and collected by his artist peers, as is Glasgow School of Art lecturer and fellow exhibitor Alexandra Gardner. Anna King won the top prize of £20,000 in the annual Jolomo Award for Scottish landscape artists, while Molly Garnier was winner of the Lynn PainterStainers Young Artist Award. Jackie Anderson won the Alastair Salvesen Art Scholarship which allowed her to travel and paint in Trinidad and Tobago, while the final exhibitor, David PorteousButler, was one of the artists selected to paint on the Millenium Bridge during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012.

Lime Tree Gallery, 84 Hotwell Road, BS8 4UB. Tel: 0117 929 2527 or visit: www.limetreegallery.com Water Rays by Molly Garnier

Spring at Coldharbour Framery & Gallery, throughout April Spring is in the air… and even if your garden is not yet filled with a riot of colour, you’ll find plenty in the gallery this month. Kirsten Jones’ garden screenprints tell a story of visits to gardens in France, Devon and Cornwall, with bright Indian flowers Summer intermingled

by Katie Allen with birds and snippets from postcards. The bird and flower theme continues with a selection of brightly coloured ceramic birds, bowls and vases by Teän Kirby, and prints by new artist Georgie Woolridge. Coldharbour Framery & Gallery, 111 Coldharbour Road, BS6 7SD. Tel: 0117 944 6244 or visit: www.coldharbourgallery.co.uk

French Flower Garden by Kirsten Jones

New Moon, Grant Bradley Gallery, Saturday 4 April – Saturday 2 May One of three exhibitions taking place at the gallery, New Moon is the collective name of a group of artists from Bristol and the Cotswolds who have exhibited together for five years. Collectively, their work presents a lively combination of styles and mediums that make for a truly inspiring show. Grant Bradley Gallery, 1 St Peters Court, BS3 4AQ. Tel: 0117 963 7673 or visit: www.grantbradleygallery.co.uk

▲ Countryside, Sky Blue Framing & Gallery, April – May

Snow Storm in the City by Caroline James

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Mary Sumner’s work revolves around the natural world and her immediate surroundings in Mid Devon. Countryside and animals are recurring themes in her work. She illustrates encounters of her daily life, and often brings humour and quirky details to her paintings. Sky Blue Framing & Gallery, 27 North View, BS6 7PT. Tel: 0117 973 3995 or visit: www.skybluegallery.co.uk

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“Red Ribbons” by Alexander Gardner

Faces and Places: March 19 - April 25 Lime Tree Gallery, 84 Hotwell Road, Bristol BS8 4UB

Tel 0117 929 2527

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www.limetreegallery.com

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ARTS | & EXHIBITIONS

Easter Art & Sculpture Festival, University of Bristol Botanic Garden, Friday 3 April – Monday 6 April Celtic giants, Flanders poppies, Mozart’s Magic Flute, bronzed Greek heroes and exotic tropical flowers are just some of the delights to be enjoyed at this year’s Easter festival. Sculptors including Kate Newlyn, Dan Broadley, Sheena Vallely and around 30 other local artists will be exhibiting this year.

University of Bristol Botanic Garden, The Holmes, Stoke Park Road, BS9 1JG. Tel: 0117 331 4906 or visit: www.bristol.ac.uk

National Gallery Masterpiece Tour, Victoria Art Gallery, until Sunday 3 May A rare opportunity to see one of Canaletto’s most iconic works, Regatta on the Grand Canal. Dating from around 1740, it depicts Venice’s annual gondola race observed by thousands of figures, painted with characteristic bravura and brilliance. Victoria Art Gallery, Bridge Street, Bath, BA2 4AT. Tel: 01225 477233 or visit: www.victoriagal.org.uk

Passion Flower by Clare Wyatt

Christine Sun Kim, Arnolfini, Friday 20 March – Tuesday 5 May

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Christine Sun Kim is a visual artist who works with concepts around sound and visual language.

Deaf from birth, Kim approaches sound as a medium that can be physically expressive, communicative and experienced viscerally. She asks audiences to consider the role that sound and listening have in building an experience of both inner and outer worlds and the way that touch can inform listening and language. Kim is known for her drawings that combine musical symbols with notations of silence and which explore alternative modes of listening. Arnolfini, 16 Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA. Tel: 0117 917 2300 or visit: www.arnolfini.org.uk

My Green City, The Architecture Centre, Saturday 11 April, 1 – 4pm Like the idea of a woodland on College Green or a nature reserve in Broadmead? Then head over to draw and model a city with nature at its heart.

This fun, family event invites visitors to use their imagination to create a vision of Bristol as a truly green capital. The Architecture Centre, Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA. Tel: 0117 922 1540 or visit: www.architecturecentre.co.uk |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Caroline Cunningham Exhibition, Clevedon, Friday 1 – Sunday 10 May As part of North Somerset Arts Week, Caroline Cunningham is exhibiting her Pendulum series of silk paintings and glass panels, tapestry panels and cushions, and cityscape paintings that reflect the hustle and bustle of Bristol.

Caroline Cunningham’s studio, 54 Dial Hill, Clevedon, BS21 7HN. Tel: 07518 760 085

▲ Captured, Rainmaker Art, Thursday 5 March – Saturday 30 May This ground-breaking exhibition showcases the work of contemporary Native American fine art photographers, who surprise and delight with arresting imagery that challenges preconceived notions of American Indians.

Rainmaker Gallery, 123 Coldharbour Road, BS6 7SN. Tel: 0117 944 3101 or visit: www.rainmakerart.co.uk

Drawn, The Royal West of England Academy, Saturday 21 March – Sunday 7 June The RWA turns the focus on drawing this spring with a feast of exhibitions including its biennial open submission exhibition Drawn, featuring invited artist Tania Kovats; The Drawing Lab – a gallery dedicated to play – and Drawing On… turning the spotlight on modern British art with a host of renowned artists from the 20th century including Edward Burra, Cecil Collins, Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, Mary Fedden PPRWA, Elizabeth Frink, Barbara Hepworth, Keith Vaughan, Henry Moore, John Nash, Ceri Richards and Stanley Spencer. RWA, Queen’s Road, BS8 1PX. Tel: 0117 973 5129 or visit: www.rwa.org.uk

Firescreen

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Work by John Minton

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ARTS | & EXHIBITIONS

Hidden by Deenagh Miller

Stepping Out

by Helen Gordon

Mediterranean Romance by Bob Gale

Group Exhibition, Guild Gallery, Saturday 18 April – Saturday 9 May An eclectic collection of work by five artists combines to create an exhibition that is powerful in its diversity yet beautiful in its coherence. Deenagh Miller’s work is characterised by fun, frivolity and fantasy, conjuring a world of colourful birds and tumbling acrobats that play under a watchful eye that reveals a dark and slightly sinister side to her imagination. Helen Gordon has been sculpting for 12 years, and her recent pieces are quirky and humorous depictions of animals. Helen’s son, Fred Gordon, is also exhibiting his own scuplture in the show. Pinto Pinncock combines geometry and exhuberance to create works that either explode with energy, or draw viewers into calm spatial relationships suggestive of the planets and outer space. Bob Gale, who is also exhibiting concurrently at The Tinca Gallery in Portishead, is presenting a selection of oil paintings and collages informed by landscape. Guild Gallery, 68 Park Street, BS1 5JY. Tel: 0117 926 5548 or visit: www.bristolguild.co.uk

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Twilight by Bob Gale

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SCIENCE | ASTRONOMY

WRITTEN IN THE STARS Jenny Hayes visits At-Bristol Science Centre for a spring-themed bout of star-spotting

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SCIENCE | ASTRONOMY

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or as long as man has inhabited the Earth, spring has been celebrated as a time of new beginnings, when we literally and metaphorically sew the seeds for a successful year ahead. So this month, we’ll be looking at some of the objects in our sky that have particular significance at this time of year because they all have an agricultural relevance, either in their mythology or their importance as seasonal guides for our ancestors.

Let’s start with one of the most familiar farming objects, the easily recognisable shape of The Plough that stretches high above our heads in the April sky. Although large and dominant among the constellations, The Plough itself is actually an asterism – that is, a recognisable pattern of stars within the larger constellation of Ursa Major, the Great Bear. Nonetheless, it is an important marker in our night sky and an apt start for our agricultural journey through the heavens, for if you follow the curve of the handle down you’ll come to the Arcturus, one of the most visible stars in the night sky at our latitude, part of the constellation of Boötes, the herdsman.

Although Boötes does not guide The Plough himself, he is linked to the Great Bear constellation. In the night sky, he is depicted as wielding a sickle, which he swishes at the bear’s tail to encourage her to push the stars around each evening. So, according to the stories of old, it was Boötes who was responsible for keeping the sky revolving and therefore bringing about the changing seasons.

Main image: A stellar nursery in Virgo © NASA Left: Boötes by Johannes Hevelius Above: A red giant shedding its outer core © ESO, S. Ramstedt & W. Vlemmings

The mass and heat of the blue giant Spica combine to give it incredible luminosity, and it is the 15th brightest star in the night sky. Because of this, for thousands of years it has been a vital marker for mankind, and our ancestors used its changing position in the sky to tell the time of year. When Spica rose above the horizon in the northern hemisphere, it meant that spring had arrived and signalled to farmers to start planting their crops. Hence the Romans named it Spica, meaning ‘ear of wheat’.

So next time you are out after dark and see The Plough in the spring night sky, why not look a bit further? Just remember, ‘follow the arc to Arcturus then speed on to Spica.’ n

And Arcturus is fittingly named in keeping with this figure, deriving from the ancient Greek arktos ‘bear’ and ouros ‘guardian’. Like Aldebaran in Taurus, Arcturus is one of a small collection of red giants in our sky. Despite being a similar mass to the Sun, Arcturus is about 25x the diameter and far more luminous (i.e. emits a great deal more energy). Because it has exhausted the hydrogen from its core, Arcturus is now in the latter stages of its life as a mainsequence star and its temperature has dropped to about 4000°C and into the infrared spectrum, making it appear red in colour to our eyes. As time passes, it will expand further until it completely sheds its outer shell and becomes a white dwarf.

This remarkable star is itself located within a group of stars known as the Arcturus stream, all of which are physically associated because they share proper motion (rate of movement relative to the Sun and solar system). This stream did not originate within the Milky Way, and scientists believe it is a remnant from an ancient satellite galaxy that has become assimilated into our own.

If you continue further down along the same trajectory as you followed from to find Arcturus you’ll come across Spica, a binary star that is the brightest in the constellation of Virgo, the goddess of the harvest. Unlike many of the stars we’ve encountered in previous articles, Spica is not a main-sequence but a postsequence blue giant. These are incredibly rare celestial entities, occurring only in stars with very high mass and lasting – astronomically speaking – a very short amount of time.

Like their red counterparts, blue giants have used up their core hydrogen supply, but because they are far greater in mass they remain much hotter, so they glow blue on the sizzling ultraviolet spectrum as opposed to red on the cooler infrared spectrum. These rarities have a scorching surface temperature of 20,000°C or more, which makes our Sun sound veritably chilly at a mere 6000°C.

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With thanks to Lee Pullen at the Planetarium for sharing his knowledge with me for this article. If you would like to discover more about astronomy, visit the At-Bristol website for details of all shows and upcoming events: www.atbristol.org.uk or tel: 0117 909 2000

Main-sequence stars This category comprises 90% of the stars in our universe – including our Sun – all of which convert hydrogen to helium at their core. When the core runs out of hydrogen, the element instead begins to fuse in a layer around the core making the star expand, become brighter and begin to cool. As its temperature drops, so its colour changes as it moves deeper into the infrared spectrum, becoming first a yellow giant, then an orange giant, and finally a red giant. These giants are rare, accounting for less than 1% of stars, but because they are so luminous – emitting several 100x more light than the Sun – they can be very distinct objects in our night sky.

Look out for...

The Lyrids meteor shower runs annually from 16 – 25 April. This year it will peak on the night of Wednesday 22, producing around 20 meteors per hour. Some of these can produce bright dust trails that last for several seconds and are best viewed from a dark location after midnight. In Bristol, there are three Dark Sky Discovery Sites perfect for meteor spotting – Durdham Downs, Leigh Woods and Victoria Park.

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BRISTOL | HISTORY

KNOW YOUR LIMITS Julian Lea-Jones explores Bristol’s ancient boundaries, and the stories behind them

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n the days when the parish church ruled people’s lives and the vestry determined the amount of tithes (taxes) you paid and to whom, it was important to know in exactly which parish you lived. The parish was delineated on the ground by markers at intervals, usually where the line exited a property or deviated from a straight line. Each parish had its unique style of lettering or mark, such as those shown in the selection shown above. And did you realise that there are still over one hundred of these marks in the old centre of Bristol?

The 1601 Poor Law Act required all parishes to provide for needy residents with the result that parish officers did all they could to keep down the numbers of people claiming relief. ‘Unofficial’ visitors were quickly moved on so as not to be a burden on the parish and old records note many expenses incurred in evicting ‘strangers’. For example, St Mary le Port (bombed in WWII but the surviving tower can be seen at High Street end of Castle Park), recorded in 1693 that ‘we turned out ye great bellied woman out of ye parish’, because the arrival of a pregnant woman was unwelcome as any child born here could then claim ‘settlement’ and henceforth be a charge on the parish.

Parish boundaries followed land and field boundaries and although it may

not be possible to find very ancient markers in modern Bristol, fragments of old boundaries still survive as field walls or footpaths. Using Google Earth, it is possible to spot some of these ancient boundaries because some old footpaths although disrupted or realigned still survive as short cuts between roads. One short example is the remnant of an old footpath shown on Ashmead’s 1855 map that still runs between the houses from Redland Road down the hill crossing Hazel Avenue and continuing to the bottom corner of Elm Lane. In nearby Henleaze, further old boundaries can still be traced, for example another ancient field boundary, now a footpath, runs from The Crescent past the Golden Hill sports ground all the way up to Horfield Common.

William Barrett’s 18th century history of Bristol contains a copy of the perambulation of the city bounds with the boundary stones numbered et seq and brief details of their locations. Stones were generally set up where a boundary changed direction or crossed a right of way. For example: ‘No. 1 – On the bank of the river of Avon, near a limekiln, on the east and a sluice on the west, called Woodwell’s lake, [bottom of Jacob’s Wells road, formerly Limekiln Dock] standeth the first stone’. ‘No. 6 – From thence north and by west to a stone in the corner of a wall, where

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FRAGMENTS OF OLD BOUNDARIES STILL SURVIVE AS WALLS OR FOOTPATHS

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BRISTOL | HISTORY one Baily dwelt’. All 103 stones around the entire seven and a half mile periphery of Bristol are referred to as ‘stones’ or ‘leading stones’ except for one, No. 8. described as follows: ‘From thence, on the north side of the lane, ascending the same, to the south corner of Pucking-Grove, and there entering into a ground, called Honey-pan-hill [Richmond Hill] standeth a great stone’.

It seems that this really intriguing local boundary marker was known as the ‘Dedy Stone’. What was special about this stone other than its size? Did it have a purpose other than as a boundary marker? Other histories of Bristol give brief mentions, and it seems that it could have been similar in age to the stone on Redland Green, which is significant for other reasons.

To ensure people were aware of the positions of the boundaries, and the markers hadn’t been moved, an annual audit was carried out known as ‘beating the bounds’ or ‘bumping on the stones’. The perambulation of local clergy and civic dignitaries along with members of the parish, particularly the young, visited each of the markers. The youngsters were bumped on the stones, given sweets, or more unpleasantly were pinched or rapped with a stick or had their ear twisted. This was done not out of malice, but to ensure the allimportant location stuck in the memory.

There was also a macabre tradition associated with life in old parishes; a scheme known colloquially as a ‘Tyburn Ticket’. Tyburn, the main public gallows in London became nationally synonymous with executions in the same way that Newgate became for prisons. At one time parish offices and civic duties were just that. If you were appointed to an office it wasn’t voluntary, like jury duty, and non-attendance without just cause resulted in a hefty fine. In the days when most businesses were family run and for many taking time off to attend to parish matters was very difficult and hence unpopular, people often did their best to avoid office and records abound with the names of people fined for not doing so. Particularly unpopular duties were those of surveyor of roadworks, overseer of the poor or even sheriff. However there was a legal way of avoiding a duty or period of office, without incurring any penalty. All you needed was a ‘Tyburn Ticket’.

From 1699 ‘Any person convicted of burglary, horse stealing or shop theft to a value of five shillings or more, would be hanged’. If a person apprehended a thief and it resulted in a conviction they were entitled to a reward. The reward was a certificate entitling the holder to be discharged from all manner of Parish duties for life within the parish where the offence had been

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Main image: a selection of the boundary stones of Bristol; pictured: cluster of three stones on the Downs, to the southwest side of the water tower © J. Lea-Jones

committed. This led to miscarriages of justice and opportunities for corruption because the single-use ticket was transferable and they were even advertised for sale. I wonder how many poor people were falsely accused and sent to the gallows in order to meet the market for Tyburn Tickets?

Out of the 61 people hanged in Bristol between 1752 and 1800 only five were for murder, which leads one to wonder how many of the remainder were framed and ended up swinging from the gallows at St Michael’s Hill, Gallows Acre Lane (now Pembroke Road), Gib Taylor, or at the ‘Three Lamps, just so that someone could avoid their civic duties. The Bristol Journal for the 4th September 1813 ran an advertisement for two tickets, exempting the holders from Parish and Ward Offices of St Paul’s and St James’ respectively. This iniquitous system which ended in 1818 is an example of why it could be dangerous not to know for certain which parish you lived in. n

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BRISTOL | HISTORY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY This month, Gardiner Haskins Homecentre celebrates 190 years of trade, so what better time to learn more about one of the city’s oldest independent stores

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ucked away down Straight Street, just a stone’s throw from Cabot Circus, is a retail gem that Bristol should be proud of. Standing solid for 190 years, through the turbulence of two world wars and several recessions, Gardiner Haskins Homecentre is a true bastion of the independent spirit of the city. But what is the secret of their success? As any good businessperson knows, the ability to adapt to changing times is key, and that is exactly what Gardiner Haskins has done over the years.

Founded in 1825 by Zachariah Cartwright, the business started out as a builders’ merchants and ironmongers trading from modest premises at 11 John Street.

When Zachariah died his nephew, Emmanuel Chillcott, inherited the business and went into partnership with Alfred Gardiner in 1860. Between them, the men built a thriving business. In time, it was passed down to Alfred’s sons, John and Thomas, who went on to trade solely under the Gardiner name.

By the Victorian times, Gardiner Sons & Co Limited had grown into a large and wellrespected organisation. Its representatives travelled all over the country (making good use of the new railway lines) carrying pictorial catalogues crammed full of the ornamental ironwork Gardiners had become famed for, as well as windows, washbasins, loos, cooking ranges, lawnmowers and much,

much more. These catalogues were weighty tomes to lug about, but nonetheless these intrepid agents transported them to every corner of the empire so that the tastes of Englishmen could be met wherever they laid their hat.

One of Gardiners’ most famous customers of the age was Isambard Kingdom Brunel. During his time in Bristol, the great engineer sought out the skilled team of craftsmen at Gardiners and commissioned them to make him a set of precision instruments that he could use to draw up his designs. The resulting set, as you can see in the main image, are exquisitely fine to ensure Brunel was able to render his sketches with pinpoint accuracy. These tools still survive today, and are held at Bristol University Library alongside some of the renowned engineer’s drawings, papers and diaries.

Given its illustrious history, it seems only fitting that the company occupies a fine Grade II listed building on Broad Plain. But these premises have only been home to Gardiners since 1958. They were originally occupied by another large Bristol manufacturer, Christopher Thomas Soap and Candle Works, who sadly floundered in the 1950s when Unilever soap powders proved more popular than their own Puritan Maid.

For Gardiners, this provided the opportunity to purchase the Christopher Thomas factory that was adjacent to their Midland Works and streamline the

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ONE OF GARDINERS’ MOST FAMOUS CUSTOMERS OF THE VICTORIAN AGE WAS ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL

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business onto one site. Today, however, only the old candle works building is still standing because, as competition increased in the late 1960s, Gardiners decided to close the manufacturing side of the business and instead focus on creating a cutting-edge homecentre that met the growing trend for DIY and home improvement. The car park now occupies the space in which the Midland Works once stood.

It proved to be a good decision, and in 1971 Gardiners looked to expand their product base to include furniture and carpets from Shepton Mallet company J H Haskins. This fortuitous union strengthened the organisation further, and gave rise to the name it is known by today – Gardiner Haskins Homecentre. The new company built on the strengths of each of its parts, and the retail side of the business grew so rapidly that by 1979 another branch had opened in Cirencester.

As well as having a good business head, Gardiner Haskins Homecentre has a big heart. Many employees at all levels are long serving members of staff, and that’s because the company appreciates individual talent and knows how to nurture it successfully. Some of the men who started as shop boys 30 years ago are now managers, and because of this they know exactly how to get the best out of their team – after all, they’ve been there themselves.

This loyalty extends to the customers on the shop floor, who return time and time again because they know they will find familiar faces ready to provide them with expert advice on anything they need to know – from choosing a new bathroom suite, to finding the most economical washing machine, or just selecting the finest ales from the extensive cellar hidden away under on the lower floor of the building. Whatever you came in looking for, you’ll find it and more at Gardiners.

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Recent years have seen the company withstand changing retail trends, such as the rise of online shopping, and our recent recession, so in 2015, 190 years after its humble beginnings, Gardiner Haskins Homecentre faces the future with confidence. It remains committed to providing its customers with the same excellent choice, price and advice it always has, and as we’ve seen, it’s a formula that works.

From Saturday 28 March – Sunday 31 May, Gardiner Haskins Homecentre is holding a number of exciting events to celebrate its 190th birthday. There will be a period home appliance display in the store, which will see historic items that would have been sold in the shop return to rub shoulders with their modern counterparts. A lot of these items are now housed in Bristol City Museum, so it’ll be good to see them back on the shop floor one last time.

Running concurrently is the fun ‘Post a Selfie’ competition, which invites shoppers young and old to find one of the 15 collectable Gromit characters dotted around the store and take a picture with it. You can then post your pic on to the Gardiner Haskins Facebook page to be in with the chance of winning your very own Gromit to take home.

Remember to tag it #GardinerSelfie! n Gardiner Haskins, Straight Street, BS2 0JP. For more information and opening times, tel: 0117 929 2288 or visit the brand new website at: www.gardinerhaskins.co.uk

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Main image: the precision instruments crafted by Gardiners staff for Brunel; above: the old logo dating back to the 1870s; left and below: Gardiner Haskins as it looks today

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FOOD | AND DRINK

WINING & DINING news and reviews Chocolate heaven

Foodie news

Josh Eggleton opens Salt & Malt

■ Brainchild of the Eggleton family, Salt & Malt is a tearoom and fish cafe, aptly set on the waters edge of Chew Valley Lake. It is Michelin starred chef Josh Eggleton’s second venture in Bristol’s picturesque countryside: “I’ve always loved fish and chips as it’s where I started – my first job was in a chippy when I was 15. My father and I wanted to create something new, but also traditional, which is exactly what Salt & Malt represents. It’s fish and chips, but with a focus on quality ingredients, fresh dining and sustainability.

Everything is handmade on site, and fresh fish delivered daily from Cornwall.” So why not pop in to the family-friendly, down to earth cafe for a bite? Salt & Malt, Wally Lane, Chew Stoke, BS40 8TF. Tel: 01275 333 345 or visit: www.saltmalt.com

Taste Chocolate? Don’t mind if I do. Wait, it’s the name of a whole festival devoted to chocolate? That sounds far too good to miss.

On Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 April, the south west’s best chocolate producers and artisans will take centre stage at Brunel Square and the Great Eastern Hall on the harbourside. You can immerse yourself in all things chocolately at this free event – watch chocolatiers create tantalising sweets in the Taste Chocolate cookery theatre, and then devour some truly scrumptious treats yourself. And while you’re there, you’ll have the chance to learn more about the city’s rich chocolate history. For full details visit: www.tastechocolate.co.uk

Aquila

It’s time to start thinking about...

Bristol’s unique, citywide food event, Food Connections, which is taking place from Friday 1 – Saturday 9 May. Organised with support from First Great Western, the event aims to help people connect with good food by offering inspiration and experiences to change the way we think and eat.

Kicking off with the BBC Food and Farming Awards on Thursday 30 April, celebrity chefs like Cyrus Todiwala, Richard Corrigan and Angela Hartnett will be in town to celebrate the best of British food and the people who grow, make and supply it. Events to inspire people to ‘get cooking’ will take place in demo kithcens around the city, with star names such as Rick Stein, Sophie Grigson and Thomasina Miers. For more information visit: www.bristolfoodconnections.com

Eat Drink Bristol Fashion Steak of the Art

■ Combining great food with gorgeous art, Steak of the Art has proved very popular with the foodies and art enthusiasts of Bristol. Owner Steve Bowen, a trained chef himself, said: “Since opening in Bristol, we have grown a steady base of repeat customers as well as attracting people who are just visiting the city. It goes to show that providing simple but quality food with friendly and excellent service is a winning formula. The best critics are by far your customers, and it seems the people of Bristol like what we’re doing here.” Key to the restaurant’s success is the provenance of the food served – all steak comes from Warson’s farm in Devon, the fish is supplied from Fish for Thought in Cornwall, and the beer is from The Bristol Beer Factory – you don’t get more local than that! Steak of the Art, Cathedral Walk, BS1 5LN. Tel: 0117 929 7967 or visit: www.steakoftheart.co.uk

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The culinary delight that is Eat Drink Bristol Fashion returns to Queen Square from Wednesday 29 April – Sunday 10 May. As well as an array of tempting food stalls there will be bars, music stages, a tapas restaurant and a food market, all designed to showcase independent and locally sourced produce. For more information visit: www.eatdrinkbristolfashion.co.uk n

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MICHELIN STAR QUALITY Casamia, 38 High Street, Westbury Village, BS9 3DZ. Tel: 0117 959 2884 or visit: www.casamiarestaurant.co.uk

REVIEW

Images © John Arandhara-Blackwell

Jenny Hayes finds diners’ paradise in Westbury-on-Trym

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o say that my friend and I were excited as we set off down Westbury High Street in search of Casamia, the Michelin star restaurant of Bristol brothers Jonray and Peter Sanchez-Iglesias, would be a whopping understatement. Effervescent, would perhaps better capture our high-spirits, for we were veritably bubbling over with anticipation. And could you blame us? After all, it’s not every day you get to dine in a renowned establishment run by two extremely talented, and rather dashing, celebrity chefs.

Yet when we turned off the main strip and began our walk up the walled passageway that leads to the restaurant, a distinct feeling of calm fell upon us.

Although only metres away from the hubbub of the village, we suddenly felt a million miles from the outside world. Perhaps it was something about the unassuming nature of this entrance, perhaps it was the view of the church spire against the clear blue sky in the backdrop, but something about the space felt almost reverential and instilled in us a distinct sense of tranquillity.

This paired-back, minimal feel was echoed inside, with interior design that changes to reflect the seasonal menu being served. We entered a winter wonderland, with walls as crisp and white as freshly fallen snow, and thick cotton tablecloths and napkins to match. Chunky candles glowed at the centre of each table and soft golden lights threw warm illuminations round the room like the gentle rays of a winter sun, eliciting the occasional cheeky glint from the wine and spirit bottles that lined a far wall.

At the end of the dining room, completing this harmonious scene, was an open area where diners could watch a group of young chefs focused on their work. They looked happy, relaxed, and like they loved what they were doing.

I felt safe in the knowledge that food prepared with that level of care, courtesy and joy was going to taste very good indeed.

Another understatement. The meal that followed was superlative – each and every one of the 12 courses carefully designed to ignite and delight all the senses. Individually and collectively they transported me on a journey that both evoked vivid memories, and created many new ones. And I’ve picked three to tell you about that will certainly pique your appetite.

Because I adore fish, I thought I’d start with the brown trout and cabbage that was dish number three on the winter menu. It was mind-blowingly beautiful. A brash slash of powdered cabbage made a bright visual splash that transformed the plate into a bold piece of modern art. Beneath this was a layer of wilted, iron green cabbage that blanketed the pale pink flesh of the trout, which in turn succumbed to a delicate layer of creamed cabbage. It was earth and sea in their rawest forms, fused together to create something glorious.

And I’ll never think of cabbage as a boring vegetable again.

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This was followed directly by a course so good it warranted a sequel – fallow deer and parsnips. Part one was spectacular, appearing as it did in a smokey haze that carried with it the scent of bonfires blazing in the cold winter air. This marvellously evocative smell was the result of the bed of hay, set alight to infuse the fallow deer morsels that lay upon it. These were served with hay mayonnaise, which picked up where the sight and smell of the smoking hay left off and carried a slightly burnt, bitter flavour right into the mouth, along with a creamy nuttiness and a hint of aniseed which allied with the other components to create an incredibly imaginative complement to the rich, meaty deer. The result was a dish that warmed the heart, and lingered like the wonderful scent of woodsmoke on the palatte.

Part two was no less epic. The star on the plate was a piece of deer cooked to perfection, its enjoyably buoyant texture snagging pleasingly on the teeth before yielding. And the parsnip was extremely strong in its supporting role, adopting a variety of guises including a silky smooth puree, parsnip crisps that snapped and crackled, roast parsnips so fluffy inside you could see the fibres unfurl on your fork, and pickled slivers with a slightly acidic sharpness that proved a perfect foil for the deep, dense flavours of the fruity game. And all these goodies were caressed by a lip-smackingly seductive, sumptuously shiny, velvet sauce that was dark, intense… and delicious.

Sitting at the opposite end of the scale to this wonderfully earthy main, was one of the most fabulously frivolous desserts I’ve ever had the pleasure to eat.

The unashamedly pink variation of rhubarb spoke straight to the little girl in me that once wanted to be a princess. It was the last thing I’d have expected to come out of a kitchen headed up by two men, and I loved the fact that it did. The centrepiece was a quenelle of bright pink rhubarb sorbet with a drizzle of white chocolate laced over the top. Beneath it sat a joyously bouncy jelly that made the my inner child crow with laughter, in which nestled ginger and juniper shards that sparkled like glass. Dehydrated rhubarb strips so thin they were almost transparent dissolved on my tongue with a defiant burst of flavour that defied their delicacy, while the sour crunch of rhubarb stem added a distinctly adult twist. It looked like something you’d serve at a fairy feast, and tasted equally magical.

This dish was the final piece in a culinary jigsaw puzzle that encapsulated the spirit of Casamia. The complete picture was one of ingenious creativity, bold and daring flavours, striking visual effects and marvellous attention to detail, all served with a dash of the humour that defines the brothers’ gloriously unpretentious approach to fine dining. I can’t wait to come back for spring, summer and autumn. n The spring lunch menu is £68. Wine is available by the glass, or opt for an accompanying wine flight for £60.

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THE WINE COLUMN Angela Mount, wine and food critic asks: ‘Do wine recommendations matter?’

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ost days of the week, when I pick up my children from school, one mother or another asks me which wine to buy for the weekend, or to match what they are planning to cook. We are a nation of wine lovers, with wine sales now bigger than beer, but there’s still a huge amount of uncertainty, and insecurity about choosing the right wine. Many of us just stick to what we know; others would love to know just that little bit more, but are afraid to ask. Wine awards and press recommendations from wine writers give confused wine lovers the chance to choose something new, or different, secure that the wine in question, comes highly recommended. It’s no different from other recommendations from restaurant reviews, to car choices – we need endorsement and reassurance in what we purchase. Simple but true.

Leading wine merchant, Great Western Wine is pretty good at picking up awards; voted South West Wine Merchant of the Year by the world’s leading wine competition, the International Wine Challenge, it’s easy to see why – its quirky, treasure trove of a shop is packed to the rafters with award winners, which are all available online. It’s relatively easy to find expensive wines with row upon row of medals; but it’s very clever to find wines that get the thumbs up from the experts, which are around the £10 mark or under.

To kick off a series of wine features, they’ve put together a mix of spring wines, all of which have grabbed the attention of national and international critics. The prices I quote here, are the normal shop prices – the price they are charging for their first foray with The Bristol Magazine is nothing short of insane; snap them up while you can!

First up is the passion fruitinfused, vibrant Yealands Estate Sauvignon blanc 2013 (£11.95) – From the world’s leading carbon-zero winery, in New Zealand’s famous Marlborough region, this is a multi-award-winning, tangy delight, which knocks spots off the big brands. Mouthwateringly fresh, it’s packed with pink grapefruit and lime zest flavours – impossible to resist, once you’ve tasted it’s citrussy charms. It’s a match made in heaven with goats cheese salad, and thai prawn curry, and spot on with good old fish and chips.

Staying with the fresh, crisp white wine theme, if you prefer a crisp, zingy, but slightly more delicate style of white, venture into Spanish territory, with the Marques de Riscal Rueda Blanco 2013 ( £9.95) – winner of an International Wine Challenge Bronze medal, it’s a delicious fusion of Granny Smith and lemon zest, made from the delightful Spanish Verdejo grape.

Bright as a button, crisp, and citrusy, yet elegantly restrained, it’s ideal with just about any seafood dish.

Up next, two of my own personal favourite reds, both great for spring. Firstly, Cotes du Ventoux Les Boudalles, Domaines Brusset 2013 (£9.95) – this is simply one of the best, and one of the best value Southern Rhone reds I have ever come across. It’s soft, it’s perfumed, it entices, it enchants.

Full of easy-going, smooth blackberry and red berry flavours, it has a velvety softness. It’s my go-to wine for spring lamb, or platters of charcuterie and cheese.

Finally, a gloriously rich, decadent Chilean Syrah – but not just any Chilean Syrah. Vina Falernia Syrah 2012 (£8.95) has a story.

It’s produced about 400 miles north of the rest of the Chilean wineries, in desert-like conditions. It’s made by an obsessed, charming, slightly mad Italian winemaker, who gave up the sophistication of northern Italy for a home in the desertland of northern Chile. Scooping up awards all over the world, it’s a glorious, opulent, rich red, full of broodingly dark fruit, rich spice, a sprinkling of mocha and a dusting of black pepper.

Look no further for the perfect red for that hesitant first barbecue, or for the best value Sunday roast red, you’ll come across. n

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WHAT’S | NEW

Something to sing about St George’s Bristol has secured initial support for a £750,200 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) as part of its ‘Building a Sound Future’ appeal – a £5.5 million capital project to reconfigure and extend the world class music venue. This new funding award takes the total raised so far to £3,500,000, and will be used specifically to preserve, record and widen access to both the physical and cultural heritage of this stunning Georgian, Grade II listed venue, which is world renowned for its musical acoustics. Patel Taylor are the awardwinning architects designing the bold new contemporary glass and stone extension.

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Community choir and orchestra group Out There Music hosted a fantastic Winter Concert at St George’s on Sunday 8 February. Audiences were wowed by performances by the Bristol community choirs, chamber choir and chamber orchestra, and absolutely delighted by the children’s choir and their charming rendition of Singin’ in the Rain – complete with umbrellas.

Other highlights on the programme were music from Swan Lake, the William Tell Overture and Eric Whitacre, and songs such as Can't Take My Eyes Off You and Something Inside So Strong (complete with GloSticks for the audience to wave). All profits on the night went to local charity Changing Tunes. www.outtheremusicbristol.co.uk

■ The team at local car dealership Wessex Garages raised £2,803 in 2014 for Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal, which fundraises for Bristol Children’s Hospital and the Special Care Baby Unit at St Michael’s Hospital. Terry Thurgood, general manager of Wessex Garages, explained: “Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal was our chosen charity of the year for 2014 and we’re thrilled to have been able to donate £2,803 to its cause. The money was raised in a number of ways from a Wallace & Gromit Weekend in the dealership to an eight hour, static, cycle challenge.

We would like to thank our staff and customers for helping us raise this fantastic amount of money for the charity during the past year, and look forward to supporting another local charity in 2015.” Wessex Garages, tel: 0117 244 9210 or visit: www.wessexgarages.com. For more information about Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal, visit: www.grandappeal.org.uk

Pedal power ■ A 71 strong team are set to cycle 430km to Paris in just four days this spring with the goal of raising £100,000 for Above & Beyond’s Golden Gift Appeal. They will set off on Friday 1 May and every penny they raise will make a difference to patients in our city. Those taking part range from Bristol business people like John Hirst of Destination Bristol, Jonnie GalvinWright of Stuff Advertising and Sue Atkinson of Ardent Communications, © JonCraig.co.uk to senior doctors and managers from University Hospitals Bristol such as divisional director of diagnostics Fiona Jones, heptalogy consultant Jim Portal and paediatric ED consultant Anne Frampton. The money will fund a new individual room in the BRI that aims to give younger patients with life-limiting cystic fibrosis greater privacy and dignity in care.

Are you feeling inspired to pedal for patients in our city? Sign up for Above & Beyond’s May 2016 Bristol to Paris Cycle Challenge at: www.aboveandbeyond.org.uk/cycle. For more information about the Golden Gift Appeal, visit: www.goldengiftappeal.org.uk

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This Easter, Bradbury’s Bristol invites you to join them for a fun, family cooking experience with Little Kitchen Cookery School. On Wednesday 1 April, come along with your children and learn to make Pad Thai – a traditional and delicious noodle dish – at the Bristol showroom. And while you’re there, you’ll also pick up some tp kitchen and hygiene skills. The class runs from 11am – 12pm and is £10 per child, which includes tuition, high-quality ingredients, and provision of equipment and an apron during the session. To book please call Bradbury’s Bristol on tel: 0117 941 4179. Bradbury’s, 1 Bond Street South, Cabot Circus, BS1 3EN. For more details visit: www.bradburysltd.co.uk

Seven Up ■ Young, Bristol based events professionals Thea Wise and Tom Wilshire have been working on projects together for the past five years. South West 7s is their latest venture, and is set to be the biggest sport and music festival to ever have hit the south west. With the help of latest recruits and interns Cat Manaei and Liam Salvage, the team together look forward to producing what is shaping up to be one fantastic event. Taking place from Friday 19 – Sunday 21 June, SW7s festival will open its doors to over three and a half thousand guests for a weekend of sport, music and true festival vibes… and if you want to do it in style, there will be a top-notch VIP area featuring its own exclusive bar, chill out zone, band and DJ performances, and a silent disco until 3am. So if you like rugby, and you like festivals, what are you waiting for? Get your ticket booked asap! For more information or to book tickets, visit: www.southwest7s.co.uk

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A DV E RTO R I A L F E AT U R E

Divorce: A Challenge to Face – Not a War to Win

By Richard Sharp, Sharp Family Law - Bath & Bristol Divorce Solicitors.

Producing Resolution not Prolonging Conflict

F

acing a divorce is hard. Its mentally and physically taxing. You don’t sleep.

You don’t eat. You worry about how life is going to be in the future, yet are stuck in the present needing to sort through it all – and then what about the kids, the house, the mortgage, the friends and family – It can be all too overwhelming, and it’s tough. Or, maybe you are just so done.

Just when you don’t want to deal with your spouse and talk about the future, its exactly what has to happen. And that is not the only negative aspect of the situation. Maybe you have been completely blindsided by the decision of your spouse to end the relationship. Maybe you have been fighting for a long time. Maybe you’ve talked for hours and got nowhere, and the fear is you will never agree on anything.

And then the divorce process can appear only to aggravate everything, creating division and increasing your pain, fears and frustrations. This is a vulnerable time. The end of a personal relationship can be the beginning of traumatic and unfamiliar emotional feelings, financial changes and legal processes. New ways to communicate and interact may need to be learnt, to work though the care of children, to decide on how to pay bills and how to reorganise and allocate things.

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• Successfully adjust to the realities of their new situation, • Reach agreeable financial settlements and child centred family solutions, • Preserve relationships and move on with their lives.

By exploring and using solution orientated processes like Collaborative Practice, Family Mediation or Constructive Negotiation, separating and divorcing couples can find, tailor and produce an outcome that would work for them and their family after a separation or divorce.

To help achieve that outcome, the specialist family law solicitors and mediators at Sharp family law work to ensure that every client feels heard, maintains their respect and dignity in difficult times, are empowered and educated on all process options, and can make informed decisions for themselves and their families.

By working in collaboration with a team of experts that include Financial Planners, Child Specialists, and Divorce Therapists, we are also able to help clients work through the emotional, financial as well as the legal aspects of the challenge they face.

There may not be an alternative to divorce but the way you divorce and react to it may be your choice.

For more information on the choices available to you, contact Richard Sharp on 01225 448955 or email him at richard@sharpfamilylaw.com

Richard Sharp

sharp F A M I LY L A W Sharp Family Law: Broad Quay House, Prince St, Bristol, BS1 4DJ email: info@sharpfamilylaw.com m: 07798606740 t: 01225 448955 website: www.sharpfamilylaw.com

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The new law of Inheritance Progress, but not enough

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he law of inheritance in England and Wales has changed significantly with effect from 1 October 2014 as the “Inheritance and Trustees’ Powers Act 2014” comes into force. The changes are in the writer’s view generally for the good, though much more could have been done to update and improve the current rules.

Inheritance by spouses Firstly, the good news. The majority of married couples we advise wish their estate to pass to each other on the first death. Provision for other relatives is most commonly made on the death of the second of the couple to die. The “intestacy laws” which apply where no valid Will is left, now more closely reflect this.

Where a person dies leaving a spouse but no children or grandchildren, the whole of their estate passes to the surviving husband or wife. Before the new law came into effect, the first £450,000 was passed to the spouse in these circumstances, and the balance would be shared with other relatives.

The position where a spouse and children survive the deceased person has improved, but more could have been done. Where an estate of more than £250,000 is left, the spouse will receive the first £250,000 (and the deceased’s personal belongings), and the spouse and children will share the balance. Any minor children will receive their share at the age of 18. It is arguable that children being entitled to receive potentially large sums at the age of 18 is unwise and unhelpful.

The law has been updated to a degree however, compared to the previous position. Under the old law a spouse received a “life interest” in half of the estate over £250,000. Essentially the spouse received the income from this part, with the capital passing to the children on the second death. This unnecessary complexity has been removed.

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To subscribe just send a cheque payable to MC Publishing Ltd G8, Bristol and Exeter House, Temple Gate, Bristol BS1 6QS or Telephone 0117 974 2800 for card payment

No provision for unmarried couples The new law disappoints in its failure to improve the position of unmarried couples. An unmarried partner will receive no share of an estate on their partner’s death, whether or not the couple have children, and however long they have lived together. Even if a couple have lived together for 20 years and have several children together, the deceased is treated as a single person, and the partner receives nothing.

A court can be asked to award a share of the estate to the partner in these circumstances. However, embarking on such litigation is likely to be costly and stressful, and the outcome will be uncertain.

It remains vital for unmarried couples in particular to ensure that a valid Will is in place at the time of death, and not to rely on automatic provision being made by law.

The 2014 Act does update the law of inheritance to a degree, but the law inevitably fails to keep pace with the variety and complexity of modern day families.

AMD Solicitors’ Private Client Department includes full members of “STEP”, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, the leading awarder of specialist accreditation in this field. For advice on wills, trusts, the administration of deceased estates and all private client issues contact Claire Nelson or another member of the team on 0117 9621205, email probate@amdsolicitors.com or call into one of our four Bristol offices

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MOTORING | TEST DRIVE GARDENING

The Abarth 50th Anniversario pictured in Corn Street, Bristol. Š Photograph by TBM. Special thanks to San Carlo Restaurant.

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MOTORING | TEST DRIVE

THE ITALIAN JOB Full of passion, pleasure and all the luxuries normally lavished on big super-cars, Dara Foley enjoys la dolce vita with a test drive in Italy’s hottest little motorcar, the Abarth (pronounced ‘Arrh Bart’)

I

t all began in the early 50s when Karl Abarth, an Austrian born Italian motorcycle champion and talented engine-tuner, was asked by Fiat to join their specialist motor racing team in Turin and add performance modifications to their cars. Famously, Abarth not only changed his nationality to Italian and became Carlo, he re-bored the engine capacity on the original 1957 Fiat 500 from 499cc to 689cc, boosting the power output of the iconic little car into a full-on racing legend. So successful were the Abarth versions throughout the 50s and 60s, Fiat bought the Abarth name in 1971 and established it as their official racing brand based at the historic Mirafiore plant near Turin. Ever since then, the fiery Scorpion logo has become synonymous as the stand-alone badge for all specially modified Fiats.

Carlo Abarth died in 1979, but (like Enzo Ferrari) his legacy lives on and is cherished under the ownership of Fiat.

Since 2007 the ubiquitous Fiat 500 has enjoyed a huge demand, selling well over 1 million cars, and Abarth has once again provided the inspiration to re-engineer the current model. In a world of slick marketing and superbrands, big-car one-upmanship is prevalent, but where Fiat have been really smart is by establishing Abarth as a separate and highly covetable name bringing interest and desire for the smaller car.

So how does the cutest conventional everyday car in the world turn into a full-on exhilarating ride packed with performance and superior handling?

Firstly, the beauty of the standard Abarth is that a 1.4 litre, 16v turbo-charged engine produces nearly 140 bhp and is capable of hurling the 500 to 60mph in under eight seconds and then on to a top speed of 128mph. The result of such power when assisted by the low weight ratio is a scampishly quick drive.

There’s remarkable handling too, in typical Italian racing style, the suspension has also been firmed up significantly to increase composure when cornering and in particular, the TTC (torque transfer system) can detect wheel spin and slows the wheel that has lost traction, transferring torque to the other wheels for incredible grip and balance. The effect is sublime; allowing smooth acceleration out of junctions and eliminating understeer through tight corners.

On top of that, if you want to liven things up a little more there’s even a sport mode. Thankfully, and essentially, the braking system has also been upgraded for more controlled and secure braking… All this, and more, is packed into the entry level model with prices starting at £14,560.

While the current Abarth 500 line up has enjoyed incredible popularity, with strong sales in northern Europe, Japan, China and the UK, Abarth like to keep their fans really interested by adding even more ‘super-car’ to the standard range with two more powerful variants available: a 595 Turismo and a 595 Competizione. Both 595 models have a blistering 160-horsepower, turbocharged 1.4 litre petrol engine; with the Turismo (starting at £17,990) enjoying tinted rear windows, upgrade dampers, full air-con, plush leather upholstery, red brake callipers, and 17 inch alloy wheels, as well as special trim selection. And for £1000 extra; the 595 Competizione adds even more gusto with a sportier set up and styling – the specially designed Record Monza exhaust by Magneti Marelli is a masterpiece, sounding powerful and agressive

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it is a real thrill for the senses. At full pelt it roars deeply, but drop down a cog and it’ll pop and crackle just like its Ferrari relative.

All 500s and 595s are available in convertible versions, and there’s a wide choice of add-on options which will bump up the price, such as the MTA semi-automatic gearbox with paddle shifts on the steering wheel.

For the main attraction though, Abarth have also been producing limitededition speciality cars which showcase the passion and legend of the brand.

In earlier limited forms we have seen the Esseesse and Tributo Ferrari, but the current range is topped by three trophy versions; a chic convertible 695 Edizione Maserati – all the power of Abarth combined with Maserati elegance – from £33,500; a beautifully fitted 50th Anniversario edition (our test car as shown), celebrating 50 years of the spirit of Abarth – yours for a shade under £30,000); and this year, making all the headlines, Abarth have just added the 695 Biposto. The Biposto is perhaps the most macho, insane, little super-car ever. Capable of producing 190hp, it’ll easily reach 62mph in under 6 seconds and will deliver a top speed of 143 mph. It weighs in at under 1000kg – courtesy of having the back seats taken out, and features some very specialist performance accessories such as a carbon trim, titanium roll cage, a quick-shifting ‘dog-ring’ sequential manual gearbox, and even polycarbonate windows, it’s a racer’s dream with prices starting at £32,955 but for a real enthusiasts, who will want all the fun and extras, the price will quickly add up to around £50,000. Aimed at the sporty playboy – Abarth’s marketing team have dubbed this their ‘Black Tie Racer’. Sophisticated technology, engineering and ice-cool styling – yes, but the Biposto is probably best described as a street-legal race car. Oh, and it’s only available in a matt, gunmetal grey.

These limited special editions are hand assembled and finished by the Abarth technicians in Italy rather than on the Polish production line.

While enthusiasts, collectors and crazy playboys will be hyperventilating with excitement over the designer upgrades, it strikes me that the regular 500 and 595s are really great cars: fun, capable and highly desirable, and with the added kudos of all that luxury, small cars are becoming a big, big thing. n For further information contact: Wessex Garages, Feeder Road, Bristol, BS2 OSB. Tel: 0843 247 3178 or visit: www.wessexgarages.com or www.abarthcars.co.uk

THE BRISTOL ITALIAN AUTOMOTO FESTIVAL Local Abarth dealership Wessex Garages will be displaying a 695 Biposto at the BIAMF – Bristol Italian AutoMoto Festival – which takes place in Corn Street on Saturday, April 25th.

For over 12 years the BIAMF is one of the highlights of the Italian motoring calendar, as the historic centre of Bristol is transformed into a little corner of Italy and is filled with hundreds of Italian cars and motorcycles. A great day out.

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FAMILY | WHAT’S ON

ACTIVITY PLANNER There’s lots of fun to be had by all the family over the Easter holidays Go Aloft! at the SS Great Britain

Cheetahs at Wild Place Project

Cheetah Chase, Wild Place Project, ongoing from March

Bubble Blast, At-Bristol, Harbourside, Saturday 28 March – Sunday 10 May

A coalition of cheetahs have arrived at the Wild Place Project, and are now settled in their new immersive Mahali Pori (wild place) National Park habitat. This new home boasts exciting features such as lures that carry food for the cheetahs to chase, so that you can see them in their full running capacity. And for an animal capable of doing 0 – 60 mph in only 3 seconds, that’s pretty impressive! Tickets: £7.75 adult, £6.25 child. For more information tel: 0117 980 7175 or visit: www.wildplace.org.uk

Investigate the science of bubbles as they float, pop or burst into flames in At-Bristol’s latest live science show. Mess with mixtures to make the perfect bubble, encounter bubbles that you certainly wouldn’t want in your bath, and experiment with chemistry to create bubbles with some surprising properties. Regular shows at weekends and daily during the Easter holidays.

Free with standard admission. For more information tel: 0845 345 1235 or visit: www.atbristol.org.uk

Two, Four, Six, Eight! Tobacco Factory Theatre, Monday 30 March – Thursday 2 April, 11am & 2pm

Go Aloft! Brunel’s SS Great Britain, from Saturday 28 March

Using music, balloons and too much wrapping paper, Shoofly Theatre shows how fun numbers can be with your friends. Craig has been invited to his best friend’s Birthday Party. There is an invitation to read, presents to wrap and cakes to buy. Who will explain the rules of Musical Chairs?

Will there be enough balloons? A delightful show for 4 – 7 year olds. Tickets: £7, from the box office on tel: 0117 902 0344 or visit: www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Step into the shoes of a Victorian sailor and climb the rigging of the SS Great Britain for a unique and breathtaking view of Bristol. You’ll have the luxury of being strapped into a harness and you will be briefed by a Topman on the Weather Deck, before you ascend the rigging to a viewing platform at over 30m above ground level. From there, if you're brave enough, you can step out onto the main yard, taking you 9m out across the ship below, before returning to solid ground. For those who would prefer to keep their feet firmly

FOOD FOR THOUGHT...

Victor the Vegetarian Vampire

by Rachel Adams Poor Victor doesn’t seem to ‘fit in’ in his world. He would rather watch gardening programmes than scary horror movies, and isn’t keen on blood, even when his mother, Evelina, orders it on-line from Veinsbury’s.

Little by little, Viktor manages to turn his life around from being a lonely outsider to becoming the most popular young vampire in his school. But things really take off when he meets a human girl, Maggie, who feels as lonely as he did.

This is the latest book by local author Rachel Adams.

Having spent 30 years as a teacher in Bristol schools, she knows a thing or two about making children think in an entertaining way, and this book is typically thought-provoking, gripping... and funny.

Available from Amazon as a Kindle e-Book, priced £2.

Visit: www.amazon.co.uk

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Room on the Broom at Bristol Old Vic

on the deck below, there will be volunteers dressed as 19th century sailors on hand to bring the crew’s stories to life. Tickets: £10 (additional to entry price). For more information tel: 0117 926 0680 or visit: www.ssgreatbritain.org

Room on the Broom, Bristol Old Vic, Tuesday 31 March – Thursday 2 April, times vary Tall Stories’ magical musical stage adaptation of the beautiful children’s book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The witch and her cat are flying happily along on their broomstick when a stormy wind blows the witch’s hat, bow and wand away into the night. A helpful dog, bird and frog find the witch’s lost things and all hop on the broom for a ride. But this broomstick's not meant for five and – crack! – it snaps in two. When a hungry dragon appears, who will save the poor witch? And will there ever be room on the broom for everyone? Tickets: £12.50, family £45, from the box office on tel: 0117 987 7877 or visit: www.bristololdvic.org.uk

Alien Tours, At-Bristol, Harbourside, Monday 30 March – Sunday 12 April The aliens have landed in At-Bristol, and you’re one of them! Dress up in alien costumes and follow the robot tour guide around the At-Bristol exhibition to learn about the bizarre species known as ‘humanity’ and the strange world they inhabit through the eye of visitors from another world. Tickets: £2.50 adults, £1.50 children, in addition to standard admission. For more information tel: 0845 345 1235 or visit: www.atbristol.org.uk

Mr Gotalot’s Shop, Kelvin Players Studio, Gloucester Road, Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 April, 11am & 3pm New local theatre company Monkey Trousers Theatre are dedicated to bringing more format theatre to children in the south west. It kicks off this initiative with Mr Gotalot’s Shop, which takes children aged 3 – 9 on a heroic comedy adventure. Step inside the magical Gotalot Shop where you can buy anything and everything, and meet the friendly shopkeeper Mr Gotalot, who is aided by the ever-eager shop boy Sidney. Will they be able to provide their customers with what they need before the conniving landlady Ms Barnet

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Soil Special, At-Bristol

arrives to collect her rent? Tickets: £7 for ages 3+, £25 for a family of four. For more information email: monkeytrouserstheatre@gmail.com or visit: www.monkeytrouserstheatre.com

Sea Hear Storytelling, SS Great Britain, Tuesday 7 April, 11am The ship’s resident storyteller Sarah Mooney captivates the imaginations of young and not so young visitors with her every word. Her sessions mix original tales with new twists on classic legends. And children can join in the action with stories of whales and angel fish, pirate treasure and stormy seas – perfect for sparking their imaginations... and tiring them out. Admission is free and there’s no need to book – just turn up with your pre-school little ones and settle down for some maritime tales. For more information tel: 0117 926 0680 or visit: www.ssgreatbritain.org

Meet the Expert: Soil Special with Ben Raskin, At-Bristol, Harbourside, Tuesday 7 April Delve into the secret life of soil. Get your hands dirty as you test different soils, discover what ingredients make up soil and take a closer look at what lives in your garden soil at home. At-Bristol expert, Ben Raskin, is head of horticulture at the Soil Association and author of Compost: A family guide to making soil from scraps. Entrance is free with standard admission. For more information tel: 0845 345 1235 or visit: www.at-bristol.org.uk

Crafty Cathedral, Bristol Cathedral, Wednesday 8 April, 10am – 3pm A fun day for children and families to get arty and crafty within the beautiful and inspiring venue that is Bristol Cathedral. Tour guides will also be

A Scribble of Illustrators at Centrespace

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Brilliant Birds on the Downs

on hand to help people explore the Cathedral and find out more about its 900 years of history. A fascinating and fun day out for everyone in the family. Free admission. For more information tel: 0117 926 4879 or visit: www.bristol-cathedral.co.uk

Brilliant Birds Family Walk, the Downs, Sunday 26 April, 8am – 9.30am Hop along to the Downs for a bird spotting walk with Ed Drewitt. Find out about the birds that make this area their home, including the super speedy peregrine falcons (the fastest birds in the world!) which nest in the Avon Gorge. Event run by the Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project and aimed at families with children aged 5 – 11.

Tickets: £4 per person. Booking essential. For more information tel: 0117 903 0609 email: Mandy Leivers, Education Officer for the Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project, at: mleivers@bristolzoo.org.uk, or visit: www.avongorge.org.uk

A Scribble of Illustrators, Centrespace Gallery, Friday 1 – Thursday 7 May, 11am – 5pm Eleven of the west-country’s finest children’s authors and illustrators are coming together in a collective ‘scribble’. The aim is to show of their diverse range of techniques and skills, as well as hosting a variety of family events, readings and workshops over the bank holiday weekend. In addition to exhibiting work from past, present and future publishing triumphs, each of the illustrators will be creating a new artwork for the show, illustrating one of their favourite collective nouns. A tishoo of sneezes? A charm of finches?

Who knows, there might even be a beautification of spatulas. Come along and find out. For more information, visit: www.centrespacegallery.com

SUMMER STAYCATION

Emberfeast yurt holiday, Embercombe, Monday 24 – Friday 28 August Celebrate summer as a family with a four night stay in one of Embercombe’s warm, comfortable yurts, which come complete with stove and a plentiful supply of wood should it get chilly when the sun goes down.

By day, there’ll be plenty to occupy adults and children of all ages, including hands on workshops where you can learn to pickle produce, preserve fruits, forage for ingredients, make sour dough and bake bread.

Embercombe is dedicated to organising courses and events that help people strengthen their understanding and relationship with the world around us, working together to create a more beautiful place for us all to live.

Yurts are available for up to four people, priced £645 per yurt. The price is inclusive of all meals and activities. For more information or to book, tel: 01647 252 983 or visit: www.embercombe.org

Enjoy a day out at Bristol Cathedral

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Mum, voiceover artist and BBC Radio Bristol presenter, Faye Dicker, meets the Bristol businesses that make family life easier...

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ne of things I love about hearing people’s business stories, is finding out about the spark – the flash of inspiration that brought an idea to life.

For some people it’s just a progression, one job leading to another.

While for others it’s a more obvious gear change, as it was for Julie Cox – founder of Luke Drew This.

A professional actor by trade, it’s an unlikely leap to make from treading the boards to setting up shop – but that’s exactly what she’s done. Inspired by a chalk drawing by her son Luke, it was the moment she looked at his work of art that the seed of an idea was sewn. He was four at the time and had drawn on a small slate board a picture of his dad, complete with distinctive dreadlocks popping out of the top of his head. Like most drawings at that age, there were the stick arms and legs coming out of the side of the large potato head, but it was seeing the dreadlocks that made Julie think “I want to keep that forever.”

Although the drawing was sprayed with hair spray to preserve it and is still cherished today, Julie wanted Luke’s dad to be able to proudly show the world his portrait on a T-shirt. But after looking to see if there was any one offering such a service, she realized there wasn’t – which was when the cogs started whirring.

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If there wasn’t a company that could display your child’s artwork onto clothing, then she’d just have to start one. And there it was – a business seed sewn and a business idea born.

For me, one of the things I love about Luke Drew This is that, by the very nature of children’s drawings, everything really is unique. Not just personalised by a computer stitching a name on, it’s your child’s drawing – with all the bold brush strokes and personality that shines through.

And they don’t all have to be little Picassos.

Last summer Jemima won third prize in the Whitchurch Village Fete for the ‘most colourful painting’ competition. She was two and a half at the time and loved painting, but it was more of a colourful blob than a person. We were so excited to see her work win a prize, that to me it seemed obvious to have it turned into a T-Shirt for her dad’s birthday. There is something beautifully abstract about her bright toddler artwork on a white top. Really, with Luke Drew This, anything goes.

Artwork can be printed on T-shirts, bags or cushions. Better still, the collection is made with organic and fairtrade cotton and printed locally in Bristol. Julie found as soon as she approached printers with her idea they were incredibly supportive. What’s not to love? Looking at children’s artwork is a welcome change.

Like many businesses, Christmas was nothing if a little bonkers for Julie, but it’s not just about special occasions. Only recently she received drawings from two young boys who had drawn pictures of their pet cat who had recently died.

They wanted their artwork turned into cushions, so they could always remember their moggy. And Julie tells me Luke’s latest phase is all about robots, so she’s turned his work into a robot cushion – he loves seeing his art.

For me the thing that I love is it’s one of those business ideas which, just like children’s artwork, has simplistic beauty. Who’d have thought a child’s chalk drawing could inspire his mum’s next venture. What a brilliant story. n For more info about Luke Drew This, visit: www.lukedrewthis.co.uk www.freelancemum.co.uk

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Twelve year old taekwondo champ

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ed Maids’ student Juliette Remillat-Scarpa, age 12, has been selected to represent the UK in the Holland Cup, an international taekwondo event taking place in The Netherlands in April.

This selection comes after a series of high profile wins for Juliette. In September 2014 she won a gold medal in pattern at the national PUMA Kids Championships and in May she won a gold medal in sparring and bronze medal in pattern at the PUMA English Championships.

Juliette started learning taekwondo when she was 7 years old and currently trains four times a week at PUMA Brentry School and Long Ashton School.

Miss Maggs, Director of Sport at The Red Maids’ School said, “Juliette has shown great commitment and discipline to her chosen sport. To represent your country at such a young age is a significant achievement and we wish Juliette the very best of luck.”

Red Maids’ School, Grange Court Road, BS9 4DP. Tel: 0117 962 9451 or visit: www.redmaids.bristol.sch.uk

Getting political When 24 Badminton girls visited the Houses of Parliament, ex pupil Charlotte Leslie MP found time to meet up and tell them a little bit about the historic building, and what life is like as a politician.

The party of girls aged 10 and 11 were taken on a guided tour of Westminster, which included seeing the Speaker’s Procession in the central lobby and listening to a foreign affairs debate in the Commons.

Ms Leslie, who was elected Conservative MP for Bristol North West in 2010 and is defending the seat at the May 2015 general election, spoke to the girls and urged them to work hard at what they enjoyed.

She told them she had known from a young age that she wanted to change things she believed to be wrong.

Year 6 girl Ellie Powell said: “Meeting Charlotte Leslie was inspiring because she showed that she could make a difference.”

Badminton School, Westbury Road, BS9 3BA. Tel: 0117 905 5200 or visit: www.badmintonschool.co.uk

Award for Cotham Schools Minister David Laws wrote to Cotham School last week to congratulate them on winning a £5000 Pupil Premium award. The prize was given in recognition of the school’s successful efforts to improve the attainment of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. Laws stated that is was clear Cotham staff are dedicated to providing disadvantaged pupils with a good start in life, and in doing so preparing them well for their futures. Headteacher Malcolm Willis said the award was “a reflection of the ethos of the school, where all staff share a committment to ensuring that all students achieve to the very best of their abilities.”

Cotham School, Cotham Lawn Road, BS6 6DT. Tel: 0117 919 8000 or visit: www.cotham.bristol.sch.uk

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Exam success at Fairfield Fairfield School in Backwell, North Somerset is celebrating great success for all Year Six pupils who sat entrance examinations for independent senior schools have been offered places at their chosen schools.

Eighteen children from the independent primary school sat a total of 22 entrance exams for Year 7 places, with 100% success. Ten of the children were awarded 14 scholarships, mainly academic, but also in music, sport and the performing arts.

Headmistress Lesley Barton said: “I would like to congratulate the children and the teachers who have helped them develop selfbelief and determination. Our small classes focus on the individual child so that they can each develop and fulfil their considerable potential across all areas of the curriculum.”

Fairfield School, Fairfield Way, Backwell, BS48 3PD. Tel: 01275 462 743 or visit: www.fairfieldschool.org.uk

A team of pupils from Redland High School have won the UK National Future Problem Solving competition and will now represent the United Kingdom at the International Final, held in the USA this summer.

The Future Problem Solving programme, developed in 1973, aims to engage students in creative problem solving. It is a scenario-based competition which develops critical and creative thinking skills through learning an approach to research and critical analysis that is employed by governments and companies around the world.

Mrs Caroline Bateson, headmistress at Redland High, said, “I am delighted that, once again, pupils from Redland High have been successful in winning first place and am sure that they will represent the UK extremely well at the International Conference.”

Redland High, Redland Court, BS6 7EF. Tel: 0117 924 5796 or visit: www.redlandhigh.com

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By Headmistress of Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls, Mrs Caroline Pascoe

Sky’s the limit A real buzz has been created around science and engineering at HMSG – especially thanks to the outstanding success of two of our girls recently.

On March 12, sisters Sky and Kia Ballantyne, aged 12 and 13, were crowned the UK’s Junior Engineers of the Year at The Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair 2015.

The innovative pair won this fantastic recognition for their Crikey Bikey bicycle training harness, which Sky invented as part of a school competition.

Over 200 finalists took part in the event at the NEC in Birmingham, and 75,000 visitors flocked to the venue to enjoy competitors’ projects and science stands filled with hands-on activities.

After setting up their display stand at the weekend-long fair, the girls presented the harness to several judges who visited them throughout the event.

Crikey Bikey began as an entry in HMSG’s annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Challenge a year ago.

After Renishaw plc, who sponsors the prizes, selected Sky’s project as the winner, Kia became involved in developing the product further.

The girls won Best in Show at the regional Big Bang event last July and were nominated to compete in the national finals.

Jason Bradbury, best known for hosting The Gadget Show on Channel 5, presented Kia and Sky with their prize at the NEC and then interviewed them in front of around 1,000 people in the audience.

The Crikey Bikey harness has been patented by the girls, and is now being sold in local toy stores and on the girls’ website.

Science and engineering are not always associated with girls.

But fortunately, here at HMSG we have an innovative science department which is constantly coming up with new ways to make engineering exciting.

Our weekly Science Club allows the girls to take part in activities spanning all three sciences including engineering and robotics.

And our partnership with Renishaw has boosted awareness and created excitement over careers in the field.

Last year, one of our pupils accepted an offer to study chemical engineering at the University of Cambridge, another two have gone on to read engineering at Warwick and Northampton and one is studying electronic engineering in York.

We also have a large number of former pupils studying the sciences at top universities.

Our girls are going on to make a real impact in the world of science, working on medicine and inventions which will change people’s lives – and that really is something to be excited about. *The Schools are now planning to extend their bus route to cover Cribbs Causeway.

For more information, visit habs-monmouth.org, call 01600 710433 for Monmouth School or 01600 711104 for HMSG. WWW.THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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REVIEW

LAP OF LUXURY Sarah Merson enjoys an indulgent weekend at Lucknam Park

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ucknam Park; for me, the name alone conjured up images of stately grandeur, opulence, elegance and, well, some of the finer things in life. So, when the opportunity arose for my husband and I to enjoy an overnight stay at the Relais & Chateaux hotel and spa in the Wiltshire countryside, you can imagine how delighted we were.

On arrival, the glorious tree-lined drive, which stretches for a whole mile and frames the Palladian mansion house at the end of it, was good indication of the splendour that awaited us. Dating back to 1720, the house, magnificent in its buttery Bath stone, is set in 500 acres of gardens and parkland stretching almost as far as the eye can see. We were lucky enough to be arriving on a beautiful day when the sun was splintering through the trees and on to the ponies in the paddocks to one side of the drive. Not only is Lucknam Park a multi award-winning hotel and spa with Michelin-starred dining but it also has it’s very own equestrian centre, hence the ponies, and cookery school to boot.

Entering into the main house, although undeniably opulent, was by no means ostentatious. In fact, as my husband commented, the reception area with comfy leather armchairs flanking the roaring log fire felt more like a private house than a hotel.

Relaxed and welcoming, I knew at once that our time at Lucknam Park was going to be good for the soul.

We were shown to our room, one of 42bedrooms, which turned out to be a suite boasting a huge four-poster bed and very spacious bathroom with a separate sitting room complete with open fire and a balcony to rival that of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, giving wonderful views across the parkland. The bedroom, meanwhile, overlooked the central courtyard.

Donning our robes and slippers we made our way across to the chic, glossy spa, fitted out with a seamless blend of wood, marble and glass. Located behind the main house, in an ancient walled garden, everything about it said ‘retreat from the world and relax’, which is exactly what we did. Managing first of all a few lengths of the 20m indoor pool, we lay back in the adjacent hydrotherapy pool before succumbing to the allure of the outdoor, swimthrough version, which looks on to manicured lawns and beyond that, an arboretum.

Behind the sleek glass façade of the spa, we cossetted ourselves in the series of thermal cabins: first the Japanese salt room then the Amethyst room and finally the aromatic steam. As evening started to fall, the flames of the poolside fire gave the spa the ultimate tranquil ambience. It’s really no wonder that, lying back on a recliner, I felt my book slip from my hands as I nodded off.

Perhaps the most memorable treat for us as a couple though, came later in the evening. Dressing up in our finest attire, we went firstly to the drawing room, with its ceilings that reach to the sky, panelled walls and opulent chandeliers, for pre-dinner drinks. I pondered on what it would have been like for the five different families that owned and lived at Lucknam Park before it became a hotel. Cloth merchants, coffee plantation owners, Victorian squires and hunters have all called this house their home. At the start of World War Two, hundreds of evacuees were housed here before it was transformed into a bustling informal headquarters for airmen from the neighbouring aerodrome. The huge beech and lime trees on the driveway provided the perfect camouflage for the Spitfire and Hurricane planes. As we sipped on champagne, I could almost feel the history seeping from the walls. Feeling really rather sophisticated, as well as very peckish, we made our selections from the à la carte menu and were shown through to the Michelin-starred Park Restaurant.

With limited experience of fine dining restaurants, I had been somewhat apprehensive but The Park, while formal, was filled with the ever-so-slightly hushed chatter of our fellow diners who were clearly all enjoying themselves immensely. We settled down to our first courses; poached Cornish langoustine, potato mousse and Exmoor caviar for me, and roast Scottish diver scallops, carrot purée and spiced pork croquette with raisin and caper vinaigrette for my husband. Lovers of almost anything seafood, both dishes were taste sensations with the obvious flair of a chef who really knows what he’s doing.

Next was our pre-dinner surprise, a mildly zingy, avocado salsa on tomato jelly with goats curd, and then our main courses of grilled Cornish red mullet with glazed obsiblue prawns, Marlborough shiitake, cauliflower and shellfish cream for me, and line-caught sea bass, maple glazed chicken wing, celeriac risotto, chanterelles and confit baby onions for him. Perhaps a product of our 13-year marriage but for some reason we seem to have developed the habit of turning our menu choices into a competition and I can safely say that, while both dishes were splendid, my husband’s eyes did turn slightly green when my delicious red mullet was served. Not only was the dish a feast for the eyes but the delicately flavoured fish was cooked to perfection.

Served a pre-dessert treat of white chocolate lolly, we also somehow managed to polish off desserts of ‘Caraibe’ chocolate bar, salted caramel ice cream, honey roast peanuts and glazed bananas as well as the Madagascan vanilla crème brûlée, mulled blackberries, apple and cinnamon doughnuts. Sweet heaven!

A deep and restful sleep ensued, and then in the morning, a walk in the gardens. We wandered around the traditional English garden with tall sculpted yews and low box hedging framing the herbaceous borders, a rose garden, a herb garden and a nod to the exotic with a tropical garden planted with yuccas, palms and bamboo. It was the sprawling parkland that really stood out for me though, in all its early spring beauty.

After a lazy breakfast enjoyed with the Sunday papers, I went back to the spa for my treatment. My therapist, Siobhan, talked me through my Ila Rainforest Rejuvenation Facial, before indulging my skin and senses. An artisan produced skin care brand, Ila products are completely free of synthetic chemicals and use raw materials from ethical sources. Siobhan applied a face scrub, Amazonian mud mask and then a herbal compress massage to really get the circulation going and encourage cell renewal. There were a few unexpected surprises too, including a foot scrub at the start of the treatment and a lovely hand massage. Evidently a very adept therapist, later I was told that Siobhan recently won Ila’s UK therapist of the year award. The magic she worked on me undoubtedly left my skin feeling softer and visibly brighter.

Lucknam Park is an undeniably beautiful hotel but for me it was the professional and friendly staff that were the real heart and soul of the place.

Not just the award winners like Siobhan, or Michelin-starred executive chef Hywel Jones, but each and every one of them was attentive without being intrusive and all were supremely welcoming, helpful and knowledgeable about all that the hotel had to offer.

It was a deeply restorative, not to mention luxurious break for my husband and me. Next time, maybe we’ll check out a class at the cookery school or go for a ‘saddle and spa’ combination, which includes either dressage or show jumping tuition, as well as a one-hour trek around the estate followed by lunch and a massage. At only 20 miles from Bristol, it’s all just on our doorstep. n

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MY BOOK SLIPPED FROM MY HANDS AS I NODDED OFF

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Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Colerne, Wiltshire. Tel: 01225 742777 or visit: www.lucknampark.co.uk APRIL 2015

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VENICE OF THE WEST This month, Andrew Swift takes us on a challenging walk along the Kennet and Avon Canal

T

his month we catch a train for a walk that starts with an exploration of one of the most scenic stretches of the Kennet & Avon Canal, including its two most impressive aqueducts. After climbing a disused tramway, we follow paths through woods and quarries high above the Avon valley before heading downhill to rejoin the canal and follow it to its junction with the River Avon.

The walk starts at Avoncliff, which has a direct service from Parkway and Temple Meads (ST804600). On leaving the station, turn left alongside the canal to cross an aqueduct over the River Avon. On the far side, drop down to a tunnel under the canal and, once through it, head back across the aqueduct.

● Carry on along the towpath and, after three miles, another aqueduct – at Dundas – will take you back over the river. On the far side, cross a bridge over the canal and turn right to head back across the aqueduct. Once across, head to the left of a large hut, cross a stile and carry on up the course of an old tramway, built to carry stone down to the canal. Cross another stile part way up, and, when you meet a cross path at the top, turn left along it (ST790623). ● Carry on into the hamlet of Conkwell, and turn right uphill. At the top, turn left along the road by a postbox. After 350m, turn left by a white post along a tarmaced lane through Warleigh Woods (ST795628). After 600m, carry on past a stile by a metal gate on the right, but, 150m further on, as the lane bears left downhill, turn off it, heading straight on along a footpath into the woods (ST797635). This leads to a clearing with a view across to Claverton and the American Museum on the other side of the valley. ● As you carry on, the path starts to head downhill. When it forks, bear left down a stepped path. At the bottom, turn right through a dry arch built around 1795 and then left up to the road. Walk along a narrow verge for 150m, before following a footpath into the woods (ST796645). As you climb, with the land shelving ever more steeply away on the left, look up to see where quarries and caves have been hollowed out of the hillside.

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● The path eventually levels out alongside a wall, which you follow for the next 1300m, ignoring footpaths leading down to the left. After passing a board with information on Brown’s Folly nature reserve, you come to a blue post, one of 13 placed hereabouts by the Bath Geological Society to identify rocks and fossils. Details are at people.bath.ac.uk/exxbgs/brownsfolly. ● When you reach the foot of Brown’s Folly (ST794660), a tower commissioned by a local landowner in 1848 as an unemployment relief measure, turn left through a KG and head down a stepped path. At the bottom, two paths head right across grassland. Take the upper one along a ridge with views across Bath. Go through a KG at the end (where there is an impressive cave on the right), and turn left down a steep path. At the bottom, turn right for 15m, before turning left down a stepped path. When you reach a T junction, turn left. The path curves up to the left before swinging right downhill. After negotiating rough steps, turn right over a stile (ST791662).

Follow a track across a field, heading to the left of a row of houses. Cross a stile, turn left down grass and a short road. Bear right for a few metres, before taking the footpath beside Manor Farm Cottage. ● After passing the lych gate, cross and carry on down Ostlings Lane. At the bottom is a bus stop where, if you want to cut the walk short, you can catch a bus into Bath. To carry on, cross the road ahead with care, turn left along the pavement and cross a footbridge over the By Brook. Just before the railway bridge, cross and head up a footpath by the line (ST786670). This takes you over the bridge, down the other side and through a KG. Follow a track diagonally across a field, climbing steps to cross another railway line.

After crossing the stile on the far side, carry on along a lane. When you reach the canal, walk along the towpath in the same direction. Just after going under a bridge you will see the George Inn (dogs allowed outside only) on the right. ● After another 2000m, the canal heads through a tunnel, over the west portal of which you will see a carving of Old Father Thames. The gate on the right leads into Sydney Gardens, one of Bath’s most popular eighteenth-

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OUT | AND ABOUT

WATER LINE: main image: canal boats at Dundas; this image: the canal tunnel at Bath; right: Brown’s folly tower

century pleasure gardens and now a public park. After going through another tunnel – with a carving of Sabrina, spirit of the Severn, above its entrance, the towpath crosses to the left bank. The building above the tunnel housed the offices of the canal company. ● After 400m, the towpath climbs to a road. Cross a zebra crossing and turn right across the bridge before heading down steps down to a towpath on the right bank. Soon you come to the first of six locks taking the canal down to the River Avon. Carry on, crossing a minor road en route, and, just past the fifth lock, you come to another road. A left turn along it will lead into Widcombe, which has a choice of dog-friendly pubs and cafes. To carry on along the canal, turn left across it and go down steps to follow a towpath on the other side. After passing the sixth and final lock, where the canal joins the river, carry on along the road for a little way before crossing a footbridge over the river leading to Bath Spa station, from where there are regular trains back to Bristol. n

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FURTHER INFORMATION...

■

Distance: 10 miles

■

Time: 5 hours

■

Level of challenge: The towpath is straight forward, but there are muddy patches, slippery paths, steps, stiles and steep slopes on the woodland section.

■

Map: AA Walkers’ Map 25, or OS Explorer 155

APRIL 2015

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HEALTH | & BEAUTY

NEWS IN BRIEF ■ Combine dynamic yoga practice and artisan bread-baking in unique, inspirational classes and retreats. Stretch + Knead is the brainchild of Empower Yoga in Bristol and The One Mile Bakery in Cardiff, who want to unite the resotorative and personally enriching power of both yoga and baking. Whether you are stretching into a pose or kneading dough, you can’t help but focus on the moment and become grounded in what you are doing, so you can forget your stresses and enjoy some well-deserved you time. Whether you choose a day class or a luxury weekend retreat, you are guaranteed to leave feeling fully rested, and pretty darn amazing, actually. Stretch + Knead launches at Hamilton House on 11 April, from 10.30am – 4.30pm. The day includes two yoga classes, two bread-making sessions, and delicious healthy drinks and food throughout the day. Tickets: £125, for more information visit: www.stretchandknead.wordpress.com

■ Nuffiled Health is looking for a secondary school in Bristol to take part in a groundbreaking pilot that will see a Head of Wellbeing seconded to the school, in a bid to help combat rising levels of poor physical and mental health among pupils and teachers. The not-for-profit healthcare provider is committing to leading, funding and evaluating the initiative as part of a two year health and wellbeing programme. Dr Andrew Jones, Nuffield Health’s managing director, said: ‘We are looking for a school which shares our vision for a healthy, productive and creative environment. This initiative has the potential to transform wellbeing in schools and set a benchmark for all UK primary and secondary schools to aspire to.” Schools that are interested in putting themselves forward as potential candidates can apply at www.nuffield.com

FIT & FAB Hot health news & products

April showerproof beauty...

Frizz free hair and make up that stays in place, whatever the weather

• Spring skin should be fresh and luminous, so throw out your heavy old foundation and embrace Baresking by bareMinerals. This ultra-thin, weightless fluid is designed for all skin types and comes in 20 shades so you can find your perfect match. Available at House of Fraser, Cabot Circus, £26 • The Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Family from Bumble and Bumble is the only way to fight hair fuzz during the drizzly month ahead. Six nutritious oils are blended together to make super-lightweight products that will nourish your hair while fighting the frizz. Available at Boots, shampoo £23 and conditioner £25 • Even if you do get caught in a downpour, you can still come out smelling of roses – or cherries, or plums, or osmanthus. Jo Malone has launched three new scents celebrating the glorious blossoms of spring, and each one smells even better than the real thing. Available at Harvey Nichols, Cabot Circus, £86 • Panda eyes are best avoided, unless you’re Claudia Winkleman. Keep your peepers smudge free with Benefit’s BadGal waterproof liner in charcoal, espresso or black.

Available at Boots, £15.50

Need an energy boost? Try a spring super-smoothie The sun may have reappeared at long last, but it’ll take a while before that much needed vitamin D soaks through and gives you that longawaited spring in your step. An easy way to pep-up your mind, body and spirit in the meantime is with a super berry smoothie, which is chock-full of brilliant ingredients guaranteed to kick-start your day.

You’ll need: 450g bag of frozen mixed berries 450g fat free natural yoghurt 100ml apple juice A good squeeze of honey Simply pour all your ingredients into a blender and whizz until smooth. The ingredients will make about four glasses, so either share with family and friends, or cover and pop in the fridge to drink later (but no more than 24 hours, or else it might not taste quite so good!) If you’re feeling very healthy, garnish with fresh strawberries, raspberries or blueberries.

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CITY | BEAUTY

Beauty

NOTES

OLE HENRIKSEN CLEAN TRUTH CLEANSING CLOTHS, £13 The world’s first bioactive facelift, Liquilift delivers immediate lifting and tightening results to take years off your appearance and erase the signs of ageing

BENEFIT’S BRONZE OF CHAMPIONS, £26.50 Benefit’s total bronze box of beauty caters for your every post-workout makeup need

GYM BAG

BLISS FAT GIRL SIX PACK SCULPTING GEL, £35 Bliss’ detoxifying, circulation-stimulating body toner provides an additional exercise for abdominals

DR HAUSCHKA HYDRATING FOOT CREAM, £16

BEAUTY HEROES

MOROCCANOIL DRY BODY OIL, £35

The benefits of a killer exercise class for both the The weightless formula infuses body and mind are endless, however leaving the gym skin with the antioxidant-rich, in style often requires a little post-workout beauty SOS. nourishing properties of argan, olive and avocado oils for soft, silky results From rehydrating moisturisers and refreshing hair fragrances to instant cleansers and compact make up palettes, Rachelle Howells, beauty manager at Harvey Nichols Bristol, introduces gym bag essentials that will prolong that after-exercise glow

LAURA MERCIER TINTED MOISTURISER, £34 The lightweight formula helps control oil breakthrough and gives a sheer hint of colour for a healthy, natural radiance

A hydrating foot balm which refreshes tired skin, leaving feet feeling soft and protected

SANTAVERDE ALOE VERA SHOWER GEL, £13.50 Made from pure aloe vera juice, firming wheat protein, nourishing olive oil and vitamin-rich sea buckthorn extract, Santaverde’s Aloe Vera shower gel cleanses gently and cares for the skin without harming its natural protective layer

RODIAL SUPER-FOOD FACIAL OIL, £60 A concentrated blend of super-food actives that provide nourishment and hydration for the skin and

RODIAL SUPER-FOOD DAY CREAM, £49 Rodial's illuminating moisturiser nourishes the skin with a super-food complex containing rose hip seed oil, goji berry, wheat germ oil and pomegranate extract

SHOW HAIR FRAGRANCE, £55 A delicately balanced and fragrant scent which evokes an air of true mystique and awe

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Understanding your scars C

ontrary to popular belief, not all scars are the same or require the same treatment. They have numerous causes – from burns and trauma, to acne and stretching of the skin - and their effects are far reaching, impacting lives both physically and mentally, from causing discomfort and itching, to a negative body image, low mood and feelings of self-consciousness.

The expert Scar Team at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, The Chesterfield has over 100 years of experience in the field of scarring. They are one of the Mr Jon Pleat, first multi-disciplinary scar teams in the UK and take a holistic approach to support patients through every stage of the scar journey, from wound assessment and treatment to counselling. The team is passionate about research into wound healing and scarring and uses a range of conventional and cutting-edge approaches to help improve the appearance of scars.

MEET THE TEAM Mr Jon Pleat, is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon and heads up the five-strong scar team at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, The Chesterfield. His interest in scarring arose from his own burn injury as a child and today Jon collaborates with research and support groups around the world to develop treatments for scars and to investigate how scars form.

The remaining team comprises: Nurse Caroline Lewis - an expert in skin camouflage makeup and exciting new products such as Dermaflage and Microskin.

Mr Kevin Page - a Consultant Maxillofacial Prosthetisthas with over 30 years’ experience in reducing facial and neck scarring.

Dr Becky Watkins - a Clinical Psychologist dedicated to helping people with long term skin conditions.

Alison Guy - an Occupational Therapist who uses non-surgical techniques such as massage and pressure therapy to treat scars.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR OPTIONS “There are over one hundred treatments described for scarring and no single magic treatment”, said Nuffield Health Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Jon Pleat.

“The action required will depend upon the type of scar, its stage of healing and a number of other factors in a patient’s history such as prior treatments, other medical conditions and allergies.

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“Our patients not only benefit from the extensive expertise of our team but also access to the latest cutting edge techniques – some of which are only offered here at The Chesterfield. We specialise in procedures such as artificial skin, camouflage makeup, spray on skin, micro-needling and the use of Botox for itchy scars. One of the more specialist treatments we provide is through the use of a Cryoshape™ machine which is used to treat Keloid scars; these are angry scars that grow lumpy and larger than the wound they are healing. We are the only team offering this treatment in Bristol and it’s truly revolutionary because it uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the scar from the inside out, helping to significantly reduce the scar’s volume in a single session. It’s also a really quick procedure allowing patients to leave the hospital on the same day and return to their daily activities.”

But it’s not just about treating the physical scar - patients often require support for the emotional impacts of scarring. Jon, added: “As a patient with a significant scar, it can be difficult to know where to turn to for support. While we can help to treat the look of scars, the final appearance can often be different to what a patient might hope for and a return to the appearance of normal skin is rare. This can be upsetting and it may take a while to adapt. This is where the counselling and reassurance of our psychologist, Becky Watkins, can be invaluable”

Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital The Chesterfield is hosting a free Meet the Experts – Scarring and Dermatology event on

Tuesday 5 May from 6:00pm to 8:30pm.

The event is open to everyone and offers the chance to meet with Mr Jon Pleat a specialist Consultant Plastic Surgeon For more information visit www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/bristol or call 0117 911 9884.

Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital The Chesterfield, 3 Clifton Hill, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1BN Tel: 0117 911 9884 • www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/bristol APRIL 2015

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DON’T STRESS ABOUT IBS If you suffer from IBS, April’s patient information evening at Spire The Glen Hospital could help you understand and manage the condition

hair

CARLO &beauty M

MOROCCANOIL ®

Stockists

Main stockists of REDKEN

Tel: 0117 968 2663 • www.carlohairandbeauty.co.uk 6 Rockleaze Rd, Sneyd Park, Bristol BS9 1NF Easy parking for all customers

I

f you suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) you are certainly not alone. The long-term digestive disorder affects approximately 20 per cent of people at some stage in their life and twice as many women as men. IBS can be painful and debilitating, and have a negative impact on your quality of life.

Specialist consultant gastroenterologist, Dr Robert Przemioslo, is holding a patient information evening about IBS and acid reflux organised by and hosted at Spire The Glen Hospital Bristol in Redland. It takes place on Wednesday 22 April at 7pm, and aims to help people understand their condition and teach them how to manage, it in a comfortable and relaxing setting.

Getting help for IBS Managing the symptoms: The symptoms can vary between individuals and affect some more severely than others. The most common are stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and/or constipation. These are generally worse after eating or episodes of stress and can come and go intermittently.

The causes: There is no known exact cause for IBS, but most experts agree it's related to an increased sensitivity of the entire gut. It can be triggered by certain foods and drinks and occasionally by psychological factors like stress.

Treatment options: While there isn’t a cure for IBS, by making some simple changes to your diet and lifestyle, the symptoms can be minimised and patients are able to live a normal, full and active life. Medication can be prescribed in some individual cases.

To book your free place on the IBS and Acid Reflux evening, please contact Spire The Glen Hospital Bristol on 0117 980 4080 or info@spirehospital.com.

For further information please visit www.spirehealthcare.com n

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Gentle IVF Geeta Nargund, medical director at Create Fertility, discusses a gentler approach to IVF

F

alling pregnant is an experience we all hope will be an easy one, but the reality is that many women and couples struggle with fertility.

Since the first IVF baby was born over 36 years ago, fertility experts have been offering solutions to those who need a helping hand in producing a much wanted child. However many of those seeking treatment do not realise that conventional IVF, with its intense and gruelling hormone treatments that incur both cost and health risks, is not the only option.

By using a tailored approach that focuses on quality and not quantity, Natural and Mild IVF offer an IVF experience that is aimed at protecting both the short and long-term health of mother and child. Involving either zero or very small dosages of stimulatory hormonal treatment, the chance of developing adverse health risks, such as Ovarian HyperStimulation Syndrome (OHSS), are almost nil, and costs are significantly reduced. Treatment takes place within a woman’s natural cycle, using naturally- selected eggs, and removes weeks of intense treatment and associated side effects.

CREATE Fertility are the pioneers and leaders in Natural and Mild IVF in the UK, and in February celebrated the first anniversary of their Bristol clinic, which has now helped women across Bristol and the south west give birth to healthy, happy babies. The clinic’s very first baby was little Hugo, whose parents unexpectedly found themselves struggling to conceive a sibling for their daughter Emilia. Hugo and Emilia’s mum Kate explains:

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“It was incredibly difficult to imagine we may not be able to have a little brother or sister for Emelia, but we also didn’t want to impact on her childhood by having a mother going through the emotional and physical trauma of extensive hormonal treatment, so Natural and Mild IVF offered a way that ensured we didn’t sacrifice my health.

Hugo has completed our family, and we wouldn’t change the sleepless nights for anything! Watching Emelia dote on her little brother is a wonderful gift after imagining for a time that it may not happen for us.”

CREATE Fertility’s Clifton-based clinic provides patients like Kate and her husband Dave with the only local access to Mild and Natural IVF, as well as other innovative approaches including the Endometrial Receptivity Array (ERA) test, which determines when a woman’s uterus is most receptive for implantation of embryo, and cutting-edge 3D/4D and Doppler scanning – all of which help in increasing the chance of success in each individual case. Over 45% of patients treated in the first year had already been turned away by other clinics due to treatment failure, yet success rates have been high with over a third falling pregnant so far.

As knowledge of Natural and Mild IVF grows families are discovering the importance of remaining informed, providing the confidence to seek what is right for your body, your family and your future. n For further details or to find out about the next CREATE Fertility open day, tel: 0117 317 1493 or visit: www.createhealth.org

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IS WORK A PAIN IN THE NECK? Too long in front of a screen, on a phone or pad can cause aches and pains – luckily treatment is available

W

hile the physiotherapists at Circle Bath enjoy offering help to people with a large variety of problems ranging from acute sporting injuries in elite athletes to chronic pain from arthritis, we are also seeing an increasing number of people suffering from the problems that come associated with working long hours at the desk and from using hand held computers and mobile phones.

By far the majority of the workforce nowadays spend a huge number of hours working at desks and with laptops in sometimes cramped and shared spaces.

The huge increase in the number of people using hand held tablets has added to the number of hours that the average person may spend using a screen or keyboard.

The human body is made to move and the increasing number of gadgets, remote controls and labour saving devices means that recent generations are increasingly suffering from symptoms related to lack of movement and exercise and from working in prolonged poor postures.

Symptoms such as neck pain, headaches, shoulder pains and back pain are often exacerbated by sitting for long periods particularly when focusing at a screen.

Some simple advice offered by the team at Circle Bath can often help to reduce or avoid these symptoms, such as: ■ Take a few minutes to set up your desk. Try and make sure your body is supported as much as possible by the furniture around you by keeping feet on the floor or a foot rest, forearms supported on the desk, back rest and chair in a good position and set your screen at a good height and distance.

■ Take regular breaks from the screen and desk by walking to talk to a colleague rather than emailing them, walk to the printer, offer to make the tea. Some simple stretches can be done at the same time and it doesn’t need to take any time out of the working day. Time away from the desk also gives the eyes a rest and remember to get regular eye tests.

We all know nowadays how important exercise is for us all and this is particularly important for those who work in a sedentary job so try to find some fun exercise that you can fit into your weekly routine.

Try and allow time between looking at a screen and going to bed. Sleep can be disturbed by late night time spent on Facebook and Twitter and reading emails. Playing games on the i-Pad in bed certainly won’t help by also putting your neck and shoulders into a bad posture just before sleep.

If all else fails and you are still struggling with aches and pains the physios at Circle Bath will be pleased to try and help you. We can offer a comprehensive assessment of your posture and movement as well as helping with lifestyle advice. With hands on treatments, exercise advice, sports massage, dry needling and acupuncture as options for treatment we can help you find ways to balance your life around your work requirements and to keep fit and healthy.

For more information on Circle tel: 01761 422388, visit: circlehealth.co.uk or contact Sue Ross, email: susan.ross@circlebath.co.uk. The hospital is based at Peasedown St John, BA2 8SQ. ■

THE PARKER CLINIC CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES FOR 50 YEARS

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THE PARKER CLINIC 132 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol, BS7 8NL admin@parkerclinic.co.uk www.parkerclinic.co.uk

Facebook.com/TheParkerClinic APRIL 2015

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Trying for a

baby?

All infertility treatments offered including IUI, IVF and ICSI in Bristol and Cardiff locations

The initial consultation package of £150 in Clifton, Bristol includes - AMH hormones test to assess ‘ovarian reserve’ (the number and quality of eggs that you have) - A pelvic ultrasound to assess the ovaries and fallopian tubes - A 1 hour fertility consultation with a female Consultant Gynaecologist - A semen analysis

EmbryoScope

nancy in clinical preg 23% increase arriage isc m rly ea in e 35% decreas cost 0% increase in uth West & So e th in The only clinic ely siv use Wales to exclu time-lapse e op EmbryoSc

Ask questions via our website or meet the team and learn more about infertility diagnois and treatment at our free monthly open evenings

yos

br u want your em Why would yo re? grown elsewhe

All patients’ embryos transferred in EmbryoGlue at no additional cost CRGW is an independent, bespoke centre which offers the latest scientific technology and state of the art facilities needed for al modern fertility treatments. We are located at 2 Clifton Park, Clifton and also off junction 34 of the M4, only 15 minutes from Cardiff City centre.

We pride ourselves in placing patients before profit to enable affordable, cost effective treatment options while maintaining the best pregnancy rates. Options include: IUI IVF ICIS EmbryoScope time lapse monitoring Embryo freezing Egg freezing Donor egg and donor sperm treatments Female fertility assessments Sperm tests Sperm freezing Surgical sperm retrieval

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Dr Amanda O’Leary MBChB, MRCOG, MD

At CRGW, we care about the way we care

Centre for Reproduction and Gynaecology Wales

www.crgw.co.uk - 01443 443999 www.facebook.com/CRGW.Ltd twitter.com/crgwfertility

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

So you want to be an Acupuncturist?

Amanda Hair will be giving a free Acupuncture demonstration on 16th April at CNM (College of Naturopathic Medicine) in Bristol. Here, she looks at key factors driving the interest in training to become an Acupuncturist.

A

sk any Acupuncturist why they chose to study Traditional Chinese Medicine and practice Acupuncture and certainly, 99% will say it was because they personally had such a good experience, they had to know how it worked! Many students and practitioners, themselves have had some kind of health issue and have a really positive story of how Acupuncture helped them get rid of lower back pain or migraines or helped them to conceive their longed for family. For some, it was a life changer.

Helping others to get well is another important aspect of why people choose to study Acupuncture and more people are seeing the value that Acupuncture can bring, with over 2.3 million Acupuncture treatments undertaken during 2014, making it one of the most popular natural therapies.

Jeremy Hunt, the UK’s current health secretary, has called for Acupuncture to be more available through the NHS. Research carried out by Dr Daniel C Cherkin et al and published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Archives of Internal Medicine, showed that Acupuncture can improve the ability to function in people with chronic low back pain compared to ‘usual’ care (which included medication and physical therapy).

These are indeed exciting times for the profession.

Most Acupuncturists work part time hours and hold a general clinic, treating many types of conditions such as back pain, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, even helping overdue pregnant women go into a natural labour! The Chinese theory is applicable to any western pathology and the theory is interested in the production and movement of our body fluids, in particular our “qi” (natural energy) and blood. How our energy moves and how it is spent are all of interest to Acupuncturists.

Having a good work life balance is one of the benefits which practising as an Acupuncturist can deliver, and many practitioners are able to juggle their family life around their clinic, whilst still earning a good income.

Helping people is one of the most rewarding aspects of the profession. Seeing someone's health improve or pain levels decrease gives a practitioner a real sense that they are doing something worthwhile, and contributes to a high level of job satisfaction.

It is quite difficult to find a career which allows such great flexibility in how many hours you wish to work, combined with a high level of job satisfaction and an opportunity to ‘learn for life’. Practicing a therapy, such as Acupuncture or Nutritional Therapy, can tick all the boxes.

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Professional Acupuncturists are supported by a couple of membership organisations: the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) and the Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture (ATCM). Both offer membership, support and guidance.

CNM’s approach to training is uniquely based on Naturopathic principles. The client and his or her lifestyle is viewed holistically so that the roots of the problem can be identified and addressed, rather than just the symptoms. Since diet plays such a large part in wellness, ‘Naturopathic Acupuncturists’, Herbalists or Homeopaths trained by CNM, gain a good grounding in the impact of Nutrition, along with other natural therapies. As qualified Naturopaths also, CNM trained Acupuncturists can provide additional advice to complement Acupuncture treatment and therefore maximise its effectiveness.

CNM’s emphasis is on hands-on practice, with Acupuncture students spending some 400 hours in clinic before graduating.

There’s also a strong business and practitioner development module which teaches CNM students of all disciplines how to start up - and stay in, successful practice.

Amanda Hair

Attend a FREE CNM Open Evening in Bristol Thursday 16th April 6.30pm-8.30pm to find out about training with CNM Bristol for a career in Naturopathic Nutrition or Naturopathic Acupuncture.

Free Acupuncture demonstration

by Acupuncturist Amanda Hair.

Please reserve your free place on line at:

www.naturopathy-uk.com 01342 410 505 APRIL 2015

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House &

HOME Where stunning properties meet stylish interiors

Featured interior from the Nouveaux Mondes collection by Christian Lacroix Maison for Designers Guild. Fabric from ÂŁ55 per metre, available from Whittaker Wells

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APRIL 2015

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The

LOUNGE Embrace the sunshine with zesty colours that zing with the taste of spring

Designers Guild Shanghai Garden collection: wallpaper from £248, Willow Flower Acacia fabric, £75/m, available from Whittaker Wells, who make bespoke curtains, blinds and homewares from the finest classic and cutting-edge fabrics, paints and wallcoverings

A

pril is the month that sees spring in full bloom. The bulbs have broken through the soil, the buds on the trees have burst into flower and the birds are singing their little hearts out. All of a sudden the outside world is a riot of colour, made all the more vivid by the warm rays of the sun. And when you throw open the windows to let that fresh air in, why not breathe in a little inspiration too and bring some of the great outdoors into your home this season?

Over the next five pages, you’ll find plenty of ideas that will help you transform three key rooms of your house from tired to on trend. Starting with the living room, then moving into the kitchen and, finally, finishing with a spruce-up of the sleeping quarters, there’s plenty here to help you invigorate your interiors.

There are so many ways to interpret this style, it’s easy to bring a touch of nature into your home. The colour palette ranges from citrus bite through to berry bright, so you can pick-your own to suit your home. Whichever you 98 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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plump for, team with crisp white walls and cool neutrals to really bring out that delicious pop of colour.

But there’s more to life than merely meets the eye. What would a walk through the park on a hot day be without the feel of the cool grass under your bare feet? Why wander through the woods if not to feel the overhanging leaves whisper against your skin? No matter how glamorous the location, no outdoor pursuits are half as exciting if you aren’t able to reach out and touch what you encounter.

The same is true in your very own home. There’s no point hanging your glorious new Lacroix rainforest curtains if, when you snuggle down on the couch to admire them, you can’t reach out and run your fingers through a fringed cushion and dream it’s the fronds of some exotic jungle plant. So, whether you decide to simply purchase a few accessories as a nod to the natural world, or plan a full-scale redecorating frenzy, the products on these pages are guaranteed to appeal to all your senses.

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Malia floor lamp, £130 from John Lewis; Togo medium settee, from £2315 and Passio chair, £1904 from Ligne Roset; cushion, £39 from BoConcept; cards, £2.60 by Jacqui Watkins of Linen Prints, available from Rhubarb; BeoSound Moment, £1795 from Bang & Olufsen; Cuba vase, £149 and Africa vase, £49 both from BoConcept; Spatherm fire, from a selection at Feature Fire.

COOL WHITE LINES WITH A CITRUS TWIST Blow away the cobwebs with an eye-catching yet elegant look for spring.

Whitewashed walls are a simple way to smarten up a room, then accessorize with bright greens and citrus yellows for an invigorating yet complementary colour pairing. To complete this zesty look, add accents from across the colour wheel to make the cooler shades zing.

The gorgeous weeping willow curtains in the main image encompass all the key colours you need to nail this look, while also acting as works of art in themselves. Soft furnishings and accents in varying shades of green add interest to the colour scheme without being intrusive, and the boldly mismatched tiled floor is an effective way to add visual interest.

Mixing the key trends of vivid colour and tactile textures is the fabulous sofa on this page. But don’t go overboard on brights – remember the key to making any look appear effortless is to keep it slightly random – so instead of piling colour on colour, why not opt for a chair with quirky design details like the one above. Combining elements in this way builds a more complex WWW.THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

picture within the room that will continue to excite and delight your eye long after the fleeting months of spring have passed.

Investing in a roaring fire is a certain way to ensure you’re realising a room for all seasons. The Spartherm one featured combines excellent engineering and innovative design to create a contemporary piece that won’t need altering, even if you do update the décor.

Another modern classic is the BeoSound Moment, one of the most intuitive audio systems on the market. Its wireless control centre integrates all your music and streaming systems into one user-friendly interface, and it also boasts a MoodWheel system that learns your musical tastes so it can recommend what you might like to listen to when you just can’t decide. Amazing.

Finish the look with a floorlight in your chosen contrast colour, decorative vases that match the main hue and any art that takes your fancy. Dotted around hither and thither, these touches are the perfect way to pull the look together and reintroduce those old favourites that make the room your own.

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KITCHEN This season, bring the outside in with luscious green hues that echo the garden beyond

Stacking jug and tumblers, £15 from Marks & Spencer

Eva Solo chopping board set, £60 from John Lewis

Daisy chain enamel mug, £7.50; Iittala Satumetsa mug, £17.50 both from John Lewis

Orange squeezer, £8 from Marks & Spencer

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LSA flower colour vase in lime, £22 and squirrel chopping board, £20 both from John Lewis

Main image: Chichester range from Kit Stone; above: contemporary range from In-toto Kitchens; this image: Hampton range from McCarron & Co

KEEP IT CLEAN, WITH A HINT OF GREEN A kitchen is a big investment, so focus on quality when choosing your expensive appliances, and keep the furniture and fittings neutral so that you don’t need to update them too often. And if you’ve decided that 2015 is the year yours is getting a total overhaul, rest assured there are some great designers and suppliers in the city, such as the three featured above.

As is typical of good kitchen design, in the main image from McCarron & Co the furniture has been devised to celebrate the architecture of the space.

Everything in the room adds structure without fighting the period features, while the sharp geometry of the island introduces a subtle modern twist. The end result is exactly the kind of harmonious space that’s needed at the heart of the home.

But every kitchen, old and new, needs a little bit of seasonal styling to embellish the units and work surfaces we use on a daily basis. And what better

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place to embrace the green theme than in the room where all the goodness of nature is transformed into delicious dishes for the family?

You can, of course, choose an alternative signature colour. As with your living room, the secret to getting the look right is picking a strong, uplifting shade that will illuminate both the space and your spirit every time you walk into your kitchen. Hot pink is a fun colour to try, as are the more acidic shades of orange and lemon, as all three are refreshing colours that work well in a food-orientated environment.

The icing on the cake, if you’ll forgive the pun, is that they also all work equally well with a variety of kitchen finishes. Whether your appliances are white, silver or black, your worktops wood or granite, and your lights ceramic or metallic, these colours match it all. And, as these pages show, there are plenty of colourful, light-hearted products to give your kitchen the fun-factor.

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Flos Arco floor lamp, £1565 from John Lewis

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BEDROOM Soft pastels are offset by burnt orange and deep mulberry for a hint of spice

Brintons Bell Twist carpet in Rosebud, £40 from Natural Born Flooring

Cole & Son Whimsical collection, available at Whittaker Wells

Ruché bed, from £3241 from Ligne Roset

Toa chairs, £1901 each from Ligne Roset

COLOUR CLASH SWEET N’ SOUR SHADES This is your space, so let your imagination run wild. Take a look at the fairytale main picture on this page and dare to dream. Can you honestly tell me you don’t want to have your own princess and the pea moment on that higgledy-piggledy bed? No? Well then, it’s time to indulge your inner child and get designing.

Now I do appreciate that, in the real world, it is a pain to have to remove a pumpkin from your bed before you retire each evening, but that doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself to some fruity colours instead.

The rich, deep pink of the carpet above is the perfect foil for the raspberry ripple effect of the two chairs. And the orange bed adds a happy colour clash that prevents the overall impression becoming saccharine.

A sweeping floor lamp imparts just enough grown up glamour, and ensures you get to enjoy the limelight once in a while… n JH 102 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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Stockist information: Bang & Olufsen, Cribbs Causeway, www.bang-olufsen.com Bo Concept, The Galleries, www.boconcept.com Feature Fire, Winterstoke Road, www.feature-fire.co.uk In-toto Kitchens, Whiteladies Road, www.intoto.co.uk John Lewis, Cribbs Causeway, www.johnlewis.com Kit Stone, Clifton, www.kitstone.co.uk Ligne Roset, Cribbs Causeway, ligne-roset-bristol.co.uk Marks & Spencer, Cribbs Causeway, www.marksandspencer.com McCarron & Co, various locations, www.mccarronandco.com Natural Born Flooring, Gloucester Road, www.naturalbornflooring.co.uk Rhubarb, Clifton, www.rhubarbhome.co.uk Whittaker Wells, St Werburghs, www.whittakerwells.com

CSKB APRIL 15V2.qxp_Layout 1 20/03/2015 17:23 Page 1

www.chippingsodburykitchens.co.uk

Over 30 years experience of designing & installing kitchens, Bathrooms and Bedrooms including all aspects of building & renovation work...

C S K B • 400 GLOUCESTER ROAD • HORFIELD • BRISTOL BS7 8TR TEL: 0117 924 6165 E: sales@cs-kitchens.co.uk Open: Monday to Friday 9am – 5.30pm. Saturday 10am – 5pm.

Custom Designed. Computer Imagery.

Total Project Management.

❝ WE’VE GOT WHAT YOU NEED ❞

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LIGHTING SPECIALIST 8 BATH STREET, FROME. TEL: 01 373473555 WWW.FIATLUX.CO.UK

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atural Born Flooring is a family-run business which first opened its shop in Gloucester Road, Bristol in April 2012.

The company is now in its third year of business and to celebrate its success has opened its third showroom – specifically to showcase all types of wooden flooring.

The store’s main showroom has an extensive range of quality carpets from leading manufacturers to suit all budgets and is well known for its natural flooring expertise – hence the name.

Natural Born Flooring has an enviable reputation for its

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work with bespoke stair runners and custom-made rugs.

Together the company’s talented installation team have a combined experience of more than 50 years.

The second showroom within the store is dedicated to luxury vinyl tiles from brand leaders like Karndean, Amtico and Harvey Maria, showcasing Cath Kidston’s design-conscious ranges.

A grand opening for the third, dedicated wood showroom, will take place on April 11 from 10am until late with drinks available to any who attend.

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GARDENING GARDENING

EYE FOR DESIGN Our garden expert, Margaux Speirs, tells you how to plan and design your garden

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o spring has sprung and we can look forward to some warm weather and time in the garden. If your garden is exactly how you want it then turn the page. But do you remember the childhood joke about the world needing more ‘Round Toowits’? I am fairly confident most of our gardens would be more beautiful if we all got ‘around to it’.

And actually, the process of redesigning then working to create a better garden is very pleasurable, even if it takes a fair amount of effort.

Start with what you want the garden to be used for: sunbathing or entertaining, childrens play or vegetable production, for example. How much time do you want to spend on its upkeep? Do you want an open aspect or are you happy to divide the space up so you only glimpse one part from another?

Do you want it meticulously neat and symmetrical or is your focus on giving plants the conditions they need to thrive so the garden overflows with plant growth? Are there manmade elements which you have always wanted such as a fountain, a beehive, a rose arbour, a barbeque? Do you need to accommodate functional things – compost heap, mower shed, clothes drier?

What plants do you already have which you are very keen to keep? (If the garden is new to you it’s best to wait a full year before you start digging up things as you may have a horticultural gem that only performs in one season.)

Be aware of changes in ground level within the garden: how will you get up and down slopes – do you need to build steps? Steps should ideally be about 150mm tread height and 300mm tread width and all steps in a staircase should be the same size. Do you want to alter the ground level anywhere?

Consider how planning legislation may impact on this – planning permission is required if you intend to make a change to the original ground level of more than 300mm, even if you are just building a deck. You should try to avoid changing the ground level at the border with a neighbour’s garden as one of 106 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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you would then need a retaining wall and never breach the damp proof course of the house by making the adjoining ground level higher. Having to take soil you move off site makes the project much more expensive so if you are trying to create a flat lawn, for example, use ‘cut and fill’ techniques wherever possible. If you have to build retaining walls they may need to be made of engineering quality bricks and/or have drainage behind and through them depending on the height. As a rule of thumb seek professional input in building a wall over about 450mm.

To start your design, measure the garden’s perimeter and record it to scale on graph paper. I find the scale 1:50 works well for most city gardens but you might need to buy A3 or A1 paper depending on the size of your garden.

Next, make sure you know the soil type (soil testing kits are cheap and easy to use) and which parts enjoy sun and shade at various times of day.

Now you are ready to apply some basic principles of design: think of the open areas within your dream garden (terrace, lawn, pond) as ‘voids’ and the planted areas as ‘mass’. The voids need to be planned shapes, whether square, rectangular, circular, oval or rectilinear. The mass takes up the slack between the voids and the boundaries and needs to be broad enough for successful planting. It is quite hard to plan a border measuring less than 500 or 600mm so better to sacrifice some size on the voids than compromise the planting areas. The paths are ‘connectors’ between voids. So imagine a long, narrow garden: two overlapping, staggered rectangles would be a more interesting lawn shape than the obvious rectangle of lawn following the shape of the perimeter fence. The mass (border) nearest the house could be a herb garden and the mass furthest from the house a shrubbery. A path along this lawn edge would be more satisfying to meander down than a direct path straight up the middle of a simple rectangle. Use large shrubs or trees within the

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GARDENING

masses to hold your focus within the garden and to direct changes in direction as you walk through it. In our long, narrow garden, for example, a small ornamental tree could be placed in the corner of the planting mass where the two rectangles meet, partly obscuring sight of the second rectangle of lawn from the house. If you cannot see the whole garden from one place this has the effect of making the garden feel bigger than it is. Unless you have handsome brick walls which you want to show off, try to disguise the fences with plants growing up them or growing as tall as them. Limit your range and colour of foliage and flower, plant in groups of 3 or 5 wherever possible and repeat your favourite flowering plants to give the impression they have self-seeded within the garden. This gives a natural, established look from day one.

To create a formal garden use symmetry of shape and planting and very neat edges – low box hedges are perfect for this but bear in mind they need to be clipped 2 or 3 times a year. For a small garden use more evergreens and well-chosen shrubs as these need to work hard all year.

Bulbs don’t take up much space so planting them to flower throughout the year gives welcome splashes of colour. Climbers can also provide useful colour without taking up much ground space – varieties of clematis and roses can be selected for every aspect, even quite dark shade. Give them trellis to attach to and train their growth with careful pruning. If you have the space to include both shrubs and perennials it makes for a more interesting, changing outlook as the year progresses.

Plan for plants with a range of seasons so the garden is not just looking pretty for a few weeks in summer. And remember, it is often the foliage that provides the colour, not just the flowers. If your soil type is not suited to a plant you love (e.g. rhododendrons and camellias need acidic soil) you can still grow them in a pot filled with the soil they need.

This is a great time of year for planting trees and shrubs, so let me encourage you to start designing and planning your garden now and by the summer it will look beautiful! n Margaux Speirs is a pre-registered member of the Society of Garden Designers and runs her business, Margaux Speirs Garden Design, from her home in Bristol. Tel: 07903 779910 or visit: www.margauxspeirsgardendesign.co.uk

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PLANT OF THE MONTH: Lamprocapnos spectabilis (previously known as Dicentra spectabilis) has rows of dainty, heart-shaped flowers above sprays of bright green, ferny leaves. It is easy to grow and one of the first perennials to come into flower. Plant it in groups towards the front of a shady border, although as long as the ground is kept moist it will thrive in full sun. My favourite variety is rose pink but the white version is also lovely and perhaps less frivolous.

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HOMES | ON SHOW

WHAT A STUNNER Marianne Swinkels is wowed by a hi-spec dream house in Abbots Leigh

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nderstand this. Glossy magazines are rightly picky about quality.

Such is editorial etiquette it’s likely to cause something of an executorial frown if a writer peppers their copy with what might be considered vulgarly common

under the spotlight? Having just taken the tour of one of the most expensive residential properties currently for sale in the region, I’m momentarily stumped. For this substantial new build home with its £3.35 million price tag is truly in a league of its own.

And yes, it is stunning. In fact it is fab, cool and drop dead gorgeously awesome too. So there you have it. I ask for forgiveness. And if you get to view, you surely will too.

This contemporary architectural masterpiece is the result of a couple’s ambitious dream to build their own quintessential family home.

The design brief, once they’d bought a plot of land in the coveted out-of-city enclave of Abbots Leigh, was simple enough: to create a striking, cutting-edge house built to the highest specifications and world leading energy efficiency standards. The vision was equally focused: to construct an innovative and adaptable home with an unwavering focus on space and light. This newly constructed property was to be modern, but not modernist; luxurious but not ostentatious and cleverly combine visual ‘Wow’ impact (sorry) with the comfort and practicalities of life.

❝

words.

You know the sort of thing I mean? Those generalised belt and braces style adjectives which, like wallpaper, form the backdrop of everyday life. Over-used expressions which in their vague attempt to describe something special, somehow fall flat and fail to make real impact.

And let’s face it, there’s enough street-style jargonistic slang out there to give the editor of any upmarket mag a real head fit – aka stress attack – resulting from poor use of lingo. ‘Stunning’ is a dead cert no-no. ‘Fab’ would fluster, ‘awesome’ provoke angst, ‘cool’ cause consternation, ‘hot’ simply hated and ‘wow’ underwhelm. ‘Drop dead gorgeous’ might even be taken as a personal and murderous threat.

So what’s to be done when an upmarket residence like Whiteoaks comes

YES IT IS STUNNING – IN FACT IT IS FAB, COOL AND DROP DEAD GORGEOUSLY AWESOME TOO

❞

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HOMES | ON SHOW

PROPERTY PROFILE Where: Whiteoaks, Manor Road, Abbots Leigh, Bristol BS8 3RT What: Contemporary, cutting edge new build detached family home with world leading energy efficiency standards generating income from ‘feed-in’ tariffs.

Specifications: Substantial five bed home in countryside No Through Lane location, 2:2 miles from Clifton. Spacious 1047sq. ft accommodation over 3 levels. Open plan kitchen/dining/day room. Leisure complex with indoor infinity pool/Jacuzzi. Cinema & games room. Three further living rooms. Circa one acre landscaped grounds. Double garage.

Guide price: £3,350,000 Agent: Hamptons International (Clifton office) www.hamptons.co.uk Contact: Email: bristol@hamptons-int.com or tel: 0117 322 6506

And boy, this one-off abode, which took two years to build, achieved all this with consummate ease. Its uber efficient, ultra-low energy credentials are built to the highest possible German ‘Passivhaus’ specification, with exterior insulation, a ground source heat pump, triple glazing and discreet solar panelling generating back an income of around £4,000 from the ‘feed-in’ tariffs.

If you boil it all down, so to speak, these robust efficiency measures pretty much result in zero energy bills, and a net gain of around £1,600. Now that really is cool.

The same hi-spec applies to the wealth of intelligent wiring throughout, including wireless, touch-screen fingertip controls for multiple lighting scenarios, security, music, home cinema and poolside systems. All this nuts and bolts attention is not just confined to the infrastructure and behind-the-scenes gubbins. Though it does speak volumes about the integrity of this entirely bespoke residence where quality reigns supreme. For from the outset the vendors, admitted perfectionists, were devoted to crafting a property with unswerving attention to detail.

The scale of this detached five bedroom house with its array of airy rooms also suited for generous entertaining, is impressive. With 10,470 sq ft of lightfilled space over three levels, the seamless design concept is evident as soon as you enter the triple height entrance hall. From here, the curved oak and glass WWW.THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

stairway with its arty and suspended cascade of 86 hand blown lights and expanse of windows is the building equivalent of a gourmet appetiser. Such deliciousness to follow! As the vast open plan kitchen/dining/day room comes into view, with an expanse of floor to ceiling sliding doors granting access to grounds beyond, there’s a tantalising expectation of the goodies ahead.

Savour the heated infinity pool and Jacuzzi in the indoor leisure complex, or the sumptuous cinema with its 10 ft screen and surround sound, or one of the 1,000 bottles you might find in the showcase glass fronted temperature controlled wine cellarage next door to the games room. Soak up the Bristol Channel views over to Wales from the bank of windows and fireside comfort of the first floor lounge – one of several at Whiteoaks. Stroll round the swish balcony which wraps round the entire rear length, down the twin external stairways to the terraced lawns below. Appreciate the overall flexibility of rooms, deftly designed with potential accommodation of live-in relatives, au pairs and guests in mind.

Take all this, add in a finishing flourish of right-on-trend fabrics, furniture and artifacts sourced by an interior design pro, sprinkle with a little zen and voila! you might well conclude that this one-in-a-million plus home has a winning combo of family friendly, top end luxury boutique hotel about it. With knobs on. n APRIL 2015 | THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE 109

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BRISTOL PROPERTY | IN FOCUS

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his is a beautiful and versatile Victorian family home in this ever popular location.

Enhanced and maintained beautifully throughout the vendor’s time of ownership this light-filled townhouse has truly elegant proportions and period charm whilst retaining many of its original features.

The property consists of three separate reception areas. To the front elevation a beautiful bayfronted drawing room offering working shutters and sash windows overlooking the attractive front gardens and boast tall ceilings with the existing ceiling rose and cornicing all complimented with a delightful feature fireplace with an original marble surround. This room creates the perfect place to entertain or simply to relax. Towards the rear elevation a separate bay fronted dining room, boasting tall ceilings and delightful cornicing and again offers an attractive feature fire place with its original surround. This room offers a more formal place to dine overlooking the rear gardens. Completing the accommodation on the ground floor is a separate useful study.

It offers a unique and versatile footprint which includes an attractive bay-fronted family room to the front elevation with working shutters and to the rear a bespoke kitchen breakfast room offering a gas fuelled Aga, a full range of wall and base storage complimented by granite work surfaces, tiled floors and a separate central island. Beyond the kitchen is a useful utility and WC and an abundance of storage.

To the upper floors this fine home offers five consistently proportioned light-filled bedrooms all boasting tall ceilings, period fireplaces and superb outlooks to the front and rear. There are also two delightful recently fitted family bathrooms complete with natural stone.

Knight Frank, Regent House, 27A Regent Street, Clifton, Bristol. Tel: 0117 317 1999 110 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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12 Alma Road Clifton • Immaculate Victorian Townhouse • Five bedrooms • Three reception areas • Two bathrooms with natural stone • Gardens front and rear

Guide Price £1,100,000

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ST CATHERINE’S COURT, BERKELEY PLACE, CLIFTON A superb ‘Grade A’ office suite, providing open plan “BREEAM” excellent space overlooking Clifton Triangle.

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ood quality, open plan offices of this size rarely become available in Clifton. The accommodation is situated on the second floor, providing an exceptionally high quality fit out which was only completed in 2011.

St Catherine’s Court is a superb example of a ‘Grade A’ modern office. It has a BREEAM excellent rating EPC B (44) certification issued on both energy and cost efficiency as well as a high quality internal specification.

The floor area comprises 6,987 sq ft (649 sq m) and is available by way of a new lease for a term of years to be agreed.

The second floor is being offered with three car parking spaces. The property is also located next to the multi-storey public car park on Jacobs Well Road.

Jayne Rixon, Director at Burston Cook comments “Due to the nature of properties in Clifton, these being predominantly period and cellular over several floors, there is rarely accommodation available of this standard and size offered over a single floor.

St Catherines Court is one of the newest office buildings to be constructed in Clifton in recent years, offering a high quality specification throughout to include air conditioning, raised floors, LG7 lighting, shower and locker facilities, cycle storage racks and on site car parking. The building occupies an enviable position overlooking Clifton Triangle, close to fashionable Queens Road, Park Street and Whiteladies Road with its array of retail restaurants and leisure facilities, giving St Catherine’s Court the ideal home for any business, particularly one keen to be in Clifton.”

For further details on the second floor suite, please contact Burston Cook on 0117 934 9977.

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

(0117) 934 9977

CLIFTON VILLAGE

COLSTON AVE FRONTAGE

Large ground floor office / showroom fitted to a high standard –

High quality office unit with display frontage –

Suit office, retail or clinic uses –

Suit other uses – 732 sq ft –

New lease – Rent O/A

To rent or for sale 49 / 50 QUEEN SQUARE

20 PORTLAND SQUARE CITY CENTRE

Two prime period office buildings – 1,909 – 4,192 sq ft –

High quality period office building to let C 5,084 sq ft -

5 car spaces –

New flexible lease

TO LET – PRIME RESTAURANT UNIT

CLIFTON VILLAGE SHOP

Bristol City Centre – close to Queen Square and Waterfront –

Lock – up shop to let in prime Clifton Village location

5,016 sq ft –

*Confidentially available*

New lease – no premium –

Excellent opportunity…

Rent on application…

FOR SALE / TO LET

WHITEHOUSE LANE – BS3

Modern warehouse / industrial unit –

Vehicle workshop / industrial unit –

Mead Court, Thornbury 6,677 sq ft –

2 interconnecting units totaling 3,614 sq ft –

Only £475,000 or to rent £30,000 pax

(0117) 934 9977

Julian Cook FRICS

Burston Cook April.indd 1

For sale / to let

773 FISHPONDS ROAD

HIGH ST KINGSWOOD

Occupying a prominent and busy location –

Prominent location on Kingswood High Street –

Good size lock up shop 608 sq ft –

Shop and A2 office uses –

New lease - £14,000 pax

Flexible lease –

Jayne Rixon MRICS

Charlie Kershaw MRICS

Only £9,000 pax

Finola Ingham

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BRISTOL PROPERTY | IN FOCUS

THE OLD PUMP HOUSE CLAVERHAM, NORTH SOMERSET • Unique, quirky, light and airy flexible accommodation • Cleverly converted and stylishly extended • Secluded yet convenient location with lovely rural views • Large manageable garden and ample parking & double garage

£625,000

Bristol’s Electricity House set to light up city centre living C

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nique, Quirky, full of character and rather comfortable! This is a fantastic conversion of an original Victorian Pump House. Cleverly converted and extended by the current owners this contemporary home now provides flexible and stylish accommodation. This is ideal for any buyer that wishes to enjoy city life and yet be able to escape to a semi-rural location.The Pump House also lends itself to a "work from home" set-up, along with being a perfect downsizers home, although the accommodation can easily be tailored to family use.

This house offers privacy with delightful rural views and great walks from your doorstep yet offers you the convenience of a short journey into the city, or to the nearest M5 motorway connection. Bristol Airport is no more than 5.5 miles away. Set in large but manageable gardens with ample parking, with a detached double garage and a long drive approach, viewing of this secret gem of a property is highly recommended by us. You really won't be disappointed. n Property Concept, 21 Princess Victoria Street, Clifton, Bristol.

Tel: 0117 970 6119

rest Nicholson’s highly anticipated redevelopment of Electricity House, in the heart of Bristol, will launch to the public this spring.

The award-winning housebuilder has undertaken a comprehensive refurbishment of the iconic Grade II listed Portland Stone building, which was designed by renowned architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott – creator of Battersea Power Station, the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool and the quintessential red telephone box.

This unique redevelopment will see the striking city centre building restored to its former glory, reinstating and enhancing the building’s celebrated art deco past. Many of the original 1930s features will be resurrected in the atrium and care has been taken to complement these with stylish contemporary living spaces.

The iconic six storey building will be home to an opulent collection of 85 luxury one and two bedroom apartments, plus a selection of stunning three bedroom duplexes. All residents will benefit from the services of an inhouse concierge, as well as secure undercroft parking for selected apartments.

Sandra Dixon, Sales & Marketing Director at Crest Nicholson South West, said: “We’re very excited to be launching Electricity House this spring.

Our vision has been to create a development which fuses the building’s art deco heritage with high specification contemporary design, and we can’t wait to share it with the city’s homebuyers.

“Many aspects of the development will immerse you in the historic glamour of the building, from the moment you enter the reception area and are greeted by the Concierge, to when you walk up the sympathetically designed staircase.

“The apartments themselves will be finished to the highest standards and will benefit from underfloor heating and triple glazing. These homes are ideal for professionals seeking stylish living in a central city location. The three bedroom penthouse is particularly stunning, with its private terrace and fantastic views over the city.”

Register your interest for Electricity House at www.crestnicholson.com/electricityhouse or call 0117 244 4047

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APRIL 2015

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MANAGEMENT • SALES • LETTING • CONSULTANCY

Harbourside £515,000

Clifton £1,100,000 This Grade II listed house in Canynge Square has been beautifully restored by the current owner whilst retaining original features. The accommodation over four floors comprises study/dining room and fully fitted kitchen on the ground floor, sitting room with wrought iron balcony, bedroom 2 with en suite bathroom and cloakroom on the first floor, master bedroom and large opulent bathroom on the second floor. The lower ground floor consists of two further bedrooms and utility room with access to a pretty rear courtyard garden. There are also good size sub-cellar rooms and front vault. Windows to the front of the property overlook the charming and welltended communal gardens which form the middle section of Canynge Square.

COMING SOON A stunning, contemporary penthouse apartment that forms part of the historic Grade II listed Purifier House with large kitchen/sitting room, two double bedrooms, bathroom and en-suite and allocated parking space

City Centre £195,000

Clifton £375,000

This beautifully presented apartment is situated on the second floor of The Brewhouse, an architecturally impressive period building that forms part of the old brewery complex. The accommodation incorporates a good sized sitting room, modern kitchen, contemporary bathroom, large double bedroom and further benefits from plenty of storage. This apartment would make an excellent investment property, a long rental history is available, or a first home. All the amenities of City living are within walking distance including a cosmopolitan range of shops, bars, restaurants. It is also just a 10 minute walk (0.7 miles) from Bristol Temple Meads railway station and Cabot Circus Shopping Centre. EPC rating: D

Northcote House is a handsome Grade II Listed Building set within its own grounds within flat & easy walking distance to the heart of Clifton village, with its eclectic mix of boutiques, cafes, restaurants and bars. Flat 1 is accessed via a short flight of stone steps and shares an entrance hall with only one other apartment. The accommodation includes a fully fitted kitchen, large master bedroom, smaller second bedroom, good size bathroom and walk-in storage cupboard. The spacious sitting room has French doors leading out to a private and secluded garden with a half-covered patio and steps to the lawn. This impressive apartment which also benefits from an allocated off-street parking space, is being sold with no onward chain.

21 Princess Victoria Street

Tel 0117 970 6119

enquiries@propertyconcept.co.uk

Clifton, Bristol BS8 4BX

Fax 0117 970 6109

www.propertyconcept.co.uk

www.maggsandallen.co.uk

0117 949 9000

Lettings & Management

60 Northumbria Drive, Henleaze, Bristol, BS9 4HW

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WESTBURY ON TRYM

£1,550.00 pcm

** NOW LET, SIMILAR REQUIRED ** Situated in a fantastic location within close proximity to Elmlea School is this unfurnished 4 bedroom family home. Sitting room, extended and open plan kitchen/dining room with integral appliances, utility room and downstairs shower room. To the first floor are 3 bedrooms and bathroom suite. To the top floor is a further double bedroom.

REDLAND

£1,800.00 pcm

** NOW LET, SIMILAR REQUIRED ** This charming, light and airy, 4 double bedroom period terraced house. Accomodation comprises of hall, sitting, dining room with French doors to rear garden, fitted kitchen to utility room and downstairs WC. The first floor benefits from 3 double bedrooms one with ensuite shower room. To the top floor is a further double bedroom, study and bathroom.

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Here are a selection of properties we have LET within the last six months.

HENLEAZE

£2,000.00 pcm

Urgently seeking similar properties to meet demand.

** NOW LET, SIMILAR REQUIRED ** A deceptively spacious six bedroom detached family home. The accommodation is arranged over 3 floors and comprises living room, dining room, kitchen & downstairs cloakroom. On the above floors are 6 bedrooms, two of which have ensuites and family bathroom. The property further benefits from an integral garage and off street parking for 2 vehicles

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If you’re thinking of letting your property call now to arrange a market appraisal.

HARBOURSIDE

0117 949 9000

£1,250.00 pcm

** NOW LET, SIMILAR REQUIRED ** This stunning Harbourside apartment is offered on a furnished basis with balcony overlooking the ever popular Bristol Harbourside. 2 double bedrooms, master with ensuite shower room, kitchen leading to the reception room where access to the balcony is provided via double sliding doors. Further benefiting from secure underground parking.

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WESTBURY ON TRYM

£1,300.00 pcm

** NOW LET, SIMILAR REQUIRED ** An impressive semi-detached family home situated in a quiet residential location close to Canford Park with level garden backing onto local allotments. The accommodation comprises living room, dining room and newly fitted kitchen to the ground floor. On the first floor are 3 bedrooms and bathroom suite.

Estate Agents

D T LE UIRE W Q NO RE R ILA SIM

Lettings & Management

Maggs & Allen Letting April.indd 1

£1,800.00 pcm

** NOW LET, SIMILAR REQUIRED ** Located in this much sought after location, is this fantastic 4 double bedroom home. The accommodation comprises to the ground floor entrance hall, living room, playroom/dining room with side access, utility room with WC and open plan kitchen/dining room, leading to the rear garden. To the first floor are 4 double bedroom and family bathroom.

D T LE UIRE W Q NO RE R ILA SIM

REDLAND

£1,600.00 pcm

** NOW LET, SIMILAR REQUIRED ** This property has been stylishly improved and presents to the ground floor living room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room and utility room. On the first floor are 3 bedrooms and family bathroom. Further to this is an innovatively designed loft conversion with ensuite shower room, which makes a fantastic master bedroom.

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CLIFTON

£1,100.00 pcm

** NOW LET, SIMILAR REQUIRED ** Spacious, renovated apartment that occupies the first floor of this beautiful Victorian property.

Well-presented throughout, accommodation comprises: two very generous bedrooms, spacious sitting room that opens onto the brand new fitted kitchen and a brand new bathroom suite.

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HENLEAZE

£1,400.00 pcm

** NOW LET, SIMILAR REQUIRED ** Unfurnished 3 bedroom semi-detached family home. The accommodation comprises spacious front reception room, downstairs WC and large open planned kitchen/dining room. To the first floor are 3 bedrooms (2 doubles and a single) and modern bathroom suite. Off street parking and garage.

Auctioneers

WESTBURY PARK

Commercial/ Investment

Chartered Surveyors

HENLEAZE

£1,300.00 pcm

** NOW LET, SIMILAR REQUIRED ** An individually designed detached property in Henleaze hidden away off Park Grove.

The property is accessed via a private driveway with accommodation including 4 double bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms and large kitchen/diner. Ample off street parking and triple garage.

Land/New Homes

Energy Assessors

16/03/2015 10:25

www.maggsandallen.co.uk

0117 949 9000 60 Northumbria Drive, Henleaze, Bristol, BS9 4HW

HENLEAZE

£675,000

WESTBURY PARK

£650,000

A most impressive and handsome 1930s detached family home that retains many of its original features and much charm. The property is believed to have been the home of the builder that originally built most of the properties on the road and therefore offers larger than average accommodation and attractive period features. Large entrance hall with the original wood panelling, 3 reception rooms, fitted kitchen.

Upstairs are 4 double bedrooms and bathroom. Outside is a wide and generous rear garden and outbuilding and to the front and side is off street parking and a garage. Positioned within a quiet backwater of central Henleaze on the popular Hill Burn. A rare opportunity.

Arranged over 3 floors and offers many original features. Ground floor: spacious hallway with original tiled flooring, vestibule area, ceiling features and a staircase leading to upper floors. Front reception with bay window, coving and period fireplace, dining room also with coving, fireplace and access to the rear garden. large kitchen / diner has granite worktops and French doors leading to garden.

The first floor offers master bedroom with bay to front and en-suite, bedroom 2 overlooks the rear, and family bathroom. 2nd floor offers 2 double bedrooms and 2 single bedrooms. Private L-shaped rear paved garden measuring in excess of 12m in length.

STOKE BISHOP

RICKFORD

£675,000

A spacious and well maintained detached family house situated within easy reach of local shops and amenities. The substantial accommodation includes 2 reception rooms, modern fitted kitchen/ breakfast room, downstairs utility room. To the first floor there is 3 further bedrooms (one with ensuite) and family bathroom. The second floor also has two bedrooms. To the rear is a private enclosed lawned garden. Other benefits include a garage to the front of the property. Retaining so many attractive features. Viewing is highly recommended.

Estate Agents

Lettings & Management

Maggs & Allen April Residential.indd 1

Auctioneers

£600,000

A porch leads into a large entrance hall which gives access to 4 double bedrooms, two of which have an en suite shower rooms. The remaining two bedrooms share the family bathroom. A solid oak staircase leads to the first floor. A main reception room with vaulted ceiling and picture window has distance views and French doors leading to a rear balcony. The large open plan kitchen/dining room also has French doors to a balcony. There is also a study and a utility room which leads to a cloakroom.

The garage accommodates three cars with space for a workshop. A staircase leads to a large room with velux windows and exposed timber beams. There is a cloakroom and separate kitchen.

Commercial/ Investment

Chartered Surveyors

Land/New Homes

Energy Assessors

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Westbury Park £599,995

Clifton £535,000

A spacious end terrace family home in the catchment area for both Redland Green and Westbury Park Schools with two off street parking spaces. Energy rating - E

LAST HOUSE REMAINING A stunning 3 bedroom home set in this former school house literally on the edge of Durdham Downs. Energy rating - TBC

Westbury Park £310,000

Cotham £250,000

Generous light and airy two bedroom first floor apartment close walking distance to the Downs, shops, restaurants and the Orpheus Cinema. Energy rating - TBC

A light and airy two bedroom top floor apartment conveniently situated for the Gloucester Road and Kingsdown with off-street parking. Energy rating - D

Westbury-on-Trym £750,000

Westbury-on-Trym £515,000

Built in the late 1970’s and offering exceptional square footage and flexible accommodation throughout. The extensive grounds add the potential to extend further. Energy rating - D

Large detached family house at the end of a prestigious and exclusive private road. This property offers flexible accommodation throughout. Energy rating - D

Clifton Office 0117 946 6007

Devonshire Road – Five Bedroom House

Howard Road – Two Bedroom Flat

School House – Three Bedroom House

Cotham Brow – Two Bedroom Flat

Five Bedroom - Detached Bungalow

Four Bedroom - Detached House

Westbury-on-Trym Office 0117 962 1973

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Stoke Bishop £425,000

Windy Ridge £415,000

Near to the historic remains of the Roman Port that bought trade to ‘Portus Abonae’ this detached Art Deco home has had substantial refurbishment. Energy rating - F

Originally built circa.1850 this period cottage is located off a private lane and has stunning views. It also offers off street parking and a double garage. Energy rating - D

Three Bedroom - Detached House

Four Bedroom - Semi-Detached House

oceanhome.co.uk

Ocean April.indd 1

16/03/2015 10:28

Redland £495,000

Clifton £425,000

Redcliffe £320,000

A well laid out house situated in the heart of Redland, currently rented to four individuals with period features throughout Energy rating - E

An elegant hall floor flat with grand proportions, with an off-street parking space, retaining many original features.

Energy rating - E

An impressive ground floor city apartment with off street parking and a New York loft feel, set within a beautiful Grade II listed modern development. Energy Rating - F

Hotwells £239,995

Cotham £180,000

Clifton £145,000

Top floor apartment in the vibrant Hotwells area of Bristol with a single garage and a private balcony that offers fantastic views. Energy rating - C

SOLD IN THE FIRST WEEK OF VIEWINGS WITH MULTIPLE OFFERS. A gem for investors and first time buyers who are looking for something to modernise. Energy rating - TBC

Perfect first time buy in the heart of Clifton Village with its eclectic mix of shops and bars, a one bedroom duplex apartment in great condition. Energy rating - D

Westbury-on-Trym £515,000

Westbury-on-Trym £469,950

Westbury-on-Trym £465,000

This fantastic four bedroom spacious semi-detached property is within prime crescent of Westbury-on-Trym. It offers off street parking, garage and sizeable garden. Energy rating - TBC

An already spacious semi-detached home that has been sympathetically extended to encapsulate and enhance a modern family’s needs. Energy rating - E

Open day 21st of March. Following a decorative and expansive refurbishment completed with impeccable care, pride and attention to even the smallest of details. Energy rating - TBC

Westbury-on-Trym £320,000

Westbury-on-Trym £290,000

Westbury-on-Trym £275,000

Open day 28th of March. ‘Snowdrop Cottage’ is a beautiful period cottage that has had extensive refurbishment whilst retaining much of its period charm. Energy rating - TBC

Situated equidistance from the heart of Westbury-onTrym and Henleaze high street this period terrace home is brimming with character and charm. Energy rating - TBC

Set within and imposing Bath stone townhouse on Westbury Road this fantastic apartment benefits from large sash windows providing plenty of natural light. Energy rating - TBC

Stanley Road – Four Bedroom House

Miles Road – Two Bedroom Flat

Merchants Court – Two Bedroom Flat

The Atrium – Three Bedroom Flat

Sydenham Hill – One Bedroom Flat

Regent Street – One Bedroom Flat

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Four Bedroom - Semi-Detached House

Three Bedroom - Semi-Detached House

Five Bedrooms - Detached House

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Two Bedroom - Terraced House

Two Bedroom - Terraced House

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Ocean April.indd 2

Two Bedroom - First Floor Flat

16/03/2015 10:28

Westbury-on-Trym

Westbury-on-Trym

Westbury-on-Trym

Deceptively spacious three double bedroom family home offering balcony to master bedroom, two spacious receptions; the rear with French doors leading to a 34m family garden with open outlook, the front with bay and period open fireplace. Positioned within close proximity to local shops and amenities.

EPC D.

Spacious 3 double bedroom family home offering balcony to master bedroom, 2 receptions, a 34m family garden, kitchen/ diner with open fire & access to garden.

Positioned within the prestigious location of Red House Lane close to local shops and amenities. Further benefits include gas central heating, double glazing and private parking.

This 1930’s 4 bedroom home is immaculately presented throughout and boasts a south westerly facing 18m garden. The accommodation briefly comprises; 2 receptions, an ‘L’ shaped kitchen/diner with quality oak kitchen, downstairs WC, 4 family-sized bedrooms and family bathroom. Further benefits include off street parking, single garage/workshop with utility area.

Price Guide £575,000

£500,000

£500,000

Henleaze

Westbury-on-Trym

Westbury Park

A charming halls-adjoining 1930’s 4 bedroom semi-detached home. The property offers 2 receptions, westerly facing garden, kitchen/breakfast room, utility, downstairs cloakroom/WC, 4 bedrooms, family bathroom & separate shower room. Within close proximity of Henleaze Infant & Junior School and the local shops and amenities.

A unique period coach house situated down a private drive on the borders of Westburyon-Trym and Henleaze. The accommodation briefly comprises 3 bedrooms & bathroom to first floor, living room with wood burner, sitting room, kitchen/diner, conservatory & downstairs WC, a secluded rear garden, parking and garage. No chain.

Superbly presented 3 bedroom Victorian family home. Briefly comprising; 3 receptions, traditional style kitchen, a westerly facing garden with private outlook and gate to local children’s’ play area, 3 family-sized bedrooms and family bathroom. Positioned on the ever popular Howard Road within close proximity to Henleaze Infant and Junior Schools.

Price Guide £550,000

CJ Hole April.indd 1

£535,000

£465,000

16/03/2015 10:19

Clifton t: 0117 923 8238 (sales) t: 0117 946 6588 (lettings) clifton@cjhole.co.uk

www.cjhole.com CJ Hole Clifton’s Top Five reasons to move to Bristol or stay in this beautiful city as we head into the busiest time of the year for the housing market.

1 2 3

We have gorgeous architecture and landmarks (Clifton Suspension Bridge to Bristol University) We have a vibrant food scene from the Michelin starred Casamia to the street stalls of St Nicks market (just look around you - yum!)

We have 400 acres of public green space bang in the middle of the city called the Downs (dog walkers, runners, picnickers heaven)

4 5

We have a Festival of Ideas (celebrating awesome writers, thinkers and commentators) We have a thriving economy attracting professionals from all over the UK (even Shaun the Sheep)

We think Bristol is the best place ever to eat, sleep, work and play. If you need any property advice or a FREE MARKET APPRAISAL, just let us know. This really is THE city to live in.

Howard Davis MD Clifton

Howard Davis M.N.A.E.A Managing Director - CJ Hole Clifton

Stoke Bishop A detached family house offered with south west facing rear garden, driveway, detached garage, three bedrooms, bathroom, cloakroom, two receptions, and kitchen/breakfast room. The house and gardens offer the potential for extending (subject to the necessary planning permissions).

EPC E.

Guide Price £465,000

Kingsdown Investment opportunity with a new 12 months tenancy agreement from July 2015, rental income will be £2,000 pcm with HMO license. A detached property over three floors with integral garage. The lounge/kitchen is on the top floor with five lettable rooms below. There is an en suite, plus a bathroom and separate WC. EPC D.

£429,000

CJ Hole Clifton April.indd 1

16/03/2015 10:19

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

NEW INSTRUCTION

Clifton, Bristol

Guide Price £435,000

NEW INSTRUCTION

Tytherington, South Gloucestershire Guide Price £630,000

A rare opportunity to acquire a fabulous Clifton hall-floor apartment with 2 Built at the end of the 19th century, this stone-built, former bakery oozes bedrooms, 2 parking spaces and a garden. period charm and character. EPC Rating: F

NEW INSTRUCTION

NEW INSTRUCTION

Clifton Wood, Bristol

Abbots Leigh, Bristol

A stunning modern town house spectacular South facing harbour views and balconies. EPC Rating: C

A modern architectural masterpiece nested in the highly sought after enclave of Abbots Leigh with ancillary accommodation and pool.

Guide Price £895,000

Guide Price £3,350,000

Hamptons Bristol

Sales. 0117 322 6362 | bristol@hamptons-int.com

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REDLAND | BRISTOL

GUIDE PRICE ÂŁ795,000

A well presented family home circa 2919 sq ft, with flexible accommodation and the potential to create additional living space either within the basement or the attic (subject to planning consent). Original features including high ceilings, cornice, fireplaces & sash windows. Drawing room, family kitchen room. 5 bedrooms, study / bedroom 6. Family bathroom, shower room. Workshop and store. Garden and off-street parking. EPC Rating: E.

Fine & Country Bristol 147 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2QT Tel: 0117 946 1946 Email: bristol@fineandcountry.com bristol.fineandcountry.co.uk

Fine & Country April.qxp_Layout 1 16/03/2015 10:20 Page 2

CLIFTON | BRISTOL

GUIDE PRICE £625,000

An elegantly proportioned three bedroom hall floor apartment, circa 1393 sq ft in one of Clifton’s most desirable garden squares. Drawing room, sitting room, kitchen / breakfast room. Three bedrooms. Two bath / shower rooms (one en-suite). Generous storage. Private courtyard garden & further extensive communal garden. EPC: Exempt.

fineandcountry.com

Redland - £795,000

An attractive, extended four bedroom detached 1930’s home and garage with large open plan kitchen/family living area with feature wood-burner and bi-fold doors opening onto the 100ft plus level rear garden. Located just round the corner from Redland Green School. The house is attractively presented and is ideally suited to family occupation. EPC - D

Clifton - £670,000

A rare opportunity to purchase a magnificent and versatile 3 bedroom hall floor apartment, complete with garden, proposed parking space and basement rooms, positioned within a beautiful period detached building on a very popular road in Clifton. Circa 2740 sq/ft.

EPC - TBC

Redland £635,000

A substantial five bedroom Victorian mid terrace family house and garden with potential for self contained ground floor flat in central Redland. Lots of character, lovely high ceilings, big windows and lots of light. Adaptable and great for growing families. EPC - D

Kingsdown - £265,000

A bright & spacious 2 double bedroom top floor purpose built apartment with fantastic sweeping views across the city. Benefiting from single garage under the building and private balcony with views across the city.The property would benefit from updating and offers plenty of space and great security. EPC - E

TC

SS

Clifton - £350,000

Situated in an imposing period building this impressive 2 bed garden flat with garage and parking. This hidden gem in the heart of Clifton with easy access to the Downs and Clifton Village. The exclusive use driveway leads to the private garage and a 50ft rear stone walled private garden with raised BBQ decking area. Offered with no onward chain. EPC - E

Leese & Nagle APRIL.indd 1

SSTC - SIMILAR PROPERTIES REQUIRED. CALL FOR YOUR FREE MARKET APPRAISAL.

Flats in Clifton, Cotham, Redland and Kingsdown are generating high levels of interest this Spring. If you are thinking about selling we’d be delighted to provide you with an indication of likely achievable price.

16/03/2015 10:23

Stoke Bishop - Guide Price £650,000

Superb refurbished 5 bedroom semi-detached family house, which has skilfully blended 1930’s charm with stylish modern day family living requirements. Situated in Elmlea catchment area and close to Durdham Downs. EPC - D

Westbury-on-Trym - Guide Price £615,000

This is a great opportunity to acquire this detached 1970’s house that is set in a lovely quiet cul-de-sac. 4 bedrooms, 2 reception rooms, a lovely manageable garden and a garage with ample parking. There is the huge benefit of it being just along the road from the popular local shops in Stoke Lane and also only a short walk to the highly reputed Elmlea School. EPC - D

Stoke Bishop - Guide Price £425,000

Westbury-on-Trym - Guide Price £650,000

An attractively presented 1950’s 3 bedroom + attic room semi-detached house that has been tastefully presented throughout and opens onto a lovely tiered rear garden.The property is situated in a popular road in Stoke Bishop close to local shops and amenities. There is also the well reputed Stoke Bishop primary school within reasonable walking distance. EPC - D

A stunning 4 bedroom Edwardian semi-detached house situated within walking distance of local shops and the highly regarded Elmlea School.This property has been sympathetically refurbished by the current owners in recent years to provide light filled spacious rooms, comfortable living space and generously proportioned bedrooms. EPC - D

Stoke Bishop - Guide Price £525,000

A handsome 1930’s 4 bedroom detached house which offers plenty of scope to substantially extend if desired. There are 2 reception rooms, parking, garage, 2nd garage/store and attractive gardens. Situated in a popular location and close to Stoke Bishop primary school.

EPC - F

Leese & Nagle APRIL.indd 2

Westbury-on-Trym - Guide Price £445,000

An attractively presented and larger than average 3 bedroom 1930’s semi-detached house with very good size west facing garden situated within a five minute walk of Westbury village and Canford Park. EPC - E

16/03/2015 10:24

88 Whiteladies Road Clifton Bristol BS8 2QN Tel 0117 973 1144 Chelsea House London Road Bath BA1 6DB Tel 01225 447971

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