The Bristol Magazine December 2014

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THE

Issue 126

DeCeMBeR 2014

MAGAZINE £3.00 where sold

THE BRIDGE 150 YEARS AS A BRISTOL ICON

GIFTS GALORE AT OUR LOCAL CHRISTMAS MARKETS

ER RY M ‘ I S TM A ’ BR

S

THE BUTCHER, THE BAKER, THE CANDLESTICK MAKER FESTIVE GOODIES FROM CITY ARTISANS

NEW WARDROBES

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NEW RANGE OF WARDROBES NOW AVAILABLE

Still some time to order sofas before Christmas We are just past Clifton Down Shopping Centre 56/60, Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2PY Mon-Sat 9.30 - 5.30/Sun 12 - 5

TEL: 01173 292746

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THE | CONTENTS

2014

DECEMBER

64

36

76

24 14

ZEITGEIST

40 52 A TIME FOR GIVING

Five things to do this month

16

86 FIT AND FAB

What our city’s charities are doing in the run up to Christmas

THE CITYIST My Bristol, the buzz & book of the month

58 ARTS & EXHIBITIONS

Top tips to give you a winter boost

96 OUT AND ABOUT Wander through the Wye Valley

Lots to see in the galleries this month

18

PEOPLE & PARTIES Snapshots from the city’s social scene

20

64 66

A CITY CELEBRATES BRISTOL AT WORK LOCAL ARTISANS CHRISTMAS MARKETS

70

PANTO TIME

W IN

Dick Whittington arrives in Bristol

44

106 GARDENING Festive lights to brighten up your garden

109 PROPERTY

74

FAMILY FUN Keep the little ones happy this Xmas

76

FLYING HIGH Meet the Flamingo Chicks

THE

BRI ST OL twitter@thebristolmag

ON THE COVER Happy memories of Christmas past. Photo courtesy of www.shutterstock.com © Everett Collection.

80 FREELANCE MUM

WHAT’S ON Oodles of great things to do in December

6 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

WINTER RETREAT A cosy coastal getaway

Top places to buy your pressies

43

Making waves on Bath Road

RESTAURANT REVIEW Chill out at Zerodegrees

The butcher, baker & candlestick maker

40

104 HOMES ON SHOW

The best homes in and around Bristol

68

Gorgeous creations from Emma Cains

36

Seasonal touches that stay on trend

FOOD & DRINK NEWS Where to eat this month

150 years of the Suspenion Bridge

34

102 WINTER INTERIORS

WRITTEN IN THE STARS Focus your binoculars on the Pleiades

BARTLEBY Dreaming of a white Christmas?

24

WHAT’S IN A NAME? Stroll back in time down Christmas Steps

FACE THE MUSIC A racy read with Victoria Fox

22

62

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DECEMBER 2014

Christmas all wrapped up

thebristolmagazine.co.uk

MAGAZINE

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Stoke Bishop

Substantial detached house (3,169 sq ft) in a quiet location. 4 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room. 6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Detached garage, ample parking. Large level and enclosed garden. EPC rating E. Guide price: £1,750,000

0117 3171999

Clifton

Kingsdown

A superb Grade II listed family townhouse (2,314 sq ft) with garden and balcony. 2 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, pantry. 4 bedrooms (1 ensuite shower room), bathroom. Full width balcony off drawing room.

Guide price £795,000

0117 3171999

Leigh Woods

A beautiful early Victorian family townhouse with courtyard and communal gardens. Family room, kitchen/breakfast room, office/bedroom 4, 3 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, 1 shower room.

Immaculate 2 bedroom apartment (638 sq ft) within popular Leigh Woods.

Open plan kitchen/breakfast and dining room. 2 bedrooms, bathroom.

Courtyard garden, communal gardens, parking.

Guide price £565,000

Guide price: £315,000

0117 3171999

0117 3171999

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SoLd

Clifton Guide £965,000

SoLd

Clifton Guide £2,000,000

SoLd

Clifton Guide £1,850,000

Since this time last year

· Properties sold are up 17%

SoLd

Stoke Bishop Guide £1,750,000

· Buyers looking to buy a home are up 44% · Offers made and accepted on properties are up 31%

· Number of viewings up by 30% · The number of new properties that came to the market up by 43%

SoLd

Clifton Guide £795,000

The market has been strong in 2014 and the market shows no sign of slowing for 2015. Feel free to call us for a free market appraisal.

SoLd

Leigh Woods Guide £1,425,000

SoLd

Clifton Guide £1,200,000 KnightFrank.co.uk/bristol bristol@knightfrank.com 0117 3171999

Bristol@knightfrank.com 0117 317 1999

www.knightfrank.co.uk

SoLd

Clifton Guide £549,950

SoLd

Clifton OIEO £970,000

SoLd

Clifton Guide £625,000

Knight Frank Dec.qxp_full page 17/11/2014 14:01 Page 4

SoLd

Clifton Guide £1,250,000

SoLd

Leigh Woods Guide £2,950,000

SoLd

Clifton Guide £550,000

Knight Frank has you covered · A global network with 335 offices in 52 countries

SoLd

Clifton Guide £2,550,000

· The largest independent property consultancy in the world · 20 offices in London alone

· Extensive database of buyers that all offices are linked to

· We consistently achieve more than 10% more media coverage than our nearest rivals

SoLd

Redland Guide £900,000

· We have nearly 1 million visitors a month to our global property search from all over the world

SoLd

Sneyd Park Guide £1,000,000

SoLd

Clifton Guide £1,950,000 KnightFrank.co.uk/bristol bristol@knightfrank.com 0117 3171999

Bristol@knightfrank.com 0117 317 1999

www.knightfrank.co.uk

SoLd

Clifton Guide £435,000

SoLd

Clifton Guide £1,650,000

SoLd

Long Ashton Guide £1,300,000

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I

t’s Christmas! Well, very nearly, and having had a fabulous month putting together this festive issue, I’m starting to feel rather excited about it.

What’s that I hear? A few dissenting cries of “bah, humbug?” Surely not. But if the yuletide spirit hasn’t grabbed you yet, then don’t worry – there’s an array of articles inside that will help you find it.

Perhaps a trip to the panto could be what’s required? This December, Dick Whittington is coming to Bristol Hippodrome, and we’re giving away two family tickets to go and see it (p. 43). All together now: “He’s behind you!”

Eager anticipation always surrounds Christmas Day lunch, but sourcing the goodies for it can prove to be tricky. Not this year, as our The Butcher, the Baker and the Candlestick Maker feature (p. 36) shows you exactly where to find fine food and gorgeous table decorations with a real “wow” factor.

And while you’re busy scouring the skies for Santa’s sleigh, why not see if you can spot the Pleiades sparkling away too (p. 64)? You may need to dust off your binoculars to appreciate them in their full twinkly glory though…

But what better way to kick off this season of festivities than with the celebrations surrounding the 150th anniversary of our iconic Suspension Bridge (p. 24)? Not to be missed is the night of spectacular fireworks on Sunday 7 December, which marks the eve of its opening so many years ago.

What a month it’s going to be.

So enjoy yourselves readers, and from all of us here at The Bristol Magazine – have a very merry Christmas, and a happy New Year.

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.

The Bristol Magazine, Bristol and Exeter House, Lower Approach, Temple Meads, Bristol BS1 6QS Telephone: 0117 974 2800 www.thebristolmagazine.co.uk 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.

Acting Editor Email:

Jenny Hayes jenny@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Deputy Editor Email:

Georgette McCready georgette@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Production Manager Email:

Jeff Osborne production@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Commercial Production Email:

Lorna Harrington lorna@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Publisher Email:

Steve Miklos steve@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Advertising Sales

Kathy Williams Sue Parker Liz Grey Tia Williams

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 2014.

An independent publisher.

WWW.THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

DECEMBER 2014

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THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE 13

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ZEITGEIST

The top

5

things to do in DECEMBER

All aboard

S Christmas carols Christmas just isn’t Christmas without trying (and usually failing) to hit the descant notes on some of your favourite carols. It’s made all the more entertaining if you do this in the magnificent setting of Bristol Cathedral, which will be illuminated by candlelight on Friday 19 December for a very special carol concert. As well as offering you the chance to sing along with your favourites, there will also be the opportunity to enjoy those sung by the exquisite voices of the Cathedral Choir, and listen to festive readings performed by Bristol actor Jack Ashton. Tickets: £4 – £10, available from Opus 13, tel: 0117 923 0164 or visit: www.opus13.co.uk.

Wrap up warm...

And get your skates on! For the first time, and for this year only, Clifton Village will be home to a real ice rink featuring a gorgeous part indoor, part outdoor skating rink. There is also an aptly named Après Skate Bar so skaters can relax in a toasty ski lodge after their time on the ice, and enjoy New York inspired Posh Dogs and a variety of Beerd beers and other seasonal hot drinks.

Open daily between 10am – 9.30pm, from Thursday 21 November – Sunday 4 January.

Tickets: £11.25 adult, £9.75 child, parties of 10 or more qualify for a 10% discount. For more information visit: www.cliftononice.com.

tep aboard The Swallow and follow Captain John and his able crew as they set sail to Wildcat Island on an exotic journey packed full of piracy and adventure.

Adapted from Arthur Ransome’s well-loved novel and featuring songs by Neil Hannon, this highly-acclaimed play returns to Bristol Old Vic this Christmas. Children and adults will lose themselves in this idyllic tale, with dynamic performances and imaginative sets that evoke a time of endless summer evenings, and recapture the beauty of youthful imagination. From Thursday 27 November – Wednesday 17 January, tel: 0117 987 7877 or visit: www.bristololdvic.org.

Emily Booth-Steel as Peggy Blackett

Must see Radio Bristol and The Bristol Post are joining forces to present an festive evening full of carolling and fun. There will be singing from local choirs, including the Gurt Lush Choir, the Redland High Choir and Bold Brass, as well as the opportunity to join in with other festive favourites, lsuch as Walking in a Winter Wonderland. All proceeds go to The Lord Mayor of Bristol’s Children Appeal, which provides food and gifts for disadvantaged youngsters across the city. Monday 8 December, 7.30pm at Colston Hall. Tickets: £5 from the box office on tel: 0844 887 1500 or visit: www.colstonhall.org.

After hours At-Bristol

At-Bristol’s ICE palace Have you ever wanted to explore the science centre when there are no children there, so you can play on the exhibits as much as you want and have a cheeky beverage or two at the same time?

Your wish will be granted if you head down to At-Bristol on Wednesday 10 December, 6.30pm – 10pm. Focused on the spectacular subject of ice, you will be able to try instant ice cream, learn about Inuit stargazing in the Planetarium, and even take a turn round the ice rink (additional costs apply). Bookings taken by telephone only: 0845 345 1235.

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ist

THE CITY THE BUZZ Swan Lake at Bristol Hippodrome

My BRISTOL We ask the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, Dean of Bristol Cathedral what he’s doing this month...

Tickets now on sale...

The Russian State Ballet and Orchestra of Siberia are coming to Bristol Hippodrome to perform two of the world’s favourite ballets. The first is Tchaikovsky’s breathtaking Swan Lake, one of the great romantic ballets (Tuesday 6 – Wednesday 7 January), followed by his everenjoyable Nutcracker (Thursday 8 January).

Prepare to be transported to another realm by the graceful athleticism of the soloists, the beauty of the supporting corps de ballet, and the wonderful intricacy of the costumes and sets.

Tickets: £16.90 – £47.90 (plus transaction fee), available from the box office on tel: 0844 871 3012 or visit: www.atgtickets.com.

Spectacular fireworks Bristol’s iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge celebrates its 150 year anniversary this December, and there will be many great events to mark this momentous occassion. One of the highlights is set to be a truly dazzling firework display on Sunday 7 December at 7pm. There will be viewing points for the public set up in Clifton Village, the north side of the Portway and the Cumberland Basin, but for the best views head to Hotwell Road and Brunel Way where the display will be reflected in the waters of the Avon. It’s set to be a chilly evening, so wrap up warm, take a Thermos, and maybe even bring along a sparkler or two! And please share your photos of the display on Facebook or Twitter, using the hashtag #fireworks150. In preparation for the evening’s festivities, the bridge will be closed on Sunday afternoon. For more information visit: www.cliftonbridge.org.uk

Image © Private Collection

16 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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DECEMBER 2014

What brought you to Bristol?

The Church of England, I am the first Dean to be appointed after advertisement and interview and arrived in May 2010.

What are you reading?

Nathan Filer, The Shock of the Fall, and Alan Bennett, Six Poets, Hardy to Larkin.

What’s on your MP3 player?

Harry Christophers and the Sixteen The Earth Resounds, and Peter Cook In His Own Words.

Which café or restaurant takes your fancy?

Lots, Bristol is the place to eat out. The Glass Boat is close to the Cathedral and a great place for a working lunch.

Favourite watering hole?

The Bag of Nails is a very good local.

their brilliant Moved by Conflict exhibition, and I must get to the National Gallery before Rembrandt: the Late Works closes.

What hobbies or interests will you be pursuing?

My job is really interesting and takes up most of the time I have. I’ll take a walk this weekend if the rain stops – perhaps in the Mendips.

What local event will you be attending?

Well, lots of glorious carol services and some UWE graduations in the Cathedral, and I’m also going to a concert at St George’s soon.

Favourite local walk?

Hard to choose between the walk from Sea Mills through the Blaise Castle Estate, or Wavering Down in the Mendips… better still, just walking into the Cathedral every morning.

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

Really looking forward to Mr Turner with Timothy Spall and The Imitation Game with Benedict Cumberbatch.

Any projects/work in progress?

We Have our Lives, our WWI commemoration is still fairly new and my colleagues have done such a good job in remembering something we must never forget. We have just won £184,000 from the Cathedrals Fund to start work on our failing heating system, and we also have great plans for the space at the west end of the Cathedral.

Which museum or gallery will you be visiting?

I want to return to M Shed to spend longer in

For details about Christmas at the Cathedral, visit: www.bristol-cathedral.co.uk

Evening in or evening out?

Don’t get that many, so evening in, if you could arrange it please.

BOOK OF THE MONTH...

The Other Ida by Amy Mason £8.99, paperback (Cargo Publishing) Much of Amy Mason’s debut novel The Other Ida was written while she was cocooned in Bristol’s Spike Island as its first ever writer in residence. Nobody could have predicted that a few years later the book she had been working on would trample over 400 other entries and win the Dundee International Book Prize. The Other Ida is a raw exercise in sibling rivalry, alcoholism, parenthood and grief, all wrapped up in a chaotic world of faded theatre glamour and dusty boxes of crystalised ginger. Our antihero Ida returns home to reunite with her sister Alice as they prepare for their mother’s funeral. And in the days leading up to the burial, Ida and Alice are joined by a growing procession of lovers, old friends, forgotten relatives and buried memories as the chapters flit from decade to decade. Written in Mason’s confessional, honest style. Reviewed by Jane Duffus. The Other Ida is available online at: www.cargopublishing.com

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BRISTOL | SOCIETY

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

A rapt audience during Guy Clutterbuck’s talk about gems

Guests appreciate some of the work on display

A sparkling occasion The Clifton Club On Thursday 30 October goldsmith and jeweller Nicholas Wylde hosted a spectacular evening at The Clifton Club, where guests were invited to explore the world of gems. International gemstone merchant Guy Clutterbuck proved to be a popular and charismatic guest speaker, with an array of wonderful stories to tell alongside a few pearls of wisdom gleaned from his experience in the trade. The evening also celebrated the launch at Nicholas’ fourth piece of Wylde Art. Entitled Our Bristol, it is a combination of beautiful gems, precious metals and Bristol blue glass arranged to emphasise the city’s historic landmarks and famous innovations.

Nicolas Wylde is regarded as one of the top 50 jewellery designers in Britain. For more information about his work visit: www.nicholaswylde.com

Nicholas Wylde and Sara Dunn

Life in the fast lane Bristol Audi, Cribbs Causeway Saturday 15 November saw the arrival of the third generation Audi TT at Bristol Audi, complete with an all-new iteration that combines the latest Audi technology with a striking evolution of its iconic design. Roux Scholarship Winner 2013 and Hattusa head chef, Paul O’Neill was invited to cook and served stunning canapés throughout the day, much to the delight of guests. For all your Audi needs, contact Bristol Audi on tel: 0117 314 9308 or visit: www.bristolaudi.co.uk Getting the models ready for the fashion show

Model behaviour Gloucester Road

Chef Paul O’Neill with Steve Smith, head of business at Bristol Audi © Andrew Plant

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A great time was had by all at the first Fox & Feather and a.k.a . Hairdressing collaborative fashion show. “It was a great Gloucester Road event” said Beverley Cussen, Director of a.k.a. “We loved working together and it was great that other businesses were keen to help. Grape and Grind supplied the bubbly, Lynne Fernandes Opticians the glasses to accessorise our models’ looks, and Matt Lamoon captured the events on camera.” All profits went to CLIC Sargent Charity. To find out more, visit: www.foxandfeather.co.uk and www.akastyle.co.uk

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Hand-made,beautifully crafted traditional rugs from all over the Orient.

Oriental rugs of bath at Bookbarn International

T: 01761 451764 • www.orientalrugsofbath.com

A great day out, in one location!

Bookbarn International,Wells Road, Hallatrow, Bristol BS39 6EX

bookbarn@bookbarninternational.com • T: 01761 451333 www.bookbarninternational.com

WWW.THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

DECEMBER 2014

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THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE 19

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FACE | THE MUSIC

© Will Dodd

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FACE | THE MUSIC

FOX’S FANCIES What tunes get romantic novelist Victoria Fox’s pulse racing? Jenny Hayes finds out

G

lamorous Cliftonite Victoria Fox is one of the strongest voices in contemporary romantic fiction, penning racy bonkbusters with outrageous storylines, buckets of celebrity scandal and a dark wit that has won her fans across the globe. Yet although she spends her days dreaming up steamy encounters in exotic climes, her heart lies firmly in Bristol.

“I love Bristol,” she enthuses. “I first came here aged thirteen as a boarder at Badminton School, and although I subsequently moved away for university and then lived in London for eight years, I always wanted to come back.

“It just has everything. The culture is really creative, the music scene is amazing and there is always so much going on. My family also live near by, and it’s great to know that within minutes I can escape the city to roam the beautiful surrounding countryside or relax by the sea.”

It seems an unlikely progression, though, from sheltered schoolgirl to saucy novelist. Did those formative years at Badminton have any impact on her career choice?

“Moving away from home at that age forced me to stand on my own two feet and learn to trust myself,” Victoria explains. “Both of these traits served me well as I knew I could rely on my instinct when it came to taking calculated risks and following my creative goals.

“Badminton also taught me independence of thought and spirit. Skills were encouraged but it was more about pursuing your individual strengths and not being afraid to stand up and be yourself. And today I do that, loud and proud, with my bonkbusters!”

With five full-length summer blockbusters and a collection of shorter titles under her belt, Victoria certainly isn’t short of ideas when it comes to fabricating fabulous encounters among her fictitious crowd of Hollywood elite.

“I’m horribly addicted to celebrity magazines, and can’t get enough of pop culture. That’s where I get all my inspiration,” she confesses. “I’m also incredibly nosy and a bit of a conspiracy theorist, so I tend to build my story around an interesting figure in the media – someone who is constantly in the headlines, for controversial reasons – and use them as a hook upon which to build the plot and other characters.”

So what’s next for Ms. Fox? “I’m currently editing my new novel, out summer 2015. It’s inspired by my honeymoon in Argentina, so expect gorgeous gauchos and a touch of tango interlaced with the raunchy debauchery.” Sounds like a guaranteed scorcher.

Victoria’s top 10: ❶ King's Cross by Pet Shop Boys When I was little, there were two tapes in my parents’ car – one was OMD and the other was the Pet Shop Boys’ Actually. This song is the last on the album and reminds me vividly of road trips when we were young. It conjures a very specific feeling: of England, of family, and has a haunting languor about it that gets under my skin. ❷ Lucky Star by Madonna Oh, The Immaculate Collection. Every girl remembers it. There wasn’t a bad song on there. Singing into hairbrushes, arguing with my friend about who could be Madge in our dance routine because even though Madonna was blonde (like I was), she was actually, in real life, dark (like my friend).

We all wanted to be Madonna. She was candyfloss one minute and dominatrix the next – that perfectly enticing mix of big sister and bad influence. Lucky Star is, for me, her finest hour. ❸ Even Flow by Pearl Jam Time for a bold statement: I prefer Pearl Jam to Nirvana. Thirteen years old and my sister introduced me to the album Ten. I thought it was the fiercest, coolest, gravelliest (if there is such a word: if there isn’t, Eddie Vedder should invent it) sound I’d ever heard. Even Flow epitomises nineties grunge. It was a time of DMs, tie-dye and shag bands. Anyone I met in my teens who loved Pearl Jam was a best friend. ❹ Seven Wonders by Fleetwood Mac Hot, sexy, stylish and shot through with Spanish guitar, Tango in the Night WWW.THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

was one of the seminal albums of my childhood. Stevie Nicks’ scratchy vocal on this, my favourite, blends beguiling pop with epic love song. I remember listening to the album every night on a flaky Walkman, twelve years old and on holiday in Scotland. It spoke of themes I hadn’t yet met – love, infatuation, loss, heartache – and so carries an extra dimension, a heady naivety, whenever I hear it now. ❺ Clair de Lune by Debussy A song to listen to while looking out to sea. It reminds me of the countryside, bringing to mind fields and rivers and open spaces, the landscape that makes me happy. One of Bristol’s greatest assets is its proximity to the country. I love that I can be on Park Street at two and by a lake at half past. Clair de Lune makes me feel calm. It’s vulnerable, stripped back, deceptively bare, and its lilting strain lingers in the mind. ❻ A Whiter Shade of Pale by King Curtis I like Procol Harum’s version for different reasons, but in the end I had to choose the saxophone. This plays the opening credits to Withnail and I, one of my favourite films, and is a raw, muddy solo that needs no words. Because of connections to Withnail, it also reminds me of the Lake District. Before I met my husband, I’d never been to the Lakes. Now it’s one of the dearest places to us, and where he proposed two years ago. We chose this version to play at our wedding. ❼ The King of Wishful Thinking by Go West Let’s get the obvious out of the way: it’s cheesy. But, come on, it’s such a bonkbuster song. I’m the first to confess to a love of eighties music and it doesn’t get more eighties than Richard Gere driving down Sunset Boulevard in a white convertible (it plays in the beginning of Pretty Woman). Whenever I hit a writing wall, this song puts me right back on track, reminding me what I need to deliver. My books are about LA and palm trees, shoulder pads and hairspray, leopard-print and lipstick; they should feel like a hotred Ferrari speeding the freeway at night, or a Tequila Sunrise in a movie star’s hand. They should be fun, and they should be epic! No one can deny that eighties tunes are both these things. ❽ The Mother We Share by Chvrches I discovered the Scottish trio over the summer and I’m obsessed. I love the fragility of the vocal against strident synth. Unromantically, this reminds me of the M4, going between London and Bristol, after a meeting with my publisher. It’s thus become infused with book ideas, in a way synchronised with the novel I’m working on at the moment. It’s funny when songs start to belong to a thought process like that. ❾ Saturday Sun by Nick Drake At school, we had a French teaching assistant, who lived with us in our house and who we talked to a lot about music. One of the artists she introduced us to was Nick Drake. I found him evocative, a beautiful sort of melancholy, and the more I discovered about him, the more of a treasure his albums became. Saturday Sun makes me think of apples in an orchard in autumn, glowing orange and gold. ❿ A Forest by The Cure The album Mixed Up blew my teenage mind, and this was the most radical one on there. It’s a labyrinth of a song, disorientating and psychological. I’d take it to a desert island. I can imagine going feral to it, painting myself up and chasing a pig with a stick or something. Come to think of it, in my last bonkbuster Power Games, someone actually does this. Maybe they’d been listening to too much Robert Smith... n DECEMBER 2014

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THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE 21

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When hell freezes over

I

wonder whether we’ll have a white Christmas this year. As I write this the prospect doesn’t seem all that likely: the apple tree in the garden still has most of its leaves and the sun is warm enough for bugs of various kinds to be flying around in a slightly bewildered fashion. The natural world doesn’t go in for calendars, after all, but responds to stimuli, particularly changes in temperature. A fruit fly might enjoy (if that’s the right word) an entire lifetime during a warm spell in January.

Last year we had one frost in our pocket-sized back garden, and that was such a feeble effort that the geraniums and nasturtiums grew merrily all through the winter. The latter were in danger of achieving a Triffid-like mastery over us all but were killed off in the spring by some disease or other.

The year before that, by contrast, we were scrunching along icy pavements for weeks at a time. Was 2012 the last white Christmas? Or 2011? I can’t remember. Snowy winters are the sort of thing you recall not by date but as a sort of mythic happening, like the famous Summer of Seventy-Six; our children will grow up thinking it always used to snow at Christmas, once upon a time.

❝ I’D LOVE TO HAVE SWATHES OF THE CITY CLOSED TO TRAFFIC AND OPEN TO DANCING

❞

What amused me particularly about the last batch of cold winters was that I had been assured, only a couple of years earlier, that we would never ever see snow in Bristol again. The person who made this assurance was a weatherman employed by a national television company – in fact a leading, if not eminent, meteorologist. An expert in his field! I was writing something about the region’s artificial ski slopes (why, I have no idea) and rang him up to ask when he thought we might see snow again.

Never, he said. Global warming has put an end to all that.

Then of course it did snow. And freeze. And we had two or three hideous summers which were like most people’s winters. All of which made people scratch their heads and wonder what had happened to so-called global warming. In fact no-one with any real grasp of the complexities of climate science would have offered the kind of soundbite my weatherman gave me, because the world is very large and the effects of climate change are unpredictable.

I suppose this should be my cue for a lecture on the environmental impact of Christmas, but that wouldn’t be very festive, would it? However, the end of one year usually heralds the beginning of the next, and astute readers will be aware that next year Bristol has the honour of being the European Green Capital. What will this entail, I wonder? Personally I’d love to have swathes of the city closed to traffic and open to dancing. I’d like to see the city’s children playing fantastic games around the streets, while Queen Square hosts a 24 hour pedal-powered outdoor cinema.

But hang on, I hear you protest, none of these things is at all serious, and being a Green Capital is a grave responsibility. We must talk endlessly about Carbon, and fret about our numerous collective failings – our laziness, wastefulness and love of energy-guzzling modern gadgetry. Perhaps this is so, but I hope that our leaders will give us a bit less of this stick and a bit more carrot. If we want this Green Capital year to have an influence on the future development of the city, then those in charge need to show the rest of us that their particular vision is not only worthy and serious but also colourful, communal and fun.

And if anyone tells you that they know exactly what the future brings, and just what it is we should all do about it, just remember the weatherman who was so certain that it would never snow in Bristol again. n 22 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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ANNIVERSARY | CELEBRATIONS

TAKE IT TO THE BRIDGE Bristol’s iconic Suspension Bridge celebrates 150 years of majesty this month.

Jane Duffus reports on the festivities

W

e all know the Clifton Suspension Bridge. We’ve taken our visiting friends and relatives to admire Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s feat of engineering, and we’ve enjoyed the views of it from many miles around Bristol. And now one of our city’s most legendary institutions is to be celebrated with a festival of events to mark its 150th anniversary on Monday 8 December.

Bridge Master David Anderson says: “Our generation is fortunate in having this wonderful anniversary to celebrate. We look forward to lighting up Avon Gorge on the eve of the anniversary with a sparkling firework display and hope local people across Bristol will enjoy our plans for the day itself and the months to follow.”

Chris Booy, Chairman of the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust, adds: “This remarkable bridge is a powerful symbol for Bristol and has such an important place in the hearts of local people. We hope that residents will enjoy our anniversary celebrations and take a moment to stop and reflect on what a significant, inspirational achievement the creation of this bridge was 150 years ago.”

The concept for the bridge was extremely radical when it was conceived back in the 1830s – although the idea of building a bridge of some sort across the Avon dates back to the 1750s. The bridge would be the longest and highest suspension bridge anywhere in the world, and its creation would be one of the biggest challenges that Brunel would undertake in a career that also saw him develop the SS Great Britain and overhaul railway engineering.

The programme of events to mark the 150th anniversary is wide-ranging and takes in several of Brunel’s Bristol landmarks, and more information on those is provided in the pane at the end of the articlel. But before then, let’s take a trip back in time to revisit the original Suspension Bridge celebrations.

Bristol’s local paper reported that on 8 December 1864 the bridge opened “with a gorgeous ceremony quite befitting of such a noble structure”. The 24 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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Above: The final approved design, painted by Samuel Jackson and A.C. Pugin, 1831, © Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives This image: Isambard Kingdom Brunel

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ANNIVERSARY | CELEBRATIONS

The workforce used a temporary tramway to move heavy material to the site © private collection

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ANNIVERSARY | CELEBRATIONS

ceremony began with a military display in Queen Square, followed by troops marching up to the Downs, while a procession of Trades and Friendly Societies were assembling in Old Market. “The procession extended a distance of two to three miles and must have numbered several thousand persons,” reported the local newspaper. Bringing up the rear was Mr Ginnet’s Triumphal Car, a float drawn by eight horses showing Britannia seated on a globe and surrounded by the figures of Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Despite the rain, 150,000 people filled Bristol’s streets to watch the procession. Church bells pealed and many properties were decorated with flags and banners to celebrate the occasion. “All through the line of the route the roofs of the houses and windows from attic to basement were crowded with eager sight-seers,” added the newspaper.

KEY LINKS IN THE CHAIN FROM 1864 8 May After almost a year, the suspension chains that joined the two towers were finally completed. Despite the dangerous work involved in securing the 4,200 links in the chains, only one fatality was recorded.

2 July The last of the cross girders was fixed in place, completing the bridge’s framework. In the afternoon, the resident engineer and a party of his friends travelled across the bridge amid cheers from the crowds below.

22 September Members of the British Association for the Advancement of Science visited Bristol. Captain Huish, Chairman of the Suspension Bridge Company, toasted: “Though successive men engaged in the work have failed, fortunes lost and reputations wrecked, the work has been accomplished thanks to the pertinacity or obstinacy of the Anglo Saxon race.”

7 November The bridge was examined by Sir Charles Manby on behalf of the government. He concluded that “the strength of the bridge is ample and the quality of workmanship throughout the structure is very good”.

8 December The suspension bridge was opened! Beginning at 9.30am, three parades made their way to the bridge and, when they arrived, 20 bands played the national anthem as all three triumphantly crossed the bridge.

The final stages of the deck were completed in November 1864, © private collection

9 December The first member of the public to cross the bridge was Mary Griffiths from Hanham, who paid a one penny toll. Picking up her skirts, Mary raced a man from Clifton to Leigh Woods and beat him by a few yards.

The opening ceremony 8th December 1864, © private collection

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ANNIVERSARY | CELEBRATIONS

Crochet Suspension Bridge

by Briswool

Shortly after noon, the procession finally began to cross the new bridge. Met by the Clevedon Artillery Corps on the other side, the guns were moved into Leigh Woods and fired. Following this, the bridge was formally declared open for foot traffic from the following morning. A flag was raised and the artillery gave a 21-gun salute, before the military presented arms and the bands played God Save The Queen, and then the dignitaries headed off to the Victoria Rooms for a lavish banquet.

So clearly, it’s no small task to do justice to such grand celebrations from our forebears. But the team at BID Clifton Village, as well as at the Clifton Suspension Bridge and Visitor Centre, has been working hard to create a packed programme. BID Clifton Village is the Business Improvement District that supports organisations within the area. The team is dedicated to driving footfall and increasing spend in the village, as well as encouraging visitors from far and wide to explore the recently completed Clifton Suspension Bridge and Visitor Centre, which was made possible by a £595,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

One particularly fun part of the celebrations includes the return of the popular Briswool crocheted Suspension Bridge, handmade by Bristolian Joy Roddy. Andrew Morgan, chairman of BID Clifton Village, said: “It is a great honour to live and work in a city that’s home to such a famous landmark and so to acknowledge this momentous occasion, we wanted to do something a little bit different.

We were thrilled when the Briswool team offered to lend us the crocheted model of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. This is a great opportunity to see the Bridge in both its forms – little and large!” n For more information and to find out about events, visit: www.cliftonbridge.org.uk WWW.THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

BRIDGE 150! EVENTS FIREWORKS Celebrating 150 years since the opening of the bridge, there will be a spectacular firework display set to music at 7pm. The best views will be from Hotwells Road and Brunel Way, where the display will be reflected in the River Avon.

When? 7 December PROCESSION On 8 December 1864, Clifton Suspension Bridge was officially declared open and 150,000 people filled the streets to celebrate. On 8 December 2014, join a tribute to this historic event. Meet at the Clifton side of the bridge from 2.45pm for music from The Ambling Band, and then a procession from Clifton to Leigh Woods.

When? 8 December THEATRE Walking the Chains conjures up stories from the lively history of Bristol’s best-loved landmark in another Brunel masterpiece: the Passenger Shed at Temple Meads Station. In association with Bristol’s Show Of Strength and Circomedia.

When? 10 - 25 January BRISWOOL Briswool, a group who create crocheted and knitted representations of Bristol, has donated its model Suspension Bridge for an event being held in the village. The bridge was crocheted by Joy Roddy who says: “Last time the whole city of Briswool was on display, more than 6,000 people came to see it, so we’re confident that one of its most prominent landmarks will also spark interest.”

When? 6 - 20 December

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THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE 29

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IT’S CHRISTMAS! Add some sparkle Fossil gold crystal necklace rrp £119, Outlet price £74.99, McArthurGlen Designer Outlets Kemble Drive, Swindon, www.mcarthurglen.com

Christmas at the Orangery 2014. Over 30 designer-makers exhibiting their products, including these brooches by Pike jewellery Saturday 13 December, 10am – 5pm Bradbury Hall, Henleaze, Bristol BS9 4BT Café run by Chocolate Delores. In support of Penny Brohn Cancer Care, Bristol

Gold plated honeycomb bee ring

by Bill Skinner, £60, Amulet, 39a Cotham Hill, www.amuletjewellery.co.uk

Dress up Fire opal ring set in 9ct white gold, the stone has a lovely fiery, festive colour and is said to represent loyalty and trust. There is only one available, £600, Julie Anne Palmer, 129 Stoke Lane, Westbury-on-Trym, www.julieannepalmer.com Claudia Milic earrings, £278, Diana Porter, 33 Park Street, www.dianaporter.co.uk Peacock pearl stretch bracelet with Thai silver hammered heart, £30, Catherine Amesbury, 214 Gloucester Road, www.catherineamesbury.co.uk

Hand-carved amethyst and Karen Hill Tribe silver charm bracelet, £36.50.

Handmade at FossilDrops 27 St James Arcade, Broadmead, www.fossildrops.com Lace dress, Sweet Pea, £48 14 High Street, Westbury-on-Trym, www.sweetpeafashion.co.uk

Expressions collection bracelets, from £85, designed by Nicholas Wylde, 6 The Mall, Clifton, www.nicholaswylde.com

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Doodle print sweatshirt , Dsquared, John Anthony £220, 3 Philadelphia Street, Quakers Friars, www.john-anthony.com

Fossil Sydney embellished shopper, rrp £179, Outlet price £114.99 at McArthurGlen Designer Outlets UK, Kemble Drive, Swindon, www.mcarthurglen.com

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Deck the halls Not just for space buffs, this gorgeous vintage-inspired canvas Moon print is a chic alternative to traditional framed art. Simply suspend from a nail for some schoolroom charm, £60, Iota, 167 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, www.iotabristol.com

Moorcroft Pottery Summer Silhouette plaque, £185, Clifton Ceramics and fine jewellery, 58 The Mall, Clifton, www.cliftonceramics.co.uk

Mazlaghan rug, Oriental Rugs Of Bath, £290, 1 Hallatrow Business Park, Wells Road, Hallatrow. www.orientalrugsofbath.com

Lil Rockers Embers scented candle, heart warming scent of a real log fire. £15.95, Rhubarb Home, 4A Waterloo Street, Clifton

Something fun Cosy up in this comfy children’s armchair, handcrafted in Bristol covered in Designers Guild velvet. Remove the feet to transform into a Lil Rockers rocking chair. Designed and created by Ebony Rose Upholstery and Design Bristol, £295, 14 West Street, Oldmarket, www.ebonyroseupholstery.co.uk

New Bristol company Barefaced Bee makes luxurious, all-natural honey based soaps and skincare products from its workshop in the city – using honey made by city centre bees. The honey is combined with organic plant oils and botanicals to produce delicious and ultra-gentle soaps for a real skin treat.

Buy direct online or at the Made In Bristol Gift Fair at the Colston Hall on 29 November and 7 December, and selected retail outlets.

Barefaced Bee’s handmade soaps pictured, Lemongrass and Basil and Cedarwood, Lemon and Organic shea butter bars are £4.95 each. www.barefacedbee.co.uk

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Espresso cups or tea light holder, £34 , Oskar Furniture, 47 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, www.oskarfurniture.co.uk

Delight friends, family and other drivers with an original Rudy reindeer car decorating kit, transforming your vehicle into Santa’s favourite reindeer. Set includes, two antlers and a red nose with attaching wire. No tools needed, £12.99, Soukous, 44a-46 Cotham Hill, www.soukous.co.uk

Personalised castle clock. Choose from swinging fairy or knight pendulums. They also have a silent mechanism, meaning no noise at night. Handmade in the UK, and personalised instore, £35. Moodles, 208 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, www.moodles.biz

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CLIFTON CERAMICS & FINE JEWELLERY Christmas Gifts • Moorcroft Pottery • • Handpainted enamels • • Dennis Chinaworks • • Winstanley cats • • Fine Diamond and vintage jewellery • • FREE Silk lampshade with Moorcroft Lamps •

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Gold & Platinum Studio, 19 Northumberland Place, Bath BA1 5AR | Tel: +44 (0)1225 462 300 www.goldandplatinumstudio.co.uk | email: mike@goldandplatinumstudio.co.uk WWW.THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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

Emma Cains freelance theatre and costume designer

I

regularly work with Bristol Old Vic, designing sets and making costumes for their many and varied productions. This Christmas I’m working on their revival of Swallows and Amazons, the 2010 smash hit which toured the UK, had a run in the West End, and has now returned home.

The show was originally designed by Robert Innes Hopkins, so it’s important to me that the set and costumes remain true to his original production design. Very few pieces have survived from the original staging of the show, so it’s my job to oversee the remaking and reworking of new elements which will sit alongside the existing ones in harmony, while giving a new and fresh feel to this current production.

The great thing about working on this show, is that a lot of the costumes and props mentioned in the script are conjured from the characters’ imaginations, so in order to do this justice, you have to put yourself in the mindset of a child at play. We have had a great time re-creating the costumes for the show, and have tried to find fun and universal references within them that everyone can identify with from their own childhood.

It is always a joy to work with the Bristol Old Vic. My Dad used to take me to see the Christmas shows there when I was little, so this theatre is very dear to my heart, and was partly responsible for my decision to pursue a career in theatre design.

I remember the moment I discovered this job existed at aged 16, and I decided there and then that this was the perfect opportunity to explore such a creative career, blending my love of art, music and live performance.

It’s a unique and special experience to be part of the rehearsal process, watching the creativity of the actors in the room, adding incredible touches and nuances to bring the show to life. And then to sit anonymously in the audience with your work showcased on stage, gauging the audience reaction. During previews, you might be able to spot the creative team – we’ll be the ones sat near the back fidgeting, gripping the arms of our seats and furiously making notes about how to improve the show for the following night’s performance.

Being a part of any theatrical production is exhilarating, challenging and above all extremely hard work, but the best thing is working alongside all the other amazing creative individuals who help to create a magical experience for our audiences.

Emma has been working professionally in theatre for the past 13 years, after completing a design degree at Nottingham Trent.

She has designed over 60 theatre productions, and also worked in various roles for film and television, as well as running workshops and lectures on stage design. n www.charlottestonephoto.com

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CITY | CREATIVES

The butcher, the baker & the candlestick maker From festive treats and decorations to dinner on the day, Bristol’s businesses are ready to cater to your Christmas needs, says Hannah Stuart-Leach

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THE BUTCHER Rare Meat Butchers, 250 North Street, BS3 1JD. Tel: 0117 966 3593

Specialising in organic, locally sourced meats, Rare Meat Butchers of Southville – voted Best Local Butcher in 2014’s Bristol Good Food Awards – has found a natural home on independentminded North Street. Chris Cierpic, who set up shop four years ago, loves the enthusiasm of his suppliers and customers.

“A lot of people come in and ask where the meat is from, which is great. We’re getting a lot of young people coming in especially, which is a good sign for the future.

They know about what’s going on, they’ve read the horror stories about supermarket meat and factories. We just offer a good honest local product, but it’s hugely different in terms of taste and treatment of the animals.

Our meat is from small farms and very much local. We’re passionate about local produce, because it’s just so good! It’s the meat chefs want to use – if it’s a decent restaurant, they won’t buy from the supermarkets. On North Street, we supply both the Tobacco Factory and Souk Kitchen.

I’ve known the guys we buy the meat from for so long. For instance, our turkey farmer I’ve known for 30 years. There’s never been a scandal with any local meat because the farmers haven’t been pressurised on price. The people who come in here quite often say they don’t eat a lot of meat, but when they do they’d rather spend a little extra.

Duck’s probably the most costly meat you can buy for Christmas, but we sold many last year. Just roast it. Good Christmas dinners are just about buying a good product in the first place. You get the result you want without having to worry about too much preparation.

Festive specials: I personally prefer duck or beef for Christmas dinner, although the turkeys and Turkey, goose, lamb, geese we get are fantastic. A good quality chicken, duck – all free turkey looks so different. It shouldn’t be range and available right dry or slimy, and it should have a nice up till the very last healthy colour.

All our sausages are made here, from week before local free range pork. We make about 20 Christmas different types, all using fresh herbs. For pigs in blankets, the Cumberland’s one of the best.”

Elsewhere: Source Food Hall & Cafe in St Nick’s Market has a great selection of game for the season including partridge, rabbit and hare. It also makes free range Gloucester Old Spot pork pies, black pudding and chestnut stuffing. And if you’re unsure about how to prepare any aspect of your feast it also runs basic butchery, fish filleting and charcuterie courses. 1–3 Exchange Avenue, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1JW, Tel: 0117 927 2998, www.source-food.co.uk.

THE BAKER East Bristol Bakery, 112 St Mark’s Rd, BS5 6JD, Tel: 07542 198209, eastbrisbakery.tumblr.com

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CITY | CREATIVES

East Bristol Bakery is a small craft bakery – winner of Best Local Bakery at 2014’s Bristol Good Food Awards – on St Mark’s Road in Easton. It’s known for it’s traditional “realbread”, explains owner Alex Poulter, which has no unnecessary ingredients – just flour, water, salt and yeast.

It also makes award-winning cakes, including vegan and dairy free options.

“The bakery is open plan so everyone can see what’s being made. This was so important to us because food is about shared experiences. In our bakery the person who made your bread is likely to be the one who sells it to you. This is what we love about baking. It is a complete process from raw ingredients through to the conversations with our customers when they buy their loaf.

Christmas is a great time to be a baker. As the nights draw in and everyone’s thinking of comfort food, we’re the ones making that chunky bread to go alongside your warming stew. When you need a special desert because it’s been a long, cold day, how about a freshly baked brownie with warm cream? We’re the ones to come to! You might find us looking a little smug because it’s a constant 25c inside, even if it’s -5c outside, but believe me we suffered enough during the summer – 40c is not unusual in August.

The one thing about having an open plan bakery is our customers are not sheltered from my awful singing. Christmas songs are dangerously infectious, and I’d like to apologise in advance for my rendition of popular classics. Knowing my team I will not be the only one guilty – we may attempt harmonies and I'm truly sorry. Customers will be encouraged to join in.”

Festive specials: Veggie and vegan friendly mince pies, seasonally spiced cakes and, available on certain days as a special treat, plaited Pulla bread with cardamom and dark brown sugar.

Elsewhere: Joe’s Bakery on Gloucester Road gets right into the Christmas spirit with its selection of baked goods, including traditional German stollen, puff pastry mince pies and a hazelnut plait called Nusszopf. The speciality however is the round, sugar dusted Christmas Bread, which contains cherries, raisins, mixed fruit peel, walnuts and lemon zest plus a top-secret spice blend. 240–242 Gloucester Rd, Bristol, Avon BS7 8NZ, Tel: 0117 975 5551, www.joesbakery.co.uk.

THE CANDLESTICK MAKER Bristol Blue Glass, 357–359 Bath Road, Arnos Vale, BS4 3EW, Tel: 0117 972 0818, www.bristol-glass.co.uk

Festive specials: Proudly bearing the strapline “Truly Christmas Angels set Bristolian”, you don’t get much more in blue, green, ruby and local than Bristol Blue Glass, which reamethyst, the Bauble Blowing established the city’s long lost glass Experience, candlesticks making tradition when it opened in 1988. and gift vouchers.

Using traditional techniques, the instantly recognisable tableware and ornaments are still hand blown onsite in the Bath Road shop, explains marketing manager Sharon Crapanzano. It’s also one of the few places you’ll still find handmade candlesticks.

“We make a few types of candlestick, great for festive decoration, but the most popular is probably the Twisted design. We do them in ruby as well as the trademark blue.

Business is booming at Christmas, but mainly because of the Bristol Blue Glass bauble. But a bauble isn’t just for Christmas you know! People can come in and blow their own bauble all year round. They can also get them engraved if they want, for a special gift.

We recommend booking in advance, but we certainly wouldn’t turn people away if they just show up. It is completely full on at this time of year, there’s so much more we do apart from just being a shop. You can also find us at the German Christmas market in town.

Everything is handmade which makes buying our products extra special, people can come in and watch our products being made. They love it, because they really get to appreciate the amount of workmanship that goes in to each product.

The glassblowers are all really creative and have their own lines as well. So if you want something totally bespoke made, they can do that too.

We supply to lots of local business, and make all sorts of local awards. If it’s blue, we probably made it. To us it’s very important to keep things local.

It’s called Bristol Blue Glass for a reason.” n With thanks to all the traders who took part in this feature.

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CITYgardens

CHRISTMAS | MARKETS

Elsie Belle at the Harbourside Market © Lilja Jónsdóttir

FESTIVE FARE Need some inspiration for your Christmas shopping this year?

Jenny Hayes finds gorgeous gift ideas at some of Bristol’s vibrant seasonal markets

I

t’s that time of year again. The weeks leading up to Christmas are rapidly dwindling down to days, and the panic surrounding last-minute pressie buying is setting in. Truth be told, the prospect of slogging round the shops in search of gifts is enough to dampen even Santa’s Christmas spirit. But fear not Bristolians, there is an alternative. This month our city is jam-packed with festive markets that offer an inspiring alternative to the usual dreary routine.

Fancy a cosy indoor space away from the winter weather? Or would you prefer to wander through softly lit stalls on a cold, crisp evening, sipping mulled wine to keep the chill at bay? Why not do both? Our markets come in all shapes and sizes, from little pop-ups appearing only for a day to huge events that spread out along our streets and last the entire month.

Each and every one boasts stalls that are bursting with goodies, including work by local artists, jewellers, designers, potters and toy makers, as well as new and vintage decorations and homeware. There are also gourmet treats on offer that it would be a crime not to sample, such as cheeses, chutneys and artisan breads if you have a penchant for savouries, or cakes, pastries and other delicious delectables for those with a sweeter tooth.

Never one to shy away from an opportunity to shop – or even just to think about it – I’ve compiled this guide to just a few of the markets in Bristol that I’m looking forward to visiting this year. Some are well-loved, long-standing community events that take place each year, while others are brilliant new initiatives that look set to become regulars on the festive calendar. So rip up your wish list and head down to a market near you – you’re guaranteed to find everything you need, and more.

Happy hunting!

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Festive Flea Market, The Folk House Saturday 13 December, 10am – 4pm Let Christmas shopping nightmares be a thing of the past. Head down to this charming market to find cheerful local traders selling a mix of vintage clothes and accessories, homewares, records, ceramics, books, cheese, tea and much more. And the scrumptious cakes served at the café are the stuff of Bristol legend, should you need a snackette during your spree. The Folk House, 40a Park Street, BS1 5JG, tel: 0117 926 2987 or visit: www.bristolfolkhouse.co.uk

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CHRISTMAS | MARKETS

Christmas at the Orangery Bradbury Hall Henleaze

Bowls by Caroline Casswell Room 212 by Diana Figuerdo

Saturday 13 December, 11am – 5pm This boutique market is hosting 30 local designers this year, including interior items from Hannah Redden, art from Lucy Routh, jewellery from Melanie Pike, gorgeous colouring books from Rosie Flo, and delicious delicacies from Chocolate Delores Cakes.

Are you a creative sort? Then good news. This year you can enter your work in a new competition to win a free stand at the market, as well as a year’s business membership with Pretty Nostalgic magazine. You’ll have to be quick though, as the closing date is 10 December.

For more details visit: www.christmasattheorangery.com. In support of Penny Brohn Cancer Care.

WIN

St Nicholas Market, The Exchange Monday – Saturday, 9.30am – 5pm, Sunday, 10am – 4pm Nestled within the beautiful surroundings of the Exchange building, the Glass Arcade and the Covered Market you’ll find a riot of fun and funky stalls carrying everything from mystic crystals and incense sticks, to fascinating fossils and fair trade fashion, and everything in between. There are also a myriad of restaurants serving heathly snacks such as pittas, more indulgent options like scrummy Pieminister pies, and sweet items too. For details visit: www.bristol.gov.uk

Glos Rd Central Christmas Party Pigsty Hill Gloucester Road Thursday 4 December, 5.30pm – 8.30pm

Henleaze Christmas Festival Wednesday 3 December, 4pm – 8pm Without doubt, this popular festival is the biggest community event in the area. There is always a huge variety of stalls, as well as a children’s area on Cardigan Road and Santa’s grotto not far away. As is the tradition, Henleaze Junior School will open the event at 4pm before the Salvation Army take over to provide carols throughout the evening. Many local shops will be open for the evening, and there’s never a shortage of special offers. This year’s prize draw will raise money for local charities the Bristol Child Contact Centre, the Capella Foundation, BRACE and the National Eye Research Centre.

Copies of the festival programme will be distributed in the area, and for more details contact Stan Hazell on tel: 0117 962 0809 or via email: stanhazell@yahoo.co.uk.

Sponsored by Maggs and Allen Estate Agents.

Lynda’s Loaf at the Harbourside Market © Lilja Jónsdóttir

Organised by Glos Rd Central, which was set up earlier this year to support independent traders and promote links with the local community, this fab event will see shops along the famously eclectic road celebrate the start of their later Christmas opening hours. And there’s no end of fun goings on to tempt you down.

Shops and galleries such as Room 212, Paper Plane, Fig and Artemis will be showing off a huge array of Christmas goodies, from local art and jewellery, to mugs, cards, decorations and bags. Moodles and Odd Sox offer UK made children’s clothing, shoes and stocking fillers while Osna Therapy Centre have made their own body creams. Or treat yourself to a Christmas makeover at Fizz, Nuala Morey or Icon Beauty.

Locally run Lashings, Boston Tea Party and Café Delight will offer hot drinks and Christmas specials while 102 Cookery School, Cake and the famous Joe’s Bakery will be providing tasters of their mouthwatering dishes, breads and beautiful cakes. Live music will bring extra Christmas magic to the event, with bands provided by local schools throughout the evening, followed by an afterparty at the Golden Lion who will be hosting a fantastic 17 piece big band called GBH – the Gorgeous Big Horns – later in the evening. What better excuse to spend those Bristol pounds?! For more information follow glosrdcentral on Facebook and Twitter, or visit: www.room212.co.uk

Harbourside Christmas Market Millenium Square Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from 28 November – 21 December, 10am – 6pm This year, for the first time, the Harbourside Market and At-Bristol Science Centre are working together to create a brand new Christmas market in Millenium Square. The 42 stalls will be home to local food creators, crafters, artisans and designers, all championing their top notch goodies. Among them are Lynda’s Loaf (pictured) – an organic bakery and festival favourite based in Somerset, the Bristol Book Stall – selling collectable books and cult DVDs, Harbourside Tales – with their quirky range of puppets, and Koala Creations – offering imaginative gifts for all ages. While you are there you can admire the enormous, 8m tall Christmas tree, take a turn round At-Bristol’s beautiful outdoor ice rink, and treat yourself to a hot toddy afterwards as a reward for your efforts. There will also be demos such as mince pie making, and events for children and adults taking place on various dates. For more information visit: www.theharboursidemarket.co.uk

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Christmas at the Spiegeltent presents Love Food Festival Sunday 7 December and Christmas Markets, Saturday & Sunday 13/14 & 20/21 December The return of Love Food Festival to the Spiegeltent sees some of the finest producers in the region gather together to sell their wares. If you play your cards right, this could be your one-stop shop for all your edible Christmas needs as well as offering loads of thoughtful, sustainable gift ideas. Why not create a bespoke hamper bursting with jams, chutneys, wine, cider, cheese and chocolate for someone who’s been extra good this year? Even if that someone is you.

Once the food shopping is done, you can think about purchasing your pressies at the Christmas Market, during which the Spiegeltent throws open its doors so you can peruse vintage and handmade gifts, clothes, accessories, nik-naks, jewellery, furniture, cards, art and much more – if you can tear your eyes away from the gorgeous interior of the tent itself. There’s also an incredible array of night-time entertainment on offer. For more details visit: www.christmasspiegeltent.co.uk

German themed Christmas Market Broadmead Friday 7 November – Monday 22 December, Santa’s Grotto, The Galleries, Saturdays & Sundays in November then daily till Christmas Eve, The Giant Snow Globe, Broadmead, Friday 14 November – Monday 22 December

Both images © Ken McLaughlin at BSSIX Creative

There is all sorts going on in Broadmead this Christmas. The German market returns with its wooden chalets that line the pedestrianised area, offering homemade gifts and decorations – including unusual and exquisite wooden baubles – as well as traditional food and drink like glühwein, bratwurst and lebkuchen. You can also top up your Christmas cheer in the onsite Bavarian beer garden where plenty of beverages will be on offer, as well as festive background music.

If you peek inside The Galleries while you are down in the centre, you’ll also catch a glimpse of Santa and his elves preparing for Christmas. He’s always happy to see children, whether they’ve been naughty or nice, but it’s best to make sure he’ll be home when you drop by. For opening hours visit: www.galleriesbristol.co.uk.

New for 2014 is a giant snow globe that can be found near the market. Step inside to find your own winter wonderland, complete with mountains of snow and a 6ft snowman – rest assured, he’s friendly. For more information about all these events and more visit: www.bristolshoppingquarter.co.uk

Christmas Food and Craft Market Brunel s SS Great Britain Saturday 13 December, 10am – 4pm Brave the winter chill as you wander through the outdoor stalls in Brunel Square, and then thaw out while browsing more inside the newly refurbished Great Eastern Hall.

There will be over 40 stalls offering everything from hand-made jewellery, home accessories, organic soaps and body oils, wood crafts and ceramics. You’ll also find yourself spoilt for choice when it comes to morsels to munch as you shop, or those to take home as gifts, since there will also be some of the area’s most well-loved food and drink traders on-site offering cider, cheese, chutneys, charcuterie, chocolates, as well as many other items that don’t begin with ‘c’. Further information is available at: www.ssgreatbritain.org or www.mullioncove.net n

Treefest St Mary Redcliffe Church Tuesday 9 December – Saturday 13 December, 10am – 6pm Not really a market, but a very merry event nonetheless, Treefest is a new festival that aims to raise money for local charities through celebrating the richness and diversity of our city. For the duration of this week, St Mary Redcliffe Church will be filled with Christmas trees that have been donated and decorated by a variety of local organisations – including Pieminister, Engine Shed, Room 212 and City of Bristol College. There will also be music and other entertainment on offer, all within the atmospheric surroundings of St Mary Redcliffe Church – which is worth a visit in itself. Free, with the opportunity to donate to one of three nominated charities. For more details tel: 0117 929 1487 or visit: www.treefest.org.uk

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COMPETITION

WIN Tickets to Dick Whittington Is there anything better than a Christmas panto? Oh no there isn’t! So enter this competition for a chance to win tickets to this festive favourite

T

he countdown is on to the ultimate tail of wags to riches, Dick Whittington – this year’s award winning spectacular family pantomime at Bristol Hippodrome.

This fantastic new production tells the rags to riches tale of a young man and his cat as they embark on an exciting quest for fame and fortune. Featuring all the traditional pantomime ingredients – sensational songs, a live band, dazzling dance routines, hilarious slapstick comedy and bags of audience participation – plus the magnificent sets and costumes that Bristol Hippodrome panto is famous for.

Starring as Alice Fitzwarren and her dog will be Britain’s Got Talent winners Ashleigh and Pudsey – who won rave reviews for their panto appearance in Manchester last year.

Appearing alongside them will be Ben Faulks (aka Mr Bloom from CBeebies) as Dick Whittington, Bristol’s favourite Andy Ford as Idle Jack, panto dame extraordinaire Eric Potts as Sarah the Cook and X Factor’s Brenda Edwards as Fairy Bowbells.

“Pudsey and I are so looking forward to appearing at Bristol Hippodrome this Christmas in Dick Whittington,” said Ashley. “This is our third panto and Pudsey enjoys it so much he is starting to become a bit of a diva by demanding his own dressing room, but I've told him he still has to share with me! This show really is great fun for all the family so I hope to see you all at Christmas time.”

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The run will include the first ‘relaxed performance’ of panto at Bristol Hippodrome on 30 December at 2pm, aimed at anyone who would benefit from a more relaxed environment, including people with an autistic spectrum condition, Ashleigh Butler stars alongside her trusty sensory and communication disorders or a canine sidekick, Pudsey learning disability.

Dick Whittington runs from Saturday 6 December to Sunday 5 January at Bristol Hippodrome. Tickets: £10 – £39.50 available at the box office on: 0844 871 3012 or visit: www.atgtickets.com/bristol.

Bristol Hippodrome, in conjunction with The Bristol Magazine, is offering you the chance to win two family tickets (each for two adults and two children) to see Dick Whittington at Bristol Hippodrome on Friday 2 January at 7pm. To be in with a chance of winning, just answer: Who will be starring as Alice Fitzwarren in Dick Whittington?

Email your answer with your name, address and contact number to: competitions@thebristolmagazine.co.uk, making sure to write ‘Dick Whittington Competition’ in the subject line. Deadline for entries: Thursday 18 December. n

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WHAT’S | ON Tom Service at St George’s Bristol

CULTURE BOOK Our guide to this month’s top events in Bristol and beyond Alice in Wonderland at Redgrave Theatre

Best Parties Ever at Paintworks

The Elegant Crowd © Jasper Doest at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery

DON’T MISS

Alice in Wonderland, Redgrave Theatre, Friday 28 November – Thursday 18 December, 2pm & 7pm Bristol Old Vic Theatre School’s family Christmas show tells the everpopular story of Alice’s encounters with the White Rabbit, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts and other fabulous, timeless characters. Children and adults alike will be enchanted.

Tickets: £8 – £17, book from the box office on tel: 0117 973 3955 or visit: www.oldvic.ac.uk.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Saturday 29 November – Sunday 22 February Encounter the rich array of wildlife on our planet in this world-renowned photography exhibition from the Natural History Museum, now in its 50th year. The extraordinary images on show celebrate the drama, beauty and splendour of the natural world with astonishing, creative and sometimes humorous wildlife photography. Tickets: Adult £3, conc. £2 child (5-16yrs) £2 (under 5s free). Visit: www.bristolmuseums.org.uk or tel: 0117 922 3571.

Shakespeare Retreat, Clifton College, Tuesday 2 – Tuesday 9 December Discover Henry V and Twelfth Night on this week long literary retreat, devised by the Shakespeare Academy in partnership with Clifton College.

Accommodation will be in a historic private house in Somerset, and places are limited to 35. Course fee: £2500. For more details or to book visit: www.shakespeare-academy.com or tel: 0203 290 1564.

Best Parties Ever season, The Paintworks, Wednesday 3 – Saturday 20 December, 7pm till late 1920s Chicago comes to Bristol this Christmas with this Roaring Twenties themed event that offers an exciting taste of prohibition in 1928 Chicago, where bootlegging gangs rule the streets and jumpin’ jazz bands entertain in shadowy speakeasies. Guests can enjoy a four course dinner in the richly furnished, glamorous dining room entertained by musicians and exhilarating bursts of cabaret from West End singers, dancers, acrobats and world class aerialists. After dinner the illicit gambling den awaits – and there’s chance to Charleston ‘til late on the dance floor. Tickets: £45, visit: www.paintworksbristol.co.uk.

Christmas at the Spiegeltent 2014 opens with a bang for a night of Balkan gypsy jazz and folk from Bristol’s finest Sheelanagig, plus dub, blues, reggae and hip hop from Land of the Giants. The first of a number of highlights to take you through the festive season. Tickets: £15 visit: www.christmasspiegeltent.co.uk.

Hazel O’Connor and Hugh Cornwell from The Stranglers, Trinity Centre, Friday 5 December, TBC Two legendary artists performing separate sets. Award-winning singersongwriter Hazel O'Connor teams up with saxophonist Clare Hirst (Bellestars, Communards, David Bowie) and Sarah Fisher (Eurythmics) on keyboards to perform a selection of her unforgettable songs. Hugh Cornwell will also be performing old hits and tracks from his new album.

Tickets available on tel: 0844 478 0898.

All A Glow, National Trust’s Tyntesfield House, every Friday and Saturday from 5 – 20 December, 5pm – 8pm Part of the Very Victorian Christmas season at Tyntesfield, which runs throughout December these special evenings allow visitors for follow lit paths to see the house all a glow. The lights will highlight the gothic facade and beautiful stained glass windows, set against the muscial background of singing from the nearby chapel. There is also the chance to take a guided tour around the outside of the house, or warm up with a mince pie and a sing along in the stable yard. Tickets: £5 (under 16s and NT members free).

For more information or to book visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tyntesfield or tel: 01275 461 900.

SAT DECEMBER 06

Make and Do Christmas Showcase, Brislington, Saturday 6 December, 10am – 5pm From 8 November the Make and Do Emporium has been celebrating and supportin local creative talent in their weekly Christmas showcase. On 6 December Cara Jane will be in the shop with her range of handmade polymer clay jewellery and other creations, and visitors will have the chance to make their own polymer clay decoration. For more information visit: www.mymakeanddo.co.uk, tel: 0177 971 1239 or email: kirsten@mymakeanddo.co.uk.

Coldharbour Road Christmas Open Evening, Thursday 4 December, 6pm – 8pm

Christmas Wreath Making Workshop, Wild Place Project, Saturday 6 December, 10am – 2pm

Join in the festivities as Coldharbour Road’s artisan shops, galleries and independent traders celebrate Christmas with customers old and new.

Meet artists and makers, enjoy music, food and drink… and pick up some unique Christmas gifts along the way.

Embrace the Christmas spirit this winter and create your own handmade wreath with award winning conservation educator Steve England. Forage for natural materials in the picturesque Wild Place Project woodland and then create your unique wreath to proudly hang on your door or give as a bespoke gift to a friend. Entry to the Wild Place Project for the whole day is included within workshop ticket price. Tickets: £30. Book on tel: 0117 980 7175 or email: info@wildplace.org.uk.

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Make a Christmas Wreath, University of Bristol Botanic Garden, Saturday 6 December, 1.30pm – 4.30pm

EDITOR’S PICK...

Come and escape from the hustle of Christmas preparations for an afternoon and indulge yourself. Get into the festive spirit and create something special this Christmas in a relaxed, fun and friendly atmosphere. A full demonstration will guide you through the process. All materials are provided. Festive refreshments included. Price: £35, visit: www.shop.bris.ac.uk.

Winter Lantern Parade, Bedminster, Saturday 6 December, 4.30pm

© Chris Bahn

Go Behind the Scenes at MShed, every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 11.30am, Wednesdays at 2.30pm Ever wondered what lies behind the doors of one of the city’s biggest museums? Well now you can find out! Join a behind the scenes tour of M Shed's collection stores and encounter treasures from the city's industrial and maritime past. Tours last approximately 45 mins. Suitable for ages 12+.

Suggested donation £3. Sign up at the information desk on the day or book in advance on tel: 0117 352 6600. For more information visit: www.bristolmuseums.org.uk.

This year’s parade will start from the Tobacco Factory, and take in the sights of Cannon Street, East Street, Little Paradise and British Road, before finishing at Compass Point on South Street. Featuring creations from eight local schools as well as those from community groups throughout the area, the lanterns will come in all shapes and sizes, with previous designs encompassing everything from a chicken, to a footballer, to the world. Bristol Samba and the Ambling Band will provide the entertainment en route. For more information get in touch on email: info@bwlp.org.

We’ve Got to Get to Bethlehem, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School at Redgrave Theatre, Saturday 6 and Saturday 13 December, 10am and 11.30am The order has gone out from cruel King Herod – all his subjects have to travel to their cities of origin to be counted in a census. But for Joe the carpenter and his young wife Mary, this involves a hard journey and a fear that they will have no proper lodgings at the very time when Mary's baby is due to be born. Mary and Joe don’t want to go, but they have no choice. They've got to get to Bethlehem! Suitable for ages 5+. Tickets: £7 from Bristol Old Vic box office on tel: 0117 973 3955 or visit: www.oldvic.ac.uk.

Mahler Symphony No. 9, St George’s, Saturday 6 December, 7.30pm To play Beethoven’s lyrical Romances for violin and orchestra, Bristol Concert Orchestra (conductor Stefnm Hofkes) welcomes exciting young violinist Eloisa-Fleur Thom. The main work of the concert – Mahler’s Symphony No. 9 – was described by Leonard Bernstein as “the ultimate farewell” to passion and human love, to country life and urban society, and to life itself. Yet this extraordinary and immense work remains a defiant affirmation of life. Tickets from www.bristolconcertorchestra.org.uk or from St George's, tel: 0845 402 4001.

Dick Whittington, Bristol Hippodrome, Saturday 6 December – Sunday 5 January, 2pm & 7pm

Bedminster Christmas Lantern Parade

The countdown is on to the ultimate tail of wags to riches, Dick Whittington – this year’s award winning spectacular family pantomime at The Bristol Hippodrome. Starring as Alice Fitzwarren and her dog will be Britain’s Got Talent winners Ashleigh and Pudsey, with Ben Faulks as Dick Whittington, Andy Ford as Idle Jack, panto dame extraordinaire Eric Potts as Sarah the Cook and X Factor’s Brenda Edwards as Fairy Bowbells. Tickets: £10 – £39.50 from the box office tel: 0844 871 3012 or visit: www.atgtickets.com.

SUN DECEMBER 07

Christmas Fair, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Sunday 7 December, 10.30am – 4pm Enjoy gift stalls, Christmas carols and crafts at the Friends of Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives’ annual Christmas fair. A day of festive fun for adults and children alike. The event is free, so just drop in. For more information visit: www.bristolmuseums.org.uk or tel: 0117 922 3571.

We’ve Got to Get to Bethlehem at Redgrave Theatre

Made in Bristol Gift Fair, Colston Hall, Sunday 7 December & Saturday 13 December, 10am – 4pm Bringing the best of the region’s designer-makers to the heart of the city for a festive shopping showcase of creative talent, the fair will be located over four floors filled with a vast emporium of unique handmade gifts. Free entrance. For more information visit: www.handmadeinbristol.co.uk.

FROM DECEMBER 10

A Concert for Christmas, Red Maids’ Performing Arts Centre, Wednesday 10 December, 7.15pm

Dick Whittington at Bristol Hippodrome

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All are welome to join the Welsh National Opera Friends for an evening of some of the best-loved arias and ensembles in opera plus a few festive favourites, performed by talented young singers from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, compered by WNO stars Donald Maxwell and Suzanne Murphy. Tickets £12 (Friends), £15 (non Friends) and £3 (students), drinks included.

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Alma Tavern Theatre

Dickensian Christmas Dinner, Brunel’s SS Great Britain, Wednesday 10 December, 7.30pm Enjoy a Victorian-themed, luxury banquet on board the SS Great Britain, in the opulent surroundings of the First Class Dining Saloon; with mulled wine, live music and storytelling from Dickensian characters throughout the night. Tickets: £60 (groups of eight or more £55pp). For more information tel: 0117 926 0680 or email: events@ssgreatbritain.org.

The Heist, Alma Tavern Theatre, Wednesday 10 December – Friday 12 December, 8pm The Heretical boys return with a tale of masterful thieves, ingenious gadgets, ancient secrets and the twisted megalomaniacs hell-bent on uncovering their mystery. Delivered through their unique mixture of slick physicality, eccentric characters and wicked humour The Heist will transport you to long lost catacombs and archaic technologies, whilst exploring the tumultuous affair between man and art. Tickets: £8/£5, visit: www.almataverntheatre.co.uk.

Muppets Die Hard, The White Bear, Wednesday 10 December – Friday 9 January, 8pm The Wardrobe Theatre have conspired to create a darkly comic, adult only, alternative Christmas show to serve as an antidote to the season’s usual sickly-sweet entertainment.

This is the venue’s biggest and boldest show yet, and an absurd merging of Jim Henson’s puppets and the 1980s blockbuster. Tickets: £5 visit: www.thewardrobetheatre.com.

Exultate Singers, St James Priory, Thursday 11 and Saturday 13 December, 7.45pm Exultate Singers perform an exquisite programme of Christmas music, the perfect preparation for the festive season, conducted by David Ogden. The ticket price includes interval refreshments of warm mince pies and a Christmas spiced fruit punch, together with a complimentary programme. Tickets are £15 for adults, £13 for concessions, £5 for students in full time education and £2 for under 18s, available online from www.exultatesingers.org or from Opus 13, St Michael’s Hill, tel: 0117 923 0164.

Out There Music Christmas Concert, St Monica’s, Saturday 13 December, 6.30pm

Exultate Singers at St James Priory

Out There Music’s choir and chamber ensemble will be performing a selection of spirituals and popular Christmas music, with all proceeds going to local charity Changing Tunes.

Conducted by Tom Jones, the programme also includes Lauridsen, Whitacre and Tavener.

Tickets: £8/£6 on tel: 07866 587 424. For more details visit: www.outtheremusic.net.

Winter Wonderland, St George’s, Saturday 13 December, 7pm This is a festive and fun-filled evening of traditional and contemporary seasonal music.

Come and join City Voices Bristol, conducted by musical director Simon Curtis and accompanied by Ben Pinnow, and start your Christmas celebrations in style. The programme includes beautifully harmonious arrangements of both traditional carols and popular seasonal songs, as well as stand out solo performances. £1 of every ticket sold will go to Alive charity. Tickets: £11, £9 and £7 from St George’s box office on tel: 0845 40 24 001 or visit: www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk.

FROM DECEMBER 14

Christmas at Windmill Hill City Farm, Sunday 14 December, 12pm – 4pm Christmas at Windmill Hill City Farm

This charming Christmas fair features market stalls, a tombola, mulled wine and mince pies and a chance to visit Santa’s grotto. Why not pop down and pick up some thoughtful gifts in the form of vouchers for some of the workshops on offer in 2015 – including spoon carving, animal husbandry and basket weaving. Entrance is free. For more details visit: www.windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk or tel: 0117 963 3252.

Ceremony of Carols, Bristol Cathedral, Monday 15 December, 7.30pm Join Bristol Cabot Choir for their annual Christmas concert, conducted by Rebecca Holdeman and featuring harpist Ruth Faber and soprano Francesca Gregory. The concert will showcase an amalgam of traditional and modern carols for choir and audience. The highlight of the programme will be Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols. Accompanied by the harp, this wonderful work consists of eleven movements with text in Middle English. Tickets: £15/£12, visit: www.bristolcabotchoir.org or tel: 0117 968 6822.

BUMP Rollerdisco, Christmas Spiegeltent, Tuesday 16 December, all ages 5pm – 7pm, over 18s 7.30pm – 12am Bristol Cabot Choir at the Cathedral

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After a sell out success in 2013, the BUMP Rollerdisco returns with flashing lights, glitter balls, old school disco and skating magic. The Spiegeltent will be transformed into a retro roller rink with diner style food and classic disco tunes. And this time there’s an early

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session for all ages as well as an over 18s. Tickets: £10/£15, skate hire included.Visit: www.christmasspiegeltent.co.uk.

Marc Collin, Christmas Spiegeltent, Wednesday 17 December, 8pm Nouvelle Vague’s co-producer Marc Collin brings his new musical project, Bristol, to the city for it’s world premier. Taking 90s trip-hop tracks by the likes of Massive Attack, Portishead, Tricky, Morcheeba and Archive, he reinvents them in a 1960s movie soundtrack style. Tickets: £18 from Colston Hall box office on tel: 0844 887 150 or visit: www.colstonhall.org.

Christmas Star Concert, Bristol Cathedral, Thursday 18 December, 7pm

Marc Collin at Christmas Spiegeltent

Raising funds for local charity Above & Beyond’s Golden Gift appeal for Bristol hospitals, this family friendly concert is packed with festive favourites, beautiful music and traditional carols. Performers will be the Bristol Citadel Brass Band, the Above & Beyond Singers, and Bristol Cathedral Lower School Voices. Tickets: £12, tel: 0117 370 0485 or visit: www.aboveandbeyond.org.uk/christmas-star-concert.

Only Men Allowed, Colston Hall, Thursday 18 December, 7pm Welsh folk songs, hymns, opera, barbershop and pop await as the Last Choir Standing winners return. The Welsh male voice choir will perform an eclectic mix of material drawn from their three albums, Only Men Aloud!, Band Of Brothers and In Festive Mood, including singles All By Myself and Total Eclipse Of The Heart. With support from Jack Topping. Tickets £27.50 from Colston Hall box office on tel: 0844 887 1500 or visit: www.colstonhall.org.

Spirit of Christmas, St George’s, Friday 19 & Saturday 20 December, 7.30pm Only Men Allowed at Colston Hall

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Enter into the real spirit of Christmas with Bristol Bach Choir and the Liberty Brass Ensemble. This heart-warming evening takes place in support

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of St Peter’s Hospice, and is packed with festive goodies including sublime choral music, uplifting audience carols, thrilling brass and a sprinkling of thoughtful and humorous readings. Tickets: £8 and £18; students and under 18s £5, tel: 0117 214 0721 or visit: bristolbach.org.uk.

FROM DECEMBER 20

Christmas with the Phoenix Choir, Tyndale Baptist Church, Whiteladies Road, Saturday 20 December, 7.30pm Join the Bristol Phoenix Choir, with Paul Walton (conductor) and David Bednall (organist), for their annual concert of festive music and readings with punch and mince pies in the interval. Tickets: £10 (16s and under free), availabe from Opus 13, St Michael’s Hill tel: 0117 9230164, or Bristol Phoenix Choir ticket office tel: 07775 915 155, email: tickets@bristolphoneixchoir.org.uk.

Masquerade Ball, Christmas Spiegeltent, Saturday 20 December, 7pm The famous annual Spiegeltent masked ball returns for another night of dazzling revelry, mischievous mayhem and good ol’ fashion frolics inside the seductive Spiegeltent. There is a very fine cast of cabaret performers, bands and DJs delivering a riot of entertainment and music in this most beautiful of settings. Come in a wonderous creation, smart and dapper, or super slinky and, of course, wear a mask. Tickets: £22, visit: www.christmasspiegeltent.co.uk.

A Baroque Christmas, St George’s, Sunday 21 December, 8pm The Bristol Ensemble invite you to an exquisite evening of Christmas music from the golden era of the Baroque including works by JS Bach and Antonio Vivaldi sung by soprano Mhairi Lawson, one of the UK’s leading early music specialists. The programme also includes some of the best-loved chamber music of the period – Bach’s Double Violin Concerto and the festive Christmas Concerto by Corelli. Tickets: £22/£18/£15/£10 (£2 discount for concessions) available from St George’s box office on tel: 0845 40 24 001 or visit: www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk.

Bristol Ensemble Christmas Spectacular, St George’s, Monday 22 – Tuesday 23 December, 7.45pm Two glorious evenings of festive music performed by this professional orchestra with City of Bristol Choir (Monday) and Exultate Singers (Tuesday) under the baton of the entertaining conductor David Ogden, including sparkling arrangements of Christmas music for choir and orchestra, audience carols, readings and Christmas pieces for orchestra alone. Tickets £12 – £24 from St George’s box office on tel: 0845 402 4001 or visit: www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk.

Bristol Open Spaces, part of the Ramblers’ Festival of Winter Walks, Saturday 27 December, 10am This 5 mile walk encourages Bristolians to take a post-Christmas stroll around some of the city’s finest outdoor areas. Enjoy fresh air, exercise and the company of other walkers. For more information about this and other walks taking place as part of the season, visit: www.ramblers.org.uk.

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CITY | CHARITIES

Another side to CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY Jenny Hayes finds out what local charities and their volunteers are doing this Christmas, and how you can help them

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CITY | CHARITIES

WOMEN’S AID Tel: 0117 944 4411 or visit: www.womensaid.org.uk, www.thehideout.org.uk

Why do you choose to volunteer for Women’s Aid? From a young age I've been passionate about women’s rights and gender equality, so I was keen to channel this passion into my work life. I’d seen some amazing Women’s Aid campaigns before I volunteered with them and I always admired their unrelenting support for the victims of domestic violence. So when I saw the opportunity to volunteer with this incredible charity I couldn’t wait to be involved.

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omen’s Aid is the key national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children. I asked volunteer Becky to tell me a bit more about its work, and what she’ll be doing to help in the run up to Christmas.

What will Women’s Aid be doing in this December?

We’ve already had so much on this year, as it’s our 40th birthday. We’ve run an exhibition about our history, and held big fundraisers including an event in Parliament. We also always do a big Christmas fundraising appeal because for a lot of women and children, it can be a particularly difficult time. The pressure of everyone being at home more than usual, family staying over, and wanting to give the children a safe and happy Christmas can lead to an increase in incidents of violence, or to women struggling to hold everything together. It’s also a really difficult time for women who are in refuges, away from their family and friends. This big appeal assists us in supporting the services helping women at this time of year.

What do users say about the service you provide?

We get really lovely feedback on our Survivor’s Forum about the services our members run, and the help they get from the Forum itself. A lot of women say it’s the only thing that has kept them alive, or helped them to see that there is life after abuse. It’s really rewarding to hear the stories of women who have been able to get out and build new lives for themselves and their families. They give so much support to our campaigns as well, for changing the law to cover coercive control and to saving the national network of refuges. It’s so inspiring.

Will you also celebrate Christmas with your family?

Yes, I can’t wait! This is the first Christmas since both my sister and I have graduated from university so it will be a full house. I’m looking forward to putting my feet up and relaxing with the family.

If people would like to support Women’s Aid, what can they do?

So much of our work happens because of funds from the general public, so anything people can do to fundraise is really important. People run marathons, hold cake sales, and do all sorts of things! It’s great to have a whole community out there who support us in big and small ways. You can also donate £3 by texting: ACT to 70500 or set up regular giving on our website, which also has news of any volunteering opportunities, visit: www.womensaid.org.uk.

Registered charity number: 1054154

JESSIE MAY

CARING AT CHRISTMAS

Tel: 0117 961 6840 or visit: www.jessiemay.org.uk

Tel: 0117 924 4444 or visit: www.caringatchristmas.org.uk

The Jessie May Children’s Hospice at Home was created by a family for families in 1996, and is dedicated to ensuring that every terminally ill child receives the nursing care they need in their own home, free of charge, across Bristol and its surrounding areas. Volunteer nurse Helen spoke to me about what she’ll be doing with the charity over the festive season.

Caring at Christmas provides homeless people with a warm and safe shelter in Bristol from 3pm on Christmas Eve through to New Year’s Day. Users can also access medical help, and enjoy use of entertainment facilities. Project leader Ed was kind enough to take some time out from preparing for the busy time ahead and answer my questions.

What will Jessie May be doing over Christmas?

We will be providing respite visits for terminally ill children in their homes.

The run up to Christmas places a huge pressure on any family but when they are also caring for a child with complex needs it is even more so.

Will you also celebrate Christmas with your family?

Yes I will be but this is not something I take for granted. Some of our families may be facing their first Christmas without their child so it makes me reflect on my own situation. Jessie May nurses throw a fantastic Christmas party for the children and their siblings and families. It is filled with entertainment, great food and superb company and of course a visit from Father Christmas.

How can people help?

Every year we hold a Tree of Light Celebration at Cotham Parish Church. It is an ideal opportunity for people to make a dedication to a loved one or leave a message of support to our nurses and families to let them know you are thinking about them at this special time of year. We would also love to hear from anyone who wants to get involved with Jessie May – at Christmas or at any other time. We always need assistance to make sure that nurses like me can keep supporting families throughout the year.

What does Caring at Christmas do?

We offer the homeless and vulnerable accommodation, food, clothing, entertainment, medical support and various other amenities like hairdressing throughout the holiday season.

Why do you choose to volunteer over Christmas?

Christmas is traditionally a time for helping the less fortunate and making a difference for the better in the world, and that is reflected in our volunteers.

What do people say about their stay at the shelter?

Our guests are always grateful for the service we provide and are very protective of our volunteers when on shift.

Will you also celebrate Christmas with your family?

No, when I took this job I knew it would mean giving up my own Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.

Faith, mother of one of the children cared for by Helen, said that Chritmas at Jessie May is a seasonal highlight for her family: For us, Christmas begins with the Jessie May Christmas party. It's a fun-filled event for all the children on the caseload. The carol singers, magician and brass band, combined with a visit from Santa himself, set us up for the Christmas season perfectly!

Do people still have time to volunteer, or help in other ways?

Yes! This year we don’t have enough overnight volunteers to keep the shelter operational. If anyone would like to donate a night of their time to us, that would be fantastic – get in touch via our website, where a list of goods that we’d like to have donated is also available – all items are gratefully received.

Registered charity number: 1086048

Registered charity number: 1151615

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CITY | CHARITIES

ST PETER’S HOSPICE Tel: 0117 915 9400 or visit: www.stpetershospice.org.uk

As Bristol’s only adult hospice, St Peter’s Hospice cares for more than 2,670 patients each year, as well as providing a hospice at home service that is available all year round. Alison, a volunteer who will be working over Christmas, told me all about what she’ll be doing this year.

L–R: Nurse Claire, volunteer Alison , and nurse Amanda Jane

What services will St Peter’s Hospice be providing over Christmas?

It’s open to patients and families 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, as is the hospice at home service. I am a volunteer at the inpatient ward and this Boxing Day I will be there serving teas and coffees, making sure patients have everything they need and most importantly just being there for them and their families to chat to if they’d like.

Why do you choose to volunteer over Christmas?

I have been volunteering at the hospice for the past five years offering bereavement support and inpatient care, and also helping with the Neighbours Network which visits people out in the community. This will be the third year I’ve volunteered during the festive period. I love Christmas and have a great time with my family but there are people out there who aren’t so fortunate which is why I like to give my time.

Dealing with terminal illness is never easy but I think at Christmas it is particularly hard. Sometimes people just want a chat, sometimes a cup of tea will do it, and it’s lovely to be there for people when they need you.

The atmosphere at Christmas is always wonderful; the chef prepares a lovely home cooked dinner and the whole place is decorated beautifully. There’s a sense of fun and happiness which you don’t always expect. I also get something out of it, as it grounds me and reminds me how lucky I am.

What do users say about the service you provide?

Everyone is always very appreciative that the nurses and volunteers are there

for them at Christmas. Some patients are completely on their own so a little bit of company means a lot to them. I also talk to family members who are upset and coming to terms with their loss or their impending loss and often people are grateful to talk openly to someone they don’t know personally.

How can people get involved?

St Peter’s Hospice provides all services free of charge but it costs around £18,000 a day to run. The hospice relies on the generosity of the public to raise about £14,000 of that, so all donations are gratefully received. There is a packed calendar of fundraising events to get involved with in 2015!

Registered charity number: 1054154

ONE25, STEP AWAY FROM THE STREETS Tel: 0117 909 8832 or visit: www.one25.org.uk rebuild their lives. Of the women we supported 45 escaped street sex-work, 168 were treated for their addictions, 65 chronically unwell women were taken to a healthcare professional, 53 were given victim support, 47 were safely housed away from the streets, 18 were empowered to keep their children safely in their care, 11 started volunteering and 3 found jobs.

What do the women say about One25?

“Don’t give up on the women out there, they are lost and in a very dark place. One25 can mean the difference between life and death. I used to pray for their van, to get off the street, have some food, and see someone who really cares for me. None of the girls would be out there on the street if they could see a way out from drugs and sex-work. I thought that would be my life forever but One25 gave me hope. One25 is so important for when women like me need a way out, a choice.” Rachel (service user).

One25 is a charity that helps women to escape street prostitution in Bristol and rebuild their lives free from violence, poverty and addiction. Its work has been recognised with six national awards, including the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service earlier this year. I caught up with Josie, who told me more about what its been doing throughout the year.

What is One25 and how does it reduce street prostitution in the city?

The charity launched in 1995 and is still the only organisation in Bristol and the surrounding counties specialising in supporting this vulnerable group of women. Our 17 staff and 120 all-female volunteers offer a step away from the streets – whether for a short respite in our night outreach van, an afternoon in our cosy St Pauls drop-in centre or permanently with the help of our five specialist caseworkers. We also work with organisations like Barnardos, women’s hostels, local schools and Social Services to prevent girls from entering this damaging lifestyle.

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How can people support this work over Christmas?

Rummage at home for unwanted items that would make a big difference here at One25. We’re searching for people to donate tins/boxes of wrapped sweets, mini toiletries/make-ups, which we give out through December as Christmas presents to all of the women we see at our night outreach van.

Second hand women’s clothing in good condition, shoes and umbrellas are needed for homeless women, as are new toiletries and underwear. And for our drop-in centre we are always happy to receive pampering products and second hand DVDs. This winter, we’ve also teamed up with Localgiving who, until 31 January, will double every £1 you donate online at www.localgiving.com/one25.

Are you looking for volunteers at the moment?

We are, as we rely on our volunteers to support our drop-in sessions, outreach work, fundraising initiatives and do admin. Everyone receives ongoing training and supervision while they are with us. Our next volunteer information evening is on Monday 19th January 2015, 6pm – 8pm. Please email iwanttovolunteer@one25.org.uk giving your name, contact phone number and how you heard about us. n Registered charity number: 1062391

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Justnanco Fine Art Gallery 100 Queens Road, Clifton, Bristol. BS8 1NF Tel: 01179730907 • Mob: 07964243979

Opening times: Mondays: Pre-booked Private viewings Tuesdays - Saturdays: 10:00 - 19:00 • Sundays: 11:00 - 16:00

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ARTS | & EXHIBITIONS

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WINTER GALLERY Mixed Show, Cube Gallery, Saturday 29 November – Saturday 20 December A Christmas group exhibition featuring work by regular gallery artists, showcasing the directions they are taking in 2015: Peter McGrath draws viewers in with his emotionally charged portraits and landscapes.

Jack Frame has a passion for trees, cherry blossoms and oaks in particular, but here focuses on rose bushes rendered in soft peaches and pinks on gold leaf panels.

Chris Wood’s mandala shape series creates optical kinetic pieces, light transforming each as it travels across the glass.

Tay Bak Chiang was inspired by a walk through a nature reserve in Singapore when producing his Stone series, which is a visual representation of freedom from worldly desires.

Peter Monaghan works with diverse materials such as ping pong balls, paper and perspex, using the movement of light to modify the perception of his pieces.

Myung Nam An produces vibrant, quirky ceramics.

Katie Allen creates beautiful and intricate patterns of gem like colour within her vibrant landscape paintings.

Paul Kessling punctuates skyscapes with primal shape-memories that swirl and dissolve in the observer’s eye to form intense emotional climates.

Derek Balmer’s command of colour and form draws the viewer in to his abstract landscapes.

Also on show will be work by new artists, including Debbie Lock (ink on paper), Claire Cohen (sculpture) and Anouk Mercier (ink and graphite on paper). Cube Gallery, 12 Perry Road, BS1 5BG. For more information tel: 0117 377 1470 or visit: www.cube-gallery.co.uk

Indian Summer by Katie Allen

Weather Prophet by Stephen Lindsay

You Move Me, Antlers Gallery, Create Centre, Saturday 29 November – Saturday 10 January An ambitious exhibition of new work that revolves around a large-scale sitespecific installation by Bristol-based artist Jo Lathwood, transforming the Create Centre into a wooden tunnel-like space for visitors to journey through and explore.

In dialogue with this main framework are pieces by Helen Jones, Laurie Lax, Olivia Jones and Synnøve Fredericks. Create Centre, Smeaton Road, Spike Island, BS1 6XN. For more information visit: www.antlersgallery.com Interference by Jo Lathwood

▲ Christmas Exhibition, Lime Tree Gallery, Saturday 22 November – Tuesday 23 December Lime Tree Gallery presents a wide range of paintings by notable contemporary artists across landscape, still life and figurative paintings. Featured artists include Mary Davidson, George Gilbert RSW, Phil Johns, Steven Lindsay, Neil MacDonald PAI RGI RSW, Morag Muir, Robert Newton, David Smith RSW and Marion Thomson. The exhibition also includes a beautiful collection of glass and some fine jewellery, with a good selection of Christmas present sized works. Lime Tree Gallery, 84 Hotwell Road, BS8 4UB. Tel: 0117 929 2527 or visit: www.limetreegallery.com 58 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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Christmas Open Evening, Coldharbour Framery & Gallery, Thursday 4 December

Christmas Market, Greenbank Easton Artists, Saturday 13 – Sunday 14 December The monthly Sunday art market has been extended over the weekend, selling local artist’s work in a relaxed, funky and friendly environment. On offer will be prints, greeting cards, glasswork, paintings, photography, and much more. Greenbank Pub, 57 Belle Vue Road, BS5 6DP

Snowy Nightfall Cumberland Basin by Abigail McDougall

The Shining Guest, View Gallery, Thursday 30 November – Sunday 18 January

Black Mimosa

by Bruce McLean

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Laws of Attraction, Spike Island, until Sunday 14 December For her first solo exhibition in the UK, Italian artist Anna Franceschini presents a series of short and silent 16mm films alongside single and multi-channel digital projections from the last five years. Her work results from a meticulous observation of reality and celebrates the poetics of everyday objects and processes. Open Tuesday to Sunday 12am – 5pm. Tel: 0117 9229 2266 or visit: www.spikeisland.org.uk ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Little Spaces Big Places, The Folk House Cafe from Saturday 29 November Showcasing new and old work from Bristol-based illustrator Martha Ford.

Her colourful, mysterious and often playful landscapes include small human habitats, strong compositions and striking colour palettes. Through her work, she explores the cohesion of humans and the natural world, our passion for exploration and our wonderful imaginations. The Folk House, 40a Park Street, BS1 5JG

Toyland 2

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Hurry down to the gallery and catch the autumn exhibition featuring atmospheric woodland etchings by new artist Morna Rhys, alongside paintings and prints by Liz Vibert, Jenny Millbank and other local artists. The gallery is also packed with affordable art and crafts this Christmas – and this annual opening offers the chance to meet many of the gallery’s regular artists such as Abigail McDougall, with their latest pieces specially commissioned for the festive season. Coldharbour Framery & Gallery, 111 Coldharbour Road, Westbury Park, BS6 7SD. Tel: 0117 944 6244 or visit: www.coldharbourgallery.co.uk

Bristol-based Beth Carter’s first solo show at View Gallery presents an extraordinary new collection of work. It includes some familiar creatures in Minotaur and Moth and Dog Mask Figure, and introduces new animal and human combinations in Standing Elephant and Grinder’s Monkey. Complementing the bronze sculptures are high-impact drawings where again fantasy meets reality. View Art Gallery, 159–161 Hotwell Road, BS8 4RY. Tel: 05603 116 735 or visit:. www.viewartgallery.co.uk

▲ Screen Prints, Innocent Fine Art, until Wednesday 24 December This winter, Innocent Fine Art present a prestigious exhibition of limited edition screen prints by leading British artists include Sir Peter Blake, Sandra Blow, Barbara Rae and Bruce McLean. Open Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 5.30pm, Sunday 11.30 – 4pm. Innocent Fine Art, 7a Boyces Avenue, Clifton Village, BS8 4AA. Tel: 0117 973 2614 or visit: www.innocentfineart.co.uk

Minotaur and Moth by Beth Carter

Syndecdoche, Christmas Steps Gallery, Tuesday 2 – Tuesday 23 December Fresh from a successful debut exhibition in London, this Bristol-based art collective is bringing the work of 22 artists to the gallery this December. There is also a Christmas shop selling an eclectic selection of playful and thought-provoking art work to suit every budget and taste. The Synecdoche artists have all sudied drawing and applied arts at the University of the West of England, so their work explores a variety of media and processes, and challenges the perception of what it means to draw. In doing so, the collective blurs the boundaries between fine art and craft by creating intellectual connections between material, process and concept. Christmas Steps Gallery, 11 Christmas Steps, BS1 5BS. Open daily 10am – 6pm. For more information visit: www.christmasstepsgallery.co.uk Untitled work by Laura Waite

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Mr Magnolia by Quentin Blake

Arboretum – The Art of Trees, The Royal West of England Academy, Friday 19 December – Sunday 8 March If you go down to the woods today…

Celebrating Bristol’s year as European Green Capital, the RWA launches its winter programme on a fittingly green theme, with Arboretum – The Art of Trees: The Arborealists and Other Artists opening just in time for Christmas. This verdant show explores the tree as a rich subject in art, featuring founding members of the Arborealists group alongside RWA Academicians. Drawing on the romantic tradition in art, alongside the exploration of ecological issues, the show intertwines art and environment, capturing a very British symbol of life and renewal. RWA, Queen’s Road, Clifton, BS8 1PX. Tel: 0117 973 5129 or visit: www. www.rwa.org.uk Domino by Celia De Serra

▲ Quentin Blake signed limited editions, Sky Blue Framing & Gallery, throughout December Sir Quentin Blake’s work crosses all barriers of age, gender and preference. He can tell wonderful stories without a single word. Swinging high in the realms of flamboyant humour and absurdity, his style is so alive, every line feels electric. The gallery has eight new signed limited editions now in stock, including Mr. Magnolia and Mrs Armitage.

Other artists and jewellers are also showing work. Sky Blue Framing & Gallery, 27 North View, BS6 7PT. Tel: 0117 973 3995 or visit: www.skybluegallery.co.uk

Bridges, Clifton Fine Art, Friday 28 November – Friday 12 December

Star Queen

Celebrating 150 years of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, this exhibition features work by artists Tom White, painter of Bristol cityscapes, Ruth Ander, whose work features at the RWA until 7 December and Steve Slimm, known for his Turner-esque landscapes. A Christmas exhibition will run from 12 December, and the gallery will be open on Sundays all month. Clifton Fine Art, 8 Perry Road, BS1 5BQ. Tel: 0117 925 6952 or visit: www.cliftonfineart.com

Untitled work

by Ruth Ander

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Made in China: An Imperial Ming Vase, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, until Sunday 4 January An empire the size of Europe. An economy at the heart of global trade. A distinctive artistic style.

Discover how and why this iconic blue-and-white porcelain vase, on tour from the British Museum represents a crucial period in China’s history.

Ming porcelain has long been prized by collectors in Britain and around the world. At just over 50cm tall, this stunning vase with lotus decoration is the largest Ming imperial porcelain of its kind in the British Museum collection. A British Museum Tour, supported by BP. Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Queen’s Road, BS8 1RL. Tel: 0117 922 3571 or visit: www.bristolmuseums.org.uk

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▲ Room 212, Christmas Steps Gallery, Tuesday 4 – Sunday 9 November, 10am – 6pm Room 212 artists are planning another fabulous window display for Christmas. Inspired by the title Kings and Wings there will be a range work in all mediums featuring royalty, angels, fairies and other winged creatures often with a red, purple and gold palette. This Gloucester Road gallery is renowned as an Aladdin’s Cave of original work by Bristol artists and is a focus of creativity in the North Bristol area.

Also, join artists and creators for the launch party of Christmas at Glos Rd Central on Thursday 4 December, 5.30pm – 8.30pm. Room 212, 212 Gloucester Road, BS7 8NU. Tel: 0117 330 2789 or visit: www.room212.co.uk

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BRISTOL | HISTORY

WHAT’S IN A NAME? As a festive addition to this series of features looking at the significance and origins of place names in Bristol, Becky Elliot looks at the history of Christmas Steps

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hristmas Steps, a cobbled alley framed by historic buildings in the heart of medieval Bristol, is as delightful to the eye as it is exhausting on the legs. Once called Queen Street, it is the oldest shopping street in the city and has been home to traders since the 12th century, when it was nothing more that a steep and muddy lane leading from the River Frome at the bottom of the hill to St Michael’s Church at the top. It wasn’t until 1669 that the steps themselves were laid, paid for by wealthy wine merchant Jonathan Blackwell.

Up until this point, barrels full of imported goods were hauled up through the mud and the empties rolled down again ready to be reloaded onto the boats below and shipped out of the city. The sea captains themselves would also ascend this insalubrious street to reach their fine Tudor, and later Georgian, town houses on St Michael’s Hill which then, as today, commanded one of the finest views in Bristol.

Located just beyond the city walls and frequented by merchants, sailors and dock workers from Bristol and beyond, it is unsurprising that many of the buildings that lined Christmas Steps were at one point home to either bars or brothels, making it a dangerous place to venture on a dark night unless you were too drunk to care, or armed with a knife, as most visitors no doubt were.

It seems fitting then, that knifemakers earned their keep alongside the other tradesmen on medieval Christmas Steps, turning a fine profit by arming local and visitors alike against the ruffians and pickpockets that lined the alley. We may also owe the modern name of Christmas Steps to these businessmen, as

it is suggested that it is a corruption over time of Knyfesmyth Street, the K of which would have been sounded in Middle English.

Another theory for the origin of the name is that it stems from the Chapel of the Three Kings of Cologne, which stands alongside an almshouse at the top of the steps, and the Nativity scene that is depicted in one of its stained glass windows. Both the chapel and almshouse were built by local fish merchant John Foster, who was inspired after his visit to Cologne Cathedral in the 1490s. They were originally completed in 1504, but in the 18th century the almshouse was remodelled into its striking present-day Burgundian style.

For a brief stint during the 17th century, Christmas Steps was renamed Lunsford’s stairs in honour of Colonel Henry Lunsford, commander of Prince Rupert of the Rhine’s First Regiment of Foot Guards during the English Civil War. This gallant Cavalier hero earned this short immortalisation in Bristolian history following his brave defence of the city during the Storming of Bristol in 1643.

Starting at Windmill Hill, he pushed the Parliamentarian troops back all the way to the top of Christmas Steps, only to there be shot through the heart and killed outright. And although the street no longer bears his name, there is still a plaque commemorating his memory at the top of the steps.

And if you venture into St Bartholomew’s Court just along from the bottom of Christmas Steps, you’ll find a rather sorry statue that serves as another legacy of the Civil War, depicting the Madonna and Child who were beheaded by Oliver Cromwell during his rampage through Bristol. Not far away, right at the bottom of the steps themselves, is St Bartholomew’s

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DURING THE 17TH CENTURY IT WAS RENAMED LUNSFORD’S STAIRS IN HONOUR OF A CIVIL WAR COLONEL

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BRISTOL | HISTORY

Main image: Chapel of the Three Kings of Cologne, Christmas Steps, by James Johnson, 1824.

Above, Foster’s almshouses and the Chapel of the Three Kings of Cologne, and right: Chapel window depicting the nativity, © Will Dodd photography

Hospital – the city’s oldest example of domestic architecture.

Originally constructed in the late 12th century, the house was converted into a hospital in 1240, and has also housed Bristol Grammar School from 1532–1762 and QEH from 1767–1847, before finally being converted to offices in 1978.

With such a colourful history, it is only to be expected that ghosts and ghouls aplenty seep out of each building’s ancient woodwork under cover of night. Rumours of a lost Victorian orphan girl tugging at the tailcoats of tourists and the visitation of a widow dressed head-to-toe in black abound, fuelled by the belief that half the street is built over a cemetery. But don’t let the threat of such night terrors put you off, as there is so much to see if you venture down Christmas Steps today.

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True to its roots, the pavement is lined with eclectic tradespeople who have crafted its modern reputation as an intriguing artisan quarter. A clockmaker, dressmaker, master bowmaker and woodwind shop are nestled in among numerous little galleries and quirky shops that offer an unmissable glimpse into this unique creative community.

To avoid heart failure, explore Christmas Steps from the top down, and don’t forget to reward yourself with a pint in the pub at the bottom. Dating from 1720, this is another historical treasure worth visiting – if you need an excuse… n Main image courtesy of Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives. For more information about their collections visit: www.bristolmuseums.org or tel: 0117 922 3571

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SCIENCE | ASTRONOMY

WRITTEN IN THE STARS Jenny Hayes visits At-Bristol Science Centre to find out about Taurus and the Pleiades

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SCIENCE | ASTRONOMY

Messier’s Catalogue Charles Messier (1730–1817) was a French astronomer who spent years scouring the night sky in search of new comets. Because he often found he was confusing static objects with potential new discoveries, he compiled a comprehensive list of 103 of them, which is today known as the Messier Catalogue. M1 is more commonly known as the Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant (visible with binoculars under dark skies) just beyond Taurus’ horn. The Orion Nebula is M42, and the Pleiades M45.

Main image: The Pleiades taken by the Spitzer space telescope © Spitzer Science Centre. Left: Reflection nebula from Merope, a star in the Pleiades cluster, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. Below: The Pleiades by Elihu Vedder, 1885

Y

ou’ll need to grab your binoculars to get the best view of the stars that are featured this month. If you don’t already own a pair, the ideal astronomical magnification is low, at either 7 or 10 x 50mm, allowing you to see more of the sky than those of a higher magnification, and producing a more vivid image.

Orion’s predicament in the winter sky is far from enviable. Not only does he flee attack from his nemesis Scorpius in the south, he is also eternally pitted against another fearsome beast in the form of Taurus the bull, whose distinctive red eye is one of the brightest objects in our sky. This star can be spotted if you follow a diagonal line up from Orion’s belt, and shares similar traits to the red giant Betelgeuse found in the hunter’s shoulder. Named Aldebaran, an Arabic word meaning “the follower”, this beady amber eye rests unwavering on the Pleiades cluster hiding behind Taurus in the night sky.

And it is for good reason that the bull keeps a close watch on his young wards. According to Greek mythology, the Pleiades were seven beautiful nymphs, daughters of Atlas the Titan and Oceanid Pleione and close companions of Artemis, goddess of hunting and the moon. Like their friend the fate of these sisters was closely tied to that of lusty Orion who, taken by their charms, pursued them relentlessly.

In frustration with incorrigible Orion, Artemis pleaded with her father Zeus to intervene, and when the hunter tried to pounce on the unwary sisters one afternoon the god transformed them into a flock of doves who flew into the heavens beyond his reach. With mordant humour typical of the Greeks, the tableau played out in the constellations depicts Zeus standing guard over the Pleiades in the form of Taurus, while Orion is immortalised in vain pursuit.

Artemis, parted from her friends on earth, takes solace in frequent reunions as she walks alongside them on the path of the moon.

There are actually far more stars in the cluster than the seven that are visible to the naked eye, as first observed by Galileo when he turned a telescope on them back in 1610. Nowadays, scientists suspect that over 1,000 objects can actually be found within this nebula, which is one of the closest open clusters to Earth at approximately 440 light years away, and certainly one of the most visually striking. Of these, approximately 500 are new stars like those in the Orion Nebula, aged less than 100 million years old and shining hot and blue in their youth. They differ in the nebulosity that surrounds them, however, which is not residue from their formation but a reflection of their brilliance in an unrelated dust cloud that they are currently passing through.

But it is not only stars that can be found within the Pleiades. It is also home to many brown dwarfs, objects whose existence had been suspected since the 1960s but which were only actually discovered in the cluster by Spanish astrophysicists in 1995. These brown dwarfs are curious entities, less than 8% of the Sun’s mass and lacking the density required for nuclear fusion to take WWW.THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

place in their core and turn them into proper stars. Instead, they occupy a place somewhere between smaller giant gas planets like Jupiter, and the much larger stars themselves.

Also present are several white dwarfs, which are somewhat of an anomaly in such a young star cluster. White dwarfs usually result when low mass stars (such as the Sun) reach billions of years in age and die, creating a planetary nebula that dissipates outwards until only the small, incredibly dense, hot white core of the star remains. Opinion is divided as to how they have occurred within the Pleiades, although it is suggested that intense solar winds or rapid rotation have catalysed their loss of mass to planetary nebulae, resulting in the presence of white dwarfs in such a short space of time.

From this we see that there is far more to the beautiful sisters of the Pleiades than first meets the eye, so it is fitting that they are destined to eventually evade Orion as the inter-stellar battle plays out in the sky above us. Astronomers estimate that the cluster’s relative motion will cause it to end up beneath the hunter’s feet, but unfortunately we’ll miss this cunning escape as it’s set to be 250 million years in the making. n With huge thanks to Lee Pullen at the Planetarium for sharing his knowledge and making this series possible. If you would like to discover more about astronomy, visit the At-Bristol website for details of all shows and upcoming events: www.at-bristol.org.uk or tel: 0117 909 2000

The Pleiades myth in other cultures

● In North America, the Kiowa tell of seven maidens who were pursued by hungry bears to the peak of Mateo Tepe, at which point the Great Spirit saw their predicament and bore them away to safety in the sky. ● The Blackfoot tribe, also in North America, speak of a group of orphan boys who were rejected by the tribe and befriended by a pack of wolves.

Saddened by their treatment on Earth, the Great Spirit elevated them to the stars, where they remain as a reminder of human cruelty. It is said that wolves howl at night because they are pining for these lost friends. ● The Maori tradition calls the cluster Marariki, containing the mother goddess and her six daughters, who rise up from their winter home in the ocean to awaken the Sun so it can shine through their summer months. ● Hindu legend tells of the Krittika, who are the six mothers of the war god Kartikeya (himself equipped with six faces, one for each of them).

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FOOD | AND DRINK

WINING & DINING news and reviews Foodie events ■ The Bristologist burst onto Bristol’s buzzing food and drink scene in November. More than just a cocktail bar, more than just a restaurant, it promises guests a unique experience with food inspired cocktails and an innovative menu, all infused with a real sense of theatre and fun. The kitchen is headed up by Darren Farquharson who will be cooking up a vibrant “slates and plates” menu of smaller dishes to tickle your tastebuds, as well as fantastic Sunday roasts. The cocktail menu has been created especially for The Bristologist, and guests should be prepared for not only unusual flavours, but also some surprises when it comes to presentation. The Bristologist is the brainchild of owner James Sleeman, with Christian Abbott bringing years of experience in the hospitality industry to his role as general manager. James said: “I am so excited to be opening The Bristologist. Eating out should be fun and entertaining and that is exactly what we have set out to achieve.” It certainly seems like he’s succeeded. The Bristologist, Corn Street, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Tel: 0117 930 4762.

Best view in Bristol

I

t’s not every day you get to gaze out over Brunel’s famous suspension bridge, all lit up and twinkly against the black nightscape beyond, and enjoy a tasty dinner at the same time. In fact, there is only one place where you can – The Bridge Café at Avon Gorge Hotel.

It’s just launched a new winter menu, featuring warming starters such as roast breast of partridge (£7.95) and wild mushroom with Steak pie at The Bridge Café ruby chard tartlet (£6.50), hearty mains like braised shin of beef (£15.50) and Butcombe battered fish and chips (£12.50) and, if you’ve still got room, some tempting puds. Let’s face it, who could resist a dark chocolate fondant with blackberries and marshmallows (£6.95)? There are also a number of special offers available throughout December, including Steak Night on a Thursday where you can enjoy two steaks and a bottle of wine for £25, and 50% off wine and Champagne on Sundays from 12am – 9pm. What better way to round off the weekend than with a long, boozy lunch? The Bridge Café, Avon Gorge Hotel, Sion Hill, Clifton, BS8 4LD. Open Monday – Sunday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. To peruse the menus, or book a table, tel: 0117 973 8955 or visit: www.theavongorge.com.

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Hattusa launches at Berwick Lodge

James Sleeman and Christian Abbott at The Bristologist Chef Paul O’Neill © JonCraig.co.uk

■ Talented brothers behind Michelin starred Casamia, Jonray and Peter Sanchez-Iglesias, have announced that they will be offering a special 12 course Christmas tasting menu from 2 – 20 December. Inspired by the brothers’ childhood memories, it features nostalgic flavours, textures and ingredients given a unique twist. Paired with a wine flight and enhanced by elegantly festive decorations. Casamia, 38 Hight Street, Westbury Village, BS9 3DZ. For more information of to book a table, tel: 0117 959 2884 or visit: www.casamiarestaurant.co.uk.

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The Bristol Magazine had a wonderful evening at the launch of Hattusa at Berwick Lodge, a beautiful boutique hotel just on the outskirts of the city.

The night kicked off with a reception of delicious canapés and a cocktail of Nyetimber English sparkling wine, rose water and edible hibiscus flowers, which went down very easily!

We were then treated to a fabulous 10 course tasting menu from head chef and 2013 Roux Scholar Paul O’Neill. This was nothing short of spectacular, with exquisite dishes including sea

trout and stone bass matched perfectly with the carefully selected wine that accompanied each course.

Every dish that arrived brought a new delight to the tastebuds, and the ‘aero’ dessert that married a cloud of chocolate mousse with salted caramel hot chocolate, honeycomb and orange was sublime.

And it seems that the Hattusa team were enjoying themselves behind the scenes too. Paul commented: “Sixty people, ten courses and all in just over three hours – that showed teamwork at its best and we enjoyed every minute of it. It was lovely to receive such a warm reception from the guests and it was humbling to get so many compliments on the food, wine pairings and service. I’m delighted with the way the launch went, and couldn’t be happier with my team.”

It certainly seems that they work very well together, so it shouldn’t be long before they are awarded the third AA rosette that Paul is aiming for, and maybe even a Michelin star in the future...

Berwick Lodge, Berwick Drive, BS10 7TD. Also available for weddings and corporate functions. Tel: 0117 958 1590 or visit: www.berwicklodge.co.uk.

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ZERODEGREES 53 Colston Street, BS1 5BA. Tel: 0117 925 2706 or visit: www.zerodegrees.co.uk/bristol

REVIEW

A new look for an old favourite Rob Wright samples a variety of craft beers alongside the new winter menu at Bristol’s popular microbrewery

T

he Greek poet Archilochus wrote “the fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing” and this expression has proved to be a useful way to divide people and organisations into two camps – foxes who are fairly good at many things and are always coming up with new ideas (like eating hedgehog for the first time) and hedgehogs who are really good at one single thing and stick to it come what may (like rolling up into a ball to defeat a hungry fox).

So when asked to review Zerodegrees, which doubles as both a micro brewery and restaurant, I wondered – was the venue going to try and be foxily good at many different things all at once (food, beer, dining experience and atmosphere) or like a hedgehog stick to being really good at just one thing? And if so, which one? I suspected it would lean toward the latter, focusing on producing the tasty range of beers that is it’s USP and keeping the food options simple.

Well I was wrong. I’m pleased to report that Zerodegrees is most definitely in the fox camp – providing not just good but great food designed to complement a whole range of innovative beers brewed on the premises within a recently refurbished building that is visually attractive and spacious, and manned by staff who were attentive, friendly and knowledgeable.

We started the meal with Cajun beer batter prawns and a dish of Spiedini (halloumi wrapped in Parma ham) both £6.25, accompanied by a taster selection of their regular beers and their two guest brews – a milk stout and a dark larger called Vienna. Both starters were excellent, the prawns proving crispy and flavoursome, and the Spiedini satisfyingly salty and rich.

The beer tasters helped us navigate through their wide selection and decide upon which drinks we wanted to stick with for the rest of the meal. While the

regular beers were excellent – even the mango ale, and I usually hate combinations of ale and fruit – we were both struck by how nice the two guest brews were. The milk stout had a smooth taste that took the edge off the usual bitterness that comes with dark stout, and the Vienna had a malty sweetness that was very drinkable. But if you’re not up for tasting a whole range before deciding on what to have, don’t worry, the menu has helpful symbols suggesting which beers complement which dishes, so it’s very hard to go wrong (unless of course you’re not a beer drinker – but then neither is my wife and she soon regretted initially ordering a glass of wine and stuck with beer for the rest of the night).

Our main courses were seafood linguine (£12.50) and a kilo pot of Thai green curry mussels with fries (£14.95). I love a good green curry and was amazed that I’d never come across mussels done this way before as it worked so well. Perhaps this betrays some naivety on my part but these mussels were a revelation – meaty and sweet, but with a real tang of ginger and lemon grass, and a lively kick of chilli. When followed by a mouthful of cooling stout the combination was heaven.

Desert was a little slow in coming but we didn’t particularly notice. The venue on that Thursday night was busy, with a function for 160 covers being held downstairs and a live band knocking out tunes, and we were quite happy to sip our beers and wait for our crème brûlée, which turned out to be as good as the previous two courses. We wrapped up our meal with cocktails, a martini and bellini, and made a note to return to Zerodegrees next time we managed to wangle a pass out minus the kids. n Pre-book or drop in for dinner or to try some of the beers brewed on the premises. Zerodegrees is now taking bookings for Christmas parties and other events, and can also be hired privately.

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WAS THE VENUE GOING TO BE FOXILY GOOD AT MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, OR STICK TO JUST ONE REALLY GREAT THING?

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A quality local independent Italian that's family run and well established.

WWW.PIAZZADIROMA.CO.UK 178 WHITELADIES ROAD, CLIFTON, BRISTOL, BS8 2XU OPEN 6PM TO 11PM TUESDAY TO SUNDAY (AND BANK HOLIDAY MONDAYS)

T: 0117 973 4183

FROM A ROMANTIC MEAL TO A PARTY BOOKING, YOU WILL BE WELL LOOKED AFTER

THE MENU

SPECIAL OFFERS PICTURES & REVIEWS

ON OUR FACEBOOK &WEBSITE

15% off your food bill (eat in or takeaway) You must have the voucher with you, voucher cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, voucher must be presented before ordering drinks or food, only one voucher per group or table, management reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time, applies to main menu only not specials board, please let us know that you are using the voucher at the time of booking to avoid disappointment.

RARE BUTCHERS OF SOUTHVILLE

250 North Street, Bedminster, Bristol. BS3 1JD. Tel: 0117 966 3593

Meat from farms not factories!

Rare Butchers of Southville has been a local institution for many years and much appreciated, admired and favoured by customers from all over the city.

Recently voted Bristol’s best butcher in the Good Food Awards 2014, these local food heroes attract deserved credit at all levels. Make a special visit to buy their beautifully marbled local beef – dry-aged on the premises – on the bone. While there, check out a superb selection of continental and English sausages made using local free range pork. And, for the baconistas, the award-wining Sandridge Farmhouse dry cure is almost compulsory.

Visit early to avoid the queues, especially on a Saturday morning. But if you do end up queueing, rest assured it’ll be worth the wait.

Order Christmas free range turkey, chickens, ducks. All local.

WWW.THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

DECEMBER 2014

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WINTER | RETREAT

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WINTER | RETREAT

REVIEW

WARM THE COCKLES Jenny Hayes is soothed by sounds of the sea and beautiful surroundings at the luxurious Cary Arms on the South Devon coast

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ife gets hectic at this time of year. Christmas is looming, and with it the frantic push to meet end-of-year deadlines before family commitments take centre stage over the festive season. It’s usually right about now that I feel like a boiled egg under a spoon – just about to crack.

Yet as I write this article I couldn’t be more relaxed, ensconced as I am on a wide window seat in the corner of a cosy lounge, watching the rain lash down onto a stormy sea, safe and warm in the gentle glow of a nearby fire. I’m at the Cary Arms in Babbacombe, a charming 19th century coastal retreat, not far from Torquay yet feeling a million miles away from city life.

And when I say coastal, I mean it.

You are never further than a stone’s skim away from the sea and the sound of waves tumbling over the pebbled beach – nature’s rhythmic lullaby that at once soothes the spirit while the tang of salt in the air revives it. It takes rare skill to mirror this calm and restorative combination, but at the Cary Arms the de Savary family have achieved it. Tucked away from the strip of hotels and restaurants that line Babbacombe promenade, down a steep and windy road, it is a true port in a storm. And this impression is echoed in every element of the experience.

From the moment I was blown through the door, damp and dishevelled on a wild winter’s evening, I felt looked after. I was given a very warm welcome, both by the engagingly chatty receptionist and my immediate surroundings of the bar and restaurant. Dark wooden tables and chairs gleamed in the light of a real fire, offset by the exposed walls of red and purple local stone, themselves dotted with maritime memorabilia that gave a delightful nod to the inn’s seafaring heritage.

In clever contrast, the bedrooms are a New England take on nautical. My luxury double, the fittingly named Admiral, featured clean white walls, chequered curtains, king-size bed, spacious bathroom complete with gargantuan roll-top bath, and doors leading out onto a large terrace so close to the sea I could almost feel the splash of the surf against my skin. It was all so inviting that it was only the delicious smells I’d detected as I walked through the restaurant earlier that kept me from disappearing under the crisp white linen duvet and onto the soft mattress and squashy feather pillows below.

It was a temptation worth resisting, for the food was glorious. A sucker for seafood, I was certainly in the right place, but award-winning head chef Ben Kingdon’s well-balanced gastropub menu also offered tempting meat plates as well as some excellent vegetarian choices. I sampled an array of truly divine dishes, but highlights included mussels so plump and juicy it was like biting into a bubble of sea foam, scallops whose taut exteriors tore apart to reveal

sumptuous insides soft as marshmallows, and sea bass that achieved that alltoo-rare balance of crispy skin and flaky flesh, brightened by a burst of basil pesto.

The wine list, like the menu, was well chosen. I enjoyed a particularly good South African Merlot with a surprise but by no means unwelcome blackberry kick, which gave it a rather exciting rigour as it rolled over my tongue. Replete, I returned to my bedroom to indulge in a Cadbury’s flake moment in a hot, deep bath, before settling down to enjoy a very, very good night’s sleep.

Even in the winter months there are a thousand things to do here, so I was spoilt for choice the next morning. Situated right on the South Devon Coastal Path, walks are atmospheric and views spectacular come rain or shine, and each room is thoughtfully equipped with a guide detailing several of the most rewarding – taking account of both individual interests and ability. I only took myself off on a short jaunt around the bay, yet was rewarded highly for this minor effort by spotting both cormorants and a seal. Other outdoor activities on offer include horse riding and diving (the waters are clear all year round), or you could take a trip on the steam train and explore the local area – the nearby village of Cockington is particularly picturesque.

But I was here to relax, so I booked myself in for a deluxe face and body glow treatment at the spa. What a revelation! Pia was a therapist with magic hands, kneading my back and shoulders with the expertise of a master baker before sliding hot stones over my skin so the tension in my muscles melted away as easily as warm butter.

The facial that followed was equally enjoyable, using Yon-Ka products that smelt delicious and felt divine as they were smoothed over my skin, smudging out the creases and leaving me positively glowing.

So now here I am, sitting stress free and content. The sun has disappeared beyond the horizon and the steel grey sea turned ink blue and indistinguishable from the dark sky, but I can still hear the rush of the waves as they lap the shore. It’s beautiful. n The Cary Arms is a 5 AA Star inn and boutique hotel on Babbacombe Beach, Devon, TQ1 3LX. Room rates start at £175, and cottage rental from £550 for three nights. A number of packages are offered such as the new relaxing spa retreat that includes two nights accommodation, daily full English breakfast, a bottle of de Savary chosen wine in your room on arrival, a three-course supper for two, and two 25 minute spa treatments using Yon-Ka products for each person, all for £495 per double (valid until March 2015). Throughout December there are numerous events including Christmas and New Year house parties.

The Cary Arms also caters for conferences and weddings. For more information visit: www.caryarms.co.uk or tel: 01803 327 110.

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YOU ARE NEVER FURTHER THAN A STONE’S SKIM AWAY FROM THE SEA AND THE SOUND OF WAVES

❞

WWW.THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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REDUCE YOUR COMPANY TAX LIABILITY Mark Pooley of Chartered Accountants Hollingdale Pooley highlights legitimate ways to reduce your company’s tax liabilities.

Pension contributions Pension contributions offer tax savings, including reducing national insurance contributions (NICs) for both the employee and the employer. Some employees and employers agree to a “salary sacrifice” whereby a portion of salary is exchanged for a pension contribution by the employer. However, where the employer and employee’s annual contributions exceed £40,000, the employee may be subject to an annual allowance tax charge. An individual may carry forward any of the annual allowance that they have not used in the previous 3 years.

Research and development The research and development (R&D) rules offer tax opportunities for small and medium sized companies (SMEs). R&D expenditure carries a substantial 225% deduction against profits for SMEs. An additional tax credit system allows non-profit making companies to relieve R&D expenditure or the trading loss – whichever is the lower – in exchange for a cash sum. There is a great deal of flexibility regarding what can be claimed for. Ask for our advice if you are incurring R&D costs.

Capital allowances Getting the maximum in capital allowances for your business is an important part of minimising the net cost of investment. The Annual Investment Allowance is 100% for the first £500,000 of expenditure on most types of plant and machinery from 1 April 2014 to 31 December 2015 – up from £250,000 between 1 January 2013 and 31 March 2014.

We can help you in business and tax planning in the following areas: • Improve profitability.

• Minimise tax costs of your company and develop a plan for tax-efficient profit extraction.

• Minimise employer and employee NIC costs.

• Prepare yourself and your business for your exit, succession, or retirement.

• Plan your business start-up.

• Find finance options.

• Time capital and revenue expenditure to maximise the tax advantage.

If you would like to discuss how we could help you and your company, please contact Mark Pooley at our office. enquiries@hollingdalepooley.co.uk or call 0117 973 3377

Hollingdale Pooley Bramford House, 23 Westfield Park, Clifton, Bristol BS6 6LT

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How to protect yourself if you break up with your unmarried partner Alison Dukes, a trained collaborative family lawyer at AMD Solicitors with over 20 years experience, discusses the benefits of a cohabitation agreement.

M

ore and more people are choosing to live together outside of marriage and, if not careful, are putting themselves at financial risk. People choose not to marry for a number of reasons but may not realise the financial consequences of failing to protect themselves by entering into a cohabitation agreement.

For example, even if you have been living with someone in their house for decades, you may have no legal right to remain in the property if the relationship breaks down and, in the absence of any written agreement to the contrary, you may not have any right to any share of the property either.

Cohabitation agreement?

Essentially, the law does not recognise a relationship outside of marriage and there is little legal protection available for a partner who does not own or jointly own a share of the home or who has not signed an agreement regulating what should happen if the relationship breaks down. A Living Together Agreement isn’t just about breaking up it is about how you will live together. It can set out contributions to any property that is jointly owned and detail how the various outgoings are going to be paid for. It can act as a prompt for you to think about how to divide day to day costs fairly and help prevent arguments in the future. In case the relationship does break down the agreement can also cover the ownership of contents and other personal possessions.

Property ownership If you own a property with your partner it is essential that you consider at the outset what your respective interests will be. Joint owners can be either “beneficial joint tenants” or “tenants in common”. If it is the former then the property will pass automatically to the survivor of you irrespective of how the first to die left his or her estate by Will or under the Rules of Intestacy. If you own as tenants in common then you can specify what percentage of the property you each own and that share will not pass to the survivor of you automatically. It is very important that you enter into a Declaration of Trust if you want to own as tenants in common, particularly if you own a property other than on a 50:50 basis, as this will set out clearly the basis of your ownership and occupation of the property. Even if you bought as beneficial joint tenants at the time of purchase, if you later decide that you want to leave your share in a house to someone else you can “sever” the joint tenancy by serving a notice on your partner.

If you would like to discuss a Living Together Agreement you can contact Alison Dukes or her colleague Anne Thistlethwaite on 0117 9621460 or email alisondukes@amdsolicitors.com or annethistlethwaite@amdsolicitors.com

© AMD Solicitors

A local award winning law firm

Telephone us on (0117) 9621205 or visit our website www.amdsolicitors.com

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FAMILY | WHAT’S ON

ACTIVITY PLANNER Christmas is the most exciting time of the year for little ones, and this month there are events galore to make it magical and memorable 101 Dalmations at Tobacco Factory Theatre

Enchanted Christmas at Westonbirt

Ice Skating, At-Bristol, Saturday 8 November – Tuesday 6 January The Harbourside ice rink is back for 2014! New for this year, there are special events on the ice including Frozen ‘skate-along’ sessions, disco evenings, and special morning sessions just for under-8s, so there really is something for everyone to enjoy. No matter what your ability, give skating a whirl on real ice under the giant bauble that is the At-Bristol Planetarium.

Tickets: £8.50 adult, £6.50 child. Visit: www.at-bristol.org.uk.

101 Dalmations, Tobacco Factory Theatre, Wednesday 26 November – Sunday 11 January Travelling Light Theatre and Tobacco Factory Theatres present this well-loved children’s favourite. Told with creative storytelling, original live music and a lot of laughs. Tickets: £8 – £19 (family tickets are also available) from the box office on tel: 0117 902 0344 or visit: www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com.

The Magic Elves, Bristol Old Vic, Wednesday 26 November – Saturday 3 January, various times The Bristol Old Vic Studio will be transformed into a magical winter playground, where the

Magic Elves love laughing and dancing, and being very, very silly. But then they meet a shoemaker who has forgotten how to laugh and hasn’t danced for years... can the Magic Elves put a smile on his face in time for the Christmas disco? Tickets: £13 adult, £7.50 child, under 2s go free. For more information or to book call the box office on tel: 0117 987 7877 or visit www.bristololdvic.org.uk.

Enchanted Christmas, Westonbirt Arboretum, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 28 November – 21 December Your children will love tearing through the beautful woodland, following a spectacular one mile illuminated trail highlighting the striking structures of Westonbirt’s trees against the winter night sky. Tickets: £10 adult, £5 child.

Visit: www.forestry.gov.uk.

Santa’s Invention Workshop, At-Bristol, Tuesday 2 December – Monday 5 January, all day Ever wondered what it would be like to work in Santa’s workshop? Your children can unleash their inner Christmas elf at At-Bristol this festive season by creating handmade science-inspired presents or stocking fillers for their nearest and dearest in these incredible workshops. Drop-in

A CHRISTMASSY DAY TRIP...

Santaland, Wookey Hole Caves, Saturday 22 November – Wednesday 24 December Children visiting the popular Santaland at Wookey Hole Caves can take a rip-roaring 8D ride over rooftops on Santa’s sleigh, before meeting the man himself this Christmas and receiving a gift. Other festive events include meeting Santa’s reindeer in the West Country’s biggest grotto, enjoying the themed circus show and taking a tour of the famous caves, complete with Christmas characters and illuminations. The usual attractions, such as the mirror maze, penny arcade and play castle, are also open as normal.

For further details visit: www.wookey.co.uk.

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Magic Elves at Bristol Old Vic

sessions are free with standard admission.

Suitable for ages 8+. Tel: 0845 345 1235 or visit: www.at-bristol.org.uk.

Monski Mouse’s Baby Disco, Christmas Spiegeltent, Saturday 6 December, 3pm A groovy disco for the under 5s with DJ Monski mixing up funky nursery rhymes with anything from swing, pop, Latin, rock and soul.

Experienced children’s performers will be on hand to lead a fun warm-up and keep the party moving, and the jazzy soft furnishings, cushions and rugs make it a cosy environment to hang out for parents who’d rather lounge. Tickets: £6, visit: christmasspiegeltent.co.uk.

Father Christmas, National Trust’s Tyntesfield House, weekends 5–6.

12–13 and 19–20 December As part of A Very Victorian Christmas at Tyntesfield, experience the house as you’ve never done before. Join the acclaimed Pantaloons Theatre Company on a storytelling tour around the house, guided by four very special Victorian characters. You may even bump into a jolly old man with a big white beard... Tickets: £12 adult, £8 child. Tel: 01275 461 900 or visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

Mini Messiah, Colston Hall, Saturday 20 December, 4.30pm – 5.30pm Bristol Choral Society present this short, familyfriendly performance of some Messiah highlights. Specifically aimed at a young audience. Tickets: £7 adult, free for children under 18. Tel: 0845 652 1823 or visit: www.bristolchoral.co.uk.

Children’s Christmas Carnival, St George’s Bristol, Sunday 21 December, 2pm and 4pm Featuring Howard Blake’s much loved music from The Snowman. Sing along with festive favourites such as Sleigh Ride and Jingle Bells and music from Disney’s Frozen, this is a seasonal delight for all the family. Tickets £12 for adults, including 1 free child ticket.

Additional children’s tickets £5, available from St George’s box office on tel: 0845 40 24 001 or visit: www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk.

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COMMUNITY | PROFILE

LEARNING TO FLY Inclusive children’s dance group Flamingo Chicks celebrate their first birthday this December, so Jenny Hayes went along to join in the fun

All images © Phil Maclean Photography

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he Flamingo Chicks are a happy flurry of pink t-shirts, pretty tutus and soft pastel ballet shoes – the epitome of everything that I used to dream about a dance class being when I was a little girl. I’d like to say that watching them transported me back to the ballet lessons I used to attend, but that would be to do them a disservice.

These classes are a lot more fun.

There is no strict teacher intoning “good toes, naughty toes”, but rather a warm group of volunteers each focused on ensuring that every child is enjoying themselves as they participate at their own pace. It is this ability to nurture individuality within a supportive atmosphere that sets Flamingo Chicks apart, and enables them to successfully provide Bristol with an inclusive ballet group for children with and without disabilities. And it’s happening right here.

Founder Katie Sparkes explained: “I was saddened by the fact that there are so few opportunities for children with additional needs to participate in activities without feeling the pressure of having to keep up with mainstream groups. So I decided to set up Flamingo Chicks and create a group for everyone.”

She’s certainly succeeded, devising structured lessons that explore beautiful movement and good posture while also enabling all the children there to engage with music, rhythm and dance. “Having the opportunity to explore dance and movement together is so important,” Katie says, “and it’s a delight to see the physical, emotional, mental and social benefits shine through.”

It really is. When I went along to watch my first class I was struck by the atmosphere of happy concentration, every child riveted on the lesson as it unfolded and smiling all the way through. Children who need extra support receive 1:1 attention throughout the class, either from a trained volunteer or a parent, so that they are comfortable and safe when performing the steps.

For those parents not taking part, there is the opportunity to catch up over tea and biscuits, and even enjoy a shoulder massage from the therapist who pops in every now and again to pamper them. Allowing parents to relax and talk to one another in this way was a key aim for Katie when she started the group, as she realised that they needed the chance to relax and enjoy themselves as much as their children.

With this in mind, Katie arranges regular social get togethers for parents outside the lessons, as well as a varied programme of extracurricular activities for the children. Most recently, in celebration of their first birthday this December, Katie organised a trip to Bristol Hippodrome to watch the English National Ballet who were in town performing Coppelia, as well as a very special lesson for her fledglings.

The class was led by Sam, a professional dancer and member of the ENB’s outreach team, who seemed to be having as much fun the girls as she told them the story of Dr Coppelius and his doll. “The girls were great,” she enthused when I chatted to her after the class. “They were so imaginative and picked up the ideas really quickly. I tried a few quite challenging steps and wasn’t sure how they’d go down, but they got them straight away!”

She was also very impressed with the ethos of Flamingo Chicks. “It’s great to find a less regimented class that’s all about showing how movement and learning about the physical body and its uses is relevant and important as development for everyone.” It certainly is. Both the classes I’ve attended have been beautiful to watch, not least because of the thoughtful props that Katie WWW.THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

provides to help her students engage with music and dance. Whether in the form of long elegant ostrich feathers, handfuls of pink petals or fluffy boas, they are tactile and sensory so that each child irrespective of their disability can look forward to using them each week.

It is no wonder then that the weekly class is so popular, with demand for places far outstripping the 15 currently available. It was a problem that Katie felt keenly, which is why over the last few months she has been training new volunteers, developing lessons and raising awareness of the group all over the city in an effort to make more classes accessible across Bristol.

The first is a 5 week pilot scheme at New Fosseway School that will determine how well the initiative works within schools, with the view that it can then be rolled out across others in the city. As a non-profit organisation the continued growth of Flamingo Chicks depends on access to places to hold classes, volunteer support and sponsorship. Katie is always looking for people to become involved on any of these levels – so if you think you could help, get in touch. n Classes £4, bursaries available. To find out more about the group, head along to their birthday party from 2.30pm on Saturday 6 December at Sefton Park School, BS7 9BJ. Tel: 0117 973 9019 or visit: www.flamingochicks.co.uk

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EDUCATION | NEWS

Redland High’s new early years building

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Joe Eyles, headteacher of Redland High junior school and governor of QEH, HM Lord Lieutenant Mary Prior and Caroline Bateson, headmistress of Redland High

er Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant, Mary Prior MBE JP, has officially opened the new early years building at Redland High Infants with QEH. Staff and governors from both Redland High and QEH attended the opening ceremony on 17 November to witness the cutting of the ribbon and the unveiling of the plaque. Redland High Infants originally accepted boys up until 1956 and a number of former pupils attended the ceremony, including Reverend Richard Burbridge.

Caroline Bateson, headmistress at Redland High, said: “We are extremely excited that the new early years building is now open to our pupils. Places at Redland High Infants with QEH are becoming ever more sought after and this new building allows us to satisfy this demand, while at the same time enhancing our learning facilities for our very youngest pupils.”

There was also a separate opening ceremony for pupils at Redland High Infants with QEH on Wednesday 19 November, with guest Amanda Mitchison, author of My First Pet Dragon. For information about Redland High Infants tel: 0117 924 5796 or visit: www.redlandhigh.com.

The good old days...

As part of the celebrations around the 425th anniversary of the founding of the school, QEH boys and staff dressed up to recreate what life might have been like at the school in the past.

Assistant headmaster, Chris Brotherton, said that the aim of the day was to: “Recreate a sense of history in the school and to dress from any period in the last 425 years, such as Elizabethan, Victorian or Sixties.

There were small prizes for the best in each form and also for the best in school. Staff also dressed up but were not allowed to award themselves prizes!”

Mr Brotherton also insisted that teachers applied Victorian teaching methods to create an old-fashioned feel in lessons, contrasting education today with that of the past. Above all, the whole school entered into the spirit of the occasion and had a fun, memorable day. For more information about QEH, and the events planned for its 425 celebrations tel: 0117 930 3040 or visit: www.qehbristol.co.uk. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Red Maids’ is growing The Red Maids’ junior school in Westburyon-Trym is set to expand from September 2015. The school, which has been named a Top 100 Prep School for the past two years in the Sunday Times, currently has space for 120 pupils.

It now has plans to create a single-storey extension that will provide two new classrooms, and increase the number of girls it can accommodate to 150.

Headteacher of the junior school, Mrs Gillian Rowcliffe, said: “Our school is a very stimulating place for girls to learn, and I’m delighted that we’ll soon be able to welcome more girls and their families.”

Pupils are already being assessed for entry.

For further details tel: 0117 962 9451 or visit: www.redmaids.bristol.sch.uk.

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St Brendan’s student celebrates double win On Sunday 16 November the Chance of a Lifetime short film competition celebrated its fifth birthday with a showcase screening at the Watershed. David Sproxton of Aardman animation joined with Bristol Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament to announce the winners of this year’s competition, which challenged young film makers to present a short film around what they would like to tell the world about nuclear weapons.

Hayden Weaver from St Brendan’s Sixth Form College took first prize in the 16–17 age group for his film Bristol and the Bomb, which David admired for putting across “the harsh reality of what might happen in a way people could relate to.” Talented Hayden also claimed the runner-up prize for his second film, Power is Corruption. For details about St Brendan’s Sixth Form College, tel: 0117 977 7766 or visit: www.stbrn.ac.uk.

A group of girls at Badminton School had an inspirational PE lesson from champion gymnast Beth Tweddle.

The Olympic bronze medal winner took 15 pupils aged 11 and 12 through a programme of gymnastic activities including half hand stands, forward rolls, splits, how to present at the beginning and end of a performance – and the importance of pointy toes.

Tweddle, 29, who received the MBE in 2010 for her dedication to her sport, then spoke to the girls in Year 11, aged 15 and 16, about her career, and described how she persevered in spite of injuries and setbacks to achieve her dreams. For further information about Badminton School, tel: 0117 905 5200 or visit: www.badmintonschool.co.uk.

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

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he prospect of learning German may not thrill many children, but I am proud to say that at HMSG language lessons have girls dancing for joy. An original idea to combine language with dance has helped our students become genuinely excited about German and history.

Helen Smail, our inspirational Head of Modern Foreign Languages, recently won the German Consulate Teacher of the Year Award. Her unique approach to teaching, dedication and passion for the subject put Mrs Smail above all other nominees for the national accolade. At AS level and A level, language uptake is decreasing nationally, but not at this school.

Mrs Smail is always trying to inspire the girls and help them to understand why there is a need to learn German. Teaming up with our Director of Dance, Rhyan Parry, she worked on a massively innovative and creative, crosscurricular project.

The two departments put on Vorsprung durch Dance, which expressed modern German history through the medium of dance and even secured sponsorship from Audi. A powerful production, it taught girls about what life was like in Germany between 1930 and 1989, from heartbreaking war stories to the country’s rich motoring industry. We believe it was this cross-subject collaboration which really stood out to judges because it was unique and sector-leading.

At HMSG, we understand the current position of languages and the importance of learning German from the point of view of the economy.

German businesses are crying out for support and their language has been neglected over the last few years.

Through this new take on teaching, we have created a real buzz throughout the school when it comes to German, and it is extremely rewarding to think we can inspire others to do the same. *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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FREELANCE MUM.qxp_Layout 7 17/11/2014 13:41 Page 1

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

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here aren’t many people who can boast they wrap presents for a living, but Amanda White is one of them. Actually, that’s not quite true – she doesn’t just wrap them, she “fripperises” them.

Frippery – what a brilliant word. I know what you’re thinking – what does it mean? It’s the quirky trimmings that accessorise a wrapped present; the ribbons, the buttons, the bows, the bangles – put it all together and what have you got? Gift Frippery!

Amanda is the brains and passion behind this business, which was born when her youngest son left home, but had been in the making for some time.

A mum to three grown up children, she describes the throes of her child rearing years as being a combination of a “Blue Peter mother” and primary teacher, which meant the house was always full of “frippery bits”. Drift wood, empty boxes, ribbons and buttons – anything you could turn into something else, got neatly squirrelled away waiting for a project.

There is something Mary Poppins-esque about Amanda; creative, no nonsense and practically perfect. Today she not only fripperises presents for a living, but also gives workshops in gift wrapping so that you too can find new ways to make the most of bits and bobs around your home to produce beautifully wrapped gifts.

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It’s proven to be spectacularly successful. Only last month she was doing some filming with Lauren Laverne, who was looking to do different Christmas activities – gift wrapping was one of them.

So what’s it like teaching a celebrity to wrap and did she bring her own presents? Sadly we don’t know what’s going into Lauren’s stocking this year, as Amanda provided the various gifts and boxes for her to learn the art of wrapping – but we do know she was a dab hand and completely down to earth about the whole thing. As Amanda is also incredibly easy to get along with, I can imagine how much fun they had. She’s the sort of person who brims with ideas and makes every thing feel like an adventure.

For example, I love Christmas, but can’t but help get downhearted at the prospect of being a production line for gift wrapping. Amanda’s take on it – get the kids involved. That’s not easy when they’re both under three, but you can quickly turn their artwork into wrapping paper and suddenly it all seems so much more exciting.

It begs the question though – how did she discover there was a business for all this? By chance, her husband asked her to wrap up Christmas presents for his staff. She did such a good job, she was given the task again the following year – but this time she laid an important ground rule – she would choose the paper! Each one was fripperised with baubles and bows.

Her husband was so impressed, he insisted on driving them straight to the office, so people could see them together in all their glory the next morning.

And that was the moment when the idea was sewn. It was only then, when his secretary exclaimed how amazing they looked and Amanda ought to do it for a living, that suddenly she realised she was on to something.

Dare she? Could she? Would any one take a gift wrapping business seriously?

Of course they could and they did. The rest, as they say, is history. Today Amanda keeps herself busy all year, with gift wrapping workshops and a gift wrapping service. She is both resourceful and inspirational.

It doesn’t make my Christmas shopping any easier, but it does make the wrapping more exciting. I now find myself thinking about how to turn my toddler’s art work into beautifully wrapped presents. That’s Amanda’s knack, an ability to bring the “frippery” out in everyone. For more details visit: www.giftfrippery.co.uk n Visit: www.freelancemum.co.uk

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A merry, mindful Christmas Dr Amanda Kinsella, clinical director of Mindful Psychology Ltd, offers her top 10 seasonal stress busters

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hristmas can be a very difficult time of the year, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Try using these simple mindfulness techniques to keep stress under control:

1. Be kind to yourself – having unrealistically high expectations and saying yes to every invitation or request increases your stress barometer. Learn to politely say no.

2. Make a shopping list and stick to your budget – don’t visit the shops when you’re feeling stressed and time pressured as this leads to impulsive buys and overspending.

3. Go for a walk just for the pleasure of it – go with an open frame of mind and pay attention to sights and sounds. Connect with your breathing and the motion of walking.

4. High five gratitude exercise – even if you’re feeling stressed or low, count on your hand five things each day that you are grateful for in the run up to Christmas.

5. Eat some chocolate – yes! Connect with your senses and eat slowly. This is a time of rich food but we are so on automatic pilot that we don’t savour the taste. Less is more.

6. Drink in moderation – alcohol is a depressant. Try a spritzer and alternate your glass of wine with a sparkling water served in your normal wine glass when you’re socialising. It’s surprising how affective it can be.

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7. Take an SOS space – stop what you’re doing and connect with your breath, using it like a spotlight to scan your body and let go of tension. Try and remember that your thoughts are not facts and, even though it’s difficult, then try to let them go.

8. Prepare for the day – be realistic and give family and friends jobs to lighten the load. You really don’t have to do everything.

Ask yourself, who am I trying to please and why?

It’s surprising, but we are often the root of our own stresses, so learn to ease up on yourself and share the pressures.

9. Turn off your mobile phone – for 30 minutes per day for the 10 days running up to Christmas. Use this time to take a break, listen to music or sit down with a warm drink. Choose one simple pleasure and just be.

10. Connect with the moment – take an intentional breath and bring awareness to what you are doing.

Preparing the food, wrapping the presents, listening to friends and family. So often we have preconceived ideas of how the conversation and day will be, so why not use your breath to gain focus and really connect with others this Christmas.

Mindfulness Psychology Ltd are leading providers of mindfulness courses and individual coaching and psychotherapy in the south west. For more information tel: 0117 973 1332 or visit: info@mindfulpsychology.co.uk

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FIT AND FAB.qxp_Layout 3 21/11/2014 09:34 Page 1

HEALTH | & BEAUTY

NEWS IN BRIEF ■ Not-for-profit healthcare provider, Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, questioned women aged 40–60 about their experience of the menopause. Findings showed that one in four women are struggling to cope with aspects of life due to their symptoms, mainly due to the lack of support or advice available to them. Dr Annie Evans, menopause expert at Bristol Nuffield explained that: “It is a condition which is often side-lined as just a fact of life, but for many women the symptoms are extreme which leaves them struggling to cope with the daily routine.” Having worked with many patients going through this unsettling and difficult time, she urges women to seek help in order to discover the options available to them. For more information about the treatments offered by Nuffield Bristol, tel: 0117 911 6840 or visit: www.nuffieldheath.com/hospitals/bristol.

FIT & FAB The latest health and beauty news in the city

Products we’re loving this month...

From flawless skin to soft, sumptuous hair, these products will keep you looking and feeling your best no matter how late you stay out.

Women’s health at Nuffield ■ With the chance to get dressed up, drink champagne and dance the night away, the party season should be the best time of the year. But all too often over-indulgence can leave us feeling worse for wear long before Boxing Day. To avoid an early exit Kate Hoffmann, matron at Spire the Glen Hospital Bristol, advises people to: Exercise – it helps relieve holiday stress and prevent weight gain Eat well – try and make healthy choices 80% of the time, and treat yourself the other 20% Drink water – it’ll keep you hydrated and help detoxify the liver after all that partying Get enough sleep – it’s not the end of the world if you miss one or two celebrations. Aim to get 7–8 hours each night. Contact Spire the Glen Hospital on tel: 0117 980 4000 or visit: www.spirehealthcare.com/bristol.

Matron Kate Hoffmann at Spire

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• bareMinerals products contain only naturally derived minerals that give exceptional, long-lasting coverage without the heavy look and feel of foundation. Even better, it means you don’t need to worry if you accidentally fall asleep in your makeup. Available from House of Fraser, Cabot Circus, £49 • Banish dry hands and get a lovely festive tin all at the same time, with Crabree & Evelyn’s Pomegranate, Argan & Grapeseed gift set. Containing two creams that are ultra-moisturising and smell scrumptious.

Available online, www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk, £8 • Expensive but invaluable – Crème de la Mer’s intensive revitalising mask will make you look 10 years younger after just one use. Available at Harvey Nichols, Cabot Circus, £105 • It’s too cold for wet hair, but all that blow drying can leave locks dry, damaged and brittle. Never fear, the solution is here in the form of Aveda’s Dry Remedy collection. Use the moisturising masque once a week for deep conditioning, and the lightweight oil as a daily boost. Available online, www.aveda.co.uk

Tips to keep your skin in top condition this winter...

It’s that time of the year again. The weather is freezing, the central heating is on, the temptation to eat comfort food is impossible to resist, and your skin is turning it’s usual shade of winter grey. But don’t despair, follow these three simple steps to give your complexion a boost over the darker months: • Moisturise – for best results invest in a good night cream that will replenish your skin while you sleep.

• Stock up on citrus fruit and dark leafy greens at the supermarket – vitamin C helps boost the body’s production of collagen.

• Avoid harsh petroleum-based lip balms if your lips are dry – instead look for ones containing lanolin, a brilliant natural moisturiser that is gentle and long-lasting.

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HEALTH | & BEAUTY

IN THE RED Rachelle Howells, manager of Beyond Beauty at Harvey Nichols Bristol, reveals her must-haves to ensure you’re red carpet ready this Christmas

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ake your inspiration from the catwalk and ensure your makeup bag is filled with AW14’s hottest colour palette – red. It’s bold, bright and guaranteed to turn heads...

1: NARS lip liner in Nihiwatu, £18 2: Dr Hauschka lip liner in Warm Red, £14.50 3: NARS Matte Multiple in Poppy Red, £30 4: NARS Audacious Lipstick in Lana, £24 5: OPI nail lacquer in Thrill of Brazil, £12 6: Shu Uemura lip gloss, £18.50 7: Only Fingers + Toes nail lacquer in Rouge Noelle, £16 8: Laura Mercier lip glaze in Bon Bon, £19.50 9: Tom Ford Jasmin Rouge, £142 (EDP, 50ml) 10: Benefit Benetint, £24.50 11: Sisley Hydrating Long-Lasting Lipstickin Geisha Red, £32 12: Shu Uemera rouge unlimited lipstick in Laquer Red, £20 13: Marc Jacobs Dot EDP (50ml), £50 14: Charlotte Tilbury matte lipstick in Red Carpet Red, £23 15: Deborah Lippmann nail lacquer in Red Silk Boxers, £18 All products are available in Beyond Beauty and the Space.NK Apothecary at Harvey Nichols Bristol or can be ordered online at harveynichols.com

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Get ready for Christmas with Victoria Rose Beauty Salon.

Purchase £100 or over in gift vouchers and receive a complimentary mini treatment worth £25.

Gift sets available.

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10% discount with this advertisement

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QUINN CLINICS.qxp_PIF Full Page 20/11/2014 11:18 Page 1

Quinn Clinics Jenny Hayes visits the Bristol clinic to find out more about cosmetic, medical and laser skin treatments for the face and body

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ituated just off Whiteladies Road, the Quinn Clinic was easy to find and had ample onstreet parking when I arrived for my early afternoon appointment.

Nonetheless, it was with slight trepidation that I crossed the threshold having never before visited a medical Botox and laser skincare specialist.

My worries were appeased when I was greeted warmly at reception and ushered to a squashy leather sofa Dr John Quinn MD with a cup of tea while I waited for my appointment with Dr Quinn. This gave me the chance to take in the clean white walls, stylish décor and contemporary artwork, as well as spotting a large jar of chocolates that I made a mental note to plunder before I left.

Not knowing what to expect and fearing the procedures on offer – we’ve all seen the widely publicised effects of botched celebrity Botox – I’d only booked in for an initial skin consultation. Dr Quinn was quick to put my fears at rest, however, explaining his training and experience in detail, and assuring me that no trout pout had ever been created in his clinic.

He also stated that he wouldn’t consider doing any work on my face as I was far too young. This was not only rather flattering – I’d feared an entire overhaul would be required – but also extremely reassuring to know that he doesn’t recommend unnecessary procedures. Instead, we discussed the possibility of trying a non-surgical radiofrequency skin rejuvenating treatment that would stimulate collagen production and temporarily tighten my skin, should I want to give my complexion a boost for a special occasion.

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The welcome room

There may not have been too much for me at the Quinn Clinic, but there is a wide array of treatments on offer for older or damaged skin – including those for acne scarring, sun damage, PCOS hair growth and the inevitable age lines – should you want. Also available is a new laser hair removal system that is suitable for use on both the face and body, permanently destroying hair follicles to prevent regrowth.

Initial consultation £30. Quinn Clinic, 68 Oakfield Road, Clifton, BS8 2BG. For further details about Quinn Clinics and the treatments they offer visit: www.quinnclinics.co.uk, tel: 0117 924 4592 or email: info@quinnclinics.co.uk

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Looking ahead to a healthy New Year

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is the season to be jolly, with parties, celebrations and food galore around every corner but here at Nuffield Health we’re already thinking ahead to the New Year and those all important New Year resolutions.

Mr Dan Titcomb, an Upper Gastrointestinal Consultant at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital – the Chesterfield, said: “While losing weight might not be front of mind during the festive season, as soon as we move into the New Year many of us will be ready for a health kick and for some it’ll be the turning point for making bigger life changes.

“If you’re severely overweight and have a high BMI, losing weight can seem like an impossible task. There’s no ‘easy quick fix’, but at Nuffield Health in Bristol we have a number of great services to help people get Mr Dan Titcomb healthier.

“I specialise in bariatric surgery, including gastric bands, sleeve gastrectomies and gastric bypass, but it’s important that people have tried hard to lose weight through healthy eating and exercise before they make an appointment with me. At our Fitness and Wellbeing Centre on Clifton Triangle we have trainers and nutritionists who can advise on weight management programmes.

“If after trying these sorts of programmes you still have a BMI of over 35, or an urgent medical need to lose weight, then it might be time to consider bariatric surgery.

“Bariatric surgery involves a procedure which will alter your approach to food permanently. It will help to limit the size and make-up of the meals you eat, to give you a completely new outlook on your diet and lead you to live a far healthier lifestyle. It can also help to eliminate weight-related diabetes.”

Rachel Burns is a Specialist Dietitian in Bariatric Surgery at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital and works alongside Mr Titcomb to support patients before and after their surgery. Rachel, said: “It’s really important that people fully understand how they will need to change their eating habits after bariatric surgery as this is a lifetime commitment to change. This kind of operation will help reduce your appetite and physical hunger cravings, which is a welcome relief to many!

Success is ultimately down to the individual taking control of their eating and managing their diet sensibly Rachel Burns following the surgery; it is a tool for long-term change.

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“My role is to provide patients with the nutritional guidance they need to ensure they stay healthy and get the best results following surgery. One of the biggest changes for people who’ve had bariatric surgery is getting used to eating much smaller portion sizes and chewing their food really slowly – often up to a full minute before taking the next bite. They might also find they can no longer tolerate certain foods and some people can struggle to get enough of the right vitamins and minerals from their diet. I put together a tailored plan which outlines everything they need to enjoy a balanced diet, complete with details of any nutritional supplements they will need.

“There is also the emotional aspect of eating to consider – we all have an emotional relationship with food. Whilst a gastric band can help to curb hunger pangs, it won’t fix the triggers of emotional overeating or a fondness for fatty and sugary foods. It’s essential that patients have strategies in place to combat this and make good food choices, and I can help with this.

“If you’re considering bariatric surgery, I’d definitely recommend attending our event in January so you can get a better feel for what’s involved and have an informal chat with some of the team who would be caring for you. We’re always happy to answer any questions people might have and to help dispel any myths.”

Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital - The Chesterfield is hosting a free Meet the Experts – Weightloss Surgery event on Wednesday 14 January 2015 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

The event is open to everyone and offers the chance to meet with Mr Dan Titcomb and Rachel Burns.

For more information visit www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/bristol or call 0117 405 8909.

Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital The Chesterfield, 3 Clifton Hill, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1BN Tel: 0117 405 8909. • www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/bristol DECEMBER 2014

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Bath Fertility Centre Providing services for both NHS and self-funded patients requiring assisted conception treatments

What do you do and where are you located?

BFC has been helping to create families for the last 20 years, and a year ago moved to modern and discreet purpose-built premises at Peasedown St John.

The new location works well for patients as there is no traffic congestion and parking is completely free. The new centre provides state-of-the-art facilities for both NHS and self-funded patients.

What makes the Bath Fertility Centre (BFC) stand out?

Patients consistently tell us that it’s the people who make BFC stand out – you feel this the moment you walk through the doors into surroundings that are both modern and comfortable. The fertility experts are very much like a family and when patients come to them for the first time, they are welcomed in as a part of that. There are several members of the team who have been with the centre since the beginning and see this as their life’s work. The service we offer can change people’s lives forever. And there is no travelling up and down to London as the complete treatment process is provided at the centre.

BFC has some of the best success rates in the south west, why?

Our fertility success rates are exceptional. Browsing through the testimonials on our website www.bathfertililty.com makes you realise just how they have transformed people’s lives. It’s hard to put your finger on why the success rates are so good: whether it’s the latest technology and techniques used, the personal approach to each patient’s care or simply our specialist fertility experts working together to achieve the best results for their patients. We have successfully reduced the incidence of multiple births without compromising pregnancy rates, and are the only clinic in the south west to exceed the HFEA’s target for single births.

Are there any new treatment innovations at the BFC? The team continually review their procedures and processes in light of published research and are very clear that treatments offered should be evidence-based and tailored to individual patients’ needs.Within its advanced laboratory facilities the centre routinely uses electronic witnessing and the latest specialised embryo culture systems. They have recently introduced supplementary procedures which may be beneficial for some patients, including endometrial scratching, time lapse monitoring of embryo development and the use of a special transfer medium, EmbryoGlue.

How do I access treatment at BFC? GPs can refer patients for infertility investigations to the NHS reproductive medicine clinic or directly to BFC for assisted conception treatment. Patients eligible for NHS funding can choose where to receive their treatment, including independently-run providers of fertility treatment. The centre understands how stressful financing IVF treatment can be, so for those ineligible for NHS funding we offer a simple, inclusive pricing structure with no hidden costs. IVF refund and multiple cycle payment options are also available in conjunction with Access Fertility.

BFC offers open evenings throughout the year, with the next ones on 21 January and 18 March 2015. These book up quickly so contact enquiries@bathfertility.com or call 01761 434464 to reserve your place. For more information about treatments available visit: www.bathfertility.com 94 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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Clover House has been helping children with a huge variety of illnesses and behavioural and emotional problems over the past 18 years at their centre in Saltford, Bristol, and claims an impressive success rate, where in 85% of cases significant improvements are noted within just a few weeks.

Clover House is unique in that no other organisation is providing the sort of help that we offer. We don't judge or try to “fix” the problem. our aim is to stimulate,encourage and support the child's natural systems of health-protection and self healing. We use three complentary therapies - creative imagery (incorporating Neuro-linguistic Programming), massage and nutrition.

447 Bath Road, Saltford, Bristol, BS31 3AZ, 01225 344047 www.cloverhouse.org

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Nutrition for Winter Wellness Naturopathic tips for staying well this festive season, from local Nutritional Therapist Elspeth Waters, for CNM (College of Naturopathic Medicine).

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inter is often the time that people succumb to cold and flu symptoms, making Christmas and New Year celebrations more of a headache than a joy. However, whether or not you catch these viruses is down to your overall level of health and vitality so now is the time to boost your defences. Fortunately, nature provides us with numerous options to help with this:

• Look after your gut. The ‘microbiome’ (otherwise known as the populations of good and bad bacteria and yeasts) in our gut provides the foundations of our immune system. Having adequate ‘good’ gut flora is the best defence against external pathogens, such as seasonal viruses. So keep your levels topped up with daily servings of probiotic, fermented food and drinks, such as raw sauerkraut and fermented vegetables, kefir and kombucha.

Alternatively you can take a multi-strain probiotic supplement.

• Avoid sugar. Not only does sugar suppress our immunity but it also feeds bacteria, viruses and fungus and promotes mucous production so will prolong an infection. At the first sign of illness cut out all bread, cakes, biscuits and sweets (which shouldn’t be a regular part of the diet anyway!) and stick to vitamin-rich, lower glycaemic fruits, such as citrus and berries.

• Opt for unprocessed organic food and supplements to minimise intake of immune-suppressing toxins.

• Garlic is antimicrobial and ginger is anti-inflammatory. Add them both to soups or make a fresh ginger root tea with lemon.

• Additional immune-boosting herbs to consider: elderberry, echinacea, olive leaf, oregano. Taking andrographis at the first sign of illness can significantly reduce its severity and duration, too.

• Keep tabs on your Vitamin D levels. Vitamin D3 helps regulate the immune system. Unfortunately, in the UK we can only obtain adequate levels of Vitamin D from the sun between April and September so our levels often dwindle during autumn and winter. In terms of food, fermented cod liver oil is the best source. Oily fish and grass-fed meat and eggs will also provide some but an additional D3 supplement may be needed.

• Think zinc as well as Vitamin C as both nutrients are essential components of our immune cell response. Vitamin C is readily available in fruit and green veg but levels are quickly depleted by cooking and long-term storage (eg shipping of produce overseas). Consider boosting your intake of natural vitamin C with a concentrated fruit powder such as baobob, rosehip or acerola cherry. Zinc is found in meat, liver, seafood and nuts and seeds, especially pumpkin seeds. Bee pollen – ‘Mother Nature’s multivitamin and mineral’ – contains nearly every nutrient we need so taking a spoonful or two a day can help boost overall energy and vitality.

• Prone to mucous? Viruses and bacteria are transmitted through the nose and mouth and it is mucous they latch onto. Saline nasal rinses help to keep the airways clear, as does oil pulling – an Ayurvedic tradition of swishing oil (virgin sesame, sunflower or coconut) around the mouth for 5-20 minutes before teeth cleaning. The oil helps to drain mucous and draw out all the old immune cells and their waste products from the sinuses and nearby lymphatic tissue to keep the passages smooth and clear.

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• Address stress. Feeling stressed has a hugely debilitating effect on our immune function, so be sure to nurture yourself, get some fresh air and daily exercise, and laugh everyday!

Elspeth Waters

Attend a FREE CNM Open Evening in Bristol Thursday 11th December 6.30pm-8.30pm Find out about training with CNM Bristol for a career in Naturopathic Nutrition or Naturopathic Acupuncture.

Free Entry, but please reserve your place.

More details:

www.naturopathy-uk.com 01342 410 505 DECEMBER 2014

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OUT | AND ABOUT

WANDER ON THE WYE Andrew Swift guides us on a winding walk through a woodland wilderness that offers beautiful views of the Wye Valley

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his month’s walk, although only four miles long, is not for the faint-hearted, as it includes a 200m climb up a thousand crumbling steps once trodden by donkeys. For those prepared to take the challenge, however, there are ample rewards – some superb viewpoints (including the spot which inspired one of Wordsworth’s most famous poems), a vertiginous walkway beside a rocky cascade, a zig-zag path down a ravine and glorious beechwoods.

The starting point is Llandogo, three miles north of Tintern. Llandogo was once a busy port, with trows shipping timber and other goods down the Wye and across the Severn to Bristol. One of the trow owners did so well from the trade that he opened a pub on King Street in Bristol. Called the Llandoger Trow, it is still open today.

To get there, head north from Chepstow on the A466, and, as you drive through Llandogo, look for Brown’s Stores on the left and pull into the car park just beyond it (SO526042).

right for 30m, before turning left up a footpath signposted to Cleddon Falls.

Here the climb begins in earnest. Spare a thought for the donkeys and their owners who once brought coal up these steep, worn steps to the cottages.

● Cross the road and turn right before bearing left past the church. Carry on past the church and the back of the Sloop Inn (with a 1707 datestone), then turn left along a path, which, after going through a kissing gate, leads alongside the Cleddon stream.

● Carry on past a turning to the right, and after 400m turn left to a viewpoint just as spectacular as the one immortalised by Wordsworth (SO521035).

Carry on as the path bears right past the viewpoint along a broad avenue.

After passing two more viewpoints, the path swings right. Carry on past a barrier, keeping the car park on your left, and, just after passing an open barrier, as the drive bears left, turn right up a steep and rocky path (SO522029) and carry straight on for 1000m.

● A gate leads on to the trackbed of the Wye Valley Railway, closed in 1964.

Carry on through another gate and on towards the river. Turn right along the river bank, cross a footbridge over the Cleddon and go through a gate leading back onto the old railway line (SO525038). The ivy-covered ruin ahead is Quay Cottage. The quay in front of it, where goods were loaded into trows, disappeared when the railway opened in 1876.

● After passing the last of the cottages, the woods close in, with slender beeches striving upwards towards the light on this steep hillside. As you continue between broken-down walls, you come to two large boulders, known, because of their profile, as the Bread and Cheese Stones (SO521037).

This is said to be the spot which inspired Wordsworth’s Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey. Today, the view he saw in 1798 – which could still be enjoyed as recently as the 1950s – is obscured by trees. ● Follow the path as it bears right. A few metres further on, turn right along a broad path – which soon levels out – beside a wall. After 150m, turn left along the Wye Valley Walk into Bargain Wood.

● The old trackbed trails off enticingly into the trees, but our route lies through a gate on the right. As you go through it, you will see the long-closed Ship Inn ahead. Turn right in front of it and follow a path up to the road.

● Continue past the turning to the viewpoint and the path you walked along earlier, and a little further on you will come to the top of Cleddon Falls (SO 520039). Here you have a choice. For the less adventurous option, carry on and bear right along a broad path heading gently downhill. Alternatively, turn right down steep steps just past the falls, and follow a winding path scooped into the side of the ravine, under the bole of a gnarled beech tree, before climbing steps to the broad path, along which you turn right.

● Turn right along the pavement for 50m. At Rosebank Cottage, cross the road and head up steps. Cross the end of a cul-de-sac and carry on up a footpath signposted to Cleddon. After climbing steps to a lane, cross and continue up a footpath. At the next lane, with Rose Hill Cottage ahead, turn

● Whichever option you take, you will soon find the broad path running alongside a sheer drop, before crossing a boardwalk. Just past the boardwalk, turn right as the path commences a series of zig-zags down the hillside.

Whether they were laid out for nineteenth-century tourists in search of the

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OUT | AND ABOUT

UNDER CANOPY OF TREES: main image, view from above the rooftops Above, view from the wood Far right, Bargain Wood viewpoint

picturesque or for packhorses carrying goods down to the river is unclear, but they make for a glorious walk, gentle enough to appreciate these mossy, fern-filled woods without having to watch every footstep. ● Eventually, after countless zig-zags, the path leads to the edge of the ravine. Don’t take the path bearing right, but turn left down a steep path with wooden steps. At the bottom, follow the path as it bears right to follow another zig-zag down to a footbridge (SO523040).

After crossing it, follow the path as it crosses another footbridge and continues downhill with the stream on the right. ● At the road, bear left up a lane leading to the Priory. Head along a footpath to the right of the Priory gateway, and, at the road, cross and head down a footpath to the left of a cider press. At the main road, with the Sloop Inn ahead, turn left to return to the car park. n

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FURTHER INFORMATION...

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Distance: 4 miles

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Time: 3 hours

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Level of challenge: A steep climb with uneven steps, some steep and muddy sections on the way back down.

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Map: OS Explorer OL14

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Refreshment stops: The Sloop Inn at Llandogo is worth a visit if you’re in need of liquid refreshment or solid sustenance (visit: www.thesloopinn.co.uk or tel: 01594 530 291).

DECEMBER 2014

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INTERIOR | NEWS

THE GIFT OF FINE ART

YELLOW DUCK INTERIORS WINS AWARD

If you are looking for a unique and original Christmas gift then treat someone to a wonderful piece of art.

Fantastic, fine art gallery, Justnanco have a wonderful eclectic mix of original artworks.

Shown here: a large Koi vase ceramic, hand crafted by Leach potter Adrian Brough. £380.

Justnanco fine art gallery 100 Queens Road, Clifton, Bristol. BS8 1NF. Tel: 0117 973 0907

INSIDE KNOWLEDGE TOM HOWLEY OPENS CLIFTON SHOWROOM Tom Howley, luxury bespoke kitchen experts, are pleased to announce the launch of their new Bristol showroom. Following on from the success of their nationwide expansion, the new Clifton, showroom is a direct response to the growing demands from the South West of England.

Choosing Clifton, as their latest showroom destination made so much sense as the area has gone through a major regeneration in the last few years and is also close to equally stylish Bath. It’s the perfect step forward in their bespoke kitchen showroom expansion plans.

The launch will take place on November 20th and there will be a live cooking and tasting experience by celebrity chef Nigel Smith – an ambassador for Miele. This format for similar Tom Howley launches has proved enormously popular with potential clients.

The showroom has been designed to showcase the very best of what Tom Howley has to offer with a variety of their bespoke hand painted and solid wood, contemporary and traditional kitchens.

On display are three stunning bespoke kitchen displays. Tom Howley says - “The popular contemporary Hartford kitchen has a new twist with the introduction of an island painted in Dewberry, a sophisticated deep grey. It is combined beautifully with Dark Oak and Lyra Polished Silestone to create a striking, contemporary look that will stand the test of time.”

This fabulous new showroom reflects the extensive choice of luxurious bespoke kitchens that Tom Howley offer and also demonstrates the latest in appliance technology from market leaders.

Tom Howley. 90 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol. BS8 2QN. Telephone: 0117 973 0981

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Below: Designer Timothy Baber (centre) with awards presenter Georgie Thompson and Duravit’s Martin Carroll

Bristol based Yellow Duck Interiors have won a major award for Bathroom Design of the Year (in the under £15k category). Sponsored by Duravit the brief was to create an ensuite shower room while maintaining the family bathroom by splitting the existing bathroom in a Grade II listed property.

Yellow Duck Interiors designer Timothy Baber achieved a minimalist feel for the scheme by using a stone shower tray and large format wall tiles, while a mix of modern materials – such as a polished concrete vanity top – and the more traditional style taps have given the room an eclectic contemporary and traditional blend. Keeping the shower to 120 x 70cm made it possible to incorporate an open recess in the shower whilst also creating open shelving for towels. As part of the brief, concealed and low level lighting were installed under the vanity unit – and at skirting level in the shower to light the floor area – giving a sense of space without the use of brighter overhead light.

Yellow Duck Interiors. 10 Clifton Arcade, Boyces Avenue, Clifton, Bristol.

BS8 4AA. Telephone: 0117 0117 971 5680

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www.chippingsodburykitchens.co.uk

Over 20 years experience of designing & installing kitchens, Bathrooms and Bedrooms including all aspects of building & renovation work

BEAUTIFUL C S K B • 400 GLOUCESTER ROAD • HORFIELD • BRISTOL BS7 8TR TEL: 0117 924 6165

DESIGNS FOR LIFE!

E: sales@cs-kitchens.co.uk

Open: Monday to Friday 9am – 5.30pm. Saturday 10am – 5pm.

Custom Designed. Computer Imagery.

Total Project Management.

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Ebony Rose CLASSICAL & RETRO FURNITURE WORKSHOP

Recommended for Grade I Listed buildings

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Furniture, door, wood and metal stripping.

Restoration techniques, unique non-toxic, non caustic System 2000. Suitable for both hard and soft wood. Non harmful.

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Call Maria on 01225 315541 www.kwikstrip.biz

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Lamps the ideal Gift

Are you looking for new lighting for any area at the home?

Are you overwhelmed with the options available?

Can’t find the solution to your problem?

Come and see the experts to help you through the options available.

We have one of the largest displays in our freshly refitted showroom Lighting design service available.

Our showroom displays fittings from the UK, European and Worldwide sources.

For all areas of the home and garden.

Decorative low energy on display.

Tel: 0117 963 5943 • Fax: 0117 963 4735 Unit 2, Sheene Way, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4TA Free Car Parking Available Email: enquiries@lightingwarehousebristol.co.uk Web: www.lightingwarehousebristol.co.uk LIGHT FITTINGS WALL LIGHTS TABLE & FLOOR LAMPS MIRRORS & GLASS FURNITURE

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Opening hours: Mon - Sat 9:00am - 5:30pm

DECEMBER 2014

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THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE 101

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December doesn’t have to be all about gaudy Christmas decorations. Instead, carefully select a few luxurious items that will achieve that festive look and also remain on trend throughout the winter months. To achieve such interior perfection, blend snuggly textures with metallics for a balance of comfort and opulence.

Main image: Silver flitter misteltoe crackers, £20 for 12; mini potted hellebore, £8 each; Taittinger Brut and glasses gift set, £50; Croft mini white jug, £15; Swan wine glass, £8 and flute glass, £8, all John Lewis

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Stockist information: Blaze On, www.blaze-on.com Bo Concept Bristol, Merchant Street Harvey Nichols, Cabot Circus Jo Malone, www.jomalone.co.uk John Lewis, Cribbs Causeway Marks & Spencer, Cribbs Causeway Neal’s Yard, Whiteladies Road

Menu double candleholder, £112 from Harvey Nichols

Contemporary cool

▲ Novel fragrance ideas: Jo Malone frosted cherry & clove scented bauble, £32: Neal’s Yard festive room spray 45ml, £10

Exclusive gold cushion, £79 from Bo Concept; fluffy cushion, £25 from Marks & Spencer

Wicker Star 20 LED lights in natural, £27.75 from Blaze On

Gold tea lights, £14 each from Bo Concept; Tom Dixon Etch tealight holder, £50 from John Lewis

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HOMES | ON SHOW

MAKING WAVES Marianne Swinkels gets swept away by a gorgeous property on the Bath Road

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have to ask you this. Does the thought of owning a dual zone riptide swim spa and tub whet your appetite? I don’t mean one of those popular Jacuzzi things found on numerous patios throughout the land which many of us commonly lark about in. But a splendidly luxurious, high spec, top of the range outdoor aquatic/leisure/exercise pool; an allsinging, all-dancing swim and spa combo complete with powerful hydrotherapy jets and cool LED lighting. An all season pleasure package enticingly in situ in a specially decked and lavender bordered garden setting. Enough said. I’m sure you’ve got the drift.

You may well be in luck – if you buy the handsome house and ample three quarters of an acre plot which come with it.

And why would you not, as aptly named Woodlands is generously located in the green belt environs of neighbouring Willsbridge Mill, a nature reserve and rich wildlife haven, with nearby riverside walks, meadows and access to the 20km traffic-free Bristol to Bath railway path/national cycle network right on the doorstep. Let alone a comfortable equidistant commute between these two great cities. It’s a best of both worlds spot for this four bedroom semi-detached family home.

Forgive yourself if, on your way to view, you first pass by without noticing the place. Because for all the rightly showy appeal of that up-market hot tub in the extensive rear garden, this spacious property does not flaunt its wares from its Bath Road frontage. You must first enter the discreet driveway via

wrought iron gates before you get a glimpse of what’s to come: an L-shaped plot with a double garage and enough external parking space to host a mini caravan-rally; a banked wooded backdrop which borders the entire width of the grounds, and only then does this classy and contemporary abode really reveal itself.

This is no coy piece of real estate. I did what every first time visitor must surely do – exclaim “Wow!” No small wonder given that the vendor, who moved to Woodlands with his parents at the young age of four, has stayed put for four decades, raising his own family here while painstakingly embarking on a series of extensions, conversions and renovation projects over a significant chunk of that time.

It doesn’t get more hands-on and personal than this. Every inch, sorry centimetre, of the property has been given the “once-over” more than once, and the quality of workmanship is in evidence throughout.

Starting at the top with a bedroom loft conversion – now a light and airy fourth bedroom – and working his way down through every single room, it is the most recent addition which truly hits the spot. A sleek and stylish garden room which, with its wall-to-ceiling expanse of glass panels and glazed tri-fold doors, links with the kitchen/diner beyond to create a vast 40 x 30 ft expanse of living space.

This, with its travertine stone flooring, underfloor heating, American solid

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THIS IS NO COY PIECE OF REAL ESTATE. I DID WHAT EVERY VISITOR MUST SURELY DO – EXCLAIM “WOW!”

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HOMES | ON SHOW

PROPERTY PROFILE Where: Woodlands, Bath Road, Willsbridge, BS30 6ES What: Period semi-detached 4 bed family house with contemporary additions. Superb open plan kitchen/dining/garden room overlooking mature 0.45 acre gardens. Double garage and ample parking. Outdoor dual zone riptide swim spa and hot tub available by separate negotiation.

Guide price: £595,000 Agent: Andrews, Longwell Green branch www.andrewsonline.co.uk Contact: Email: longwellgreen@andrewsonline.co.uk or tel: 0117 932 8335

white oak units, central island and hob, is the very epicentre of Woodlands.

Big, bold and very chic, it’s an impressive open plan design which grandly plays centre stage to daily life here. Why indeed would you want to stray beyond this heart of the home?

The reason is obvious once you venture further into the origins of the property, a onetime coach house and stables dating back to the late 1700s. It’s a building which will have had many tales to tell of long ago rural Willsbridge.

Today you can sit by the imposing inglenook fireplace with its magnificent Coalbrookdale wood burner and look up at the array of servants’ bells, or move to yet another sandstone floored living room to cosy up by the open Minster fireplace and muse about those days of yore.

And when you’ve done with that, grab a towel, potter out to the patio and no matter what the rain sensors in the garden room roof windows predict, happily go and chill in the warm spa beyond. n WWW.THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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GARDENING GARDENING

SWITCH ON Our Bristol garden design writer, Margaux Speirs explains how to introduce illumination to your garden

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o it’s nearly Christmas and I doubt that anybody is thinking about their gardens at the moment. I agree: I love gardens but nothing would possess me to go out planting and digging in December.

However it still gives me pleasure to look out on from inside and as I love the twinkling of Christmas lights I thought this month I would write about garden lighting. Of course it comes into its own in the summer months when you are able to sit out late with a glass of wine, but actually when the days are so short and lights come on early there are more waking hours to enjoy well lit garden features – even from the comfort of the house.

Not so long ago installing electrical cables and fittings outside was a job that only a qualified electrician should do. Nowadays, however, a transformer can be fitted by a professional to reduce the voltage to 12v, and once you have this power source in the garden there are many low energy lights and water feature pumps available which you can just “plug in and play”. And if you accidentally cut through these cables they stop working but will not kill you. These DIY systems are not perfect – the total load must not exceed the capacity of the transformer and the light fittings tend to have quite low outputs so are dimmer than the mains powered versions. My preference as a designer is still therefore to use a professional electrician to set up mains powered wiring outside but then to attach LED fittings to this so as to take advantage of their economy and longevity. I am happy to recommend a garden lighting specialist if you want help.

(Please be aware that even with 12v systems the process of attaching a lighting circuit outside to the electricity supply inside is regulated by Building Regulations for health and safety reasons and you will need a qualified electrician to provide a “Part P certificate” to comply with these regulations, and include in a future Sellers Pack if and when you sell your home.)

LED lighting has transformed the garden lighting market and it has happened so quickly that it is hard to keep up with the best available products.

For example an old 500w floodlight may use 1 unit of electricity in 2 hours compared with a 20w LED floodlight using 1 unit in 50 hours with very little difference in the light emitted. When selecting, bear in mind that brightness is measured in Lumens, the amount of electricity used is measured in Watts,

relative economy is Lumens per Watt and the colour temperature is warmer at the lower end of the colour temperature scale (2700 to 3000k) and bluer at the higher end. The bulb’s packaging will tell you how many lifetime hours it has, as well as these other details.

The easiest way to light the garden is to have solar powered lights. I am not averse to these – there are no cabling issues and it must be good for the purse and planet – but you cannot turn them off from a single place, you need to go round the garden switching each one separately. They only work in a sunny spot and although the designs are getting better they are necessarily rather “chunky” as the solar panel is on the top. The only ones I would really recommend from a design point of view are the individual tree fairy lights which you hang high enough not to see the solar panels on top, for example lightingstyles.co.uk has some little upside down cones of cloudy glass with stainless steel frames which hang on the trees by thin wires. You need at least 3 to make an impact and at about £20 each they are not a bargain but if you have a tree or shrub with low branches near your sitting area they are a pretty addition.

I quite like rechargeable garden globe lights which you charge up indoors then carry out with you when you want to light a particular area. The fact that they are moveable so you can play with different lighting effects is an advantage but make sure they are charged and ready when you want them.

Lighting For Gardens has a really good help page on its website describing how to achieve various garden lighting effects, including what sort of light fittings to buy to obtain your desired results. In every case, keep things subtle, for reasons of taste as well as good neighbour relations, and I would steer clear of coloured lights (except at Christmas). Look at the Ingress Protection (IP) rating on the products you buy – the higher the rating the better the resistance to dust, insects and most importantly moisture (so for example IP67 has level 6 protection against solids and level 7 protection against weather – which are good levels of protection. For ponds or very damp areas only select IP68 or better).

If you only add the following three lighting effects to your garden I am confident you will love your garden more, whether you are outside on a

❝

KEEP THINGS SUBTLE, FOR REASONS OF TASTE AND NEIGHBOUR RELATIONS

❞

106 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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GARDENING

summer night or just looking at it from the warmth of your house in the winter: ● Lighting a path: where there is a flower bed beside the path I would choose a “spike mounted” light i.e. one you can push into the ground without any further fixing, set just in from the path edge within the plant border For low glare lighting choose a spread light with a domed shade.

Bollard lights, being unshaded, provide greater brightness but this means it’s a less subtle light. Stainless steel is a very contemporary finish but my preference is to choose a dark colour which allows the lights to blend with the planting in the daytime – I especially like copper which ages to a discreet, earthy green. If there is an adjacent wall you can use wall mounted down lighters which provide a larger circle of light the higher up the wall they are set, but beware positioning them so they dazzle you as you pass. Box lights, which send the beam both up and down the wall, can look very chic. ● Lighting the bark and lower branches of an ornamental tree: this is dramatic, even with low energy lights and the tree will look quite different to its daytime appearance. Use a pole mounted spot light where there is foliage at the foot of the tree (so the beam starts from above these leaves) or a compact spike or ground recessed spot light where there is no planting at this level. ● Lighting an outside dining area: this is best achieved with down lighting from a structure (e.g. an adjacent wall or overhead pergola) to project a pool of light onto the table below. A pretty twinkly effect can be produced from down lighters pierced with tiny holes through which the light shines.

It’s important to avoid lighting up your garden like a funfair but I do suggest that you plan for a system which allows you to increase the number of lights you run as most people find they love the effect even more than they thought they would and want to add to it. n Margaux Speirs, a pre-registered member of the Society of Garden Designers, runs her business, Margaux Speirs Garden Design from her home in Bristol. Visit: www.margauxspeirsgardendesign.co.uk or tel: 07903 779910. For a novel gift idea buy a subscription to Margaux’s monthly garden advice service, £12, available on her website.

WWW.THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

PLANT OF THE MONTH: Fatsia japonica looks as if it belongs in the rain forest – with big, shiny, evergreen leaves rather like those of a fig tree and pompoms of creamy flowers from late autumn. It likes a shady sheltered spot and with good soil will grow to over 5 feet tall. As it endures pollution it is a good choice for city gardens where it adds a touch of the exotic, even in dreary December.

DECEMBER 2014

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BRISTOL PROPERTY | IN FOCUS

B

uilt in 1790, 99 Kingsdown Parade is a beautiful Grade II listed Georgian townhouse bursting with period features. Its proportions ensure that natural light floods the elegant rooms and the accommodation, which is set over four floors, is extremely flexible and convenient for modern family life. One the ground floor, the lovely kitchen/breakfast and dining rooms overlook the pretty front garden. This area has some fantastic original features including sash windows, fireplaces with original surrounds and there is a pantry which will be the pride of any serious cook. There is also a cloakroom on this floor. The first floor comprises an elegant drawing room which opens to a separate library. The jewel in the crown of this property is the full width west facing balcony which is believed to be the last remaining original in the terrace. On the upper two floors there are four consistently sized bedrooms, a family bathroom and a shower room. Outside the well stocked front garden combines flagstone paving, level lawn and attractive flowering shrubbery and is a sunny spot throughout most of the day. This very pretty period home may be viewed by appointment with Knight Frank.

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

WWW.THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

KINGSDOWN PARADE KINGSDOWN • Marvellous grade II listed family home • Four bedrooms • Brimming with period features • ‘Cooks’ kitchen and pantry • Full width balcony • Private walled garden

Guide Price £795,000 DECEMBER 2014

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THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE 109

FOR SALE - THE BIZLEY ESTATE

A beautiful country estate comprising Grade II Listed Bizley House and 3 converted barns, each fitted to a high standard Enjoying a southerly aspect with wonderful views, situated between Backwell and Nailsea, thus within easy commuting distance of Bristol Comprising:Bizley House - Currently offices - pp for 5 beds, 4 receps (c 3,275 sq ft) Threshing Barn – Currently studio offices – pp for 4 bed house (3,000 sq ft) Hay Barn – Currently studio offices – pp for 5 bed house (3,500 sq ft) Meadow Barn – Currently studio offices – pp for 4 bed house (2,000 sq ft) A beautiful home and / or office HQ, a good investment with potential rental income from the barns or work / live – Freehold offers IRO £1,800,000 for all 4 properties…

Burston Cook December.indd 1

18/11/2014 16:11

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

FOR SALE ORCHARD HOUSE, BS1

BRIDGE HOUSE, CONGRESBURY

A Georgian period office building with consent for 5 bed house –

TO LET Refurbished offices with 15 car spaces c 3,115 sq ft –

Freehold - £350,000

New lease – Rent on application

FOR SALE 6, MEAD COURT, THORNBURY

BROOKLAND HALL, BS2 D1 / office building of 3,679 sq ft with 30 car spaces…

Modern office building of 3,044 sq ft recently fitted to a high standard –

New lease –

Offers invited

Only £8.50 per sq ft

157 WHITELADIES ROAD

FOR SALE WESSEX HOUSE, PORTISHEAD

Large retail unit of 1,750 sq ft + lower floor of 760 sq ft

Modern detached office building of 3,143 sq ft in established location –

*Suit other uses*

Good parking –

EXCELLENT LOCATION

Freehold on application CHANDOS ROAD – BS6

QUEENS ROAD, CLIFTON

Large shop (formerly convenience store) in established neighborhood shopping area.

Corner shop in busy main road in Clifton – New lease – Only £11,250 pax

New lease (might sell).

CLIFTON VILLAGE

20 PORTLAND SQUARE CITY CENTRE High quality period office building to let C 5,084 sq ft New flexible lease

(0117) 934 9977

Julian Cook FRICS

Burston Cook December.indd 3

Jayne Rixon MRICS

Charlie Kershaw MRICS

*SHOPS TO RENT* IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO RENT A SHOP IN CLIFTON VILLAGE PLEASE CONTACT US TO SEE WHAT IS AVAILABLE…

Finola Ingham

• • • • •

Sales / Lettings Acquisitions Valuations Landlord & tenant Auction Sales

• • • • •

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

MRICS

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0117 949 9000

www.maggsandallen.co.uk

LANDLORDS....

Does your property comply with current legislation?

How well are you looking after your investment?

Can you let your property easily, but can’t find the time to manage your tenants?

We can advise you on the following and ensure that you are meeting the latest legislation

n Gas Safety Certificates

n Overseas Landlords

n Electrical Safety Certificates

n Deposit protection Schemes

n HMO Licensing

n Portfolio & Desktop Valuations

n Fire Safety

n Legal and Compliant Tenancy Agreements

If you require assistance with or have not had time to manage your tenant/property then we can help. We offer discounts on our standard managed free for investor clients.

Please contact our Letting & Management Department on:

0117 949 9000

lettings @maggsandallen.co.uk

ESTATE AGENTS

LETTINGS

AUCTIONS

COMMERCIAL

SURVEYORS

LAND & NEW HOMES

Tel: 0117 949 9000 Henleaze Office

Tel: 0117 949 9000 Henleaze Office

Tel: 0117 973 4940 Clifton Office

Tel: 0117 973 4940 Clifton Office

Tel: 0117 973 4049 Clifton Office

Tel: 0117 949 9000 Henleaze Office

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LD SO

LD SO

LD SO

Situated on the desirable Owen Grove is this prestigious well-presented family home offering six large bedrooms, three large reception rooms and kitchen breakfast room fitted with classic restored English Rose kitchen units. The outside of the property offers a southerly facing back garden with Indian limestone patio. EPC E.

Price Guide £750,000

£679,000

A substantial semi-detached Victorian style family home arranged over three individual levels with many original features. The property offers two receptions; full width living room to front with sash bay windows, six family-sized bedrooms and two family bathrooms. Further benefits include a 15m level practical garden, garage and driveway.

EPC F.

SO

LD SO

Westbury Price Guide £1,500,000

Stoke Bishop

This detached period grand family residence dates back to 1812 and is set in approximately 0.6 acres. The property itself offers many period features throughout with four/five individual receptions, kitchen with atrium roof and bi-fold doors to garden, six double bedrooms and lower ground floor with a selfcontained one bedroom apartment. EPC D.

Positioned within the heart of Stoke Bishop in Ormerod Road, this superb detached family residence benefits from three individual receptions and five family-sized bedrooms.

The outside of the property offers an ample lawned walled garden with private outlook and mature trees surrounding as well as private driveway and garage. EPC D.

CJ Hole Dec.indd 1

Henleaze

LD

Henleaze

A substantial detached family home positioned on the ever popular Grange Park within close proximity to both Henleaze Road and Westbury-on-Trym village and benefitting from a south westerly aspect to rear. The property offers five family-sized bedrooms, separate annexe, four reception rooms and additional conservatory. EPC D.

SO LD

Henleaze Price Guide £1,500,000

£750,000

Stoke Bishop Price Guide £650,000 Superbly presented throughout with high quality specifications, and attention to detail, this substantial semi-detached three storey family home offers four/five bedrooms, two en-suites and a 21ft x 20ft modern kitchen/ diner with central island and bi-fold doors onto a private 40m landscaped garden with a westerly aspect. EPC D.

17/11/2014 10:09

Clifton t: 0117 923 8238 (sales) t: 0117 946 6588 (lettings) clifton@cjhole.co.uk

www.cjhole.com The Residential Sales market is noticeably quieter with definite slowdown in new instructions. However that is not unusual for this time of year. With less choice in the market place, prices are currently holding firm in central Bristol, despite the national headlines indicating a slight dip. And in fact if you are selling now then you have a lot less competition. It is worth noting that we are already seeing interest from people looking to change their pension arrangements and move from funds to bricks and mortar with the new regulations in 2015. Watch this space.

As for the Residential Lettings market? We have more clients looking for rental property than ever (the former first time buyer market). One, two and three bed apartments still in constant demand in every part of the city and north Bristol.

If you are looking to sell or rent in the near future or we can help in any property related matter, please get in touch with our CJ Hole Clifton team.

Howard Davis M.N.A.E.A Managing Director - CJ Hole Clifton

Axbridge

Clifton

Cotham

The Glass House was built around two years ago, designed with great flare and spectacular attention to detail. A contemporary home, stunning in it’s architectural ingenuity, and brimming with the latest technology. Property comprises: 4 receptions; 6 bedrooms, 5 en suite bathrooms, set in nearly 2 acres of gardens with views of Axbridge Reservoir.

EPC rating C.

An impressive ground floor flat with an extensive south facing private garden and a generous, well presented interior. The property consists: living room, dining area, 3 bedrooms, master with en suite, fully fitted kitchen and family bathroom. In the garden there are a variety of fruit trees & flower borders full of plants.

EPC rating D.

An exceptional upper floor maisonette with a versatile and spacious interior. The accommodation offers a naturally light interior with good size kitchen/breakfast room, living room, three double bedrooms, en suite shower room, generous bathroom complete with claw foot bath and separate shower. Externally there are two allocated parking spaces.

EPC rating D.

Offers Over £1,000,000

£560,000

£375,000

Redland

Sneyd Park

City Centre

A delightful Grade II apartment in Redland.

This ground floor property consists of an allocated parking space, private entrance, private courtyard, central hallway with all rooms leading off, lounge/diner, separate kitchen, two double bedrooms, quality bathroom. For those wishing to proceed quickly, this property is offered with no onward chain.

EPC rating E.

Three bedroomed purpose built flat enjoying views over the Avon Gorge and Leighwoods.

The interior offers: living room, fitted kitchen/ breakfast room, bathroom, three bedrooms, master bedroom with en suite. Externally there are attractive, lawned gardens, visitor parking and a private garage. The flat is offered with no onward chain.

EPC rating B.

A stylish one bedroom flat situated in the heart of the city. There is a lift in this Grade II listed building and an attractive spiral staircase with many original features including stained glass windows and mosaic tiled walls. The interior is well presented throughout and offers bathroom, double bedroom, fitted kitchen and living room.

EPC rating E.

£319,950

£190,000

OIEO £325,000

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City Centre £185,000

Redland £187,500

• Eclipse • Fourth floor • One bed • Private balcony • Parking option • Lift • Communal roof garden • Daytime concierge • Secure communal entrance • Energy rating – B

• Garden flat • One double bed • Living room/kitchen • Private entrance • Modern kitchen • Allocated parking space • Gas central heating • No onward chain • Energy rating – C

Clifton £350,000

Kingsdown £395,000

• Southleigh Road • Garden flat • Three double bed • Living room • Separate kitchen • Private entrance • Front courtyard • Rear garden • Gas central heating • Energy rating – D

• St Michaels Hill • Three floors • Three bed • Courtyard garden • Spacious bathroom • Potential fourth bedroom • Rear balcony • No onward chain • Energy rating – TBC

Westbury-on-Trym £750,000

Coombe Dingle £650,000

• Private lane access on corner of Falcondale Road and Stoke Lane • Swimming pool • Prime location • Twenty feet conservatory • Energy rating – D

• Four reception rooms plus kitchen dinning room • Detached • Over two hundred foot garden • Splash pool • Backing on to Blaise Castle Estate • Energy rating – D

Clifton Office 0117 946 6007

One Bedroom Penthouse Apartment

One Bedroom Garden Flat

Three Bedroom Garden Flat

Three Bedroom House

Five Bedroom House

Five Bedroom House

Westbury-on-Trym £365,000

• Sold similar urgently required • Cul-de-sac • Two reception rooms • Contemporary decoration throughout • Mature rear garden • Off street parking • Energy rating – E

• Stunning features • Immaculately presented • Period cottage • Launched with open day 22nd November • Garage and off street parking • Energy rating – D

Four Bedroom House

Three Bedroom House

EW

N

LD

SO

Westbury-on-Trym Office 0117 962 1973

LD

LD

SO

SO

Stoke Bishop £394,950

oceanhome.co.uk

Ocean December.indd 1

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City Centre £220,00

Clifton £235,000

Clifton £319,950

• Unity Street • Duplex apartment • Modern kitchen • Two bed • Hall and first floor • Open plan living/kitchen • Character property • No onward chain • Energy rating – C

• Alma Vale Road • Popular Clifton location • Two double bed • Excellent condition throughout • Wood floors • Modern kitchen • Open front aspect • Energy rating – F

• Alma Road • Garden flat • Private entrance • Two bed • 45’ x 30’ private rear garden • Separate kitchen • Rear access to garden • Energy rating – E

City Centre £400,000

Clifton £535,000

Westbury Park £620,000

• Horizon • Penthouse • Three bed • Large balcony/roof terrace • Communal gardens • Parking option • Lift • Secure communal entrance • No onward chain • Energy rating – B

• The School House • Grade II listed Tudor-Gothic conversion • Three bed • Spacious 31’ x 25’ double height living space • Parking space • Ten year building warranty • Energy rating – TBC

• Devonshire Road • End of terrace • Two off-street parking spaces • Five bed • Excellent decorative order • Garden with rear access • Catchment area • Energy rating – E

Westbury-on-Trym £600,000

Westbury-on-Trym £459,950

Stoke Bishop £425,000

• Arranged over three floors • Significantly extended • Workshop • Garage • Carport • Large grounds • Parking • Four reception rooms • Views of Bristol • Energy rating – E

• Eastover Close • Cul-de-sac location • Walking distance to Westbury-on-Trym and three schools • Extended to allow fourth bedroom • Photovoltaic cells • Energy rating – D

• Off street parking • Kitchen/dinning room twenty foot in length • Contemporary design features • Insulated studio/ study • Many original features • Energy rating – C

Henleaze £365,000

Stoke Bishop £299,950

Westbury-on-Trym £195,000

• Sold similar urgently required • Off street parking • Studio • Close to Henleaze high street, Gloucester Road and Westbury-on-Trym village • Energy rating – D

• Three bedrooms • Six houses in cul-de-sac • Potential to extend (Subject to necessary planning permissions and consents) • No onward chain • Energy rating – TBC

• Sold similar urgently required • First floor apartment • Private entrance • Mature private garden • Garage • Stunning views • Two double bedrooms • Energy rating – D

Two Bedroom Duplex Apartment

Two Bedroom Top Floor Flat

Two Bedroom Garden Flat

EW

N Three Bedroom Penthouse Apartment

Three Bedroom House

Five Bedroom House

LD

SO

Five Bedroom House

Four Bedroom House

Three Bedroom House

EW

N

Three Bedroom House

Three Bedroom House

LD

SO

LD

SO

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GOODEVE ROAD | BRISTOL

SO

GUIDE PRICE £425,000

D

L SO

GUIDE PRICE £450,000

D

GUIDE PRICE £435,000

L SO

GUIDE PRICE £425,000

D

ST ALBANS ROAD | BRISTOL

GUIDE PRICE £500,000

D

L SO

SAVILLE ROAD | BRISTOL

IVYWELL ROAD | BRISTOL

D

L SO

STACKPOOL ROAD | BRISTOL

GUIDE PRICE £289,950

D

L SO

HARBOURSIDE | BRISTOL

WAVERLEY ROAD | BRISTOL

L SO

GUIDE PRICE £740,000

JULIAN ROAD | BRISTOL

Fine & Country Bristol 147 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2QT Tel: 0117 946 1946 Email: bristol@fineandcountry.com bristol.fineandcountry.co.uk

GUIDE PRICE £875,000

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Five time winners of the Best International Real Estate Agency Marketing Award at the International Property Awards

Call 0117 946 1946 Fine & Country Bristol 147 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2QT

fineandcountry.com

Clifton - Guide Price £399,000

A lovely Victorian converted two bedroom Mews house situated in a peaceful tucked away position in central Clifton. Sympathetically and stylishly refurbished six years ago by the current owners. EPC- D

Redland - £319,950

A light and airy hall floor flat forming part of this attractive period house, located less than 100 yards from Whiteladies Road, convenient for the shops, bars and restaurants. EPC - E

Stoke Bishop - Guide Price £450,000

An attractive 1930’s 4 bedroom house ideally suited to growing families. The house offers spacious family orientated accommodation with parking, integral garage and a good size rear garden. EPC – E

Leese & Nagle December.indd 1

Clifton - £355,000

A wonderful opportunity to buy a superb garden flat in this hugely popular road, just off Whiteladies Rd. A spacious flat which offers two large bedrooms with real oak flooring, one with en-suite. EPC – D

Westbury-on-Trym - £575,000

A particularly fine example of the ever popular 1930’s 4 bedroom semi located in this sought after, quiet cul de sac a short distance from the Stoke Lane shops. A superb family home, early viewing highly recommended. EPC – TBC

Stoke Bishop - Guide Price £375,000

This is a delightful 3 bedroom semi-detached family house with a southerly facing rear garden.

This Cornish style house is in good condition, a contemporary style, providing excellent family accommodation. EPC - C

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