The Bristol Magazine December 2022

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Jayde Adams EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Bristol-born comedian talks Strictly Come Dancing, brand-new shows and living the dream ...

PLUS

SO MUCH MORE IN THE CIT Y’S BIGGEST GUIDE TO LIVING IN BRISTOL

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CONTENTS – DECEMBER v3.qxp_Layout 1 25/11/2022 16:00 Page 1

Contents DECEMBER 2022

20 Image credit: BBC/Guy Levy

40 BREAKING BOUNDARIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PROPS charity on their mission to support adults with learning disabilities achieve their full potential

44 FESTIVE FOODIES

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Four of Bristol’s finest independents suggest what must be on our menu this Christmas

48 REAL-LIFE SUPERHERO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Image credit: Julian Preece Photography

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CITYIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Meet Bristol Hippodrome pantomime star Andy Ford

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BARTLEBY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... looks back at a hundred Christmases

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LIFE OF THE PARTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

It’s festive glam time with Anthropologie’s new collection

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INTO THE WILD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Take a look at the revolutionary work of John Downer Productions

20 BORN TO PERFORM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bristol comedian Jayde Adams talks all about living the dream

24

FABULOUS CHRISTMAS GIFTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bristol-based robotics company, Open Bionics, hits the Hollywood red carpet

52 INSPIRING ADVENTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Gloucester Road Books recommends five new children’s reference books to get young readers’ curiosity running wild

56 UNIQUE CHARM

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Andrew Swift explores the beautiful city of Wells

58 EVERYTHING THAT IS LOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Simon Horsford chats to Bristol’s most-famous concert goer Big Jeff to talk all about his extraordinary outlook on life

68 ELEVATED DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Take a tour around Ben Argent Kitchens’ lastest design

70 GIFTS FOR GARDENERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Elly West on the perfect present for green-fingered loved ones

Should you be in need of some Xmas gift inspo, look no further

28 WHAT’S ON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Book your tickets! Discover all the great things to see and do

34 ARTS & EXHIBITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

What’s showing at our local galleries

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ON THE COVER Bristol comedian Jayde Adams Photography by Jordan Rossi thejordanrossi.com | @thejordanrossi100

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from the

EDITOR

I

hate to say it so early but it really is starting to look a lot like Christmas.

Festive fervour is soon to have the city in a whiteknuckle grip and it feels as though it was only yesterday that we were melting in the summer sun. Either way, we’re embracing the festivities with open arms this year, and already dreaming of our Christmas dinner thanks to some of the city’s finest foodies, who told us all about their menu must-haves on p.44.

Our front cover this month is also lighting our eyes. Bristol-born Millie Bruce-Watt comedian Jayde Adams was a joy to watch on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. Always a winner in our eyes, Melissa Blease caught up with Jayde to chat all about her upcoming projects, of which there are tonnes. Read the full interview on p.20 – you’re in for a treat.

Elsewhere, we celebrate more of the city’s successes, speaking to wildlife filmmaker John Downer about his ground-breaking animatronic ‘spycams’ (p.24); award-winning prosthetics company Open Bionics about its Black Panther-inspired hero arms (p.48); and Bristol’s most famous concert-goer Big Jeff about his extraordinary outlook on life (p.58).

It’s hard to believe that 2023 is just around the corner, but we have high hopes for the twelve months ahead. Until then, though, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you in January…

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Stunning lighting for your home, conversion, renovation or extension

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ZEITGEIST

things to do in December Listen The Longest Johns are a Bristol-based a cappella folk music band, born out of a mutual love of traditional folk songs and shanties. They rock maritime songs alongside the more unusual and less traditional folk tunes. Don’t miss them performing at Thekla on 17 December.

Tickets starting at £17.50.

• Book your tickets at: thelongestjohns.com

Be entertained

Celebrate The Spiegeltent’s December events are a phantasmagoria of fun filled, festive cheer all presented in a magical and spectacular venue. From family raves and Bottomless Drag Brunch to The Puppini Sisters and family cabaret, The Spiegeltent is offering something for everyone this month.

Celebrating 10 years at The Spiegeltent, get ready to party this Christmas.

Take an unforgettable trip to Brunel’s SS Great Britain this December. For two weekends (3–4 December / 10–11 December), the awardwinning attraction will be transformed into a Dickensian winter scene, complete with falling snow and a host of 19th century characters.

Watch history come to life and embrace the true meaning of the holidays as the sights, sounds and smells transport you into the heart of a Victorian Christmas.

You will also get to meet Old Father Christmas, who will be adorned in his traditional green robes and on deck to entertain visitors with tales of Christmas past...

• Book your tickets at: christmasspiegeltent.co.uk

Enjoy From the pens of Tom Morris and composer/lyricist Gwyneth Herbert, Bristol Old Vic is presenting The Nutcracker until 7 January – a magical, musical adaptation of the story behind the classic ballet.

With magical toys that come to life at the stroke of midnight, a dastardly Mouse King who must be stopped in his tracks, and a talking nutcracker like no other, The Nutcracker is set to be an absolute cracker of a Christmas show. Oh, and there’s also plenty of singing and dancing.

• Book your tickets at: bristololdvic.org.uk Image from rehearsals

• Book your tickets at: ssgreatbritain.org

Explore Grab your hats and gloves and join to Wild Place Project’s Winter Walking Safari from 3 December to embark on a magical adventure. Experience the beautiful nature trails across its 50acre site, while spotting amazing animals from around the world.

What’s more, while Father Christmas gets busy preparing for Christmas Day, his reindeer are spending leisurely time at Wild Place Project, before their big flight on Christmas Eve. Go and say hello to the reindeers and get a magical photo of their beautiful Christmasinspired stable.

• Book your tickets at: wildplace.org.uk

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THE CITYist

My

BRISTOL Meet legendary Bristol Hippodrome pantomime star, Andy Ford

Bridging gaps Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), The Exchange project supports local people to train as researchers and explore museum collections.

In November 2021, parents from Hannah More School and members of the Bridging Gaps Community Group, Shani Whyte, Iwona Salamon, and Soumia Seradj, became the SS Great Britain Trust’s first Community Research team.

The group worked with the museum collection and archive to uncover the ship’s global history.

The project sparked vital conversations around the misconceptions about the SS Great Britain, unravelling false narratives, discovering untold stories and creating new ways to explore and share history.

Iwona produced a learning box for schools, based on food the passengers would have to live on for two months at sea. Shani, Iwona, and Soumia each brought a fresh perspective to the role Brunel’s pioneering ocean liner played in history, exploring the ship’s involvement in migration and the story of the British empire.

Soumia, who has written a booklet explaining the background of the ship for people who do not have English as a first language, loved how the project brought together people from different communities.

Bridging gaps between local opinions and the ship’s real legacy, Shani Whyte’s book, Tying The Tides – The Colour Within the SS Great Britain, highlights people of colour who either travelled or worked on the ship.

A fantastic new free outdoor exhibition in Brunel Square explores the community researchers’ journeys and discoveries.

• ssgreatbritain.org

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I have been performing in and around the Bristol area for many years. Since performing quite regularly at the famous Bristol Hippodrome, I have to admit that the affinity with the city and it’s fabulous people has grown and grown. I was born in Exeter but to some extent I feel as though I was reborn in Bristol.

Ever since I was a little’n I have performed; from entertaining my fellow nursery school pupils on the school hall stage if it was raining outside during lunch to giving shows in my back garden and selling tickets to my friends to come and watch. I was head choirboy for many years at our local church and entered as many talent shows as I could with my cousin Steven. To be honest, I can’t remember a time when I haven’t been an entertainer.

My first panto at the Bristol Hippodrome was in 1997 in Peter Pan, which did a week at the theatre before moving on to a season at the Bournemouth Pavilion. In the build up to 2009, I had been performing in pantomimes all over the country from Croydon, Dartford and Bromley to Sheffield, Doncaster and many places in between.

The producers put to me the idea of performing back at the Bristol Hippodrome and I was so excited to take them up on their kind offer.

However, it was only after the show opened that I realised something very special was happening.

Panto has always been a good vehicle for my comedy, but when it’s done in front of a West Country audience, it hits another level for me.

Of all the fabulous theatres that I have appeared in pantomime, the Hippodrome is the one that definitely pulls at my heart strings. Local references in panto are essential and we performers try to make sure we get them right before we open. I’ll never forgot the reaction I received from the crowd the first time I said ‘Cheers Drive’… priceless! I just feel that the audience wants me to do well and that makes me feel special.

I’ve been so lucky over the years to perform alongside legends of film, TV and stage. I had to pinch myself when I starred alongside the Fonz himself – Henry Winkler from the cult 70’s show Happy Days. He was an absolute joy to perform alongside as was the Hoff (David Hasselhoff). As well as playing alongside American legends including Paul Michael Glaser, I was blessed with being able to work next to UK acting and showbiz royalty including Steve McFadden, Warwick Davis, Lesley Joseph, Rob Rinder, Nolan sisters Bernie and Maureen, Letitia Dean plus many more, but the Queen of them all has to be the late Dame Barbara Windsor. Barbara

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first asked me to appear with her after she saw me on the Des and Mel Show on ITV. The plan was to appear as Buttons to her Fairy Godmother in Cinderella but unfortunately Barbara became quite ill that year and was unable to do the pantomime. About seven years later, I found out that Barbara was leaving Eastenders and doing a panto. I got a call from the producers to say that Barbara had specifically asked for me to be on the show. In fact, I later discovered that she had included my appearance as one of the clauses in her contract. It was a wonderful experience working with a national treasure and one of the loveliest people I have ever met.

For me, Buttons has always been my favourite role because of the relationship with Cinderella both as loyal friends and Button’s secret love for her. That is why I am so excited to be asked to reprise the role agin for this year’s panto working alongside the wonderful Lauren Hampton from Bristol who has appeared on stage with me on many occasions as a member of the juvenile ensemble. This year, she gets the chance to be in the starring role. To young performers reading this: dreams can come true, just believe in yourself and keep going.

If I could have dinner with anyone from any era it would Eric Morecambe in the hayday of Eric and Ernie. I would have loved to have had the chance to pick his brilliant comedy brain. To me, Eric was and will always be THE comic inspiration for Andy Ford. I love the fact that he loved and cared about his craft so much. A perfectionist and a genius.

My philosophy in life is: be nice to each other!

• See Andy Ford in Cinderella at Bristol Hippodrome from 4 – 31 December

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Image credit: Ollie Durie

The Lionesses to

take on Belgium at Ashton Gate

Ashton Gate will play host to another high-profile international fixture next year when the Lionesses come to BS3 to take on Belgium in the Arnold Clark Cup. UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 winners England will play in Bristol for the first time since 2015 as part of a final matchday double-header on Wednesday 22 February 2023.

In their final tournament ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Sarina Wiegman’s side will attempt to defend the Arnold Clark Cup against Belgium, Italy, and South Korea.

Ashton Gate Managing Director Mark Kelly said: “We are delighted to be able to welcome the Lionesses back to Ashton Gate.

“It has been incredible to watch the Lionesses’ journey and we’ve followed their success since hosting them here back in 2015. During that time, we completed our stadium redevelopment and we’ve been proud to host a number of high-profile international sporting and entertainment acts.

Most recently, having the Red Roses play here, in their final warm-up match ahead of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand was incredibly poignant. To see them now about to compete in another World Cup Final is truly inspiring.

“I look forward to us playing our part in the Lionesses’ World Cup preparations and hopefully the perfect send-off, in front of what I’m sure will be another record crowd.”

• For more information, visit: bristol-sport.co.uk

Making waves Internationally-renowned Bristol artist Luke Jerram’s latest work, Oil Fountain, has been made to highlight how contemporary society is reliant on oil and the need to move away from this dependency. The giant fountain sculpture, which flows with engine oil instead of water, has been created from used engine oil and recycled acrylic, with details of plants and animals made extinct as a consequence of the industrial revolution and humanity’s impact on nature, laser-cut into the surface.

Oil Fountain will first be presented for the general public to see in Bristol in February 2023 at a date and location soon to be announced.

Luke Jerram explains: “Just as water fountains are meeting places within a town, Oil Fountain will become a place for organisations and individuals fighting climate change to meet and discuss their work.”

Professor Daniela Schmidt, an earth and climate scientist at the University of Bristol Cabot Institute for the Environment and a lead author on the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on adaptation to climate change, said: “Oil is at the heart of the climate crisis, with emissions past and future changing our climate.

“If we do not stop burning fossil fuels and changing our land, summers like the one we had with droughts and record heatwaves, resulting in deaths, crop failure, challenges to transport and energy production will become the norm.”

All materials for the Oil Fountain artwork will be recycled again at the end of the project.

• lukejerram.com

Image courtesy of the artist Luke Jerram

Support Bristol communities Bristol-based charity, 91 Ways to Build a Global City, is a communityfocused social enterprise named after the 91 languages spoken in the city. At the core of everything it does is its belief in the connecting power of food and community. The charity’s aim is to build common ground between communities through encouraging people to share their personal food journeys, recipes, and passions. The team believes this will help to bridge the gaps between Bristol’s 91 language communities and through sharing food, will help people to make better decisions about their nutrition and well-being, so that they can improve the health and sustainability of themselves, their families, and our city.

As winter approaches, 91 Ways is planning to help families across Bristol through the economic emergency through cooking lessons, explaining low-fuel methods to cook at home as well as providing healthy nutritious food for families to cook together and to take away. Their project will teach attendees how to use slow cookers before gifting them for free and supplying food boxes, spice kits and fuel vouchers. Ensuring culturally appropriate nutritious food reaches all communities, the charity has plans to create safe spaces for Afghani women asylum seekers who are installed in hostels to cook the dishes from their heritage and eat together. In order to support families across the city, however, 91 Ways needs your help. The charity is selling founder Kalpna Woolf’s latest book, Eat, Share, Love – a unique collection of 91 beautiful recipes and the compelling personal stories behind them from our communities – to help fund their work. Each book will be gift wrapped using recycled paper and a beautiful Indian ribbon and sent to your chosen person.

• Support 91 Ways and Bristol’s communities if you can and buy Eat, Share, Love (£20) at: 91ways.org/shop

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THE

B R I S TO L MAGAZINE

Contact us:

A hundred Christmases

T

he other day I met a woman who had recently enjoyed her hundredth birthday. The person who pointed her out in the audience at a talk I was giving suggested that this wasn’t really a big deal these days. Aren’t we all aiming for three figures, they mused? Come on, I thought. That lady in the front row, just over there, sitting and waiting along with everyone else, is A HUNDRED! As you can tell, I haven’t met many centenarians. None, in fact, before this one. I kept my eye on her as I gave my presentation, but she exhibited no sign of being any different to her neighbours. She listened attentively and came up at the end to say thank you for the lecture.

Thank you for coming, I replied, and off she went.

Everything about this person was completely ordinary, I reflected as I drove home, except for that magic number. Being a cricket fan, perhaps I’m particularly excited by the prospect of reaching three figures, but there’s more to it than that. This lady – let’s call her Helen – experienced her first Christmas as a baby in 1922. The Great War and the terrifying influenza epidemic that followed were recent memories.

Helen grew up with George V on the throne. In her school geography book the continents of the world were coloured here and there in pink, showing the vast extent of the British Empire. That world, meanwhile, was getting smaller. When Helen was six, Amelia Earhart flew solo across the Atlantic. Some 10 years later the celebrated aviator flew most of the way around the world before disappearing off the Australian coast.

By the time World War Two was declared, Helen was almost eighteen and she no doubt played her part in the conflict. When I met her, she lived near Birmingham, so perhaps she worked in industry, or in healthcare. Or perhaps she was a Wren mechanic, fixing boat engines in stylish bell-bottom trousers. Whatever she did, she experienced the Blitz Christmases of 1940 and 1941, not to mention the years of rationing.

In those days people ate goose for Christmas dinner, goose having been the traditional feast day bird for centuries. Country people might buy a young goose and fatten it up themselves. My mother grew up in a Norfolk vicarage with a pet goose called Gertie, who had originally been purchased with eating in mind but was spared when the four girls in the family fell in love with her. She became an excellent guard-goose, once chasing my grandfather (who she didn’t know) out of the garden.

But at eighty-two, my mother is a babe in arms compared to Helen, who survived the war and – who knows? – perhaps settled down with a de-mobbed serviceman and raised her children through the post-war years. They would have enjoyed free healthcare, thanks to the newly established NHS, but for the kids this probably didn’t make up for the lack of sugar. Not-very-sweet Christmas pudding anyone?

Ah, but imagine the Christmas tree. When I was very young my grandparents decorated their tree with coloured lights mounted on an industrial scale cable, but in the box of decorations they still had clips for candles. The lights I’m sure were easier to deal with, and safer, but how magical it must have been to gaze at a tree lit by flickering candles.

I’m not sure when the late Queen started doing her Christmas address, but it’s curious to imagine how Helen felt listening for the first time to the new monarch, who was four years her junior. In a world where older men had almost all the power, it must have been extraordinary. And then year after year, decade after decade, the same voice and the same face, in black and white and then in colour. Until this year, of course. This year it will be the young King delivering the Christmas message... ■

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Publisher Email:

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

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Green Satin Jumpsuit, £175 Rhinestone Statement Necklace, £58 Guillhermina T-Strap Heels, £125 Open Circle Ring, £35

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FASHION

Life of the

party

It’s festive glam time, so Anthropologie has treated us to a sumptuous satiny, starry, pearly selection of clothes and accessories to make you feel stylishly glitzy...

Diamante Triangle Choker Necklace, £38

Chun ky Hu gg

Mini HalfMoon Shoulder Bag, £60

ings, £38 Earr op o H ie

Floral Beaded Cape, £108 Satin Blazer, £150 Satin Suit Trousers £145

Vicenza Ankle Strap Heels, £98 Suede KneeHigh Boots, £115

Anthropologie

Diamond Chandelier Earrings, £42

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• Shop online at: anthropologie.com

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WILDLIFE FILMMAKING

Into the wild

After recently being recognised for producing unforgettable television moments during the BBC’s 100th birthday celebrations, we took a closer look at the revolutionary work of Bristol-based company John Downer Productions and how it has been instrumental in the way we engange with the animal kingdom...

F

or over 40 years, wildlife filmmaker John Downer has been exploring the planet, taking millions of television viewers on extraordinary journeys through the wilderness. No venture has ever seemed too far nor too daring for John and his endlessly talented team as they negotiate deserts, ice sheets, rainforests and swamps to capture intimate shots of the animal kingdom. Most notably, it has been his innovative use of ultra-realistic animatronic ‘spycams’ that has made those journeys so extraordinary and provided such fascinating insights into the fauna of the natural world.

John started his career at the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol in 1981, before setting up John Downer Productions (JDP) in the city. Since its inception, JDP has become internationally recognised for its technical wizardry and emotional storytelling, garnering a multitude of awards, including an Emmy for ground-breaking footage shot from a bird’s-eye view.

What’s more, in 1992, John won a Grammy for his innovative time-layering techniques in Peter Gabriel’s music video Digging in the Dirt and has since gained a reputation for being “the best of the best”, according to producer Simon Fuller, with whom he made the pioneering two-part series, Serengeti.

Proud of the fact that JDP sits securely in Bristol’s Green Hollywood, we sat down with John to celebrate the decades of success and hear the incredible tales from a life spent immersed in the great outdoors.

Up close and personal

In 2002, Lions: Spy in the Den introduced ‘bouldercam’ to the world, a remote camera device that boldly went where no camera had ever gone before – into the heart of a pride.

Describing the series, JDP’s website reads: “Looking deceptively like a mobile rock, but carrying a hidden digital camera, ‘bouldercam’ gets up close and personal as it unravels the story of how cubs learn to become adult lions. Bouldercam was often just a whisker away as the cubs were watched for over 3,000 hours.”

“Right from the very first deployment I could see that this was going to be amazing,” John explains. “The lions were accepting of the device.

I found that even if I drove near to them and their cubs, they weren’t frightened. They would lie by the camera and the cubs would suckle and you started to get this unbelievably intimate imagery that no one had ever seen before. That series was the start of the whole spy concept and it was immensely successful.”

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Memorable moments Some 10 years later, JDP produced Penguins: Spy in the Huddle, where the team spent nearly a year in close company with three colonies, deploying 50 spycams to capture the true nature of three very different, yet equally charismatic birds. Key to the success of the missions were the cameras cleverly disguised as life-size penguins, which infiltrated the colonies to record their behaviour.

“One of the most extraordinary moments was when we were filming Rockhopper penguins in the Falkland Islands. We had a spy Rockhopper, which had been totally accepted into the colony. It walked in among the penguins and found this female, who was on her own.

Most of them had partnered up, and Rockhoppers partner for life. We had our penguin standing next to this female. Her partner, who was one of the last to come back from sea, walked into the colony, discovered that she’d got a new mate and started beating up our penguin, which was hilarious and incredibly insightful when you actually want to know about penguins’ relationships and behaviour.

“That’s when we started to realise that if the spycams were the animals, they don’t just have to film, they could interact and those interactions could reveal things about the animals that you would not reveal in any other way.”

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“Looking deceptively like a mobile rock, but carrying a hidden digital camera, ‘bouldercam’ gets up close and personal as it unravels the story of how cubs learn to become adult lions. Bouldercam was often just a whisker away as the cubs were watched for over 3,000 hours.”

Emotional connections Since then, JDP has focused on developing its spy technology to include orangutangs, langurs, wild dogs, meerkats, crocodiles, snakes and crabs, to name just a few. Each one has been intrinsic to JDP’s research, helping them to learn more about the inner workings of the animals’ minds.

Beneath the skin of the spies is a feat of engineering that stretches technology to the limits. The spies are a “skeleton of articulated metal limbs controlled by sophisticated electronics” and their movements are programmed and tested. Spy orangutang, for example, which is at the top of the spying game, has the facial expressions of the real thing. Its head alone has 30 moving parts.

“In Spy in the Wild, we took our spy orangutang to Borneo, where we met one of the world’s greatest experts on orangutangs, Dr Birute Galdikas. We had heard that a wild orangutang had been watching builders and had learned how to saw. On the very last day of filming, the orangutang came over to our spy, which had started to saw on a log. She sat next to it, picked up her own saw and the two of them had a sawing contest – and she tried to do better than ours,” John laughs.

“I’ve spent my whole life with animals and from very early on, I realised there was a connection between them and us. When you start spending time with them, you recognise their behaviour in yourself, and that’s become a bit of an obsession in our films. We’re not interested in seeing things killing things, we’re interested in the family relationships, the things that we can relate to; their emotional connections, their feelings for their young. Our spies have managed to bring all of that out, always interacting in a positive way with friendly reactions.”

“One of the most extraordinary moments was when we were filming Rockhopper penguins in the Falkland Islands. We had a spy Rockhopper, which had been totally accepted into the colony...”

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Spy orangutang is at the pinnacle of the spying game and has the facial expressions of the real thing; its head alone has 30 moving parts

“On the very last day of filming, the orangutang came over to our spy, who had started to saw on a log. She sat next to it, picked up her own saw and the two of them had a sawing contest – and she tried to do better than ours,” says John

“The spies are a “skeleton of articulated metal limbs controlled by sophisticated electronics” and their movements are programmed and tested...”

Unpredictable moments Producers often stand by the age-old axiom, “Never work with children or animals”, due to their unpredictable nature. So how does the team prepare for a series? “There’s always a plan, and then you tear up the plan,” he jokes. “I like the animals to basically be saying, “this is our story”. Once you find their story, it takes you to the magic.” Which is exactly what happened in 2008 when the team captured the day-to-day lives of four tiny tiger cubs as they grew up alongside their devoted mother in Pench Tiger Reserve in the heart of India.

“We found a mother with 10-day-old cubs and they were really active, they were falling out of the den, still blind, but she was an amazing mother. She reared those four cubs to adulthood and we followed the whole story over three years. One of those cubs, which we didn’t know was going to be such a star, was Collarwali, who became the greatest mother tiger in the whole of India, credited with helping to repopulate the forest.”

Collarwali – a name that translates to ‘with collar’ in English and came about after she became the first big cat in the reserve to be radiocollared – gave birth to a record 29 cubs, 25 of which survived to adulthood. Following Collarwali’s death in January 2022, conservation officers held a funeral where her body, garlanded with flowers, was cremated on a funeral pyre in line with Hindu rites.

“It was really, really touching,” John recalls. “To be there capturing the moment when she was 10-days-old and then the moment that she died was absolutely extraordinary.”

Conservation According to the 2022 WWF Living Planet Report, which sets out to assess and quantify vertebrate animal populations around the world, wildlife populations have declined by a staggering 69% over the past 48 years.

“There is a real crisis happening in the world,” says John, “as so many wonderful films have made clear, but my aim is to make people 18 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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care about what they might lose by understanding the emotional connections we share.

“When I set off to film the tigers, people were telling me that there won’t be any left in India in five years but what I found was that India was actually doing a lot to preserve these animals. I could see that there was a much healthier population than before and I could see that things were getting better, not worse.

“My feeling is: celebrate when there are successes, make people realise that small things can make a huge difference and know that everything is worthwhile.”

Looking back When looking back, I wonder what John takes from the last 40 years and what he looks forward to in the decades to come. “When I set out, I wanted to develop ways of filming that could engage with the animal world. Everything I ever dreamt of having, I now have in terms of technique. The developments in camera technology, drones, etc has made more things possible, but yet I’ve never felt like we’ve come to the end. There is always further to go and I’m still finding it as exciting as I did when I first started out.

“I also think there’s been a huge change over the last 20 years about how people view animals. We should worry about them and we do worry about them. People used to throw this anthropomorphic tag at my work, but they don’t so much these days and I’m hoping that’s because of the films that we’re making – you can’t deny what you see.”

After a lifetime surrounded by animals, John has a catalogue of fascinating and wildly funny stories, each one filled with enough intensity, intimacy and integrity to make a great film. “It was all part of a journey to get closer and closer to the animal world, which I’ve never stopped,” says John. Long may he continue down this extraordinary road of innovation, discovery and conservation because the world is undoubtedly a better place for it. n • jdp.co.uk; all images courtesy of John Downer Productions

Mallory Christmas Bristol Version V2 .qxp_Layout 1 25/11/2022 17:07 Page 1

CHRISTMAS AT

MALLORY LUXURY CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM BATH’S SHOP OF WONDERS

Sapphire and Diamond Earrings £8,495.00

Tanzanite and Diamond Ring £6,550.00

Tanzanite and Diamond Bracelet £12,995.00 Diamond Ring £18,950.00

Diamond Pendant £4,495.00 Chopard Chopardissimo Mini Tote £790.00

Tahitian Pearl and Diamond Earrings £1,895.00

Chopard Happy Sport £5,550.00 Diamond Bracelet £8,950.00

Lalique Bulldog Sculpture £390.00 Montblanc Star Cufflinks £310.00

London Blue Topaz and Diamond Earrings £995.00 Diamond Ring £9,500.00 Diamond Earrings £4,500.00

Omega De Ville Prestige £4,200.00

Mallory, 1 - 5 Bridge Street, Bath, BA2 4AP Tel: 01225 788800 mallory-jewellers.com

Montblanc Sartorial Document Case £905.00

Georg Jensen Sky Ice Cubes £41.00

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Image credits: BBC/Guy Levy

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Born to

perform

After capturing our hearts on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, Bristol-born comedian Jayde Adams chats to Melissa Blease about body confidence, brand-new shows and living the dream...

A

ccording to a Times journalist, Jayde Adams – the uniquely charismatic Bristol-born comedian, actor, writer and singer – “unites the political with the personal in a way that many comics aim for, but few pull off with this sort of aplomb.” The Evening Standard says her stardom-bound trajectory is inevitable, and the Guardian claims she’s already reached stellar heights.

So: is Jayde talking to me from a luxury five-star hotel suite in Mayfair where she’s getting ready for her next red carpet appearance? Oh, very much no; she’s at home with her slippers on, watching her dad put masking tape on her skirting boards.

And is Daddy Adams surprised by the acclaim, attention and appreciation that his celebrity daughter attracts?

“No,” he says – and that’s that. “I'm just doing what I do, babe”, says Jayde; “just doing what I do.”

Jayde “does what she does” in all kinds of different ways. She ‘does’ Leanne, for example, in the awardwinning BBC sitcom Alma’s Not Normal. She’s the host who presides over superstar chefs including Heston Blumenthal on fantastical Channel 4 cooking show Crazy Delicious and is a regular panellist on 8 Out of 10 Cats. She’s appeared in recent locally filmed hits including BBC’s The Outlaws and the independent feature film, The Fence. She’s starring in Greatest Days, the Take That movie that comes out next spring, she’s preparing to take her stand-up show, Men, I Can Save You on a UK tour in March... and, of course, she’s done multiple live stand-up gigs all over the country over the last dozen or so years. But most recently, Jayde was introduced to a whole new audience when she Cha-Cha-Cha-ed into the Strictly Come Dancing spotlight in pro-partner Karen Hauer’s arms. Jayde: are you over your glitter ball experience yet?

“I was over Strictly ages ago!,” she laughs. “I had to be – I've got a lot to be getting on with. Right now, I'm in pre-production for my ITVX series Ruby Speaking, which starts in January; if I’d stayed with Strictly until the end I’d have been pretty exhausted by now.” Is

Strictly really as exhausting as it looks? “People think it’s worse than it is,” she says. “When you’re doing it, your body sort of gets used to it and it’s fine, totally manageable. And it was a super-positive experience: a really great thing to do at this point of my career.”

I’m swiftly learning that pessimism, negativity and defeat are three words that simply aren’t in Jayde’s vocabulary. But I have to ask: surely the relentless trolls that attempted to dominate her social media feeds during her Strictly stint were a bit, well, down-bringing, to say the least? “Oh, they were a bit of a pain, at times” she says, in a similar fashion to the way one might dismiss a temporary mosquito invasion in August. “But y’know, they’re actually nice, normal people who live on the Isle of Wight or wherever, and have Help Ukraine in their bios. They’re not evil; they’re just sat on their own somewhere, bored out of their minds, seeing other people doing something they’d quite like to do but they’ve held themselves back from doing ‘cos they’ve heard society tell them all these negative things about their personalities, or their bodies. Then I come along and show them that they don’t need to worry about all that stuff, and that really annoys them. I get it, I understand where they’re at. But the more they do it, the more I’ll galvanise support for what I’m doing, so they can carry on as far as I’m concerned.”

I don’t think I could be that strong; I know for a fact that I’d find it hurtful. “Oh babe! It’s not worth it.

Those people make decisions to post stuff within seconds of seeing something that makes them angry; four minutes later, they’re not even thinking about what they’ve posted. But to us, it can go on for longer, because we keep hold of it. Matt Goss [of 80s pop group Bros] and I were talking about this the other day, and he said, if you hold a full glass of water for a minute, you don’t notice it. But if you carry that glass around for an entire day, your arm’s going to start hurting, or you’re not going to have any feeling in it; the longer you hold on to that glass the more it’s going to hurt you, but if you put it

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“I don’t go

down, you forget about it – so true! Anyway, I’ve had much worse things happen to me than being trolled, and I’ve got a bit of a shield around me, and her name is Jenna Adams.”

Born in 1982, Jenna was Jayde’s big sister by two years. They were a huge part of each other’s lives and regularly participated in professional dance contests together over 13 years, excelling in Freestyle Disco.

Tragically, Jenna was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour at the age of 23, and died in 2011 after battling her illness for six years. Until Strictly, Jayde hadn’t danced professionally since Jenna passed away, which is why she wanted to be partnered with a woman on the show. Few people who watched Jayde’s tribute to Jenna (following her American Smooth to Bette Midler’s Wind Beneath My Wings, which she dedicated to her sister) would fail to have been deeply moved. Was that moment, perhaps, the toughest of Jayde’s career to date? “It was just, y’know...,” she says, pausing for a quiet moment in an otherwise 100mph interview; “it just seemed like a good, right place to talk about Jenna, at a good, right

out there to save the

world, I just like people releasing

emotion in

my presence; that’s who I am.”

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time”. And the right point, perhaps, to talk about Jayde’s roots...

“I grew up in Bedminster as part of a pretty close working class family,” she says. “We all get on well with each other, we’re not estranged from each other, we support each other through difficult times, and all that stuff – we’re just normal, very normal. I’m the only performer in my family; we were all part of my aunt’s dance school when we were kids, but the entertainment side of things is just me.”

Where, then, did Jayde’s career inspiration come from? “I suppose I used stand-up as a way to get to where I want to go to, which ultimately is acting – but I’m not sure where that came from. I couldn’t get straight into acting ‘cos I neither went to Cambridge nor Oxford and none of my family are related to anyone in the industry, so my route was via working with drag queens until I entered the Funny Women Awards in 2014, which I won. But I don’t watch comedy and never really have. When I was younger, I used to watch the Vicar of Dibley, but that’s not stand-up. Today, I’d watch Alma’s Not Normal but

JAYDE ADAMS v4.qxp_Layout 2 25/11/2022 17:09 Page 4

Jayde at the BBC New Comedy Awards 2022 Image credit: BBC / Phil McIntyre Television / Ellis O'Brien

Sophie Willan and Jayde Adams as Alma and Leanne in BBC’s Alma’s Not Normal Image credit: BBC / Expectation / Matt Squire

ABOVE: Jayde hosting Channel 4’s Crazy Delicious with British chef Heston Blumenthal Image credit: Channel 4 LEFT: Jayde recently starred in locally filmed independent feature film, The Fence

I’m in it, so that doesn’t really count. There are a few scientific things you can learn around jokewriting and the tools and the techniques that make people laugh harder, but I’ve taught myself all that over 10 years. Anyway, if you start comparing yourself to other people, you get stuck. As far as I’m concerned, I’m the only comedian in the world!” The ideal starting blocks, then, for world domination?

“Put it this way: I don’t wonder what I'll be doing in 10 years time – I know what I’ll be doing in 10 years time!” she says. “I’ll be doing a lot of TV and film work and acting a lot. I won’t be moving on from comedy, but acting’s going to be my main focus for the next five years, and making inroads to becoming a director – I believe that’s something I’d do really well. It’s a hard industry to get into for sure, but I love a challenge.”

Would Jayde describe herself as ambitious, then? “I don’t think it’s ambitious to just do what I should be doing. Everybody should

do that. Just keep goals small, and manageable, and slowly take little baby steps towards what you want to do. And learn to be okay with failure, because failure is an important part of creativity; stand-up taught me that – there’s no quicker way of learning how to fail than standing in front of a massive group of Madness fans at a Madness Weekender, and none of them get you!”

Personally, I can’t understand the concept of ‘not getting’ Jayde; after all, she’s so many things, to so many people – and, perhaps, a role model? “Oh, I just make people laugh and stay positive while I’m doing it,” she says; “People can take whatever they want from that. I don’t go out there to save the world, I just like people releasing emotion in my presence; that’s who I am.”

Jayde Adams: her own creation. n • See Jayde Adams’ new stand-up show, Men, I Can Save You, at Bristol Old Vic on 2 April 2023. Book your tickets at: jaydeadams.com THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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SHOPPING | CHRISTMAS

Present perfect

The festive season is upon us so let’s express our love and appreciation to those who have been in our thoughts all year. Here’s a wondersome show of gift inspiration from the finest local ateliers, stores and online retailers. You know the drill, scan the QRs for pronto gifting

BY DIANA PORTER 9ct Fairtrade Gold ‘LOVED’ Sibyl The most sentimental gift to be enjoyed season after season.

The signature Sibyl by Bristol jeweller Diana Porter is made using 9ct Fairtrade yellow gold etched with the word LOVED. £830. Visit the shop at 33 Park Street, Bristol or shop online.

dianaporter.co.uk AN RWA PASSPORT Your passport to a year of world-class art at the RWA. The RWA Art Pass (£15) or Friends of the RWA membership (£35) make the perfect gift for art lovers.

Both allow free year-round access to exhibitions, the latter offers extra benefits, including discounts, special events and trips. Check out the RWA website to see which one works best for you.

rwa.org.uk

NICHOLAS WYLDE DESIGNER JEWELLERY The south west’s leading designer jeweller, award-winning Nicholas Wylde has been designing original, high quality jewellery since first opening in 1987. Nicholas Wylde is a perfect destination for anyone looking for that unique piece of jewellery to add that extra special sparkle this Christmas.

Visit the showroom at 6 The Mall, Clifton, Bristol BS8

nicholaswylde.com

THE LINEN BREAD BAG

ANIMAL ADOPTIONS AT WILD PLACE

Every baker needs a home for those prized loaves. This breathable linen bread bag handprinted by designer Lauren Holloway will become an essential kitchen accessory, available in mustard, green or grey, £32.

See this and many more fabulous, sustainable bags and accessories by Lauren Holloway on her website.

The perfect present!

Help care for animals as well as supporting the Wild Place’s conservation work across the globe by adopting either a European brown bear, giraffe, ring-tailed lemur or a zebra, £30. For all the details visit:

wildplace.org.uk

laurenholloway.uk

CLIFTON CONTEMPORARY ART ‘Arrowhead I’ polished bronze with patination and ebonised wood base (height: 28cm) by Bristol sculptor Julian Cox , £1,500.

Exclusively available at Clifton Contemporary Art, 25 Portland Street, Clifton, Bristol, BS8

cliftoncontemporaryart.co.uk

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SHOPPING | CHRISTMAS

CLAY CLUB POTTERY MAKING WITH YUUP £20 per adult. Make pottery with a choice of clays in this self-directed ceramics workshop on North Street.

In this open studio guests have access to all the tools, equipment and a pottery wheel to make whatever takes their fancy.

Find this and many more gift ideas at :

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

yuup.co

This sterling silver bangle by Honey Willow can be personalised with names, dates, messages or phrases, £90, it is hand stamped with up to forty characters. An intimate gift that really can mean something.

Visit the store at: 8 Pulteney Bridge, Bath

honeywillow.com ARTISAN CRAFTS & GIFTS

FINE ART DOG PORTRAITS Commission a contemporary styled dog portrait painted by award winning artist: Tracey Bowes. Her works are personalised by using styles and colours to suit her clients. Tracey combines her design skills with her traditional fine art practice to create breathtaking pieces. Prices from £25.

Artisan Homeware is an independent Bristol-based homewares business bringing traditional craftsmanship to contemporary interiors. They sell handmade Boleslawiec Stoneware from Poland, UK-made luxury merino wool blankets and cushions and a huge range of fairtrade and eco-friendly Fairtrade Christmas decorations from just £5.95.

Shown here: Medium Lasagne dish £61

❹

thefineartistshop.com

artisanhomeware.co.uk

FROM THE RAINMAKER GALLERY FABULOUSLY DELIGHTFUL HAMPER BOXES

Keep your loved ones warm the Native American way with a beautiful Pendleton blanket. Available in a wide range of colours and designs. “Robe” size (featured) 163 x 203 cm, £385. Rainmaker Gallery, 140 Whiteladies Road, Bristol, BS8 2RS

rainmakerart.co.uk

Buy local, box local... Are you looking to express your love, appreciation, friendship or thanks to someone special? Say it with an incredible set box from Boxlocal, filled with goodies from local suppliers and businesses. They’re great gifts and there’s a fab range to choose from on the BoxLocal website. Shown here: the Ultimate Foodie box, £75, jam packed with local wellsourced goodies.

©Eugene Tapahe Photography

boxlocal.co.uk

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SHOPPING | CHRISTMAS

FABRIC DESIGNS

BY ISABELL BROWELL

MOORCROFT POTTERY AT CLIFTON CERAMICS

GLOVELY GIFT IDEAS FROM DENTS

See Moorcroft vases, table lamps [complete with silk shades], and limited editions such as this specially crafted piece featuring the SS Great Britain, £450. All are handmade in Stoke and Clifton Ceramics is a leading stockist.

Celebrate the season with stylish Dents’ gloves, gifts and head turning accessories.

Whether it be winter essentials or a special gift for a loved one, you will discover a dazzling selection of gloves, accessories, gifts, handbags and much, much, more. We love this pair of Bella long-sleeved satin opera gloves , £20 and available in a wide range of colours.

Dents Factory Shop, Furnax Lane, Warminster, or shop online at

Clifton Ceramics & Fine Jewellery.

58 The Mall, Clifton Bristol, BS8 4JG

cliftonceramics.co.uk

With an interior design background, Isabell Browell’s love of fabrics was the motivation to learn the art of lampshade making. Using handwoven Ikats from Uzbekistan and vintage silk Sari fabrics from India, Isabell aims to create lampshades which make a statement and transform a room.

She can also offer a bespoke lampshade service for specific interior room schemes. Isabell is based in Bath. Shown here: a black /red Ikat cushion, 10 x 24 inches (80% silk/20% cotton mix), £69 each, and a 14 inch green/blue/ivory silk Ikat lampshade, £160. Isabell’s lovely products can be viewed on her website:

browellinteriors.com

dents.co.uk

BEADED BRACELETS BY JIYA

MR. BRUNEL TREE DECORATION FROM SS GB

Handmade in Bristol, Jiya is a collection of semi-precious, pearls, gold, silver and beaded jewellery, with colour and craft at the heart of everything they create. All jewellery is designed and handmade by local artisans. Shown here is the easy to wear and well-boho Havana bead bracelets £25 each or just £95 for a set of five.

Stuck for what to hang on your Christmas tree this year?

Nil Desperandum! This exclusive Mr Brunel tree decoration is here to solve your problems!

jiyajewellery.co.uk

This miniature of the great engineer, hand-stitched in Thailand, is fair trade and A SHINDIG GIFT CARD ethically sourced and FINE INChristmas!

MINIATURE comes complete with Shindig Festival 2023 has youGIFTS covered this watch chain, stovepipe hat, Give the gift of a magical experience you and the whole Nigel Dando’s shop has a wonderful range of new and and plans for the SS Great family will look forward to. antique collectible items. We love these silver and Britain. Dimensions: 160 x Enjoy four days of world class music and arts from 25 to enamel, hand-scuplted miniatures by Saterno of Italy and 50mm. £13.

28 May, in the heart of the Somerset countryside. also spotted a fine Signet ring. Nigel will arrange a crest Every Bristol Christmas tree Simply give this gift tag to your loved ones and pay later stamp or initials engraved if needed. should have one. (kids under 12 come free!). To share the love this Nigel Dando, 11 Pulteney Bridge, Bath.

Christmas, Shindig will make a donation to local charity Boys In Mind/Girls Mind Too, when you use code SUPPORT at the checkout.

In the words of Jazzie B from Soul II Soul, Shindig is “…a proper party for proper party people!”

shindigfestival.co.uk ssgreatbritain.org

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SHOPPING | CHRISTMAS

,

FRUIT PRESERVE GIFT BOX Single Variety Co’s Fruit Preserve Gift Box contains four Great Taste Award Winning preserves, all handmade in their family run jam factory in Bristol. Maravilla Raspberry, Seville Marmalade, Passionfruit Preserve and Ben Hope Blackcurrant Preserve, all made with much more fruit and less sugar than traditional jams. A perfect gift for any food lover! £22.50.

Available online at:

singlevariety.co.uk

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM THATCHERS CIDER Thatchers are unveiling a Christmas surprise – their very first Thatchers 12 Days of Christmas Cider Gift Box. Available online and from the Thatchers’ Cider Shop at at Myrtle Farm in Somerset, the 12 Days of Christmas Cider Gift Box contains a selection of Thatchers’ family favourites all made on the farm. It costs just £34.99 (plus delivery if ordering online). In the best traditions of Christmas gift boxes, it’s a complete surprise as to which of the ciders you’ll find when you open each door. But in true Thatchers style, there’s a Somerset cider for everyone included. Happy Christmas.

thatcherscider.co.uk

DAMSON GIN FOR A FESTIVE TIPPLE Like Sloe gin, this Damson gin is hand made in the traditional way; in small batches, using hand-picked British damsons and a moderate amount of sugar to produce and intense, fruity dryness. £35 for 70cl. Order online or find 6 o’ Clock Gin at Cabot Circus this Christmas

6oclockgin.com

GIN BY PSYCHOPOMP This seasonal gin gift set includes a 50ml mini of each of Psychpomp’s seasonal recipes from this year with infographic cards. The cards share info on botancials, how to serve the perfect G&T and a cocktail suggestion. Each bottle celebrates its own season.

microdistillery. co.uk

GREAT WINE PUZZLES They are challenging, addictive, and make a delightful, grown up gift. If you are familiar with Water & Wines then you’ll know they create next-level jigsaw puzzles that will take you on a journey through the world of wine. This new Champagne region puzzle is the latest addition to a delightful collection and will make the perfect gift this Christmas.

Curated in collaboration with Master of Wine and champagne specialist Essi Avellan, the puzzle highlights the main regions of Champagne, the Grand Cru villages, and the region's rich history.

The puzzle itself is beautifully illustrated by hand. Purchase from Harvey Nichols or see the full series of wine puzzles at

waterandwines.com

GIN LOVER’S MASTERCLASS WITH YUUP £30 per adult. Uncover the magic of gin in a microdistillery that makes some of the most unusual gins in Bristol. Enjoy a guided tasting, discover the roles of different botanicals, learn how gin is made, and more in this interactive experience.

Find this and many more gift ideas at yuup.co

yuup.co

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BS3 Santa returns to Tobacco Factory Theatres

WHAT’S ON Glad tidings we bring in the form of a super-festive round-up of events happening around Bristol this month to get you in the Christmas spirit...

Enchanted Christmas n Until 21 December, Westonbirt, The National Arboretum This month at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, visitors will be taken on a journey through beautiful woodland, and transported into a magical world surrounded by colourful twinkling lights. Witness the wonder and general commotion that comes with playful elves creating Westonbirt’s spectacular illuminated trail. There will be special ‘relaxed sessions’ on 3 December from 4pm–5pm, when the trail will be adapted to suit those with additional needs such as autism – strong flashing lights, loud sound effects and smoke effects will be temporarily turned off. Tickets available through advance booking only: forestryengland.uk/westonbirt/enchantedchristmas

crafts and unique items which are perfect for those hunting for that special Christmas gift.

There is also a wide range of delicious food available, from traditional Bratwurst to crepes, churros and plenty of sweet treats.

Bristol's Christmas Market n Until 23 December, Broadmead Located in the very heart of Bristol City Centre, the Christmas market is home to over 40 unique stalls where you’ll find an array of traders selling seasonal delights,

The Vintage Winter Wonderland n Until 2 January, Millennium Square Head to the winter playground on Bristol's Harbourside this winter. The Après Bar is back, supplying a warming selection of drinks for those cold wintery nights.

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EDITOR’S PICK Festive Beauty Social n 3 December, 12 – 5pm, Harvey Nichols Bristol Visit Harvey Nichols Bristol for a day of festive beauty, in collaboration with The Bristol Magazine. Enjoy complimentary skincare treatments, hair styling, mini makeovers and exclusive beauty masterclasses. You will also be treated to a glass of prosecco, live music throughout the afternoon and a goody bag to take home. Tickets £10, redeemable on beauty purchases made during the event. Sessions are available to book on the day. Spaces will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Book your tickets at: harveynichols.com

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During the weekend, events will be DJ led running late into the night. Throughout December, food will be taken care of by Pepe Nero upholding an independent vibe with this family-run business who brought Bristol their first vegan pizza. There is a range of rides and activities for little ones.

Plus, Santa will be in his Grotto on weekdays from 4pm - 8pm.

The Snow Queen n 1 December – 15 January, Tobacco

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3RD DEC

11TH DEC

JUNIOR JUNGLE

SUNDAY SOCIAL

4TH DEC

17TH DEC

DAYTIME FAMILY EVENT

DRAG BRUNCH

W/BOTTOMLESS PROSECCO

7TH DEC

HEADLINER TBA

BABY DISKO

DAYTIME FAMILY EVENT

18TH/19TH/20TH DEC

KID CARPET

THE PUPPINI SISTERS

AND THE NOISY ANIMALS

10TH DEC

19TH/20TH DEC

FAMILY CABARET AND DISCO

CHRISTMAS CABARET SHOW

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Festive Fiesta at St George’s Bristol

Factory Theatres Tobacco Factory Theatres in Bristol have announced their Christmas cast for The Snow Queen, which runs at the venue from 1 December to 15 January. The production is being co-produced with New International Encounter (NIE) and Cambridge Junction. Natisha Williams will take on the lead role of Gerda in her professional stage debut, with cast members Joey Hickman, Stefanie Mueller, Alex Murdoch and Abayomi Oniyide returning to TFT having performed in Snow White in 2019. Samantha Sutherland returns having performed in Beauty and The Beast in 2018. tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Enjoy Westonbirt Arboretum’s Enchanted Christmas!

Bristol Palestine Film Festival 2022 n 2 – 11 December, various locations This year’s festival will feature a comedy show for the first time in its 11-year history, alongside 10 feature-length films and two shortfilm nights, showcasing a range of contemporary stories and experiences from Palestine and the region.

The festival will take place over two weekends, kicking off on 2 December with the film Boycott, followed by a Stand Up for Palestine comedy night at the Folk House on 3 December starring Mark Thomas, Nick Revell, and Esther Manito. Proceeds from the comedy night will go towards two hard to fund charities: MAP, which provides medical aid for Palestinians, and the Bristol Palestine Film Festival. bristolpff.org.uk

Cinderella n 2 – 31 December, Bristol Hippodrome You shall go to the ball. Next Christmas with this spectacular family pantomime of Cinderella. Starring Craig Revel Horwood, and packed with all of the traditional pantomime ingredients. The Bristol Hippodrome audiences can expect, Cinderella features, laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses. Join Cinders as she goes from rags to riches, outwits her very wicked sisters and meets her dashing Prince Charming. atgtickets.com/shows/cinderella Belle and Sebastien n 2 December – 8 January, Bristol Old Vic A Travelling Light and Bristol Old Vic coproduction based on Belle and Sebastien by Cecile Aubry. Much-loved Bristol actor Felix Hayes (A Christmas Carol, Bristol Old Vic) will play Belle – the Pyrenean Mountain Dog and best friend to Sebastien, played by Mogali Masuku, who is welcomed to Bristol for the first time. bristololdvic.org.uk 30 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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The Spirit of Christmas n 10 December, St George’s Bristol The countdown to Christmas has well and truly started as Bristol Bach Choir presents its ever-popular Christmas concert at St George’s. Conducted this term by David Bednall, and accompanied as ever by Nigel Nash, Bristol Bach Choir are acknowledging the 150th anniversary of Vaughan-William’s

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birth by performing his ever-popular Fantasia on Christmas Carols. In addition, the choir’s usual mixture of familiar and less familiar carols, audience participation and a variety of readings from the sublime to the ridiculous, ensure that this is the perfect musical start to the festive season. Tickets (from £12); bristolbach.org.uk Exultate Singers: Carols by Candlelight n 10 December at 4pm & 7pm, Wednesday 14 December at 7.30pm, St James Priory, BS1 3NZ Exultate Singers performs an exquisite programme of Christmas music, the perfect preparation for the festive season. Enjoy a wonderfully atmospheric evening in the beautiful surroundings of Bristol's oldest building, St James Priory. Tickets £13 to £17 from Opus 13 music shop. exultatesingers.org BS3 Santa n 13 – 23 December, Tobacco Factory Theatres Bristol actor Stewart Wright is back in his home city by popular demand this December, offering families the opportunity

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Wrap up and get cosy this winter in Exeter Escape to the beautiful and historic city of Exeter this winter for the ultimate weekend break

Escape your everyday and visit Exeter this winter. Our city has all you need for a 2023 short break, with cosy accommodation, fantastic local eateries, historic attractions and more, all within a short walking distance.

Exeter’s location in the heart of Devon, surrounded by glorious rolling hills and close to the stunning coastline, means that we aren’t short of locally-sourced food and drink. It’s easy to see why our city has been voted one of the top places to eat out in the UK, by Which Good Food Guide.

Visit popular brands on the High Street including John Lewis and in Princesshay and the Guildhall Shopping Centre. Discover friendly, independent shops in surrounding streets offering products for all tastes.

InExeter’s brand-new digital independent gift card supports ‘indies’ across the city –

the first of its kind in the UK! Our city is surrounded by green open spaces, which means it’s packed with exciting activities for all abilities. Fancy a breath of fresh air? Rent a bike and explore the Exe Estuary to Topsham or get your walking boots on and follow the trails at Haldon Forest Park.

Exeter quayside is a must-visit any time of year. Shop at independent boutiques, discover the quay’s fascinating history at the Custom House and sit back, relax and enjoy a meal with loved-ones, sat beside the water, watching the world go by.

Exeter’s historic attractions are open yearround, including the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Red Coat Guides and the Underground Passages. When you’ve finished exploring, put your feet up and experience the ultimate in relaxation at the St Sidwell’s Point Spa in the heart of the city.

Catch comedy shows, live music and more at eclectic venues across the city including Exeter Corn Exchange and Exeter Phoenix. Visit Exeter Northcott, Exeter Barnfield Theatre and Exeter Cygnet Theatre for touring theatre productions

throughout the year.

In Exeter we’re passionate about sport.

Home to Premiership Rugby team the Exeter Chiefs, football fixtures at Exeter City FC, and exciting competitive horse racing at Exeter Racecourse.

Exeter is a short train journey away from the historic port of Topsham - a quaint, idyllic town bursting with local food & drink, independent shops and scenic walks.

Exeter is just 1 hour by train from Bristol with Great Western Railway.

Win a 3 Night Break in Exeter Win a 3-night winter break in Exeter this January, staying at city centre Exeter Self Catering apartment with luxury food and drink experiences included. Competition closes 15th December.

Scan code or enter online at:

www.visitexeter.com/januarybreak

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Snow Queen at Tobacco Factory Theatres

Belle and Sebastien at Bristol Old Vic

Bristol Film Festival: Elf n 19 December, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery Step inside Bristol Museum & Art Gallery for your very own “Night at the Museum” to enjoy a truly special movie screening.

To get you in the Christmas spirit the museum is bringing Will Ferrell’s infectiously cheery outing as Buddy in Elf to its screens.

It’s a perfect way to prepare for the festive weekend if, like us, it’s not truly Christmas until you’ve seen this film again… bristolfilmfestival.com

to make this festive season unforgettable as he returns with a newly reworked production of BS3 Santa. Experienced at entertaining all ages with his own brand of improvisation and audience interaction, theatre meets ‘An Audience with Father Christmas’ in BS3 Santa. From 13 – 23 December (excluding 19 December) there will be two shows of BS3 Santa a day (10.15am and 11.30am) at Tobacco Factory Theatres. tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Children’s Christmas Carnival n 19 December at 2pm & 4pm, St George’s Bristol Get Christmas off to a brilliant start with this entertaining children's Christmas concert featuring Prokofiev’s well-loved musical tale, Peter and the Wolf. With plenty of audience participation in festive favourites, this is a seasonal delight for all the family. Family tickets from £19, available from St George’s box office. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Christmas Spectaculars n 17 & 19 December at 7.30pm, St George’s Bristol Bristol Ensemble takes to the stage with City of Bristol Choir (Saturday 17th) and Exultate Singers (Monday 19th) to bring Christmas cheer and festivities in this Christmas Spectacular. Under the baton of the inimitable David Ogden, this is always a wonderfully entertaining and uplifting evening of Christmas music and readings, with some wonderful Christmas music with choir items, audience participation and festive orchestral music. Tickets £15 to £30 for adults, concessions available for students and under 18s. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

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Festive Fiesta n 20 December at 7.30pm, St George’s Bristol There will be plenty of audience participation in this sparkling festive concert featuring all your favourite carols, Christmas choral works and orchestral pieces. Enjoy a brilliantly festive and fun evening under the baton of David Ogden, with City of Bristol Choir and the Bristol Ensemble, certain to put you in the

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Christmas mood. Tickets £15 to £30 for adults, concessions available for students and under 18s, from St George’s box office. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk Handel's Messiah n 21 December at 7pm, St George’s Bristol Bristol Ensemble and the Choir of Royal Holloway return to St George's Bristol to bring to life Handel's masterpiece, Messiah, in a semi-staged performance. Tickets £15 to £30 for adults, concessions available for students and under 18s, from St George’s box office. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

COMING SOON Burns Night n 28 January, Cadbury House Hotel Cadbury House Hotel invites you to its Burns Night. The bar will be open from 6:30pm, followed by three Course Banquet Dinner with Tea and Coffee, and the Resident DJ and Disco for Evening Entertainment. Tables are booked on a ‘Join a table’ basis and will be set up banquet style for the event. Ticket cost £49 per person.

To book, call 01934834343 and press option 1, or email info@cadburyhouse.com. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to the Guide Dogs Association. cadburyhotelbristol.co.uk/burns-night

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EXHIBITIONS

STATE OF THE ART Bharti Kher: The Body is a Place, Arnolfini, until 29 January Arnolfini welcomes you to explore the alchemical practice of internationally renowned artist Bharti Kher, in a major solo exhibition of drawing, sculpture, and the spaces that lie between.

Including new and previously unseen works created during a residencies in Somerset in 2017 and 2019, The Body is a Place also features Kher’s monumental bindi drawings, the playful and political drawing-based installation Links in a Chain, sculptures made from found objects and plaster casts, and a new encounter with her site-specific bindi work Virus; part of a 30-year project begun by the artist in 2010.

The Body is a Place is accompanied by a programme of film, music, talks and workshops for all ages, as well as a new publication available through Arnolfini Bookshop.

• arnolfini.org.uk; 16 Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA Image: Body Incantatory 21, 2019. © Bharti Kher. Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth. Photo Dominic Brown Photography

For Winter: a mixed show by gallery artists, Clifton Contemporary Art, 25 November – 10 January Throughout midwinter the gallery will be filled with an inspiring variety of original paintings, printwork and sculpture, fine ceramics and handcrafted jewellery.

The mixed show will encompass 100 million-year-old stone carved into new life, timeless limited edition bronzes, cutting edge digital prints, deeply atmospheric landscapes, light filled still life compositions, elegantly simple porcelain bowls and vases, silver, gold and semi-precious stones, crafted and combined with freshness and ingenuity.

For winter, the galley is celebrating creative individuality and its ability to move and surprise you.

The winter exhibition at Rainmaker Gallery showcases Pacific Northwest Coast ‘formline’ serigraphs from Tlingit artist Preston Singletary and Coast Salish print makers Peter and Araquin Boome.

Also featured is a glorious formline wolf painting by Alaskan artist Crystal Worl (Tlingit and Athabascan), minimalist serigraphs by Jordan Ann Craig (Northern Cheyenne) and fine art photographic portraiture from the amazing Cara Romero (Chemehuevi). Each work of art has been selected for a seasonal palette of red, black and white.

• cliftoncontemporaryart.co.uk; 25 Portland Street, Clifton, BS8 4JB

• rainmakerart.co.uk; 140 Whiteladies Road, BS8 2RS

Image: Dahlias with Lace Tablecloth by Lynne Cartlidge

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Serigraphs from the Pacific Northwest, Rainmaker Gallery, until January 2023

Image: Eagle & Killer Whale, limited edition serigraph by Preston Singletary

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EXHIBITIONS

Crafts for Christmas, The Stradling Collection, until 17 December The world of craft is full of fun, something that is particularly well represented at The Stradling Collection. In this spirit, the gallery is delighted to announce its selling exhibition Crafts for Christmas, an exhibition of twelve Bristol artists and makers, featuring ceramics, drawings, jewellery, glass, prints, cards and photographs.

Pick up a truly unique Christmas present for someone special, a treat for yourself, or just go in and have a look.

• stradlingcollection.org; 48 Park Row, Bristol BS1 5LH Image courtesy of The Stradling Collection

Wildlife Photographer of the Year, M Shed, until 29 May Wildlife Photographer of the Year is back at M Shed with a brand new set of images capturing the breathtaking diversity of the natural world.

From fascinating animal behaviour to remarkable species, 100 powerful photographs illustrate the precious beauty of our planet.

The images shine a light on stories from all over the world and convey the impact of human activity in ways that words cannot.

Now in its 58th year, Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious photography event of its kind, providing a global platform that showcases some of the best photography talent from around the world. Launching in 1965, today the competition receives entries from over 90 countries all over the world.

Winning images are selected for their creativity, originality and technical excellence by a panel of international experts.

• bristolmuseums.org.uk; Princes Wharf, Wapping Road, BS1 4RN Image: Heavenly flamingos by Junji Takasago, Japan | Winner, natural artistry Junji Takasago/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

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RWA’s 169th Annual Open Exhibition, until 8 January 2023 The RWA’s renowned Annual Open Exhibition is back for its 169th year with a stunning variety of work from emerging and established artists. Most notably, two water colours painted by His Majesty The King (when he was The Prince of Wales) have been installed in the main gallery at the RWA, and included as part of its Open Exhibition. The RWA is now the first art gallery in the UK ever to exhibit the art of a reigning British monarch as part of an Open Exhibition.

The dynamic and varied exhibition includes painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, installation and mixed media and is a showcase of some of the most exciting artists from across the country. All work will be for sale making the Annual Open a perfect opportunity to discover new artists or invest in well-known names.

Located in a spectacular Grade II* listed building in the heart of the city, the RWA is the UK’s only Royal Academy of Art housed in its own, original, purpose-built gallery. The building has recently completed a £4.5m transformation – opening up access for all. It provides opportunities for everybody to get creative and feel inspired.

Through its extensive programme of exhibitions, events, workshops, talks and lectures, the RWA is committed to providing great art for everybody, and to promoting the understanding and enjoyment of art for the widest possible audience.

• rwa.org.uk; Queens Road, Clifton, BS8 1PX Pictured: Kilphedir Pool on The River Helmsdale, Sutherland (HRH 2015.06) and Brecon Beacons from Llwynywermod (HRH 2016.05)

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CLIFTON CERAMICS & FINE JEWELLERY

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For more information visit www.cliftonceramics.co.uk 0117 373 0256 • 58 The Mall, Clifton Village, BS8 4JG

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Open Tues/Thurs/Fri/Sat 11am – 4pm

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www.masanauction.com

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COLUMN | CHRIS YEO ON ANTIQUES

Expert opinion From Chris Yeo, Valuer at Clevedon Salerooms and regular expert on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow

Season’s Greetings Christmas - or rather how we celebrate it – is something else we can add to the long list of things for which we have the Victorians to thank.

Much of what we think of as a merrie old English Christmas has more to do with the writings of Charles Dickens than our actual medieval ancestors. For the Georgians, Christmas was an antiquated curiosity but, with their love of all things hearth and home, the Victorians saw it as a golden opportunity to really stamp their mark on the Christian festival. By 1850 there were Christmas decorations, crackers and the sense that Christmas was a time for family and friends. As Tiny Tim observed: “God bless us, every one.”

Henry Cole was a man of his time, the sort of versatile Victorian who could achieve just about anything he set his mind to. He helped invent the modern postal system, designed tea sets, organised the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace and still found time to establish the Victoria and Albert Museum. He moved in elite social circles and had

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The First Christmas Card. Sir Henry Cole. commons.wikimedia

lots of friends. But at Christmas 1843 those friends were causing him much worry. The problem was their letters. The custom of sending a long letter to a friend or loved one at Christmas was enjoying renewed popularity. Everybody was sending Christmas letters and it was considered bad manners not to reply to them. For a busy man like Cole, this was a problem. As the pile of unanswered letters grew, he fretted over what he should do.

Cole hit on an ingenious idea. He approached an artist friend, J.C. Horsley, and asked him to create an illustration of a family enjoying their Christmas lunch. He then had copies made by a London printer on stiff card. Each card was printed with the greeting “A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year To You.” It was the first Christmas card. A thousand cards were printed but very few have survived. Not so long ago, a card signed and sent by Henry Cole himself sold for a record £22,500 at auction. Merry Christmas! ■ • clevedonsalerooms.com; @chrisyeo_antiques (Instagram)

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How to look at

modern art Art collector and dealer Saira Kalimuddin shares her tips on how to appreciate Modernist art...

A

s a collector and dealer of Mid-Century Modern (MCM) art, I am surrounded by an ever- growing collection of unique, distinctive and often very charming array of paintings and prints.

The term ‘Modern’ in art refers to a massively wide genre that encompasses a myriad of different styles or movements – think Impressionism, Cubism, Fauvism, Minimalism, Expressionism, Abstract Expressionism, the list could go on and on. If you are familiar with these movements, you’ll be able to identify them in ‘Modern’ paintings quite quickly. But I think it is also worth knowing a different approach to appreciating art, one that is less about understanding historical contexts or agendas, and more about trusting your gut, letting your eyes wander, and allowing yourself to feel.

To give you some context, Modernism is an art movement that rejects the old way of realistically depicting people or objects, and moves towards experimentation with form (the shapes, colours and lines that make up the work), and an emphasis on materials, techniques and processes.

Artists working under a Modernist ethos don’t want to represent things simply as we see them. They want to incorporate their own emotions and bring attention to the things we normally overlook. By not depicting what they see around them in a realistic way, they can really embrace their imagination and their unconscious, and unleash their creativity. They don’t have to work within the rules of the natural world, and are set free to play with new inventions, and transport themselves (and the viewer) to different worlds.

For example, if you look at a realistic painting of a view out of a window, you’ll notice the view. But a Modernist painting might try to make you notice the actual paint on the canvas, the shape of that window and how it plays with the shapes of things within the view.

The artist might also change up the colours completely, so that you get an idea of the artist’s mood and emotions in the process of painting.

So, here are my top three key points in learning how to look, and hopefully appreciate, modern art: 1. Let go of trying to ‘understand’

There is a famous art book by John Berger first published in 1972 called Ways of Seeing. Berger began with the assertion that a baby learns to see before it learns to talk, read or compute things in the world. A child reacts to its surroundings with electrons and neurons firing off in the brain to form new connections and knowledge centres. This act of visual perception inevitably leads to thoughts and verbal reactions, much in the same way that art stimulates first the eye, then the brain.

So, relieve yourself of the idea that you need to ‘understand’ an artwork. Although it can be interesting and useful to know what the artist was thinking, or how different factors (political, social or physical conditions) affected his or her hand, your personal relationship with a work of art, however superficial, is just as (if not more) important to your own understanding or appreciation of the work than any prescribed meaning the artist was striving for.

If Modernist artists were working under the ethos of freedom, then freedom should be your guiding light to looking!

2. Notice shape, form, colour and texture Lead with your eyes and notice the physical qualities of the artwork.

Let your eyes scan the artwork from left to right, up and down, background to foreground, and then all around. Pick out shapes and forms, notice if they repeat throughout the picture. Pay attention to the texture of the paint: is it thick or thin; does it have any other material added to it; do you see areas of impasto (where the paint is applied so thickly it stands proud of the surface)? If you’re looking at a sculpture or a relief work, see if you can spot any shadows cast by its form. If it is a painting, pay attention to whether the artist has let the canvas show through. If they have, more often than not that is a conscious attempt to remind you that this is paint on a surface, and not an imitation of reality.

If a painting is framed, it can be quite enjoyable to look at the frame as a work of art in itself. Often a wide-profile frame can draw your focus inwards towards the painting and encourage you to focus in on details. Colours on the frame can play with colours within the picture, highlighting certain shades or tones that would otherwise go unnoticed.

3. Lastly, can you find your ‘hook’?

Whenever I speak to people who are new to collecting or buying art, I always encourage them to start with a piece that reminds them of a place they’ve been to, someone they know, or a piece of music they’ve listened to.

Even if an artwork doesn’t resemble anything recognisable, its texture, colour or tactility could make you feel a certain way. Perhaps you want to reach out and touch it, or perhaps it gives you the ‘heebie-jeebies’ (and don’t forget a negative response still means it had an impact!). The same way listening to music can make you feel a certain way, art is much the same, if you let it.

Conclusion In a nutshell, remember that enjoying art doesn’t have to be about names, dates, and historical context. One of the main reasons why I buy and collect Modern Art is that it reminds me that I don’t always have to make sense of things; sometimes it is important to let go. As Pablo Picasso said, “The world doesn’t make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?” n • Saira Kalimuddin is co-founder of The Discerning Palette, a Bristol-based online art gallery and educational resource for MidCentury Modernist art. Follow @discerningpalette on Instagram, and view the collection at discerningpalette.com THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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PROPS is a small, local charity that provides access to a wide range of skills, training, and employment opportunities for over 50 adults with learning disabilities

Breaking boundaries

PROPS charity is on a mission to support adults with learning disabilities to achieve their full potential by providing access to practical learning, skills development and accessible work-based experiences. With a whole host of new ventures popping up around the city, we caught up with PROPS’ Fundraising Manager Konna Beeson to hear more about the brilliant work taking place in our communities... or those that may not know, can you tell us about PROPS, how it supports adults with learning disabilities to achieve their potential and how it is making a difference to communities all over Bristol?

PROPS is a small, local charity that provides access to a wide range of skills, training, and employment opportunities for over 50 adults with learning disabilities. From growing food and cooking in a café, to a sports leadership programme where five of our trainees now teach sports at schools across Bristol. It’s all about long-term empowerment – providing the tools that are missing to enable adults with learning disabilities to live fulfilling personal and professional lives.

Support for adults with learning disabilities effectively ends postcollege age, which is why 95% are not in paid employment. In fact, most adults with learning disabilities only leave their homes for an hour a day due to stigma and a lack of accessibility. To create true equality, we need to raise awareness city-wide of what disabled adults are ABLE to do. Only then can we ensure more businesses serve and employ disabled adults to create meaningful, long-term change.

F

Can you tell us about the services you provide, from taking part in purposeful work to growing fresh produce at several accessible sites?

Our project areas include cooking, sports, music, our own print room, arts and crafts, horticulture and even beer brewing. Each session has a project lead, with 121 support for trainees where needed, and is designed to bring out the individual skills of each of our trainees. For example, some adults have an affinity for cooking whereas others are 40 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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skilled at small-detail work in quiet environments like Jack, who is now employed in our print room. We’re here to support trainees to try new things, while enabling them to develop skills that could lead to paid employment and greater independence in the future.

Covid was particularly hard on our trainees and with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, we knew that practical opportunities would be even harder to come by. We’ve always prided ourselves on being a small charity with big ambitions and so to do more for our trainees, we decided to launch two new projects in 2022: The Vassall Café and Tapestry Brewery by PROPS in Totterdown. We hope that by creating opportunities like this ourselves, our trainees will be more confident and able to secure paid work anywhere in Bristol.

Speaking about his current workplace at PROPS’ print room, trainee Jack said: “I was unsure about working because of my autism. I was scared I might get fired for making mistakes…. Now working in the print room makes me happy. I think it’s better than anything else.”

How did PROPS come to own Tapestry Brewery by PROPS? Can you tell us about how the brewery is creating long-term meaningful jobs?

Before Covid, we had a great partnership with Tapestry Brewery. Our trainees learned a lot of new things, they brewed beers, designed cans, grew ingredients like rhubarb to use in one of the beers and helped sell hundreds of cans. Some of our trainees, like Jordan, got so much out of the experience and really wanted to do more. So when Tapestry Brewery made the decision to close after the pandemic, we worked with them to take it over. Jordan is now working at the

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brewery and quickly learning all parts of the business with so much enthusiasm. We hope to continue the legacy that Tapestry Brewery made as a fantastic local business, while providing opportunities for disabled adults to show what they can do.

Speaking about the brewery, trainee Jordan said: “Before I was sat at home doing nothing. Now I am on a mission.”

Can you tell us about the beers that you have in stock and the partnerships that the charity is forming?

We started our journey into brewing by creating two recipes that are easy to drink, vegan and accessible, but also contain high-quality ingredients. ‘All Inn’ is a pale ale and Jarrylo Meadow is a Session IPA using hops from New Zealand and California. We also have a range of low-alcohol beers, ciders and other drinks from small, local companies in Bristol that we love working with. Our commitment is to stock as many products from small local Bristol businesses, especially those who are able to offer opportunities for our trainees to visit, and even collaborate with.

Our trainees also worked with a local graffiti artist, Zed in the Clouds, to design and paint a huge mural inside the taproom. Our team was part of the process from day one.

Tell us about PROPS’ Vassal Centre Café...

The Vassall Centre Café is our first public-facing enterprise, developing from the great work of our cooking project team. As well as providing our trainees with transferable hospitality skills for the first time, it’s improving their self-esteem, confidence, and overall wellbeing in a way that you just can’t get in an artificial environment.

The Vassall Café is part of a growing network of disability-led enterprises we hope to build with support from local people and organizations, including plans to open a much larger, high street Café on Fishponds Road next year.

“I have learnt so much since I started here, and had a go at things that I never thought I would get the chance to try,” said trainee Scott.

What can people expect to see and do at the multi-use space on Fishponds Road – PROPS’ first ever high-street café?

Our plans for a café on the populous Fishponds Road High Street would see our trainees engaging in all aspects of the business such as cooking fresh food, serving hot drinks and as well as other services like our printing services to the public on a huge scale. This would provide a truly realistic working environment for dozens of adults with learning disabilities to develop transferable skills, confidence, and passions. We also hope it will reduce stigma by showing thousands of local people what disabled adults can do in the workplace, open doors to similar businesses across Bristol and

“Our project areas include cooking, sports, music, our own print room, arts and crafts, horticulture and even beer brewing...”

“We hope to continue the legacy that Tapestry Brewery made as a fantastic local business, while providing opportunities for disabled adults to show what they can do...”

provide a safe, welcoming space for everyone.

Unfortunately, we have had some setbacks getting it up and running, due in part to the cost-of-living crisis’ impact on the construction industry. We’re optimistic as always though, and by working closely with local people and businesses, we hope to launch it in 2023.

What’s next in the pipeline for PROPS? What can people look out for at the cafés and brewery in the new year?

With more public support, we hope to open the Fishponds Road Café next year and continue developing our existing projects to create more opportunities for our trainees.

With Tapestry by PROPS, we hope to partner with other local breweries to create different styles of beer, have our beers sold at more pubs across Bristol and promote our trainees’ work to larger audiences.

You will also see a lot of fun events taking place next year and we’re always available to host businesses and groups for social events.

Our long-term goal is to grow each project area into its own profitable enterprise, creating opportunities directly, as well as indirectly through partnerships with local businesses and the public. As a team, we really believe in forging meaningful relationships within our local community to create the equality that we know can happen.

How best can people get involved in PROPS and support the charity through donations, fundraising or volunteering?

We are currently running an online raffle with £1000’s worth of donated prizes that you can take part in until 18 December, as well as our Christmas Appeal which you can read more about on our website.

Every single penny from donations will help develop projects and as a small charity, your donation has a huge impact. In fact, we would love to invite you to see the difference you will be making in person next year.

We’re also eager to create meaningful, long-term partnerships with businesses and local groups, to help them build equality in Bristol. We have a personalised, creative approach and are full of fun ideas so if you’re interested in fundraising for PROPS as a business, community group or by volunteering, please contact Konna at konna@propsbristol.co.uk – I would love to get to know you more. n • propsbristol.org. Find Tapestry By PROPS Brewery at Unit B Totterdown Bridge Industrial Estate, Albert Road, Bristol BS2 0XH. All images courtesy of PROPS charity THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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FOOD NEWS – DECEMBER v2.qxp_Layout 2 23/11/2022 15:28 Page 1

FOOD NEWS

FOOD & DRINK

TASTY TIDBITS FROM THE CITY’S BEST RESTAURANTS, CHEFS AND PRODUCERS

“New home of good food in the city”

Old Fish Market wins Best City Pub The Old Fish Market on Baldwin Street has recently won the Best City Pub category in Fuller’s Pub of the Year competition – the Griffin Trophy. The Old Fish Market, run by manager Richard Bower, provides an eclectic offering. Alongside its core menu, a great range of pizzas is also available as well as a separate children’s menu. Behind the bar, there’s an impressive whisky selection plus premium gins, wines, cocktails, and fresh cask and keg beers. The pub shows a range of sports and has live music on Sundays.

The Griffin Trophy is open to all Fuller’s 208 managed pubs and hotels and 178 tenanted inns. Following an extensive selection process, the 12 finalists of The Griffin Trophy were visited by Chairman Michael Turner, Chief Executive Simon Emeny, and People and Talent Director Dawn Browne to choose the category and overall winners. The prize for winning the category comprises of a £2,000 holiday voucher, a staff party, and an engraved plaque for the pub.

Chairman, Michael Turner, said: “The Old Fish Market is a prime example of a great pub that offers variety to all, but always at the highest standard. It’s a melting pot of sports enthusiasts, cask ale drinkers, craft beer fans, Bristol’s young student population, and the city’s professionals. Richard and his team have created a fun, warm and comfortable atmosphere for all to enjoy.”

Bristol Food Network, with the support of Bristol City Council, has launched Bristol Good Food, the new home of good food in the city.

In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis and the ever-worsening climate and ecological emergencies, it is more important than ever that the food in our city works for communities, climate and nature. Bristol Good Food is an exciting new online hub which helps people in Bristol navigate, celebrate and participate in the abundance of good food activity taking place across the city.

The hub lists local food events, news, stories and resources and covers everything from where to access good, affordable food to how to get involved with community growing groups; as well as helping people get involved with cookery classes, days out on local farms and much, much more.

The Bristol Good Food Partnership is a collection of organisations working together, behind the website, to deliver ambitious action plans which aim to make change across our whole local food system. Almost 30 organisations are involved in developing the action plans including Feeding Bristol, Bristol Food Producers, University of Bristol, Resource Futures, Bristol Waste, The Community Farm, Square Food Foundation, Bristol Green Capital Partnership and many more. Bristol Good Food is coordinated by Bristol Food Network, with the support of Bristol City Council.

• bristolfoodnetwork.org

Windmill Hill City Farm photographed at the Get Growing Garden Trail 2022, © Yasmin Centeno

• oldfishmarket.co.uk

Winter wonderland arrives at Klosterhaus The team at Klosterhaus Bar and Restaurant is transforming its Grade I-listed historical building into a Nutcracker-inspired Christmas wonderland. Throughout December, the restaurant will be adorned with festive garlands, twinkling lights and giant nutcrackers.

After a cold day of Christmas shopping, why not warm up on Klosterhaus’ stunning outdoor terrace with roaring fire pits, heaters and blankets. And what festive occasion would be complete without mulled wine or a Hot Toddy? Klosterhaus has partnered with Botanist Gin and Laddie Whisky to bring you a taste of Christmas with five limited-edition cocktails.

What’s more, from 3 December, the Quakers Friars Square will be illuminated by ‘A Beacon in the Bleak Midwinter’ with over 12,000 individual LED lights, which will respond to interactions with passers-by – be sure to catch it while you can!

• klosterhaus.co.uk. Image credit: Peter Hall

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FOODIE FEATURE V5.qxp_Layout 2 25/11/2022 18:39 Page 1

Festive foodies As the festive season approaches, we speak to four of Bristol’s finest independents – Spirited, Rare Butchers of Southville, The Bristol Cheesemonger and Partisan Produce – to find out what must be on our menu this Christmas...

Spirited 196 North Street, Bedminster, BS3 1JF Spirited is North Street’s new spirits shop and bar, specialising in whisky and rum. Owner Katy Kennedy recommends some local liqueurs and festive flavours that will make sure it’s a merry Christmas...

Tell us about the spirits you stock and your bestsellers during the winter months...

Spirited stocks a wide range of spirits, but we have a big focus on whisky and rum. As the nights are getting colder, we’re turning our minds to opulent drinks, like sherry cask-aged whiskies, with their lovely Christmas cake flavours; sweet whisky liqueurs perfect for a boozy coffee; rich rums for late night sipping; and hot buttered rum to warm the cockles.

Is there anything new and unusual that you’d recommend?

Not new and unusual as such, but it is great to see how many good quality bottled cocktails are out there now. It makes enjoying cocktails at home so much easier. The Coconut Espresso Martini (£28) from Silver Circle Distillery is sure to be a big seller this festive season.

Tell us about the local businesses that you’ve partnered with...

Bristol and the South West have so many incredible producers to choose from, so this will by no means be an exhaustive list, but we work a lot with local distilleries Pyschopomp and Circumstance, who

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make gin, vodka, rum and grain spirits, focusing on slow processes, experimentation and big flavours. We’re also huge fans of The Aperitivo! Co, and sell a lot of the Turin sweet vermouth, which makes a cracking Negroni. We work with the aforementioned Silver Circle Distillery too – they’re over in the Wye Valley and make fantastic gin and Aquavit as well.

Then there is Electric Bear, who supply our beers, Bristol Distilling Co., Shipshape and Bristol Fashion, 6 O’Clock Gin, The Cotswolds Distillery... the list goes on.

What’s your go-to drink on Christmas Day? Well… it’s a real journey. I like to start with a little low ABV Moscato d’Asti with brunch, then Champagne with snacks, a pre-lunch Negroni, a nice Pinot Noir with the turkey, port with cheese, then onto the whisky, which is likely to be Glenfarclas 105 (£59.95) – my favourite Christmas dram.

Are you hosting any events over the Christmas period?

Absolutely! We’re aiming to do tastings every couple of weeks. On 14 December, we will be running our own ‘Christmas Spirits’ tasting, and there will be several drop-in tastings in the run-up to Christmas. We are also in discussions with some other local businesses about chocolate and spirits workshops, wreath-making and more. Keep an eye on our socials and join the mailing list for more details.-• Follow Spirited on Instagram (@spirited.bristol) and join the mailing list to stay up to date with news and events at: spiritedbristol.com.

Spirited image credit: Lindsey Davis (Instagram: @lindsey_s_davis)

FOODIE FEATURE V5.qxp_Layout 2 25/11/2022 18:09 Page 2

Rare Butchers of Southville 250 North Street, Southville, BS3 1JD Some 11 years since it first opened its doors, Rare Butchers of Southville has built an impressive reputation. Voted Bristol’s best butcher at the Bristol Good Food Awards four years in a row and Best Retailer of the Year at the 2019 Bristol Business Awards, the North Street butcher is widely celebrated for its pristine cuts of meat bursting with flavour. We chat to owner Chris Cierpik about his busiest time of year...

Tell us about the meat that you stock at Rare Butchers...

Rare Butchers’ produce comes from within a 50-mile radius of Bristol. We get our lamb from a farm in Abbots Leigh. We source our venison from Ashton Court – we sell a lot of venison in different cuts; sausages, steaks, diced, racks, mince and fillets for wellington, which are very popular at Christmas time. Our freerange chicken comes from Radstock, our eggs from Chew Valley, our pork from Taunton and beef from Somerset and Devon. We get our turkeys from Chew Magna – I’ve known the farmer for 40 years.

His turkeys are such high quality and so juicy. We’re proud to source the best quality, free-range meat from farmers across the South West.

We’ve got smoked and unsmoked gammon – they are very popular at this time of year not only because they have such a great taste but because you can cook it, keep it in the fridge for a few days and just slice off a piece when you need it.

How busy are you at this time of year?

Last year, the queue was out the door, passed Yafo several doors up and around into Exeter Road – and we were running. We get 9001,000 customers every week throughout the year anyway, and considerably more during the Christmas period, so we’re about to get very busy.

When is Rare Butchers open over the Christmas peiod?

From Monday 19 December – Friday 23 December, we’ll be open 8am – 5pm. On Saturday 24 December, we’ll be open 8am – 1pm.

Closed Sunday 25 – Tuesday 27 December. Re-open Wednesday 28 December, 8am – 1pm and then open as usual from Thursday 29 – Saturday 31 December, 8am – 5pm.

• Follow Rare Butchers on Instagram: @rarebutchers and Facebook: @RareMeatButchersofSouthville. Photography by Benjamin Andrews; benjaminandrewsphotography.com

What’s one of the most popular meats you sell?

We sell about half a tonne of gammon over the Christmas period.

The Bristol Cheesemonger Unit 8 Cargo, 2 Museum Street, BS1 6ZA The Bristol Cheesemonger specialises in cheeses from within the UK, with a focus on seasonality and smaller production cheeses. From the very beginning founder Rosie had made it her main focus to visit as many farms and dairies as possible.

Jenny Howell and Oliver Smith have doubled down on that commitment as new directors and have made the Bristol Cheesemonger one of a small handful of cheese shops within the UK to buy cheese directly from the producer. We catch up with Jenny to find out more about Wapping Wharf’s beloved cheese shop...

Tell us about the cheese that you stock at The Bristol Cheesemonger and your bestsellers during the Christmas period...

This year, we have strengthened our relationship with our suppliers, tasting and hand-selecting more batches than ever. Our Westcombe and Montgomery’s Cheddar is tasting incredible. We have also hand-picked our raw milk Stilton from Sparkenhoe Farm in Leicestershire.

We have been working closely with our nearest cheesemaker in

North Somerset – Failand Hill Farm’s Wandering Ewe Dairy – from the beginning. Their hard sheep’s milk cheese has become a shop favourite. We of course have the usual Bristol Cheesemonger classics in stock, but we’ll have a few more surprises this year too – you’ll have to come taste for yourselves.

Tell us about some of your favourite cheeses from the local area...

We are a South West Cheese specialist, which means that we have close relationships with our local producers – the cheese is often collected or delivered in person. The Old Cheese Room, which makes Baronet and Lypiatt amongst other amazing cheeses, is particularly good. Owner Julianna is based in Wiltshire and is a master of her craft. Having made cheeses alongside some of the greats, she is becoming a legend in her own right.

Norton and Yarrow who make Brightwell Ash and Sinodun Hill are based in Oxfordshire and regularly pick up awards. We were recently judging at the World Cheese Awards, and Sinodun Hill was placed in the top 16 cheeses in the world.

Devon Blue, another cheese that we supply, also came in the top 10 cheeses in the world. What’s more, Ben from Ticklemore Dairy in Totnes makes a range of suburb blues, which you can also sample in the shop.

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FOOD

Tell us about your monthly cheese subscription and how people can sign up...

Our monthly cheese selections are our most seasonal product on the website and remains a popular Christmas gift. More importantly, it is fantastic value. Oli writes a newsletter every month, which talks you through the theme. We often release cheeses before they enter the shop, or exclusively to monthly cheese subscribers. You can sign up on a rolling subscription, or you can opt for a one-month, three-month or six-month supply.

What is your go-to cheese on Christmas Day? I love a bit of truffle brie, or better still brie with truffled honey. A bit of Wensleydale also makes me think of my Yorkshire roots and is amazing with a mince pie.

Is there anything new or unusual that you’d recommend this year?

I think a fondue on Boxing Day is wonderful. You can dip a leftover brussel sprout, carrot or roastie and you don’t need any special equipment. All you have to do is: cook the cheese on the hob (there are many excellent recipes online, which you can adapt), create a trivet so your small pan has a safe, solid base and pop a few tealights underneath. Hey presto, DIY fondue.

How can people celebrate in style?

You can build your own bespoke cheese tower, or you can opt for a premade design on our website. These have proven popular choices and make beautiful centerpieces that you can dress with figs, grapes, Terry’s chocolate oranges or whatever takes your fancy. A beautiful half stilton is absolutely gorgeous. Larger cuts of cheese stay fresher for longer, which is worth noting if you need them to last until New Year’s Eve. • For more information, visit: bristol-cheese.co.uk. The Bristol Cheesemonger image credit: Nicci Peet

Partisan Produce Shop online at: partisanproduce.co.uk Partisan Produce was founded by former chef and selfconfessed, obsessive foodie Toby Stafford-Deitsch in 2020, initially as a veg box scheme, which quickly evolved into a personal and friendly locally focussed home delivery business. Here, Toby lets us in on what’s on offer at Partisan Produce this festive season...

Tell us about Partisan Produce...

We’re based in the Chew Valley just 12 miles south of Bristol where we are surrounded by exceptional producers including New Manor Farm Shop for our butchers, Chew Valley Dairy for our milk and Greenacres Farm for our free-range eggs. Our goal is to deliver outstanding local produce while providing the closest to home and most sustainable shopping experience that we can. We work with smaller producers to create a better shopping experience where we know the provenance of each product, from our Fowey Cornish mussels to our organic Chew Valley lamb. By doing this we directly help to support local farmers, independent shops and businesses across the South West.

What are your bestsellers?

We’re really proud of all of our produce from our dayboat Cornish fish to our Somerset-reared meats and everything in between. We wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for the great people that we get to work with. We have a couple of special hampers on our website celebrating all that makes us Partisan Produce and our regular customers have been loving them.

Any new or exciting products that you’d recommend?

King Stone Dairy’s rollright – an organic vacherin style soft cheese from Gloucestershire. We think it’s extra special and are including it in a bunch of our Partisan Produce hampers this year.

What will be on your Christmas lunch menu this year?

We’re getting our turkey from Rectory Farm in Somerset. Olly, Ella and Edward are supplying us this year with wonderful freerange birds.

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Do you have any special traditions or particularly unusual foods that you enjoy?

Aside from my love of sprouts and loathe of crossing them, I really enjoy a good cheeseboard; there are countless incredible cheesemakers in the South West so it’s going to be a real toss up on the day as to what gets prime spot. A cave-aged Wookey Hole Cheddar truckle will be on there for sure.

This must be your busiest time of year. Do you have much time off?

I’m juggling cheffing while running a food business going into Christmas so currently next to none. However, running Partisan Produce is immensely satisfying and rewarding – I love being able to play a small part in the local food economy. Farm to plate, baby!

What’s the last date for ordering a Christmas delivery?

Currently, 15 December for turkeys and 18 December for everything else. We will be delivering local orders on Wednesday 21, Thursday and Friday 23 December. All of our produce including from our fishmonger is available for home delivery over these days.

Looking to shop in person? Here’s where Toby and Partisan Produce will be over the next few weeks: Saturday 3 December: Fishmonger at New Manor Farm Shop until 12pm.

Saturday 17 December: Order collections and Fishmonger at New Manor Farm Shop until 12pm.

Saturday 24 December: New Manor Farm Shop – pre-order collections until 12pm. n

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CELEBRATE SEASONAL

✷

CELEBRATE QUALITY

✷

CELEBRATE LOCAL

250 NORTH ST. SOUTHVILLE, BRISTOL BS3 1JD

T: 0117 966 3593

Somerset Butchers, Cornish Fish, Award Winning Cheese, Hampers.

And a partridge in a pear tree.

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OPEN BIONICS – BLACK PANTHER v2.qxp_Layout 2 21/11/2022 14:47 Page 1

“I got to meet my all-time heroes on the carpet and that was a dream come true”

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WORLD RENOWNED

Real-life

superhero

A local award-winning prosthetics company creating affordable, advanced and stylish bionic limbs recently hit Hollywood’s red carpet when 12-year-old bionic boy Chase Merriweather showcased his Hero Arms at the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever World Premiere...

B

ristol-based robotics company, Open Bionics, has teamed up with Disney to create a Hollywood moment for 12-year-old bionic boy Chase Merriweather.

Since its inception in 2014, Open Bionics has been turning disabilities into superpowers as founders Joel Gibbard and Samantha Payne made it their mission to develop affordable, assistive devices that enhance the human body. Today, the company is known globally for using 3D printing and 3D scanning, along with clever software and design, to make advanced, affordable and accessible bionic limbs.

This winter, it was revealed that Open Bionics had teamed up with Disney to create a Hollywood moment for 12-year-old bionic boy Chase Merriweather Chase was only four-years-old when he lost all four limbs to sepsis. His parents, Chad and Chisa Merriweather, suffered through every parent’s worst nightmare when Chase was taken into hospital and started the fight for his life.

Eight years later, Chase has just received two bionic arms. Not only are these Chase’s first pair of arms since his amputations, these are state of the art 3D printed bionic arms created by Open Bionics.

Chase is the first person in the world to wear the newly launched Black Panther design Hero Arms. Working with the Marvel and Disney teams, Open Bionics was able to bring Chase to the World Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in Hollywood for a once in a lifetime experience. The film is the sequel to 2018’s Black Panther, which starred the late Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa, the king of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, a country with incredibly advanced technology.

Open Bionics spotted Chase’s videos about his prosthetic online and worked closely with Disney to surprise him with an invitation to

go to Los Angeles and meet the cast and crew on the purple carpet.

Chase said: “The surprise was so incredible because Black Panther is one of my favourite Marvel movies.”

Chase’s father, Chad, said: “I was full of emotions. I have always known Chase to have a very vibrant personality and opportunities like this one warm my heart. Black Panther’s story means a lot to people and Disney has done a great job in uplifting the community.”

According to Chad, the surprise of seeing his son now having two bionic arms was immense in itself: “There was just natural joy and recognition that now he will be able to do dual-handed tasks. I know people look at Chase as an inspiration. And while he was in complete awe when meeting the cast, to see those actors tell my son that he is also an inspiration just for being who he is… we were at a loss of words.” Chase added: “I got to meet my all-time heroes on the carpet and that was a dream come true.”

Open Bionics co-founder Samantha Payne stated: “This was an incredible moment for Chase. He has been an active Hero Arm community member for around a year and we loved seeing his posts online. Our team has been following him for a while so of course it made sense that he should be the first to get the Black Panther covers. He’s extremely athletic, confident, and just a cool dude. We’re thrilled that the team at Marvel and Disney invited us to join them at the Wakanda Forever world premiere. It’s a night we’ll all never forget.” n • openbionics.com. Images courtesy of Open Bionics

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NEWS FROM THE CITY

BRISTOL UPDATES NEWS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

Saddle up for Tour

de Bristol cycle challenge

A charity cycle raising money for the region’s only adult hospice is set to return to the streets of Bristol and South Gloucestershire on 15 April 2023.

Hundreds of cyclists are expected to take to the roads for Bristol’s biggest bike ride, the Tour de Bristol. This much-loved event challenges riders to use their pedal power to raise vital funds for St Peter’s Hospice, helping to provide medical care, advice, support and comfort to patients and their families during the most difficult of times.

Join in to ride in memory of a loved one, for fun and fresh air, or to smash a personal goal. Cyclists of all abilities are catered for with routes covering distances of 40k, 65k and 100k. Participants set off from the Centre for Sport at UWE and head into the beautiful countryside of South Gloucestershire, travelling through the villages of Olveston and Littleton-upon-Severn. The 65k route stretches further into Gloucestershire towards Berkeley and, for racers who like an endurance challenge, the 100k route passes through Wotton-under-Edge, touching the outskirts of the Cotswolds.

The entry fee helps to cover the cost of putting on the event, so the sponsorship you raise, and donations made will go towards supporting Hospice patients and families across Bristol.

• If you’re inspired to get on the saddle, registration is open at: tourdebristol.co.uk

World-renowned

pianist performs at Redmaids' High School

Last month, Redmaids’ High School welcomed worldrenowned pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason to the school to deliver a masterclass to students and a concert to the wider school community.

As a teenager, Isata won the Elton John scholarship to attend the Royal Academy of Music; Elton was so impressed with her playing that he paid her music college fees and invited her to perform with him. Now in her twenties, Isata is a well-known and talented concert pianist who has performed at countless concert halls around the world, winning a European Concert Halls Organisation (EHCO) “Rising Star Award” in 2021 and is now the Artist in Residence with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

During the masterclass, several Redmaids’ High students had the opportunity to perform for Isata and other students from Redmaids’ High and local primary schools, playing pieces by Debussy, Poulenc, Shostakovich and Gershwin.

In the evening, Isata was joined by the New Bristol Sinfonia who accompanied her in performing Dohnányi's Variations on a Nursery Tune. Redmaids’ High student Grace, a talented percussionist, was delighted to be invited to join the percussion section of the orchestra for this high-profile occasion which made the evening even more special.

“Age is not a barrier...”

An 81-year-old has told those thinking of going back to education later in life to “have courage and go for it” as she graduated with a master’s from the University of Bristol.

Eulinda Antonette Clarke-Akalanne – known as Antonette – spent her career helping others, before following her dream of studying at university in her early 70s.

She did a foundation year and a degree in Anthropology at Bristol, and recently graduated with Master’s in Black Humanities.

Despite severe visual impairment, the grandma of seven, who grew up in Barbados, wrote a compelling thesis on the difference in opportunity for black people with darker and lighter shades of skin.

Antonette said: “It is wonderful to be graduating again, with my son watching. Age is not a barrier to university studies. It is only thinking that makes one think, so have courage and go for it. Achieving your goals any time in life brings contentment, a sense of achievement and happiness.

And if I can do it, so can you!”

Antonette left Barbados aged 18 after Enoch Powell visited her school to talk about work opportunities in the UK. After emigrating, she was a psychiatric nurse and social worker, and as a midwife delivered 1,000 babies, all while raising three children. In retirement, she was a respite foster carer and Citizens Advise advisor, but always felt something was missing. She took a Foundation Year in Arts and Humanities then a BA in Anthropology, a subject that had always fascinated her. That was followed by an MA in Black Humanities at the University’s Centre for Black Humanities.

Antonette said: “In Barbados we learnt British history but never anything about African history. So I never learnt that there were African kings and queens, or about the Benin Bronzes, or that the richest person ever – Mansa Musa of Mali – came from Africa. It fascinated me to learn that African history didn’t start with slavery.”

Antonette is a big advocate for adult education and has helped eight friends to go to university later in life.

She said: “I love learning and mixing with younger people. The energy they have, the feeling that they are all going somewhere is a type of vibration, a shoot of electricity. Life is for living. My philosophy is to live life to the fullest. And I intend to do that until the end of my life.”

• bristol.ac.uk

• redmaidshigh.co.uk 50 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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NEWS FROM THE CITY

The Bristol Wanderers

raise £10k for local charity For 10 years, Bristol Audi has supported local charity rugby club, The Bristol Wanderers.

The team was formed by ex-Bristol players Paul Beet and Simon Martin and is made up of former rugby players from the local area.

Each year, the team hosts fundraising events to raise money for local charities including Children’s Hospice South West, Bliss, Jessie May Trust and Gympanzees, to name just a few.

The team’s target is to raise at least £5,000 per year. To date, the players have raised over £100k spread across various causes.

This year, The Bristol Wanderers have chosen to help The Avon Centre, an equine and nature-based activities charity on the outskirts of Bristol, opposite Blaise Castle.

Formerly known as The Avon Centre for the Disabled, the charity is working to expand its objectives to include disadvantaged as well as disabled people. For over 30 years, The Avon Cente has provided proven therapeutic benefits of horse riding to children and adults with a wide range of complex special needs.

Along with the support of Bristol Audi and Paul’s own company Astra Group, Matt Wring of Southern Communications Ltd helped The Bristol Wanderers reach their target by completing a sponsored

101-mile run along the Cotswold Way, which took place over four days. With the support of Southern Communications Ltd, Matt raised over £5,000, which also went towards The Bristol Wanderers donation to The Avon Centre.

Last month, The Bristol Wanderers were finally able to present a cheque for £10,000 to The Avon Centre to help their efforts in supporting people from the Bristol area.

• monmotors.com/audi; astrasec.com; southern-comms.co.uk

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BOOKS – DECEMBER V4.qxp_Layout 2 21/11/2022 14:37 Page 1

BOOKS

Inspiring adventure

A Wild Child's Book of Birds

by Dara McAnulty Illustrated by Barry Falls Inspiring young naturalist Dara McAnulty returns with a book about the life of birds through the seasons.

Each page displays vivid and dynamic illustrations in full colour capturing the spellbinding magic of birdlife, as well as tips for birdspotting and attracting birds to your garden.

Looking for the perfect Christmas gift?

The brilliant team at Gloucester Road Books has recommended five new reference books for young readers which will let their curiosity run wild...

A

note from the team: “Our primary aim is that the shop be a fascinating place to explore.

Some of the subject sections are a little broader than they might be elsewhere – for instance our ‘Time and Place’ section encompasses books on History, Travel Literature, Geography and Reportage. We also have a significant focus on titles published by small independent presses. There are lots of really brilliant small publishers putting out incredibly exciting books, and we want to help get these out into the world. The stock is carefully chosen and constantly changing, so even if you pop in every week there will always be new books to find.”

Visit Gloucester Road Books’ website: gloucesterroadbooks.com. Follow the bookshop on Instagram at: gloucester_rd_books or browse the collection in store: 184 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, BS7 8NU. Open Monday – Tuesday 9.30am – 5pm; Wednesday – Saturday 9.30am – 6pm Illumibugs

by Carnovsky & Barbara Taylor Explore the world of insects and creepy crawlies in 3D. Each section covers bugs from a specific continent as well as underwater and prehistoric critters. On learning of each species a pair of 3D glasses is provided to spot each bug in a gloriously-illustrated spectacle that leaps off the page.

The Secret World of Plants

by Ben Hoare Illustrated by Kaley McKean

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This is perfect book for a really curious child. Want to know why you can never remember falling asleep?

Or whether animals have imaginations? How about whether birds can fly to space if they want? These burning questions, and many more, are answered in this richly illustrated book of glorious curiosities for children. Feed those excited minds!

Spin to Survive: Deadly Jungle

by Emily Hawkins Part game, part book, and totally immersive!

Spin to Survive books are like bigger, more interactive versions of the classic chooseyour-own-adventure stories. In this edition you must brave the dangers of the Amazon to find the Lost City of the Jaguar God. Brilliant fun for ages 7+.

This beautifully illustrated book offers endless learning and fascination, covering the essentials of plants science and illuminating each species with a unique tale. Featuring some truly extraordinary plants, this amazing book is a perfect present for a budding botanist.

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The Bedtime Book of Impossible Questions

by Isabel Thomas Illustrated by Aaron Cushley

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CITY SPOTLIGHT

Unique

charm

Hard pressed to find a city quite like Wells, Andrew Swift explores the famous landmarks and delves into the local history to uncover its unique charm...

W

ells is something of a paradox. On the face of it, nowhere could be more profoundly English than this small cathedral city set among the green hills of Somerset. Yet when you leave its narrow streets behind and wander through one of the gateways into the cathedral close, you begin to feel as though you’ve been transported to the sort of out-of-the way place you might stumble across in a littlefrequented corner of northern France – not that you’re likely to find anywhere quite like Wells on the other side of the Channel.

The truth is that Wells is a place apart, a place which, as the world around it has moved relentlessly on, has ploughed a more leisurely furrow. Six miles down the road, for example, lie the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, like the relics of a lost civilisation, but in Wells the spirit of the middle ages lingers on.

Medieval Wells was a place to be reckoned with. It was the largest town in Somerset; its bishop lived in a moated palace. As late as the 17th century it still had more accommodation for travellers than Bath, and it remained a major coaching centre until the early 19th century.

What scuppered all this activity was the coming of the railways.

Wells was hemmed in by high hills to the north and east, so railway engineers sought easier routes south-westward. Not until much later did a half-hearted single-track branch line open, and it did nothing to stem Wells’s decline – for which we can only be grateful. Industry and a Victorian housing boom would have destroyed what had been so long maturing and was so well preserved.

The jewel in Wells’s crown is the cathedral, which in 2019 the architectural writer Simon Jenkins declared to be the finest in England. Its west front holds the greatest collection of medieval sculpture in England, telling the story of the universe from the Creation to the Second Coming.

Inside, the columns are topped by less elevated subjects, evoking medieval life in all its messy glory, such as a man with toothache, a woman pulling a thorn from her foot, and the cautionary tale – told in four carvings – of the fate of two grape stealers. Most striking, though, is the serene beauty of the cathedral’s uncluttered interior, a serenity enhanced by the famous – and unique – scissor arches which close the view down the nave.

Remarkable to think that the only reason they were built was to stop the tower above them from collapsing.

It is a place to take in slowly – to explore the cloisters, climb worn steps to the chapter house, marvel at the array of medieval stained glass and join the crowd that gathers beneath a 14th-century clock to wait for four knights to spin round jousting every quarter of an hour, while Jack Blandiver, the quarter jack, chimes a bell.

Part of the reason the cathedral makes such a deep impression is its setting. Other cathedrals may be grander or more famous, but only at 56 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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Wells have the surrounding ecclesiastical buildings survived, enclosed within a wall which shuts out the noisy town. Chief among them is the Vicars’ Close, built in the early 14th century to house the Vicars Choral, and the most completely preserved medieval street in England.

The close is also home to the Old Deanery and Wells Museum, which occupies the medieval Chancellor’s House and showcases the eclectic collection of its Victorian founder, the caving pioneer Herbert Balch.

South of the cathedral is the Bishop’s Palace, still home to the Bishop of Bath and Wells and still surrounded by a moat on which swans serenely glide, pausing only to ring a bell by the gatehouse when they want feeding.

Talking of swans, though, brings us to another reason people make tracks to Wells, for it was here that Hot Fuzz, with its running gag of an escaped swan, was filmed. One of the places the aforementioned fuzz attempted to capture it was in the park near the palace, although other locations are more instantly recognisable – the Market Place, for example, where Danny reverses his car into the fountain and where the final shoot-out takes place. Nearby is the High Street, where City News still does a roaring trade in Cornettos, while at the other end of town is St Cuthbert’s Church – the largest in Somerset – where the fete is interrupted by the grisly death of a local journalist. You won’t see the cathedral in Hot Fuzz, because it was digitally removed from any shots it featured in to avoid disrupting the small-town feel of the film. The Bishop’s Palace, though, was where the Neighbourhood Watch Alliance met to discuss the greater good.

Needless to say, although the Market Place and the city streets are less tranquil than the close, you’re not likely to encounter any Hot Fuzz-type incidents. Even using the term ‘city streets’ in connection with Wells seems faintly ludicrous, especially as fields and woods lie less than ten minutes walk away. In reality, Wells is a small but bustling market

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Wells Cathedral

town, with a wide variety of independent retailers as well as a market every Wednesday and Saturday in the Market Place.

And, although it is a joy to visit at any time of year, it is especially so in the run-up to Christmas, when its timeworn charms chime so fittingly with the season. The cathedral is decorated for Advent, log fires burn in the Bishop’s Palace, its walls are decked with festive foliage and illuminations light up the gardens. And on 17 December, the regular Saturday market in the Market Place will be expanded to take over the green in front of the palace and – for one day only – become a Christmas Market.

Whenever you visit, though, a word of warning: Wells may be small but a day’s not long enough to take in all it has to offer – or to soak up its unique charm, so the chances are you’ll be planning a return visit before too long. n

Vicars’ Close

• akemanpress.com Market Place as seen in Hot Fuzz

EXTRA INFORMATION: Wells Christmas Market: mendip.gov.uk/christmasmarket Local shops: wellssomerset.com/local-retailers Wells Cathedral: wellscathedral.org.uk Bishop’s Palace: bishopspalace.org.uk Wells Museum: wellsmuseum.org.uk Hot Fuzz locations: geekytourist.com/2021/01/14/hot-fuzzfilming-locations-wells

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LOCAL LEGEND

Everything that is love

... is how Idles’ frontman Joe Talbot described Bristol’s most-famous concert-goer Big Jeff at Glastonbury this year as he recovered from serious injuries sustained in a house fire. One month before the accident, Simon Horsford sat down with Jeff to delve into his love of music and art and discuss his extraordinary outlook on life. To this day, it is abundantly clear that the local legend’s strength and positivity remains unwavering in his fight...

I

n June of this year, the Bristol artist and famed gig-goer Jeffrey Johns, aka Big Jeff, was seriously injured in a house fire. He remains in Southmead Hospital and is making a slow recovery. In August, Big Jeff’s family and art manager Lee Dodds released details of the fire: “On 6 June, Jeff went to see Amyl and the Sniffers at the O2 Academy Bristol. As usual, after the gig he returned home to cook himself something to eat. While he was cooking a simple meal, the bottom of his shirt caught alight on the gas hob. This resulted in a flash fire as the flames quickly spread on his clothing. Jeff ran to his bathroom to get under the shower to cool himself. The fire team who rescued Jeff did an incredible job and we are so grateful to them and to the neighbours who called them. It most certainly saved Jeff’s life. As a result, he is able to tell his story, to try to protect others. We want to reiterate that Jeff does not drink alcohol or take drugs, so this could happen to anyone at any time.”

In September, Johns tweeted: “Three months ago I was in a coma struggling with 49 per cent burns… I seem to be the human equivalent of a black cat dancing between nine lives like a balancing act.”

Johns has received a huge outpouring of support, including from bands such as Idles and Self Esteem – Joe Talbot, the lead singer of the former, said at Glastonbury, “I just wanna dedicate this next song to our brother and our friend, Big Jeff.” Before performing A Hymn, he added: “He’s everything that we wish we represent, he’s everything that is music fandom and he’s everything that is love.”

Speaking more recently, Johns said: “I’m really looking forward to getting back to life – gigs, football matches and being a sociable human being. I feel unbelievably lucky to have had the support I’ve received and to overcome the odds to survive.”

This interview took place a month before his accident...

The 6ft 3ins Johns is something of a cult figure in Bristol. The legendary gig-goer (his wrist displays numerous festival entry bands) and champion of the indie music scene is also an artist, occasional DJ and short film-maker. He is such a familiar face at gigs that the Charlatans singer Tim Burgess once said: “A gig in Bristol without Big Jeff doesn’t count.” On cue, a sound engineer walks past us at a café in Castle Park and greets him like an old friend.

More pertinently Johns’ love of music – and his enthusiasm for

painting – reflect a way of dealing with his mental health struggles and, coincidently, we are meeting during Mental Health Awareness Week.

“Going to live music is like my safe zone,” says Johns, who has Asperger’s and Dyspraxia and suffers from anxiety issues. “I knew going to gigs was something where I could interact with people. I find myself flourishing there because the way I describe it, it’s like structured socialising. You know that there is a clear definition point: a beginning, a middle and an end.

“The Asperger’s probably did manifest itself when I was a kid and I did have special needs help at school and really struggled to connect with people,” he adds, “but music and art helped with my selfexpression and it’s a form of therapy. Sometimes if I am feeling really down, I use creativity as a way of talking about it.”

Johns, who is 40, also suffered from a “double whammy” of setbacks when he was 20 – a botched appendix operation, which left him in a coma for three days, and a close family friend having an aneurysm. “I kind of invented a split personality to deal with all the emotions – something which I basically turned into an industrial hip hop solo project called Manic F and each performance would be cathartic. He still pops up occasionally and I will always have memories and flashbacks of that time. I used to get a lot of muscle memory too [of that time] and occasionally get it now.” Having access to music in Bristol was also a huge help, he recalls.

Johns grew up in Milton Keynes “in a quite a hippie community” and then rural Gloucestershire – his mum, a chiropractor, was “quite arty” and also a caller in a ceilidh band, while his dad was a structural engineer. He gravitated to Bristol because of the music scene, arriving in the city in 2002 – attracted a few years before by the now defunct Ashton Court Festival, “at the time it was the biggest free-entry festival in Europe and it provided a huge stage for local acts who would try and upstage the national headliner,” he laughs.

Although Johns was surrounded by creative people as a child, it’s only comparatively recently that art has become more central to his life and given him another outlet with which to deal with difficult emotions. He began with an online collection on his website last year followed by small displays at the Bristol Beacon and The Island. The bold, colourful and highly personal paintings are also inspired by his love of music with some depicting his favourite artists. He’s previously stated that his art is also about expressing a feeling that sometimes he doesn’t fit into this world.

“I went through a period when I was drawing at gigs whereas now what I tend to do is whip out my phone and take a quick photo. I go through creative phases and probably I am in an in-between phase now.

I’m someone who likes to give different forms of art a go. There is an abstract element to some of it, I take images of artists and musicians I like and change the background and create like a dreamy space so I like having that playfulness and I also try and give myself a challenge.”

Johns is also prone to synesthesia, a neurological condition in which

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“I feel unbelievably lucky to have had the support I’ve received and to overcome the odds to survive”

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Image credit: Simon Holliday

festivals, he loves the Green Man in the Brecon Beacons, Standon Calling in Hertfordshire and Primavera Sound in Barcelona “for the music nerd in me because it covers every musical genre under the sun from Miley Cyrus to Napalm Death and everything else in-between.”

Johns would normally rack up around 300 gigs a year “with two weeks off around Christmas for family time.” But it’s about more than just gig-going. “It’s an incentive to leave my flat to go to a show, especially if I’m struggling and it’s cold and miserable. It’s like a motivation.”

Music and art may be the coping mechanism through which Big Jeff handles everyday life but his outward positivity inevitably looms large.

As we go our separate ways, he says with a grin: “I’m lucky to have led the life I have”.

There will always be a mosh pit somewhere with his name on it. n

Fear of Social Expections by Jeff Johns

the stimulation of one sense leads to involuntary experiences of a second one. In Johns’ case, he says he gets it “through light, sometimes blotchy patterns will occur, occasionally with strobe lights. I remember car journeys as a kid as the sun came through the window and then being left with a multicoloured fuzzy red or yellow greenish shape.”

The condition can also impact on his art.

With one exhibition called Welcome to my World and paintings entitled Are You Ok? and Fear of Social Expectations, Johns is clearly putting a marker down about his emotions, one that resonates. “It’s been really flattering. I’ve had people come up and engage with me and I find it quite moving and it’s amazing how you create something and whether you think it’s good to not, it can connect with people and be rewarding.”

I sense a similar approach in Johns’ short film making, collaborating with Biggerhouse Film, who specialise in making films with people with special needs and learning difficulties.

Ultimately, though, it is music to which we return and Johns is a mine of information and not only about Bristol-based bands such as Idles – he’s known Joe Talbot since the lead singer was a student and saw their second ever gig “what shambolic mess they were,” he jokes.

For Johns, knowing about bands partly comes, he says, from his “fear of missing out – I was at Coach Party [an indie band from the Isle of Wight) at the Louisiana and realised I’d seen them before they were Coach Party – and the whole thing with FOMO is that sometimes you’ll see people way before they become famous like Wet Leg as I knew Rhian [Teasdale] when she lived in Bristol years ago.”

What about fantasy gigs? “I’d love to have seen Prince if I could take a time machine back to the late 80s early 90s. Also Funkadelic back in the day, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin and Brian Wilson in his pomp, and Miles Davis through to some of the early punk stuff.”

It’s reasons such as these and Johns’ curated all-day music event at the Arnolfini gallery in 2017 that he was asked to do a DJ set at the Green Man Festival that year “in exchange for a free ticket!”

Elsewhere he’s been involved in the annual independent music week, which celebrates small venues around the country. Favourites include Bristol’s Louisiana “there’s an emotional attachment there because of getting to know the family that runs it.’ He rates Clwb ifor Bach in Cardiff and the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire “which is like a really beautiful old working men’s club”. As for 60 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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Support Big Jeff Big Jeff has launched a fire safety awareness campaign with Avon Fire & Rescue. Adopting the life-saving phrase of ‘stop, drop and roll’, Johns is working with the Blue Watch team at Temple Fire Station to raise awareness of fire safety in the home and has begun a campaign on Instagram. Follow Big Jeff at @bigjeffjohnsart and sign up to his mailing list via his website bigjeffjohnsart.com, where you can also buy a print.

As Big Jeff continues his treatment at Southmead Hospital, he has been asked by the Fresh Arts programme – managed by North Bristol NHS Trust – to brighten up the main entrance by drawing one of his legendary faces on a window. The programme exists to enhance patient, visitor and staff experience, create distraction, provoke thought and improve health and wellbeing. The programme engages more than 12 professional artists and 50 musicians and supports in excess of 50 volunteer pianists, all of whom offer opportunities to enjoy performances and productions as well as provide the benefits of engaging with music, dance, creative writing, visual arts and crafts.

Jeff has now set up a fundraising page to “give something back to the hospital” as he continues to regain his creativity.

If you can, donate at: southmeadhospitalcharity.enthuse.com/pf/bigjeffjohnsart

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ARE YOU BUYING OR SELLING A CAR SOON? Duncan Wood, a local independent car specialist, can save you time and money.

Buying – I can help you decide on the best car for your needs, find one nearby and then negotiate to make sure you don’t pay more than you should.

Selling – I can help you decide what your car is worth, where to sell and how best to do it, or I can sell your car for you.

Please see my website for more about my services, client testimonials and my blog. Please email or call me with no obligation on your part whatsoever.

Based in Blagdon covering Bristol, Bath and the West Country

Email: duncan.wood@bristolcarconsultant.co.uk Website: www.bristolcarconsultant.co.uk Phone: 07983 262310

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BEAUTY

Glitter & glam

Fenty Beauty, Flyliner Longwear Liquid Eyeliner, £18

La Mer, The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF20 30ml, £105

'Tis the season for perfect party make-up. From pops of glitter to high shine lips, take a look at what’s in stock at Harvey Nichols Bristol...

Hourglass, Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick, £45

Tom Ford, Eye Color Quad, £68 Stila, Shine Fever™ Lip Vinyl, £17 Hourglass, Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow, £28

Uoma, Drama Bomb Extreme Volume Nourishing Mascara, £18

Iconic London, Prep-Set-Glow Original 120ml £24 Sisley, Ombre Éclat Liquide, £38

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

THE CHRISTMAS SURVIVAL GUIDE

Christmas is coming, and for many of us, it’s a time to celebrate. However, we’re often so preoccupied over the festive period that it’s easy to forget about our health and wellbeing. Here, the specialists at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital offer advice on how to enjoy a healthy holiday season.

Festive feasting

Spread Christmas cheer, not germs

In the build up to Christmas, many people worry about the weight they imagine they will gain. Sometimes this makes them want to diet beforehand, and sometimes they will try to ignore it, deciding to refocus in the New Year.

Either way, it can keep us on the treadmill of dieting, which we know doesn’t work in the long term.

So this year, how about trying a different approach? Clinical psychologist Dr Vanessa Snowdon-Carr explains: “Have you ever reached the end of a packet of something and not really remembered eating it? It’s usually when we’re watching TV or working at the same time. This can be a busy time of year so we might be more likely to eat mindlessly. Research has found that if we are distracted when eating, we feel less satisfied and are likely to eat more.

“Mindful eating, however, means paying attention to our food, like we would if we were eating a lovely meal out; slow down, savour the taste, chew more and notice how your body is feeling. By eating more mindfully around the Christmas period, we can reduce the extra bits of food that we don’t really want or need, and instead focus on enjoying our favourite food at this time of year.”

Even if weight isn’t a concern for you, the excesses of the festive season can still put a strain on our health, in particular our digestive system. Consultant gastroenterologist Dr Amanda Beale says: “A gut suddenly required to cope with large amounts of Christmas pudding, smothered in brandy cream, can sometimes show the strain. Most of these odd gut symptoms will resolve quickly but, if persistent, can suggest underlying bowel problems.”

Dr Beale continues: “Any variation in bowel habit, new pains, or bloating that is still present in the New Year could indicate an underlying bowel problem. This in turn can cause poor absorption of nutrients, leading to anaemia and significant fatigue. If you have any concerns, seek medical advice.”

Unfortunately, the festive season also falls during the winter flu season, and like flu, COVID-19 cases have also increased this autumn. Both flu and COVID-19 are serious illnesses which can cause death, not only in vulnerable groups, such as older people and those with an underlying medical condition, but also among people who are fit and healthy. Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital’s infection prevention co-ordinator, nurse Janice Bowler explains: “You can have either of these viruses and pass them on to others without displaying any symptoms yourself, so being immunised not only protects you, it protects those around you, including family, friends and work colleagues.”

Janice says: “If you are unfortunate enough to have flu or COVID in the run-up to Christmas, rest up and stay away from work until you’re better – even if that means missing the office party! Your colleagues won’t appreciate catching it from you, and then being struck down over Christmas itself. As well as getting the jab, you can help to reduce the spread of germs by regularly washing your hands, and when coughing or sneezing, do it into a tissue or handkerchief, or if you don’t have one, do it into the crook of your elbow, rather than your hand.” There’s still time to get the flu jab before Christmas – and the COVID-19 booster, if you’re eligible – so speak to your GP or a local pharmacist if you would like more information.

Prepare for a stress-less Christmas

Fear of getting into debt, not meeting loved ones’ expectations, and feeling lonely all lead to increased self-harming, sleep difficulties and panic attacks. A heightened feeling of loss, anxiety and depression occur and the social media phenomena of competitiveness, oneupmanship and ‘fear of missing out’ add to the stress. After the event we see more problems related to overindulgence of food and drink, including indigestion and a realisation that alcohol use may be a problem, and weight gain that needs addressing. It almost makes you wonder why we do it!”

Dr Jenkins suggests: “Planning is key, with a realisation that Christmas is about sharing time and simple pleasures with the ones you care about. Remember to refresh stocks of simple ‘over the counter’ medicine, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, indigestion or diarrhoea medicines, and ensure you have enough of your regular medicine to last until after New Year. Doctors surgeries and chemists may be closed, but there is always a GP out-of-hours (OOH) service in case anyone does fall ill, or alternatively, call 111 for advice and a GP appointment. Try to avoid A&E, as hospital emergency departments are always overrun at this time of year.”

Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital offers weight loss treatment, gastroenterology clinics, and a private GP service. If you would like to book an appointment with any of our consultants, call 0117 911 5339, or visit our website for more information.

Christmas is usually portrayed as a happy, social, family time, but for many it doesn’t live up to these expectations. Even for those people who enjoy it, Christmas can still be stressful and there’s a price to be paid afterwards for overindulgence. Bristol GP Dr Gill Jenkins tells us: “The main problems GPs see before Christmas revolve around the stress of trying to provide the ‘perfect’ Christmas, or conversely being aware that you will be alone.

THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

beauty notebook

New launches and great ideas just in time for Christmas

Crowning Glory haircare gift collections by Philip Kingsley, Presenting Philip Kingsley’s gleaming selection of hair care jewels, for tresses worthy of display this Christmas and beyond. Whether you’re seeking Diamond Shine & Hydration, Brilliant Body & Volume (shown above) or sparkling Little Gems this trio of gift sets will help take care of your crowning glory — after all, your crown is not just for Christmas Day, you wear it all year round. Priced at £49.50 each or just £10 for the Little Gems kit they are great stocking fillers at a really good price.

How to join the self-love revolution Love, happiness, joy and peace are all natural states of being. This is why Epiphany Therapy, a hypnotherapy service founded by Nika Nazarova-Evans, in collaboration with Project Create, a Bristol events company run by Ellie Burns, created Self-love Letters Workshops to Ellie Burns and Nika give the people of Bristol the supNazarova-Evans port they need to rediscover that place of healthy self-love, irrespective of their life situation or relationship status. The attendees will address their barriers to self-love and anchor the feeling of love in their bodies, through mediation, discussion, journaling and drawing exercises, and inner child work. Pilot attendees reported increased levels of self-compassion. One of them notably said: “I feel mushy inside – gushing like lava with self-love.”

The first in-person workshop will take place on 13 December, 6.30pm – 8.30pm, at the Elmgrove Community Centre in Cotham.

The workshops will be run monthly.

• To book onto the first event or sign up to the mailing list for future experiences, visit: epiphanytherapy.co.uk

philipkingsley.co.uk

Ghost: Crossbody Bag Gift Set What better gift than this bargain gift set from the iconic Ghost Fragrances?

The Crossbody Bag Gift Set, available exclusively at Boots, is perfect for any beauty obsessive.

Presented in this stunning Ghost crossbody bag, the gift is filled with Ghost Fragrances’ best-selling scents, including Ghost Orb of Night (30ml), Ghost Sweetheart 30ml and Ghost The Fragrance (30ml) – it’s the go-to gift for any fragrance lover. What makes this bundle even better is that it is currently reduced from £80 to £39.

Boots.com

“The UK’s most talked about premium nail salon brand” opens in Bristol

London Midnight Musk and Amber Cologne, 100ml, and London Orange Bitters Cologne, 100ml, both £115 Jo Malone’s festive fragrances are back: Midnight Musk & Amber, ready to revel with sensual midnight musk and the glowing warmth of amber, and Orange Bitters, a tangy woody-citrus inspired by a delicious winter cocktail.

jomalone.co.uk

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Always on the lookout for ways to further elevate its customers’ experience, Harrods’ H Beauty in Cribbs Causeway recently welcomed “the UK’s most talked about premium nail salon brand”, Townhouse, to its store. Known for its celebrity clientele, which includes Emilia Clarke, Kim Cattrall and even Canadian rapper Drake, Townhouse has brought its Instagram-worthy manicures, minimal nail art and the chicest of interiors to Bristol just in time for the festive party season.

Expect state-of-the-art technology with easy self-book kiosks and digital colour libraries giving the ultimate, modern-day pamper experience like none other. Clients will have access to Townhouse’s acclaimed treatment menu including seasonal nail art collections and three exclusive Harrods-inspired designs.

To celebrate the opening, Townhouse will be offering its renowned beauty gift bags with each booking, including products from SLIP, 111 Skin, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Huda Beauty, Dermalogica, Fresh, Malin+Goetz and Dry Bar. Plus, Mirabeau will be providing complimentary beverages so clients can enjoy their treatment with a Belle Année Rosé. (All offers while stocks last. Terms and conditions apply.)

What’s more, the salon is offering 15% off your first treatment for new customers with code MAG15, until 31 January.

• For more information and to book an appointment, visit: harrods.com/en-gb/h-beauty/bristol-townhouse-nails

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CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT James Scrimshaw of CURA CLINICAL explains how new technologies are providing effective answers to people’s pain and suffering

MBST: Treating for knees

Albert is such a lovely chap who was also really struggling with arthritis in both knees...more advanced in nature. MBST has had a really positive effect on his life, reducing his pain and allowing him to walk 2-3 miles without any major issues.

When he came to see me in February, he had to sit down soon after walking 100 yards!! Brilliant outcome.

KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS Alex was diagnosed 4 years ago with arthritis of his knees and came to me off the back of 3 years of coping using cortisone. In his words he was ‘eating naproxen!’ Stairs and more than 9 holes of golf were a real problem. He was referred to me by a friend who’d responded well to MBST with his hip, and 4 months post MBST Alex has responded equally as well. He can now play a full 18 holes of golf without Naproxen and stairs aren’t a problem any more. A great example of the positive effect MBST has on cartilage healing

MBST uses the same method of electromagnetic energy transfer as MRI scanning which is how is was discovered in Germany 20 years ago.

Since then it has been adapted, updated and improved to achieve remarkable results for patients with varying conditions such as: Osteoarthritis, muscle tears, tendon/ligament damage and bone injury in all areas of the body.

Jonathan Webb has seen great benefits from MBST for his patients.

It’s growing in popularity in the UK as a safe non invasive and natural way of tangibly healing our bodies and as more and more people are seeing that the results are actually for real it’s acceptance with the medical profession is also increasing significantly.

Knees were where I mostly started using MBST and I’m still seeing great results in 90% of the patients who are appropriated candidates for the therapy. I now also see a lot of spinal arthritis, shoulders, hands, hips and ankles, really helping patients for whom there were few other options.

MBST is an award-winning innovation designed to manage long-term injury and osteoarthritis.

To discuss your treatment, contact Cura’s Clinical Director, James Scrimshaw today

0117 959 6531 curaclinical.com

THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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Silk Road Rugs

FOUND UK

Vintage furniture given a new lease of life!

1 Westway Farm Bishop Sutton, Chew Valley, BS39 5XP silkroad-rugs.co.uk | info@silkroad-rugs.co.uk 01275 319950 Get 30% off any non-sale item with this ad until the end of 2022.

Thinking of promoting your business?

Our 2023 media pack can be viewed online

SCAN THE CODE TO FIND OUT MORE ON OUR 2023 MEDIA PACK OR CONTACT US ON 0117 974 2800 or EMAIL: SALES @ THEBRISTOLMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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Contact us for a full list of items & prices: jeffosbo@hotmail.com • 07875 129964

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www.thekitchenpartners.co.uk

THE

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THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE 67

INTERIORS – BEN ARGENT v2.qxp_Layout 2 21/11/2022 14:44 Page 1

Elevated

design

Set in Redland, this sophisticated kitchen oozes style and elegance.

Here, Ben Argent Kitchens talk about how they completely transformed the space...

S

hortly after the launch of our 20|20 freestanding kitchen collection, we were approached to design this beautiful kitchen for a major renovation of a Victorian property in Redland.

The new extension to the rear of the property created a wonderful large open plan space for kitchen, living and dining, that has become the real heart of the home. Large, full height glazing and crittall doors flood the room with light.

During the initial space planning, we wanted to move away from the notion that kitchen units need to be fitted between walls (as would 68 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

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be the case in a conventional L-shaped layout), instead designing individual, free-standing furniture with more identity and personality.

By breaking the kitchen down into three distinct components – tower, wall and island – it not only creates a greater sense of openness, but is also highly functional. The synergy between these three elements changes the whole kitchen environment to one that feels more spacious – you can see the floor under the units and the walls either side.

We wanted to create a kitchen that appears lightweight and delicate, but is still really practical and versatile. We elevated

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“With gorgeous deep red matte resin fronts for the tower units creating a bold backdrop to the kitchen and adding real warmth. In contrast, the crisp white fronts for the island and wall run combined with the textured sintered stone worktops give a sophisticated finish.“

everything off the floor on a beautifully designed leg structure, with subtle curves and long spans that make it easy to clean underneath.

This freestanding design is reminiscent of the humble roots of the traditional kitchen, yet with a contemporary vision. We feel this is a timelessly elegant collection, designed to last.

The material palette was carefully considered. With gorgeous deep red matte resin fronts for the tower units creating a bold backdrop to the kitchen and adding real warmth. In contrast, the crisp white fronts for the island and wall run combined with the textured sintered stone worktops give a sophisticated finish.

One of the standout features is the handmade mirror splash back which was crafted using a technique called Verre églomisé; this involves the meticulous application of pieces of square gold leaf to the rear of the glass before it’s coloured and randomly distressed to create a highly distinctive surface design.

“One of the standout features is the handmade mirror splash back which was crafted using a technique called Verre églomisé.”

The result is a truly individual kitchen with real character. It has transformed this space into a stylish and sociable family space and the owners couldn’t be happier. n • Please contact to arrange a viewing at the showroom – located two minutes from M4 J18. Dunsdon Barn, Dunsdon Lane, West Littleton, Wiltshire SN14 8JA. T: 01225 892 270, E: info@benargentkitchens.co.uk, W: benargentkitchens.co.uk

Ben Argent Kitchens is a small independent company run

by Ben and Emi Argent. They have been meticulously designing and hand crafting contemporary kitchens since 2011 from their base between Bristol and Bath.

THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE 69

GARDENING – DECEMBER.qxp_Layout 2 23/11/2022 10:10 Page 1

Gifts for

GARDENING

gardeners

It’s a cold and quiet time in the garden so what better excuse to curl up indoors and take a look at some of the best gardening books that have recently hit the shelves? They also make excellent Christmas presents for green-fingered loved-ones. Elly West suggests...

The Gardeners' Yearbook

by Martyn Cox; published

by Mitchell Beazley, £18.99 A great handbook for new and experienced gardeners alike, this almanac is friendly in tone and clearly laid out with month-bymonth checklists, tasks and helpful tips. Life-long horticulturist and garden journalist Martyn Cox sets out to make gardening “fun, thought-provoking and entertaining”, scattering the text with bite-size facts, trivia and gardening lore alongside sound advice.

There are also lots of plant lists of tried-and-tested varieties.

It’s basically a ‘what-to-do-now, and how-to-do-it’ gardening reference bible that you can refer to over and over. The attached ribbon bookmark is a useful finishing touch as well.

The Hedgerow Apothecary Forager's Handbook

by Christine Inverson; published

by Summersdale, £10.99

Mushrooms aren’t my favourite food, and Percy Bysshe Shelley sums it up for me in the opening quote of this book: “Pale, fleshy, as if the decaying dead with a spirit of growth had been animated.” But this is what makes them so fascinating. They appear as if by magic in all their wonderful forms, and have the power to both heal and kill, so unsurprisingly are the subject of superstition, folklore and magical beliefs around the world and throughout history. This accessible book is packed with stories of fungi in multiple aspects of human life, including witchcraft, art, literature, food and medicine. We learn of mushroom dyes used in fashion, the ‘black diamond’ truffle – one of the most sought-after delicacies in the world, and the ‘zombie-maker’ fungus that infects ants and controls their behaviour, causing them to climb a plant and hang there by their jaws, leading to their death. It’s a dip-in-and-out book, each story or topic is given just a page or two, with beautiful illustrations sourced from the archives at Kew.

Sustainable Garden

by Marian Boswall; published by Frances Lincoln, £18

With the current costof-living crisis, and the increasing popularity of vegetarian and veganism, this hot topic of free, foraged food will appeal to many. The handbook begins with sections on foraging etiquette and a tool-kit list to get you started, and is then organised seasonally, so you know what to look out for at different times of the year.

Photographs for plant identification are helpful, as are the extra pages where you can make notes on your findings and their location. Each plant includes a photograph along with how to identify it and its common uses, then there are recipes at the end of each seasonal section for more ideas on how to use your findings. A walk in the countryside will never look quite the same again.

70 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

The Magic of Mushrooms

by Sandra Lawrence, in partnership with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Welbeck, £14.99

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The ethos of this book is encouraging rather than preachy, the author accepting that there is often angst around being time-poor, yet still trying to garden sustainably and do the right thing for the environment.

Boswall’s attitude is one of making small changes and shifting to a slightly different mindset, working with nature and planning ahead. She has a rustic, slightly spiritual approach, and the book is packed with simple, practical projects that mainly use recycled materials and encourage wildlife. From composting leaves to making a wormery, a rain garden or a willow dome, this book is both inspiring and realistic in its expectations, ideal for those who want to make small changes to their gardens without breaking the bank. Beautiful images are provided by Bristol-based photographer Jason Ingram.

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GARDENING

English Garden Eccentrics

by Todd LongstaffeGowan; published

by Paul Mellon Centre, £30 This is a big tome, nearly 400 pages covering 300 years of garden history with a focus on the quirky, weird and wonderful. Gnomes and fairy figures, statuary, birds, stuffed animals and other oddities give an insight into the lives of a cast of whacky characters who have expressed themselves and their obsessions through their gardens. We learn of Sir Robert Heron with his collection of eleven hundred goldfish (plus a small flock of kangaroos); Lady Broughton’s Cheshire rock garden – modelled on the Swiss Glaciers, 30-feet high, and filled with ferns, geraniums, cacti, yuccas and small clipped trees; and the Countess of Dudley’s collection of bizarre topiary at Witley Court, Swindon. A mixture of illustrations, artworks and historic photographs bring the stories to life.

The Gardener's Palette

by Jo Thompson; published by Timber Press/RHS, £35

The Veg Box

by Stephen and David Flynn; published by Penguin, £20

When we think of a garden, colour is an inseparable element and one of the most important factors in garden design.

Colour can set a mood, attract or deflect the eye, create contrast or harmony.

Award-winning garden designer Jo Thompson provides one hundred different palettes in total, presented like paint charts. It’s a simple but effective concept.

Pick the ones you like, then choose from her list of plants to achieve those colour combinations. For each palette there's an image of a garden or border in these colours, followed by a list of individual plants, also with images, and their growing requirements.

This sumptuous, photo-rich coffee-table book would be a joy to unwrap on Christmas day for anyone who loves colour in their garden.

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Also known as the Happy Pear twins, Stephen and David have spent the best part of the last couple of decades encouraging people to eat more veg, with a shop, café, online courses, cook books, and large range of food products.

The Veg Box focuses on ten easy-to-grow (or buy) vegetables, including carrots, courgettes, potatoes and beetroot, then for each there are ten diverse recipes, some sweet, some savoury. There are also sections on growing, cooking and storing the vegetables, plus information about their nutritional value. Recipes are imaginative but uncomplicated, and include Chewy Carrot Flapjacks; Beetroot, Feta and Walnut Burgers; Easy One-Pan Courgette Pizza; and Buffalo Cauliflower Wings. A perfect book for vegans, vegetarians, or anyone looking to make their diet more plant-based.

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Elly’s Wellies

Garden Designs

Turning your ideas into beautiful spaces Elly’s Wellies Garden Designs will help you maximise the potential of your outdoor space and tailor it to your individual needs. Whether you are looking for a complete garden redesign, or just need advice on what to plant in a border, Elly’s Wellies will be happy to help.

For a free initial consultation, contact Elly West

www.ellyswellies.co.uk ellyswellies@gmail.com 07788 640934

Slippery, grubby, messy

DRIVEWAYS - PATIOS - STEPS - DECKING made CLEAN and SAFE again!

BEFORE

AFTER

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078910 456 43

www.dodowash.co.uk

RUPERT – DECEMBER V3.qxp_Layout 2 25/11/2022 14:42 Page 1

Hearth of christmas Chestnuts roast on it; stockings hang above it; a magical figure clad in red and white shimmies his way down a chimney towards it – the fireplace has served as a focal point within our living spaces for hundreds of years, and never more so than at Christmas time. This month, Rupert Oliver of Rupert Oliver Property Agents takes a look at the history of the feature...

P

icture a living room at Christmas time, and you’ll likely think of a glittering tree, a pile of presents – and a crackling fire. A source of warmth and light in front of which to gather, glass of fizz in hand, fireplaces go with the festive territory. There’s something nostalgic about the feature; novelist Gladys Taber aptly observes that “a house without a fireplace is a house without a heart”. Bristol, then, with its swathes of Georgian architecture and fireplaces, must be a city with plenty of heart.

First sparks The fireplace – which started life as more of a fire pit than an official fire place – made its way onto the architectural scene during the medieval period. Set in the middle of a large, communal room, these pits served the practical function of keeping a home warm and allowing those living in it to knock up hot meals on chilly days. Just as it does today, the fire also acted as a social lynch pin, creating a warm space in which family members could spend comfortable time together. Things changed in the 12th century, when the open-plan living space of the medieval home was chopped into a collection of private rooms, each of which served a different function; it made more architectural sense at this point that the fireplace be nudged out toward the edge of the room – and so it was that the mantelpiece came about. Framing the flames, the mantelpiece acted as a stone canvas on which people could carve – often literally – symbols of their social status. Dragons and lions loped about the fires of wealthy families, and it was hoped that guests might take a moment to ‘oooh’ and ‘aaah’ over the impressive décor. The centuries wore on, and the mantelpiece grew larger; fierce stone creatures departed, and homeowners started to use the fireplace as a display shelf of sorts. The Tudors were fond of placing decorative objects (think mirrors, vases, or pieces of china from far-off lands) along the mantle; the Victorians continued the trend, lining their mantelpieces with postcards and

letters in a show of sociability. Fireplaces became strange hybrid spaces, where the public and private jostled for attention; a feature around which individuals could display their excellent taste, and wealth – and friends – for all to see.

Christmas traditions Today, we still like our fireplaces to look their best – especially during the festive period. In fact, some of our favorite festive symbols have a fiery backdrop. Whilst there is no Official History of The Stocking, there are several theories as to how the sock-by-the-fire tradition came about. The first theory stars three daughters and their widowed father.

Falling on hard times, the father can’t stretch to buy his girls their Christmas presents; seeing the family’s despair, St Nicholas (aka, Father Christmas) decides to drop three coins into the chimney of their home. The pennies land in the girls’ stockings, which are hung up to dry next to the fire. Others believe that stockings can be traced back to the St Nicholas Day feast, when children would fill their shoes with hay for St Nick’s donkeys – and, if they were lucky, return the next morning to find that the hay had been replaced with a shiny gold coin. Stockings aren’t the only fire-fuelled festive symbol: cue, The Yule Log. We may be more familiar with the sweet-treat take on this one, but the Yule Log originated in the medieval woods of Norway.

At the start of the Christmas period, a group would make their merry way into the forest, carefully select a large log (or sometimes a whole tree), decorate it with ribbons and drag it back to the family home, where it would be kept alight for the 12 days of Christmas.

As the weather gets chillier and the evenings grow darker, the Yule Log tradition is a pretty appealing one; but then again, the chocolate version seems a little less labour intensive – and the payoff a little sweeter. Merry Christmas, all.

• rupertoliver.co.uk; 14 Waterloo Street, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4BT THEBRISTOLMAG.CO.UK

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THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE 73

THANK YOU! In 2022 Burston Cook have disposed of more office and retail properties throughout Bristol than any of our competitors.

We would like to thank all of our clients and friends for their loyalty and support.

Merry Christmas and wishing you all contentment, good health and prosperity this coming year ...

Julian Cook

Jayne Rixon

Charlie Kershaw

Finola Ingham

Tom Coyte

Holly Boulton

Vicki Grimshaw

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

(0117) 934 9977

Coxley, Wells, BA5 FOR SALE (MAY LET) – POA 3,318 sq ft

Dial Lane, Downend, BS16 TO LET - ROA 5,108 sq ft

A freehold, detached building for sale with a right to park up to 11 vehicles in a large car park to the side of the property. The property is very prominently situated fronting the main A39 Wells to Glastonbury Road.

Storage accomodation and office with potential for other uses STP. Excellent location close to the high street and amenities and in easy reach of Bristol city centre, the ring road, and M32 and M4.

Portishead, BS20 TO LET – POA 1,395 – 4,964 sq ft

Coldharbour Road, BS6 TO LET / FOR SALE 1,841 sq ft

Two new-build commercial units forming part of the Harbour Crescent development to be fitted to a high standard. Use Class E – would suit a range of uses.

A ground floor commercial retail unit over ground and basement with a return frontage offering excellent visibility for passing motorists and pedestrians.

Class E- could suit many uses.

6 Marsh Street, BS1 TO LET - POA 3,534 sq ft

Temple Back, BS1 TO LET – POA – 1,575 sq ft (146.32 sq m)

The property comprises a stunning period property which has been fully fitted to a high standard with benefit of a premises license and is ready to trade!

A modern, predominantly open plan office benefitting waterfront views which is superbly located within close proximity to Finzels Reach, Castle Park, Cabot Circus, Old City, and Temple Meads Railway Station.

Queen Square, BS1 TO LET - £26.50 psf pax 2,728 sq ft

Warminster, BA12 FOR SALE - £850,000 Exl. An income-producing commercial investment opportunity with future development potential, subject to necessary consents. Situated in a stunning, rural setting with river frontage and large parking.

A modern office suite which has been newly refurbished. The specification includes air conditioning, bike storage, shower facilities, and two car parking spaces.

Queen Charlotte Street, BS1 TO LET £17.50 psf pax 1,741 sq ft (161.65 sq m)

11 St Mary’s, BS35 TO LET / BUSINESS FOR SALE 1,113 sq ft

A modern, ground floor office suite located in Bristol’s Old Quarter. The suite is predominantly open plan and benefits shower, bike storage, and car parking.

Julian Cook FRICS

Jayne Rixon MRICS

Charlie Kershaw MRICS

Finola Ingham MRICS

Tom Coyte MRICS

Holly Boulton BSc(Hons)

Excellent opportunity for new or existing business, a hair and beauty business offered for sale, or the building to let. Fully fitted and ready to trade!

Vicki Grimshaw BSc(Hons)

• • • • •

Sales / Lettings Acquisitions Valuations Landlord & tenant Auction Sales

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

Peter Greatorex fp December.qxp_Layout 1 25/11/2022 14:36 Page 1

PROPERTY

The expert you need to break into Bristol’s secret property market

B

uying property has changed over the years, and over the last few years there has been a growth in, what are known as, off-market sales in Bristol. Gone are the days when all properties are advertised and marketed through an estate agent; now, many exclusive homeowners are choosing to sell their home discreetly. To break into this secret world of incredible homes you need to know the right person, one who will help you sell your home without all the glare, and in Bristol that’s Peter Greatorex Unique Homes.

Peter is a trusted agent and no stranger to the niche and highend property markets. Having operated for 30 years, Peter founded The Apartment Company and then established Fine & Country Wells & Chew Valley as the market leading agents for premium homes in that area, and he still runs both businesses. Peter and his team found there was a high demand of buyers looking for properties in and around the Bristol area, and so breaking into the Bristol market was a smooth and logical process, with successful sales leading to high quality buyer registrations.

His agency Peter Greatorex Unique Homes, as you might expect, differentiates itself into a niche market that specialises in helping clients downsize, as well as being offline sales experts. Offline sales are more common than you probably imagine, in 2021, 300,000 properties were sold offline, that’s a staggering 20% of the entire market.

SOLD - Clifton £3,500,000

76 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE

Downsizing is an area of the market that is more complex than people perceive it to be, often people are moving from a family home into somewhere smaller, and this can bring up a wealth of emotions and questions that they didn’t expect. If not handled correctly, then such sales have the potential to fall through when nerves take over and doubts kick in. Peter and his team with many years of experience, have helped countless people to downsize, because they understand and empathise with clients involved in this kind of move.

It isn’t just selling homes that Peter and his team assist, they can also help buyers break into this secret property market through their VIP buyer service. When talking to buyers today, one thing they all have in common is struggling to find their next home, especially in a market where available properties are scarce. As exciting as searching for a new home can be, it can also be very frustrating and exhausting, especially if you simply can’t find what you are looking for.

Their VIP buyer service is a gateway to access these offline homes for sale, as well as those homes that are not currently on the market.

Many sellers stall in listing their property because they simply cannot find what they are looking for in a next home. Peter Greatorex Unique Homes will keep you informed of new homes coming onto the market, as well as those selling offline, together with speaking to homeowners who may not have even considered selling.

If you are interested in selling and would like some assistance with your onward purchase, call and arrange a meeting. We can talk through your requirements and explain our VIP buyer service in more detail. For us it’s very important that sellers are in total control on timings and Peter and his team will make sure all the moving parts align.

We currently have a number of properties available offline priced between £1.5m and £5m, so if you would like to find out more about Bristol’s secret property market, and how we can help with your move, call Peter or Sophie on 0117 325 2600.

Scan here and see what the market is like for your home

www.petergreatorex.co.uk

SOLD - BATH £1,600,000

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0117 923 8238

www.howard-homes.co.uk

hello@howard-homes.co.uk

Rupert Oliver FP December.qxp_Layout 1 21/11/2022 14:21 Page 1

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Tickenham, Bristol | Guide Price £1,350,000 A stunning and beautifully proportioned family house in a fully enclosed private setting with expansive views, gated driveway and superb gardens. .

A beautifully proportioned family house in a fully enclosed private setting | Stunning 38’ family kitchen, dining room and sitting room | Separate family room and a further study | Master bedroom suite with a private balcony and far-reaching views | Four further double bedrooms | Family bathroom | Gated driveway with excellent off-street parking | Expansive gardens to front and rear | Circa 700 sq. ft garage, workshop and further outbuildings | EPC: C

In all circa 3640 sq. ft (338 sq. m).

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