WELL, IT’S ABOUT THE RETURN OF UPFEST… …IT’S ALSO ABOUT NEW OUTDOOR GALLERY, QUAKERS ART LANE… …AND OF COURSE IT’S ABOUT THIS LEGEND’S CENTENARY –HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH!
Flowers to the people: fresh fits to welcome spring / Staycation with me, baby: the good, the bed and the breakfast / Together in Tangerine Dreams: Sophie Green’s colour-pop photography
National treasure he may be, but Sir David Attenborough is famously uncuddly in interviews. Prickly, even. Not one to suffer fools gladly, he’s quite capable of sending an ill-prepared reporter away with a flea in their ear, which frankly serves them right.
I only met him once, and luckily I had a bit of an ‘in’. The garden of one of my oldest friends backs onto his in Richmond, and once or twice he’s popped around for tea. “I thought I heard the cry of a young thing”, was his charming comment after she’d had her third baby; during his visits he gave his attention almost exclusively to her children, patiently talking to them about the natural world. Kind to kids, impatient with shoddy journalists; sounds about right to me.
Naturally, I name-dropped my friend right into the start of our conversation, so maybe that’s why I received a more sympathetic reception than some. I found him to be the perfect interviewee, firing off endless, quotable soundbites with sharp efficiency.
Just like Brunel, Sir David may never have lived in Bristol but the city can claim him as an honorary son. It’s been his creative home for wildlife filmmaking since 1954, even before the Bristol Natural History Unit officially existed, and the relationship only deepened from the moment Life on Earth was broadcast in 1979.
He’s been involved in dozens of major Bristol-made wildlife productions ever since, so it seems more than fitting that one of Upfest’s most ambitious pieces this year is HazardOne’s huge mural of the legendary presenter, at the newly-established Quakers Art Lane, to mark his 100th birthday this May.
Now, who do we need to talk to about establishing a public holiday?
A star mural in the Upfest 2026 firmament, this new piece by HazardOne celebrates Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday
DERI ROBINS
Bristol
Life editor @BristolLifeMag
Issue 383 / Early summer 2026
ON THE COVER
HazardOne’s mural of Sir David Attenborough for Upfest x Cabot Circus
ARTS
10 FESTIVALS Ten full pages, because we hate to leave anyone out
22 WHAT’S ON Things to do if you don’t like festivals
30 STREET ART Upfest waxes nostalgic
34 PHOTOGRAPHY A colour-pop collection Martin Parr would love
38 BRISTOL HEROES Astonishingly, it’s festivals
43 BOOKS Three books with literally nothing in common to justify a theme
FOOD & DRINK
57 FOOD In celebration of the solo diner
59 WINE Things you may not know about wine, and probably don’t need to
61 CAFÉ SOCIETY Loaf is all around
LIFESTYLE
46 STAYCATIONS The good, the bed and the breakfast
64 ED’S CHOICE Flowers to the people
BUSINESS
67 NETWORK Lunches, networking, news and views
PROPERTY
76 SHOWCASE The first property we’ve featured that might have been owned by Robin Hood. Will it be the last? Who knows? There may be more to come
We’re a West Country-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrates the best of local living: Bath and Bristol. Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help. Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk
SPOTLIGHT
Street art
BRISTOL OR BUST
It’s turning into quite the summer of street art in Bristol, what with the return of Upfest and its newly established outdoor gallery at Quakers Lane.
It seems appropriate timing, then, to hear that the new short drama-satire Operation Anderson – the Graffiti Bust that Tried to Break Bristol is currently prepping at Barton Hill Youth Club. It was here, back in the late ’80s that a youth worker named John Nation mentored the teenage Inkie, Jody, Cheo and Turoe; the young Banksy and 3D were knocking around there, too. Street art was a long way from being regarded as a major cultural asset to the city back then, and 1989 witnessed the infamous police raid Operation Anderson, the UK’s biggest graffiti bust, which saw Inkie kicking his heels in a cell overnight; many others were arrested and had their homes raided, too.
Far from being a deterrent, of course, the raid added even more edgy underground glamour to the scene, attracting many artists to Bristol. The rest, as you know, is history…
Film
EARTH TO BRISTOL
Many films are made in Bristol, though not necessarily set here. The just-released Surviving Earth, however, is firmly embedded in the city.
The debut feature from writer and director Thea Gajić is based on her own dad’s experience of being a Yugoslav refugee who fled to the UK in the 1990s. Now rebuilding his life in Bristol, he longs to be the father his daughter deserves, but the shadows of his past refuse to fade. When he forms a band to reconnect with his roots, music becomes his lifeline – a fragile bridge between who he was and who he wants to be.
“The decision to film in Bristol was never in contention”, says Thea. “Our story is set there, my dad lived there and it’s the city that holds the spirit of our film within its streets, culture and landmarks. We scouted lots of different locations, particularly Bristol’s extensive music venues. For our live music scenes we landed on Zion Community Cafe, The Jam Jar and Thekla – the latter two at which my dad and his band actually played on stage.”
Clifton Village, the Corn Exchange, Clifton Downs also feature.
“Bristol was ultimately another character in this film, its vibrancy informed our camaraderie, and its community adorned the film in ways another city couldn’t”, says Thea.
Surviving Earth previously screened at Bristol’s Encounters Festival in September 2025. It opened in cinemas on 24 April
TV
PLACE YOUR BETS
We’re pretty sure you’ve never read the words ‘Love Island’ in this magazine before, at least not together, but we couldn’t let the news pass that Cotham School’s luminous alumnus Maya Jama, known for her entrepreneurial skincare business as well as for hosting the abovementioned reality show, is among the cast of the second series of Celebrity Traitors Oh, and get this: with odds standing at 7/1 Maya is currently the favourite to win, ahead of Michael Sheen at 8/1. Never underestimate a glamour girl.
We’ll be monitoring Maya’s progress carefully when the show screens later this year; like we needed an excuse to watch. www.bbc.co.uk
A young Jody poses broodily at Barton Hill; from Carrie Hitchcock’s book Bristol and Me
Will we see Maya round the firepit in the finale?
Slavko Sobin as Vlad; below left: we spy St Nick’s (courtesy Metis Films)
FIELDS OF DREAMS
Don’t fret because Worthy Farm is taking a fallow year! With big-hitters Upfest and Valley Fest back for 2026, along with all your other festival faves, it’s set to be another summer of lurrve. Let’s get this party started
Words by Deri Robins
What’s your festival style? Full-on feral under canvas for a long weekend? Making a day of it at some cool little urban all-dayer before thankfully retreating to the comfort of your own pristine bed? Something food-focused, or all about the beats? The great thing about festivals is that there’s something to suit all styles; have a look through our ten-page selection – we’d be amazed if you didn’t find one that’s tailor-made for you.
Get on their land again: the return of Valley Fest
FESTIVALS
1HAPPY CAMPERS
Let’s kick off with five big, happy-camper, long-weekend bonanzas
21-24 May
SHINDIG
Although Emily Eavis once described Shindig as a perfect alternative to Glastonbury, Shindig is nobody’s second best. With a remit that could have come straight out of 1967’s Summer of Love, it’s all about community, creativity, individuality, music, art and discovery.
You’ll find all kinds of hidden areas tucked away within the leafy Charlton Estate, from the Minirig Sub Bus, dedicated to all-things bass and beats, to the chillout Cushy Holistic Sanctuary; the Hobo stage in the arboretum; the Shimmy Disco deep in the trees, and The Dig Inn, Shindig Festival’s beating heart of live music, cabaret, circus, and crafts.
This year’s headliners include Bob Vylan, Fat Dog,
War, Mungo’s Hi Fi, My Baby, Snapped Ankles and Jamz Supernova.
What’s the theme this year? Garden of Delights: it’s all about “reconnecting with nature, expressing ecstatic joy, and embracing the mystery within”. So, what will you embody in this enchanted realm? A majestic tree? A glittering butterfly? Umm, an avocado?
www.shindigfestival.co.uk
30
July-2 August
VALLEY FEST
It’s back! The best-tasting fest in the West returns after a year off with a long weekend of music, wellbeing experiences and locally sourced street food, all set against the idyllic backdrop of Chew Valley Lake.
The food offering is curated by Mark Lloyd, and some of the region’s most respected chefs will be cooking woodfired banquets and long-table feasts, as well as sharing their skills at demos. There’s a comedy tent to bring the
23–26 July WOMAD
WOMAD – or World of Music, Arts and Dance, as it likes to be known on formal occasions – pitches up in a new home this year: Neston Park in Wiltshire, with its rolling hills and (rather like Valley Fest) a shimmering lake behind the main stage.
Founded by local resident Peter Gabriel in 1982, WOMAD is practically a village in its own right. While most modern festivals cater for families, this one goes the extra mile with its World of Kids area offering workshops, games, circus skills etc.
Music-wise expect boundary-pushing sets from Greentea Peng, Barrington Levy, José González and Oumou Sangaré, alongside extraordinary artists from every corner of the world.
Tell us about the food: Expect global treats, from Ethiopian wat and Sri Lankan curry to wood-fired pizza and vegan feasts – all served with a sustainable, planet-conscious ethos at its heart. www.womad.co.uk
Somehow the sunset hits different at Valley Fest
12-14 June VOLKFEST
Good tunes, good rides, good vibes. If it has even the most tenuous link to a Volkswagen expect it to be celebrated here, at Birches Farm in Long Ashton, along with films, demos and a fun music line-up that includes Dub Pistols and Doreen Doreen. Oh, and there’s wrestling.
What’s this year’s theme? Jungle Safari, so come in your brightest animal prints, and/or Mardi Gras / Rio style because the Saturday Carnival is back with fancy dress, head-bopping beats and bouncing bootys brought by the Bristol Samba Band. www.bristolvolksfest.co.uk
LOLs, a regeneration area with talks, panels, discussions and hands-on workshops exploring soil, food, health and a hopeful future for the planet, two main stages and the dancefloor timemachine Kaleidoscope disco.
No Arcadia this year, though; after featuring the mechanical dancing spider heavily in previous years the festival says it’s shifting towards a more intimate, local, and communityfocused programme.
The music here has always been more about fun times than cutting-edge cool, and this year’s line-up brings together a typically eclectic high-energy mix from, among others, Friendly Fires to Big Special, The Herbaliser Band and Cast joined by Doreen Doreen, The Beat, Fisherman’s Friends and House Gospel Choir. www.valleyfest.co.uk
27-30 August
BETWEEN THE TREES
This little Welsh fest was voted Best UK Micro-festival 2025 in the UK Festival Awards and makes the perfect final bank holiday hoorah. The 100-acre Candleston Woods site by the sea provides the setting for live indie-folk music, wild creativity, and deep reconnection with nature; expect to hear over fifty acts from the UK, Europe and USA, along with nature talks and debates from leading voices in eco-science and conservation.
There’s crafts and wellness, a serious attitude to food and drink, puppetry, and dance workshops from internationally renowned Ballet Cymru.
Unplug (no option, there’s barely any phone signal), think deeper, laugh louder, breathe easier and truly connect, with nature and with each other.
Oh, and there’s a Welsh druid on hand, to talk about the ancient practices of our islands and explore the mystic otherworld of Annwfn.
www.betweenthetrees.co.uk
2STREET ART
Upfest’s back; if you need an even bigger street art fix, just head over to WsM
Until 31 May
UPFEST
Already underway at time of going to press, the 17-day event will once again transform not merely Bedminster and Southville but the city centre too, with big-name artists creating equally big murals in Quakers Art Lane. Who’s painting? This year’s festival artist is Melo, joining familiar names from Acerone to Andy Council, Bex Glover to Banksy (OK, we jest, but who knows?); Cheba to Cheo, DFTE to Dale Grimshaw, Inkie to Insane51, and so on through the street art alphabet...
More on page 30. www.upfest.co.uk
17-26 July
WESTON WALLZ
Once again, the walls of Weston-super-Mare will be transformed by Upfest; grab yourself a bag of chips, dodge the gulls, and get trailing. Who’s painting? The usual allstars, ie we have absolutely no idea at time of going to press. There’s a handy map on the website that shows you who did what during previous festivals, though; hope helps. www.upfest.co.uk
Shindig. Bring your sartorial A-game
3ALL-DAY MUSIC FESTS
Bristol does these brilliantly; there are loads of smaller niche events too, but let’s start with the four big-hitters
23-28 June
BRISTOL SOUNDS
Bristol Sounds traditionally grabs top acts on their way to or from Glastonbury, but this year they’re managing quite nicely without Worthy Farm. Who’s up? In this order: The Kooks, Super Furry Animals, The Streets, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, The Streets again (the boys must be staying over) and Royel Otis. Hop to it: The Streets has sold out and tickets for The Kooks and OMD are perilously low. www.bristolsounds.co.uk
23-25 July
SIREN BRISTOL
Bristol’s summertime gig series brings three nights of
back-to-back music to Lloyd’s Amphitheatre.
Be more specific: Oh, OK: so, Brighton indie rockers The Macabees are back in Bristol for the first time in 14 years – what kept you, lads? – for a sunset gig on the 23rd; Faithless are up for the 24th, and on the 25th it’s Hospital30 on the Harbour, an open-air celebration marking 30 years of Hospital Records. www.sirenbristol.com
28-30 August FORWARDS
Since launching in 2022, Forwards has arguably become the most important music festival in the city, drawing some of the biggest and freshest names in international music to the Downs.
This year, on the 28th they;re hosting a separately ticketed
23-24 May LOVE
SAVES THE DAY
The best acts from the UK and beyond turn up at Ashton Court, along with a bunch of your favourite local artists, for your bank-holiday dancing delight. Bristol, as they say, does it better.
On the bill this year: Sammy Virji Eve, Sub Focus, Confidence Man, Rizzle Kicks, Hedex. As a rule of thumb, the fewer acts you’ve heard of, the older you probably are.
Good for the planet: Team Love will be powering both Love Saves The Day and Forwards Festival entirely by batteries this year.
www.lovesavestheday.org
concert featuring Lorde, while the 29-30 August festival proper sees Tems, Wet Leg, Self Esteem, Tricky, Goldie, Little Simz, Amyl and the Sniffers, Dijon, Charles Hazlewood and Paraorchetra performing Kraftwerk:RE:WERK, and many other acts that’ll have you going, “wow, all this for one measly ticket price?”
Know this: Team Love want to challenge what an urban festival can be, and how it can spark positive change; to this end the regular Forwards Thinking strand offers a platform for social initiatives in Bristol. www.forwardsbristol.com
Best feet Forwards at Bristol’s best music fest
Well hey there, Macabees, it’s been a minute
FESTIVALS
MORE MUSIC FESTS
23 May DOT TO DOT
This annual one-day music fest brings together all the acts that hitherto only your kids and coolest mates have heard of to city-centre stages. Now you can be as cool as they are. www.dottodotfestival.co.uk
14 June
SUMMER IN NASHVILLE
Over at Eastville Park, the UK’s biggest touring Country festival invites you to line-dance to country music legends and new acts direct from the USA. Live your best Beth and Rip life with American BBQ, a rodeo
Richard Ashcroft; possibly the best singer in the world
bull and ‘500 Free Cowboy Hats’. Find them on Facebook where you can also discover your ‘birthdate horse’s name’. Yee-hah.
Facebook: Summer In Nashville
26-28 June FOREST LIVE
Open-air gigs at Westonbirt, with an eclectic line-up taking its turn to play against the magical 6,000-acre forest backdrop. The 2026 programme features Fatboy Slim, Deacon Blue backed by Lightning Seeds, UB40 feat. Ali Campbell (let’s face it, they’re just reggae karaoke without him); Rick Astley, and Richard Ashcroft from The Verve, who both Chris Martin and Noel Gallagher have called the best singer in the world (bet Liam loves that).
Income from ticket sales helps to look after the nation’s forests, so a win-win all round. www.forestryengland.uk/music
29 June-5 July KEYNSHAM MUSIC FESTIVAL & BIG WEEKEND
Small town, big ideas: comedy shows, family events and live music throughout the week with the Big Weekend 4-5 July. It’s one of the largest community events celebrating music and the arts in the country. www.keynshammusic festival.co.uk
18 July RUM & REGGAE FESTIVAL
Celebrating Bristol’s reggae roots, a day of sunshine (tbc) and good island vibes at Prospect. David Rodigan, The Skints, General Levy and Don Letts are among those bringing the beats, there are carnival dancers, fire-eaters and stiltwalkers, craft stalls, fairground rides, and roaming entertainers, rum cocktails, Caribbean punch bars and authentic Jamaican street food. www.theprospectbuilding.com
31 July-2 August FEAST LIVE
New this year from the same team as Feast On are three evenings of music and summer energy. First up is a night of songs from the shows, featuring over 60 performers, West End stars, a live orchestra and special guest Gareth Gates; then it’s over to Hacienda Classical and Becky Hill. www.feast-live.co.uk
6-9 August
BRISTOL INTERNATIONAL RARE SOUL WEEKENDER
Four days, nine events, nine venues: events range from Bristol Beat Club to Rare Soul Vinyl DJ Lunchtime, Funk Addict, a Big Summer Party, Streets of Soul, and, of course, the delightfully oxymoronic Bristol Northern Soul. www.streetsofsoul.co.uk
CLASSICAL
5-13 June
CLIFTON INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF MUSIC
Some of the UK’s most acclaimed classical musicians converge on the Village again for this highly regarded, boutiquey little festival. www.cliftonfestival.com
7-9 August
BBC PROMS
Beacon hosts the Proms for the third time (though one of the six concerts takes place at St George’s). Given that it coincides with the Balloon Fiesta you can expect the city to be extremely busy this weekend. Among other delights, the award-winning Paraorchestra is performing Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians in a unique immersive performance directed by Charles Hazlewood and Faye Stoeser. Mmm; trancey. www.bristolbeacon.org
29 August (tbc)
OLD CITY SOUNDS
Free celebration showcasing the best of Bristol’s music scene, from jazz and traditional Irish folk to immersive DJs and altrock, across six areas in Old City. www.bristolbid.co.uk
29-30 August
THE OLD DUKE JAZZ FESTIVAL
Celebrating nearly 60 years of free jazz performances, with a packed line-up. www.theoldduke.com
19-20 September
THE BRISTOL SEA SHANTY SHOUT
Expect the Wellerman to bring sugar and tea and rum once again, as the best sea shanty crews, groups and choirs from counties within a day’s sail come to stages at Underfall Yard and the ss Great Britain www.bristolshantyfestival.co.uk
left: Just Love Saving the Day again, at Ashton Court
FESTIVALS
4FOOD AND DRINK
No surprise that there are more foodie fests in Bristol than virtually any other kind
6 June
BRISTOL CRAFT BREW FESTIVAL
If you’re as easily confused as us, note that this is not the same as the Bristol Craft Beer Festival, also occurring this month; so don’t turn up at Canon’s Marsh, go to Document. What’s the difference? Apart from the venue? Well, not a lot, although there’s talk of a confetti cannon. Your ticket buys you five hours of bottomless booze, including over 50 craft beers from 15+ breweries. “Half-pint pours, sample tasters or thirds, the choice is yours!” they say. Drink responsibly, Bristol. www.craftbrewfestival.co.uk
6-7 June
BRISTOL FOOD FEST
Another new food fest for this perpetually hungry city. This one at Canon’s Marsh is all about global street food, with, of course, live music and DJs . Free for all: No tickets required, drop in, stay as long as you like, do your thing. Find them on Facebook at Bristol Food Fest 2026
12-13 June
CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL
The OG one at Canon’s Marsh; it’s all hands to the pumps again with the finest beers known to humanity, from both near and far away. All beer is included in the ticket price, along with a cute little festival glass; there are over 300 brews to try so if you’re intent on trying them all maybe do more sniffing, swirling and spitting than swallowing. What about the food? No
23-26 July
FEAST ON
Back on the Downs to showcase Bristol’s best independent chefs, producers and street-food traders. We’re promised an eclectic mix of local restaurants, cuisines and producers, entertainment, artisan produce market, cooking demos, open-fire cooking, talks etc. Who’s cooking? Anyone who’s anyone will be cooking: Cor and Ragu, Pasture, Bianchis, Gurt Wings, Spiny Lobster; all your faves. www.feaston.co.uk
deets about the traders at time of going to press, but you can bet your bottom Bristol pound (valueless) that it’ll be local and independent. www.bristolcraftbeerfestival. co.uk
13
June
SAUSAGE AND CIDER FESTIVAL
Talk about a food and drink pairing made in heaven: there are over 30 different ciders, from small independent vendors to nationally recognised brands, and over 20 different types and flavours of sausage. A bit of a nightmare for the terminally indecisive, but good clean fun for everyone else.
Tell us about the vibes: Top tribute bands and Pat Sharp’s
Funhouse Party DJ set bring the tunes to Eastville Park www.sausageandciderfest. co.uk/bristol
15 August CIDER SALON
Head to Trinity if you fancy trying dozens of fine ciders and perries, while learning directly from the makers and meeting other cider enthusiasts and experts. With a range of styles including bottle-fermented, pet nat, rural method, keeved, cryoconcentrated, co-fermented, and more, you’ll find the perfect tipple for you. What else can I do? “Snack on charcuterie”, they say, temptingly; relax in the Trinity Centre gardens, and stock up from the mini-bottle shop. www.cidersalon.co.uk.
4-6 September WINGFEST
Poultry in motion at Lloyd’s, with chicken wings (around 100,000 of them), 25 different food vendors, beer, bourbon and music. Basically, it’s a fowl play on Grillstock. www.wingfest.co.uk
12 September BRISTOL COFFEE FESTIVAL
Bristol does like a good cup of joe, and here’s the place to get your caffeine fix, discover established and emerging talent from the growers and
Beer and beats at Bristol Craft Beer Fest
Feast On – expect all your favourite Bristol food folk to feature
COMEDY
17-21 June
BRISTOL COMEDY GARDEN
Back at Queen Square with its usual impressive line-up of top names; it’s just like Live at the Apollo, but in a tent, and literally a laugh a minute; several, if you’re lucky. Expect five acts at every show, with appearances from usual circuit suspects Jack Dee, Nina Conti, Simon Amstell, Bridget Christie, Rob Delaney, David O’Doherty, Michelle De Swarte, Sarah Pascoe, Jen Brister –honestly it’s easier to say who isn’t here. You can’t beat a home crowd: Bristol-born talent includes Mark Watson, John Robins and Jayde Adams. www.bristolcomedy garden.com
learn about essential topics at the core of the industry, such as diversity, mental health and hospitality management. Barista, YouTuber, entrepreneur, coffee consultant and author James Hoffman is booked to give a talk this year; it’s all happening at Bristol Beacon. www.bristolcoffeefestival.co.uk
24-27 September
BRISTOL COCKTAIL WEEKEND
A blameless excuse to drink cocktails for four whole days, exploring the best bars in Bristol, discovering new flavours and sipping on drinks crafted exclusively for the festival.
Wristbands give you access to signature cocktails, mocktails and food offers to complement your drinks.
www.bristolcocktail weekend.co.uk
26-27 September F DA
Founder Josh Eggleton pronounces it ‘fodder’, though some say ‘foe-da’; either way he’s building on last year’s event, showcasing small-scale food and drink suppliers from the South West through stalls, discussions, workshops and a producer’s market; there’s an expanded symposium, curated by Xanthe Clay, and The Pony
Farm Bus will be parked up too. In and outside Arnolfini. www.fodafestival.com
Date tbc (probably August) BRISTOL SEAFOOD WEEK:
Josh Eggleton’s celebration of sustainable seafood grows a little bigger every time; no details announced yet so keep your eyes on the website.
Going by previous years you can expect to find top restaurants introducing exclusive seafood dishes to their menu, talks and hands-on experiences, feasts and chef demos, and at least one gurt big marquee. www.bristolseafoodweek.co.uk
: It’s her world, her future – teach her how to look after it at Festival of Nature; left: A radiant Kathy Sledge at Pride
explore the vital role they play in supporting climate, wildlife and human health. Other new strands include a ‘Nature at Night’ programme, shining a light on the hidden world after dark; an expanded offering for businesses and professionals,
part in nature recovery; and a stronger focus on hands-on activities, with a ‘How To’ tent in Millennium Square and a
www.bnhc.org.uk/festival-of-
fest returns in all its rainbow-
Homeboy Mark Watson
17-19 July
BRISTOL
HARBOUR FESTIVAL
So much more than a treat for flotillafanciers, Harbourfest is a celebration of the heart and soul of a city, no less. This year they’re introducing a reimagined footprint that puts the water right back at the heart of the celebration. Stretching along the harbourside from Thekla to Underfall Yard, the refreshed layout turns Bristol’s waterfront
coloured glory, with a fortnight of the usual delights: Queer Vision film fest, circus, bingo, comedy, the dog show etc etc, culminating in the Parade March and Pride Day on the Downs on 11 July.
Who’s headlining? Sister Sledge, Jason Donovan, Chloe Qisha, Black Box, Myki Meeks, Kelly Llorenna, Absolute Britney and Catrin Feelings. www.bristolpride.co.uk
July; Dates tbc
ST PAUL’S CARNIVAL
Through workshops, assemblies and lessons, this celebration of Afro-Caribbean culture spreads the carnival love all year round, but it’s in July that it traditionally explodes in a riot of colour through a costumed procession, diverse sound systems and food traders. There’s been no Carnival Day for a few years but we believe it’s back for 2026, probably on 4 July; stay tuned, this one tends to make its announcements pretty late in
the day. If at all.
into a living stage packed with back-to-back entertainment, dockside moments and maritime magic. It always attracts over 250k people, effectively turning the city centre into a three-day festival of music, dance, circus and, oh yeah, boats.
Highlights: It has to be the flyboarders and jetskiers; but wherever and whenever you visit, there’s rarely a dull moment. www.bristolharbourfestival.co.uk
www.stpaulscarnival.net
7-9 August
BRISTOL BALLOON FIESTA
If all goes to plan, and by ‘all’ we’re obviously referring to the weather, over 100 hot-air balloons will rise en masse at dawn and dusk on all three days. If it doesn’t, there’s still plenty of balloon-themed fun to be had at the Ashton Court arena, and after dark on Friday and Saturday there are the Nightglows, when the pilots fire up the burners for a magical display of glowing balloons set to music by BBC Radio Bristol. Fancy an upgrade?
Book for the VIP Sky Lounge tent for the best view of the balloon launch field. The team from meat maestros Pasture will bring their new Prime concept to the Lounge, offering burgers and BBQ every day from 3pm until late. www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk
CITY UNCOVERED
A new festival with over 30 experiences, presented, you may be unsurprised to hear, by experience meisters Yuup;
For example? Take yoga sessions or drawing workshops; go on a dusk bat safari; step inside a hidden air raid shelter beneath St Nick’s Market; explore the food scene; learn urban photography skills. www.yuup.co
BRISTOL WALK FEST
Hundreds of themed, informative walks to prise you off the couch, whatever your age, interests or fitness level, with choices ranging from heritage tours to nature walks, explorations of street art, wild food forays and walking sports tasters. Are you ready, boots? Start walking…
Could you be a lord of the Ring? Fancy taking on all six nature-rich sections of the Bristol Ring? A new circular walk launches this year, ideal for experienced walkers. If your idea of fun is more of an amble through the city centre while also eating CHOCOLATE then the Chocolate Walk is the one for you.
www.bristolwalkfest.com
top: We snapped these handsome stallions (and their horses) at the Bath & West a few years ago left: Big Nath’s on the BBQ
5-14 June
STRING FELLOWS
BRISTOL EXPERIMENTAL PUPPET FESTIVAL
Like we said: something for everyone. Following Cabaret at the Cube on the 5th, the new 10-day festival kicks off with a puppet parade from the Arnolfini Café at midday on the 6 June, followed by daily events at various venues designed to unearth the treasures of Bristol’s experimental puppet world; and if you never knew there was one, you do now. Just like at Upfest, artists are coming from all over the world to perform, from Puerto Rico to Tiblisi. Come along, and bring your own puppet. But maybe leave Chucky at home. www.bristolexperimentalpuppetfestival.com
6WILD IN THE COUNTRY
Agricultural and horticultural delights sorted, in two great days out
28-30 May
ROYAL BATH & WEST SHOW
Hunters and Barbours to the ready: it’s time to get your rural kicks at the West’s best agriculture show. The Main Ring entertainment includes Pony Club games, showjumping, the vintage vehicle parade, scurry and heavy horses, and live music in the Pilton Tent. In the Great British Kitchen we have Andy Clarke on the cocktails and Big Nath on the BBQ, The Posh Pastry Company’s James Strawbridge, and Lisa ‘Fuss Free Foodie’ Cadd. What else? The biggest cider competition in the UK; the Horticulture Village, and the return of Bark & West, a section dedicated to cats. Only kidding! It’s gerbils. Still kidding! Loads more, of course. www.bathandwest.com
8-12 July
RHS Badminton Flower Show
A chance to visit the famous show without having to trudge up to London: this one’s set in the luxuriant parkland of the Badminton Estate. See show gardens by award-winning designers, marvel at the floral displays and hear expert talks from well-known names in the world of gardening. What are the highlights? The
CINEMA
22-26 July CINEMA REDISCOVERED
It always seems a bit counter-intuitive for a major film fest to be held at the height of summer, but hey, not everyone wants to stand in a field. It’s the 10th anniversary of Watershed’s fabulous annual celebration of the power of cinema, including new restorations and a chance to see lesserknown cinematic voices and film on film; and if you really must be out in the horrid fresh air there are cinema walks, too.
Do we know any more?
Yes! There will be a strand on Aardman’s 50th anniversary – one local success story celebrating another.
www.watershed.co.uk/ cinema-rediscovered
date tbc ENCOUNTERS
The globally renowned short film, animation, and virtual reality festival that serves as a qualifying event for the BAFTAs, BIFAs, and European Film Awards will be back, probably in late September; submissions now open.
www.encounters.film/ submissions
RHS Artisan Gardens celebrate beautiful country gardens and crafts people, while the Pocket Planting Gardens invites new horticulturists to bring their first garden to an RHS Show. Fan of The Archers? Even if you’re not, know that Radio 4 and RHS are celebrating the radio soap’s 75th anniversary with a garden inspired by Bridge Farm, designed by one of the UK’s most celebrated garden designers, Jo Thompson. Bring a rich mate with you And sweet-talk them into springing for the special Fortnum & Mason’s champagne hamper – yours for a mere £236.90. “Ideal for two”, we read. n www.rhs.org.uk
WHAT’S ON
22 May19 June 2026
‘Amateur’ hour? Highly unlikely: Sparks at Beacon
EXHIBITIONS
Until 24 May
THE LAST RESORT
To honour Martin Parr, MPF gallery is holding an exhibition of their founder’s classic seaside shots of New Brighton, evoking the resilient spirit of ’80s northern England; martinparrfoundation.org
MOUNIRA AL SOLH: A LAND AS BIG AS HER SKIN
A major solo exhibition from Mounira, including her acclaimed Venice Biennale pavilion installation
A Dance with her Myth which takes visitors on a journey from Middle Eastern mythology to contemporary times. Arnolfini, arnolfini.org.uk
Until 31 May
JASON WESAW: INDIGENOUS ART
Rainmaker welcomes back one of its most beloved artists for a solo exhibition; rainmakerart.co.uk
Until 28 June
OCEAN PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
If Wildlife Photographer of the Year at Bristol Museum left you wanting more, now try this one; it’s at the ss Great Britain, appropriately enough. ssgreatbritain.org
Until 9 August DANCE OUT
The RWA’s show of paintings, drawings and film celebrating dance as an everyday human activity, both solitary and social. The gallery will shapeshift during the exhibition, hosting a series of evening dance and dance-related events. rwa.org.uk
4 June-6 September
SOPHIE GREEN: TANGERINE DREAMS
British documentary photographer Sophie presents a vivid exploration of the communities, subcultures and social gatherings that shape contemporary Britain (see page 34); at MPF, martinparrfoundation.org
6-7 June
BS9 ARTS TRAIL
86 artists exhibit across 14 homes, studios and other venues in Henleaze, Stoke Bishop and Westbury-on-Trym; painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, photography, jewellery, glass and more, with prices ranging from £3 to £3,000; bs9arts.co.uk
SHOWS
Until 23 May PARTY SEASON
The kids are in the ball pit; the
entertainer is blowing bubbles; the adults gobble Perelló olives and pretend to like each other. As ancient grudges rear their heads, the tension rises like a helium balloon...
From Wardrobe Ensemble, a sugar-fuelled, bobbin-winding fever dream where class identities collide, social niceties unravel, and underslept parents do their best to hold it all together. At BOV; bristololdvic.org.uk
2-26 June
MATILDA: THE MUSICAL
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s multi-award winning musical of the Dahl book, with tunes by Tim Minchin, about an extraordinary little girl who dares to take a stand and change her own destiny, returns to Hippodrome; atgtickets.com
5-6 June
BOGWITCH
As with all Bryony Kimmings works, Bog Witch follows a part of her real-life story: this time the journey of uprooting her and her son’s life to live in a tumbledown cottage in the wilderness, to plug back into nature as a last-ditch attempt to be happy and sane. BOV, bristololdvic.org.uk
10-20 June
AN IDEAL HUSBAND
Yes, it’s the Wilde classic but don’t expect Felicity Kendall in a bustle, but a bold new production directed by the Lyric’s associate director Nicholai La Barrie. At BOV, bristololdvic.org.uk
12-28 June
CARNATION: THE REVOLUTION IS COMING
The revolution is coming and you have nothing to wear? Step into the Big Top for NoFit State’s 40th-anniversary celebration, a human, sensual rollercoaster of circus, live music and cinematic spectacle, at Wilson Street in St Pauls; nofitstate.org
13-20 June
NELL GWYNNE
Nell’s absolutely not supposed to be here. Plucked from the backstreets of Coal Alley, and thrown into the spotlight at Drury Lane as the first woman ever to act in British theatre, she talks her way onto the stage, into the King’s bed, and straight into the history books. Fame is currency – then and now. In a world where women are forgotten, what does it take to become unforgettable? TFT: tobaccofactorytheatres.com
COMEDY & CABARET
Ongoing
CLOSER EACH DAY
The world’s longest-running improvised comedy soap continues to froth away amusingly at The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com
BRISTOL IMPROV THEATRE
For the full programme, see improvtheatre.co.uk
THE GAFFE
Stand-up LOLs from some of the sharpest, funniest comedians on the circuit, at Bristol’s hottest new comedy club: thegaffecomedyclub.com
Until 23 May
THE SHADE PULLERS & LASH
STACKERS SOCIAL CLUB
81-year-old Paul Marsden has
been running his northern working men’s club since the 1970s. The place had started to fray at the edges until Paul’s son got into the family business, transforming himself into drag queen, Roxytocin and giving the nicotine-stained club a fresh coat of lip gloss. At Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com
23 May
PIERRE NOVELLIE: YOU SIT THERE, I’LL STAND HERE
It’s time for Pierre to do stand-up! It’s time for you to watch! Why not just embrace that, for God’s sake? All earthly glories fade! At 1532; 1532bristol.co.uk
24 May
JOE LIST
Manhattan-based Joe is a new dad. You can guess what that means for the material. At the Hen & Chicken, henandchicken.com
25 May
SAM NICORESTI: BABY DOOMER
Winner of Best Show at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2025, a glistening hour of stand-up from delusional queer icon Sam about love, insanity, and the hunt for the perfect skirt suit. Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk
28 May
JONATHAN OLDFIELD
It’s Jonathan’s first ever comedy hour – come and help him! Expect characters, jokes, songs, tricks and treats, at Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk
29 May WILL OWEN: LOOKING FAB AT FIFTY
Will thinks the future looks bright; no further questions. He’s going on a UK-wide tour, seeking to replace the empty gratifications of his forlorn life with the deep profundity of light entertainment. He’s gay! He’s lonely! But most importantly, he’s live! Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk
30 May
TAMSYN KELLY: HOT TITTY BUNGALOW
After just four months of dating her new boyfriend, Tamsyn blew up her life to be with him. Has she made a mistake? Or will they walk hand in hand into the sunset? Even if it is at 2.36pm? At The Wardrobe, thewardrobetheatre.com
31 May
SIMON MUNNERY
Simon’s new stand-up hour will consist of the usual unusual melange of jokes, sketches, stories, art, poetry and satire. He has modest aspirations for this year’s tour: “I’m hoping to travel by train. Other than that, nothing.” At The Wardrobe, thewardrobetheatre.com
SEANN WALSH: THIS IS TORTURE
The dishevelled king of stand-up is back with his trademark high-energy exasperation. This year, he’s decided to name the show after the thing he says the most in life. Catch him at Redgrave, redgravetheatre.com
5-20 June
THE LADYBOYS OF BANGKOK
Step into the dazzling glow of the Full Moon, where glamour meets illusion and every heartbeat dances to the rhythm of the tropics as the Ladyboys bring a new celebration
of life, love, and liberation under the silver Thai sky, but on Durdham Downs. ladyboysofbangkok.co.uk
7 June
THE LOST CABARET
Bristol’s clown collaboration brings its signature big ideas, experiments and laughs back to The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com
MUSIC
See also festivals
For more events see: Bristol Beacon (bristolbeacon.org); St George’s Bristol (stgeorgesbristol.co.uk); Trinity (trinitybristol.org.uk); The Louisiana (thelouisiana.net); Thekla (theklabristol.co.uk): O2 Academy (academymusicgroup.com); Bristol Folk House (bristolfolkhouse.co.uk); Electric Bristol (electricbristol.com); The Hen & Chicken (henandchicken.com); Prospect Building (theprospectbuilding.com) and Gallimaufry (thegallimaufry.co.uk)
22 May
COLIN BLUNSTONE: BELIEVE IN MIRACLES
The former lead singer of The Zombies turned solo artist is back, with a national solo tour that’s headed to Beacon; bristolbeacon.org
GO GO PENGUIN
The flightless birds return to Bristol with Necessary Fictions, a bold new chapter in sonic exploration, blending jazz, classical and electronica. Putting the beak in Beacon, as it were, bristolbeacon.org
23 May
ROLAND GIFT
Four decades since the band first charted, lead singer Roland Gift brings the unmistakable voice of Fine Young Cannibals back to the stage for a 40th anniversary celebration, at Bristol Beacon; bristolbeacon.org
26 May
JAMES MORRISON
James celebrates 20 years of his multi-platinum debut Undiscovered with a special anniversary performance; at Bristol Beacon, bristolbeacon.org
27 May
THE HANDSOME FAMILY
Couple Brett and Rennie Sparks weave darkly poetic storytelling with stark melodies steeped in American Gothic tradition; and yes, they’re the creators of Far from Any Road, used as the True Detective theme tune. At Bristol Beacon, bristolbeacon.org
above: Kraftwerk: fahr’n, fahr’n, fahr’n auf der Autobahn, all the way to Bristol below: Never mind Queen Bey, here comes Queen Bev
WHAT’S ON
29 May, 4 & 17 June
BRISTOL BEACON 2026
ORCHESTRAL SEASON
Showcasing renowned orchestras from the UK and beyond; in on the 29th it’s London Symphony Orchestra with Sir Simon Rattle and Lucy Crowe; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Vasily Petrenko on the 4th, and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra with Chloé Van Soeterstède and Anna Lapwood on the 17th. bristolbeacon.org
30 May
THE SPARK’S DESIRE
Evolving cityscapes and distorted conversations overlap and alternate with live electronics, layered vocals, flute, loops, synths and slide guitar. Prepare to be taken on a cinematic journey of song and music, where electronica meets Americana. At Exchange, exchangebristol.com
THE LONGEST JOHNS
Formed around a Bristol kitchen table, the trio have grown from local folk curiosity to global favourites, thanks in part to their viral hit Wellerman and a devoted online following; hear their rousing vocals and infectious energy as they lead the current sea shanty revival, at Beacon; bristolbeacon.org
1 June
KRAFTWERK
The German band’s blend of monumental beats, synthetic voices and cutting-edge graphics is part-gig, part-digital installation in a sensory experience that has redefined live performance for more than 50 years. Dig out your button-up shirt: it’s their first UK tour in nearly a decade, and it’s coming to Beacon; bristolbeacon.org
4 June
JOE H. HENRY
The Red River Métis singersongwriter possessed of a voice as being as powerful as a freight train delivers his blend of early rhythm and blues, soul, and alt-country, enriched by folk-inspired lyrical depth, at Hen & Chicken: henandchicken.com
13 June
HAWKWIND
Renowned as pioneers of space rock, Hawkwind’s live shows are legendary, melding driving rhythms, swirling synths, and otherworldly visuals into an immersive, ritualistic experience. Relive all those school-disco strobey Silver Machine moments at Bristol Beacon, bristolbeacon.org
18 June SPARKS
Since storming into charts, minds and airwaves in 1974 with This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both of Us, brothers Ron and Russell Mael have been at the cutting edge of pop, creating new musical genres and inspiring generations of musicians. They’re probably your favourite band’s favourite band. At Bristol Beacon, bristolbeacon.org
19 June
BEVERLEY KNIGHT
The queen of British soul brings her Born to Perform tour to Beacon, combining her biggest hits with musical theatre favourites and stories from her life on stage. bristolbeacon.org
FESTIVALS, FAIRS & PARTIES
BRISTOL FILM FESTIVAL
The usual eclectic selection of classic and popular films. Between 29-31 May they’re also hosting guided tours of Redcliffe Caves, where they famously host their scarier movies; bristolfilmfestival.com
Until 24 May
BEDMINSTER BEER TRAIL
Independent pubs, breweries and bars serve up tasty craft beers across South Bristol; exclusive brews, a new collab beer, live music, food pairings and more. @bedminsterbeertrail
WELLS COMEDY FESTIVAL
Punching way above its weight as usual; this year’s acts include Sarah Pascoe, Ed Gamble, James Acaster, Nish Kumar, Paul Foot, Tim Key and Mark Thomas. Tickets selling fast. wellscomfest.com
Until 31 May UPFEST
Europe’s largest street art festival returns; see page 30. upfest.co.uk
BRISTOL WALK FEST
The themed walks with the something-for-everyone remit returns for its annual month-long amble; bristolwalkfest.com
Until 13 June
BRISTOL OLD VIC THEATRE
SCHOOL SUMMER FESTIVAL
Performed by the talented grads over four weeks. Week 1: Four Play by Jake Brunger and Meat by Gillian Greet. Week 2: The Étienne Sisters by Ché
Walker and Dirty Butterfly by Debbie Tucker Green. Week 3: King Troll by Sonali Bhattacharyya and The Crocodile by Tom Basden. Week 4: Island Town by Simon Longman and Black Thorn by Charley Miles. All at BOV’s Weston Theatre; oldvic.ac.uk
23 May
DOT-TO-DOT
The hottest new emerging artists take to city-centre stages; Lambrini Girls, Fcukers and NewDad lead the line-up, along with Mandy, Indiana, Ratboys, Lucia & The Best Boys. Various venues, gigantic.com
23-24 May
LOVE SAVES THE DAY
The much-loved music fest with the strong dance element is back at Ashton Court; Sammy Virji, Rizzle Kicks, Sub Focus, Eve, Katy B and Confidence Man headline. The younger you are, the more acts you’ll know. lovesavestheday.org
24 May
ROOFTOP PARTY
We can think of worse ways to spend bank holiday Sunday than soaking up the sunshine (tbc) and good vibes up on Clifton Observatory terrace. cliftonobservatory.comg
30 May
R&B LOVERS
Nine hours of R&B anthems from the likes of Destiny’s Child, Usher, Ashanti, TLC, Nelly, Missy Elliott and Lauryn Hill, with live performers, full festival production, venue décor, confetti showers, VIP areas, street food vendors and a state-of-the-art sound system, at Prospect, theprospectbuilding.com
5-13 June
CLIFTON INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF MUSIC
Acclaimed classical artists converge in the village for this bijou annual fest; cliftonfestival.com
above: Go Wilde at Redgrave: it’s NT Live’s An Ideal Husband below: Join the Dot to Dot: the one-day music fest’s back
CULTURE CLUB with Bryony Kimmings
Bryony brings her critically acclaimed Bog Witch to Bristol this June; see page 22
A film I could watch over and over again
Dumb and Dumber. I know, I know; so annoying and silly. But it’s been a staple that’s made my mental health better since I was a teenager. I must know every word. And the soundtrack slaps. Sometimes you just need to see Harry and Lloyd on a small motorbike.
A painting that means something to me
A photo from my best friend of my son in bed, that looks like a Caravaggio. I don’t have copies of famous masters on my wall. I think the art world has been filled with lunatic men with god complexes and I don’t want any of that energy near me.
Best TV show ever
Station Eleven. It came out at a time when pandemic stories about apocalypse collapse weren’t very welcome, and it sort of flopped, but it is a masterpiece.
My favourite binge-watch
Broad City. I could watch those two ladies bimble around New York city chewing the fat for the rest of my life. It’s the funniest, grossest show and so accurate on female friendship. Filth, too.
The book that changed my life
Doppelganger by Naomi Klein. I read everything she writes, but this one hit home in so many ways. It’s her most recent, and it inspired me to try to understand people with opposing beliefs instead of sitting in my ivory tower throwing shade.
The book I’d re-read Siri Hustvedt’s What I Loved. It is a perfect combo of art history, friendship dynamics, love and aging, and the things we do for our kids.
My desert island disc
Remain in the Light by Talking Heads. I love all sorts of music, from trash pop to opera, but this one is the constant top.
A character you’d love to play
This was hard. I just don’t see that many classic female characters that are interesting and filled-in enough, so I went for Virginia Wolf’s Orlando. I think I would also make a cracking Kat Slater in EastEnders
My dance floor/karaoke banger I always murder Celine Dion’s It’s All Coming Back to Me Now, just because it is so long and out of my range. That, or The Ketchup Song. Karaoke should be about being bad and murdering things.
Podcast pick
Betwixt the Sheets with Kate Lister. I love history podcasts but I hate the patriarchy and the lens we see cultural life through. This podcast is about sex, pleasure and sexuality through the ages. I love the ones about Medusa and Nell Gwynne best.
Best app
Hands-down the best app is Merlin Bird ID. I am a birder. I can recognise a lot of song, but if I am stuck this is where I turn. The bonus is that the data gets sent not to some idiot who’ll make profit out of it, but to Cornell University who are mapping birds across the world.
Guilty pleasure
A cup of menopause tea and a go on the kids’ swing in my garden. Slap some Talking Heads on and I am in my element. Usually wearing a onesie made of fleece. This is an image I am now wishing I had kept to myself. But that’s why its called a guilty pleasure.
Bryony Kimmings performs Bog Witch at Bristol Old Vic 5-6 June www.bristololdvic.org.uk
5-14 June
BRISTOL EXPERIMENTAL PUPPET FESTIVAL
A cross-city festival promising ‘10 Days of puppet mayhem’. It all kicks off with a parade starting at the Arnolfini cafe at midday on 6 June; bristolexperimentalpuppetfestival.com
6 June
RECORD FAIR
All levels of the Beacon stuffed with vinyl, CDs, you name it, from rare gems to bargain buys. bristolbeacon.org
BRISTOL CRAFT BREW FESTIVAL
It’s the one at Document, with bottomless craft beer, cider, wine, non-alcoholic beer, soft drinks, and prosecco, from 15+ breweries, cidermakers and wineries. craftbrewfestival.co.uk
SUMMER FAIR
This time at St Werburghs City Farm; live music, food from local traders, family stuff. swcityfarm.co.uk
6-7 June
BRISTOL FOOD FEST
A new street food festival is coming to Canons Marsh for a weekend of global food, drink and live entertainment. On Facebook.
6-16 June
FESTIVAL OF NATURE
The UK’s largest free celebration of the natural world returns to Bristol and Bath, diving into all the ways you can turn inspiration into action, helping to protect our precious natural habitats on a local and national scale. bnhc.org.uk
8-14 June
BEDMINSTER FESTIVAL OF GARDENING
New community-led festival with gardening events, activities and talks, concluding with Bedminster’s Secret Gardens open weekend on 13-14 June; bloomingbedminster.org.uk
12-13 June
BRISTOL CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL
Not to be confused with the one at Document, it’s the OG one in the Amphitheatre, with the world’s finest beers, both local and afar, with food traders and live music, also local; bristolcraftbeerfestival.co.uk
17-21 June
BRISTOL COMEDY GARDEN
They’re all there, at Queen Square: Dee, Widdicombe, Pascoe, Conti, Delaney, Amstell, O’Doherty, Adams, Robins, Watson, Hall, Brister, loads more. bristolcomedygarden.co.uk n
Jayde – she’s everywhere all at once at the moment, including Comedy Garden
The Bristol Aztecs are bringing high-energy American football, entertainment, and unforgettable live experiences to the heart of Bristol.
There are few things in sport quite like American football. The speed, the collisions, the strategy, the noise, the big plays, the music, the crowd, the drama. It is sport and entertainment rolled into one, and it is happening right here in Bristol.
The Bristol Aztecs are building something different. This is not just a team playing games. This is a club with ambition, energy, and a clear vision to raise the standard of American football in Britain. From the moment supporters arrive at Shaftesbury Park, the aim is simple: give
people a day out they will want to talk about, bring friends to, and come back for.
On the field, the Aztecs bring high-level American football to Bristol, with elite athletes, explosive plays, and a fast-paced game that keeps you engaged from the opening kickoff to the final whistle. Whether it is a running back leaping over a defender, a quarterback launching the ball downfield, or the defence making a huge stop, every play has the potential to become a moment.
Off the field, the experience is just as important. The Aztecs are creating a proper game day atmosphere with reserved seating, passionate fans, food and drink, music, entertainment, merchandise, and a familyfriendly environment that welcomes both lifelong NFL fans and people watching American football for the very first time.
You do not need to know every rule to enjoy it. In fact, that is part of the fun. Bring your family, bring your friends, pick a seat, soak up the atmosphere, and let the action pull you in. American football is built for big moments, and once you experience it live, you quickly
understand why the sport is growing so rapidly across the UK.
The Aztecs are proud to represent Bristol, and this season is about inviting the city to be part of the journey. The club has already seen strong crowds, incredible images, and a growing buzz around game day. Now, the next step is filling the stands and turning Aztecs home games into one of Bristol’s must-attend summer sporting experiences.
Whether you are looking for a new family day out, a unique live sport experience, or simply something exciting to do in Bristol, this is your invitation n
SPRAY FOR BRISTOL
Steve and Emma Hayles are bringing Upfest back this year after its biannual break. We feel a personal retrospective coming on
BY
The Art Tart x GOIN x Grafter x Ben Slow at the very first Upfest in 2008
PHOTO
LINDSEY DAVIS
1
Who’d have thought that a modest one-day gathering thrown together on a rainy day behind the Tobacco Factory in 2008 would grow into the biggest street art festival in Europe, attracting thousands of visitors to the city?
Well, Upfest founders Steve and Emma Hayles did. They’ve spent nearly two decades building not just an event but a community, one involving artists, volunteers, visitors and locals.
We asked them to pick out some of the moments and people that have contributed to the journey so far.
1OUR AMAZING VOLUNTEER CREW
At every festival, dozens of volunteers give up their time to join the Upfest family and make it all possible. Without them we simply couldn’t do it, so our huge thanks to everyone who gets involved.
2THE ARTISTS: SMALL WALLS WITH BIG IMPACT
Upfest has welcomed thousands of artists over the years, each not merely leaving their mark on Bristol but often reaching millions of people around the world in the process.
3THE CHARITY AND THE BAKE SALE
For the past 18 years, Upfest has supported NACOA (the National Association for Children of Alcoholics). Their bake sale returns once again this year at the Tobacco Factory Saturday Sessions.
4THE PEOPLE, THE MUSIC
Since 2008 Upfest has grown to welcome over half a million visitors, and we’ve loved putting on a show for all of them. Special mention to volunteer music coordinator DJ Cridge – an absolute legend.
5THE POLITICS
One year we were forced to amend an artwork. Goin’s Bullshit’s Tories (2017) had to be subtly changed to Bull hit’s Tories, following councillor complaints.
2
3
4
9
6THE SUBWAY TRAIN
Designed and created by the Upfest team, our once-mobile replica subway train appeared overnight on Greville Road in 2012, much to the bemusement of local residents.
7THE UPFEST FAMILY
The strongest part of our organisation is the Upfest family. We may squabble from time to time, but it’s all love. A shoutout to our good friend Oli-T, artist of We Are Family shown here.
8THE WALL ACCESS
Yes, we paint big walls, and getting to them takes months of planning, training and some seriously big equipment, including the famous cherrypickers.
9THE WALL OWNERS
Some wall owners love their artwork so much they won’t let us paint over it. That was the case when Irony and Boe painted their seagull mural on North Street in 2017; the home-owner named him Chips and decided he was here to stay.
Looking back, it’s clear that Upfest has always been about more than paint on walls. It’s about people, persistence and a shared belief in the power of creativity to transform spaces and bring communities together. As the festival continues to evolve, one thing remains unchanged: the heart of Upfest lies in the stories it creates, and the thousands of people who help write them each year.
Upfest is already underway and runs until 31 May, bringing 17 days of live painting, free creative workshops and three Saturday sessions at the Tobacco Factory. And if you’re down in the city centre, check out Quakers Art Lane, a new 30-metre row of street murals created in partnership with Cabot Circus, where five new murals are being created by top names Inkie, HazardOne (pictured on our front cover), Melo, Insane81 and My Dog Sighs, opposite Dave Bain’s existing large-scale Aardman mural.
Expect to find big walls, signature styles and a celebration of all things Bristol, in a space which just became very different. n
For more: www.upfest.co.uk
TOGETHER IN TANGERINE DREAMS
About to show at Martin Parr Foundation, Sophie Green’s colour-pop images set out to illuminate a Britain shaped by a patchwork of voices and stories. Does that sound familiar?
Since the death of Martin Parr last December, his Foundation at Paintworks has shown, in tribute, his seminal, coloursaturated collection The Last Resort. Sophie Green’s Tangerine Dreams feels like the perfect follow-up: a celebratory, emotive and kaleidoscopic group of images which presents a vivid portrait of the often-sidelined communities, subcultures and social gatherings shaping contemporary Britain. You can picture the Master nodding his head in approval.
“British identity is not fixed”, says Sophie. “It is continuously constructed by those who live here today. This complexity makes Britain a rich source of stories and inspiration.
“From the adrenaline thrill of banger racing, where drivers deliberately smash cars they’ve spent weeks meticulously preparing; to the vibrant chaos of traveller horse fairs, with horse trading, cockerel fights and social reunions; from Aladura spiritualist church congregations sharing hymns and Nigerian dishes at Sunday services; to modified streetcar festivals that transform pimped-out vehicles into symbols of masculinity; to Irish dance clubs, British cowboy shows and beyond, these gatherings are a window into the search for joy, meaning and connection. They illuminate a Britain shaped by a patchwork of voices and stories.”
Amid all this vibrancy, Sophie documents communities under a very real threat of erasure. Council restrictions, diminishing spaces, gentrification and enduring prejudice limit freedoms that once seemed secure, while long-standing cultural traditions risk fading if they are not carried forward by the next generation. Gatherings that persist in spite of these pressures become acts of cultural resistance. Photography cannot halt these shifts, but it can preserve lasting records of communal spaces and traditions.
“In an era where love and belonging can feel elusive, the communities I photograph offer powerful examples of coming together, forging
opposite: Simone’s Nails, Southend-on-Sea beach, Essex, from Beachology above: Irish Dancer, Kent Championships, Kent, from the series Fast Feet & Feis below: Fair Ride Twins, Weston-super-Mare Beach, Weston-super-Mare, from the series Beachology
connections that transcend the individual to create collective meaning”, she says. “In a world fractured by nationalism, culture wars, individualism and loneliness, these practices anchor us in our shared humanity.”
The collection showcases Britain through its idiosyncrasies, eccentricities and human landscape, challenging stereotypes of British identity. Portraits, still lifes and graphic details reveal character, narrative and context, while Sophie’s bold use of colour captures humour, vitality and optimism.
“A friend describedonce my taste as like a kid who ate loads of Skittles and vomited them back up. It’s the best compliment I’ve ever received”
“A friend once described my taste as like a kid who ate loads of Skittles and vomited them back up. It’s the best compliment I’ve ever received”, says Sophie. “I hope visitors feel the energy, warmth and shared humanity at the heart of modern Britain. For me, these collected moments create a world filled with joy, introspection and richly textured emotion – what I refer to as Tangerine Dreams.”
A selection of images from Sophie’s new book and exhibition on British death rituals will also be shown in a vitrine display. Perhaps unsurprisingly, she was invited to document Martin Parr’s funeral; these photographs are included in the exhibition. n
Tangerine Dreams: Rituals of Belonging shows at Martin Parr Foundation between 6 June - 4 September 2026 www.martinparrfoundation.org
above: Lady in Hair Steamer, The Make Over Salon, Peckham, London, from the series Wefts & Tracks; top to right: Boys Jumping in Sea, Margate Beach, Margate; Emily, New Brighton Beach, Liverpool, both from the series Beachology
BE THE FEST YOU CAN
Lose yourself in the music, the moment; you own it
Words and pics by Colin Moody
W1
BRISTOL HEROES
elcome to a city that not only has a huge variety of festivals for you to choose from, but also has a vast melting pot of cultures stirring that pot continuously. Indie counter-culture is always rising, always producing new textures and flavours, and to prove it let’s take a look at eight festival heroes.
First, a pair, Tia and Marley here, having a shave in the park, as you do, listening to a little drum and bass. Part of the annual celebration of cannabis culture, this one may not be on your radar if musical theatre at the Hippo is more your style; but don’t imagine that in twenty years time there won’t be a musical dedicated to the rise of d’n’b at that fine historic establishment.
There are not that many festivals like this one, where so many outfits stand out and really pop. It’s music, fashion, a cheeky smoke, and a little music. And it was little this year. Unofficially the ketamine chaos got a little out of control last year and the vibe turned. But at 4:20pm on a sunny April afternoon it was sweeeeet.
2
Punk never dies.
It always re-emerges to challenge the status quo. And looking at the line-up of self serving narcissism pulling its tie tight and rolling us all into slop, maybe we need that punk spirit once again.
3 2 4
When I was a teenager I was a little scared of punk, I thought it was a little too ‘volcano’, but I now realise it’s also the ash that allows everything to grow. It’s rich, richer than any saccharine, formulaic, auto-tuned-at-home musical alternative.
Punk doesn’t need to check in with a chatbot to see if it’s on track with the trends.
Punk doesn’t wait to be asked to be let in.
It’s gonna storm the doors of your mind if you let it. Go on, let it.
So I’ve been taking some shots of Rita Lynch recently; love her energy, her spirit, her music. She’s cutting though the noise.
Too many solo artists; where are the bands?
Too many kids just hitting drum squares on their decks.
It’s time.
For punk.
Again.
Check out the Easton Punk festival when it next rolls around. Check out Rita and her band.
3
Food festivals. They are on the Downs, they are found in side streets. Here’s one in Easton. This local corner-shop Bollywood dancing couple stealing the show, while women sell food that represents the best of Somalia right on your doorstep.
I’m sad that the Grand Iftar in Easton isn’t happening this year because the council still haven’t fixed all the potholes. The organisers care enough for all the elders in the community not to want to have them trip over the shoddy craters in the tarmac.
There will be a food festival near you. Bristol punches high with this kind of festival; being surrounded by a fertile ring of countryside full of grass-fed herds and a city equally rich in world food cultures is a great blend. Music on your tastebuds. And if there isn’t one… start one.
“Looking at all the self- serving narcissism pulling its tie tight and rolling us all into slop, maybe we need that punk spirit once again”
BRISTOL HEROES
4
Upfest now. Big – no, huge – festival of street art. Are you getting it yet? We’ve already gone from drum and bass to food and punk festivals, and now to art. But hold on. In a few rare spots like this at this festival you might find a bit of all of the above. Counter-culture like any culture needs a growth medium to flourish in.
I believe that’s what we get at all the festivals listed here. They cut though the blandness that’s everywhere now. While some chains try to open a coffee shop two doors down from whichever indie café is doing well on a Bristol high street, others are busy trying to not steal your customers, but steal your attention, in regards to how important culture and art are in your life.
5As Eminem once so eloquently put it: lose yourself in the music, the moment. I can’t even remember what festival in the Amphitheatre this was. But you know how at some festivals you go to some special area to find yourself? There might be a gong, and yoga mats. Don’t forget there are also places where you can find yourself by letting go. Primal moments you don’t get if you are live-streaming everything on your iPhone.
6Don’t judge us.
One day we will be doctors, or lawyers, maybe run the country. But right now we wanna do this. If your mum asks you what you want to do after you leave college, you don’t have to give her your five-year plan. You are allowed to cut loose. And we have more festivals for that per square mile between spring and autumn than anywhere else. So have a season’s worth this year. Fill your boots. And we can pick it up again at the end of the summer. Right?
7Yep, and that one…
8And let us not forget: festivals are where we can wear what we want, and say it loud and say it clear.
“Festivals are where we can wear what we want, and say it loud and say it clear”
EMILY & DAN ROSS STORYSMITH BOOKS
Don’t
look for
a theme linking the three books in this column. You won’t be disappointed by them, though...
Regular readers of this column will be used to the deft manner in which we weave our recommendations into a specific theme (or the clunky manner in which we bodge them into a borderline-irrelevant correlation), so we are sad to disappoint you on this occasion. Our reading material was simply so disparate that the only prevailing vibe was ‘new stuff that is brilliant’, and as such you will simply have to drift through this column without our usual steady grasp on the thematic tiller. Proceed with our apologies…
About To Fall Apart by
Ashley Hickson-Lovence
As soon as you start reading this book it becomes piercingly clear that there’s no other way to do it than in one swift, breathless gulp.
A cascade of lines barely separated so as to give the feel of a performance piece, About To Fall Apart is an account of one man’s difficult weekend. Aidy walks out of work on Friday having assaulted a colleague, and with a hard deadline to finish the short story he’s working on. His grown-up children are also visiting, and he’s keen that they should see their old man in his best light, so he takes them out.
Capturing the broiling hyperactivity of an overwhelmed mind as it threatens to topple over, Aidy’s story also finds time to meditate on the creative urge and the self as it drifts further from and back towards the warmth of family, all as the clock ticks down towards that inevitable deadline.
Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ (trans. Lin King) Essays will probably be written about the technical genius of Taiwan Travelogue: presented as the historical account of Japanese novelist Aoyama Chizuko as she embarks on a lecture tour of Taiwan in 1938, with real-life author Yáng Shuāng-zǐ posing as the translator of this document from Japanese to Mandarin Chinese. Throughout you’ll see footnotes from Yang alongside further footnotes from actual English-language translator Lin King, all of which add to the illusion of this being a dredged-up curio.
world, a tribute to human connection.
Transcription by Ben Lerner
It’s rare that you find us totally in sync with the masses, but sometimes the masses just get it right. We were honoured to host the Bristol leg of US author Ben Lerner’s very short UK tour in April, where he discussed his truly amazing new novel Transcription, which is – and this isn’t hyperbole, we promise – an early contender for Book of the Year.
“There’s no other way to read the book than in one swift, breathless gulp”
All of this lexicographical prowess can be ignored, because the story itself is gorgeous on its own terms. A delicate romance, a social comedy, a treatise on imperialism and dislocation; it is all these things as well. It also happens to contain some of the most enticing descriptions of food in any book we’ve ever read – it’s worth it for these alone. The verisimilitude is so seamless, the practical joke so successful, that you may end up gently forgetting that this book is not what it claims to be: a lost journal of a changing
It begins in a hotel room, where our narrator is preparing to record what he expects to be the final interview with his aged academic mentor. And then he drops his phone in the sink. What happens after this mishap is by turns stress-inducing, beautiful and nuanced, and evidently enough to shoot the book straight into the bestsellers chart.
We’ve been fans of Lerner for a long time now, though he’s not been starved of acclaim in his career, so this feels like a wellearned success. If you’re new to the author, this is the perfect place to start.
We’ll do our best to resume normal service next time, when we will no doubt find some spurious connection along the lines of ‘books with scenes in a launderette’ or ‘books featuring dogs on an odd-numbered page’, more akin to our usual remit.
Visit Storysmith at 36 North Street, Bedminster; 0117 953 7961 www.storysmithbooks.com
TALENT, TEAMWORK, TRIUMPH
INSIDE COLLEGIATE’S SPORTING SUCCESS
The sportswomen and men of COLLEGIATE SCHOOL in Bristol have celebrated a remarkable year of achievement across multiple disciplines—driven by talent, dedication, and an exceptional coaching team.
Rugby has taken centre stage at a school famous for winning backto-back Daily Mail National Cups in the 1990s and 2000s. This year’s U18 side delivered a standout performance at the prestigious Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s, lifting the Bowl trophy in emphatic fashion, defeating powerhouses such as Eton and Oundle along the way. Their success was mirrored by the U14 boys’ and girls’ teams, both of whom fought their way to Cup and Plate semi-finals, underlining the depth of rugby talent throughout the school. Meanwhile, the U16A boys’ rugby XV side reached the final of the National Cup for the second time in three years, a testament to sustained excellence and a clear player development pathway, highlighted by seven of the squad representing the Bristol Bears academy.
Individual sporting achievements have been just as impressive. Siblings James and Hannah have both risen to the top of their discipline, earning national recognition as British judo champions, whilst Year 9 pupil Annie is all set for the British Youth fencing championships.
1st team girls’ hockey captain Ruby is a member of the U21 Wales squad, Year 11 pupil Evie has played for Wales U17 netball in Northern Ireland and against France in Cardiff, whilst Year 12’s Olivia represented Spain’s cricket team at U17 level - all extraordinary accomplishments - in the last 12 months alone - that highlight the breadth of sporting opportunity at Collegiate.
On the cricket field, Year 12 student and 1st XI girls’ captain Abi has been selected to represent Gloucestershire Women’s Cricket, while her brother Harry, captain of the school’s 1st XI boys’ side, produced a record-breaking innings of 220 not out against Monkton Combe in the T20 Schools Cup, showcasing leadership, composure and explosive hitting. Team sports continue to thrive across the board. The hockey programme has seen the U14, U16 and U18 boys and U18 girls all reach the West of England finals. In netball, the 1st VII claimed victory in the Shield at the school’s Collegiate 7s tournament – an event that sees more than 40 teams invited to participate in a fabulous day of rugby, netball and mixed hockey. Behind this success lies an outstanding
coaching staff, whose experience at the highest level enriches every training session. Director of Sport Rhys Gwilliam, a former Wales international hockey player and coach, leads a department steeped in elite expertise. Head of Rugby Olly Robinson, who played professionally for Cardiff Blues and Leicester Tigers, works alongside coach Luke Eves, himself a former Bristol Bears player, to develop the next generation of rugby talent. Netball is guided by Ursula Pritchard (neé Billy Bowers), who captained Wales Netball and played at three World Cups and three Commonwealth Games, whilst leading Team Bath to the Super League title. Hockey benefits from the leadership of Chris Banning, who represented Wales.
Mr Gwiliam said: “It is a privilege to come into work every day and work with outstanding sports coaches, all working towards one aim of ensuring our young athletes reach their potential in whichever sport they take part in.”
The programme is further strengthened by dedicated sports assistants, including athletes competing at elite levels in netball for Team Bath in the NXT Gen League, rugby for Exeter Chiefs and hockey for Clifton Robinsons. Cricket is led by Lawrence Evans, assisted by a team of external players and coaches from the likes of Glamorgan CCC, Gloucestershire CCC and ACE (African Caribbean Engagement) Group.
Facilities at Collegiate School provide the perfect environment for this success. All sports are based on a single 30-acre site, featuring a newly-resurfaced
hockey Astro pitch and practice facility, hardcourt tennis courts, a modern sports hall, a well-equipped gymnasium, and a specialist dance studio. This integrated environment fosters a strong sense of community and allows students to balance multiple sporting commitments with ease.
Opportunities extend beyond the school through strong external partnerships. The relationship with the Bristol Bears continues to provide invaluable exposure to the professional sporting arena, with coaching delivered on-site on a weekly basis and a senior academy contract awarded this year to Year 13 pupil Michael Whittaker, who follows in the footsteps of many professional players who learnt their rugby trade at Collegiate, including Women’s Rugby World Cup winner Amber Reed. Additional expertise comes from Dave Alred MBE, renowned kicking coach to England’s World Cup-winning legend Jonny Wilkinson, who has worked with students to refine their technical skills.
Further opportunities lie further afield, with regular sports trips and overseas tours. Every year, the school runs junior netball tours and pre-season rugby and hockey trips, whilst every two years there is a major overseas tour programme of European and global destinations such as Spain, Holland, Dubai and South Africa for sports such as tennis, hockey, rugby and netball.
With sports scholarships available to nurture emerging talent, Collegiate School is firmly committed to supporting ambition at every level. The combination of elite coaching, outstanding
facilities, and a culture that celebrates both participation and excellence, all ensure that sport remains a defining strength of the school. Whilst sport is an area in which Collegiate clearly excels, it is only one part of what the school offers. Students thrive across a wide range of disciplines - from academics to performing arts - supported by exceptional staff and outstanding facilities. n
If you’d like to learn more, book onto the upcoming Open Morning on Saturday 26th September to explore the school and see it all for yourself. To secure your place, scan the QR code.
BREAK EVEN
The good, the bed and the breakfast: we head South by South West to bring you some of the best staycations, none of them more than a few hours’ drive away
The wild Atlantic comes as standard when you stay at St Moritz
Just one of the reasons we recommend The Pig to outof-town friends so frequently
“Everything at the Pig starts with the kitchen garden, with growers and chefs working hand-in-hand”
Whether you’re craving the sheer sybaritic luxury only a grand hotel can provide, an idyllic getaway involving miles of unspoiled beaches or simply have just a few hours to spare in the Bristol area, the choice of venues in the South West makes a persuasive case for never stepping onto a plane again. Here’s just a small selection.
LUCKNAM PARK
Park life
What and where?
A luxury retreat set in and around a grand Palladian country house and its 500 acres of Wiltshire parkland, Lucknam has been recognised with three Michelin Keys for two consecutive years.
You know you’ve arrived somewhere special as soon as you drive into the mile-long treelined avenue leading to the honey-coloured stone house; try not to spook the horse-riders you’re likely to pass along the way. Inside, the elegant, timeless décor is designed to reflect the estate’s 300-year heritage, from the refined, classical reception rooms to the 42 individually designed rooms and suites. Nine private cottages offer a more secluded stay; ideal for families and dog-owners.
What can we get up to during our stay?
A heady mix of relaxation and activity. Onsite highlights include a luxury spa (award-winning in its own right) extensive walking routes and an equestrian centre. Clay pigeon shooting and archery are also available for the full country-house experience; plus-fours not required.
Tell us about the food
It’s a key part of the experience. Restaurant Hywel Jones holds 21 years of Michelin stars for its fine-dining seasonal tasting menus, while the more informal all-day Walled Garden restaurant serves dishes focused on local produce. Obviously there’s afternoon tea, served in the Library and Drawing Room, with Champagne if you’re feeling extra.
Are they kid and/or dog friendly?
The estate is both family and dog friendly, offering children’s activities, pool access and seasonal programmes, with dogs welcome in cottages and selected rooms.
For more: www.lucknampark.co.uk
“You know you’ve arrived somewhere special as soon as you turn into the mile- long treelined avenue”
THE NEWT Estate of grace
What and where?
Within its own vast estate near Bruton, The Newt is so much more than a hotel. Guests have access to its 1,000-acre working grounds, complete with gardens, wild woodland, rolling valleys and apple orchards; there’s a luxury spa and museum, including a full-scale remodel of an original Roman Villa.
It’s a hotel of two halves; you can choose between the Georgian grandeur of Hadspen House, with its picturesque views out to the gardens, or The Farmyard, set in an idyllic sun-drenched combe, hemmed by cyder mills, barns and grain stores. The Georgian manor hotel and the Stable Yard offer 23 traditional guest rooms, while The Farmyard has 17 rooms converted from old agricultural buildings in contemporary style.
What can we eat?
Its three restaurants emphasise farm-to-fork dining, from the elegant Botanical Rooms in the main hotel to The Farmyard Kitchen within an old threshing barn, and The Garden Café, a perfect vantage point for coveting the kitchen gardens.
What can we do when we’re there?
For rest and mindfulness there are cold-water dips, breath workshops, sound-healing, barre, nature meditation, and yoga; if you can tear yourself away from the estate, the delightful town of Bruton with its world-class Hauser & Worth gallery is just three miles away.
Kids and dogs?
Yes to kids, no to dogs, due to the fowl and deer which roam the estate. For more: www.thenewtinsomerset.com
above: Country pursuits at Lucknam; left: The mellow splendour of The Newt
STAYCATIONS
HINTON HIDEAWAYS
Beneath the stars
What and where?
Five design-led self-catering properties set in 260 acres of peaceful organic farmland, hidden in the gentle Somerset countryside bordering Devon and Dorset.
The two treehouses, two roundhouses and the cabin all sleep two, and are fully-equipped for self-catering. They’re timber-wrapped outside to blend into their natural surroundings, with interiors ranging from modern farmhouse rustic to boho and Scandi, with wonderful outdoor spaces to truly immerse in nature. Luxury touches such as wood-fired hot tubs, saunas and a copper bath bring a spa feel, while views extend over to woodland, meadows and a plethora of wildlife.
What can we get up to during our stay?
Relax and rest in your own private sanctuary; head out for some of the excellent local food at the Lord Poulett Arms or Holm, or head down to the Jurassic coast for a stroll in the sea air.
Do they welcome kids and/or dogs?
The resort is exclusively for adult humans, and so provides the perfect space for a romantic getaway – or even a proposal. For more: www.hintonhideaways.co.uk
THE PIG NEAR BATH
The ‘restaurant with rooms’
What and where?
This branch of the excellent Pig group is just as ‘near’ Bristol as it is Bath, tucked as it is into the folds of the Mendip Hills, but we won’t hold the name against it; in fact it’s the place we recommend most often to our out-of-town friends looking for a luxurious but ineffably welcoming and relaxed bolthole.
The mellow country house hotel describes itself as a ‘restaurant with rooms’; everything starts with the kitchen garden, with growers and chefs working hand-in-hand to create menus full of the freshest seasonal flavours. Décor wise they’re obsessive recyclers and restorers: from vintage fabrics and china to on-site smokeries and upcycled chicken sheds, they love anything home-made and ultra-local
Tell us about the food
There’s more than one dining space, but the place to be in spring and summer is the conservatory restaurant overlooking the deer park. Menuwise think ‘British Kitchen Garden’, with a strong sense of place. If they can’t grow or rear it themselves they’ll source it from the best local farmers, fishermen and foragers they know – a philosophy which forms the foundation of their ‘25-mile menu’.
Can we bring the kids and the dog?
Children are more than welcome, as are well-behaved dogs in a small number of rooms; dogs are not allowed in the restaurants but fine for outdoor dining.
For more: www.thepighotel.com
T MILFORD
On the waterfront
What and where?
A 100-room waterfront hotel set on Pembrokeshire’s Milford Waterfront, with four on-the-water floatel cabins and views across the marina.
The winner of Visit Pembrokeshire’s Hotel of the Year Croeso (‘welcome’) Award, it’s the perfect base for exploring this unsung corner of Pembrokeshire, which has undergone a huge rejuvenation in recent years. Rooms are simply yet stylishly decorated, while the quirky floatels, custom-built in Amsterdam, have contemporary furnishings; each sleeps two, with an en-suite shower room, private balcony and picture window.
What can we get up to during our stay?
Browse the many independent waterfront shops, take a shoreline paddle with Milford Beach Activity Centre, soak up the local culture, walk the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, explore any of the unspoiled local beaches; think Cornwall without the crowds.
What are the dining options?
Headed by chef Simon Crockford, a former Wales National Chef of the Year, the Dulse restaurant is named after the local edible seaweed bursting with umami flavour that’s used throughout the menu.
Are they kid and/or dog friendly?
Family rooms are available. Dogs can stay in the Floatel cabins and are allowed in the Dulse bar area.
For more: www.ty-hotels.com/destinations/milford-waterfront
above: Hide away at Hinton; below: Swap Bristol waterfront for Milford Haven’s
ST MORITZ
Miami, nice
What and where?
Art Deco-inspired, yet with a contemporary, airy, Miami vibe, the hotel and its Soho House Cowshed Spa is set between Rock and Polzeath, overlooking the mouth of the River Camel and Stepper Point, with the roaring Atlantic beyond.
The contemporary-coastal spaces range from cosy hotel rooms to sprawling suites, apartments and coastal houses, hidden away in their own little world. Within the tranquil grounds there’s a tennis court, a pool, croquet and giant outdoor games.
What can we get up to during our stay? Whether you’re after rest and relaxation or action
“St Moritz is an Art Decoinspired hotel with an airy, contemporary Miami vibe”
and adventure. St Moritz caters to your ebb and flow, from yoga and massages in the wellness centre to sunny picnics and kitesurfing, coastal hikes and cold-water swimming, SUP pilates in the pool and a range of fitness classes on the beach.
Tell us about the dining options
The new all-day café allows you to snack or graze at any time that suits you, from breakfast to a brasserie-style dinner; or you can take a freshly baked pizza back to your room for a cosy night in.
Is it kid and/or dog friendly?
Several rooms allow dogs, and the free Mini Moritz Club offers screen-free activities for smaller guests. For more: www.stmoritzhotel.co.uk
STONE AND STEAM
The 75-minute reset
What and where?
At this community nature haven at Hartcliffe City Farm you’ll find wood-fired sauna sessions, cold plunge, outdoor showers and space to rest and unwind. Sessions run for 75 minutes, following the traditional hot–cold–rest cycle – a simple but powerful way to reset both physically and mentally. The site occupies a secluded woodland glade, with no overlooking buildings, creating a sense of privacy that feels quietly magical, with open sky, birdsong and views across the hills.
What sets it apart?
The setting and the intention. Rooted in community, it aims to make sauna culture accessible and affordable while creating a genuinely beautiful experience.
The aesthetic is natural and clean, with a cedar-clad sauna, timber decking, stepping stones and earthy tones that sit gently within the landscape. Guests relax on sun loungers and hammocks beneath the trees, or gather around the firepit between sauna rounds.
What else can we do?
Visit the farm with its gardens and animals, and eat at the café; guests can bring their own food if they prefer.
Kids and dogs?
The sauna space is for ages 16+, while the wider farm is familyfriendly. Dogs are welcome outdoors; it’s a relaxed, inclusive environment.
They also offer private hire from Friday to Sunday evenings. For more: www.stoneandsteam.com
ISLES OF SCILLY TRAVEL
Sail (or fly) to paradise
What and where?
Skybus flights transport you to the beauteous Isles of Scilly from Land’s End, Newquay and Exeter, or the Scillonian III passenger ferry (soon to be replaced by Scillonian III) from Penzance.
What makes it special?
Their heritage – they’ve been a lifeline link to the islands for more than 100 years, offering a journey just as unique and memorable as the destination. Flying with Skybus gives you a unique perspective from the air before you arrive, while the ferry crossing has been named for several years by ORCA as the most diverse in the UK for wildlife-watching.
Where can we stay?
You can book a short stay, holiday or even visit for the day. Each of the five inhabited islands offer something for all tastes, from luxury hotels to camping, glamping, lodges, hostels, guest houses, B&Bs and self-catering. Flights and ferries take you to the largest island, St Mary’s; the other four inhabited islands are Tresco, St Martin’s, St Agnes and Bryher, each with its own charm.
What can we get up to during our stay?
Wildlife watching and island hopping; water activities, from kayaking to paddle boarding, wild swimming, seal snorkelling and rockpool safaris; you can hire bikes and follow walking trails; see the world-famous subtropical gardens, or have a beach to yourself for the day; eat fresh seafood; tour vineyards and gin distilleries; go on glass-bottomed boat tours.
What are the dining options?
The Isles offer numerous restaurants, cafés, delis, pubs and bakeries; the local fish and seafood is as fresh as it gets.
Are the flights and ferries kid and/or dog friendly?
Dogs are welcome on board all routes except for Exeter flights. For more: www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk
WHATLEY MANOR Cotswolds luxury
What and where?
A five-star Cotswolds getaway with 12 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, offering a soulful escape in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside. Exuding a stealth-wealth air of luxury, each of the 23 bedrooms is unique, but all share an understated aesthetic which favours natural materials and accentuates comfort. Oak, soft fabrics and artisanal textures create a sense of warmth and sanctuary, while windows look out onto intimate courtyards, formal English gardens and the rolling landscape beyond, giving guests an expansive feeling of space and calm.
What can we get up to during our stay?
You may find ambling around the hotel’s own English country gardens diversion enough; if not, Highgrove, Westonbirt Arboretum, bijou little Cotswolds towns Tetbury, Castle Combe and Cirencester are all close at hand. Understandably reluctant to leave the premises? The Aquarias Spa offers a thermal suite, hydrotherapy pool, heated stone recliners and salt scrub showers, with Gaia treatments on the menu.
What are the dining options?
There are small plates in Grey’s while The Dining Room offers an elegant Michelin star restaurant experience overseen by executive chef Ricki Weston, whose menu has a touch of nostalgia and reflects Ricki’s own culinary journey.
Are they kid and/or dog friendly?
They welcome children from the age of 12, and well-behaved dogs are allowed in most of the public spaces (not the Michelin dining room) and in seven bedrooms. Furry pals will rush to leave rave reviews on TrustPilot when they sight the doggy welcome pack, complete with dog bed, two bowls and a toy. n For more: www.whatleymanor.com
Whatley Manor’s stone walls could have been designed for golden hour
RHS-qualified horticultural expertise combined with sensitive design and longterm estate stewardship, delivering thoughtful garden creation, restoration, and care across the South West.
Atruly beautiful garden is never accidental. It is shaped through knowledge, care, and a clear understanding of both landscape and lifestyle.
At Greenfolk Gardening, this principle underpins a comprehensive range of professional gardening services, delivered with consistency, attention to detail, and a genuine passion for the craft.
Working across Bristol and the wider South West, their experienced and approachable team provides everything from historic garden restoration and innovative design to full estate management and meticulous year-round maintenance. Each project is approached individually, with solutions tailored to the specific needs of the space and the people who use it.
At the heart of the business is a simple belief: every garden has the potential to be beautiful. Realising that potential requires both technical skill and sensitivity—qualities that define Greenfolk Gardening’s work. Whether undertaking a complete garden transformation or refining an established space, their RHSqualified horticulturalists bring a measured and thoughtful approach to every stage of the process.
Historic gardens are a particular area of expertise. With extensive experience in restoring and maintaining heritage landscapes, the team works carefully to preserve original character while improving the health and longevity of the garden. From reclaiming overgrown areas to re-establishing topiary and formal structures, each intervention is carried out with respect for the garden’s
history. Where appropriate, comprehensive conservation and management plans are developed, ensuring that restoration work is both sustainable and enduring.
Alongside restoration, garden design and consultancy form a key part of their offering. Their design team works closely with clients to create outdoor spaces that reflect individual style and practical needs. This can range from detailed planting schemes and ornamental borders to vegetable gardens, wildlife-friendly planting, and aquatic features. Whether redesigning an entire landscape or focusing on a single area, every element is carefully considered, from initial concept through to final implementation.
Estate management is delivered with the same level of care and expertise. Maintaining larger properties requires a broad and detailed
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skill set, and Greenfolk Gardening provides a fully comprehensive service. This includes lawn care, fruit tree training, formal garden upkeep, meadow and hedgerow management, and the maintenance of woodland, pathways, and wider estate features. Their experience spans both historic estates and contemporary landscapes, ensuring that each environment is managed appropriately and to a consistently high standard.
Ongoing maintenance remains central to their work. A garden’s success depends not only on its design, but on how it is cared for over time. The team offers everything from routine weeding and pruning to more specialist services such as soil health management, pest control, and seasonal planting. Lawns are mown, fed, and scarified; borders are tended and refreshed; and planting is managed to ensure year-round interest and vitality.
This continuity of care allows gardens to develop naturally, maintaining their structure
and beauty throughout the seasons. Spring growth, summer abundance, autumn colour, and winter form are all considered, ensuring that the garden remains engaging and wellbalanced at every stage of the year.
Clients value not only the quality of the work, but the professionalism and reliability of the team. With a consultative approach and a strong attention to detail, Greenfolk Gardening builds long-term relationships based on trust, consistency, and shared understanding. Each garden is treated with respect, and every project is delivered with the same commitment to excellence. n
Arrange a consultation and discover how we can transform your outdoor space with enduring beauty and expert care. greenfolkgardening@gmail.com www.greenfolkgardening.com
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: VICTORIAN COUNTRY GARDEN, FOREST OF DEAN
At this idyllic spot in the Forest of Dean, the GreenFolk Gardening team maintain a flourishing vegetable patch and an original Victorian greenhouse filled with citrus fruits and meticulously fan-trained peaches. Within the walled garden, they devote special attention to the magnificent Vitis coignetiae ‘Claret Cloak,’ which provides a stunning display of autumn colour. Beyond the garden walls, their skilled team manage various other parts of the estate, including orchards and a picturesque woodland walk featuring a variety of fascinating ericaceous plants. The estate’s mature, majestic trees thrive in the acid soil, including a beautiful rare collection of Victorian rhododendrons.
“Ed and his team are a joy to have around. They are very knowledgeable, efficient and reliable and our large garden always looks good. I recommend them highly.”
- Mel
DAN O’REGAN BANK BRISTOL & LAPIN
In praise of the solo diner
Quarter past nine on a Thursday, the door at Lapin slides open and in walks a man with a bag over his shoulder, a sweat on his brow, a little short of breath. He’d come straight off the train from London. His old university friends were somewhere across Bristol, waiting for the weekend to begin. He’d chosen to start his a little differently. Something civilised before the debauchery, he’d said. He sat down alone, looked at the menu, and asked for some recommendations. I made the mistake – if you can call it that – of answering a little too thoroughly. I rattled through half the menu. The gougères (always), the soufflé suissesse, a wine that had just arrived and was making me very happy indeed. He listened, nodded,
and proceeded to order most of what I’d described, with a few of his own choices scattered in.
A trou normand appeared as a brief sojourn before pudding – Calvados over sorbet, the universal signal that you have no intention of stopping – and I thought: yes. This one.
There’s a word for people like him that tends to get used as a criticism. Hedonist. I don’t use it that way. I mean someone who takes pleasure seriously. Who doesn’t treat dinner as the gap between one activity and another, but as the main event. He’d arrived in a city he didn’t live in, hadn’t even checked into wherever he was staying, and thought: right, I’m going to have a proper dinner. Not a sandwich. Not room service. A proper dinner, alone, at a table, with wine. Good man.
When his dessert arrived I found a glass of something I thought would work alongside
“It was a gesture between two people who understood each other – one hedonist acknowledging another across a restaurant”
it and dropped it over. On the house. He hadn’t asked. That wasn’t the point. It was a gesture between two people who understood each other –one hedonist acknowledging another across a restaurant. He finished, settled his bill, and left with a smile on his face, ready to face the weekend.
Solo diners are not an afterthought. They are, if anything, the point. They didn’t come because it was someone’s birthday or the easiest option. They chose a room, sat down alone, and trusted strangers to look after them. That’s not a booking to manage. That’s a compliment – the clearest one we get. They also keep us honest. There’s no company to hide behind. If we season lazily, they’ll notice. If the service drifts, they’ll feel it. A solo diner at full tilt – ordering well, eating slowly, finishing the wine – is a kitchen at its best, reminded why it bothered. I eat alone fairly regularly (of my own volition, I hasten to add). I always bring a book. I never read it while the food is in front of me: that’s my only rule. The book comes out between courses, while I’m waiting to order, in the quiet moments when there’s
nothing to do but sit. When the plate arrives, it gets closed.
Eating alone also means ordering honestly — no negotiating the table’s appetite, no talking yourself out of the third course because nobody else is having one. No low-level performance: the explaining of dishes, the offering of forks, the splitting of things that didn’t really want to be split. The food just arrives, and I just eat it. I always leave with my shoulders a little looser and my mind a little slower. I don’t know a better way to spend an evening. If you’ve been thinking about going out for dinner alone and talked yourself out of it, stop. Book the table. Order the trou normand if it’s there. Get the dessert. Bring a book and close it when the food arrives. At Bank and Lapin, at least, you’ll be our favourite table of the night. n
Dan is the co-owner of neighbourhood restaurant BANK, and French restaurant Lapin
BANK Bristol, 107 Wells Road www.bankbristol.com Lapin, Cargo 2, Museum Street www.lapinbristol.co.uk
The terrace at Lapin
CHARLIE TAYLOR KASK WINE
Choose your team for the great KASK wine quiz . . .
On average, where does each person drink 79 litres of wine per year? Or, to put it another way – 105 standard sized bottles. Almost one third of a bottle, every day, without pausing for Lent?
Even as the owner of two wine bars, that feels… excessive. Not just for health reasons, but because surely wine should stay special - something you actually look forward to. For the answer, you’ll have to keep on reading.
Last night, ignoring the fact I was up against deadline on submitting this article, I was hosting a 40-person wine tasting for one of Bristol’s finest property companies. The bars are what we’re known for, but tastings and private events are what keep things ticking over. Corporate gigs, birthdays, stag dos, hen dos – you name it.
And here’s the reality: a decent chunk of people at these events couldn’t care less about wine.
Which means a deep dive into soil types, fermentation vessels or microclimates isn’t going to land. If someone would rather be at karaoke or paintball, you’ve lost them before you’ve even poured.
Realising this a few years ago, we changed the format, playing to our nation’s deeply ingrained competitive streak and making
the whole thing a quiz. Guests are split into teams and given a sheet with 18 sets of tasting notes. Across the evening, they have to match those notes to the wines we’re pouring. Within seconds of the first glass landing, people are leaning in, arguing, second-guessing themselves. Then we layer in quiz questions between pours.
At the risk of giving you an unfair advantage should you find yourself at one of our tastings, I thought I’d share some of the question – and answers – from last night.
Back to the opener. Which country consumes the most wine per capita, at an epic 79 litres per year?
in sixth on the list, with circa 38 litres per person per year). Second place, just a few litres behind goes to Luxembourg, presumably because there’s a lot of bankers enjoying long lunches on their corporate credit cards, and also thanks to a large number of crossborder workers and tourists taking advantage of the country’s low duty rates.
“If wouldsomeone rather be at karaoke or paintball, you’ve lost them before you’ve even poured”
Answer: The Vatican City. Aside from the fact (I’d imagine) there is little to do but pray, stare at the (very fancy) ceiling, and drink, the population is overwhelmingly adult and they often share communal meals. There’s an awful lot of diplomatic functions and events; and the Vatican’s supermarket sells duty-free alcohol, making it significantly cheaper than in neighbouring Italy (which comes
On to another question: although at KASK we try to introduce guests to new regions and grapes – last night include Pamid from Bulgaria, a Uruguayan Albarino, and a red blend from Lebanon – it’s good to talk about the classics. So, which are the ten most planted grape varieties? This usually gets a few blank stares, until we reframe it: just name grapes you’ve heard of. Suddenly, teams start hitting 7 or 8 out of 10.
Cabernet Sauvignon tops the list. It’s one of Bordeaux’s key grapes, hugely popular in the US, and adapts well across climates – a winemaker’s dream. Merlot follows for similar reasons: Bordeaux heritage, easy to grow, easy to
drink, fruit-forward, broadly appealing. Third is Tempranillo, Spain’s flagship grape and the backbone of Rioja. Other reds in the top ten are Syrah/Shiraz (6th), Grenache/Garnacha (7th), and Pinot Noir (9th). Pinot’s popularity is huge, being the red of Burgundy, one of the grapes of Champagne, and appealing to those who prefer a lighter-style, but it’s notoriously difficult to grow. Farmers call it ‘the heartbreak grape’ for a reason.
On the white side, Chardonnay (5th) and Sauvignon Blanc (8th) are no surprise. The curveballs are Airén (4th) and Trebbiano Toscano aka Ugni Blanc (10th). While still wines are made from them, their large planting is due to their use in brandy production.
Let’s finish, with a quick fire round. King Charles once ran an Aston Martin on wine-based biofuel. Red Red Wine was written by Neil Diamond, not UB40. And the term ‘hangover’ originated from Victorian sailors paying an extra penny to sleep draped over a rope instead of on the floor.
Sadly, further research suggests this may not be the origin of the word but never let the truth get in the way of a good pub-quiz fact.
Visit KASK Wine at 51 North Street and KASK² at 243 Cheltenham Road 07522 198081 www.kaskwine.co.uk
CAFÉ SOCIETY STAN CULLIMORE
If you look for it, actually, Loaf is all around
This issue’s coffee shop of choice
is a lovely little thing, bulging with bucketloads of charm, larger than life itself.
Which is most appropriate, mainly because it’s a café which is little by name and floor space, but large of heart. Very much so.
I’m talking here about Little Loaf. It’s up near The Downs on the borders of Redland and Westbury Park, where Coldharbour Road cleaves off from Redland Road.
It’s not the first lovely Loaf café to appear in Bristol, in fact it’s the fourth, but it is the smallest. Hence the name. It’s also the newest addition to the family. In fact, when the CS crew popped in for a quick drop of caffeinated goodness, the paint was barely
“Everything was smooth as silk, ticking along like a well-oiled watch”
dry on the walls. Not that anyone seemed to care; the bijou space inside was overflowing with cheerful customers all sitting down, sipping and munching away happily. In one corner there was a quiet queue of contented souls waiting to take away their takeaway coffees and nibbles. Outside, the corner spot terrace was equally stuffed with shiny happy faces.
This place has really hit the ground running. Everything was smooth as silk, ticking along like a well-oiled watch; the staff, the vibe, the food and drinks on offer, it was all top-notch. All in all it’s no wonder to find the place so chockfull of cheer.
In fact, as the three of us sat there, two humans and a dog; enjoying the space, loving the roast, reflecting on the joys of café living, and giving thanks for all the wonderful people out there who keep those coffee shop thrills coming, the only teeny tiny fly in the croissant I could imagine floating along in the future would be the tightness of space.
Honestly, if this coffee shop keeps on being so blooming
cute and cuddly, so popular and pleasant, it is going to be stuffed to the sideshows from dawn to dusk every single solitary day they’re open. OK. I admit it. Got carried away there. Spoiler alert. They’re not actually open from dawn to dusk. Well, not yet, anyway. Not that it’s a surprise the place is a bigger hit than smashed avocado. Apart from all the superb stuff as mentioned above, who can resist such tasty and intriguing treats as their squashage roll, or pumpkin arancini? Not me, that’s for sure. Next time we drop in after a gentle stroll across the Downs, I’m taking an empty belly along with me. Apart from anything else, I just have to give the sweet potato mille-feuille a go.
So, there you have it. If you’re looking for contentment in a cup, snack satisfaction to the max and enough good vibrations to fill a shop full of suitcases, just direct your feet their way. As The Beatles so famously sang, All you need is Loaf. Though they got the spelling wrong, obvs. n
Former The Housemartins guitarist Stan is now a journalist and travel writer; @stancullimore on instagram Google up Stan’s daily substack blog: Diary of an Urban Granddad
THRIVE THIS SUMMER
Your guide to health and wellbeing in Bristol – from nourishing nutrition and rejuvenating retreats to expert health advice and fitness inspiration.
ALMA PHYSIOTHERAPY
25 LOWER REDLAND RD, REDLAND, BRISTOL BS6 6TB
TEL: 07942 494506
WWW.ALMAPHYSIOTHERAPY.CO.UK
Alma Physiotherapy is a forward-thinking clinic specialising in women’s health and whole-body physiotherapy. Combining pelvic health and musculoskeletal expertise, our experienced team delivers personalised treatment plans aligned with your lifestyle and goals. From pregnancy and postnatal recovery to menopause care, sports injuries and chronic pain, Alma offers a supportive, holistic approach to recovery. Services include Mummy MOT®, musculoskeletal, pelvic floor and breast physiotherapy, scar therapy, sports and pregnancy massage, acupuncture, pilates and yoga. Our mission is simple: help you understand your body, restore confidence, and move well for life.
BRISTOL FLOAT CENTRE
43 COLLEGE GREEN, BRISTOL BS1 5SH
TEL: 0117 316 9619
WWW.FLOATBRISTOL.CO.UK
Most of us have forgotten how to properly switch off. Even when we try to rest, we’re scrolling through our phones, replying to messages, or mentally preparing for tomorrow’s to-do list. True stillness feels almost impossible to find.
Hidden away among the bustle of Park Street, Bristol Float Centre offers something increasingly rare: complete disconnection. The concept is simple but surprisingly powerful. You step into a private float room or pod filled with skin-temperature water saturated with 500kg of Epsom salts, making effortless floating unavoidable. As the lights dim and the outside world disappears, your body gradually releases tension you didn’t even realise you were carrying.
At first, your mind resists the silence. Thoughts race, distractions linger, and your brain searches for something to focus on. But after a few minutes, everything slows down. Muscles soften, breathing deepens, and your nervous system finally gets a chance to rest. The sensation of weightlessness creates a calm unlike ordinary relaxation – part meditation, part physical reset.
When the session ends, central Bristol somehow feels different. The city is still busy, but your head is clearer, your body lighter, and your pace slower. In a world that rarely pauses, floating offers an hour where you genuinely can. Sessions from £60.
STONE & STEAM
LAMPTON AVENUE, BRISTOL, BS13 0QH
TEL: 07599 656526
WWW.STONEANDSTEAM.COM
Tucked into the green edges of Hartcliffe City Farm, Stone & Steam reimagines the ancient ritual of sauna as a refined social sanctuary. Just minutes from central Bristol, this inclusive woodland retreat pairs a 16-person wood-fired sauna with invigorating cold plunges, outdoor showers, and a tranquil glade for post-heat restoration. Between sessions, guests gather around the fire pit or linger in the café overlooking rolling hills and city skylines alike. More than a wellness destination, Stone & Steam offers a contemporary alternative to urban nightlife — a place where community, conversation, and calm unfold naturally, all within an accessible city-meets-nature escape. Sessions from £10.
PETAL GURU
Florals for spring? Groundbreaking! (We still want them, though)
BRI SUEDE SANDALS, £130
From Ladies’ Days to wedding season, these pretty heels will earn their keep From Mint Velvet, 44 Regent Street www.mintvelvet.com
VINTAGE CROCHET
JUMPER, XL, £25
Preloved floral jumper with a scalloped hem; we see you rocking this at one of the festivals on page 10
DRIES VAN NOTEN RONDERO COTTON COAT, £2,795
Ever so pretty beadembellished, appliquéd embroidered coat, with a slightly retro swing to it
From Harvey Nichols 27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com
LINEN BLEND TOP, £89; WIDE LEG TROUSERS, £99
Floral, but in an abstracty way that almost looks like animal print
From Mint Velvet, 44 Regent Street www.mintvelvet.com
DRUNKEN MONKEY VELVET CUSHION, £125
The pattern is inspired by the ‘drunken monkey’ hypothesis that we humans inherited our love of booze from our primate ancestors. All that fermented overripe fruit, just lying there on the forest floor – what was a monkey to do?
From Divine Savages 5 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath www.divingsavages.com
TORY BURCH FORGETME-NOT CUFF, £220
Minimalists do floral, too
From Harvey Nichols 27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com
ESSENTIEL ANTWERP JUNTA COAT, £320
Made from recycled polyester in an effortlessly oversized fit, with softly draped lapels and dropped shoulders adding to the laid-back refinement
From Grace & Mabel, 32 The Mall www.graceandmabel.co.uk
CHLOÉ THE CHÂTEAU
TREASURES BRACELET, £450
Pleasingly chunky, with a floral Chloé motif and and faux-pearl charm
From Harvey Nichols, 27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com
PRINTED SHIRT, £97.00
A heron hides among the foliage in this Japanese-Hawaiian shirt with a British twist, from new Bristol men’s clothing company Ronni From Ronni Clothing, Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft; www.ronniclothing.co.uk
COTTON MIDI SKIRT, £99
In buttery yellow with a lace trim and wide ruffle hemline. If that’s still not ruffly enough for you there’s a ruffly top to match
From Mint Velvet, 44 Regent Street www.mintvelvet.com
SELF-PORTRAIT SATIN
MIDI-DRESS, £400
Wonderfully feminine dress in lemon sprigged with blue flowers, with a sweetheart neckline and charming little button fastenings down the front
From Harvey Nichols, 27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com
CHLOÉ GOLD-TONE BRASS EARRINGS, £550
There’s a ring and necklace in this range, too
From Harvey Nichols, 27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com
FRESH THINKING OVER A FINE LUNCH
Unique social business occasion: live interview, plus leading business people, superb venue and lunch
Coming soon. Unrivalled speakers + connections
Sponsored by:
If
LEGAL EAGLE
THE INSPIRATIONAL LARA BURCH OF OSBORNE CLARKE
ALAW & BORDERS
At The Granary on Welshback, LARA BURCH – recently made senior partner at Bristol-based international law firm Osborne Clarke, owners of “the greenest office in Bristol” – wrestles with local roots, international growth, and the implications of AI
Words by Paul Marland Photographer Narrated Frames
strong contender for the title of oldestcontinuallyoperatingcompany in Bristol, the law firm Osborne Clark was founded in 1748 by Jeremiah Osborne, and although the headquarters are now in London – and they have offices all over the world – Bristol is still “our home”: around 60% of their UK workforce are based here, for a start. Currently in charge of the UK operation, newly-made senior partner Lara Burch first came to the city when London started to grind her down. “I don’t like air you have to chew before you can breathe”, she says – and has worked here, at OC, for 30 years.
Lara’s always been quite green in her thinking, so when an early employer began funnelling her towards North Sea oil work, she began to squirm. “I was also starting to think: “I don’t really like London. So when my then boyfriend, now husband – who’s from the South West – said, ‘What about Bristol?’, I thought, ‘Well, I’ll try it for a year…’”
Tried it, and loved it. She started at OC in the corporate team, doing acquisitions and venture capital work – “slightly frustrating, because you would get to know people over an intense timeframe, then never see them again” – before deciding she’d rather work alongside businesses as they’re growing: her new role in the commercial team was more about repeat, large value transactions for the same people. “I’ve clients I’ve worked with now for twenty years, and it’s been wonderful watching them grow.”
She wasn’t always going to be a lawyer, however. “But I did watch Juliet Bravo as a kid, and thought: that’s a role model. She’s trying to do the right thing for people.
“Later, a family friend said, ‘Well, if that’s what you want to do, maybe go into law.’ For me, it’s always been about, through business, influencing the societies you’re working in. And that’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed so long at Osborne Clark, because it’s important to the company too.
“One story we tell encapsulates the OC spirit. The founder’s grandson – also a Jeremiah – once rowed Isambard Kingdom Brunel down the river Avon, so Brunel
could survey its banks when he was planning the Great Western Railway. It’s that kind of close work with clients – literally being in the same boat with them – that’s been a big driver of our growth.”
They first opened a London office in 1987 but, oops, the following Monday (later known as Black Monday) the financial markets completely crashed.
“But actually, those challenges created opportunities to diversify we might not have otherwise seen. Same with the Dotcom Crash in 2001: we were quite exposed in the tech sector at that point, so saw it as an opportunity to expand into other areas instead – energy, life sciences, transport.”
This all being the case, does OC still feel like a Bristol business?
“Very much so! We have deep roots here. Although we’ve now got 26 offices across 13 jurisdictions on three continents, Bristol is our home; it’s certainly my home – I live here, and spend most of my working week here. Now that I’m senior partner for the whole UK operation, though, I’m probably in London one day a week, maybe go to Reading, then Bristol for a couple of days… It doesn’t hurt that we have an amazing new office here, which Bristol Life was kind enough to do a piece on. The kitchens are nicer than my kitchen at home!”
Here’s a common tale: you get promoted, and suddenly you’re
taken away from the thing you’re best at and most enjoy…
“Except I haven’t stopped working for my clients! Right now, my time is split 50/50 between the work I’m doing for them and being part of the management team. But you have to be pragmatic, and the balance will ebb and flow.”
Right now they’re working on their 2030 strategy, which will undoubtedly involve more international growth. “We’ll also be focusing on the impact technology will have on the entire professional services market,” Lara says. “Where does AI take us? How can we use it in the right ways? The belief here is that if a business focuses solely on profit, it’s never going to succeed; it needs purpose too, and that has to be something that engages with wider communities, because it’s what the employees of any business want. They need to know that
“FOR ME, IT’S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT INFLUENCING THE SOCIETIES YOU’RE WORKING IN”
and inspiration: the
they’re doing something valuable, not just within their business, but more broadly – and I think that especially matters now, because there’s a countervailing opinion coming from some parts of the world about what people’s values should be, and I think businesses need to stand up for the right ones.”
In practical terms, this means working with Bristol charities such as 1625 Independent People, “who do brilliant work supporting homeless children, or those at risk of homelessness”; they also work with local schools including Merchants Academy, providing support to children who are coming to the end of their time there, and need help crossing the bridge (in fact, this project is called The Bridge) into the world of work. It means being quite particular with local Bristol suppliers too. “What’s it like to partner with us? I think you would find us collaborative and fair, but demanding too – not just on things you might expect, like price, but on sustainability. We’re taking net zero very seriously.”
Though they have what modern business speak likes to call ‘vertical specialists’, OC encourages each legal team to understand a particular industry from the inside out too. “Whether you’re talking the
energy sector or financial services, we like to pull together lawyers from across different disciplines and encourage in them a real understanding of the core issues for clients in that sector,” Lara says. “Once you do that, you’re providing a more coherent and combined service, from people who really understand that world.”
If there’s one downside to scale – and the modern OC is nothing if not huge, with 1,500 UK employees, nearly 900 of those in Bristol – it’s that it no longer makes sense for them to work with very new businesses.
“But our city has many great law firms, so lots of choice. No, Osborne Clark possibly won’t be the right firm for someone who is literally just starting out, but others will be brilliant for you. We’ve grown so much that, these days, it’s important for us to concentrate on supporting the bigger companies. But, of course, we still want to work with growing firms in Bristol, just as long as we’re the right fit.”
For more: www.osborneclarke.com
Networking
Bristol Life Network Lunch with Lara Burch of Osborne Clarke was held at The Granary
SKIN DEEP
Based in Clifton, DR FATIMA is an NHS GP and aesthetic doctor specialising in natural-looking results
Igrew up in Bristol and went on to complete my medical training at the University of Bristol”, says Dr Fatima. “I now run an aesthetic clinic in Clifton, where I deliver evidence-based treatments that aim to enhance natural beauty and optimise long-term skin health.
“My approach is highly personalised, drawing on my higherlevel training to achieve natural, yet noticeable results. I utilise a range of treatments to achieve this including injectables, microneedling and medical-grade skincare.”
What career journey first took you into aesthetics?
I started off as an obstetrics and gynaecology doctor before retraining to become a GP. During
natural-looking results requires an in-depth understanding of anatomy, skin health and the ageing process, alongside technical skill. My extensive experience is what allows me to help people look refreshed and enhance what they already have, and not look ‘done’.
What led you to start your own clinic?
I wanted to create a clinic that offered a more thoughtful and holistic approach to aesthetics, where patients felt listened to and genuinely cared for. Too often, I hear of clinics feeling like a ‘conveyor belt’. The early days were incredibly demanding. I was balancing a full-time NHS career, while simultaneously building a business and continuing further medical and aesthetic training. However, the hard work continues. I continue to invest heavily in ongoing education because I believe learning never truly stops in medicine or aesthetics.
You focus on natural-looking results – how do you achieve that balance between enhancement and subtlety?
Natural results are at the core of everything I do. Achieving that balance comes down to extensive training, experience and a good understanding of facial anatomy and the ageing process. I’ve trained with internationally recognised experts in aesthetics, building on my existing medical knowledge to refine my technical skills. My philosophy is centred around subtle enhancement with treatments aimed to give a refreshed and rested look.
“ACHIEVING SAFE, NATURAL-LOOKING RESULTS REQUIRES AN IN-DEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF ANATOMY, SKIN HEALTH AND THE AGEING PROCESS”
this time I developed an interest in dermatology, largely influenced by my personal struggles with acne. I went on to complete a Level 7 qualification in Injectables and Cosmetic Dermatology with Harley Academy in London, regarded as the highest level of training in the field. This was really important to me, as I wanted to provide the highest standard of care possible to my patients.
How does your medical training influence the way you approach beauty treatments?
My medical background influences every aspect of my practice. I approach aesthetic treatments as medical procedures, whether that involves injectables or prescriptiongrade skincare. Achieving safe,
Can you talk us through your consultation process?
My consultations are highly individualised. I spend time getting to know the person, understanding their concerns, habits, medical history and long-term goals. Following a detailed assessment, we discuss treatment options, which may involve a combination of treatments. Importantly, I am never afraid to advise against treatment if I don’t feel it’s appropriate.
What are the most common concerns clients bring to you?
One of the most common concerns is fine lines and early signs of ageing. My approach to this is usually two-fold: recommending various treatments to help in the short term, while also focusing on long-term prevention and skin
health. As with most things in medicine, prevention is better than cure, and educating patients on maintaining good skin health is a key part of my practice.
What sets your clinic apart within the Bristol area?
The advanced training I bring to both injectables and cosmetic dermatology. At this time I am the only aesthetics doctor in Bristol who has undertaken such higher-level training in the field. The patient experience is also very different. I intentionally allow ample time per person as I never want patients to feel rushed. This allows me to build trust, understanding individual goals and delivering truly bespoke care.
How do you ensure clients feel safe, informed and confident?
As a doctor, reassuring and supporting anxious patients has always been a fundamental part of my role. I understand that aesthetic treatments can feel daunting, particularly for first-time patients, so I ensure I create a calm, welcoming and pressure-free environment. I always take the time to explain treatments thoroughly, answer questions honestly and this has also proven key in alleviating nerves in my experience.
What excites you most about the future of your clinic and the aesthetics industry?
One of the most exciting developments in aesthetics at the moment is the growing focus on regenerative and biostimulatory treatments that work by stimulating the body’s own collagen production. These treatments offer beautifully natural results and align perfectly with my philosophy of subtle, longterm rejuvenation. I have already had some fantastic outcomes for patients using these approaches, and I’m very excited to continue expanding the clinic’s treatment offerings in this area. For more www.bashraaesthetics.com
BIG UP THE WEST
Business leaders from the West of England joined a delegation led by Mayor Helen Godwin at a major UK investment conference this month to promote the region’s economic potential.
Attending the UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum in Leeds, the group highlighted key opportunities for investment aimed at delivering new housing, job creation, and sustained economic growth. The region has set a target of generating 72,000 additional jobs over the next decade, driven by a focus on innovation, sustainability, and inclusive development.
Recent data underscores the region’s strong performance. Since 2019, its economy has
FOR THE DIARY
17-18 JUNE
EntreConf Watershed
EntreConf Dinner
The Granary
19 JUNE
EntreConf Awards
Finalists announced
1 OCTOBER
EntreConf Awards
Aerospace Museum www.entreconf.com
27 NOVEMBER
Bristol Property Awards
Ashton Gate Stadium
www.bristolproperty awards.co.uk
expanded at four times the national average and is now valued at over £54 billion, making it the fastest-growing regional economy in the UK and the most productive outside London. Over the past ten years, more than 100,000 jobs have been created, with particularly strong growth in sectors such as digital technology, creative industries, clean energy, and essential services.
The delegation will also collaborate with major partners, including YTL UK Group, which is investing heavily in the Brabazon development, and Bristol City Leap, a large-scale green energy initiative. A programme of panel events and networking sessions will support engagement with investors.
www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk
RIGHT ON QUEUE
In more city-centre retail news, in an echo of the recent opening of Marks & Spencer in Cabot Circus, the arrival of major new chains Uniqlo and Sephora attracted huge opening-day crowds.
When the former opened within the former Topshop unit in Cabot Circus over 500 people waited to enter while traditional taiko drummers performed as part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Japanese retailer’s first store in the South West.
Known for its classic minimal casual wear, Uniqlo is well used to incorporating artist collaborations. Customers at the new store can buy clothing and totes embellished with designs by Aardman, Melo – Upfest 2026’s official festival artist, who has also painted the store – and Noods Radio; there’s also a customising option where you can collage all the elements onto garments yourself.
There were similar scenes at Cabot’s when Sephora store opened on 30 April – it’s the brand’s 14th UK store, and like Uniqlo, the first in the South West.
www.cabotcircus.co.uk
LOVE BRISTOL?
Bristol BID does, which is why it brought back Love Bristol, Love Broadmead this month for a vibrant takeover, marking a new chapter in its city-centre campaign.
The programme invites visitors into Broadmead through free performances, creative takeovers and communityled activity. Under the theme Blossoming Broadmead, key locations The Galleries, Sparks and Quakers Friars have all been transformed into hubs of culture and connection.
One central feature has been A Love Letter to Broadmead, an immersive project which builds on youth-led activity to bring performances, workshops and live experiences into The Galleries and surrounding spaces. Street art takes centre stage as Upfest launches Quakers Art Lane, with large-scale murals turning the space into a permanent outdoor gallery and expanding the festival into Broadmead for the first time.
Additional highlights have included cultural dining experiences, pop-up performances and creative installations, and Sparks Bristol’s third anniversary celebration on 9 May, which featured workshops, exhibitions and a community jumble sale. Building on earlier events like the Spring Clean and Care & Repair Festival, the programme reflects a wider vision for Broadmead as a community-driven, creative destination. www.bristolbid.co.uk
The new Brabazon development is turning a corner of north Bristol into a major economic hub
THINK DIFFERENTLY…
EntreConf, the conference for new business thinkers, returns to Watershed on 17-18 June. Uniquely powerful insights and valuable connections await attendees
GREAT BUSINESSES ARE BUILT by more than their founders. Advisors, investors, and strong networks make the difference.
Where do you get your ideas to help develop your company? How can you learn from others?
That’s why we created EntreConf. To provide stimulation, connections and practical advice.
It’s for any business interested in business itself. The start-up zeal of entrepreneurs, the visionary brilliance of founders, the smart scaling of fastgrowth companies and the successful exits – all yield insights for any company in any sector.
EntreConf is for new business thinkers. It’s a mindspa.
More prosaically, it’s a two-day conference held at Watershed between 17-18 June, packed with keynotes, practical sessions, entrepreneurs’ tales, panels and multiple chance encounters.
Speakers range from a jetpack business already valued “in eight figures”, to the visionary founder of Riverford Organics; a Bristol-founded nationallevel hospitality success; a Bristol-founded nationallevel-aspiring creative leisure success and the UK’s fast-growing coffee brand. There are talks about growing a national brand while retaining founding values; through to a sustainability start-up; a new rum brand; a sector-leading health company; taking on Rightmove; a beauty brand, and much more. Inspiration abounds.
And there’s practical business advice on rewarding and incentivising your team; how to scale your company; preparing for exit; selling to your management team; how to pitch; how entrepreneurs can – should! – embrace AI, and sessions on funding.
Massive commercial stimulation, basically.
There’s even a special EntreConf Dinner on the night of 17 June, with 60 entrepreneurs, to hear the inside story of major local success story, Roots Allotments. Started in Bath, now with 20 sites, targeting 1,000, and in a compelling zeitgeisty ecosweetspot. It’s quite the tale.
Whether for deep connections or light bulb moment insights, EntreConf is set to be the business event of the year. n
HERE’S A LOOK AT SOME OF THESE STELLAR ENTRECONF SPEAKERS
MAXINE LACEBY Absolute Collagen has become the market leader in a rapidlygrowing sector. How? What’s next? Inspirational insights from its life-force founder.
RICHARD BROWNING; ROCKETMAN Sci-fi becomes reality: jaw-drop, fastgrowth, well-funded Gravity Industries is pioneering jetpack travel. Please don’t miss this EntreConf keynote.
HELENA HILLS TrueStart Coffee is the UK’s fastest-growing coffee brand. For clear vision, great values and just blow-away inspirational dynamism, come and hear the inside story.
GUY SINGH-WATSON Pioneer who created one of the earliest organic food businesses and B Corps, then sold it to his team. An EntreConf deepdive into values and vision of Riverford Organic
ALEX REILLEY Loungers started with just £10k and a small place in Bristol; it now has 300+ sites. How? The driving-force founder reveals the secret of this hospitality success.
OLLY BARKLEY, ED JACKSON Imagine creating a new rum brand. Why? How? What are the barriers? How do you differentiate, scale? From scrum to rum, with Vapoura’s founding duo.
AMBER PROBYN, HAZEL MCSHANE Award-winning, trailblazing, well-funded, sustainability start-up Peequal. What is it, how does it work and where is the business headed? Hear from the dynamic duo.
GRAHAM PATERSON The man taking on Rightmove (and he’s backed by Google). Entrepreneurs are bold, always. But creating a better property-search business up against a global behemoth? Jitty explains.
CHLOE LUXTON Bramley’s founder has created a purpose-led brand, pioneering sustainability in the retail and hospitality sectors. Discover how she has retained values as scale has built.
Great things start with the right connection. Find yours at EntreConf
“INSPIRING STORIES, POWERFUL CONNECTIONS THIS IS ENTRECONF. JOIN THE CONVERSATION...”
ENTRECONF AT-A-GLANCE
WHAT: Two day conference for entrepreneurs, advisors and new business thinkers.
WHEN & WHERE: 17-18 June at Watershed.
HOW: Delegate passes via the website.
COMMERCIAL PARTNERS: Led by headline partner Burges Salmon, plus Albert Goodman, Doyle Clayton, Link Stone Advisory, S&W, Claritas Tax, Floresco and Mytton Williams.
PLUS: EntreConf will feature the grand reveal of EntreConf Awards finalists
BEYOND THE LAW
Why BUCKLES’ B Corp status changes what it means to choose a solicitor
When most people choose a law firm, they consider expertise, reputation, or a recommendation from someone they trust. What they’re less likely to consider is whether that firm genuinely cares about its people, its community or its impact on the world around it. Buckles Law thinks that needs to change and it has put its money where its values are.
Buckles Law has recently been awarded B Corp Certification, joining a global movement of businesses committed to meeting the highest independently verified standards of social and environmental performance.
Fewer than one per cent of UK law firms have achieved it and the process explains why. The B Impact Assessment comprises 200 rigorous questions, takes up to 18 months to complete and examines every corner of how a business operates: how it treats its people, how it engages with its community, how it manages its environmental impact, and how it governs itself.
The firm’s highest scores came in Governance, Workers and Environment. On Governance, the measure of ethics, transparency and how a firm holds itself accountable, Buckles scored 10.8 out of a possible 11.5. For a law firm, where client trust is everything, that is a statement worth making.
But B Corp isn’t only about what happens inside a business. It’s about the relationship between a business and the world it operates
in. Buckles supports local hiring and purchasing, and extends healthcare benefits to part-time employees as well as full-time staff. These are small details, perhaps, but ones that reveal a genuine commitment to the people who make the firm what it is.
The businesses and families who turn to Buckles for legal support are increasingly looking for more than technical excellence. They want advisers whose values align with their own, working in firms that understand their role in society.
B Corp certification provides exactly that assurance, independently verified and renewed every three years.
“There is no shortage of ways for a law firm to measure itself, from directory rankings to award shortlistings and all of them have value”, said Duncan Jackson, CEO of Buckles Law. “But B Corp certification is something different: an independent, evidence-based assessment of how the entire business operates, not just the quality of its legal work. That makes it, in many respects, the most satisfying external validation we have ever achieved.”
For those seeking support with the challenges they face as an individual, as a family or as a business, whether that’s buying a home, navigating an employment dispute, managing a family separation, or growing a company, Buckles Law invites you to find out what this difference looks like in practice.
With offices across the UK, including Bristol, the firm brings the same commitment to people and values to everything it does n
“ B CORP CERTIFICATION IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT: IN MANY RESPECTS, IT IS THE MOST SATISFYING EXTERNAL VALIDATION WE HAVE EVER ACHIEVED ”
OLD CHURCH FARM
Romance in the stone: an extraordinary property near Rudgeway in South Gloucestershire
Words by Ursula Cole
When a house description begins with the words “Once owned by King Harold of Wessex, and later a Crown Estate under William the Conqueror”, you prick up your ears – at least you do if you have any romance in your soul.
There’s more. Not only has this extraordinary property played host to the kings and queens of England, but one of its owners, a member of the Fitzwarin family, is cited as being the real-life inspiration for Robin Hood. Admittedly, the source material, the Anglo-Norman romance Fouke le Fitz Waryn, is a bit of a weird mix of accurate information, plausible stories that lack confirmation and flights of pure imagination, but we’ll still take that over a home which has never had so much as a whiff of a rumour regarding mediaeval legends in its life.
And if you’re the pedantic sort who insists on having your history grounded in cold, hard fact, there’s no doubt over the ruins in the grounds: that’s St Helen’s Church, with its 12th-century walls and 14th-century tower, a Scheduled Ancient Monument which makes a rare and poetic feature within the estate. The views from the spire are pretty astonishing, too, stretching out across the Severn to the hills of South Wales.
Less romantically, but still prestigiously, the estate was acquired by Rolls Royce in the1960s to entertain foreign dignitaries and high-profile figures. Lastly, bringing its fortunes right up to date, in its current use as a five-star B&B it’s become quite the hideout for A-list celebrities craving a secluded location for their shenanigans.
The main house exudes elegance, charm and Tudor character with intricate plasterwork, grand fireplaces, deep alcoves, original stonework dating back to 1634 and various mediaeval features, all adding up to a treasure trove of over 1000 years of history. Grand reception rooms flow seamlessly into one another for entertaining, while more intimate areas cater to refined family living. High ceilings, large windows and splendid views over the croquet lawn
and surrounding countryside create light and tranquil spaces. The bedrooms are vast in scale and luxurious in finish, while the back wing has a commercial-grade kitchen and utility spaces that just beg to be turned into to a large open-plan family kitchen/diner.
Prefer to maintain the estate as a business? You’ll be quick to appreciate the advantage of the two-storey conferencing barn, created by Rolls-Royce in 2005; an enormous high-spec facility featuring four spacious boardrooms, office, prep kitchen, goods lift, and – an absolute must-have for any conference, surely – a skittle alley.
Privately set within its own walled garden is a three-bedroom bungalow with separate gated access and wraparound outdoor space; ideal for multigenerational living, hiring out as a guesthouse, or as a long-term rental.
Outside, the almost-two-and-a-half-acre gardens are a blend of formal elegance and productive beauty. The south-facing front gardens include a large lawned croquet area, rose gardens and linked walkways, all enclosed by mature planting. As a nod to its Tudor heritage, there’s even a knot garden. A separate walled kitchen garden overflows with fruit trees, vegetable beds, and ornamental borders, while an additional six acres of paddock are available by separate negotiation.
Old Church Farm is an incredibly special home. Its new owners will be acquiring more than just a property; this is a veritable piece of British history, in the rural heart of South Gloucestershire.
HOUSE NUMBERS
Where?
Church Road, nr Rudgway
Guide price £1.875m
Bedrooms 10
Bathrooms 8
Receptions 8
What else? Stores, laundry, commercial-standard kitchen, cellars, plant room, two-storey conference building
Outside 2.35 acres of landscaped grounds
Call my agent Fine & Country; 0117 463 4887; www.fineandcountry.co.uk
HAZARDONE
HazardOne, or Haz, or Harriet, depending on how you know her, is one of Bristol’s most recognisable street artists, known for her rich, glitch-infused colour palettes and striking realism. She’s just completed the Sir David Attenborough piece we’ve showcased on our front cover
I’ve been painting for over 20 years now”, says Haz, “starting out by tagging things and winding myself into the weird and wonderful world of street art. I was always encouraged to draw and paint; even my art teacher at school got me some car paint when I was 13, so I could paint the back of the art block.”
This month, as part of Upfest 2026, she’s created a large-scale mural of Sir David Attenborough in honour of his 100th birthday, in the newly dubbed Quakers Art Lane.
PHOTO BY COLIN MOODY
As a lawless young teenager I was up for anything rebellious and naturally spray cans were fun. But I eventually decided to combine aerosol with my love of drawing, and started painting characters alongside all the lads I was painting with.
We had a good crew, and would travel around Yorkshire to paint at jams. The more I painted the more I found a love for it. I chose to go to Leeds College of Art for my foundation year before working out where and what to do at uni.
“Bristol is not trying to be anything other than Bristol; it’s creative, and good at being creative”
I fell in love with Bristol the moment I visited. It’s not trying to be anything other than Bristol, it’s creative and it’s good at being creative and as an outsider that’s so impressive and attractive. I got an offer to do graphic design at UWE and even though some of the other courses in other cities were more in line with what I actually wanted to do coursewise, I knew I had to be in Bristol.
I love the constant changing of walls and seeing the consistent evolving of styles and ideas across the city. I used to love painting down by the M32, I hear the council have made that a problem for painters now (whyyy?!) but also the Deaner, around St Paul’s and wherever Upfest has got its hands on; they’re so good at finding the latest artists that are killing it!
There are so many great places to eat in Bristol I love the Kensington Arms for a roast, Cargo Cantina do an incredible sharing platter, No.1 York Place for an occasion and breakfast at the Crafty Egg or The Bristolian.
One of my favourite pieces I’ve painted in Bristol was of my friend Jeff Knight, the Big Issue seller – the reaction and outpouring of love was so wonderful. My other two favourites are in St Paul’s where I painted the huge BS2 Lofts and the Brighter Places mural.
The Guardian and Huffington Post published articles on the Top Women in Street Art, and there I was – whether or not I should be is subjective, but you better believe it’s on my CV!
Although it’s almost impossible to choose, some of my favourite Brizzle artists would be Mr Jago, SledOne and China Mike – but I also love Inkie, Flx, RBF Crew, Jody, Paul Monsters, SEPR, Rtiika, Melo Grafic,
Tozer, Matthew James to name just a few.
It was exciting to paint my Attenborough piece – what an honour. I went for a yellow/ orange underpainting for some luminosity, marked out some pointers to help me scale up from the photo and then got to work on some big bold colours. There’s been a lot of blending and gradients – which is why spray paint is always my medium of choice, of course.
I’m forever in love with the music scene coming out of Bristol. When I first moved here there were all sorts of crazy nights on, all days of the week. My favourites are the small underground venues with great sound systems. I’m a big fan of Cosies, Trinity for Teachings – and does anyone remember Timbuk2?!
I’m happiest when the weather is around 30°C and the sun is out. I love the heat and have been lucky enough to spend a lot of time travelling in and painting in Central and South America in recent years. The people, the colours, the food and the pace of life are really what it’s all about for me.
Secret skills? I can plank for seven minutes. Strength training has helped me out so much with regards to painting huge projects and also exercise in general for my focus and creativity.
My most regrettable habit is not being able to say no. I just can’t! I love an opportunity, and who knows when you’ll get another one like it. I’m constantly on the move and flying all over the place, which means I’m quite hard to pin down; ask my friends! I’m rarely in one city for over a week at a time.
