ISSUE 389/NOVEMBER 2026/£5
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+ EIGHT MORE PAGES OF KITCHEN TIPS, TRENDS AND IDEAS
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ISSUE 389/NOVEMBER 2026/KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL
COOLER SHAKER
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WHITER SHADES OF PALE IN A CLIFTON APARTMENT large version
THE GRAND OLD DUKE: A BRISTOL MUSICAL INSTITUTION / STU GOLDSMITH TACKLES THE CLIMATE CRISIS/NOW THAT’S WHAT WE CALL BRISTMAS SHOPPING/ LEARNING TO BE HAPPY WITH PROF BRUCE HOOD/SKATER, DUDES/ MASTERCHEF WINNER BRIN PIRATHAPAN / TRAIL MIX: NORTH BRISTOL ARTS / ENTRECONF AWARDS
EDITOR’S LETTER
76
KITCHEN BY WOODHOUSE & L AW
T
If it ain’t broke... ...then sorry, it’s not on trend. Open-plan kitchens may be passé, but broken-plan? That’s another story. Just add a few artily arranged gourds you have no intention of cooking, and you’ll be bang-on seasonal, too
here are many ways to mark the passing of the Bristol year. The sporting fixtures and the musical festivals; summery things with balloons and boats; the beer fests and the cocktail fests, the cider fests and cheese fests – basically, think of a food or drink name and stick a fest at the end, Bristol can accommodate. And now we’re into autumn there’s all the pumpkin-patch pickings and the Halloween trails, the cult horror movies and the Zombie Walk Oh, and the annual kitchens feature in Bristol Life. Honestly, you can set your calendar by it; we are nothing if not seasonally appropriate. Because November feels the perfect time to take a fresh look at this rather important room in the house; there’s nothing like moving back indoors after a long hot summer for registering the shortcomings of your home with fresh, unimpressed eyes. Maybe you’re not too bothered – I mean, I know that’s a thing, I share my own home with someone whose indifference to the state of his surroundings verges on the pathological – but if you are itching to make a few improvements in that department then turn to page 76 and be inspired. If not, maybe head over to the arts and culture section to find out how Bristol stand-up Stuart Goldsmith is mining the climate crisis for laughs, or why The Old Duke is such a jewel in Bristol’s musical crown. Maybe flick to the lifestyle pages, where you can find the ultimate guide to shopping local and indie in the run-up to Christmas. Only here for the food? Learn how winning MasterChef changed Brin Pirathapan’s life, and how to cook aubergine like his mum. You’ll even find clues to the secret of happiness on the back page, and you really can’t ask for more from a magazine than that. So there you have it: your November issue of Bristol Life, autumnal to a fault yet simultaneously eclectic. It’s the Christmas issue next, and you know how tragically excited we always get about that one.
DERI ROBINS Bristol Life editor @BristolLifeMag
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Issue 389 / November 2026 ON THE COVER Kitchen by deVOL
THE ARTS
14 62
13 ARTS INTRO Trail mix 14 WHAT’S ON The best stuff happening right now 22 MUSIC All that jazz 28 STAND-UP Comedy Goldsmith 34 BRISTOL HEROES Skater, dudes 45 BOOKS It’s Storysmith’s pre-Christmas, resolutely unfestive selection
FOOD & DRINK
48 COOKBOOK It should have happened to a vet 53 FOOD PROFILE James of Veysel Oil 57 YES CHEF Getting in the way at Wilsons
LIFESTYLE
61 SHOP INTRO The ultimate shop-local hack 62 MEET YOUR MAKER The Made in Bristol gift fair 71 UPPER CASE The joy of analogue conversation
INTERIORS
48
76 KITCHENS Tips and trends from those in the know 86 CASE STUDY Where classic meets Shaker 88 THE KITCHEN DESIGNER Helen Parker of deVOL
BUSINESS
93 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Awards season
PROPERTY
116 SHOWCASE A Grand Design, no diggerty
REGULARS
8 SPOTLIGHT 130 BRISTOL LIVES Prof Bruce Hood
Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors Colin Moody, Dan O’Regan, Storysmith Books, Ella Robertson, Georgia Fendley Commercial director Pat White pat.white@mediaclash.co.uk Commercial manager Neil Snow neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk Business development manager Charlotte Mace-Pettitt charlotte.mace-pettitt@mediaclash.co.uk Production/operations manager Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Bristol Life MediaClash, Media House, 1 Widcombe Parade, Bath, BA2 4JT. tel: 01225 475800; www.mediaclash.co.uk. @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash. 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
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SPOTLIGHT Anniversary
FANTASTIC VOYAGE
Happy 300th anniversary, Gulliver’s Travels! First published in 1726, Jonathan Swift’s satirical novel recounted the extraordinary adventures of Lemuel Gulliver, a ship’s surgeon who set sail on The Antelope – and here’s the local connection – from Bristol harbour in 1699. Our hero’s travels into ‘Several Remote Nations of the World’ take him to fantastical lands populated by tiny people, giants, scientists engaged in baroque but pointless research, absentminded thinkers on a flying island, sorcerers who could summon the dead, immortals condemned to endless old age, talking horses
and savage human brutes. He becomes involved in intrigues, fights and disputes, he’s shipwrecked, abandoned, attacked by strangers and betrayed by his own crew. He probably wished he’d stayed home in Bristol. The book was partly biographical, to the extent that its Anglo-Irish author often sailed from the port himself while working for the Second Earl of Berkeley. It covered an important period of Britain’s history, just as Bristol’s ‘Golden Age’ was getting underway. Through his wit and repartee, Swift became a spin doctor for the Tories during their ascendancy over the Whigs, and helped them create the South Seas Company to rival the nascent Bank of England. Swift was also parodying the popular travelogues of the day, which inevitably began in Bristol. Fun fact: The Antelope set sail on May the fourth – so next time you celebrate Star Wars Day, kindly take a moment to celebrate the voyage of this OG sci-fi adventurer, too.
Another award
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
The Time Out pundits in their wisdom have compiled their ‘11 coolest neighbourhoods in the UK’ list for 2026, and in at number 11 is Bristol’s Old Market. “Old Market has been Bristol’s ‘gay village’ since the 1990s and the likes of Bristol Bear Bar and Old Castle Green are still popular with the city’s queer community”, they say. “But inclusivity is only part of the area’s charm, with dining tables spilling into the streets, guitar solos blaring from small music venues and an abundance of pubs. You’ll find several of Bristol’s most on-trend restaurants here; then there’s the shedload of cultural stuff. Old Market Assembly combines award-winning grub with drag and DJ nights, The Wardrobe is Bristol’s leading fringe theatre, and Exchange has welcomed The 1975, Kneecap and Melvins in recent years.” No mention of Trinity, oddly. To discover what Time Out thinks constitutes the ‘perfect day’ in Old Market, hit the link: www.timeout.com/uk/coolest-neighbourhoods-2026
Documentary
PIONEERS OF THE CARIBBEAN Receiving its première at Watershed last month, new documentary First Born Second: Voices of the Children of the Windrush Era tells the untold stories of those who grew up Black and British in the 1970s and ’80s. The 43-minute film explores the challenges and achievements of the first generation born to Caribbean pioneers who came here to help rebuild postwar Britain. It focuses on seven Bristolians whose experiences illuminate a pivotal chapter of modern British history:
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a period shaped by profound social and cultural change, which found them facing racism, street skinheads, discriminatory policing and the notorious SUS laws. “But this is not simply a story of struggle”, says co-producer Roger Griffith. “It is also a story of joy, creativity, achievement and cultural transformation. This generation helped change the face of Britain, and First Born Second is about ensuring those experiences are heard, understood and passed on.”
THE ARTS S N A P S H O T S O F B R I S T O L’ S C U LT U R A L L I F E
TRAIL OF THE UNEXPECTED
P
erfectly timed for all your Christmas gifting requirements, as well as being a thoroughly fun weekend activity in its own right, the North Bristol Arts Trail returns 29-30 November. As ever, the community of artists and makers will be poised to welcome you into their homes, studios and community spaces, with a hugely eclectic range of paintings, prints, ceramics, jewellery, textiles, glassware to buy or simply admire. Around 110 artists and makers are taking part at 50-plus venues across Redland, Bishopston, Henleaze, St Andrews, Ashley and Horfield. Aside from the Trail, they exhibit and offer workshops all year round – for more information on the creatives, upcoming events and to find the trail map, hit up the website below. www.northbristolartists.org.uk
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WHAT’S ON
6 November4 December 2026
Look who’s Byrning down the house at St George’s
EXHIBITIONS Until 15 November
BRISTOL PHOTO FESTIVAL Locally founded but with an international focus, the biennial fest is back with the theme of Time Machine. bristolphotofestival.org
Until 20 December
DARK TALES Horror in proximity to the familiar, as photography gets its Gothic on at MPF; full story in our previous issue, if you fancy Googling it. martinparrfoundation.org DARKROOM And when you’ve seen Dark Tales, pop across the road to Arnos Vale Cemy where photographer Michel Campeau reflects on the mortality of the photographic medium through intimate depictions of analogue darkrooms. arnosvale.org.uk
Until 3 January
RWA ANNUAL OPEN One of the UK’s most prestigious Opens returns for the 173rd time, with artists at all stages of their careers; at RWA, rwa.org.uk
Until 31 January
BEVERLY BUCHANAN: WEATHERING The first European survey exhibition of the work of this
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American Southeaster; a practice shaped by memory, materiality and place. Spike Island; spikeisland.org.uk THE SECRET LIFE OF COLOUR Art, natural history and science combine to show how colour is created, perceived and used; big-hitters include Warhol, Riley, Kandinsky, Seurat, Blake and Hokusai. At Bristol Museum; bristolmuseums.org.uk
Until 7 February
JOY GREGORY: CATCHING FLIES WITH HONEY Works encompassing photography, film, installation and textiles, showcasing Joy’s inventive, culturally resonant and materially rich practice. Arnolfini; arnolfini.org.uk
Until 27 June 2027
MARTIN PARR: LACOCK Martin’s final commission, at Lacock: a full circle moment in his illustrious career. At Fox Talbot Museum; nationaltrust.org.uk
7-28 December
ANDREW HOOD: BETWEEN CITIES Clifton Contemporary Arts shows Andrew’s paintings of Bristol along with work inspired by cities encountered on his travels. firstcontemporary.com
SHOWS
Until 7 November
LANNY BOV’s biggie for autumn. Bea Roberts adapts Max Porter’s awardwinning novel for the stage; more in our previous issue, still handily online. bristololdvic.org.uk ROMEO & JULIET That makes at least four R&Js this autumn – but hang on, what’s this? It’s only world-renowned Shakespeare expert and BOVTS alumnus Greg Doran, returning to direct the cream of the current graduates! Come and see the stars of tomorrow directed by a titan of the British stage, at TFT, tobaccofactorytheatres.com OFF-KEY At a Birmingham grammar school bursting with overachievers, Sabrin and Ruqqiyah are free-falling to their futures. A coming-of-age drama about Black girlhood and what happens when you no longer recognise the person who knows you best, at BOV; bristololdvic.org.uk
Until 21 November
BACK TO THE FUTURE Fire up the DeLorean; Marty McFly’s back, and this time he and Doc are on stage for the musical version. Hippodrome, atgtickets.com
10-24 November
THE SILENCE AND THE NOISE Daize has a sharp tongue and a sharper blade. Ben has killer trainers and not much else. Can two neglected teenagers change their destinies? Tom Powell’s play beautifully portrays two young people finding hope together, at BOV: bristololdvic.org.uk
11-14 November
EVITA TOO During Isabel Perón’s time in power, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice wrote a blockbuster musical about her dead husband’s even deader ex-wife. And now, nobody remembers Isabel. Sh!t Theatre are at BOV to right that wrong, with songs, wizards, and if you’re lucky,, naked roller-skating. bristololdvic.org.uk
12 November
HOW (NOT) TO DIE LONG AGO IN FINLAND Sarah Lisa Wilkinson brings tales from the twisting roots of Finnish myth and folklore; at Cube, cubecinema.com
19-21 November
MACHINAL We’re told women can have it all. A career. A relationship. A family. A life. Women can choose. But what happens when every choice comes with a price? Inspired by the
WHAT’S ON real-life case of executed murderer, Ruth Snyder, Sophie Treadwell’s 1928 play is considered to be one of the great; it;s acted by the BOVTS graduates at BOV, bristololdvic.org.uk
THE GAFFE Stand-up LOLs from some of the sharpest, funniest comedians on the circuit; thegaffecomedyclub.com
20 November-26 January
JOHN HEGLEY: BISCUIT OF DESTINY The show is only partly biscuitbased. Human biscuits appear only in narrative form. Those presented physically are dog biscuits, and no attempt should be made to ‘try’ them. Some mandolin playing, myths, moths, possibly French Baroque dancing (for a few): standard Hegley, then. at Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com
GOLDILOCK, STOCK & THREE SMOKING BEARS A Wardrobe classic. Goldie knows her days of selling moody goods on the streets of East End London are numbered, but when circumstances leave her on the run from a pack of bears and in debt to a notorious gangster, will she be able to raise the ‘bees and honey’ and avoid doing porridge? You’ll laugh. A lot. thewardrobetheatre.com
20 November-9 January
A CHRISTMAS CAROL You can’t go wrong with a nice bit of Scrooge at Christmas, and the TFT is bringing all the ghosts, grit and generosity, the reckoning and redemption. tobaccofactorytheatres.com
21-28 November
ELOISE A magical tale of culinary curses and dastardly villains, performed by third year BOVTS students at Redgrave, redgravetheatre.com
24-28 November
CATS One of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history; you’ll either adore it or loathe it, there’s no middle ground., Hippodrome, atgtickets.com
27 November-2 January
CINDERELLA: A FAIRYTALE As opposed to...? Anyway, it’s the Sally Cookson version, and obviously she’s magic, so this revival at BOV should be too. bristololdvic.org.uk
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
top: Alok models his latest line of leisurewear
middle: Jimmy G’s back on the keys at The Mount Without bottom: Adam & Joe, here to put pay to your nostalgia
THE COMEDY STORE With nearly 40 years’ experience in the business the club at Redgrave is renowned as a breeding ground for new comedy talent; redgravetheatre.com
6 November
7 November
LAURA LEXX: YO-YO In a 10-year marriage your partner sees it all. Every bad idea and decision. Every unfiltered thought, and somehow, they still say they love you. The twist is that somewhere along the way, you have to believe them. More from Laura at Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com
8 November
MORGAN REES: WHAT A BUMMER A show about falling in love and keeping the spark alive, the spiral-inducing limbo of awaiting a diagnosis, and the experience of being a white Welsh valleys boy integrating into a proud Gujarati family. Oh, he’s got plenty to talk about, at BOV: bristololdvic.org.uk
12 November
LOUISE LEIGH: OCTOPUS Louise has spent the last year researching octopuses. She has also spent it on the motorway, and in a lifetime surrounded by men. These things are more linked than you’d think; hopefully she’ll clarify the connection at Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com
13 November
OUT OF THE WARDROBE Chuckle Busters and Morgan Rees present a LGBTQ+ showcase night featuring some of the best queer comedians on the UK circuit; Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com
14 November
MATT WINNING: SOLASTALGIA From karaoke with a bunch of bankers to petrol station bathrooms and the United Nations, an epic story about fatherhood, finance and facing the future, together, at Wardrobe, thewardrobetheatre.com
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15 November
ANIA MAGLIANO: PEACH FUZZ From the quirks of her own body to the legend that is Eve (yes, from Adam and), to her newly discovered boundaries, it’s Ania at her most relatable. According to her bio she’s written for Amelia Dimoldenberg’s Chicken Shop Date – hang on, Amelia didn’t write them? – while her choices on the Off Menu podcast are widely regarded as the worst of all time. At BOV, bristololdvic.org.uk 17 November LUCY BEAUMONT: BAD AT QUIZ SHOWS, GOOD WITH WEIRDOS Tales of going into hiding after Celebrity Traitors, creating cow udder couture on The Great British Sewing Bee, and navigating life as someone for whom normal has never made much of an appearance. Come to BOV for the chaos, stay for the weirdos. bristololdvic.org.uk
18 November
STUART GOLDSMITH: CANARY Turn to page 28 for the full lowdown; at BOV, bristololdvic.org.uk
20 November
KIELL SMITH-BYNOE & FRIENDS: KOOL STORY BRO Kiell’s back with his hit improv show; every night features a celebrity guest, a cast of the UK’s best improvisers, and stories from the audience to inspire the LOLs; at BOV, bristololdvic.org.uk
22 November
ADAM RICHES IS SEAN BEAN IN HOW THE BEAN SAVED CHRISTMAS Last Christmas, he gave you his heart. But the very next year, you gave it away. So now The Bean is back. What any of this has to do with Sean Bean will presumably be revealed, at Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com HENRY PAKER: PENCIL CASE Do you dare to gaze inside a cartoonist’s pencil case? Leave your preconceptions about comedy/ illustration at the Beacon door and expect to find them in an absolute state on the way out. bristolbeacon.org
25 November
MARK THOMAS: 40 IN STAND-UP YEARS Mark’s been a comedian for 40 years; won eight awards for performing; four for human rights
clockwise: Kneecap: “As soon as you’re outraged we’ve won”; Get your yee-hah on with The Shires; Kings of the modern post-punk scene, it’s Yard Act
work and one he invented for himself, but that’s not even the half of the numbers he’s crunching tonight at the Hen; henandchicken.com ALOK: EAT, PRAY, LEAVE Internationally condemned comedian Alok returns with a comedy about love, heartbreak, and the end times. Their therapist said stop dating projects, so they built one and are charging admission. Suffering is universal; it might as well be funny. St George’s, stgeorgesbristol.co.uk
the 30th anniversary of Channel 4’s groundbreaking show, ft. retroramblings with Buxton and Cornish. The most fun you’ve had since the late ’90s, with two men who are almost in their late’ 90s. Afflicted with nostalgia? Join thousands of fellow sufferers at Beacon and have it cured. bristolbeacon.org
MUSIC
JAMES BARR: SORRY I HURT YOUR SON (SAID MY EX TO MY MUM) This one sounds brave: with domestic abuse at its core, it’s a dark reckoning with shame and survival, at Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com
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)
5 December
7 November
29 November
THE ADAM AND JOE SHOW A giant watch party to celebrate
CHRIS STUSSY Or ‘Stassy’ depending on which
press release you read; the Dutch DJ and producer comes to Prospect for a midday to midnight show. theprospectbuilding.com SIMPLE THINGS Just when you though music festival season was over, Simple Things returns with its all-day, all-night multi-venue celebration of forwardfacing music. simplethingsfestival.co.uk
8 November
DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS Which was better, Come on Eileen or Geno? Does Kevin Rowland still wear a neckerchief and dungarees? Come along to check, and yell Too-RyeAye at the top of your lungs in the Beacon Hall; bristolbeacon.org
11 November
GIPSY KINGS Fusing flamenco, rumba, salsa and pop, famously not Spanish at all but French, the Kings come to Beacon with Bamboléo, Volare, Djobi Djoba and all the rest; bristolbeacon.org
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WHAT’S ON
blues, laced with roots, folk, soul, Americana, jazz and pop, in a show offering sanctuary, encouragement and a powerful celebration of selflove and self-expression. At Beacon bristolbeacon.org GENTLEMAN’S DUB CLUB With bright horns, buoyant bass lines and enough positive energy to transform any space into a Jamaican beach party, The Leeds outfit come to O2; academymusicgroup.com YARD ACT One of the defining UK bands of the decade, evolving from sharpedged post-punk beginnings into a bigger, more ambitious live force: check where they’re up to at Beacon, bristolbeacon.org
26 November
JIMMY GALVIN The pianist/composer holds his annual concert at the atmospheric The Mount Without in aid of Bristol Drugs Project, backed by a full live string orchestra, with fellow pianist Mark Stringer and special surprise guest. themountwithout.co.uk
28 November
THE DAMNED From explosive beginnings in the 1970s through decades of reinvention, the lads remain as sharp and unpredictable as ever. Expect a set stacked with classics, deep cuts and dark-edged theatrics, at Beacon, bristolbeacon.org
29 November
18 November
BELLOWHEAD One of the most influential and exuberant forces in modern folk, returns to Beacon to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its landmark debut album, Burlesque; bristolbeacon.org PUSSY RIOT A fusion of live music, theatre and multimedia from the internationally 18 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Yes, Christmas stuff is already happening, but we’re compiling this in October and we can’t even.
Ongoing
BRISTOL FILM FESTIVAL Expect the BFF to go full-on festive in December; but for now November’s mostly about sci-fi and whimsy; bristolfilmfestival.com
9-13 November
BRAZEN A new five-day festival of technology, creativity and culture, taking place across the city; the impressive line-up includes Roni Size. techspark.co/brazen
12 November
DAVID BYRNE Literally appearing as a talking head here, inspired by forthcoming book, Sleeping Beauties; he’s only doing five shows in the UK,and one is at St George’; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk
13-15 November
CLIFTON LITFEST The litfest you need to be careful about Spoonerism-ising returns to the Village; foccal.com/litfest
19-22 November
renowned feminist protest collective; at Beacon bristolbeacon.org
AFRIKA EYE The South West’s largest celebration of African storytelling returns with the theme First Look, New Generation, bringing African cinema fresh from Cannes, Berlinale and TIFF, with many titles not yet released in the UK. afrikaeye.org.uk
20 November
1 December
27-29 November
bottom: Lady Nade sings the blues
G4 CHRISTMAS The X Factor classical boys are still together – yes, even the blond one who briefly thought he could do better on his own –and singing festive songs at the Cathedral. Does that mean no Creep? g4official.com
OTHER
KNEECAP The Belfast-Derry boys are on blistering form with second album Fenian, blending rap, rave, punk, acid house and trip-hop into their most expansive sound to date. At Prospect; theprospectbuilding.com
top: We predict a Pussy Riot
12 November
and Americana, delivered with a British twist; expect driving rhythms, rich instrumentation and songs that balance wit with emotional punch. bristolbeacon.org
LEVELLERS The influential British folk-punkrockers bring their grass-roots social commentary and energetic musical fusion to Prospect; theprospectbuilding.com THE SHIRES British country duo Ben and Crissie come to Beacon. They’re only British act to win a CMA Award, fyi. Bristol Beacon, bristolbeacon.org
21 November
LADY NADE Bristol’s own Lady sings the
SHED SEVEN Shedcember alert: another huge run of shows, marking 30 years of anthems, energy and connection. Beacon, bristolbeacon.org
3 December
TONY HADLEY The former Spandau Ballerina is back at Beacon with his charming schtick of crooning, swing and stories. bristolbeacon.org
4 December
POLICE DOG HOGAN An amiable blend of country, folk
CARY COMES HOME The biannual homage to Horfieldborn megastar Cary Grant returns; there’s a kind of ‘journeys’ theme in the Cary on the Go strand, with screenings including his very first and last films. carycomeshome.co.uk
30 November
BRIAN BILSTON: HOW TO LAY AN EGG WITH A HORSE INSIDE The funniest poet in the UK takes us through the hows, whys and whats of reading and writing, at St George’s; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk n
ARTS
THE GRAND OLD DUKE OF KING STREET The place where Bristol’s jazz found a home
F
rom the outside, The Old Duke looks like any other pub. With its red brick walls and rows of outdoor benches, it could be mistaken for just another Bristol drinking spot – until you stop and listen. Step inside, and Bristol gives way to New Orleans as jazz seeps into every corner. All walks of life can be found rubbing shoulders here, united by the love of music in what many locals consider to be their second living room. Though The Old Duke may have achieved global recognition in recent years, it has never lost track of its roots, and its drive to support Bristolbased performers is just as strong as ever. From sailors to smugglers to old-time jazz veterans, it’s seen an eclectic mix of faces in its time. Dating back to the 1770s, the pub wasn’t always the musical hotspot it is today, first appearing as a shabby drinking hole for merchants back when King Street connected to the docks. In fact, segments of Bristol’s original city wall can still be found in the cellar, and its name referred to the Duke of Cumberland long before it paid any homage to the great Duke Ellington. George McKay, a professor of media studies, writes of how The Old Duke has recontextualised the English pub tradition entirely where, by keeping its name intact, “a portrait of a white imperial old-world hero is replaced by one of a black transnational new-world hero.” The result is a fusion of West Country and New Orleans heritage, where the pub’s identity is based more around its music and audience than any set expectations of style. Although its musical foundations lie with traditional New Orleans jazz, the pub’s seven-nights-a-week schedule now incorporates blues, soul, country and funk alongside modern jazz and classic bands, providing something for everyone. This
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Words and pics by Ella Robertson
above: The 45s performing to a lively crowd at The Old Duke Jazz Festival
inclusivity, boosted by the lack of any entrance fee, makes music readily available to anyone who walks through the door. At the time of its opening as a music venue in 1967, Bristol’s jazz scene did not have a clear place in the city. The Old Duke provided just what the scene needed – a permanent stage for local musicians where jazz was a priority. Staff describe the pub’s aim to “showcase the talented musicians who are the life and soul of Bristol’s jazz music scene”, an aim just as present today as it was on day one. Bands like The Severn Jazz Men, who performed at The Old Duke on its opening night, still hold regular playing sessions, while newer faces are encouraged to take part in the weekly open-mic nights. Here, any nerves are quickly eased by the low-key feel to the evening, and if the free drink policy isn’t incentive enough, the crowd of friendly faces around the bar can persuade even the most reluctant of performers to return the following week. The pub’s annual jazz festival places Bristol’s musicians into even clearer view. Incorporated into Old City Sounds, the festival delivers non-stop jazz and blues for three full days and is completely free to attend, attracting crowds of all ages. By opening the pub’s front windows, an improvised stage area is created which becomes progressively livelier as the music takes hold. This year, relaxed, family-friendly audiences could be seen soaking up the daytime performances, whilst nighttime acts brought a packed-out dancefloor to King Street. Jack Mac, who performed on Saturday afternoon with his multitalented group Jack Mac’s Funk Pack, described this year’s festival as “electric, with such an engaging, eclectic, appreciative audience – it’s always a brilliant event”. He went on to praise The Old Duke’s
“Step inside, and Bristol gives way to New Orleans”
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ARTS
Anything that stands still long enough will be papered with memorabilia middle right: Award-winning guitarist Eddie Martin and his band the 58s, who also performed at the jazz festival
contributions to Bristol’s jazz scene, saying “Bristol is lucky to have a venue like The Old Duke championing grassroots jazz music every day of the week. It has been a formative stage in many musicians’ professional journeys, mine included.” Ever since The Old Duke provided a platform for local musicians, Bristol’s jazz community has thrived. Today, a number of similar venues can be found dotted around the city, while many well-known musicians have developed their own style within this circle. Before finding fame with Portishead, Adrian Utley began his musical life playing in Bristol’s jazz bands and is considered by some as one of the great jazz guitarists. The Bristol Fringe, which opened in Clifton Village in 2011, offers a very similar atmosphere and music programme to The Old Duke, while spots such as The Gallimaufry, The Jam Jar and The Canteen also host a variety of jazz acts each month. The Old Duke’s influence is reflected in the success of its musicians, and neither shows any sign of slowing down. In 2009, the pub was named by the Brecon Jazz Festival as one of the handful of venues to have made the most important contribution to the UK’s jazz music, confirming its place in the country’s jazz history. Though some may experience The Old Duke’s charm for just one night, others find a permanent home under its roof, where jazz is always accessible to anyone who chooses to listen. n For more www.theoldduke.com
“Bristol is lucky to have a venue that champions grassroots music every day of the week”
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FRESH THINKING OVER A FINE LUNCH Unique social business occasion + live interview with MARK CLAYTON of Triodos Bank
Wednesday 11 November, 12pm at The Granary
Full details here:
If you would like to get involved, email events@mediaclash.co.uk
BE PA RT OF T HE C ONVE R SATI ON
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BRISTOL GRAMMAR SCHOOL NEWS Catch up on what’s been happening at BGS recently
NATIONAL RECOGNITION: THE TELEGRAPH’S BEST SCHOOL IN BRISTOL AND GLOUCESTER FOR VALUE
THREE NEW SENIOR APPOINTMENTS STRENGTHEN BGS OFFERING
The Telegraph’s accolade recognises the combination of academic achievement and breadth of co-curricular opportunities available to pupils at BGS, highlighting the value of a broad and ambitious education in the city. Reflecting on the award, Jaideep Barot, Head of BGS said: “Delivering value, particularly in the current climate, has been a real focus for us as a school. Against a backdrop of school closures and mergers, and with families carefully considering the value of different educational opportunities available to them, this award is a wonderful recognition of the emphasis we place on providing an outstanding experience for our families.” “Building strong relationships with our pupils and families is incredibly important to us, which is why it is particularly pleasing to be recognised for both our academic outcomes and our co-curricular offer. That combination is exactly what BGS is all about.”
BGS X RWA BGS is excited to announce a new partnership with Royal West of England Academy (RWA) in support of the RWA’s Learning and Engagement Programme. As a school for Bristol and the community, the support from BGS will help enable the RWA to continue to deliver and build their creative programmes, such as Scribble & Sketch, hyper-local creative sessions as well as family workshops, gallery-based events and activities for children, young people and their families with SEN+D. Caroline Booth Morris, Head of Development at RWA said; “Support from Bristol Grammar School helps underpin the RWA’s Learning & Engagement programme, enabling us to continue delivering creative opportunities for children, young people, families and community groups across Bristol. It reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that arts and culture remain accessible and welcoming to all.”
BGS welcomes three experienced leaders who will build on the school’s already extensive provision. Bringing significant expertise and fresh energy to three areas that are central to the BGS experience, pupils will have even more opportunities to discover new passions, develop their talents and challenge themselves beyond the classroom. Mark Nasey has been appointed as Director of Sport, he said; “I was really drawn to BGS by its vision and values, and I’m excited to be joining such a vibrant school community. I’m looking forward to bringing my experience to BGS and working with pupils, staff and families to build on the school’s sporting strengths and create an exciting, sustainable future for sport here.” Gwilym Starks joins as Head of Outdoor Education, said: “Outdoor Education is a thriving part of school life at BGS, with opportunities for pupils at every stage of their journey. I’m looking forward to helping even more students discover the confidence, skills and sense of adventure that time spent outdoors can inspire.” James Buckley, the new BGS Head of Art, said: “For me, great art education is about giving students genuine creative independence; the freedom to take risks, make decisions and find their own voice. I want students at BGS to encounter an inspiring breadth of artists, ideas, materials and experiences, and to leave with not only strong creative skills, but the confidence, drive and curiosity to think and create for themselves.”
University Rd, Bristol BS8 1SR; 0117 973 6006; www.bristolgrammarschool.co.uk
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STAND-UP FOR THE PLANET STUART GOLDSMITH was scared about the climate crisis. But then he did the reading, and now he’s terrified. Come and watch him try to do something about it; maybe have a few laughs while you’re there Words by Ursula Cole
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COMEDY
he phrase ‘canary in the coalmine’ refers to the old mining practice in which these sensitive birds were used as a kind of earlywarning system, alerting workers to toxins before it was too late. In his new show, Stuart Goldsmith is the canary, and climate change is the coal mine “The title Canary is a reference to the little bird hopping about trying to warn everyone of impending disaster”, he says.“There’s a key theme in the show about how I’ve suffered from hypervigilance since I was in a car accident as a child. I’m trying to use my lifelong panicky heightened awareness of potential threats to be useful, like the little bird. “My manifesto for the show is that I want it to be the sort of thing you can recommend to a friend who’s freaking out about the climate, and it will cheer them up, heal them, and set them on a path to helping to save the world. I don’t feel I have a ‘duty’ to be useful per se, but I do have a strong desire to. We have 90% of the technological solutions we need, and it drives me mad that we’re so slow in adopting them. “As well making people laugh about the things we can all do to make fun, easy changes in our own lives, I also talk about how talking more about them can amplify those actions, effectively throwing paint over the ‘invisible monster’ of the climate emergency. “If you’re worried about the crisis, or feel like you don’t know how to talk about it, and it’s too frightening and complicated, you’re going to love the show. It’s something like my 11th stand-up, but it’s the second since I started really trying to get to grips with climate in my work.”
Still smiling as the world goes to hell in a handcart
The golden rule, he says, is “‘Funny first’. The jokes need to all be good enough to get a comedy club crowd on my side on a Friday night when climate is the last thing they want to hear about. “But Canary is also a genuine attempt to say something meaningful about turning your climate anxiety into something positive and powerful, and it’s also a reminder that the fossil fuel companies would love us to fret over and compare our carbon footprints while they get on with trying to convince us that the science isn’t settled, so they can keep making billions. It’s non-judgmental, and I’m always making fun of my own attempts to change, and my own hypocrisy, first and foremost.” But Stuart, how can the climate crisis possibly be funny? “Comedy exists in the contradictions and the ambiguities of life”, he says. “We say ‘the problems are the material’, and fortunately for me we have this great torrent of problems to contend with. “I have loads of different approaches to find jokes: I try to use myself as a prism to simplify complicated ideas. I dig into how we manage to live our day-to-day lives despite the enormous changes we all know we need to make. And if all else fails I just start swearing loads. “I’ve spent a lot of time and energy learning how to get people on board with something complicated, frightening and apparently a long way off. As Britain is smashed by one heatwave after another, that’s getting a little easier. I’ve had one or two walkouts, and an extremely gentle haranguing from a Facebook granny who believed that Extinction Rebellion were all actors paid by the deep state. I also upset a popular wildlife presenter because my joke about polar bears contained a technical inaccuracy. But most of the time people are relieved to hear
“It’s not the end of the world, but it is the beginning of a new one”
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 29
COMEDY and the incredibly weird notion of a pizza hatch within a different pizzeria. I get my hair cut at South Central Barbers because I am cool and young. What I’m starting to realise is, the only reason I leave roughly a 2km circle between Queen’s Square and Corn Street is to occasionally go to Nadu.” And of course, there’s the pleasure of playing to a home crowd. “I can’t believe I’ve very nearly sold out the most significant theatre and one of the biggest comedy venues in my home town – they can’t all be my mates, surely? I’m thrilled to be bringing big laughs, a message of climate hope, and permission to grapple with some of the world’s scariest problems, to my home turf.” Come along on 18 November and have a laugh about the climate crisis. We may as well. ■ Stuart Goldsmith’s Canary is at Bristol Old Vic on 18 November www.bristololdvic.org.uk
STUART GOLDSMITHS’ REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL We’re a planet of 8b problemsolvers. The thing humans are best at is dreaming up creative solutions, and we’re capable of huge social change; eg seatbelts, health and safety, no smoking in bars, etc. Not to mention the prevalence of disruptive apps like Uber and Deliveroo and Netflix – I’m not saying those apps are good in and of themselves, but they do show how quickly entire industries can transform when people are sufficiently motivated.
someone dragging our secret fears into the light and trying to inspire some fierce joy.” What Stuart wants to achieve, he says, is to give people permission to feel hope – “and I want to smash Edinburgh so hard that it gets back to Elon Musk and convinces him that not only is fixing our perfectly good planet much easier than terraforming Mars, but also that if he helps fix the climate, people might overlook all the deaths he’s definitely caused.” Enough about the planet for now. You’re a Bristol boy – feel free to big up the city. What are your favourite bits? “I’m going to sound like a massive crawler here, but I do think the Bristol Old Vic foyer is my favourite place to remote-work. I also love We The Curious; their approach to curation is amazing, Who knew you could get a whole floor’s worth of learning about the world out of ‘sand’?! “I default to Renato’s for any and all nights out, due to the combination of a really unpretentious vibe, great music,
“The only reason I leave roughly a 2km circle between Queen’s Square and Corn Street is to occasionally go to Nadu”
30 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
China has switched to electrification at a dizzying speed – and in the West, no-one dreamed that solar power would be taken up anything like as fast as it has been.
There are so many other solutions like that just waiting to be adopted: home ‘balcony’ power panels, micro grids, onshore wind, heat pumps, hydrogen to fuel low carbon freight and shipping, meaning that oil will most likely become worthless before it runs out, because the alternatives are so much cheaper and more efficient!* It’s not the end of the world, but it is the beginning of a new world. *(Did you know that when you put fuel in a combustion engine car, up to EIGHTY PERCENT of it is lost as heat that doesn’t make the car go forwards?)
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BUSINESS BEATS CANCER
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£100,000 raised for Cancer Research in Bristol
he annual Business Beats Cancer Bristol’s Gala Dinner brought together 250 guests for an unforgettable evening of fundraising, entertainment and shared commitment to raise vital funds for cancer research in Bristol. The board’s flagship fundraising event welcomed guests from across Bristol’s business community for an evening hosted by TV and radio presenter Ian Downs, AKA “Downsey”. With entertainment from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and the vibrant samba band Ilu Axé. Alongside live and silent auctions and the
“THE BOARD WAS FORMED SIX YEARS AGO, WITH THE PURPOSE TO BRING TOGETHER BRISTOL BUSINESSES AND SUPPORT CANCER RESEARCH UK” 32 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
chance to win a beautiful pink diamond ring, generously donated by Titcombe Bespoke worth £6880. The evening’s festivities and incredible generosity helped smash the £75,000 fundraising target, bringing the total raised to an outstanding £100,000. The evening also highlighted why this support matters. Guests heard from experts in Cancer Research, about the exciting advances being made in the field, described as a “golden age” of research and the vital need for continued funding to turn scientific progress into better outcomes for people affected by cancer. The board was formed six years ago, with the purpose to bring together Bristol businesses and support Cancer Research UK. Every penny raised by Business Beats Cancer Bristol goes towards funding cancer research in the city. Helping support the work that brings us closer to a future where more people survive cancer and live longer, better lives. BBCB Chair Kate Banks said: “The BBCB is absolutely thrilled with this result as it’s great
to see all our hard work pay off and we are so appreciative of the support and generosity we received from the Bristol business community - this is a meaningful contribution to funding cancer research in this city and they did us proud” While £100,000 is a tremendous achievement, the need for continued support still remains. Business Beats Cancer Bristol runs fundraising activities throughout the year and welcomes businesses and individuals who want to make a difference. The next BBCB Gala Dinner will take place on Thursday 7th October 2027, with ticket details to be announced soon!
www.cancerresearchuk.org
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HEAVEN’S SKATE This may look like a skate park. It is not just a skate park. This is Dean Lane Hardcore Words and pics by Colin Moody
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BRISTOL HEROES
ean Lane Hardcore is an annual gnarly event with tricks, stunts, punks and plenty of clunks, including the skateboard that after rising to the top of this wall decided to find my forehead on its way back to earth. And before we start, I have already heard that local councillors have their ears bent that new neighbours are choosing to exercise their right to complain about the noise. On an event that takes place once a year. Where young and old chaotics choose to come and go, both feral and Olympic standard, on four wheels. It’s Earth and Elysium at the same time, in the same place.
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One of the biggest cheers of this year was for this skater who spent what seemed like the whole day attempting the near-impossible trick of rising up to the top of this wall, rotating the board and then descent. But they laid it down, and everyone smacked their boards to the cement in celebration.
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Way I see it, things in the world are pretty messed up right now. We are riding on the edge of total systemic failure in terms of society, economy and environment. But while some doomscroll to infinite ignorance, others are riding impossible angles to grind their boards around the bend. There is hope there.
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Gone to the Deaner for the Fun Day jam. Back around 4pm. If it’s urgent come find us. Apologies for the inconvenience.
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“Messy is good. Messy is freedom. Messy is the incubation space” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 35
BRISTOL HEROES
“Bristol. City of freedom. Don’t ever let them try and stop you” 4
As a photographer/videographer I’m a pig in swill at this event. There may be a zillion AI slops filling up the internet of video generated inside data centres. But here at Dean Lane Hardcore, so many down-stepped video and camera tricks are at play. Have to admire particularly the video squads. This young auteur has a 43mm super fisheye glass lens screwed on to the front of their Panasonic camcorder which means they get everything Kubrick-style playing across the frontal lobes of anyone watching their footage. And this other team were sending a feed from their camcorder into a tiny Nintendo-looking thing, turning the footage into instant game play. The experimental ways crews were getting into skating visually seems to me to be parallel to the insane scope of the skaters themselves, to reach new heights and become one with the space around them.
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“Hey take my photo…” she said. And I’ll take wild child over Instagram-friendly cock of the leg and the peace logo fingers and vanilla smiles any time. I’d say this portrait captures the energy of the crowd. Thank you to the Smyth family, who took over a capped-off abandoned coalmine back in the day and gifted it to the people of Bristol and all those who built those early gnarly ramps. It’s harder to skate on tarmac, but it toughens you up nicely.
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Anyone know who this wizard priest was? He absolved the crowd with blood and flour (assume it was flour) Generations have dedicated themselves to socialising at the Deaner and they have fought blood and rail to keep it messy. Messy is good. Messy is freedom. Messy is the incubation space. So much of our cultural life has been Coldplayified, but there is another way. One where the colour and spirit overflows into a pit (and interestingly this whole place sits over mine shafts, which must have saved it from developers who can’t put foundations over voids) of such intensity that you can’t help but forget everything but this moment. Last line goes to the reverend from Disciple BC… “Rarely have I ever been in the company of so many beautifully, wayward souls.”
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There is a skater called Spex. He was 10 years old when this park opened and I hear he brings his kids here to skate now. Do us all a favour, though, if you ever shot at the Deaner, go check your loft for old VHS tapes. One day someone is gonna find a way to build on concrete-tapped mineshafts, like they are building flats on stilts on the flood plain by the Cumberland Basin. I’ve never been free to attend the Dean Lane Hardcore before. I take away a solid bump on my head and very happy memories. Misfits all came together and no longer mis-fitted. It just works. Don’t know what it says about me that I know a lot of those who came. People are finding their tribes all over this city. And to those who complain about the noise, just remember that there are hardly any youth clubs left, the spaces for young people to grow are so restricted. So let’s hold on to Dean Lane, keep it gritty and interesting. No VIP areas. Tagging and wildstyle from Goldie, Cheo, Ryder and Inkie and the rest blended with the sound of grinding boards and a smell that says “this is our park”. Bristol. City of freedom. Don’t ever let them try and stop you. Colin Moody: content creation, online images Twitter @moodycolin; Instagram @colinmoodyphotography www.colinmoodyphotography.wordpress.com
36 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
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MEET THE
HEAD TEACHER Local educational leaders tell us about their duties, both managerial and pastoral
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What makes QEH distinctive? We offer Bristol’s only specialist boys’ education during their formative teenage years. From ages 7-16, we tailor our environment to bring out the best in them. When pupils transition into our fantastic co-educational Sixth Form, they build on their confidence and academic ambition to find their direction. What are you most proud of about QEH? I am proud that QEH provides opportunities to discover unknown talents and explore future possibilities. From sports and music to the stage and outdoor challenges, pupils find what captures their interest and pushes them beyond their comfort zone. In our most recent inspection, we received a rare ‘Significant Strength’ for our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing provision. I am incredibly proud of this achievement.
0117 930 3078; www.qehbristol.co.uk
What do children need most from education today? Children need strong academic foundations as well as the confidence to ask questions, learn from setbacks, and adapt. I feel strongly that they need to combine their human intelligence and values with the best of AI and technology; human skills will always be in demand, and our school values reflect this.
What is the ethos and character of QEH? At QEH, we empower pupils to find their passions, embrace challenge, and fulfil their potential in a close-knit community where every child is known. Our core values – kindness, collaboration, positivity, and curiosity – shape daily school life. Guided by our motto, ‘Whilst we have time, let us do good,’ our pupils recognise the importance of giving back.
What would you most like Bristol Life readers to know about QEH? QEH is a thriving school community, and the best way to experience our specialist boys’ education and co-educational Sixth Form is to come and visit. Meeting our pupils tells you far more than exam results or prospectuses. We are proud that our pupils leave school with the qualifications, confidence, resilience and character to pursue their ambitions.
RUPERT HEATHCOTE
HEAD OF QUEEN ELIZABETH’S HOSPITAL (QEH), BRISTOL
JESSICA MILES
HEADTEACHER OF BADMINTON SCHOOL www.badmintonschool.co.uk How would you describe the ethos and character of your school? Badminton is a warm, ambitious community where every girl is known, valued and stretched. Our four values, aspiration, curiosity, courage and courtesy, shape how we teach, how we treat one another and the young women our students become. We want every girl to leave confident in who she is, proud of what she can achieve and ready to make her mark on the world. What makes your school distinctive? We are proudly all-girls at a time when many schools are moving to co-education, and we believe that matters. Here, every leadership role, every team and every science lab belongs to girls. We are not a hothouse. Success means helping each individual fulfil her potential, whether that is four A*s, a place on a prestigious art foundation course or securing a highly competitive apprenticeship. Is there a particular project, development or initiative at the school that you are especially excited about? I am especially excited about My Voice, My Place, our new self-advocacy programme for every Sixth Former. It builds on our My Badminton, My Bristol, My Britain programme in the Lower and Middle School, which encourages girls to understand themselves, contribute to their communities and develop a sense of responsibility for the wider world. In the Sixth Form, the focus shifts to helping them use their voice with confidence. Through public speaking, conflict resolution, interview techniques and negotiation, students develop the skills, resilience and self-belief to advocate for themselves and navigate life beyond school. What would you most like Bristol Life readers to know about your school? Badminton is a school where girls feel at home, are encouraged to take risks and are empowered to find their voice. From Prep through to Sixth Form, we combine academic ambition with exceptional pastoral care and a genuine sense of community, where friendships flourish and individuality is genuinely celebrated. Come and see us. The best way to understand Badminton is to walk through the door and meet the remarkable young women who make this such a special place. Our next open event is our Visiting Morning on Friday 20 November. Book your place online: www.badmintonschool.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 39
MELVYN ROFFE
HEAD OF HABERDASHERS’ MONMOUTH SCHOOL; www.habsmonmouth.org What first attracted you to a career in education, and what led you to your current school? Education for me has always been about change. It’s about the way we change as individuals as we grow and learn, and how our society changes to incorporate new knowledge and manage new (and sometimes old) challenges. Taking over the Headship at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School was a homecoming for me. I worked here earlier in my career, when our now adult children were very small. I have been reconnecting with the past while also planning for the future of this very special school. What makes your school distinctive? Monmouth is a uniquely historic town, and our school has long been at its heart. It makes for a special learning and living experience for all our pupils, not least our international boarders, who are immediately part of a lively but very safe British community. What do you think children need most from their education today? If education is fundamentally about change, today’s pupils need the knowledge and skills to manage change happening at a speed and on a scale we have not seen historically, and the uncertainty that comes with it. Being grounded and comfortable with change and uncertainty are important objectives of education now, as are the critical skills needed to discern good change from bad. What do you hope pupils will remember about their time at school? I hope our pupils will remember the fun and companionship of school life, the people who made a difference and the things that, years after leaving us, they look back on and think: “that helped make me who I am today”.
DAN SIMSON
HEAD OF INFANTS & JUNIORS, BRISTOL GRAMMAR SCHOOL 0117 973 6109; www.bristolgrammarschool.co.uk How would you describe the ethos and character of your school? Upon joining the school in September 2025, I was instantly struck by the breadth of opportunity our children enjoy as part of their school day. I could see how deeply committed BGS is to providing a truly wellrounded education and how every child is encouraged to discover their interests, develop their talents and grow in confidence, whether their passion is sport, music, drama, outdoor learning or academic study. What do you think makes your school distinctive? I have seen how our children are celebrated for who they are while also being challenged to become the very best version of themselves, and the balance doesn’t happen by chance; it is carefully nurtured by a talented team who know every child as an individual. What are your main priorities for the year ahead? This year, we will continue to build on what makes BGS exceptional. Every day is filled with moments that capture something that lies at the heart of BGS I&J, which is curiosity, community and care. We know that education is about so much more than academic achievement and, in the year ahead, we will continue to help children discover who they are, what they enjoy and what they can become. We also know that play is not separate from learning but an essential part of how children develop creativity, resilience, confidence and problem-solving skills, and we will be focusing on how this can be further woven into life across the school in age-appropriate ways to get the very best results.
40 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
WILL PHELAN
HEAD OF CLIFTON HIGH SCHOOL 0117 973 0201; www.cliftonhigh.co.uk
How do you prepare pupils not only for examinations, but also for life beyond school? Results at Clifton High continue to rise, but education goes beyond academics. We consider what pupils will need in the workplace in 2037, helping them discover their individual brilliance, embrace technology and develop the human skills to solve tomorrow’s challenges. For families considering Clifton High, what do you hope they would notice most when they visit the school? Having worked in many schools, this is by far the happiest and kindest. Children are happy, engaged and known as individuals. Our all-through School has a strong community, and a House system sees older pupils supporting younger children. It feels like a family, creating a sense of belonging that inspires joyful, motivated learners An independent education is changing rapidly. How is Clifton High School adapting to prepare pupils for the future? In September 2026, we formed Pembroke Education with The Downs Preparatory School. This collaboration allows us to retain our individual identities while sharing knowledge, expertise and resources. We do not wish to stand still; we recognise our responsibility to provide a forwardthinking, responsive education that builds on our strengths.
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JAMES AVERIS
HEADMASTER OF CLIFTON COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL www.cliftoncollege.com You became Headmaster this September, after serving as Deputy Head Pastoral. How does it feel to be taking the reins? It feels incredibly exciting. Stepping into this role, I can shape the future of a community I know and love. Moving from Deputy Head to Headmaster feels like a natural evolution. My background in pastoral care means that relationships and pupil wellbeing sit at the heart of my leadership. While the independent school climate faces pressures, our strong pupil numbers reflect the trust families place in our offering. I am eager to lead this next chapter from the front. If we were to walk through your school on a typical morning, what would the atmosphere feel like? There is no typical morning, but what you would feel is a buzz of purposeful energy and vibrant community life, accompanied by the sound of laughter. You would see smiles at the gates, check-ins from houseparents, and feel a sense of effortless belonging.
SAM DREW
DEPUTY HEAD (PASTORAL), SIDCOT SCHOOL info@sidcot.org.uk; www.sidcot.org.uk
What first attracted you to a career in education? Growing up, my parents were foster carers, so I grew up in a busy, supportive household that naturally gave me a want to help others. I’m passionate about making sure young people can access the support and services they need when they need them – that’s what drives the pastoral and safeguarding work I do every day, and I feel honoured to support students at Sidcot through my role. What do you enjoy most about your role? There are so many rewarding elements of my job: seeing students thrive in whatever they do is one of the things I love most. It’s a privilege to watch a young person truly grow through friendship, sport, the arts, science, humanities, or any of the other subjects we offer. Is there a particular project, development or initiative at the school that you are especially excited about? This year, Sidcot has introduced an innovative basketball programme in partnership with the professional international team, Bristol Flyers. I look forward to seeing our students benefit from the specialist coaching and training sessions this collaboration provides.
How does your school prepare pupils for the transition to senior school? We prepare our oldest pupils by increasing their autonomy while maintaining a safety net. They take on responsibilities within the house system and sports teams, building confidence and resilience. Our curriculum teaches study skills and self-reflection, moving to independent inquiry, and because our teachers know each child inside out, we offer individualised transition support, matching every pupil’s strengths to the senior school environment. What will success look like for your pupils by the time they complete their prep school journey? Success will look like a well-rounded, grounded yet ambitious individual, brimming with quiet confidence, adaptability, and kindness, having found their place. Most importantly, a successful leaver is a good citizen who has benefited from exceptional care and now looks outward to make a positive impact on the world.
CLARE FRASER,
HEADTEACHER, CO-PROPRIETOR & DDSL, CLEVE HOUSE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL; www.clevehouseschool.com What do you enjoy about your work? Every day I count my blessings to have discovered Cleve House School 17 years ago. It is mind-blowing seeing what our young charges can achieve, and not just with exam results. I’m proud and privileged to work with the most amazing and inspiring people – colleagues, students and parents. Yes, it’s difficult at times, but always a lot of fun. What makes your school stand out? We’re unique in Bristol by offering The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, a globally-recognised teaching method. I believe the GCSE model of learning facts and regurgitating them in timed sessions is outdated for today’s fast-changing world where we can research facts in seconds. Surely, it’s better to teach our young people skills around critical thinking, real-life problem solving, giving back to the community, and better communications, in an environment full of joy and opportunity. What lies ahead in 2026/27? We’re in our 90th year of educating pupils and want to celebrate that. We also recently opened a secondary school on site, offering a different way to traditional GCSEs, and are excited to see that grow.
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SPONSORED CONTENT schools because I am an academic allrounder. I played a reasonable level of sport (university football and boxing), was a pretty good musician (Grade VIII viola), and I did okay academically (chemistry degree at Oxford). I wanted to work in an environment that absolutely expects students to get the best grades they possibly can, but that also supports them in all the other really important areas of school life too; sport, music, drama and a huge number of other things. At Collegiate, our students work hard and they play hard, too.
JEREMY McCULLOUGH
What do you think makes your school distinctive? I know that everyone says this but we really are a family school. We take boys and girls, academic high-fliers, those who may need a bit more support, musicians, actors, not to mention sporty types and those who have not yet found their thing. We help every individual to be the best they can be.
sending some amazing young people out into the world. What do you enjoy most about being a headteacher? While I would love to tell you that it is all about the school improvement plans and budget meetings, it is actually the day-to-day interactions with our amazing young people: supporting them playing sport, watching them in a play, or just saying ‘hello’ to them as we all go about our day. They are a constant reminder of why we do what we do. Is there a particular project, development or initiative at the school that you are especially excited about? We are currently creating a brand-new fitness centre that is going to be a terrific new resource. It will not just be brilliant for our elite athletes but it will be great for everyone… maybe even for the Head too!
HEAD OF COLLEGIATE SCHOOL
0117 9923194; www.collegiate.org.uk What first attracted you to a career in education, and what led you to your current school? I was attracted to teach in independent
What are you most proud of about the school at the moment? Our young people. The fact that they are grounded (by the values we instill), rounded (by the opportunities they have) and inspired (by the challenges we give them). We are
REBECCA DAVIES
HEAD OF REDMAIDS’ HIGH SCHOOL GDST. www.redmaidshigh.co.uk/visit-us What first attracted you to a career in education, and what led you to your current school? Looking back to my own childhood, my future options could have been limited – my parents had left school by 16, I attended a large Cornish comprehensive and received free school meals. Luckily, I had inspiring teachers who opened intellectual doors while offering kindness, support and an optimism about the future which led me into teaching. I am delighted to join Redmaids’ High from January as the school combines the best of both worlds – unparallelled academic standards and superb pastoral care which combine to create a warm and supportive community. What do you think children need most from their education today? Children deserve a rich and inspiring curriculum, with nurture and support, and breadth of opportunity to develop skills such as confidence and adaptability. Girls in particular need learning environments free from misogyny and limiting stereotypes, where they can develop their identity, voice and aspirations with confidence. What would you most like Bristol Life readers to know about your school? As the oldest girls’ school in the country, we ensure our curriculum is forward-thinking from Years 3 to 13, offering unique opportunities including Engineering for our Juniors or Marine Science GCSE in Sixth Form. We support our students to develop self-confidence, leadership, courage to take opportunities, and the skills to shape their future. These foundations ensure we regularly achieve the best results in Bristol. Our girls benefit from excellent pastoral care, rigorous academic support and a bustling extra-curricular programme. Furthermore, as a member of the Girls’ Day School Trust, we are part of a network of schools providing girls with outstanding opportunities enabling them to learn without limits – indeed our 100,000 strong alumnae network is a significant professional network.
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Collegiate School in Bristol is holding its Working Open Morning on Friday 20 November. To book your place, visit www.collegiate.org.uk/Open-Days
EMILY & DAN ROSS STORYSMITH BOOKS
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It’s the last gasp before Christmas nevitably, the coming instalments of this column are going to get somewhat sidetracked by the true meaning of Christmas (AKA forcing your book tastes on unsuspecting uncles). So you can treat this column as something of a final resting point before the sharp climb into gifting season, a pure and unadorned series of recommendations free of festive agenda, simply Some Books We Read Recently And Loved. With that in mind, not only have we stuck to our usual remit of reading as widely as possible, we’ve also managed to squish in one more recommendation than usual. Truly, the early gift you were all hoping for.
Gaining Ground by Joan Barfoot A revolutionary howl of a novel, reissued 48 years after its original publication, Gaining Ground is the tale of a mother who – remorselessly, triumphantly – leaves her young family in suburbia for a solitary existence in a remote woodland cabin. She works the land, makes a home, and reaches countless new realms of psychological enlightenment through her connection with the natural world around her. Her new life is incredible. Until – wuh-woh! – someone finds her. Lamento by Madame Nielsen (trans. Gaye Kynoch) Lamento is a magnificently breathless and poetic love
story that has immediately put significant pressure on Emily’s Books of the Year list. Madame Nielsen’s protagonist recounts, to her child, the bewitching, fairytalelike intensity of the love between her and the child’s father, and the subsequent fragilities that are exposed as the real world starts to creep back into their lives. Reading up on the author’s story makes this an even more poignant interrogation of love and gender, of trying to create art whilst caring for a child, and of the (constantly evolving) self. Our obsession with Madame Nielsen is well and truly alighted!
Fancy Work by Alice Hattrick Alice Hattrick tracks with intimate detail the historical significance of textile craft both within and beyond the domestic space. Focusing on designer May Morris – a key player in the transformation of needlework from an oft-dismissed hobby to a means of livelihood – Hattrick examines the prevalence of embroidery in documenting and empowering the lives of queer and disabled communities. A pure delight to read, and beloved by our bookseller Tasha. So there you have it, recommendations unblemished by the oncoming yuletide onslaught. Next time you hear from us in these hallowed pages it’ll be a different story: we’ll be desperately loading the tables with extra stock of celebrity biographies, cajoling the dog into posing for Instagram pics with tinsel wrapped round his paws, and existing on an eggnogonly diet. Or… maybe we’ll just be reading the same old mix of weird and wonderful stuff.
“Our obsession with Madame Nielson is well and truly alighted”
The Castle by Jon Ronson Ronsoniacs already know that a new book from the awkward owlish detective is a major cultural event, and The Castle is no exception. This time, spurred on by a bizarre incident in which his son is invited to an ostentatious castle to participate in a reality TV show, Ronson investigates various examples of men who have been left unmoored by galloping changes in society and online culture. It’s frightening, funny, nuanced, enraging, bizarre and – most importantly – hugely entertaining.
Visit Storysmith at 36 North Street, Bedminster; www.storysmithbooks.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 45
SPONSORED CONTENT
THE FUTURE OF DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING ARRIVES IN BRISTOL A major investment at NUFFIELD HEALTH BRISTOL HOSPITAL is bringing advanced diagnostic imaging technology to Bristol, improving access to faster diagnoses for NHS and private patients across the region.
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o support this commitment, the hospital in Clifton Village recently unveiled its newly refurbished imaging suite, offering some of the most advanced MRI and CT technology available in the South West. The investment is designed to make a meaningful difference to local healthcare, strengthening regional provision at a time when demand for diagnostic imaging continues to grow. The new facilities include a state-of-the-art SIGNA™ Voyager MRI scanner and Revolution Ascend CT system, designed to deliver faster diagnoses, greater comfort for patients and increased capacity. The new technology enables more patients to be scanned each day, helping to reduce waiting times and improve access to vital diagnostic services. By increasing appointment availability for NHS patients as well as those choosing private healthcare, the investment supports local healthcare services at a time when demand for diagnostic imaging continues to grow. For patients, the experience is also markedly improved. The advanced MRI technology can complete some scans in around half the time of previous systems, while enhanced image
quality helps clinicians identify conditions more quickly and confidently. The CT scanner’s intelligent positioning technology speeds up examinations and allows radiographers to spend more time supporting and reassuring patients throughout their visit. The enhanced imaging capabilities will support the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of conditions, including orthopaedic injuries, abdominal and pelvic conditions, and prostate concerns. David Wynne-Jones, Hospital Director at Nuffield Health Bristol, says: “We’re incredibly proud to announce the installation of these cutting-edge MRI and CT scanners. Every day matters when someone is waiting for answers, and this investment allows us to increase our capacity, meaning more people across Bristol can access the care they need, sooner. “ The new imaging suite was officially opened by Bristol Bears star Tom Jordan, highlighting the hospital’s close relationship with the club. With elite athletes relying on rapid access to diagnostics and treatment to return to peak performance, the advanced scanners will play an important role in supporting Bristol Bears throughout the season. Speaking at the launch, Jordan praised
the new facilities and the Bears’ ongoing partnership with Nuffield Health, noting the benefit of having leading diagnostic technology located so close to the club’s High Performance Centre. The investment is part of a wider collaboration with GE HealthCare, which will see Nuffield Health invest £200 million in the latest AI-enabled diagnostic imaging technology across its UK hospital network. For local residents, it means something simple but powerful: faster access to answers, earlier treatment decisions and high-quality diagnostic care, right here in Bristol. n
For more information about the treatments and services available at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, visit www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/ bristol, or call 0117 987 2727. www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 47
FOOD & DRINK
YES, MASTERCHEF! It should have happened to a vet: winning MasterChef emboldened BRIN PIRATHAPAN to make the full-time switch from working with animals to a career in food. He’s just published his first cookbook, it’s called Elevate, and he’s coming to Clifton Litfest to tell us all about it
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here’s a strong local foodie flavour to the Clifton LitFest this year. Not only is former vet and MasterChef winner Brin Pirathapan talking about his new cookbook Elevate, but there’s a collaboration between philosopher Julian Baggini and local speciality roaster Clifton Coffee, exploring coffee (obviously), philosophy (equally so) and what makes a good life. We’d have loved to have covered both, but only had room for one, Brin offered us some tasty recipes, so we went with him.
Brin, you’ve had an unconventional career path, from being a vet to a career in food. Was there a particular moment when you thought, ‘Right, I’m going to make the leap’?
What can readers expect from the book that they might not get from a more traditional Sri Lankan cookbook?
Elevate isn’t a Sri Lankan cookbook. I wanted Elevate to be a book that encompasses what I love to eat with influences from my travels, my childhood, my favourite restaurants meals and my own creations. It certainly has an influence of Tamil Sri Lankan cooking with a few traditional recipes, but the book as a whole is a true amalgamation of my Sri Lankan culture, British upbringing and culinary discovery.
“The influence of my heritage goes deeper than the dishes I cook from it”
It wasn’t until I’d reached the MasterChef final that I really thought “this could be a career”. Initially I wanted to halve my time between veterinary work and food but realised that I’d kick myself if I didn’t get 100% stuck into the latter. I quit being a vet soon after the win was announced and haven’t looked back since.
Your cooking draws on your Tamil Sri Lankan heritage as well as your British upbringing. How do those two influences show up on the plate?
The influence from my heritage definitely goes deeper than the dishes I cook from it. I think the most important thing it taught me is the ability to balance bold flavours, and how to make plates of food vibrant and exciting without being overpowering and daunting. Are there particular dishes that still take you straight back to childhood?
There’s so much food from my childhood that is wrapped in nostalgia but the main one for me is a very delicious Jaffna mutton curry that my parents make. It’s meaty and deep with lots of aroma and spice. What does the title of your book, Elevate, mean to you?
The book is definitely about elevating everyday ingredients into beautiful, delicious food but it is also so much more than that. Firstly, I want this book and the food within it to do what food has done to my life and my happiness – totally elevated it in every way. Food was always my way of relaxing, getting lost in it and forgetting the stresses
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of the day, and I want this book to do that for everyone who picks it up. Secondly, I also want this book to elevate the readers’ skillset. To teach little snippets of information that make you a better home cook, to give you more confidence and to push you out of your comfort zone.
Has living in Bristol changed the way you cook, or influenced your ideas about food?
We live in one of the best, if not the best food cities in the UK. We have such a concentrated amount of exciting, independent restaurants that are serving food that they love to cook. It’s diverse, it’s cultured and it’s absolutely delicious. I’ve been in Bristol throughout my whole culinary career and right back when it was starting off as a hobby. The city has influenced how I look at food and what I love to eat. I have a lot to thank the Bristol food scene for. If you were cooking just one dish from Elevate for a Bristol dinner party, something that tells your story in a single plate, which recipe would you choose?
Paratha de nata – it’s a fun creation that ties in so many of my important influences: Sri Lankan culture, European cuisine and an unwavering strong sweet tooth.
Elevate: Everyday Ingredients, Incredible Flavours (Pavilion Books) is out now, RRP £22 Brin appears at Clifton Library for Clifton LitFest on 15 November www.foccal.com/litfest Brin is on Instagram @brin.pirathapan CONTINUED OVERLEAF
ELEVATE: EVERYDAY INGREDIENTS, INCREDIBLE FL AVOURS BY BRIN PIR ATHAPAN (PAVILION). IMAGE CREDIT DAN JONES
AMMA’S AUBERGINE PORIYAL There’s always one person in a family who makes the best version of a particular dish, and that’s no different in mine – one makes the best mutton curry, another makes the best desserts (I’m giving no names here because it won’t be worth the backlash…) but everyone, and I mean everyone, in our family, extended family and friends knows that my mum’s fried aubergine is THE best aubergine dish around. It’s requested at every event and there’d be a full-on revolt if anyone turned up to a party at our family home and there wasn’t a vat of it waiting to be demolished. Mum kindly passed on the recipe to me and I to you, but there’s an element of intuition that can’t be written down, which makes me certain that none of us will ever be able to live up to her famous dish, but we sure can try.
SERVES: 4–6 as a side Time: 45 minutes 3 aubergines, cut into 1 cm/ ½ inch cubes Vegetable or sunflower oil, for deep-frying 6 garlic cloves, 3 peeled and left whole, 3 grated 2 tbsp olive oil 1 cinnamon stick 3 dried red chillies (optional) 1½ red onions, finely diced 10–15 curry leaves (fresh, if available) 2.5 cm/1 inch piece of fresh ginger, grated ½ tsp hot chilli powder (or more if you like it spicy) 3 tomatoes, diced Sea salt (optional) If you sprinkle the aubergine cubes with salt to draw out a bit of moisture before frying, it can really enhance the flavour of the aubergine (see Cook’s Tip below on how to do this), but this is up to you. Heat enough vegetable or sunflower oil in a deep-fat fryer (if you have one) or in a heavy-based saucepan (don’t fill the pan more than two-thirds full) to 180°C/350°F (or until a small piece of bread browns in 30 seconds). Add the aubergine cubes to the hot oil in batches and then remove them (using a slotted spoon) when the flesh turns a deep golden brown colour and the skin is shiny. Transfer them to lots of kitchen paper to soak up the excess oil, while you deep-fry the remaining batches. When the aubergine is cooked, turn off the heat, add the whole garlic cloves to the hot oil and leave to soften and colour for five minutes, then add to the cooked aubergine. Heat the olive oil in a large pan or wok over a medium-high heat, then once it’s hot, add the cinnamon stick and whole dried red chillies (if using). After about 30 seconds, add the red onions and curry leaves. Give it all a decent mix and cook for a couple of minutes. Add the grated garlic and ginger along with the chilli powder and tomatoes. Mix everything together, then add the fried aubergine cubes and whole garlic cloves. Give it a good stir and pop a lid on, then let that cook over a medium heat for about 15 minutes, stirring every five minutes. Plate up and enjoy! COOK’S TIP Sprinkle the aubergine cubes with salt and mix them thoroughly. Lay them out on clean tea towels or kitchen paper and leave them to sit for about 30 minutes. Mix them around a few times during this time. Pat them dry before you fry them.
FOOD & DRINK FENNEL PEARS WITH CARDAMOM RICOTTA ICE-CREAM Fennel is hugely underrated in desserts, and it gives so much life to simple ingredients like pears. I’ve combined it with a really delicious cardamom and ricotta ice-cream that doesn’t require any churning. This has all the elegance of a fine French dessert but all the confidence of a bold Sri Lankan sweet. It’s a great dessert choice for a dinner party – not too much effort but truly impressive. SERVES: 4 Time: 1½ hours* *Plus freezing 125 g/4½ oz ricotta 200 ml/7 fl oz condensed milk 1 tsp ground cardamom ½ tsp vanilla extract 150 ml/5 fl oz double cream 4 ripe pears 1 tbsp fennel seeds 250 g/9 oz caster sugar
To make the ice-cream, add the ricotta, condensed milk, ground cardamom and vanilla extract to a bowl or stand mixer and whisk until combined. Add the double cream and whisk on a medium speed until you reach soft peaks, about five minutes, then transfer to a shallow container with a lid and pop it in the freezer for at least three hours. Peel the pears, leaving the stems on. Add the fennel seeds to a saucepan and place over a medium heat. Let the fennel seeds toast for three to five minutes, moving them around so they don’t burn. Add the sugar and one litre of water to the saucepan and stir. Submerge the pears in the liquid and place a lid on the pan. Bring to a simmer and let this simmer away for about one hour until the pears are tender and can easily be poked with a skewer. Remove from the heat and
leave them to sit (in the syrup) until you’re ready to serve. About 15 minutes before serving, place the ice-cream in the refrigerator to defrost slightly. At this stage, remove the pears from the liquid to a plate and set aside. Heat the liquid in the pan over a high heat until reduced by at least half to get a slightly darker and thicker syrup. Place the pears back into the syrup and gently heat them through. Place each pear on a serving plate with a spoonful of the syrup and some of the fennel seeds. Serve dollops of the ice-cream alongside each pear to accompany. COOK’S TIP If you can’t find ground cardamom, grind whole green cardamom pods in a spice grinder or clean coffee grinder, then pass this through a fine sieve to remove any coarse bits.
FOOD AND DRINK
“I wanted to build something that continues a legacy I’m proud to be part of” something to buy off the supermarket shelf?
Memecik olives produce a robust oil with fresh, fruity notes and a distinctive peppery finish. Like wine or coffee, different varieties have their own characteristics. I’d encourage people to look beyond the supermarket shelf, explore different varieties and consider the quality and story behind the oil they buy. What are some of the food memories you associate with olive oil?
TALKING TURKEY Meet JAMES VEYSEL BINICI – the founder of Bristol-based, small-batch extra-virgin olive oil brand Veysel
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y background is in land management and sustainability, so I’ve always been interested in producing food responsibly”, says James. “Running an olive oil business in Bristol wasn’t necessarily the plan, but Veysel has allowed me to combine those interests with my passion for quality food and introduce a distinctive Turkish olive variety to the UK.” What’s the family connection?
Veysel is named after my late grandfather, and the business is a way of keeping my Turkish heritage alive. I wanted to build something that celebrates my family’s roots, supports traditional farming practices and continues a legacy I’m proud to be part of.
What made you decide to bring Turkish olive oil to the British market?
Turkish olive oil, particularly oil made from Memecik olives, was underrepresented in the UK. I saw an opportunity to introduce people to its distinctive flavour, traditional farming methods and story, giving a product that deserves more recognition a wider audience.
What makes Memecik olives distinctive, and what would you say to someone who still thinks of olive oil as
Some of my strongest food memories come from my grandma’s cooking in the village, where she uses olive oil in almost everything. From fresh vegetables and meze to slowcooked dishes, it’s always at the heart of the food. It reminds me of family, traditional recipes and long meals around the table, all of which inspired me to bring Veysel to the UK. What should we be looking for when tasting a really good extra virgin olive oil?
Look for freshness, fruitiness and a balance of bitterness and pepperiness, with notes of grass, herbs or green almonds. That peppery finish can indicate naturally occurring polyphenols. Good olive oil doesn’t have to be mild, and extra virgin olive oil is versatile enough for everyday cooking as well as dressings and finishing dishes. Choose a transparent producer, check freshness and, most importantly, taste it. What’s your favourite way to eat your own oil??
Good bread dipped in olive oil is hard to beat because it
lets the flavour shine. I also love drizzling it over tomatoes, salads and roasted vegetables, or taking a teaspoon in the morning. Sometimes the simplest ingredients make the best food. How challenging has it been to build the brand in Bristol?
Introducing an unfamiliar product and convincing retailers to take a chance on it. Managing everything from our family farm’s harvest in Turkey to importing, marketing and sales has taught me how much goes on behind the scenes. It’s been rewarding to see people connect with Veysel’s story and understand what makes the oil different.
How do you balance values of sustainability and traditional farming with the demands of growing a business?
It’s about growing responsibly without compromising how our oil is produced. Costs, logistics and reaching new customers are constant considerations, but sustainability remains central to Veysel’s long-term vision. My background in land management has shaped my commitment to respecting the land, preserving traditional harvesting methods and celebrating our family’s heritage. What’s next for Veysel?
I’d love to grow Veysel into a Turkish artisan food business, introducing more products from our region. Is there a Turkish dish or favourite restaurant you love?
Turkish eggs are a favourite dish. In Bristol, I love what The Granary is doing with its cuisine, Soft Buoys’ grilled cheese and olive oil and pistachio ice cream, and Gigi’s Pizza. It’s exciting to see independent businesses experimenting with flavours and finding ways to use Veysel. For more www.veyseloil.com
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Migrateful’s founder Jess Thompson with chefs Saada and Kamial
A Sudanese class with chef Eman the first in the new cookery school
Jose teaching Argentine cuisine to class participants in 2017
Migrateful team and chefs with the Lord Mayor of Bristol at the Refugee Week panel event
A RETURN TO ROOTS
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MIGRATEFUL celebrates one year of its Bristol cookery school
he year is 2017. The location: a café on Whiteladies Road in Redland. Participants are donning aprons, ready to learn how to cook peanut soup, empanadas and white fish and prawn ceviche with Argentine cook Jose. A friend of founder Jess Thompson, Jose has happily agreed to lead Migrateful’s first-ever class with paying participants. Those gathered are Jess’s friends and family in Bristol, where she grew up. Fast forward almost 10 years to the present day. In this time, Migrateful has supported 144 refugee and migrant cooks to teach more than 6,000 cookery classes to 72,000 participants across London and Bristol. The classes provide Migrateful chefs with opportunities to build
“MIGRATEFUL HAS SUPPORTED 144 REFUGEE AND MIGRANT COOKS TO TEACH MORE THAN 6,000 COOKERY CLASSES”
confidence, English language and employability skills, while also working to shift the negative narrative on migration in the UK – a narrative that is sadly as prevalent in 2026, as it was in 2017. Despite this, support for Migrateful’s mission is as strong as ever. This support has enabled the organisation to grow its impact through its cookery classes, annual chef training programmes, and the opening of two cookery schools. The most recent of which opened just last year, and is based at Windmill Hill City Farm in Bedminster, bringing the organisation full circle to its Bristolian roots. The Bristol cookery school’s first year has been a busy one, with an overwhelmingly positive response from the public resulting in many sold-out classes. Thanks to having a dedicated space of its own, Migrateful has been able to run 190 cookery classes to over 2,100 participants in the last year – double the numbers it achieved the year before, when it was running classes in pop-up spaces around Bristol. This includes a new series of classes for school students, giving Migrateful chefs the opportunity to share their food and stories and shape how young people understand migration through first-hand interactions. Outside of its cookery classes, the school has played host to
other community events, including a Refugee Week panel featuring Lord Mayor of Bristol, Yassin Mohamud. The new school has allowed Migrateful to increase its chef training capacity, supporting more migrants and refugees to join its teaching rota. The public can now choose from Turkish, Kurdish, Sudanese, Sri Lankan, Iranian, Jamaican, Pakistani, Trinidadian, Somali and Afghan cuisine, with classes in Syrian, Algerian and Hong Kong cuisine coming soon. Reflecting on the school’s first year, Migrateful’s founder, Jess Thompson, says: “Opening a Migrateful cookery school in my home town of Bristol feels really special, especially knowing that our very first class took place here all those years ago. It’s been wonderful to see people get excited about it, with so many classes filling up and new chefs bringing their food and stories to the table.”
Visit Migrateful’s website to book a public or team cookery class, sign up to volunteer or buy a gift voucher at www.migrateful.org www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 55
PHOTO BY MARK SIMMONS PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO BY JENNI NOTT PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO BY NARRATED FRAMES
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DAN O’REGAN BANK BRISTOL & LAPIN
A blur of Jan in the Wilsons kitchen
Backs to the wall
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ack and I stepped out of Brin Pirathapan’s book launch and immediately looked at each other. ‘Dinner?’ The beer and the odd slice of pizza hadn’t satiated us, so we went looking. A short journey, and we were on Chandos Road. We pushed the door open, stepped into a full room, and scanned the floor for an empty table. We were met with a broad smile. “Have you got space for a walk-in of two?” She disappeared, and returned with bad news. Fully booked. It was Wilsons after all, their star gleaming by the entrance to the kitchen. And then, a head looked up from the pass, and a hand waved us in. We stepped into the kitchen, and Jan called out for a round of canapés. Backed up into the wall, we were careful not to
infringe on what little space the kitchen had for the chefs. “Two glasses of champagne, please”, Jan said to his manager, and then there they were in our hands. The kitchen was narrow, and the chefs worked in single file, sliding dishes through sets of hands, slowly building, until they reached the end, and ‘hands’ were called. Protein at the far end, flames rising to the wroughtiron grill, then to a resting tray up high. Then, plates being dressed. Heads down. Cook. Jan spoke, first to Jack, as is often the case between chefs, then to me, warm and untroubled, his hands not slowing or wavering. He held a slate out in front of us, little tartlets and crostini in each corner. He told us what they were, and told us to eat. I can’t even remember what they were, except that they were delicious. We ate standing, trying
“It was a peculiar feeling, of being inside a service without really being in it”
to melt into the wall each time someone stepped past us, our champagne glasses balanced on a shallow shelf beside us. It was a peculiar feeling, of being inside a service without really being in it. We were back of house, where the chatter of tables was background noise, and the lead vocal was the brusque call of ‘check on’. I had no food to run or wine to pour, but I felt it anyway. I was in the thick of it, albeit sipping champagne. As we spoke, Jan kept his head down, speaking back as if he were looking us in the eye. A normal conversation. A waiter would walk past the kitchen door, “hold on nine”, without stopping, and Jan would call it straight back out to the brigade, like a reverb. “Oui, chef”, echoed back. The flow was perpetual, switching from us to the team, Jan interrupting his own thoughts, never breaking stride. We backed up as someone slipped through the narrow gap between us and the chefs. Each was hinged at the hip, eyes trained on their own plates, and only their voices moving sideways. Between fingers
and tweezers, each element found its spot on the plate. At the wall, we must have looked like the waterboys on the sidelines, offering emotional support while we flicked canapés into our mouths and quaffed bubbles. Thirty minutes in, and as much as we all enjoyed the rare chinwag, they began calling “check on” more frequently. Tickets slid into rails, and they worked faster. We should get the fuck out of their way. Jack and I crossed the road to Snobby’s, and all through dinner I was babbling about the kitchen at Wilsons. God they’re good. Every detail passed between front and back of house without filler. It was direct. Blisteringly efficient. Nothing they said was noise. It was cohesion of a kind I’d rarely seen, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. My mind wandered, and I began jotting notes as we ate. n Dan is the co-owner of restaurants BANK and Lapin BANK Bristol, 107 Wells Road www.bankbristol.com Lapin, Cargo 2, Museum Street www.lapinbristol.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 57
SHOPPING LIVE WELL, BUY BETTER
MAKE THEIR DAY
In our next issue we’ll be bringing you our all-singing, all-dancing Christmas gift guide. But if we left it until then we’d have missed the chance to tell you about the first two Made in Bristol gift fairs – the unique, direct-selling extravaganzas which return to Bristol Beacon on 28 November, 6 and 12 December, showcasing a huge range of wholly original, one-off gifts handmade by artists, craftspeople and makers. Entry is free, the choice is huge, and not only will you end up taking home a gift that’s sure to be cherished forever, but every purchase will make that maker’s day. Bristmas shopping doesn’t get more indie or local than this. www.madeinbristolshop.co.uk/giftfair
Nordic-style wooden boards by Brüün Design
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MEET YOUR MAKER
Is it even Bristmas shopping if it’s not from a local maker at an independent stall or shop? At Bristol Beacon in November and December, the Made in Bristol gift fair gathers hundreds of artists and craftspeople together to show and sell their wares. Here are just a few to look out for
THE VILLAGE POTTERY A wide range of handmade pottery to elevate the everyday, made in Easton-in-Gordano. You’ve probably eaten off their plates in top Bristol restaurants without realising For more www.thevillagepottery.co.uk
SHOPPING HARUYAMA STUDIO Yoshi, a maker from Japan based in Wales, wheel-throws a range of stoneware objects for everyday use at Haruyama Studio, including cups, vases, plant pots, soap dispensers and other small ceramics For more www.haruyama-studio. square.site
AMBER HARDS Amber is a British knitwear designer who creates accessories with luxury natural fibres in a minimal and stylish colour palette. Her work is inspired by the colours and formations of natural rock landscapes and a fascination with the soft colour washes of American abstract artist Agnes Martin For more www.amberhards.co.uk
ABIGAIL LEACH Abigail uses earthenware terracotta to create her colourful, playful contemporary ceramics, designed with a sense of fun and intended to be used every day For more www.abigailleachceramics.co.uk SOPHIE WALKER Sophie hand-carves small-scale wooden sculptures designed to intrigue the curious. Her sculptures often have hollow areas, sometimes hidden by doors, into which are placed smaller found objects or curiosities, or sometimes pieces of text or a poem For more www.sophiewalkerwoodcarving.co.uk
WILL PRIESTLEY Will is a greenwood worker based in Bristol who specialises in hand-carved spoons, bowls and other beautiful and functional wooden items. Using an axe, knives and traditional techniques dating back many hundreds of years, Will handcrafts wares from wood foraged within 10 miles of his workshop in Bristol For more www.wpwoodcraft.co.uk
ELIN HORGAN Elin’s handmade jewellery is inspired by the geometry of architecture, resulting in contemporary pieces that are destined to become future classics For more www.elinhorgan.com
JOE BRIMBLE Joe handcrafts whimsical ceramic characters, each with their own little backstory and charm, to bring a spark of joy, mischief, and magic into the everyday For more www.brimblestudio.com
STEPH RENSHAW Steph sells handmade prints, including original sealife collagraphs and large-scale linocuts; she’ll also have greetings cards, hand-printed notepads and kits for making your own Christmas decorations at the fair. For more www.stephrenshawprintmaker.com
BRONWEN GWILLAM Bronwen makes statement jewellery from recycled plastic and recycled silver. Referring to herself a ‘plasticsmith’, she’s interested in how we might use the mountains of throwaway plastic as a raw resource. “Mimicking the effects of the sea, I work the materials until they feel natural in the hand, like a treasured pebble”, she says For more www.bronwengwillim.co.uk
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SHOPPING WILD GROVE Lisa Pasquill makes zero-waste bath and body products in Stokes Croft, including crafted felted soaps wrapped in merino wool, creating boldly coloured exteriors which provide gentle exfoliation For more www.wildgrove.co.uk
AMEOW DESIGNS Amy Lau specialises in handmade resin jewellery and accessories inspired by nature, containing real flowers and plants. “The process of working with resin and flowers is a truly a labour of handmade love, from drying the flowers, mixing the resin, pouring, setting, demoulding, sawing, sanding, drilling, and polishing”, she says For more www.ameow.co.uk BRÜÜN DESIGN Of Norwegian heritage, Steve Brüün has always been highly influenced by Scandinavian design, which he reflects in the household accessories and furniture he makes in his Bristol workshop. “I love that each piece of timber is unique – the smell, the grain, the feel of it and its versatility. It draws you in and you want to make the best you can from it”, he says For more www.bruun.uk.com WENDY CALDER Wendy creates functional earthenware ceramics with botanical themed surface designs, using the natural creams and reds of earthenware clays to complement her delicate botanical images For more www.wendycalderceramics.com
FOREST & FAWN Each piece of contemporary jewellery is created by hand using recycled ecosterling silver and 9ct eco-gold, and responsibly sourced diamonds and stones; their simple shapes along with unusual textures and colours create unique designs For more www.forestandfawn.co.uk
COLOUR DESIGNS Jeweller Clare Lloyd wanted to make colour the focal point of her designs without using gem stones. She started experimenting with polymer and resin clay, using hues she sees around her Somerset studio. “I keep the shapes and styles simple to allow the colour to become the focal point”, she says For more www.colour-designs.co.uk
HANNAH BROADWAY One of our favourite local artists, Hannah makes prints and cards that celebrates the little things in life. We especially love her colourful Bristol scenes For more www.hannahbroadway.com
64 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
HANNE RYSGAARD Bristolbased Danish ceramicist, Hanne creates colourful porcelain tableware and jewellery from fine British porcelain – designed to be used every day while bringing a smile. For more www. hannerysgaard. com
LAZULI REMEDIES Celeste’s small herbal apothecary offers seasonal, completely natural botanical skin and body care remedies. to nourish, support and elevate. Tried, tested and loved by us For more www.lazuliremedies.co.uk
Jewellery by Kay Morgan See page 66 www.kaymorgan.co.uk
SHOPPING KAY MORGAN Kay creates colourful jewellery and accessories from reclaimed leather. in her garden studio in Bristol. Very little waste is produced; if it is, it’s either recycled or passed on to other makers. For more www.kaymorgan.co.uk
FINNERTY CERAMICS Irish potter Rebecca Finnerty makes hand-thrown ceramics, from mugs to dimple cups, bowls, plates, vases and more, all with bespoke glazes For more www.finnertyceramics.com
LIZ VIDAL From her north Bristol studio, Liz creates handmade, tactile ceramics with a focus on functionality and quality. “I am driven to produce very tactile pots which sit comfortably in your hand”, she says. For more www.lizvidalceramics.com
PRIORMADE Bristol Life favourite Beck Prior creates contemporary homeware, lighting and accessories, using a range of sustainable, low impact and recycled materials, at her Prior Shop in Redfield For more www.priormade.co.uk
LOOP Polly Meech is a massage therapist at Wapping Wharf. She also creates products which complement her holistic practice, allowing customers to take the relaxing atmosphere home for whenever they need it For more www.loopmassage.com/shop
ROSE NISBET A self-taught ceramicist, Rose makes whimsical yet sophisticated homeware with organic forms and bold patterns using a slabbuilding method which gives her ceramics a lovable irregular shape For more www.rosenisbet.co.uk HEAVENLY HEDGEROWS Award-winning gourmet jellies, jams and liqueurs, made in small batches with no artificial pectins, preservatives or essence, mostly from hand-picked local wild plants and berries For more www.heavenlyhedgerows.co.uk
SONYA BENNETT Sonya’s jewellery crafts exquisitely formed creatures and plants from sterling silver or gold, often with semi-precious stones and pearls; the natural world meets storytelling For more www.sonyabennettjewellery.com
66 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
The Made in Bristol Gift Fair comes to Bristol Beacon on Saturday 28 November, Sunday 6 December and Saturday 12 December
The Village Pottery
CHRISTMAS wrapped up
GEORGIA FENDLEY UPPER CASE
Want to stay in touch with your growing kids? Get offline...
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f you find yourself at home on a damp winter’s evening, you may notice that you have become part of a peculiar form of contemporary tragedy. Look around the room. Are you gathered together with your family, yet miles apart? Parents and children, illuminated by the ambient glow of our respective devices, we click and scroll in a state of hyper-connected isolation. When exactly did we agree to trade the messy, unpredictable joy of human friction for the smooth, optimised numbness of a life lived online? Two of my three offspring have already flown the nest, but I am taking a final stand with the last remaining occupant. I am consciously avoiding the usual regime of screen-time limits and WiFi bans. Instead, I’m turning the lens on myself, resisting the urge to relentlessly check work emails when I should be focused
on the only things that truly matter: my family and friends. I have had to remind myself that quality time (how I utterly loathe that phrase) is not a logistical exercise. It’s not about checking that homework is completed, nor is it the grim choreography of planning lifts to sports matches and extracurricular clubs. It’s about getting to know who this young person is actually becoming, helping him navigate life and finding joy in its daily absurdities. When he was smaller, this was easy. Play was our natural dialogue. But as our children get older, finding and sustaining those simple connections becomes harder and far less obvious. Our children become distant, and if that gap widens, we can no longer provide a supportive context for the world they must navigate. So, how am I breaching the fortress of teenage apathy? Certainly not with earnest inquiries or parental platitudes.
I think we need to meet them exactly where they are. For me, that means investing energy into his specific interests, like watching anime with him to understand the stories and characters, and craft he cares about. But more than that, it means a grown-up kind of playing. I include him in witty critiques, subversive observations, and absolute nonsense. We are spending much more time being silly together, and it’s having a transformative impact on our relationship. Take our mornings. My monosyllabicin-the-mornings teenage son recently banned me from listening to the news during the school run. He was quite right; it was far too depressing a way to start the day. After a few days I struck a bargain: no radio, but we had to talk. Not about anything serious, we could talk absolute rubbish. This quickly descended into resurrecting long-forgotten gems of the English language. Our whippets are now known as punctilious and snickersnee and our recent word of the week was tittynope, a gleeful, three-syllable delight meaning a small quantity of something left over. Wordplay is an essential mechanism for preserving what remains of our collective sanity. In an era that demands relentless earnestness and rigid metrics, a beautifully turned piece of nonsense is an act of quiet
defiance. It lowers cortisol, resets neural pathways, and reminds us that life is more than a series of calendar invites. It creates a private, fortified dialect, a shared currency of inside jokes that can bind generations far more effectively than any WhatsApp group chat ever could. On a screen, communication is flat and transactional. Off a screen, when you toss a verbal volley across a kitchen island, it requires presence. You must listen to the cadence of the room and lean into the rhythm of the moment. It is tactile. It is alive. The intellectual dividends are immense, forcing the brain out of its comfortable grooves. But its greatest value lies in its sheer, unadulterated playfulness, a quality we routinely beat out of adolescents the moment they enter secondary school and the grim pipeline of GCSE prep. We forget that teenagers possess a razor-sharp radar for hypocrisy and an innate desire to subvert the established order. If we want to stay connected, the best thing we can do is put down our phones, pick up a ridiculous word, and learn to play all over again.
“Wordplay is an essential mechanism for preserving what remains of our collective sanity”
Georgia Fendley is a creative director, founder of Construct, ex-brand director of Mulberry, NED of Cambridge Satchel Company, Crafts Council Advisor, Luxury Briefing columnist and D&AD judge www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 71
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CONTEMPORARY COPPER A warm contemporary German kitchen with a touch of copper
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hen Richard and Ann bought their home, its modern Pronorm kitchen was a selling point. But over time, the white gloss cabinets and black granite worktops began to feel dated. “We could have lived with it, but we don’t expect to move again,” explains Ann. “We just decided to get everything as we wanted.” After exploring several options, the couple discovered Gardiner Haskins Interiors in Bristol, where kitchen designer Alec Yull visited their home to discuss their ideas. “We felt he really listened and understood
“A STRIKING WHITE WORKTOP WITH COPPER-TONED VEINING INSPIRED ANN TO INTRODUCE A HIGHSHINE COPPER SINK”
exactly what we wanted,” says Richard. “For the first time, we felt excited.” Their wish-list combined practical features with understated elegance: generous storage, state-of-the-art appliances, natural tones and a little wow-factor. During a showroom visit, Ann fell for Pronorm’s Organic Glass cabinetry in a warm, matt off-white, paired with textured Trend Oak accents. The combination created a calm, contemporary foundation, but it was the finishing touches that brought the design to life. A striking white worktop with copper-toned veining inspired Ann to introduce a high-shine copper sink, complemented by a matching Quooker boiling water tap. Copper detailing on the cabinetry and appliances, alongside tinted mirrors, added warmth and glamour. “We were a bit concerned that different shades of copper might look odd,” admits Richard. “Alec reassured us it would work really well, and he was absolutely right.” Alec also reimagined the spacious kitchen island, moving the sink to create seating for four.
“Now, if we’ve got friends here, everyone can sit together while I’m cooking. It’s much more sociable and relaxed.” The adjoining utility room received the same thoughtful treatment, with coordinating finishes creating a seamless flow between the two spaces. Following a four-week installation, the couple couldn’t be happier. From the smart NEFF appliances to the elegant wine cooler and statement lighting, every detail has been carefully considered. “We didn’t feel the old kitchen could be improved that much, but Alec’s expertise and eye for detail made all the difference,” says Richard. The result is a beautiful balance of style and practicality.
www.gardinerhaskins.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 75
COUNTER INTELLIGENCE
Everything happens in the kitchen; life happens in the kitchen... Words by Ursula Cole
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KITCHENS
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Woodhouse & Law know that kitchens don’t need to be cold and clinical
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ooking space, family hub, dinner party hangout, informal office: the kitchen does more heavy lifting than any other room in the house. But what are all the cool ones wearing right now? Is open-plan passé? Whither islands? What do you mean, you don’t have a coffee station? Can you reasonably be expected to live without a Quooker tap? So many questions, so few pages; but with help from our friendly local experts, we’ve had a go.
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DESIGN FOR LIFE
People now want the kitchen to be more than a cooking space “Kitchens are becoming less sterile – a warmer, more personalised space combining functionality and comfort”, says Alison of Bracey Interiors. The notion is echoed by Kelly Baxter and Elliott Thomas of Kutchenhaus, who are seeing kitchens become more furniturelike, with woodgrain finishes, glass display cabinets, open shelving and lighting. “The aim is to create a kitchen that feels like a natural extension of the home rather than a purely functional room”, they say.
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THIS TIME IT’S PERSONAL OK, so how do we pull off this homely, personal look?
With less of an emphasis on uniformity and more on natural texture and individual details, according to Isobel Hair of Husk, while Emily Rickard advises “to choose what you love, rather than feeling you have to follow a trend. “An open shelf for cookbooks or ceramics can make a kitchen feel much more personal, while changing handles is a relatively simple way to refresh existing cabinets”, says Isobel at Husk. “Bespoke details such as fluted glass
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cabinets or a breakfast larder can also bring character, while making the space work better.” Robyn Knibb finds people are focusing more on quality craftsmanship and natural materials more than ever before. “Panelling is a really effective and costefficient way to instantly add charm and personality, with many varying styles available. “Kitchens can often feel overly utilitarian. Even if it’s dressing your windows in a sheer draped fabric for privacy, introducing the element of fabric will instantly soften the space and make it feel more inviting.”
SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL
3 left: A splash of colour and a mix of old and new in a characterful kitchen by Emily Rickard; above: Mixed materials, fluted glass and a warm upholstered recess make David Hutton’s kitchen a place to linger in
“Clever storage is always key in a small kitchen, but I also think it’s important that practicality doesn’t take over from the design”, says David Hutton. “I try to use every bit of available space while still giving the kitchen personality. “In one development, I used full-height storage in what could easily have been dead space between the kitchen and the entrance. We incorporated a recessed area within it which could work as a small desk or bar. Rather than treating it simply as storage, we used contrasting timber, textured wallpaper, artwork and feature lighting to make it feel like its own little space.
“In another smaller kitchen, I mixed materials to add interest without making the room feel cluttered. Fluted-glass wall cupboards keep the cabinetry feeling lighter, while the marble splashback and worktop, brass handles and lighting add character. “We also made use of a recess by creating a fixed upholstered seat with a feature wall light, turning an otherwise unused area into something both practical and decorative. “For me, making a small kitchen feel bigger isn’t necessarily about making everything white or minimal. It’s about clever planning, using every area well and creating a few open or lighter elements so the cabinetry doesn’t overwhelm the space.” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 77
Warm downlighting softens the contemporary lines of this Kutchenhaus kitchen
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MIX IT UP
Too much uniformity is boring and dated “There’s a growing interest in mixing materials and textures, using wood alongside stone and subtle metallic finishes to add depth and character. It’s all about creating a kitchen that feels comfortable, personal and connected to the rest of the home”, says Karley Coles of Gardiner Haskins “Mixing woods, textures and materials is a really strong look and a trend we should all embrace. Adding a vintage item to a modern fitted kitchen is also a way to add interest and homeliness”, says Emily Rickard, while Alison Bracey advises “Using woods, metallic finishes and organic porcelain tiles or natural stone help to create organic spaces”. “I think in general we’re craving character and individuality through our interiors. We’re definitely moving more towards introducing texture into kitchens rather than using bold statement colours all over every level of cabinet”, says Robyn Knibb of Fawn Interiors.
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BRIGHT IDEAS
The worst-kept secret in interiors? The importance of lighting
And that’s just as true for the kitchen as it is for other rooms in the house, “whether it’s illuminating floating shelves, adding lighting beneath wall units or introducing a softer glow around the plinth”, say Kelly Baxter and Elliott Thomas of Kutchenhaus. “I love bringing in elements to a kitchen that aren’t traditionally ‘kitcheny’”, says Robyn Knibb. “A collection of artworks with a picture light above? Or maybe a table lamp on the kitchen counter, to add personality and some lovely soft lighting for evenings. There’s also
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such a good offering of rechargeable decorative lighting available now, to avoid having to hardwire anything new in, if that’s not an option.” “When designing a kitchen space, it’s important the design is practical as well as stylish”, say Nick Woodhouse and John Law of Woodhouse & Law. “This is even more key in a mixed-used space. Lighting is a key part of the solution here – we always ensure it’s zoned, so an ambient level of light can be created in a dining space, task lighting in a workspace, and low-level lighting in the kitchen, to avoid highlighting any unwashed pots and pans while enjoying dinner with friends and family.”
HUE GOES THERE?
Colour is the easiest (and often cheapest) way to transform a kitchen “Clinical white and grey kitchens are finally out”, say Kelly Baxter and Elliott Thomas of Kutchenhaus. “White is still in, but it’s warmer, with texture and depth; more grounded in nature.” “The trend is definitely moving away from cool greys and stark whites towards warm tonal earthy shades, with maybe a highlight of rich burgundy or green”, agrees Alison Bracey “We’re seeing a real shift towards warmer colours, with natural wood tones working particularly well alongside the greens, earthy shades and softer neutrals that are popular in kitchen design at the moment”, says Ian Tomlinson of Chaunceys Timber Flooring.
“Honey and caramel tones are a good example, bringing warmth and depth to a room without making it feel too dark. There’s also a growing appreciation for the natural variation in timber, rather than everything being perfectly uniform.” Nick Woodhouse and John Law of Woodhouse & Law find that “clients can be a little nervous about committing to a bolder colour, so we often look to Shaker-style kitchens that can be repainted in the future. “Not only is this more sustainable, as the life of the kitchen is extended, but it also enables you to instantly change the colour as trends, or your mood, changes.” And Robyn Knibb is “waving a sweet goodbye to flat-panel glossy bright kitchens (did we ever really welcome them?!)”
A classic Shaker kitchen can be boldly coloured: by deVOL www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 79
KITCHENS Natural wood tones create floors with warmth and character: Chaunceys
“These thoughtful design features make everyday routines easier while helping to keep the kitchen looking beautifully organised.” And if you’re working with limited space, “focus on integrating appliances and bins, and housing surface appliances such as kettles, toasters, and air fryers in larder-style cabinets”, says Robyn Knibb of Fawn
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SHELF LIFE
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GROUND CONTROL
Obviously, with the current craving for earthy authenticity, a timber specialist is perfectly poised to comment...
“We’re seeing a real move away from grey flooring towards warmer, more natural wood tones that bring character into a room. People are looking for floors that feel warm and lived in, rather than anything too polished or perfect”, says Ian Tomlinson of Chaunceys. “Reclaimed timber is a lovely way to introduce character, as the boards have their
own history, with variations in colour and marks from their previous life that give them a depth you don’t get with new timber. It works just as well in a contemporary kitchen as it does in an older property, bringing warmth and helping a new space feel as though it’s been there for years. “Herringbone remains a favourite choice, because it adds interest and works in both traditional and contemporary kitchens, while wider planks are a good choice for a simpler, more understated look.”
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CABINET DECISIONS
Husk is seeing a growing demand for timber veneer
Keep worktops uncluttered – but open shelving with a few considered objects on adds enormous charm “The fewer unnecessary items out, the less confusing the space”, says Robyn Knibb. “Instead, you’ll have a room that feels bijou, considered and confident.” “Make a small kitchen look bigger by combining full-height cabinets and open decorative shelving rather than using many upper cabinets and too many items on the worktops”, says Emily Rickard. “I always like to add personal items and art to open kitchen shelving; shelves in the kitchen aren’t only for food and storage. I also love to use vintage pieces and mix them with modern kitchens.”
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And obviously, wood isn’t just for floors. “We’ve seen growing interest in timber veneer, particularly walnut and natural oak”, says Isobel of Husk. “Wood brings warmth and its own pattern through the grain, so it can add character without making a kitchen feel busy. It works well across the whole kitchen or alongside a contrasting finish – oak wall cabinets paired with matt FENIX lower cabinets, for example.”
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STATION TO STATION
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80 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
“We’re seeing more requests for dedicated coffee stations and bar pantries, where everything can be neatly tucked away when not in use”, says Karley Coles of Gardiner Haskins.
The current must-have is a tucked away coffee-station; design by Husk
KITCHENS Emily Rickard loves to use vintage pieces in a modern kitchen
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ISLAND LIFE
Not everyone loves a kitchen island – Helen Parker of deVOL, for example, much prefers a prep table – “they’re airy and more beautiful. Islands so often become a puzzle of how you’re going to fit everything in one large rectangle” That said, it’s hard to argue with their practicality.
“Clients want their kitchens to work throughout the day, and a multi-purpose kitchen island is a great idea”, says Isobel of Husk. “The key is planning for those different uses from the start. Comfortable seating and wellpositioned sockets make working easier, while a dedicated drawer for a laptop and chargers means everything can be put away when the working day ends.”
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MORE CLEVER IDEAS
“I have installed several folding or pullout desks in the last couple of years. Using the kitchen island or countertop is valuable prep space when cooking and entertaining, but during the day it can double up as a useful work space” – Emily Rickard “Some of the best storage solutions make use of space that might otherwise be overlooked. Bench seating with storage underneath is a great example, particularly in a smaller kitchen where you also need somewhere to eat” – Isobel Hair “Adding a feature gallery rail on shelving with some styling pieces is a really lovely way of making your kitchen feel more decorative” – Robyn Knibb “We are fans of large drawer units. Not only do they look great, but they can compartmentalise to accommodate your individual pieces”– John Law and Nick Woodhouse “Extraction built into a hob or worktop can be a great solution where the cabinetry needs to be installed at low level. We use appliances like this when designing kitchens within period buildings, where higher wall-mounted cabinetry might not work aesthetically in relation to ornate architraves, or it isn’t practical to vent the extraction” – John Law and Nick Woodhouse Woodhouse & Law love a large drawer!
“There’s a real desire for materials that will stand the test of time, both in terms of quality and appearance, rather than something that might look dated in a few years” – Ian Tomlinson “We’re seeing some really exciting developments in kitchen appliances, particularly where technology makes everyday life easier. Textured matt glass hobs are a great example, offering a sophisticated finish that shows fewer fingerprints, smudges and scratches than traditional glossy glass, and NEFF’s frying sensor allows you to select a precise temperature in degrees rather than relying on numbered heat settings, helping you achieve more consistent cooking results” – Kelly Baxter and Elliott Thomas “We love Fisher & Paykel’s high-spec appliances, which pair thoughtful design with practical features for everyday living.” – Isobel Hair Husk is a fan of the multi-purpose island
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 83
KITCHENS right: Gardiner Haskins loves a Quooker below left: Woodhouse & Law rocking the broken-plan look
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DIVIDED OPINIONS
So, are we finally over tearing down all our internal walls to make a huge open-plan space?
“I think there are levels to ‘open plan’”, says Robyn Knibb. “We certainly don’t want the whole level of a house to be one big soulless room where you can fry an egg and lie on the sofa at the same time, but there’s definitely a middle ground. It’s about being clever with the space, as there are multiple ways we can visually divide an area, through zoning furniture, joinery, open archways, etc, without regressing to the old way of blocking off rooms as individual boxes.” “We wouldn’t say open-plan is going out of style”, says Isobel Hair. “It still has plenty of appeal, particularly for people who enjoy cooking while spending time with family or friends. It does need to suit the way you live, though. An island or a change in flooring can help define different areas within an open space, while a separate utility room can keep noisier jobs elsewhere, where space allows.” “Open-plan kitchens remain popular because they bring families together and create wonderful spaces for entertaining, but sometimes you need that division”, say Kelly Baxter and Elliott Thomas. “We’re seeing growing interest in ‘broken-plan’ living, where you retain the light and connection of an open space but introduce subtle divisions. This could be through a peninsula, a change in flooring, a glazed partition or sliding doors that allow the space to be opened up or closed off when needed.” “I think it depends on the home/family but I do feel there are more homeowners embracing the traditional layout of a home, be it a financial or personal choice”, says Emily Rickard. “Families craving more personal space and separate rooms are becoming more common as we spend more time at home.”
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BORA BORA
What are the smartest new smart appliances? “With the same technical advance levels as an electric car, the new BORA X BO combisteam oven is pretty impressive”, says Robyn Knibb. “Controlled either manually or via your smart phone, the oven combines heat with steam to perfectly cook the food. Think boiling the perfect egg, baking a crusty loaf, making crisps, reheating leftovers, and it’s even self-cleaning.” “BORA’s innovative new dishwasher offers a specialist 10-minute wash programme”, says Kelly Baxter and Elliott Thomas, while Isobel at Husk tells us that the BORA induction hobs with built-in extraction removes the need for an overhead extractor – “particularly useful above an island.”
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INSPECT A GADGET
And what little luxury would our kitchen
84 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
designers never be without? Everyone agrees that it’s a… “Quooker tap! It does everything from delivering chilled filtered and sparking water as well as hot, cold and boiling water. No more kettles needed, and it saves precious space on your worktop”, says Alison Bracey “A Quooker tap! It’s one of those things you don’t realise you need until you’ve tried it. Having boiling water instantly available makes everything from your morning coffee to preparing dinner so much easier”, says Karley Coles And Kelly Baxter and Elliott Thomas ? You guessed it: “A boiling-water tap. It’s one of those things that might feel like a luxury initially, but quickly becomes part of everyday life.” Finally, Isobel at Husk: “A Quooker boiling water tap frees up the space you’d normally give to a kettle, and adding the CUBE gives you chilled and sparkling water from the same tap.” Hands up who really wants a Quooker now? n
YOU HAVE BEEN READING
Fawn Interiors www.fawn-interiors.co.uk
Bracey Interiors www.braceyinteriors.co.uk
Gardiner Haskins www.gardinerhaskins.co.uk
Chaunceys Timber Flooring www.chauncey.co.uk
Husk www.madebyhusk.com
David Hutton www.davidhuttoninteriors.co.uk
Kutchenhaus www.uk.kutchenhaus.com
Emily Rickard www.emily-rickard.com
Woodhouse & Law www.woodhouseandlaw.co.uk
COOLER SHAKER
Take a classic Clifton apartment with grand Georgian proportions and elaborate plasterwork, elegant vintage furniture and, of course, a chandelier – then add a classic Shaker kitchen Words by Ursula Cole Photos by deVOL Kitchens
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INTERIORS
he timeless Shaker aesthetic is equally at home in traditional and contemporary interiors, and the owner of this Clifton apartment felt that the style, which he chose from the range by deVOL, would work beautifully with the classic, elegant Georgian proportions of his home while complementing his carefully curated vintage furniture. “I had seen it in the deVOL kitchen book and had been impressed by founder Paul O’Leary’s underlying philosophy towards purpose, design, tradition and construction”, he says. “The kitchen had to be simple, understated, calm and uncluttered. It needed to respect the Georgian design of the home; flow seamlessly into and from the largely open sitting room on the other side of the arch; work as a place for preparing, cooking and eating food; and accommodate the old cupboard from my previous home. It also had to take account of the location and facing shuttered window restricting the location of cupboards and drawers. “The kitchen meets my requirements and has been much admired. I am particularly happy that because there is a home for everything and there is no clutter, that the kitchen can be restored quickly to an ordered, clear and peaceful haven after it has been used.” n
“The kitchen can be restored quickly to an ordered, clear and peaceful haven after it has been used”
For more www.devolkitchens.co.uk
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DESIGN FOR LIFE The kitchen of Helen Parker, creative director of DeVOL, is a masterclass in how to combine function and style Words by Ursula Cole Photos by deVOL Kitchens
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KITCHENS SPECIAL
f your tastes lean towards the austere and clinical, then Helen Parker’s kitchen may not be for you. If, on the other hand, you believe that the kitchen deserves to have as much warmth, charm and liveability as any other room in the house – rather like Helen’s own one, shown on these pages – then you need to sit up and listen; she is, after all, the creative director of deVOL, makers of some of the most beautiful and respected kitchens in the biz. “The biggest no-no for me is that ‘function is more important than style’ – they are equally important”, she says. “Never paint a kitchen a dark colour” – agree or disagree?
Dark kitchens are just as beautiful as light kitchens. The fashions change: dark is popular, then light again. Dark kitchens are very traditional and suit period properties with original features. There is never a time when you need to follow rules over what you should like and want to live with. Should kitchen ceilings always be white?
No! Ceilings can be any colour you feel is in keeping with the rest of your home; it’s important that the rooms flow and the colours chosen seem to move seamlessly from room to room. Colour drenching is very popular – this means painting all surfaces in the same colour, including the ceiling, it looks great! Coloured walls and a white ceiling is a standard/classic choice and can look very smart and simple, but many people choose to highlight and decorate their ceiling with coffers, tin tiles or trompe l’oeil, making the ceiling a feature rather than plain white. The idea of looking up and seeing beautifully hand-painted clouds seems a lot more interesting to me, and if done well can absolutely make a room. Do kitchens have to have a consistent colour palette?
Kitchens should be treated the same way you decorate and choose colour schemes for any room in your home. Colours that work well together, colours that complement your flooring and worktops and your taste in accessories. They can be haphazard or carefully curated, but as with everything, it needs to be done with a sympathetic eye and flair. Can you successfully mix different woods, metals and finishes?
Yes, mixing materials is a great way to achieve a more eclectic and considered look in a kitchen, but they should be chosen carefully. I would choose one metal and one wood preferably, then add in some marble or granite. Mixing worktops is a great way of creating a more freestanding kitchen; wood and stone or copper on different cupboards can look interesting and more bespoke.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Helen has deVOL’s Classic English Kitchen in her own home
Are there any design rules you would never break?
A good rule to stick to in kitchens is to keep your fridge away from entrances and windows; fridges are big and bulky and even nice ones can look overpowering and spoil an otherwise beautiful room. They have always been a big consideration when designing a kitchen, because most people need a big fridge, so they need to be carefully placed within a kitchen to avoid them becoming too dominant. What is the most successful rule-breaking decision you’ve made?
This sounds a bit impractical and reckless, but making sure your kitchen is beautiful above all else! Are people bored with slavishly following interior trends?
I hope so! There will always be people with style and people without; if you have a strong sense of what you like and are not driven by trends you will always create lasting interiors that will age well and won’t feel tired or out of date within a few years. Following fashion is not the key to creating lasting, beautiful interiors. Which current kitchens trend do you think will date fastest?
I think having lots of different lighting options in one room – wall lights, countertop lights and ceiling lights all fighting with each other. Lights are an absolute necessity, but they should be subtle and complimentary, not too wow! Conversely, what are you seeing now that you think will still look good in ten or twenty years?
Freestanding pieces are coming back into kitchens. We love the freestanding look, it’s what deVOL is all about. Generous, beautifully made cupboards that will last a lifetime. Our Dairy Table is new, but it looks like an authentic antique table and will never stop being beautiful and useful, irrespective of trends. And one final piece of wisdom?
Try not to buy everything new, and all at once, to decorate your new kitchen. Mix old possessions, artwork, cupboards, tables, textiles, and cookware, to create a layered, textural, and soulful kitchen. And don’t put small house plants all over your kitchen surfaces! n For more www.devolkitchens.co.uk
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 89
Block & Estate Management Corporate Strength – Client Focused Approach Tailored Solutions
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NETWORK HIGH FLIERS
THE CITY’S BUSINESS NEWS
ALL THE ACTION AND WINNERS FROM THIS YEAR’S ENTRECONF AWARDS
THE FUTURE IS UNWRITTEN
June 16-17 2027
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NETWORK
“WHAT A GLORIOUS CELEBRATION OF THE INGENUITY, CREATIVITY AND ALL-AROUND AWESOMENESS OF THIS AMAZING REGION” Entrepreneurs assemble!
BOOM, BABY, BOOOOM!
Entrepreneurial businesses are booming in our region. Brilliant companies as exemplars, four strong unis in two close cities, quality of life, access to excellent advisors – multiple reasons to be cheerful, as GREG INGHAM reports
S
o here’s the thing. Entrepreneurs are conventionally regarded as standalone creators of their worlds. Singular visionaries, dreamers, drivers. True enough. Up to a point… Because what was apparent at the EntreConf Awards is that entrepreneurs are at their best and succeed most when they work in partnership, in collaboration. Speaker after speaker cited the quality of professional advice they’ve received. Or the mentoring. Or quality of their teams. Or
the role of their unis. It’s the Entrepreneurs’ paradox: singular, yet collective. Here’s what just some of the attendees said. “I’m going to join in the chorus of love for EntreConf. What a glorious celebration of the ingenuity, creativity and all-around awesomeness of this amazing region. I was blown away by the breadth of businesses represented.” “Some seriously clever businesses. Some wonderfully humble humans. And Concorde overhead.” “It was supportive and inclusive; about recognising effort, talent and
ideas. Everyone in the audience was engaged and interested in hearing from the speakers and winners: it was very encouraging to see.” “Such a cool thing to put together: very inspiring.” “[It was notable] how often people thanked the community for helping them get there. So much gratitude, and such down-to-earth people behind the big ideas.” “Building a company is never easy, and hearing the stories, achievements and ambitions of other entrepreneurs in the room was a reminder of just how much innovation is happening across the South West.”
Props, as they say to the eclectic range of ten speakers on the night: Amanda and Nick Spicer of Your Eco; Jay K, urban poet; James Binns, Network N; Bianca Jones, EDP Training: Belinda HoughtonJones, RBC; Hannah Egerton, Edgie Eats; Paul Kelly, Pandek; Katy Kennedy, Spirited; and host Chloë Luxton, the founder of Bramley. And ‘grats to those winners. [turn to page 96] The future is unwritten. And it’s the entrepreneurs who are going to be writing it… For more: www.entreconf.com
THIS IS ENTRECONF
November and March: Bespoke dinners for 50 entrepreneurs 16-17 June: Two day conference at Watershed for entrepreneurs, advisors, the ambitious and investors October: EntreConf Awards
Offices in: Henleaze, Whiteladies Road Clifton Village, Shirehampton 0117 962 1205 www.amdsolicitors.com
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ENTRECONF SCENE
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SPONSORED CONTENT
NEW LEGISLATION What the EU Succession Regulation means for your Will and your French assets
I
f you own property or assets in France, your Will may not work in the way you expect. French inheritance law operates very differently from English law, and without careful planning, the people you intended to benefit may not receive what you planned. A piece of European legislation known as the EU Succession Regulation, or Brussels IV, is central to this. It determines which country’s succession law governs your estate when you die with assets in more than one country. Despite Brexit, Brussels IV continues
“THE REGULATION GIVES BRITISH NATIONALS THE RIGHT TO ELECT THAT ENGLISH LAW GOVERNS THEIR ENTIRE ESTATE”
to apply to UK nationals with French assets. The regulation gives British nationals the right to elect that English law governs their entire estate, including property situated in France, but that election must be made expressly in your Will. It does not happen automatically. This matters because French law contains a concept known as forced heirship, the réserve héréditaire, which gives biological and adopted children a legally guaranteed right to a minimum share of your estate regardless of your wishes. One child is entitled to half your estate, two children share two thirds, and three or more share three quarters. Step-children have no automatic rights at all. For blended families in particular, the consequences of not planning ahead can be significant. In 2021, France further amended its Civil Code to allow children to claim their reserved share from French assets even where a Brussels IV election has been made, in certain circumstances. This has added a layer of complexity that makes reviewing your Will more important than ever. If France features in your financial or
family life in any way, we would recommend taking advice. Our private client team has considerable experience advising on crossborder estate planning and international Wills. Please get in touch to discuss your arrangements. n
Visit www.buckles-law.co.uk to find out more. Queen Square House, 18-21 Queen Square, Bristol, BS1 4NH. 0117 332 9540 www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 101
BRISTOL PROPERTY AWARDS
BUILDING ANTICIPATION… The BRISTOL PROPERTY AWARDS return next month to Ashton Gate. Resi, commercial, civic and all else in between. And it’s a useful barometer of the wider economy…
Thank you to all our sponsors, including: Close Brothers Property Finance (Winner of Winners), Andrews Property Group, Beard Construction, Belmont Estate, Bristol Life, Buckley Gray Yeoman, Cundall, Design Seven, EntreConf, Floresco, Stantec, StudioHIVE, South West Business Finance, Vistry Group and YTL Developments. And to our partners: Ashton Gate, Burston Cook, CladNation, Clarity Building Consultancy, LendInvest, McFeggan Brown, Pluto Finance, Quantum Development Finance, Shu Architects and Woodstock Homes. Very limited partner tables and tickets are available. Please check on the site or social media channels for the latest updates.
T
he tribes of the Bristol property world will be descending again on Ashton Gate, with stories to tell, successes to celebrate and partnerships to explore. There’s a restlessness to property companies, whether due to opportunity or competition. New projects always loom… And the sector appears pretty chipper. The Bristol Property Awards have had the highest number of companies nominating, which is one indicator of the relatively robust health of the sector. One effect of the larger-than-usual number of nominations means that there are set to be even more tables sold and companies attending. At the time of writing, sales are tracking some way ahead of last year’s. This surge also signals the strength of Bristol itself. Old buildings to transform, redesign, zhuzh up. New premises to create, market and sell. And a panoply of architects, consultants, suppliers, advisers to support, backed at both end of the career scale with the rising stars making their mark, businesses that are the ones to watch seeking profile and the legends of the
sector being recognised by their peers. On Friday 27 November we’ll be crowning the deserved champions of 2026. The 20 tightly contested categories include sustainability, which is aimed at any business which has delivered an eco-conscious project, pushing the boundaries of design and ethics with consideration to environmental impact, lifecycle and the local community. One other key aspect of the sector is collaboration. Yes, on the surface there is competitive rivalry (of course). But there are also several larger project opportunities to partner with companies; and on all project sizes to refer clients. The Awards reflect that in two ways: with extra time for networking before the Awards (the event starts at 11.30am), during and after. And there is a special Partnerships Award. Thank you to our sponsors, congrats to the finalists: best of luck to all. And much gratitude to the panel of esteemed judges: from here, it’s up to them…! For more: www.bristolpropertyawards.co.uk
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PHOTO BY ADAM CLUT TERBUCK
BRISTOL PROPERTY AWARDS
THE JUDGES WILL DECIDE…
A panel of independent judges, drawn from all areas of the property sector, will select the winners of the prestigious BRISTOL PROPERTY AWARDS 2026
ASHA AGARWAL, INSPIRE NEW HOMES Asha is founder and managing director of Inspire Homes. Her 20-plus years’ experience includes housing sales and marketing, programmes exceeding £250 million in GDV and helping over 1,000 first-time buyers.
DAVID POWELL, ANDREWS PROPERTY GROUP David is chief executive of Andrews Property Group, with over 25 years’ expertise across residential sales, lettings and property management. He champions responsible business, sustainable growth and positive community impact.
KAREN MERCER, BRISTOL TEMPLE QUARTER Karen is chief executive of Bristol Temple Quarter LLP, leading a major urban regeneration programme. Previously delivery director at Brent Cross Town, she brings extensive experience delivering complex housing and infrastructure.
FIONA LAUCHLAN, PURCELL Fiona leads Purcell’s Bristol studio. She is a highly experienced architect with a proven track record of delivering high-quality designs for complex buildings and supporting colleagues in their career development.
JONATHAN SCOTT, PLUTO FINANCE Jonathan is lending director for the South West at Pluto Finance, with over 15 years’ regional property experience. He specialises in development finance, supporting SME and regional housebuilders delivering new homes.
NICK ALLAN, CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD Nick is an international partner at Cushman & Wakefield and president of the Bristol Property Agents Association. He has transacted over £5 billion across commercial and residential property investment and development assets.
SHANKARI RAJ, DESIGN WEST Shankari is an architect leading UNIT 02 – Regenerative Vision. Based in Bristol for over 20 years, she champions community regeneration and runs Design West’s Shape My City built environment education programme.
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 105
OUTSTANDING ARRAY OF FINALISTS ARCHITECT
•U nitary Engineering Services
• AWW •B right Studio Architects •B uckley Gray Yeoman •O A Architecture •S hu Architects •W all Architecture
DESIGNER
Sponsored by Cundall
CIVIC & COMMUNITY Sponsored by Andrews Property Group
•B ristol Cathedral by Shu Architects • Lyde Green School by Alec French Architects • Spitfire Hangar at Brabazon by Ferguson Mann Architects and YTL Developments
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Sponsored by Floresco •D esign Seven •E mily Rickard Design •F awn Interiors •H annah Redden Interiors •H OPE + HUGHES haya Studio •K •M arta Rossato Interiors •S JP Interior Design & Staging •W oodhouse and Law • W YLDE
DEVELOPER Sponsored by Design Seven
•A utograph Homes •V istry Bristol •W oodstock Homes
Sponsored by South West Business Finance
EMPLOYER Sponsored by Bristol Life
•1 Georges Square by Buckley Gray Yeoman •A xis Works, Avonmouth by Stoford Developments •B owmer + Kirkland – Western •C anons Wharf by Kinrise Real Estate •C rescent by Buckley Gray Yeoman
•A MD Solicitors •C oreus Group • Cundall • Curtins •F lagship Consulting •R idge and Partners •S weet Projects
CONSULTANCY
Sponsored by Buckley Gray Yeoman •B uilding Energy Experts •C ollina MEP •C oreus Group • Cundall • Curtins •F ulkers Bailey Russell •G IA Surveyors •M ode Consult •N ash Partnership (planning consultancy team) •R idge and Partners • Stantec • Surveybase
CONTRACTOR
Sponsored by StudioHIVE •B owmer + Kirkland – Western •C hameleon Group Bristol • CladNation •C otswold Design • J AS Building Services •M arkson Construction • Surveybase
LEGAL & FINANCIAL • AMD Solicitors • Ashfords • Barcan+Kirby •B lack & White Bridging •W atkins Solicitors
ONE TO WATCH
Sponsored by EntreConf •B ristol Rose Mortgages •C larity Building Consultancy •D aytona Consult •D esign Seven • emesen •F ortune Business Development •H OPE + HUGHES •M AP Space •M arkson Construction •P rogramme (adpt Property Management) •W all Architecture
OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL
• Beth Warren, Hartnell Taylor Cook •D aniel Keller, Markson Construction •H annah Redden, Hannah Redden Interiors
• J o Dand, Buckley Gray Yeoman •N athan Moss, Ridge and Partners •R ic Hampton, Stantec •R oxi Foster, Lambert Smith Hampton
•R epton Gardens and Orchard Meadows by Woodstock Homes; Bradley Stoke Way by Woodstock Partnerships •R iver Gateway by Vistry Bristol
PARTNERSHIPS
SUPPLIERS & SERVICES
Sponsored by Beard Construction •A xis Works, Avonmouth by Stoford Developments •B ristol Heat Network by Vattenfall, Bristol City Leap Energy Partnership, University of Bristol, Buro Happold, AECOM, Sir Robert McAlpine and NG Bailey •H engrove Park by Goram Homes & Vistry •R iver Gateway by Vistry Bristol & Latimer (Clarion Housing Group) •W oodstock Partnerships with LiveWest, Curo, Abri, Bromford and Alliance Homes
PROPERTY AGENT
• Acen Properties •A irsat Real Estate •A ndrews Property Group •B alloon Letting Co •B urston Cook •B y Design Property Agents •E dison Ford Estate Agents •F leurets, now part of Graham & Sibbald •L ambert Smith Hampton
PROPERTY LEGEND
• Alide Hire Services •A ndrews Property Group • AWW •B urston Cook • Surveybase •W oodstock Homes
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT Sponsored by Belmont Estate
arbourside Apartments, •H Wapping Wharf by OA Architecture are’s Leap and •H Ribbonwood by Autograph Homes •P ark Street by Champion Build and Shu Architects
• Alide Hire Services •C learview Recruitment •F lagship Consulting •F ortune Carpentry & Joinery • Host360 •T he Kitchen Den •K utchenhaus Kitchens •R etrofit West upreme Cleaning •S Domestic and Commercial • UpgradedPM
SUSTAINABILITY
Sponsored by YTL Developments
•A utograph Homes •B uilding Energy Experts •K inrise Real Estate •M organ Lovell •S tylemongers Of Bristol •U nitary Engineering Services • Vattenfall istry Bristol •V
TRANSFORMATION Sponsored by Stantec
•1 Georges Square by Buckley Gray Yeoman •A xis Works, Avonmouth by Stoford Developments •B ristol Cathedral by Shu Architects •C rescent by Buckley Gray Yeoman •E MBARQ by AWW and Skelton Group •R epton Gardens by Woodstock Homes •S neyd Park House by Cotswold Design •S pitfire Hangar at Brabazon by YTL Developments, Ferguson Mann Architects and Stantec
WORKSPACES
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PROPERTY
A GRAND DESIGN You don’t need to spend three years in a caravan while this home is being built, though – all the work has been done for you Words by Ursula Cole
E
ver been enthralled by the rollercoaster dramas of the TV show Grand Designs? Succumbed to greeneyed envy over the successful self-builds? Indulged in schadenfreude when the whole thing went pearshaped? Don’t deny it, you’re not fooling anyone. Of course, to own a magnificent, unique new home similar to those featured on the show, you don’t have to go through all the mud, sweat and tears. Just let somebody else do all the hard work and take all the risks, then simply take it off their hands when the builders have left. Take Belle Vista (if you’re lucky); an extraordinary one-off house on West Hill in Wraxhall. Architecturally driven and uncompromisingly contemporary, it was conceived as an ambitious project and delivered as an exceptional home. It offers something the property market almost never produces: the chance to own a genuine one-off, a ‘unicorn’ in the truest sense, with one of North Somerset’s most enviable rural locations. With a name like Belle Vista you’d hope for a decent view, and in fact its position is one of its biggest USPs. West Hill sits on the quiet side of Wraxall, where the lanes climb away from the village and North Somerset opens out into farmland, woodland and long green horizons. Belle Vista faces due south into all of it, and it does so with the reassurance of heavily protected woodland immediately to the rear, a green backdrop that cannot be built on and will not change. Better still, that woodland is not something to be admired from a distance: from a gate at the foot of the garden you’ll enter the Tyntesfield Estate, its 500 acres of parkland, woodland walks and Victorian Gothic drama in the care of the National Trust and open all year. Beyond the boundary there is genuine open country; yet this is not the middle of nowhere: Bristol and Nailsea sit either side, close enough to be useful and far enough to be forgotten. Belle Vista does not ease you in. The front door opens into a doubleheight entrance hall, where a two-storey picture window pulls the garden straight through the building, and light lands on a sculptural staircase of floating oak-effect porcelain treads and structural glass. It is a piece of architecture rather than a means of getting upstairs, and sets the standard for everything that follows: crisp white walls, generous ceiling heights, underfloor heating throughout, and glass wherever the view justifies it.
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PROPERTY
One philosophy governs the whole design: every principal room in the house has its own door to the outside. Not just a window onto the view; a door into it. Bedrooms open onto balconies, reception rooms flow out onto terraces, the lower floor to the lawn, so the countryside is never something happening on the other side of the glass. The hall floor holds the two main reception rooms. To one side, a huge kitchen, dining and living space runs the width of the house, with bi-folding doors opening onto the first of the home’s many balconies, a south-facing spot with excellent views across to the Mendip Hills and Crook Peak. Within the kitchen, it goes without saying that the integrated appliances are of the latest, smartest variety. Across the hall, the 28ft living room takes light from three sides. Glass doors open directly onto a raised terrace, which is where this house earns its keep in summer: lunch outside, friends arriving, a drink around the firepit as the sun drops away to the south west. The bedrooms are on the floor below, reached by that extraordinary staircase. Four generous suites occupy this level, with a fifth on the garden floor, with five bath and shower rooms to serve them, all finished in the same confident, contemporary palette of large-format stone, marbleveined porcelain and matt black brassware. A further bedroom on this floor doubles readily as a cinema room. Working from home? The studio and office are among the best spaces in the house, rather than the leftovers, with proper light, proper volume, their own doors to the outside and a view worth looking up at.
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 119
PROPERTY
Also from this level, glass doors open onto a covered terrace – an outdoor room in all but name, equally suited to a gym, a games space, or dining under cover. Steps drop from here to the garden beyond. The garden floor completes the picture with the fifth bedroom suite and a games and family room opening straight onto the lawn. It is also a rare thing environmentally: Belle Vista is carbon negative and holds an EPC A rating, placing it in a bracket that a fraction of one per cent of British homes will ever reach. This is not a house that offsets its impact; it gives more back than it takes, a home that performs as beautifully as it looks. The outside space is wrapped in whisky-mottled Shou Sugi Ban larch, a richly textured natural timber finish created through the traditional Japanese process of carefully charring the surface of the wood. Set against crisp white render and long runs of black-framed glass, it gives Belle Vista a confidence that is rare this far into the countryside. The upper gardens are given over to entertaining: terraces and balconies that follow the sun through the day, a firepit seating area for evenings that run long, services already provisioned for two outdoor kitchens, and provision for an outdoor pool. Below, a level lawn is kept deliberately simple, with room for the ordinary business of family life. Irrigation is drawn from the property’s rainwater harvesting system, so the gardens look after themselves without touching the mains. HOUSE NUMBERS Beneath a four-car garage is a selfWhat: Contemporary home in contained studio annexe, ideal for Wraxhall, circa 6,500 sq ft long-term guests; the frontage is softly Guide price: £3.75m landscaped with box planters and a stone Receptions: 3 boundary wall. Homes of this ambition, in this position, Bedrooms: 6 Bathrooms: 6 with these credentials, do not come along often. Belle Vista is a rare opportunity to What else? Panoramic views own a true Grand Design, and an even Outside: Landscaped gardens; rarer one to do so in a home that gives as garage with one-bed annexe much back to the environment as it does Call my agent: 07407100966 www.bydesignhomes.com to the people living in it.
120 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
BRISTOL & CLIFTON’S PREMIER COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AGENTS Keep up-to-date with our latest news, deals, testimonials and market comment at our website: www.burstoncook.co.uk
Julian Cook FRICS
Jayne Rixon MRICS
Link House, BS15 TO LET - £15 psf 1,100 sq ft (102.19 sq m) 1st floor modern office to let with excellent links to Bristol city centre. Quoting £15.00 per sq ft and benefits from a very low service charge.
East End Court, Clevedon, BS21 FOR SALE / TO LET - POA 2,372 sq ft (220.36 sq m) A two storey Grade II Listed office building, approx 10 parking spaces. Currently in use as offices but could be suitable for a wide range of other uses to include office, medical, leisure, employment and community etc (STP).
Deben House, BS1 FOR SALE / TO LET – POA 525 - 2,678 sq ft (48.77 - 248.78 sq m) A ground floor office and basement benefitting from open plan accommodation, in use as offices. Could suit a wide range of uses to include office, medical, leisure, employment and community etc (STP).
Apex Court, Almondsbury TO LET - £11,000 PAX 883 sq ft (82.03 sq m) A modern, 2nd floor office with excellent access to the M4 & M5 motorway. 2 allocated car parking spaces. New lease terms available.
33a Park Street RENT: ON APPLICATION 752 – 1,522 sq ft Upper floor offices to let with Use Class E, therefore suitable for a range of different uses. New lease available.
Wells Road, BS14 FOR SALE – POA 673 sq ft (62.58 sq m) A lower ground floor property with a glazed frontage situated to the rear of Wells Road ‘Class E’ use and therefore suitable for a variety of uses i.e. medical, office & retail. Sold with vacant possession.
Apex Court, BS32 TO LET - £12.50 psf 821 – 1,643 sq ft (76.3 – 152.6 sq m) A modern ground floor office With excellent access to the M4 & M5. Competitive rent and service charge. The property is allocated a total of 5 car parking spaces.
Ridingleaze, BS11 TO LET - £12,500 PAX 813 sq ft (75.53 sq m) A competitively priced retail unit on a popular neighbourhood parade in Lawrence Weston. New lease terms available.
High Street, Shirehampton TO LET – POA 486 – 1,004 sq ft (45.15–93.27 sq m) Available separately or as a whole, 37-39 High Street offer open plan space with a glazed retail frontage. 39 High Street further benefits from external roller shutters. New lease available.
Abbey Wood Business Park, BS34 FOR SALE - £495,000 2,528 sq ft (235.83 sq m) Rare opportunity to acquire the freehold of this modern two storey office, within an attractive business park. Use Class E — therefore suitable for a wide range of different uses.
Charlie Kershaw MRICS
Finola Ingham FRICS
Tom Coyte MRICS
Charlotte Bjoroy BArch
Luke Dodge MRICS
(0117) 934 9977
BRISTOL LIVES
“We all think we know what will make us happy, but often get it wrong”
BRUCE HOOD
Wish you could unlock the secret of happiness? This Bristol professor has all the science . . .
B
orn in Toronto, Bruce Hood has spent over 40 years exploring how our minds work. He’s the bestselling author of The Science of Happiness, inspired by his hugely popular university course, and this month he’s at Clifton LitFest to explore why success, status and possessions don’t always make us happy, and what science says really does. He does look pretty happy, to be fair. But who exactly is he? There’s more than one Bruce Hood! My book The
Self Illusion explored how our sense of identity is constantly changing, so arguably there are multiple versions of ourselves. But conventionally speaking, I’m professor at Bristol University’s School of Psychology and Neuroscience, an author, presenter and founder of several academic ventures, and also have a passion for metal detecting.
My wife Kim and I had always
imagined settling in the West
Country, so when Kim secured hospital positions in Bath and Bristol, and I was offered a professorship at Bristol in 1999, it was a dream come true. We’ve been here ever since. I knew very little about psychology when I first
studied it as part of my degree. Growing up in the 1970s, I’d been fascinated by Uri Geller bending spoons, and the supposed powers of the mind, but soon discovered there was no scientific evidence for supernatural phenomena. I went on to study child development and neuroscience at Cambridge, but never lost my curiosity about why people believe extraordinary things. That eventually inspired my first book, exploring how supernatural beliefs develop from normal childhood thinking. The most surprising thing I’ve learned about the human mind is that we never
completely abandon earlier ways of thinking. The mind is like a layered cake. As we grow
130 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
and develop, our minds become more complex, but earlier ways of thinking and behaving never entirely disappear. Much of our peculiar psychology comes from the competing demands of past experiences, present circumstances and future ambitions.
LitFest. We’re increasingly surrounded by artificial and simulated experiences, so there’s something special about sharing ideas in person. Andrew is a fantastic interviewer, and I know he’ll guide the conversation into interesting and unpredictable territory.
The thing that inspired me to start teaching happiness was
I’ve got involved in the LitFest
frustration! I was seeing students miss out on the joy of university because they were so anxious about assessments. Education has become increasingly focused on achievement, often at the expense of wellbeing. Young people are also constantly confronted with unrealistic expectations through social media. My course is about finding balance and understanding what genuinely contributes to happiness, rather than endlessly chasing external measures of success. We all think we know what will make us happy, but often
get it wrong. Firstly, happiness isn’t a permanent state. Life inevitably brings setbacks, and what matters is how we bounce back. Secondly, while looking after ourselves is important, prioritising our own needs too much can get in the way of building meaningful relationships. Humans are social beings, and learning to focus on others, rather than just ourselves, is an important part of wellbeing. It’s about balance.
because Bristol has given me so much, and I wanted to give something back to a city I’ve fallen in love with.
I love Bristol’s fiercely independent, defiant and
unconventional identity, which leads to a fertile breeding ground for creative talent that is warmly embraced by Bristolians.
On a perfect day I’d escape to the countryside around Bristol and spend six to eight hours metal detecting, with the landowner’s permission, of course! I recently discovered a silver coin belonging to the Dobunni tribe, who occupied the West Country more than 2,000 years ago. Who held it last? That’s what fascinates me. It’s less treasure hunting and more humanity seeking. My favourite Bristol pub is the
Coach and Horses in Clifton. The regulars are wonderfully generous and colourful, and they’ve embraced the odd professor who likes to pontificate about the nature of humanity.
Writing the book has changed how I approach my own happiness. I used to be
I am at my happiest in the Somerset countryside, in a field that has been recently ploughed but flattened so that ground is even, but easy to dig. It may be perfect solitude, but that isolation reminds me of my connection to nature and humanity.
I’ll be discussing these ideas with Andrew Kelly at Clifton
Clifton LitFest runs 13–15 November www.foccal.com/litfest
excessively ambitious and selfcritical. These days, I’m more generous with my time and better at appreciating life. I’ve also started meditating; it’s a powerful antidote to negative thinking.