Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property
A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CITY
ISSUE 214 / JULY 2016 / £3
ISSUE 214 / JULY 2016 / LET US SPRAY
u p F E ST 2 0 16 FOR
B R IS TO L L IF E
EDITOR’S LETTER / ISSUE 214 / JULY 2016
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LET US SPRAY Gemma Compton is festival artist for Upfest 2016 – which apparently means she gets to paint the official VW van
Cover star Oh, boy. We’ve had some delicious Bristol Life covers in our time, but this beauty by Gemma Compton is right up there with the greats; you have our full permission to stick in a frame. Maybe light a small votive candle in front of it. Gemma’s the official artist for this year’s Upfest; we find out a bit more about her on page 32, while Upfest boss Steve Hayles gives us the lowdown on 10 more names to conjure with at this year’s event. After what turned out to be a startlingly sunny Grillstock weekend, we were moved to rhapsodise about some of the best places to dine out in the city; if it has a terrace or a garden, like Nicola Sturgeon, we’re oan it. July also sees the third outing for the Cary Grant Comes Home for the Weekend festival. It’s not really possible to say anything new about Bristol’s most debonair and famous son, but that wasn’t going to stop us. Cary on, Bristol – you’re doing a grand job of the summer so far. Deri Robins, editor Twitter @BristolLifeMag
PHOTO CREDIT EVENING POST
FEATURES / ISSUE 214 / JULY 2016
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KEEP CALM, AND CARY ON
It’s the third outing for Cary Comes Home for the Weekend, the annual tribute to our all-time favourite, Bristol-born, Hollywood movie star (admittedly there’s a limited choice)
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Harbour Festival
Our area-by-area, event-by-event guide to Bristol’s most popular annual event
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REGULARS / ISSUE 214 / JULY 2016 M EET T H E T EAM
THE ARTS 23 Arts Intro
Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk
The artist and illustrator who shaped your childhoods – or your children’s childhoods, if you’re as old as we are
Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Thomas Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors: Baz Barrett, Kyle Traynor, Anna Britten, Vivienne Kennedy Advertising manager Simon Hawkins simon.hawkins@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Emma Stroud emma.stroud@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager James Morgan james.morgan@mediaclash.co.uk Commercial director Steve Hawkins steve.hawkins@mediaclash.co.uk
24 What’s On Summer, in the city
38 Art How to get an actual piece of art from the next YBA for a fiver
40 Exhibition The powerhouse that is Michele Curtis shows the second part in her tribute to the creators of St Pauls Carnival
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53 The Verdict It’s our new review column!
SHOPPING 55 Shopping Intro Lotta bottle
56 Editor’s Choice You can practically hear the gulls cawing and smell the salty breeze blowing off the sea
A MAN’S WORLD
PROPERT Y
73 Baz Barrett
86 Property Showcase
FOOD
Running with the firmski
Just when we thought we were immune to property porn, this little beauty comes along
58 Restaurants In which we dine high on the hog
60 Recipes The Thali Cafés and their new bf Myra Sodha share some of their summer menu with you
SPORT 75 Kyle Traynor It’s not Kyle’s favourite part of the summer, to be honest
77 Business Insider
The Outsiders: stay gold, Bristol
The final stage of Bristol Old Vic’s refurb; 52 sustainable ideas for the city; a big ‘hello!’ to The Ivy Clifton; and how to get the Gloden glow
63 The Great Outdoors
11 98
BUSINESS
64 Al Fresco dining
SIX OF THE BEST
DEPARTMENTS
Six reasons to leave the sofa
60
Spotlight Bristol Lives
Production and distribution manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager Christina West christina.west@mediaclash.co.uk Production designer 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, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.
About MediaClash We’re a Bath-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrates the best of local living: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter and Salisbury. We also publish foodie mag Crumbs. (www.crumbsmag.com, @CrumbsMag) and wedding title Vow (@VowMag). 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
On the cover Porcelain by Gemma Compton; limited-edition prints cost £125 from www.gemmacompton. co.uk
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PUBLIC ART
THE MOON’S A BALLOON Just when you thought you knew exactly what to expect from Bristol Balloon Fiesta – night glows, mass ascents, Belgian balloonists stuck in a field of thistles – this year sees the introduction of two enticing new attractions. Luke Jerram, Bristol’s most playful and inventive artist (see page 98), has come up with a new installation called The Museum of the Moon – a giant, helium filled balloon replica of the Moon that uses NASA imagery to replicate the lunar surface. Floating above the fiesta for the whole weekend, the Moon will play a big role in this year’s night glows, being illuminated as the hot-air balloons light up. Festival goers will be encouraged to ‘moonbathe’ beneath it, apparently; how very Glastonbury. Made by Cameron Balloons, the Moon will be used to highlight lunar exploration and research, and comes with its own surround-sound music by Dan Jones. What, no Moondance? Also new for this year – and again, echoing another previous Luke Jerram installation, the Park & Slide – is a new 500ft water slide. The SlideRider is one of the biggest of its kind in the UK; it will set you back £15 for two slides, with profits going to Cancer Research, and if you want to be sure of having a go then you’re advised to book in advance. For more: www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk
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VILLAGE BRISTOL
VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED GOOD How do you normally get to Clifton Village? On foot? Number 8 bus? Private helicopter pad? With the aim of encouraging people to rediscover the many charms of BS8, with all its bijou little shops, Victorian arcade and lively café and restaurant scene, BID Clifton Village has launched a new initiative called ‘Discover Clifton 20 ways’ – which centres on the different ways people can reach and explore the Village. Running each month until September, the campaign will highlight the various modes of transport, while a new map of the area will suggest around 20 different scenic routes from the city centre, from such predictable modes of transport as Shanks’s pony, car, bicycle, bus or train, to the more
unusual – skateboarding, ferry boats, rickshaws and so forth. Businesses in the Village are asking residents and visitors to share videos and photos during their travels, showing the many picturesque views and landmarks they encounter on their way, A special prize will be given to the greenest and quirkiest way of travelling to the Village. To submit and share your images to social media, use the hashtag #discoverclifton on Twitter @CliftonVillage and Facebook: www.facebook.com/cliftonvillagebristol. To stay up to date with the latest news, prizes and offers for this initiative, events and information, visit the official website: For more: www.discoverclifton.co.uk
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HARBOUR FEST
WET WET WET Dance, food markets, demos, 1980s rock stars and oh yeah, boats: Bristol Harbour Festival 2016 is so much more than an annual treat for flotilla fanciers By L I SA WA R R E N
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HARBOUR FEST
B
ack in the day – and we’re tracking all the way back to 1971 here – the Bristol Harbour Festival was mostly just a bunch of boats. This first festival was held with the aim of saving the docks from being filled in, an ambition it largely fulfilled; since then, it’s grown into a gert lush big summer party that virtually takes over the city centre, all the way from Underfall Yard on Cumberland Road to Queen Square and onto Castle Park, in a three-day party of music, dance, food markets, circus acts, demos and daredevil stunts and boats. Lots of boats. This year’s festival will start with a special Friday night concert in Lloyd’s Amphitheatre featuring ’80s rockers Echo and the Bunnymen – they’d better give us Killing Moon and The Cutter or there’ll be trouble – supported by Nick Heyward. If you’re planning to be among the 200,000plus visitors this year, where should you go, and what will you see if you go there? w
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HARBOUR FEST acrobatic and juggling performances mixed with creative comedy, with a chance to get onstage and join in for the fearless. Cbeebies star Andy Day will be in full voice in the Children’s Area on Saturday, while Bruce Airhead and his enormous balloon –as seen on Britain’s Got Talent – will also be performing. For those brave enough to watch, Darryl Carrington, ‘the world’s most dangerous juggler’, promises to be pretty gripping, especially if he performs his signature trick of juggling a chainsaw. Meanwhile, at St Peters Church, local and national performers and writers will be taking part in the Spoken Word element of the weekend.
ON THE WATER
You probably won’t want to attempt what the guy in the bottom right photo is doing, but we expect you’ll be well up for twirling a few colourful ribbons
SWEET
MEMORY SOUNDS PAYS
TRIBUTE
TO DJ DEREK’S LEGENDARY
STORMING
SETS
LLOYD’S AMPHITHEATRE
Following Friday night’s ticketed gigs (£20), Lloyd’s will become the free festival’s main music hub on Saturday and Sunday with its natural acoustics helping performers to put on a great show. DJ Derek’s storming sets were always a Harbour Festival highlight, and Jenny Griffiths will be paying tribute to the much-missed Bristol legend with Sweet Memory Sounds on the Saturday, following the classic ska sounds of Moonshot and the gypsy swing of Brighton’s Jorge’s Hot Club. Bringing Saturday to a lively close will be Sidestepper, a project put together by world-music producer Richard Blair, which brings the dance rhythms of the Caribbean to the harbour. On Sunday, Kit Hawes and Aaron Catlow, part of Bristol’s legendary Balkan-playing Sheelanagig, will start things off with their British and Celtic folk tunes before handing over to Brass Junkies whose brass and percussion mix echoes the Mardi Gras sound of New Orleans, with a touch of hip-hop thrown in for good Bristol measure. Finally, Tristan has a reputation across Europe’s festival scene for really getting the party started; their feel-good acid jazz set has been described as “the best of the seventies brought to 2016.”
Here be boats; old ones, new ones; tall ones, little ones; motor ones, sailed ones: Bristol’s maritime heritage will be duly celebrated on the Floating Harbour and Bathurst Basin, next to The Louisiana. Beloved fixtures The Matthew, ss Great Britain and the city’s ferries will make room for visiting tall ships and leisure craft in a scene awash with activity and colour. This year the Royal Navy’s Hunt Class ship will be in Bristol, and in the quays and docks that line the Harbour you’ll find a maritime charity village, train rides, tea dances and a vintage market. The area around the ss Great Britain at the west end of the harbour will be a major focal point, as visitors flock to see the new visitor centre at Underfall Yard, a place which celebrates Bristol’s shipbuilding past and present. Along from the w
CASTLE PARK
Cirque Bijou returning to their spiritual home in the park after two years on College Green, making this the ideal destination for families – there’ll be plenty of free performances, activities, workshops and sheer gee-whizzery on offer here. On Saturday and Sunday, the Circus Stage and Children’s Area will see some of the best circus artists from Bristol and beyond, including headline star Dergin Tokmak. World-class aerial, www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 17
BOOK EARLY TO AVOID disappointment
HARBOUR FEST
DID YOU KNOW? The Harbourside Festival is the city’s most popular annual event, attracting between 250-300k visitors, bringing in an estimated £12 million to the city’s economy. No other Bristol event comes close. And what makes this all the more remarkable is the fact that it’s completely FREE and is largely funded by the council. You’re encouraged to buy the programme for £2, though, as this makes a valuable contribution to keeping the event non-ticketed (that’s also why you’ll never find the full deets on their website and why this Bristol Life guide is so exceptionally useful)
Bathurst Basin – and new for this year’s Harbour Festival – will be a live performance and market area at Redcliffe Wharf and Merchant’s Quay, between the Prince Street Bridge and Redcliffe Way Bridge.
QUEEN SQUARE
This year, Queen Square will be hosting the Dance Village. You can expect to see a mixture of world-class visiting companies and some of the city’s brightest dance talent across the weekend; Protein Dance’s (in)visible dance, the culmination of a week of performances across the city, promises to provide a dramatic spectacle. Casson and Friends will be creating a dance for Bristol using movements from the city’s residents collected in just two hours, and TV dancing star Arlene Phillips will be bringing her Candoco show to the stage after it sold out at the Bristol Old Vic earlier this year. Fans of the Continental food and craft markets will be pleased to hear that these will be back in the Square, so make sure you have plenty of cash to stock on Marseilles soap.
BRISTOL PLAYS MUSIC
Right: a diverse range of musical styles and a chance to hear fresh talent; below, it wouldn’t be a Bristol festival without great street food
The Bristol Plays Music stage on Welshback will celebrate Bristol’s unsung talent, making it the ideal forum for catching the future sounds of the city. You’re bound to discover something new, and maybe even be inspired to pick up an instrument yourself. The music education hub for the city, Bristol Plays Music makes sure every young person has the chance to express themselves, and at this year’s Harbour Festival will be celebrating
a diverse range of music with an eclectic mix of styles and genres. On Saturday, expect to see acts from Remix Academy, Aspiration Creation Elevation, Creative Youth Network, Knowle West Media Centre, Basement Studios and Trinity Community Arts along with performers from Saffron Records and Temple Records. On Sunday, the focus will be on the next generation of artists to come out of Bristol, with students from local music colleges BIMM (George Ezra’s alma mater), Access to Music and dBs taking to the stage.
CASCADE STEPS
Acoustic Music will once again be at the heart of the Floating Harbour as Jelli Records present their Cascade Steps programme, from the country-inspired pop tunes of Vic Allen to the electronic grooves of Knowle West’s Makala Cheung, the beautiful harmonies of The Honeyfire and Don Fox’s gypsy-jazz funk and blues, along with festival favourites Meet Your Feet and Josephine and The Artizans.
BBC RADIO BRISTOL STAGE|
As well as one of the festival’s markets, the area around the ss Great Britain will host the BBC Radio Bristol stage where you can see artists including rising folk star Sam Scott, soul band Macaco Project and London outfit Souls Captive. Lounge Cat Ideals will be flying the flag for Bristol while the South Wales Clarinet Choir’s unique sound will entertain the Sunday crowds, along with Bristol’s Batala Samba Band.
Bristol Harbour Festival takes place 15-17 July For more: www.bristolharbourfestival.co.uk
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Emerging, award winning and established international and local artists. Matisse, Andy Warhol, David Hockney, Antony Gormley, Miro, Damien Hirst, Banksy, Tracey Emin, Salvador Dali, Renoir, Picasso, Huw Richards Evans, Feona Ness, Anna Harley, Chitra Merchant
Hidden, 8 & 10 The Clifton Arcade, Boyce’s Avenue, Bristol BS8 4AA www.myhiddenworld.co.uk | hello@myhiddenworld.co.uk | Telephone: 0117 279 6402
Music/theatre/film/more
A KIND OF MAGIC Sometimes, a special kind of magic happens when a genius artist meets a genius writer; would AA Milne’s Pooh and Piglet have become such nursery favourites without EH Shepherd’s illustrations? Our own generation’s dynamic duo was Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake. “It’s Quent’s pictures, rather than my own descriptions, that have brought to life such characters as the BFG, Miss Trunchbull, Mr Twit and the Grand High Witch,” said Roald – surely over-modestly, though we know what he means. To celebrate 100 years since the author’s birth, a whole new set of collector’s prints have been released – head up to Sky Blue at Westbury Park to find all your favourite characters. www.skybluegallery.co.uk
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8 July – 8 August 2016
O U R T O P S U GGES TI ON S FOR YOU R MON TH
That nice Rufus Wainwright’s at Colston Hall; a Hug awaits you at Tobacco Factory Theatres; Stu Goldmsith is one of the Double Deckers at Comedy Box
Exhibitions UNTIL 15 JULY
ENTRANCES AND EXITS Emma Talbot’s picture-strip alter-egos are generally engaged in mundane, everyday activities, but her paintings are anything but ordinary; At Gallery TwentyTwo; gallerytwentytwo.co.uk UNTIL 16 JULY
TOM FROST Tom’s nostalgic work has strong natural-world and nautical themes; soma.gallery UNTIL 17 JULY
ART FROM ELSEWHERE An international exhibition showing how public collections reflect global change, featuring 38 artists from 22 different countries. At Arnolfini and Bristol Museum & Art Gallery; arnolfini.org.uk
REMBRANDT’S SELF PORTRAIT AT 63 See this bone-fide masterpiece at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, as part of the National Gallery’s Masterpiece Tour; bristolmuseums.org.uk UNTIL 30 JULY
SUMMER EXHIBITION New work by Yara Damián, John Evans, Cate Inglis, Henry Jabbour, Alexander Robb DA and Vivienne Williams, at Lime Tree; limetreegallery.com FERUS Amazing photos of the natural world from Falmouth University’s Marine and Natural History Photography 3rd year students. At Grant Bradley Gallery; grantbradleygallery.co.uk
Native American artist Del Curfman; rainmakerart.co.uk UNTIL 11 SEPTEMBER
JAMAICAN PULSE Exhibition bringing both classic and Jamaican art to the city, curated by Kat Anderson and Graeme Mortimer Evelyn; at RWA; rwa.org.uk
STUART WHIPPS: ISLE OF SLINGERS Exhibition drawing together the multiple strands of this artist and photographer’s work; at spikeisland.org.uk
2 JULY-25 SEPTEMBER
15 JULY
THE STORY OF CHILDREN’S TELEVISION FROM 1946 TO TODAY Oh, we’ve been looking forward to this one. Your inner sevenyear-old can wallow in nostalgia while your actual seven-year-old looks at old footage of, say, Little Weed, and asks, Dad, wtf? At M Shed; bristolmuseums.org.uk 9 JULY - 18 SEPTEMBER
UNTIL 6 AUGUST
APSÁALOOKE A solo exhibition by emerging
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French artist, with works based on the publishing house Beau Geste; spikeisland.org.uk
XAVIER ANTIN: THE ETERNAL NETWORK The first solo UK exhibition of the
9/11 AND THE ART OF MEME An evening that highlights the long-term effects as seen on social media of the 9/11 attacks. Art to be sold in silent auction during the event; at Hours; hours-space.com 16 JULY - 12 AUGUST
COLOUR IS LIFE Paintings and pastels by Lynn Golden at Clifton Contemporary; as you’d guess from the title, Lynn’s
W H AT ’ S O N
latest work fills the gallery with bold, seasonal colour. cliftoncontemporaryart.co.uk
and outside, but mostly outside, the mad, optimistic fools; bristolshakespearefestival.org.uk
22-24 JULY
10 JULY
THE OTHER ART FAIR See feature page 38 6-21 AUGUST
108TH ANNUAL OPEN EXHIBITION . . . for Clifton Arts Club; who else? Over 400 pieces of affordable art at Undercroft Gallery; cliftonartsclub.co.uk
Plays/Shows UNTIL 9 JULY
CHICAGO Christian off of ‘Stenders, Andrea off of ‘Corrie and (look, we’re just reading the blurb here) ‘real-life prison warden and X-Factor winner Sam Bailey’ star in the perennially popular hit at Hippodrome; atgtickets.com UNTIL 10 JULY
KING LEAR It’s another big-hitter for BOV250, with beloved thesp Timothy West taking on every actor’s ultimate role. In collaboration with Bristol Old Vic Theatre school, whose students co-star; directed by Tom Morris. Review page 53. bristololdvic.org.uk UNTIL 14 JULY
MACBETH AT REDCLIFFE CAVES If Insane Root’s take on the Scottish play’s supernatural prophecy and naked ambition wasn’t dark enough, they’ve set in deep within Redcliffe Caves. Fire burn, and caldron bubble, etc; eventbrite.co.uk UNTIL 17 JULY
INTO THE WEST The reliably excellent Travelling Light revive their 20-year-old play about two Irish traveller kids and their adventures with a magical white horse; tobaccofactorytheatres.com UNTIL 29 JULY
BRISTOL SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL Now in its 13th year, and with extra resonance, with it being the 400th anniversary of Will S’s death; some of the best touring players perform plays inside
ARTS
THE FABULOUS BACON BOYS The latest take on a classic tale by those lovable scamps Living Spit: this time, it’s the turn of the Three Little Pigs. tobaccofactorytheatres.com 12-16 JULY
GUYS & DOLLS Nathan Detroit and Skye Masterton ride again; few musicals have wittier dialogue, better tunes or wider lapels. At The Hippodrome; atgtickets. com 18-21 JULY
HUG Here’s different: Verity Standen’s immersive experience is a ‘choral sound bath’ in which each audience member is blindfolded and hugged by a singer. tobaccofactorytheatres.com 18-23 JULY
THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW Let’s do the Time Warp again (and drag up, why don’t you?); at The Hippodrome; atgtickets. com 22 JULY
IMPROMPTU SHAKESPEARE Shakespeare from the hip: the cast perform an entirely new Shakespeare play on the spot, inspired by audience suggestion. thewardrobetheatre.com 22-23 JULY
THE MIKADO Scottish Opera again joins forces with D’Oyly Carte Opera Company to present another Gilbert and Sullivan hit at The Hippodrome; atgtickets.com 26-30 JULY
FERMENT Step outside your comfort zone, and see work-in-progress from South West theatre folk– the first public stage of a creative process and a chance to see what ideas look like on their feet. bristololdvic.org.uk 27-28 JULY
THE HOURS BEFORE WE WAKE Tremolo Theatre present w
Let’s do the Time Warp again at The Hippodrome; The Showhawk Duo at the Haze Sessions; what are Cary and Ingrid doing down in Averys Cellars?
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Thu 28 – Sun 31 July A new international event celebrating great films on the big screen - giving you an opportunity to discover restorations and contemporary classics.
W H AT ’ S O N
ARTS
24 JULY
BLOOM PRESENTS A new collective of musicians and friends launches its first night of experimental new music at The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com 30 JULY
TURIN BRAKES One of the finest indie bands of the last decade comes to Bristol Zoo; bristolzoo.org.uk
Comedy ONGOING
CLOSER EACH DAY ‘Bristol’s only ongoing improvised live soap opera’ plays every other Monday at The Wardrobe; thewardrobetheatre.com UNTIL 15 JULY
CHUCKLEBUSTERS: EDINBURGH COMEDY PREVIEWS Catch a top double-bill of comedians each night before they take their new material to Edinburgh Fringe; thewardrobetheatre.com 12 JULY
JIM JEFFRIES The Aussie stand-up brings his caustic, brutally frank brand of humour to Colston Hall; colstonhall.org 16 JULY
New collective Bloom presents new music at the Wardrobe; Bunnymen down at the Harbour Fest; NASS work if you can get it
this lo-fi sci-fi black comedy set in 2091 – a time when technology allows us to control our dreams and upload them to DreamShare. . . thewardrobetheatre.com 1-6 AUGUST
FOOTLOOSE Pop Idol’s Gareth Gates joins a Nolan (Maureen) in this revival of the dancetastic ‘80s musical most closely associated with Kevin Bacon; at The Hippodrome; atgtickets.com 1-13 AUGUST
GOLDILOCK, STOCK AND THREE SMOKING BEARS Yay, it’s back! Who says you can’t stage a Christmas show
in August? Not that there was anything particularly festive about this tale of silver-tongued Goldie, a bunch of bears, and gangsters Barry and Harry. We loved this; don’t miss it. thewardrobetheatre.com
18 JULY
Music
22 JULY
15 JULY
ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN Ian and the lads will hopefully give us such back-catalogue classics as Killing Moon and The Cutter as well as showing us what else they’ve been up to; supported by fellow 1980s star Nick Heyward. colstonhall.org
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT One of the great vocalists and songwriters of his generation, Rufus delivers a ‘careerspanning solo performance’; colstonhall.org THE HAZE SESSIONS Hosted by Radio 1’s Huw Stephens, and sponsored by Thatchers, this new music event at the Passenger Shed features six up-and-coming acts: By The Rivers, The Showhawk Duo, Keston Cobblers, Anteros, Melodie Causton and Rachel Clark. thatcherscider.co.uk
THE SHADE-PULLERS & LASH-STACKERS SOCIAL CLUB Drag night ‘run by the happily married Joyce and Paul Marsden’ who ‘remain giddy and naïve to what’s beneath the makeup’. Dress code: limitless self-expression. thewardrobetheatre.com 17 JULY
DES O’CONNOR AND JIMMY TARBUCK It’s like all your 1970s Saturday nights in front of the telly have come back to haunt you. At The Hippodrome; atgtickets.com 18-19 JULY
SHAEDATES: OR HOW I LEARNED TO LOVE MYSELF New show from Shaelee Rooke – a tender, surreal and imaginative comedy about a woman who finds true love by w www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 27
Every pets’ favourite shop!
Excellent selection of quality pet foods Great range of toys and accessories Fair and competitive prices Friendly and knowledgeable service Open 6 days a week, Monday to Saturday
5 Worrall Road, Clifton BS8 2UF 0117 973 8617 | www.alfieandbella.co.uk
Telephone: 0117 973 0907 Mob: 07964 243979 100 Queens Road, Clifton, Bristol. BS8 1NF Opening Times: Monday: Pre-booked private viewings, Tuesday - Saturday: 10.00 - 19.00 Sunday: 11.00 - 16.00
Upcoming Exhibitions: Stephanie Price, 8th July - 14th August Katherine Morling & Adrian Brough, 19th August – 2nd October The Winter Show, 7th October – 23rd December
We welcome fellow art enthusiasts for an afternoon of “Art Banter” at Justnanco Fine Art Gallery on the first and last Sunday of every month, 1pm-4pm. Free advice on art, crafts and the market available! Mention ‘Bristol Life’ magazine and receive 10% off your purchase
W H AT ’ S O N
ARTS
Look who’s back! Goldie takes on the Three Bears (not to mention Harry! And Barry!) at The Wardrobe; you can tell that Morph knows he’s a firm Bristol favourite at The Story of Children’s TV at M Shed; Turin Brakes try not to frighten the animals at Bristol Zoo
dating herself; it’s an option, we guess. At The Wardrobe thewardrobetheatre.com 27 - 30 JULY
DOUBLE DECKERS COMEDY WEEK 2016 The latest collection of doublebill tryouts, prior to the Edinburgh Fringe. Two shows per night from the comedycircuit élite for only a tenner; see the full line-up and minibiogs on the TFT website; tobaccofactorytheatres.com
Other UNTIL 10 JULY
NASS FESTIVAL The high-octane action sports and music festival at Bath & West Showground includes the BMX World Championships; nassfestival.com
BRISTOL PRIDE With the return of the award-winning film festival, Comedy Night, Dog Show and a specially curated Theatre Evening; the actual Pride Day Festival is on 9 July at Harbourside; bristolpride.co.uk
15-16 JULY
BRISTOL BOOK FAIR Browse old, rare and vintage books, maps, manuscripts and ephemera from the dawn of printing to modern first editions ; at Passenger Shed; pbfa.org
5 X 15 In the latest line-up of the mini-talks, Viv Groskop explains why Margot from The Good Life is the ultimate female role model; MC Joe Peng discusses his youth work in Bristol and the trials of growing up as a mixed-race gypsy; Ed Gillespie talks sustainability; Lucy Mangan explores the curse of female guilt, and Prof Jerry Brotton reveals the incredible Elizabethan alliance with the Islamic world; tobaccofactorytheatres.com
THE TINKERING SPACE/ MEET THE ROBOTS At-Bristol launch two new hands-on exhibitions just in time for the summer holidays; at-bristol.org.uk 23-25 JULY
15-17 JULY 11 JULY
23 JULY
UPFEST See feature page 32
BRISTOL HARBOUR FESTIVAL See feature page 14
30 JULY
AMERICANA This year’s main headliner is Elvis Costello, with Mary Chapin Carpenter and Lucinda Williams also topping the bill at Colston Hall; colstonhall.org
6 AUGUST
8, 16-17 JULY
CARY GRANT COMES HOME FOR THE WEEKEND See feature page 46
BRISFEST The latest Bristol sounds, at over 15 independent music venues, bringing Brisfest back to the heart of the city. brisfest.co.uk REDFEST The annual heady mixture of film, music, art, cabaret and family stuff, all served up with a strong community feel; at St George’s Park. redfestbristol. co.uk
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ARTS
STREET ART
LET US SPRAY As you can see, Gemma Compton’s pretty busy – she’s the featured artist of this year’s Upfest, and apart from anything else, that VW van isn’t going to paint itself . . . By DE R I ROBI NS 32 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
STREET ART
IF YOU DON’T LIKE STREET ART, YOU’RE
PROBABLY LIVING IN THE WRONG CITY
ARTS
S
earching for a handy visual shortcut to prove that in 2016 Bristol, street art is just as likely to be incredibly pretty as it is bold, edgy and political? Look no further than our beautiful cover. It’s the work of Gemma Compton; as well as being the festival artist for this year’s Upfest – the first female to have that honour – Gemma has also designed the 2016 logo, and completed a mural in front of the Upfest gallery on North Street; she’ll also be painting a huge mural on the Brewery Theatre on the actual weekend of the festival. She’s even painted the official VW van. “I’ve always painted,” says Gemma, who earned herself a first-class honours in fashion design and illustration at UWE. Oh, and though she’s the official face of this year’s Upfest, she says that she doesn’t put herself ‘in a street art category’. “I’d rather call myself a contemporary artist who’s been lucky enough to be given opportunities to create huge paintings and murals,” she says. Here’s some more from Gemma: Street art used to have wholly aggressive, politcal connotations; what’s changed? Street artists like Banksy have helped move street art into contemporary spaces such as galleries and auctions, allowing art to be more accessible to more people. Festivals such as Upfest also open up and share art with people from all kinds of backgrounds. Initially, when street art started, a lot of people might have seen it as an aggressive art form, and it still can appear that way, but there is so much more to it. There is so much beautiful art to see these days; you just have to go out there, find it and appreciate it. Why do you think that street art has become such a mainstream enthusiasm? Take away the stencils and the spray cans, and street art is about being free to do what you want to do, which is why you go to festivals such as Upfest to see a diverse collection of artists expressing themselves. The only negative is that if you don’t like it, it’s everywhere! Bristol is covered in graffiti and street art, so if you don’t appreciate it, you might be living in the wrong city. But we’re really lucky to live in a city that is very open to people expressing themselves creatively. It’s what makes Bristol so great. Street art is probably one of, if not the, most welcoming of all art forms. w
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 33
ARTS
STREET ART
Do you conceive your outdoor murals and your gallery work differently? I treat a huge mural the same as I would a small canvas. The main difference is that if I make a mistake at the studio, I’m usually the only one that sees it, so I can try to fix it, whereas on a mural everyone will be able to notice it. I always try to plan everything carefully – where the mural might be, or where the piece may end up – so it’s always well-thought-through and works harmoniously with its surroundings. Whether it’s a small canvas or mural, my work is interchangeable – for example, the birds on the Upfest logo can be seen in some of my previous work, and they fit in with my current projects. Many of your paintings, including our cover, draw on birds and botanical images – can you tell us a bit about what inspires you? My work tends to be inspired by my personal experiences. I grew up in the Cotswolds, so I’ve always had a love for nature and birds. My grandparents often used to take me out into the woods and countryside, so nature comes into my work from a passion that started in my childhood.
34 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
We see on your website that your work ‘deals with love, life and loss’ . . . Most of, if not all of my work, is inspired by my life. As well as a lot of nature, you’ll notice my art features decay, which comes from a darker place in my life. When I was 18, I was involved in a serious car accident. I broke my spine, among other things, and it set everything out of balance for a long time, and it was something which I had to recover from mentally as well as physically. It was the defining point which made me realise that life is really short, and you have to value yourself and what you do, which is why my work is inspired by all parts of life – fragility, vulnerability, beauty, nature and death. Who else are you looking forward to seeing at this year’s Upfest? I’m looking forward to seeing the ladies, such as Toia Grehan, Clara Reichertz, Hannah Adamaszek, and what they have in store for the festival this year. I’m also looking forward to Fin DAC – I haven’t seen him painting in Bristol for a while, so it’ll be good to see him in action again. PichiAvo are also ones to watch out for, and I would say my husband CopyRight too, but I get to see him all the time.
MY WORK IS
INSPIRED
BY ALL PARTS OF LIFE – FRAGILITY, VULNERABILITY, BEAUTY,
NATURE
AND DEATH
STREET ART
Above, an Odeith ’gator sends its regards from Baton Rogue; right, PichiAvo in action
The Bristol Life bluffer’s guide to this year’s top Upfest artists
IDIOT’S GUIDE TO UPFEST
OK, so we reckon even we can recognise a Gemma Compton now (birds, flowers, eyes etc). But to help you really impress your mates up from London for the weekend, we asked Steve Hayles, co-founder of Upfest, to pick out a few more names for you to conjure with.
(in case you arrived in Bristol less than 10 minutes ago)
• Upfest is short for the Urban Paint Festival, though practically no-one ever calls it that. • This year’s event is the 8th of its kind, and has been partly financed by a successful Kickstarter campaign. • It’s Europe’s largest street art event, with over 300 artists painting 28 venues throughout Bedminster and Southville. • The artists paint live on 30,000 sq ft of surfaces in front of 25,000 visitors, who also come down for the affordable art sale, music stages, art workshops and food stalls. • It’s FREE – but please buy a brochure to support the festival and its nominated charity, NACOA (National Association for Children of Alcoholics).
ARTS
PICHIAVO
These two guys are just incredible, and a perfect example of ancient meets modern – combining the neoclassical themes that more traditional art lovers recognise, and remixing them with bursts of colour and graffiti: rewriting the rules, and making it theirs.
SHOK-1
Now this guy is a genius, and has been around since the early days of the scene, with a career spanning more than 30 years. His artwork is a cool blend of street and science, spraying unique X-ray art on building all over the world, freehand, without any other help.
ODEITH
One of the pioneers of anamorphic art. Standing out for his compositions created in perspective and painted on more than one surface, such as 90º corners or from the wall to the floor, Odeith’s work creates an optical illusion effect when you look at it from a different angle. His work is
very interactive; you can look at it from a totally different area, and you’ll see something different pop out.
LEON KEER
One of the top street artists in the world, specialising in 3D and anamorphic street art, painting on walls and floors all over the world. He’s great painting in front of crowds, and believes that every street art piece is special and belongs to the streets and its residents, which sounds a lot like us. w www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 35
STREET ART
Top, left to right: A trademark Fin DAC’s Oriental beauty; PichiAvo take a well-earned break from being modern Michaelangelos.
FIN DAC
Fin DAC breaks the conventions of painting, through not only his technique, which is a mix of stencil and freehand with aerosol, but with a clear interest in female beauty, specifically pan-Asian or Latina characters, and merging traditional ethnic dress with western fashion.
MR JUNE
Clearly influenced by the golden age of hip-hop, Mr June produces incredible colourful, multidimensional pieces; always searching for the perfect form, and with a love of typography which seems to come naturally and flow through his artistic veins.
BIRDO
BirdO, from Toronto, has a completely unique and identifiable style; his murals of geometric animals can be found everywhere from canvases and digital print to art installations worldwide. He’s best known for his large-scale work on walls and buildings.
AMPPARITO
And don’t forget to look out for this li’l guy – Mr Graff, created by Cheo. Mr Graff will be joining some of his fellow Mr Men and Little Misses in a huge mural by Cheo for Upfest
This young Spanish artist is a real rising star in the street art scene. You’ll be able to see his innovative and artistic mind at work, and how he can take a stationary object, be it a shovel or an iPhone, and completely change its nature, so that we view it with a totally fresh perspective.
CARO PEPE
Caro is an amazing artist from Argentina whose beautiful work takes a deep look at the complex
ARTS
nature of emotions. She is well-known for portraying feelings, and painting girls with or just one eye, making a really interesting point on how we observe reality and how we define our worlds.
TOIA GREHAN
Toia is another artist coming a long way to be at Upfest – Buenos Aires, in fact. We’re looking forward to seeing her in action, and experiencing her imaginative take on nature, filled with amazing vivid colours and great depth.
READY2RUMBL
Flying into the city from Rotterdam, Ready2Rumbl has been adding colourful characters and paintings to the streets, skate parks and neglected spots of his home town and lucky for us, soon to be Bristol. You’ll notice his influence and love of cartoons, children’s books, modern pop culture, myths and fairy tales. His bright, funky and slightly intense characters will be something that all the family can enjoy.
GOIN
Goin is the resident artist at the Abode of Chaos, an amazing contemporary museum in Lyon, so it’s a real honour to have him at this year’s Upfest. A stencil artist with deep punk inspirations, Goin mixes vivid graphics and typography with a chaotic and sometimes rather violent panache. His work is challenging and subversive as well as being visually astounding. This year’s Upfest takes place 23-25 July For more, visit www.upfest.co.uk
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 37
ARTS
COLLECTING
THE
ART FAIR
Bristol’s not short of alternative, playful, outside-the-box exhibitions, so you’d better have a pretty good USP to justify anything with ‘Other’ in your name. The Other Art Fair has a pretty good one – we think you’re going to like it By L I SA WA R R E N
T
he Other Art Fairs take place in Bristol, London and Sydney; a pretty cool trio by anyone’s standards. The Fairs are fast gaining a reputation for being the place to buy art direct from the very best emerging and undiscovered artists, with a wide variety of works in all kinds of mediums. They’re also known for their uniquely immersive visitor experience, with guest artists, ‘kids create’ areas, film, food stalls and live music; this year, for example, in a one-to-one experience, the audience of BitterSuite will be blindfolded by a performer and led through a choreographed multisensory experience, while listening to Debussy. Oh, and the USP we mentioned? It’s called The Artful Postcard. To bring the joy and fun back into receiving post, 200 blank, stamped postcards will be available at the fair. All you have to do is hand over a postcard and five quid to one of the 80 exhibiting artists, who will then decorate, design or doodle on your blank card and send it on to the address of your choice. The cards should start to arrive approximately two days after the fair has finished. Just think – you could have a frameable piece of work from the next YBA, for a paltry fiver. One of these artists, for example . . .
1LUCY PICK
Drawing inspiration from landscapes in Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and Hampshire, Lucy’s work challenges the viewer to see beyond the simple beauty of her paintings. She has exhibited widely in the UK and her work is held in many private collections. Expect a postcard that more than meets the eye . . .
2RENNIE PILGREM
Rennie’s work crosses the boundaries between digital and traditional. He’s been shortlisted for the Royal Academy Summer Show for the past three years and his wildlife silhouettes or abstract stripes would look just amazing on your postcard. 38 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
3LUCY FOAKES
Fizzy pop cans have never looked as funky as they do after some attention from Lucy Foakes, a ceramics expert who also loves Pop Art. Her clever, celebrity-focused pieces are inspired by the canopic jars in which ancient Egyptians buried the vital organs of their Pharaoh.
Clockwise from top left: This could be you, discovering the next YBA; past work by Karen Stamper, and by Lucy Foakes; sample postcards
4HELEN BROUGH
This painter, screen-printer and sculptor has exhibited all over the world and creates vivid, colourful work that would liven up any surface – a blank piece of card, for example.
5VESNA MILINKOVIC
Bristol’s street art lovers will recognise the anarchy of graffiti in Vesna’s bold, abstract work. Working with prints and collages, her pieces exude spontaneity and humour.
6LYNN BAILEY
Devon-based printmaker Lynn translates a love of nature into her intricate and beautiful prints, showing everything from urban bees to songbirds and butterflies and bats. People who love the natural world in their art would cherish a postcard from Lynn.
7KAREN STAMPER
Bright colours and abstract shapes are meshed together in Karen’s work. After studying at art college she spent ten years travelling, and returned inspired by the urban environment, producing dramatic pieces which put a fresh interpretation on everyday scenes.
8MATTHIEU LEGER
It feels appropriate that in the year astronaut Tim Peake inspired us all, Matthieu brings his space-focused work to The Other Art Fair. Mixing painting with a love of sci-fi, his postcards are the closest thing we can think of to receiving post from outer space.
The Other Art Fair runs at Arnolfini from 22-24 July For more see www.theotherartfair.com
YOU
COULD
HAVE A FRAMEABLE PIECE OF
WORK FROM THE NEXT YBA FOR A PALTRY FIVER
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 39
F E AT U R E
BEAT SURRENDER INTERIORS SPECIAL
Easton-born Michele Curtis combines a natural gift for portraiture with an irrepressible community spirit – the latest manifestation being Bristol Beats and Bass, part of an ongoing visual tribute to the founders of St Pauls Carnival By L I SA WA R R E N
A
rtist Michele Curtis is a woman on a mission. One of eight children born to Jamaican parents in Easton, her work is inspired by a reverence and respect for people whose achievements in the community have been outstanding, if not always recognised. Capturing her subjects’ spirit and character has become Michele’s passion, and one she’s channelled into a number of projects; here she tells us about her next exhibition, and how it fits into the bigger picture. So Michele, how did you become an artist? My mum was studying fashion design at Brunel Technical College, and I used to sit for hours looking at her drawings, trying to copy them. I was doing something creative as early as I can remember, but at school I was told being an artist wasn’t a real career, so I became a self-taught fine-artist, illustrator and graphic designer. Please tell us about Bristol Beats and Bass Following my Iconic Black Bristolians exhibition in 2014, I was inspired to feature the contributors to St Pauls Carnival from the last 50 years – but in realising this was too big for one show I decided to break them it three different themes, under the umbrella of ARTival 2018, celebrating 50 years of St Pauls Carnival. You’d better tell us a bit more about ARTival 2018, then ARTival 2018 is a combination of three exhibitions. The first phase was The Seven Saints of St Pauls in July 2015, showing portraits of the founders of the Carnival. The second phase, Bristol Beats and Bass, is dedicated to the Sound System DJs and MCs of Carnival 40 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
ONE OF MY
INCENTIVES WAS TO DRAW OUT ART LOVERS WHO MAY NOT ALWAYS
GO TO SEE OTHER EXHIBITIONS, BUT FOUND SOMETHING HERE THAT THEY COULD RELATE TO
ONE TO ONE
ARTS
during the 1980s and 1990s. Next year will showcase the wider collaborative contributors in ARTival 2018, with additional art, archive and documentary material. I’m also raising awareness of Carnival’s legacy with support from Arts Council England and the Royal West of England Academy, through the current Jamaican Pulse Exhibition, to deliver a number of school-focused workshops to co-design additional elements for the murals, influenced by the broader community’s symbolism in art. Tracking back a bit, what was the main aim of Iconic Black Bristolians? One of my incentives was to draw out mixed ethnic art lovers from the community, who may not always go to see other exhibitions but found something in this that they could relate to. Why does portraiture fascinate you? I just love people! I love discovering the way the light hits different parts of their face and eyes and how this reveals their story. People from all walks of life are beautiful, and have something special, unique, an inner quality of their soul that I love to draw out, literally. In today’s society we have so many selfies and digital photos that we can lose that depth. I feel that when you are able to take time over the detail in someone’s face, there is so much more to be described about a person and their spirit. We believe there will be music to add extra ambience and context to the paintings at the exhibition, is that right? Yes, on the launch night, some of the DJs featured in the exhibition will be mixing sounds from these eras. During the week there will be original soundtracks playing of Wild Bunch, Smith & Mighty, 3PM and others. Do you still feel that, despite the reverence afforded to those who pioneered the Bristol Sound, the contribution of Bristol’s AfroCaribbean community is still overlooked? Yes absolutely. While it’s great that some of these crew’s DJs and their productions have travelled the world and put a spotlight on the w
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 41
ONE TO ONE
ARTS
I feel that the written interview stories that accompany the portraits will be most interesting because they highlight the individuals’ journey from their beginnings. Above, at the Iconic Black Bristolians exhibition Top right, Luie Lou, former DJ of City Rockas, at Bristol Beats and Bass
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT SUCCESS IS POSSIBLE FOR ALL PEOPLE, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR BACKGROUNDS
city, attracting new settlers, it is often overlooked that these people, who have achieved so much through their music, are just everyday people from the BME community. We need to remember that success is possible for all people, irrespective of their socio-economic backgrounds or the expectations schools may have imposed on them. It’s clear that all communities must benefit from support to build many different and often hidden talents.
We hear you’re painting the Seven Saints murals around and in St Pauls, celebrating key first-generation men and women; what’s that about? These permanent fine-art murals will form an outdoor exhibition teaching the history and legacy that these seven amazing people made to the city. The first wall, depicting Owen Henry, will be painted in the last quarter of 2016, with the other six murals going up during 2017.
How do you find the local art scene? I’ve noticed more fine art galleries emerging, but I’ve been so busy with my own art projects I’ve not had time to discover as much as I would have liked. Recently I attended an art exhibition by Salaam Shalom showcasing Jewish and Muslim fine art, that I found amazing and inspiring.
What’s the latest news on St Pauls Festival? I know there are a lot of people working hard behind the scenes to ensure it returns, not only because of its importance locally, but its popularity nationally.
Please tell us about the musicians you chose to paint, and how you chose them The reason I chose to highlight these soundsystem DJs and MCs is not only because I grew up in this era, but also because it was an exciting musical time, as the DJ craft took off with the advent of the US-influenced two-turntables-andmixer set-up. For ARTival 2018 I will be adding even more personalities into the mix. What do you think will most surprise people about the exhibition?
We hear that you do all this while juggling single motherhood of two boys and a disability – how do you find the energy and motivation? What do you do for ‘down time’? Iconic Black Bristolians and my family are my motivation and passion. When not focused on these I’m working on another creative venture, and if there’s time at the end of the day I will listen to my favourite music, relax and meditate.
Bristol Beats and Bass will show at The Island Bristol, The Gallery Space, Nelson Street between 23-30 July For more www.theislandbristol.com
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 43
H E A LT H A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E
EYES RIGHT
Advances in vitreoretinal surgery mean state-of-the-art treatment at NUFFIELD HEALTH BRISTOL HOSPITAL, THE CHESTERFIELD
T
he vitreous is a clear jelly like substance that fills the back of the eye and gently supports the photographic film or wallpaper on the back wall of the eye called the retina. Vitreoretinal disorders can affect the retina and lead to rapid loss of vision, which sometimes needs urgent attention. Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, The Chesterfield has the latest state of the art swept source retinal scanner, which can detect retinal details to a degree never seen before. Consultant ophthalmologist, Mr Majid, is able to diagnose retinal problems immediately and recommend treatment without delay. Mr Majid explains: “The vitreous gel is firmly attached to the retina in several places, but in some parts it is loosely adherent. The vitreous shrinks with age and the wrinkles that develop in the vitreous gel can be seen as floaters in the vision. As the vitreous continues to shrink, it can start to peel away from the retina. This process is called a posterior vitreous detachment and can signal the start of sudden sight threatening problems within the retina.” Patients who develop floaters, flashing lights, blurring, distortion or loss of vision can arrange an urgent appointment with Mr Majid at the Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, 44 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
The Chesterfield. Mr Majid continues, “as the vitreous starts to separate from the retina, several changes can arise. If the vitreous starts to pull on the central part of the retina, known as the macula, this can lead to a process known as vitreomacular traction (VMT). The symptoms include blurring and distortion of central vision. VMT can often progress to the development of a macular hole, with sudden loss of central vision. “However, if the vitreous pulls on the peripheral retina, a retinal tear or retinal detachment may develop, leading to rapid and irreversible loss of sight. If the vitreous completely separates from the macula, but leaves a small portion behind, this cling-film like substance can contract and distort the retina, resulting in an epiretinal membrane.” If you develop symptoms of floaters, distortion or loss of vision or you have been suspected of having a retinal problem, Mr Majid can see and confirm your diagnosis and discuss several treatment options with you. Mr Majid adds “I am delighted that the Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital has recently invested in the class leading vitreoretinal surgical platform, combined with the clearest retinal imaging system available. Add to this the latest and smallest 27 Gauge instruments, it allows me to perform very delicate manoeuvres within
the eye, resulting in sutureless micro keyhole surgery with the quickest healing times and the best outcomes for my patients – often within days you can hardly tell an operation has occurred. This is a huge advancement in the field of vitreoretinal surgery, currently only available to a lucky few surgeons.” BL
If you have symptoms or signs of retinal disease, or you have had a recent diagnosis and would like further confirmation or a discussion of your treatment options, Mr Majid is currently offering complimentary ten minute 1:1 mini advice sessions. Whilst these do not replace a full consultation they are a great way of getting some initial expert advice. Please contact Mr Majid’s team at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, The Chesterfield for an appointment on 0117 9110 556 or visit nuffieldhealth.com/consultants/mr-mo-majid for more information.
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ARTS
F E S T I VA L
PHOTO CREDIT EVENING POST
Cary, and the Suspension Bridge: we’re tempted to splash our entire annual allocation of ‘iconic’ just on this photo
46 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
CARY DOESN’T
LIVE HERE ANY MORE … well, he doesn’t live anywhere any more, he died in 1986 – but he was Bristol born and bred, and while he may have ditched his West Country accent for a slightly odd Transatlantic RP all of his own, our most famous celluloid son never forgot the city, or his roots By DE R I ROBI NS
HE WAS ALWAYS AT HIS BEST PLAYING ‘COMPLEX AND UNREADABLE’
T
he third Cary Grant Comes Home festival begins next month, with a screening of Hitchcock’s 1946 Notorious in Averys Wine Cellars. Seen the film? You don’t need us to explain the setting. If you haven’t, we won’t spoil the fun. It’s quite incredible how fresh this 70-year-old movie still feels today. Typically, Hitch managed to slip at least three highly dodgy things past the censor: one, that far-longer-than-permitted on-screen kiss; two, some highly confidential information relating to experiments with uranium (the film was released within months of the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan); and three, the dubious morality of his heroine. Meanwhile, Cary – always at his best playing ‘complex and unreadable’ – delivers a less than entirely likeable role. Yes, he’s our hero, and yes, we’re pretty sure he’s going to rescue Ingrid Bergman eventually – but he takes his time about it, and seems completely on-board with pimping her out in a strategic marriage to an evil Nazi. He’s manipulative, he’s cynical, he’s cold-hearted – and he’s chillingly good at it. No wonder that he was Hitchcock’s first choice, over and over again: ever the suave, handsome leading man, but scratch the surface, and this Bristol boy was as far removed from the AllAmerican hero as it was possible to get. It was a contradiction that mirrored the gulf between the real Cary Grant, and the image he’d invented for himself, and spent all his adult life personifying. www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 47
F E S T I VA L
ARTS
ARCHIBALD
LEACH WAS JUST ABOUT THE LEAST LIKELY PERSON EVER TO BECOME
CARY GRANT
PHOTO CREDIT EVENING POST
To celebrate the third outing for the Cary Comes Home festival, we present a highly selective timeline of the life and times of Cary Grant – or Archie Leach, as he was known to his schoolmates, teachers and his mum and dad. 1904: Archibald Alexander Leach – just about the least likely person ever to become Cary Grant – is born on 18 January at 15 Hughenden Road, Horfield, Bristol, the second but only surviving son of Elsie and Elias Leach. 1914: Archie, now aged nine or 10, comes home from school to be told that his mother has gone away for a holiday and, later, that she is dead. In fact, Elsie has been committed to the Bristol Insane Asylum, where, unbeknown to her son, she will remain for the next 20 or so years.
Cary’s cynical-yet-sexy spy Devlin in Notorious is said to have inspired Ian Fleming to create James Bond. Cary later turned down the film role
1917: A teacher and electrician takes Cary to see the lighting system at the newly-built Bristol Hippodrome. Archie is captivated, and begins working at the theatre after school as a backstage gofer. Here he meets Bob Pender, who runs a travelling troupe of knockabout comedians; at 14, Cary leaves home to join the troupe. w www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 49
ARTS
PHOTO CREDIT EVENING POST
F E S T I VA L
PHOTO CREDIT EVENING POST
hospital for the mentally ill. He arranges for her release, and buys her a house in Westbury Park, visiting her often until her death in 1973.
IN HIS OWN WORDS: “I pretended to be somebody I wanted to be until finally I became that person. Or he became me.” “Everyone wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant.” “I’ve often been accused by critics of being myself on-screen. But being oneself is more difficult than you’d suppose.” “Insanity runs in my family. It practically gallops.” “I improve on misquotation.”
THEY SAID: “The man from dream city” – film critic Pauline Kael “If he can talk... I want him in my picture” – Mae West, on first spotting Cary “There is a frightening side to Cary that no one can quite put their finger on” – Alfred Hitchcock
1939: Following the outbreak of WW2, Archie tries to join the British Navy, but is ruled to be too old. He may, however, have become a British spy, reporting on Nazi sympathisers in Hollywood, and possibly recruited by his friends Noel Coward and Ian Fleming, both of whom definitely did work for the British Intelligence service.
Cary going a bit Gene Kelly on the streets of Horfield, where he was born Top right: showing daughter Pat the sights
1920: Aged 16, Archie is still with the troupe when it enters the USA via Ellis Island. At the end of the two-year visit, Archie opts to stay in the States, and the name ‘Archie Leach’ starts appearing on vaudeville bills and the cast lists of Broadway plays and musicals. 1931: Archie heads for Hollywood, and is signed by Paramount. The studio insists, however, on a change of name. Archie’s first suggestion is Cary Lockwood – a character he’d played on Broadway – but while the studio likes ‘Cary’, it asks for a different surname: enter Cary Grant. 1932: Cary Grant gets his first major screen credit as co-star to Marlene Dietrich in Blonde Venus. Mae West then casts him in her 1933 film She Done Him Wrong – a box office, Oscarnominated hit, and the film that sets Cary hurtling towards Hollywood stardom. He will appear in over 70 films altogether. 1935: Cary’s father, Elias, dies in Bristol, and the lie that has held since 1914 is shattered when he discovers that his mother remains alive in a local
1947: King George V1 presents Cary Grant with the King’s Medal for his services to the British war effort and for his gifts to war relief funds. Grant’s donations include his entire earnings from The Philadelphia Story. 1962: After his performance in Notorious inspires Ian Fleming to create his debonair spy James Bond, Cary is the first actor asked to portray 007 on screen. He turns the role down, saying he is too old to commit to a series. Coincidentally the franchise goes on to benefit at least three other former Bristol residents: Caroline Bliss, Samantha Bond and Naomie Harris, who have all played Miss Moneypenny. 1970: The American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences finally gives Cary a special Oscar for ‘his mastery of the art of screen acting’. 1986: Cary dies, aged 82, in Iowa, in the middle of a one-man show tour. 2001: A life-sized bronze statue of Cary Grant, sculpted by Graham Ibbeson, is unveiled in Millennium Square. Cary Comes Home for the Weekend runs 16-17 July, with a special showing of Notorious at Averys Wine Cellars on 8 July. The festival culminates in a red-carpet gala screening of Bringing Up Baby on 17 July at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery For more see www.carycomeshome.co.uk
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 51
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REVIEWS
The VERDICT PHOTO CREDIT SIMON ANNAND
True bromance at Bristol Summer Series, and a 400-year-old play for our times at Bristol Old Vic: it can only be our new review column THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS, Bristol Summer Series, Harbourside 24 June; www.bristolsummerseries.com
The referendum result has been sinking in all day: what we need now are clear skies and songs about lovelorn boys and really bad girls. Alex Turner and Miles Kane got the memo: “You asked for it, Bristol!” they threaten adorably, in the reassuring shadow of those giant harbourside cranes. Boozy ballad Sweet Dreams, TN is an unconventionally down-tempo opener. Slicked back and sockless in white bolero and matador, Turner delivers the deathless line ‘You’re the first day of spring/With a septum piercing’ with a lustful panache redolent of both Shirley Bassey and Jean Hughes Anglade in Betty Blue. There’s grinding, grunting, ass-wiggling, croons of “Bristol wooooomaaaan”. They stop short of jumping off the stage and humping people’s legs – just. For, truth be told, Alex and Miles only have eyes for one another – the pair playing up their chemistry for maximum homoerotic effect. The drivingly melancholic Aviation, velour-soft Miracle Aligner and Smiths-
The kingdom divided: Tim West and the freshest BOVTS talent
like The Dream Synopsis from new album Everything You’ve Come To Expect are flawless, as is the Everly Brothers-ish Standing Next To Me from 2008 debut The Age of the Understatement – a four-piece string section superbly on point throughout. A couple of lesser tracks see streams of people refreshing their drinks. Maybe that’s because you can’t compose a two-hour set of bangers from just two albums’ worth of material. Or maybe it’s just been that sort of day.
Go get ’em, tiger: the Last Shadow Puppets
By Anna Britten
KING LEAR, Bristol Old Vic
PHOTO CREDIT MARTHA LANGLEY SMITH
Currently running, until 10 July www.bristololdvic.org.uk
“A play for our times,” I heard someone say as we made our way out of Bristol Old Vic, leaving via the stage door as front of house is currently out of bounds due to the theatre’s redevelopment. Indeed. Shakespeare may have written King Lear more than 400 years ago, but this production highlights many parallels between then and the post-referendum era in which we now find ourselves. The tragic story of inter-generational conflict is directed by Tom Morris and
played out by theatrical legends Timothy West, Stephanie Cole and David Hargreaves alongside students from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School – a working masterclass for the young cast members and their peers involved backstage in every aspect of the production from design to stage management. I doubt that I’ll be around to see it, but I couldn’t help thinking that the likes of Danann McAleer and Poppy Pedder, excellent as Kent and Cordelia respectively, might well return to star in a 300th anniversary production at the theatre in 2066. This King Lear is lively and exciting, starting with a rave and ending in utter tragedy – a timely reminder that if we fall out with everyone around us there is unlikely to be any glimmer of a happy ending. I enjoyed the subtle choreography and beautiful choral music as well as brilliantly rehearsed fight scenes – the first sparks as swords clashed met with an “ooh” from an impressed audience. If you’re looking for an escape from Brexit this may not be the show for you, but if you want some excellent Shakespeare, guaranteed to have you on the edge of your seat, get on to the box office pronto; there are still some tickets available. By Vivienne Kennedy www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 53
Fashion/gifts/stores/more
LOTTA BOTTLE
This is Bristol; we care about the environment (and we like to look quite cool). With this in mind, how much better will this stainless-steel Urban Bottle look strapped to your bike than a crushed plastic half-litre of Highland Spring? Here are the stats: every time you refill your Urban Bottle, you avoid dispersing 0.08kg of CO2 into the environment – this is exactly the amount of CO2 gas it takes to produce a small 500ml plastic bottle. And you don’t just have to fill it with water, obviously; any drink will taste better from an Urban – and the neck is wide enough to pop a few ice cubes in. A 500ml Urban Bottle comes in a wide range of funky colours and costs £15.95. Skateboard not included.
Get yours from Amulet on Cotham Hill; www.amuletboutique.co.uk
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 55
SHOPPING
ED’ CHOICE
1
2
3
4 5 ‘ 1. SAIL ON SAILOR
2. FROCK STAR
3. SOLE TRADER
4. A BIGGER SPLASH
5. ANCHORS AWEIGH
Dinghy mobile, £29.95 Your own mini-regatta, dreamily swaying in a light summer breeze From Howkapow; www.howkapow.com
Emily & Fin dress, £67.99 Even if you’re schlepping up Whiteladies, a part of you will be sauntering along some beachy promprom-prom whenever you wear this dress From Amulet Boutique 39a Cotham Hill www.amuletboutique.co.uk
Fish pouch, £22.95 He’s 30cm long, so ideal as a large make-up or sunglasses bag; or tuck him under your arm as a supremely quirky tote, Look out for the fish bone detail on the lining! From Howkapow www.howkapow.com
‘Salties’ kids’ sandals £45 (adults £55) Shiny, comfy, jaunty sandals that don’t mind salt water one little bit. Every colour under the sun available From The Boot Room 22 Park Street www.bootroombristol.com
‘Ahoy’ espresso set (4 cups and saucers), £22.50 Nautical and nice: the other three designs show sailboats, lighthouses and anchors From The Pod Company 24 The Mall, Clifton www.thepodcompany. co.uk
56 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
8 6
7
COAST DEF YOU DON’T NEED TO LEAVE BRISTOL TO GET YOURSELF A BLAST OF OF SEA AIR
9
10
6. PRINTS CHARMING
7. OCEAN COLOUR SCENE
8. DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE
9. ICE, ICE BABY
10. VICTORIA’S SECRET
Mel’s Ices print, £195 Limited-edition print by Anna Marrow. We don’t know who the guy is, but we want the name of his aftershsave From Soma Gallery 4 Boyce’s Avenue www.soma.gallery
Ombre mug, £12 Just looking at this mug makes us calm down; ideal when contemplating the latest headlines. Matching coasters, placemats and tea towels also available From Rolfe and Wills www.rolfeandwills.com
House Doctor DK laundry bag, £12 Laundry, toys, blankets and general clutter can be hurled into this striped bag, which will sit in the corner of the room and radiate Breton chic From Mon Pote 177 North Street www.monpote.co.uk
Ceramic ice-cream cones, £13 each Adorable ceramic icecream cones from Virginia Sin’s Gluttony Collection, just waiting for you to fill them; with a scoop from Swoon Gelato, perhaps? From Between Dog & Wolf www.betweendogandwolf. com
Victoria pumps, £35 Summer’s too short to be fiddling with laces; you could easily live in these between now and September, as they look just as cute with a skirt as they do with jeans From Maze Clothing 26 The Mall, Clifton www.mazeclothing.co.uk
www.mediaclash.co.uk II CLIFTON BRISTOL LIFE LIFE II 57 www.mediaclash.co.uk 69
58 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
R E S TA U R A N T
FOOD
The Pig Sometimes, you just need to get out of town for a blast of country air – and if that’s not enough of a lure in itself, this elegant hotel has a few more temptations in store By DE R I ROBI NS
W
e know what you’re thinking. With all these award-winning restaurants within the city walls, many with delightful sitting-out areas for this glorious summer we’re not having, why would we bother leaving town at all? Well, for a nice bit of rolling Mendip countryside, for one thing; and anyway, if you took that attitude, you’d never find yourself eating at the Pony & Trap, which would be a big mistake. Not a million miles away from the Pony stands The Pig. It’s not the first Pig, or the last; the inaugural porker opened in the New Forest in 2011, the perfect example of the new breed of country-house hotel, devoid of oldschool fussiness and brimming with zeitgeisty urban savvy; the chintz-free experience originally pioneered by Nick Jones at Babington House. The Pigs are co-owned by Robin Hutson, who created the Hotel du Vins, and who knows a thing or two about offering stylish, contemporary luxury. As well as taking over Von Essen’s old Hunstrete Hotel, he’s opened The Pig on the Beach in Studland, and further branches in Honiton and Southampton; there’ll probably be a Pig on the Moon one day.
THIS NEW BREED OF COUNTRYHOUSE HOTEL IS DEVOID OF OLD-SCHOOL
FUSSINESS AND EXUDE ZEITGEISTY
URBAN SAVVY
The Hunstrete Pig has the same formula and ethos as its sisters. It’s not a hotel, they say, but a ‘restaurant with rooms’. Actually, that’s another excellent reason for dining here; instead of sharing your meal with a sulky designated driver, you can both go for the full-on hog experience, knowing that a pair of cloud-soft pillows awaits you in one of the luxurious bedrooms. Another thing that makes The Pig stand out is its immaculate, substantial walled vegetable garden; every home-grower’s fantasy. If the food on your plate wasn’t raised here, it’ll have been sourced from butchers and growers within a 25-mile radius; if the sea was any closer, you just know Team Pig would be out trawling from break of dawn for the fish, too.
We were booked in for lunch, in the busy conservatorylike dining area, peeping at one another across the potted oregano, rosemary-infused oils and home-smoked salt on the table. Cheery young staff flutter about, overseen by head waiter Daryl; an absolute master of the art of low-key customer-flirting. Chef James Golding and Head Chef Kamil Oseka have evolved a menu that highlights uncomplicated and simple British garden food, true to the micro seasons and influenced by pastureland, forest and coast; the emphasis is squarely on fresh, clean flavours. My ‘Literally Picked This Morning’ New Zealand spinach salad may sound like a contradiction in terms, but this is just one of the many varieties in the veg garden. I think I prefer this robust leaf to its floppier English cousin, and it worked a treat with feathery feta and strawberries. I was delighted with myself for choosing this low-calorie option until I eyed up the large basket of lavender and garlic bread, freshly baked by Bertinet (whose sourdough is responsible for at least an inch of my waistline; merci bien not, Monsieur). Your Man’s roasted peppers with mozzarella and basil was, surprisingly, a subtler beast than my salad, but came with a good smokiness from the wood oven we could see from the dining table. The Pig’s aquatic produce either comes fresh off the boats in Brixham, or from the nearby Mere Fish Farm. We took the aquatic route for our mains, Your Man tucking into a plump (“almost fluffy,” he said) fillet of South Coast plaice – a subtle vehicle for a bolshy hazelnut pesto. The fact that he had his own very nice bowl of steamed new potatoes didn’t stop his hands straying towards my thrice-cooked chips, an accompaniment to a beautifully dressed Brixham crab with its pot of wild garlic mayo. I was able to hold him at bay to some extent with a side of crispy tobacco onions with a spicy hit of cayenne and, to a lesser degree, with a dish of wilted garden greens. The well-judged portions mean that puddings are no push, even if you can’t manage the thousand-layer hazelnut and chocolate sandwich. A Pimm’s jelly, cucumber and mint sorbet was as refreshing as it sounds, while a creamy Somerset elderberry fool and ginger snap biscuits was a more indulgent treat. A meal at The Pig feels special, from the grandiloquent Georgian mansion set among its vast deer park, to the way that the staff make you feel special and looked-after without ever being in your face, and the clean, beautifully cooked fare. Does that answer the rhetorical question posed in the first paragraph?
DINING DETAILS The Pig, Hunstrete, Pensford BS39 4NS; 01761 490490 Opening times lunch 12-2.15pm; dinner 6.30-9.30pm We visited Thursday lunchtime Prices starters £7, main courses £17-£25, desserts £7.50 Vegetarian choice limited but enticing Drinks A wine list with a huge range from a glass of Columbard Ugni Blanc for £3.95 to a bottle of Nebbiolo from Piedmont for £95 Disabled access fully accessible on ground floor Are kids welcome very family-friendly Service staff seem genuinely happy and pleased to serve you Atmosphere buzzy
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 59
FOOD
RECIPE
THALI GIRL Best-selling cookery author meets Bristol institution (and shows you how to cook like a Bademiya boss)
E
veryone loves the Thali Cafés, right? Meera Sodha clearly does; the bestselling cookbook author has created two recipes for their summer menu, and they've kindly shared them here. Meera’s BBQ summer specials are inspired by Bademiya, the famous Mumbai food truck – undetectable by day, it transforms into a beacon at night; everyone from city bankers to street cleaners drift in, entranced by the smell of meat and spices cooking over hot coals.
BUTTERMILK SIGRI CHICKEN
SERVES 4 "The tandoori chicken is inspired by Bademiya’s tandoori chicken and is soft, sumptuous and tangy. Marinating the chicken in buttermilk tenderises the chicken and gives it a delicious tangy flavour. Traditionally this chicken would be served with roti, chillies, onions and fresh lime," says Meera. Ingredients: 4 garlic cloves, peeled 1 1/2cm ginger, peeled and roughly chopped 2 tbsp rapeseed oil 2 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder 1/2 tsp turmeric 2 tsp garam masala 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1/2 tsp ground coriander Juice of 1/2 lemon 3/4 tsp salt (or to taste) 1kg chicken thighs, cut into 3cm x 3cm pieces 300ml buttermilk Method: 1. Soak eight wooden skewers in cold water. Blend everything but the buttermilk and chicken together into a smooth paste. Add a couple of tablespoons of buttermilk if need be (but don’t add all the buttermilk as it will become too thin). 2. Pour into a bowl, add the buttermilk and mix thoroughly with a fork then add the chicken. Marinade for up to 24 hours in the fridge. 3. To cook the chicken, thread the chicken onto the pre-soaked skewers and place under a hot grill for 6-8 minutes, turning every two minutes or until cooked through.
MALAI PANEER TIKKA
SERVES 4 "This paneer is one of the most soughtafter dishes in India. Coated in some of the finest spices and ingredients India has to offer: cashews, nutmeg, pepper, cardamom and cloves. The result is a melt-in-the mouth (the highest accolade in Indian food!) dish loved by people of all ages." Ingredients: 80g coriander, washed, drained and chopped 40g cashews 20g cheddar cheese 80g Greek yoghurt 2 green chillies, roughly chopped 1 1/2 cm ginger 1/2 tsp ground cardamom Third of a nutmeg, grated 1 tbsp lemon juice 3/4 tsp salt 3/4 tsp black pepper 2 tbsp rapeseed oil 500g paneer, cut into cubes Method: 1. Soak eight wooden skewers in water. Put all the ingredients except for the paneer into a blender and blend to a smooth paste. Pour out into a lipped dish and add the cubes of paneer. Stir to coat and leave to marinate for at least 30 minutes. 2. To cook, thread the paneer onto the skewers and place under a hot grill for around 4-6 minutes turning every minute or until blistering on the outside and soft on the inside.
with grilled meats, like the sigri chicken."
Ingredients: 2 medium red onions 6 tbsp lime juice (from around 3 limes) 1 tsp salt Method: 1. Peel the onions, then chop them in half and slice them finely. Layer the onions in a plastic tub and add the lime juice and salt. Mix thoroughly and leave to marinate in the fridge for at least a couple of hours. 2. Serve them strained of their juices and keep any leftovers in the fridge for 2-3 days.
CORIANDER AND MINT CHUTNEY MAKES: A SMALL JAR Ingredients: 100g coriander, washed and roughly chopped 20g mint leaves, washed and picked 120g Greek yoghurt 2 green finger chillies 1 garlic clove 1/2 cm ginger, grated Juice of 1/2 lemon 3/4 tsp salt (or to taste) 1/2 tsp caster sugar Method: Add all ingredients to a blender and blend to a smooth chutney. Taste and adjust the salt, chilli and lemon to taste. For more www.thethalicafe.co.uk
LIME-PICKLED ONIONS
"Something incredible happens when you add lime to onions. The acidity in the lime cuts through the onions to pickle and tame them. If you leave them for long enough, they’ll all turn pink too, brightening up any mealtime but they work particularly well
Meera's new book Fresh India has just been published by Fig Tree RRP £20 www.penguin.co.uk
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 61
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GRAND DAYS OUT
SIX BEST of the
Sometimes you just need a nudge in a new direction to get the most of the summer. Whether it’s visiting a city farm, soaking up the peace of a Victorian cemetery or heading to the seaside for fish and chips, why not try something different next weekend? 1. Visit a city farm Colin Moody took this great pic of the recent St Werburgh’s City Farm Fair, “Where things get turned on their head if you’ve never been through the tunnel and seen this amazing space” – but you don’t need to wait for the next fair to enjoy this city oasis, that connects people to food, the environment and the local community. A visit to the hobbit-like City Farm Café is a must. • www.swcityfarm.co.uk
2. Visit Arcadia (BS4) One of the UK’s best examples of a Victorian garden cemetery, Arnos Vale offers a leafy 45-acre Arcadia dotted with classical buildings, historic monuments, sweeping carriage drives and leafy walks lined with wildflowers and alive with birdsong. A sanctuary of tranquillity (though the events team ensure that there’s far more going on than you may think).
3. Pack a picnic You probably have your own favourite picnic destination, whether it’s at the foot of Cabot Tower, up on the Downs, in the lee of the Suspension Bridge or down with the kids in Queen Square. New Moon Café in Clifton will pack the perfect hamper for you – a cute hemp bag filled with proper meal-sized tapas as well as plates, cutlery, plastic glasses and a blanket. There are four enticing options, ranging from the £35 ‘Gloucester Road’ to the top-of-the-range ‘Clifton Life’ at £55, which includes two mini-bottles of Prosecco. That’ll be our one, then.
• www.arnosvale.org.uk
• www.newmooncafe.co.uk
4. Go West(on) We all flocked, like so many winged lemmings, to Weston-super-Mare last year, when Banksy’s Dismaland put the place so unexpectedly on the international map, and were pleasantly reminded what a grand day out this seaside town offers on a sunny day. Race the pooches on the beach, pat the donkeys, instagram the hell out of the pier, and obviously go for fish and chips – Winstons, Atlantic and Papas get our vote. • www.weston-super-mare.com
5. Get afloat Bristol has the perfect ready-made leisure facility in Harbourside. The more indolent among you can take a leisurely boat ride – Bristol Packet cruises take you right out into the Channel, and you can even book a Cream Tea Cruise; or tuck into fish and chips on board The Matthew. For the more active, at Baltic Wharf Leisure Centre you can sail, canoe, windsurf, row, scull, jet ski and sail model boats to your heart’s content.
6. Good clay days Lady’s Wood near Chipping Sodbury is renowned as not just one of the top shooting schools in the country, but among the most scenic. With automatic clay pigeon traps dotted around the grounds, the clays can be released from as little as 40 ft and the team of professional instructors will soon have you smashing them to bits. • www.ladyswood.co.uk
• www.harboursidealive.co.uk
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AL FRESCO
THE OUTSIDERS Quick, the sun’s out! And we’re hungry! Where should we head for lunch, or even dinner? Obviously that’s a rhetorical question because we’re just about to tell you . . . By DE R I ROBI NS Photo s by j onc ra ig.co.u k
64 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
AL FRESCO
W
e love Brizzle in the winter, when it drizzles; we love Brizzle in the summer when it sizzles – or at least, when some watery ray of sun briefly deigns to peep out from behind a Bristol cloud. Then, we’re all mad for al fresco; pavement tables set outside our favourite city-centre cafés, leafy suburban beer gardens, roof gardens cunningly designed to provide an outdoor oasis in the most unlikely of places. And for some scientific reason we can’t explain, food tastes better out of doors; with that in mind, we’ve shared some of our favourite al fresco spots, from street vans to Michelin-starred restaurants; from Harbourside to Clifton to Bedminster. We’re sure it’ll come in handy one of these days…
THE AVON GORGE HOTEL, WHITE LION BAR, CLIFTON
What is it?: Elegant Georgian hotel with killer views The al fresco deal: It’ll be all-change next year when the Malmaison chain take it over, and we’re looking forward to seeing what the Mals do with it – but that vast terrace
perched high above the Avon Gorge would pull us in even if it became a Hungry Horse. Maybe. Fun fact: Officers used to toast newly-qualified RAF pilots from here as they flew under the Suspension Bridge. What’s on the menu? Coffee and cake from mid-morning; classic upmarket pub food from lunchtime onwards We’re having: A mushroom and spinach Tom’s Pie, mash, gravy and mushy peas, £9.95. www.theavongorge.com
BAMBALAN, CITY CENTRE
What is it?: Our latest crush: recently opened all-day dining emporium on the first floor of the Colston Tower. The al fresco deal: A vast roof terrace with views across St Augustine’s Parade towards the harbour, ping-pong tables on the lower level and a cool, funky music track. Fun fact: The name means ‘lazy bum’ in Puerto Rican. What’s on the menu? A laidback Full-English meets Middle Eastern brunch, followed by a well-priced all-day menu of grills, flatbreads, pides and salads, waistlinedestroying puds and cocktails priced from a fiver. We’re having: The Bamba-lamb flatbread with fattoush and jalapenos, £8.50. www.bambalan.co.uk
w
Bambalan – our current crush
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 65
An exciting and new restaurant situated in the heart of Bristol! Just 2 minutes walk from Cabot Circus Shopping Centre, ground floor of the Hilton Hotel on Bond St. Specialising in Pan Asian cuisines from the Far East. Us ing only the freshest locally sourced ingredients and cooked to order straight from our kitchen to your table guaranteeing perfection every time.
IF YOU’D RATHER.... WE OFFER STEAK ON A ROCK. A delicious and healthy interactive dining experience that allows you to cook your own steak at the table to your personal taste whether it’s rare, medium or well done.
Find us on Facebook. Pan Asia, York House, Bond St, Bristol, BS13LQ. Tel: 01179 428462
For more information or to check out our menu visit www.panasiabristol.com
AL FRESCO
The Avon Gorge Hotel: best view from a terrace anywhere in the city
Fun fact: The terrace has a fake turf ‘carpet’. What’s on the menu? A diverse, seasonal and local menu, with beer from the UK’s finest microbreweries and the best local scrumpy. We’re having: The triple-roast lunch on Sunday, £16, and we’re not even sorry. www.navyvolunteer.co.uk
THE GRAIN BARGE, HOTWELLS
What is it?: Well, it’s a boat. The al fresco deal: A large open-air deck with panoramic views along the water from the ss Great Britain to Underfall Yard. Top tip: It’s the only restaurant on the harbour where you can arrive directly by boat. What’s on the menu? Solid comfort food, notably the home-made pies, but lots of seasonal specials too. We’re having: The pork belly, sticky cider and anise pak choi, £13 www.grainbarge.co.uk
HIGHBURY VAULTS, ST. MICHAEL’S HILL
BRACE & BROWNS, WHITELADIES ROAD
SOME
PEOPLE MARK THE START OF
SUMMER WITH THE CRY OF THE
CUCKOO;
FOR US IT’S THE
CLATTER
OF TABLES AND CHAIRS OUT FRONT OF THE PRIMROSE CAFÉ
What is it?: Popular Regency town house bar and restaurant; so popular, in fact, that they are now only taking brunch bookings from September onwards. The al fresco deal: Big outdoor decked terrace. What’s on the menu? Tapas, roasts on Sundays and their legendary brunch – an eclectic selection of small plates. Fun fact: Chef Christian Abbott has appeared on TV’s Masterchef and is regarded as one to watch. We’re having: The Bottomless Brunch, £13.50; throw in the Bottomless Fizz and it’s still only £20. www.braceandbrowns.co.uk
FALAFEL KING, HARBOURSIDE
What is it?: It may just be a one-man van with just a few zinc tables out front, but this pioneer of Bristol street food is still one of the best-value pit-stops in the city. The al fresco deal: A handful of zinc tables with one of the best views of Harbourside. Fun fact: Since this first van opened in 2000, the Falafel King has opened a bakery ‘AbuNoor Pitta Factory’ and a café and takeaway on Cotham Hill. We’re having: Falafels, obviously, packed into freshly baked pittas with salad and lashings of all four sauces, please, for around £3.50.
What is it?: Historic hostelry. The al fresco deal: The unexpected, pretty beer garden at the back has arbours dripping with greenery; when the sun shines you could be seated beneath a Tuscan loggia. Almost. Fascinating fact: Back in the early 1800s, prisoners would have their last meal here before being taken away to be, err, hung. What’s on the menu? Solid home-made pub grub, Youngs beer and guest ales. We’re having the bacon and brie burger, £9.25. www.youngs.co.uk
THE LANSDOWN, CLIFTON
What is it?: Traditional family-run pub. The al fresco deal: Lovely walled garden with an outdoor big screen for major TV events. More stuff: The garden hosts what they reckon is the most irreverent pub quiz in which you will ever take part. What’s on the menu? Freshly prepared pastas, w
www.falafelkingbristol.com
THE FAMOUS ROYAL NAVY VOLUNTEER, KING STREET
What is it?: Characterful 17th-century town house pub purveying craft beers and gastropub food; live music three nights a week. The al fresco deal: The Volly’s new roof terrace rises above it all, quite literally; there’s an outdoor telly showing summer sport, and the huge awning means that rain doesn’t need to stop play. www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 67
AL FRESCO
pies, salads etc – if it can be home-made then they damn well home-make it. We’re having: Beetroot sausages and spring onion mash, £8.95. www.thelansdown.com
THE LIDO, CLIFTON
What is it?: Beautifully restored Victorian lido with a heated outdoor pool, spa and restaurant. The al fresco deal: The glass-fronted poolside restaurant has tables both outside and in. Fun fact: There’s a ‘swim and eat’ package – and yes, that means you can have pudding. What’s on the menu? Award-winning food cooked by Freddy Bird; breakfast, exciting bar tapas, a wellpriced set menu of around £13 or the full-Monty Birdfood tasting menu, £40 We’re having: Var salmon tartare, 17.50 www.lidobristol.com
THE PONY & TRAP, CHEW MAGNA
What is it?: One of Bristol’s three Michelinstarred restaurants. Down-to-earth service and the atmosphere of a local inn combines with beautiful, inventive, field-to-fork seasonal cuisine. The al fresco deal: The large garden with its gorgeous ruraltastic Chew Magna views. Fun fact: Josh is also the co-founder of fish and chippie Salt & Malt, director of Yurt Lush and the renowned Eat Drink Bristol Fashion. Oh, and he’s been on TV show Great British Menu. What’s on the menu? Everything from a simple but superior ham ploughman’s lunch to regular full-on tasting menu evenings. We’re having: Cornish hake with fennel, white beans, salami and razor clams, £23. www.theponyandtrap.co.uk
THE PRIMROSE CAFÉ, CLIFTON VILLAGE
What is it?: One of Bristol’s most popular all-day restaurants; since Boyce’s Avenue was pedestrianised this whole street has become one big café quarter, but no-one is ever likely to overtake the Primrose in the locals’ affection. The al fresco deal: Some people mark the start of summer with the first sound of the cuckoo; in our book, it’s the first clatter of tables and chairs outside Primrose Café. There’s also a secluded roof terrace. Did you know: It’s been under the same ownership since 1993; no wonder they have the recipe right. What’s on the menu? Wonderful breakfasts until 3.30pm, late lunches and a bistro menu in the evenings. We’re having: Smashed avo on sourdough with harissa-spiked roasted tomatoes and peppers, goats cheese, poached egg, £8.95 for breakfast. www.primrosecafe.co.uk
THE SHAKESPEARE, REDLAND
What is it?: A great example of the ‘inglorious local boozer transforms into desirable gastro-pub’ breed. The al fresco deal: Chic and contemporary roof terrace with a charming countryside mural of pheasants and hares. 68 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Fun fact: It’s one of the most family and dogfriendly restaurants in town. What’s on the menu? Top-quality gastropub classics with careful attention to detail. We’re having: The chorizo burger in a brioche bun with rosemary salt chips and smoked aioli, £11. www.theshakespearebristol.co.uk
THE SQUARE, BERKELEY SQUARE
What is it?: Elegant members club with a strong arts and media bent; you don’t need to be a member to dine here, though. The al fresco deal: Charming, contemporary, decked outdoor ‘rooms’ Fun fact: There’s a rumour (enthusiastically encouraged by The Square) that they do the best hog roasts in Bristol. What’s on the menu? Sophisticated modernEuropean cuisine; on ‘Velvet Sundays’ they serve roasts with live jazz and board games. We’re having: Pan-fried bass, langoustine, pickled fennel, sea vegetable and crab bisque foam, £17.50. www.thesquareclub.com
THE STEAM CRANE, BEDMINSTER
What is it?: Possibly the best craft beer pub in south Bristol, but it takes its kitchen seriously too. “We like to think we’re cool but not cocky, creative but not completely off-the-wall, and hard-working but not worked into the ground,” they say. The al fresco deal: There are tables out front and a beer garden out back; the murals are by Cheo, letting you know that you can only be in Bedminster. Fun fact: In 1827, when it was called The Bell, the publican installed a live tiger to attract customers, and on one occasion paid a local named Joseph Kiddle to get inside its cage. Even without the benefit of hindsight, the result seems inevitable, and Mr Kiddle was killed by the tiger. What’s on the menu? Freshly made and locally sourced superior pub-grub. We’re having: Salt-marsh lamb Barnsley chop with cheesy polenta chips, £13.95. www.thesteamcrane.co.uk
OTHER IDEAS The Matthew, Harbourside The much-loved reproduction of John Cabot’s 1497 caravel makes regular trips up and down the harbour, with an option to dine on fish and chips on board. www.matthew.co.uk Rosemarino, Clifton Not included in the main listings, as there’s limited pavement seating, but if the food is your priority then this beloved Italian in its quiet Clifton backwater is an ideal spot – especially for the excellent, lingering breakfasts and brunches. www.rosemarino.co.uk Beese’s Tea Gardens, St Anne’s Bristol’s secret treasure, this tranquil riverside bar/restaurant has its own water taxi, the Conham Ferry, which costs a nominal 25p and offers a far more idyllic approach than driving down the bumpy lane. www.beeses.co.uk Spoke & Stringer, Boat House Unit, Lime Kiln Road Very much a part of the ‘new’ Harbourside, this café, restaurant, bar, surf and bike shop has a large waterside terrace and a genuinely cool laidback vibe; tuck into the pintxos served in the evening, and stand by to instagram a Harbourside sunset. www.spokeandstringer.com Pick up a picnic Finally (well, not finally, we could easily go on for about 20 more pages) why not choose your own location and take a picnic? New Moon tapas will pack you a lovely rug, picnicware, pies and champagne (see page 63). www.newmooncafe.co.uk
Earn your pudding with a ‘swim and eat’ deal at The Lido
Good hare day out back at The Shakespeare; top right, Steam Crane; bottom, the new roof terrace at The Volly
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 69
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BRISTOL | CLEVEDON | WEDMORE | WESTON-SUPER-MARE | YATTON
A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E T R AV E L
STAIRWAY TO DEVON Devon’s principal city has far more to offer than beautiful surrounding countryside and easy access to the coast . . .
T
he gateway to the South West it may be, with a dramatic hinterland that includes Dartmoor, Bodmin Moor and the snarling coastline of Devon and Cornwall, but Exeter has an abundance of attractions of its own. Straddling the River Exe, the city was the most westerly outpost of the Roman Empire; the Romans, as you know, did rather a lot for us, including laying out the centre of Exeter. Some of the city centre was destroyed thanks to World War II’s contribution to British town planning, but even after war, insurrection, fire and rebellion, some of the old wall survives – part Roman, part mediaeval. Should history be your thing, helpful panels along the ruins tell the story of Exeter, and indeed the necessity for a wall. If this falls into the too-much-information category for you, head for the elegant Cathedral Green, grab a table, and admire the view
of Exeter’s most famous skyline feature, the cathedral. If you only visit one cathedral a year, this gothic giant should be on your shortlist. In the shadow of the cathedral (to be honest, most things are in Exeter) stands the £275m Princesshay Centre, with its outré architecture, maze of covered and outdoor shopping concourses, its battalions of buskers and bands. It’s a short walk to the historic Quayside area, a trading centre from as early as the Middle Ages. Today, undergoing an exciting period of redevelopment, it is home to craft shops, cafés and pubs. Keep heading down the estuary, and before long you’ll come to Topsham, a delightful tangle of narrow lanes winding down to the harbour. The area is dotted with restaurants, wine bars and all manner of boutiquery. Exeter makes the perfect weekend destination – there’s plenty to occupy you if you’re a culture buff, and plenty to divert you in culinary or retail direction if you’re not. All this in a compact city easy to navigate – and you’ll be back home before the cat’s even missed you. Experience this beautiful city for yourself. Fly by Falcon coach 24/7 between Bristol and Exeter. Adult return £15, group return only £30*. *Group return allows up to 5 people to travel together. www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 71
A MAN’S WORLD
SEB BARRETT
RUNNING WITH THE FIRMSKI Beautiful game, ugly fan behaviour – but at least England’s no longer leading the world, says Baz
R
ussian men are harder than British men. We shouldn’t feel bad about this. In Great Britain, children are placated with ice cream if they cry and given certificates for ‘participation’ on school sports day, whether they can run in a straight line or not. In Russia, children have to wrestle Siberian wolves and grow a beard before they’re allowed to come in for their gruel. Our men drink Yop in warehouses; their men drink vodka from a dead man’s shoe while fixing submarines. You get my point. I say all this because the image of our fine British menfolk has taken a bit of a hammering over the course of Euro 2016. If
they’re not being photographed overrunning petite centres-villes and laying waste to innocent cafés, they’re being overrun themselves by Russian ultras. ‘150 BLOODTHIRSTY RUSSIAN HOOLIGANS ON THE LOOSE’, screamed one tabloid. After seeing footage from one particular thug who’d strapped a GoPro to himself, albeit to slightly Benny Hill-esque effect, the red tops’ wailings didn’t feel so irrational for once. These men hunted for trouble like a clan of hyenas. They truly were the Marauders of Marseilles. The gelatinous England fans had the look of men who’d stumbled drunkenly out of a barbecue in their back garden. In contrast, the sinewy Russians prowled for a fight like UFC fighters (gloves, gumshields and all). Second-rate UFC fighters, yes, but a poor man’s Conor McGregor is still better than a poor man’s Ray Winstone when it comes to a dust-up. All this would be fine if it weren’t for the small issue of the next football World Cup being held in the Motherland in 2018. I don’t imagine players from any nation, other than the hosts, will be thrilled with the prospect of spending a month or so in the ‘Mafia State’. Not long ago, Russia experienced a rise in the crime rate for the first time in several years, mainly due to people misbehaving under the influence of booze and drugs. The problem has been exacerbated by Vlad ‘The Lad’ Putin making substantial cuts to the police force. Doesn’t inspire confidence, does it? Do these ultras behave so abominably in France because they think they’ve got a better chance of
OUR MEN DRINK YOP IN WAREHOUSES; THEIR MEN DRINK VODKA FROM A DEAD MAN’S SHOE WHILE FIXING SUBMARINES
getting away with it on foreign soil? If so, they might have a point. Security and policing of certain matches have been absurdly ineffective. A kindle of kittens in cute hi-vis jackets would have done a better job of stopping the Russian hordes from invading the English stands at the famous Stade Velodrome. Far from being something that happens ‘over there’, it’s worth remembering the long-running rivalry between City and Rovers fans here in our beloved Bristol. Just last year, seven City fans received between a three- and six-year football banning order after a riotous clash in 2013; one which prevents them from going within a thousand yards of the Memorial Ground or Ashton Gate. ‘Running with the firm’ may seem like a throwback to the eighties, but a small minority still evidently get their kicks from, well, doling out kicks. Seb Barrett works in sports communications. Follow him on Twitter @bazzbarrett
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 73
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SPORT
KYLE TRAYNOR
WINGERS
Loosehead prop
THE ARRIVE, MUTTERING THAT THEY HAVEN’T
FAT FORWARD It’s not Kyle’s favourite part of the summer, to be honest
W
ell, it’s every prop’s worst nightmare: fat-fold testing on the first day back at the training ground after
the four-week summer break. The wingers arrive, muttering that they haven’t exercised much over the summer, before whipping off their shirts to reveal a torso carved from stone. Meanwhile, the forwards like me are feeling as though the callipers are grabbing hold of every piece of chunk we have on our bodies. Needless to say, I’m glad it’s over and now we can focus on the fitness-testing to see what sort of shape we’re in and how much work we need to do to ensure we are prepared for the Aviva Premiership.
PHOTO BY JMPUK
Bedford Blues vs Bristol Rugby
This pre-season has carried on where we left off at the end of last season – there’s an energy about the place and a huge buzz among the players as we look forward to embarking on a top-flight campaign for the first time in seven years. Having been privileged enough to have played rugby at the highest level, I fully understand the amount of hard work that must be done in order to cope with the level of physicality and intensity of life at the top table. So for us, it is paramount that we get ourselves in the best physical shape possible to cope with the gruelling demands of facing some of the best players in the Northern hemisphere, week in, week out. The pre-season is structured like this: 12 weeks of a high amount of fitness, weights conditioning and rugby sessions in the buildup to pre-season fixtures and then, more importantly, our first league game. During
EXERCISED
MUCH OVER THE SUMMER, BEFORE OFF THEIR SHIRTS TO REVEAL A TORSO FROM STONE . . .
WHIPPING CARVED
this time, we will look to reach our physical peak and also make strides both technically and tactically with regards to our game-plan and strategy, and also an opportunity to upskill the players in the rugby department. At this stage of the season we also have to integrate new members of the squad into the group. As with most professional sports teams, people move on and new players join. Here, we have six new players on board, all of whom we are delighted to welcome into the team and this great city. Everybody involved at Bristol Rugby will want to be donning the jersey for the first Premiership game, so we’ll all striving to reach new levels in order to achieve selection. Boys will be trying to beat previous records and aiming to lay down a marker for selection for the upcoming season. This breeds great competition within the group and challenges standards. Pre-season divides opinion among players, but I think it’s great for building a real competitive spirit in the group as well as encouraging a great energy and camaraderie. We will be testing our minds and bodies to reach levels they haven’t before. Wish me luck that, hopefully, the next time the fat tests are conducted, the callipers are a little bit kinder to the bigger lads in the engine room of the Bristol pack. . . Follow Kyle on Twitter @KyleTraynor
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 75
Shake-ups/launches/intel/promotions
B R IS TO L G E T S S ER I O US
QUOTE OF THE ISSUE
“WITH THE POTENTIAL TO SELL STATION HONEY OR TEMPLE MEAD, IT’S TOO GOOD A MARKETING OPPORTUNITY TO MISS”
ARTS
RAISING THE BAR
Who’s full of good ideas? See page 78
Bristol Old Vic gears up for the final stage in its massive redevelopment project – and launches a brilliant pop-up bar in the process As its marketing, press and other admin staff settle into their temporary homes across the road in King Street, Bristol Old Vic braces itself for the final stage in its major redevelopment project – which will see the oldest working theatre in the English-speaking world made fit for a new era. This is a theatre that has survived bombs, fires and all manner of takeover bids in its time, so a mere £25 million refurb wasn’t going to stop play; the main stage will be open throughout the last phase of the work, which is expected to complete in 2018, with visitors currently being directed to a new temporary box office, theatre entrance, and a very appealing new Backstage Bar – which, astonishingly, took a mere seven days to build. Emma Stenning is the theatre’s chief executive.
“By 2018, coming to Bristol Old Vic will be a very different experience, offering people the chance to truly embrace everything the theatre has to offer,” she says. The front-of-house will be transformed to create a welcoming theatrical and social resource for the whole of Bristol, with a spectacular new glass-fronted entrance foyer revealing the original 18th-century walls of the theatre to the street. The project will also see the return of the Grade-I Coopers’ Hall to its original 18th-century dimensions, for use as an events space for the city, while also creating a new studio theatre, a modern bar and restaurant facilities, lifts to all floors and new cloakrooms. www.bristololdvic.org.uk/redevelopment.html
7
THE BIG NUMBER
The number of days it took to build Bristol Old Vic’s new bar – from scratch More opposite...
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 77
BUSINESS INSIDER
FRESH IDEAS
THAT’S A GOOD IDEA... Local post delivered by bike; cable cars across the city; breathable maps; together with his colleagues, Rob Delius, head of sustainable design and divisional director of Stride Tregown has come up with a free book full of Bristol ideas for positive, eco-responsible change
D
uring Bristol’s year as Green Capital, local architects Stride Tregown held regular team talks and events. Each month, they’d tackle a specific theme, on the subject of living more sustainably in general, and in Bristol in particular. This year, they decided to turn their best ideas into a book – one idea for every week in the year. You can download an online copy, or get the free hardback version; you can even vote for your favourite idea in an online poll on their website.
Why did you decide to turn these ideas into a book? We wanted to provide something physical that you could easily pick up, and just turn to a random page for inspiration. Some ideas are quite lighthearted, but we believe all of them are do-able, and we hope they may make people think about the city differently. They are meant to be provocative – to pose the question ‘what if…?’ to see what response we get. If even a few ideas are put into practice, or inspire other ideas, we think it will have been worth it.
Can you pick a few of your favourite ideas? One of my favourites is the Temple Mead idea, where hives could be set up at the train station (areas along railway tracks are very biodiverse, as nature is mostly left alone and pollen is carried in the air movement of passing trains, and therefore often rich in wildflowers). As a consequence it’s great for the bee population and an underused resource. And with the potential to sell Station honey or Temple Mead – it’s too good a marketing opportunity to miss! Another favourite idea is Harbour Lights. This happens in a few other cities around the world, where lanterns are floated on the water creating an amazing spectacle. However in most of these places it takes place on a river and the effect is only fleeting as the lanterns get washed downstream. This wouldn’t be the case in Bristol, whose Floating Harbour would be the perfect setting to see thousands of lanterns quietly floating on a summer’s evening. Which idea has proved to be the most popular so far? From the feedback we’ve received, Colour Capital (using grants linked to installing insulated external render to encourage more people to paint their houses in bright colours) is the most popular. It would be amazing to see the city build on its reputation for colourful streets, and triple, or even quadruple, the number of brightly painted houses. I like how it could be a big idea that would transform the whole city, but made possible by lots of smaller incremental changes by individual householders, who, with each coloured house added, would make the idea stronger, Bristol brighter and more welcoming, and the city less energy-hungry.
THE QUESTION SHOULD NOT SO MUCH BE ‘WHY?’ BUT ‘WHY NOT?’
What makes Bristol so special and receptive to new ideas? Bristol is a city that is proud of itself, and of its individual quirks. It is already very environmentally conscious, and aware of the wellbeing of its inhabitants, so I think the book resonates well with people who want to see it become an even greater and more sustainable city. It’s nice to continue, in a small way, all the excellent ideas and discussion that took place in Bristol 2015. Not only do some of the ideas aim to improve the city physically, but many would impact positively on our quality of life, such as the colour capital idea, water taxis or breathable maps. Some of the ideas are pretty major, such as the cable cars, but others could be easily achieved with very little effort and expense – can you tell us about some of the latter? I think food maps are a great idea, helping people to make betterinformed decisions about the food they are buying, while benefitting the local economy. It’s very simple – restaurants and cafés put up a map showing where all of their produce comes from, so you can see how local the ingredients being used are. It’s also good publicity for local suppliers, and will encourage restaurants to maybe rethink their food sourcing and menus, so I think this idea has many benefits.
We hear you have your own company food map . . Yes; for Green Week this year we created our own Stride Treglown food map, where all 300+ staff have access to a Google Map, and they can plot their favourite local sustainable food places. Everybody now has a great resource to find new places based on colleagues’ suggestions, no matter which office you are located in. 78 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Any fun ideas that proved too wacky to make the final cut? We had a quite a few ideas that didn’t make the final cut, some of which were too ambitious, and some which were already happening across Bristol, However there are still few wacky ideas in there, like ‘Park and . . . .’ This takes the hugely popular Park and Slide idea, when a giant water slide was installed on Park Street in 2014 by artist Luke Jerram, and turns it into an annual fixture – but each year with a slightly different theme. So maybe making it a temporary artificial ski slope one year, or zorbing down it on another. The success of Park and Slide suggests that, like with many of the ideas in this book, the question should not so much be ‘why?’ but ‘why not?’
You can download the online book from the Stride Tregown website, or pick up a free hardback copy from The Architecture Centre and other local venues www.stridetreglown.com
Clockwise from top left: food maps, cable cars across the city, floating lanterns, and even more colourful terraces – sounds good to us
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 79
BUSINESS INSIDER
RESTAURANTS
THE GLAMOUR FACTOR London’s The Ivy and its associated brasseries are synonymous with chic sophistication and celebrity glamour – and now the first branch outside the Smoke is opening in the old NatWest Bank building in Clifton Village on 2 August. General manager Adam Wilson gives us a taste of what to expect
A
dam Wilson says that he can’t imagine working in any other trade than hospitality, although it was far from the career he originally envisaged – he studied fine arts, and was in the process of completing a sculpture degree when he decided to switch to studying wine at Highland College, while working as a sommelier for L’Hermitage Hotel. Before joining the Ivy Clifton as general manager, he worked at (among other top gaffs) OXO Tower, Auberge du Lac and Browns Hotel in London – which became Hix Mayfair, where Adam became GM. His comprehensive background, from inns and hotels to Michelin-starred restaurants, has taught Adam the importance of customer care and flawless service – and at The Ivy, we’d expect nothing less . . .
and pop-ups abound, and the different culinary heritages are numerous. The Ivy Clifton Brasserie seems to sit in the middle of these two ends of the scale.
Adam, why has The Ivy chosen to launch a brasserie in Clifton? Locations are of utmost importance to us, both in the chosen city, the location within the city and the actual building they’re housed in. In London, Marylebone, Wimbledon Village, High Street Ken, Covent Garden and King’s Road have all proved hugely popular. St John’s Wood is next on the cards there. Clifton speaks for itself in terms of desirability! We’ve been interested in Bristol for a while now, and set our hearts on Clifton Village: Its local community, elegance and history are very much in line with our beliefs and offerings. We’re thrilled to be bringing a little Ivy magic to this wonderful city.
We know that London’s Ivy is notoriously hard to get into; is it easier at the Brasseries? Each of The Ivy Collection’s restaurants has a dedicated number of unreserved tables available throughout the day, offering everyone the chance to enjoy a little taste of The Ivy’s glamour, whatever the occasion.
Tell us a bit about the difference between The Ivy restaurant and the brasseries. Each restaurant has been designed to deliver the memorable experience that is synonymous with The Ivy’s unique style, and extend the magic of our celebrated West Street venue to handpicked locations across London and the UK. Menus feature modern British dishes inspired by The Ivy’s own all-encompassing menu, so, whether you are looking for a quick shepherd’s pie and a glass of wine, or a three-course meal, you can be sure of good quality and abundant choice.
How many covers will it provide, and can you give us an overview of the food and drink offering? There will be 130 covers in the restaurant, bar and orangery. There are also two private dining rooms – one with 10 covers and one with 16. The modern British menu is inspired by the original Ivy in West Street, Covent Garden and offers dishes for breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, light snacks and dinner.
Can you give us a taste of what’s likely to be on the first menu? From crushed avocado with lime, coriander, sunflower, pumpkin, linseed and pomegranate on dark caraway toast for breakfast to buttermilk pancakes, with smoked streaky sweet-cured bacon, blueberries and maple syrup for weekend brunch, the all-day menu will feature dishes to suit every taste. Lunch and dinner highlights will include seared scallops with truffled pea purée, crème fraîche and lamb’s lettuce, and slow-roasted lamb shoulder with soft Parmesan polenta, roasted peppers and rosemary sauce. Of course, a real menu wouldn’t be complete without dessert, and the chocolate bombe is a true favourite in our sister restaurants – so hopefully the good folk of Bristol will enjoy it just as much.
What do you think of the Bristol food scene? It’s vibrant, multi-cultural and exciting. Cafés, food vans
For more www.theivycliftonbrasserie.com
WE’RE THRILLED TO BE BRINGING A LITTLE IVY MAGIC TO THIS CITY
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 81
Michelmores grows Disputed Wills and Trusts team with new Bristol hire Michelmores has strengthened its Disputed Wills and Trusts team with the appointment of Solicitor Raj Kaur. Raj will be based at Michelmores Bristol office, extending the team’s private wealth offering in Bristol and its surrounding areas. She joins Michelmores from a large private client firm in Kent, where she grew a strong reputation as a leader in the area of disputed Wills. She will also work alongside the Firm’s Charity team and Private Wealth team, acting for executors, trustees, beneficiaries and charities and complimenting the teams offering in Bristol working alongside partner Miles Farren. Michelmores’ Disputed Wills and Trusts team is nationally recognised having recently acted in a number of high profile cases extensively reported in the press. Tony Cockayne, Head of the Michelmores’ Charity and Disputed Wills and Trusts teams said: “We are delighted to welcome Raj to Michelmores. Her experience and wealth of knowledge will add to our team and strengthen our offering in the South West and the Bristol area.
0117 906 9300 | Michelmores, Broad Quay House, Bristol, BS1 4DJ | www.michelmores.com
BUSINESS INSIDER
HEALTH AND BEAUTY
GLODEN BOY If, given the risible unlikelihood of getting a tan during the current Brizzle drizzle, you’re thinking of faking it, the Gloden centres are poised to help. Let CE Paul Braithwaite tell you more . . .
P
aul Braithwaite spent 20 years working in the gaming industry for both regional and national operators; he’s now the chief executive of Gloden tanning and beauty salons, and oversees the running of the group as a whole. With 28 salons, he says, the role is very varied and can be very challenging, but also great fun . . .
Please give us a brief overview of what the Gloden salons have to offer We are Bristol’s largest tanning operator with eight salons in the area offering state-of-the-art sunbeds, fully automated spray-tanning, Vibro-plates and anti-ageing collagen red-light treatment. We believe you have eight branches in Bristol – which was the first, and what kind of timescale was involved in rolling out the rest? We opened our first tanning studio 20 years ago on Whiteladies Road. Since then we have opened a further seven studios in the area; the most recent being our Supercentre in Filton which opened in February this year. As well as being the largest studio in the Gloden Group, the new Supercentre is the largest salon of its kind in the South of England. It features 15 state-of-the-art tanning cabins, including the latest 1400 Prestige Ergoline sunbeds, fully automated spray-tanning and anti-ageing collagen red-light treatment. What makes you stand out from the rest? We believe in offering the very best equipment at an affordable price at a time to suit our customers. We are passionate about offering excellent service; our customers can always rely on a member of the team to be on hand to assist with any queries they may have. How safe are tanning beds? Are some safer than others? As a proud member of The Sunbed Association (TSA), we adhere to a strict code of conduct in all of our studios to ensure customer safety and wellbeing. All of our sunbeds are 0.3 compliant. This means that the strength of the sunbed tubes are limited to the same strength as the midday Mediterranean sun. At this level, and by following a tanning programme for the customer’s individual skin type, tanning results are maximised and the risk of over exposure is removed.
Paul declined to strip down for his close-up . . .
What misconceptions do you come across? We often hear “but sunbeds are dangerous, aren’t they?” Simply, the answer is no. Our sunbeds offer users the ability to tan in a controlled environment, thus removing the risk of over exposure or burning. UV light is actually essential to our health and wellbeing and there are countless medical studies into the positive benefits of UV light. Sunbeds v spray tannings: pros and cons? We offer both services to suit the needs of a wider range of customers. The tan acquired on a sunbed normally takes a few sessions to achieve, but the results last longer than those from spray-tanning and can be maintained with as little as one session per week. Spray-tanning is a great-value option for those attending a special event and needing quick results. Our spray-tans are available from just £9, and results typically last a week. Roughly how many customers do you see a day, and is there a seasonal surge at this time of year? Generally we welcome around 2,500 customers a day across our studios and we see a steep peak in customer visits at this time of year.
What’s the rough estimate of female v THE male customers? STRENGTH OF The male:female split in our studios is approximately 40:60. THE SUNBED TUBES ARE What’s the biggest challenge of the job? LIMITED TO THE One of my biggest challenges to date in the was the creation and launch of our new SAME STRENGTH role membership system. The project lasted over 18 AS THE MIDDAY months and the software is completely bespoke our business. We’re really excited about its MEDITERRANEAN for launch; for the first time we will be able to truly SUN understand our customers’ needs and offer
amazing discounts tailored to individual customer buying behaviour. What’s the best advice you can give people hoping for a healthy tan? It’s important to choose a tanning salon that is a member of the TSA. It’s also important to remember that everyone’s skin is unique so it is essential to follow a tanning schedule for your own skin type. Our staff are always on hand to help and advise. www.gloden.co.uk
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 83
A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E L E G A L
NO DISINCENTIVE TO DOWNSIZE ANDREW JACK of AMD SOLICITORS considers the new Inheritance Tax rules – very good news for some
U
nder the new inheritance tax rules, far more estates will pass free of inheritance tax after 5 April 2017. By 5 April 2020, some estates worth £1 million will pass free of inheritance tax. This is the good news, but is by far from the whole picture. In fact for many, and in particular the childless, the inheritance tax bill will in fact (with the effect of inflation) be higher post 5 April 2017.
THE GOOD NEWS
First, the good news for those wishing to pass the value of the family home onto their children or grandchildren. For deaths from 6 April 2017, an additional inheritance tax free “residence nil rate band” will be available. This will begin at £100,000 in the tax year 2017/18 and will increase by £25,000 each tax year, reaching £175,000 by 2021. This “residence nil rate band” is available where
the deceased leaves a property (or the proceeds of sale of a property), in which they have lived at some point, to their direct descendents (children and their issue). The residence nil rate band is available on top of the existing inheritance tax nil rate band of £325,000, so that in 2020/21 an individual will potentially be able to leave £500,000 free of inheritance tax. As is now the case with the standard nil rate band, where the first of a married couple to die leaves their estate to their spouse, the inheritance nil rate band can effectively be “passed on” to the surviving spouse. The estate of the spouse who is second to die will therefore potentially have two nil rate bands (£325,000 x 2 = £650,000), plus two “residence nil rate bands” (£175,000 x 2 = £350,000). For those with a conventional family, and a modest home and savings (and subject to the rate of house price increases in the coming years) it is therefore likely that no inheritance tax will be payable on their estate. However it is crucial to establish that the wording of your will is compliant with the new rules, to avoid the risk of the additional tax free band being wasted. The detail of the new rules is awaited at the time of writing this note.
FREEZE OF THE BASIC NIL RATE BAND
Many conventional families will clearly benefit from the additional residence nil rate band. However, the small print in fact spells bad news for some estates. The nil rate band of £325,000 is now frozen to at least April 2021. This means that for the unmarried, and for those who leave no children or grandchildren, the inheritance tax free band will continue to be eroded by inflation. A single person owning property in London, for example, is highly likely to leave an estate subject to inheritance tax. The number of single and childless persons of even modest means who will fall within the inheritance tax bracket will inevitably continue to increase. The inheritance tax changes are not therefore in reality good news for all. BL
NO DISINCENTIVE TO DOWNSIZE
As expected, the rules will be designed to ensure that the elderly are not encouraged to retain family homes they would otherwise have sold. Where the deceased has downscaled or sold up, it will still be possible to pass on the proceeds of the family home. The rules provide only that the deceased must have lived in the property in question at some point, and that assets of an equivalent value are passed on to direct descendents.
ESTATES WORTH MORE THAN £2 MILLION
The additional residence nil rate band will not be available to the most valuable estates. In particular, for estates worth more than £2.7 million, no residence nil rate band can be claimed. The amount of residence nil rate band available will be tapered for estates worth more than £2 million.
The AMD Solicitors private client department includes full members of ‘STEP’, the leading provider of specialist accreditation in this field. For advice on inheritance tax, administration of deceased estates, wills, lasting powers of attorney and all private client issues contact Andrew Jack or another member of the team on 0117 9621205, email probate@amdsolicitors.com, or call into one of our four Bristol Offices.
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PROPERTY
SHOWCASE
86 112I I BRISTOL CLIFTONLIFE LIFEI Iwww.mediaclash.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk
SHOWCASE
PROPERTY
Duck down an exclusive enclave just off Queen’s Road, and you’ll find yourself gazing at a singular, red-brick crescent. Step inside number 4, and the view just gets better and better . . . By L I SA WA R R E N
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PROPERTY
SHOWCASE
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t the risk of sounding blasé, we’ve pretty much seen it all when it comes to property porn; wisteria-clad rural rectories; haughty Clifton town houses; gleaming new Harbourside penthouses – we’re practically inured to houseenvy. Every now and again, however, a home comes along and catches us on our Achilles heel; and such a house is number 4 Berkeley Crescent. Like the best TV property shows, let’s start with the location. It would be quicker to list the essential attractions that Berkeley Crescent is not handy for than to name those that are just a few minutes walk away. It seems extraordinary that a home could be so central, and yet offer such a haven of calm elegance; how extraordinary, to sit out on the immaculately lawned communal garden, and see the Wills Building towering above you, and hear Great George tolling on high days and holidays. Nearby Berkeley Square may be wellknown, but we suspect a lot of people are unaware that this pretty brick Grade-II crescent is here at all. Even without its singular location, this would be an outstanding home. Through a combination of Georgian elegance (you’ll find a full complement of late-18th-century features here, from window shutters to cornicing, painted and polished floorboards, pillared arches, and fireplaces in practically every room) and the contemporary makeover that’s washed every room in calm, pale, Nordic hues, it’s hard to imagine anyone wanting to change a thing. We’ll start, logically enough, at the front of the Crescent, with its period cast-iron window boxes and impressive pedimented porches. Beyond the front door, the gleaming mono Cubist floor tiles look, somehow, entirely at home in the narrow Georgian hallway. Resistance is futile once you’ve walked into the 24ft 88 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
We feel calmer just looking at this pale and interesting interior, while the view from the communal gardens will never get old
HOUSE NUMBERS
4
bedrooms
3
receptions
£1.35M price
2
bathrooms
2-BED
courtyard apartment
open-plan kitchen/diner. If you can drag your eyes away from the open stone fireplace with its Aga, the cornicing and duck-egg blue Shaker-style units, you’ll notice that the original windows, which still have the original glass which makes everything look magically wonky, frame views of Browns – modelled on Venice’s Doge’s Palace. At the back is a butler’s pantry and (the first time we’ve seen one of these) a spyhole periscope in the staircase, which once allowed the staff to observe arriving guests. Upstairs lies another star room, the 22ft drawing room with a trio of shuttered windows over the garden, and a white marble fireplace; there’s a second reception at the back, while a mezzanine leads to a decked sun terrace. The entire first floor is currently lavished on the most sybaritic master suite possible, the beautiful bathroom having a discrete rainfall shower and the back bedroom serving time as (cue more envy) a dressing room. Two more bedrooms upstairs nearly complete the room count, but not quite; head down to the basement and you’ll find a completely self-contained courtyard apartment, which currently brings in a substantial income of £1,200 a month – does this bring the dream closer into the realms of reality? And if that’s not an issue, how much fun would it be to plan alternative uses for this floor; we’re wistfully thinking ‘media suite’. Outside, there’s the communal lawn to the front, while the back courtyard is in just the right place for catching evening rays. Perhaps surprisingly, there’s also parking space for up to four cars. With a home in such spectacularly good condition, it only remains to move in your wonderfully tasteful furniture and set off to explore your new area; surely a celebratory cocktail at Hyde & Co must beckon. Hamptons International, 80 Queen’s Road, Bristol BS8 1QU 0117 901 5591; www.hamptons.co.uk
A R T & B U S I N E S S A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E
SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ART SCENE Richard Brooks, Director at SAVILLS CLIFTON, explains why the company have decided to lend their support to a very local art club
D
uring 2016, we are supporting the Clifton Arts Club, which is holding its 108th Annual Open Exhibition. This local organisation has a distinguished history in fact, it’s one of the oldest organisations of it's kind in the country. The Club’s first president, Jacques Emile Blanche, was a pupil of Manet.
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“IT IS GREAT TO SEE CLUBS LIKE THIS ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY” The Club is important locally for a number of reasons. It offers workshops, gallery visits and lectures to its 250 members. What’s more, the Club gives an opportunity for local people to exhibit their work at an annual open exhibition – whether they are members or not. This year, their 108th Annual Open Exhibition takes place from 6 - 21 August at The Under Croft, Victoria Methodist Church, 1 Whiteladies Road. It’s a great venue, with just the right atmosphere for this kind of exhibition. Admission for visitors is free, and all of the art on display will be for sale. Last year’s show was an eclectic mix of the modern and traditional. Anyone wanting to exhibit at this year's show will need to submit their work by Friday 22 July; several prizes for
excellence, will be awarded to exhibitors in recognition of their work and commitment. Living and working in Clifton Village, it is great to see clubs like this engage with the community and we are delighted to pledge our support. For further information and opening times, visit www.cliftonartsclub.co.uk.
Richard Brooks 20 The Mall, Clifton Village Bristol BS8 4DR rbrooks@savills.com; 0117 933 5800 www.savills.co.uk
OF FE R N SE ING OW RV A IC UC ES TI ON
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BRISTOL LIVES
Q&A
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crazy waterslide down Park Street. Spooky, abandoned ships in Leigh Woods. Al fresco pianos, a strange little girl at Temple Meads, and – coming soon! – a gert lush inflated moon hanging over the Balloon Fiesta: blimey, Bristol would be a duller place without artist Luke Jerram. Luke came to Bristol as Visiting Senior Research Fellow at UWE, and at the risk of coming over all Kathy Bates in Misery, we need to take great care that he never, ever leaves.
Luke, you’ve created so many memorable installations: does anything link them? I have a different set of narratives in my work, which are developing in parallel with one another. Some investigate notions of play and public interaction in a city, other works combine my interest in perception, science and engineering. I try to create artwork that will still work, and be of interest to audiences, in perhaps 100 years time. I think how they can be appreciated and understood at different levels by different people. I ask how my seven-year-old son might regard the artwork, but make work that is of value to a musician, a bricklayer, a scientist, art historian or architect. Do you have any favourites? Play Me I’m Yours. We’ve installed over 1,500 street pianos now in 50 cities around the world. It’s led to several couples getting married after they met for the first time, by chance, at a piano. Several musicians have been spotted and offered recording contracts. To enable the artwork to happen in London, organisers had to apply for individual music licences for each piano location. This absurdity was raised in the House of Lords, and has since changed the law, so you no longer need a licence to play live music in a pub, or to place a piano in the streets. Art can really affect change! Have you put forward any exciting projects that haven’t taken off? There are plenty; it’s hard making large, new and ambitious art projects happen. Often there’s a great willingness to take risks, and do something new in Bristol, but the money to realise these things is seriously lacking. I’m currently working in Singapore and Hong Kong on new art projects, where they have the money to make things happen, but are too risk averse to do something new.
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LUKE JERRAM Although we’ve featured Luke quite a few times in Bristol Life, he just keeps on making more and more mind-blowing work that makes us want to interview him all over again Can you tell us a bit about your new work, The Museum of the Moon? It’s a new touring artwork that will be presented in a number of arts and cultural festivals around Europe over the coming years. Measuring seven metres in diameter, the inflated moon features detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. As it travels from place to place, it will gather new musical compositions and an ongoing collection of responses, stories and mythologies, as well as highlighting the latest moon science. Over its lifetime, it will be presented in a number of different ways, both indoors and outdoors, so altering the experience and interpretation of the artwork. The artwork will allow us to observe and contemplate cultural similarities and differences around the world, and consider the latest moon science. Depending on where the artwork is presented, its meaning and interpretation will shift. Through digital interaction from audiences with the artwork, new stories and meanings will be collected and compared from one presentation to the next. That’s pretty comprehensive – cheers Luke! What else is on the drawing board? Presented in different ways, The Museum of the Moon will be popping up across Bristol over the coming years. I’m also starting to fabricate Apollo – a new large-scale glass sculpture, for St.George’s. The art project has been used to raise over £300,000 for their capital project.
You aren’t from Bristol originally – does this feel like home now? I moved here in 1997 so Bristol is definitely my home. But interestingly, I feel more European than British. Favourite Bristol restaurant or pub (and what are you having?) Old Bookshop in Bedminster. Pint of Guinness would be fine, thanks Best thing you’ve seen in Bristol over the past few years? I really enjoyed the Leonardo Da Vinci drawings that were presented at the Bristol City Museum last year. Do you do amazingly inventive projects with your children, or is it a case of the cobbler’s chlldren going unshod? My kids were the first down Park and Slide (it needed testing). We’ve heard about the wedding ring you made for your wife Shelina, which projects family slides, and the engagement ring that played your proposal like a little record. Have your male friends ever forgiven you? Not quite.
For more, see www.lukejerram.com and our Spotlight section on page11
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Our new dedicated wardrobe showroom will open in the old Maskreys building next door to our existing store at 56-64 Whiteladies Road towards the end of July We will also be showing new sofa styles and an increased range of painted and solid oak cabinet furniture Promotional offers will be available upon opening and remaining Clearance ex-display pieces are 50-75% off Curtains and Blinds
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