Bristol Life - Issue 254

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property ISSUE 254 NOVEMBER 2018/ £3

THE JERSEY BOYS COME TO TOWN ISSUE 254 / NOVEMBER 2018 / BARK LIFE

TAKING THE LEAD DR PHIL HAMMOND‘S PEOPLE-PLAN FOR THE NHS

THE BARK SIDE ANIMAL PRINTS FTW

WOLF DOWN THESE GREAT SUNDAY LUNCHES

BREW, DOGS?

FESTIVE SPIRITS THAT PACK A PUNCH large version

BEGGIN‘?

AHEAD OF THE PACK

large version

A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CITY

BRISTOL’S (DOG) FRIENDLIEST CAFÉS & RESTAURANTS

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Editor’s letter Lead on! The Clever Dog Lead, to be precise, from Redland-based shop www.cleverdoglead.co.uk More pup stuff on page 58

© w w w.benrobinsphotogr aphy.com

I

t’s OK. It’s safe to go back into the magazine. We’re pretty sure that we used up our entire repertoire of dog puns on the cover.

We’ve been threatening to run a feature on the best dog-friendly pubs, cafés and restaurants in this magazine for a while now; many thanks to those who enthusiastically responded to our Instagram callout a few months ago. We hope you find it useful – let us know if we left out any of your favourite places.

So many venues welcome dogs that you’ll find quite a lot of overlap with our guide to the best Sunday lunches (page 44) – the ideal reward for a brisk preprandial walk around the harbour or a romp across the Downs.

There’s predictably less canine content in our festive spirits feature, and you may wish to cover their beady little eyes while you examine our animal print shopping guide.

Honestly, lads; Cruella de Vil was not involved in the selection.

There’s plenty of paws for thought (I lied) in this issue too, as we hear what Dr Phil Hammond has to say about the state of the nation, and Colin Moody, as ever, shows that a picture is worth a thousand words.

Back in November; until then, be excellent to each other.

deri robins Follow us on Twitter @BristolLifeMag Instagram @BristolLifeMag

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Issue 254/November 2018 Cover Who took the dogs out? Well, we did, mad fools that we were; despite the rain and the amusing challenge of getting four mutts to ‘sit!’ at the same time, photographer BEN ROBINS did a stellar job; see more of the pics on our feature on page 58

the arts

11 art page Keep calm and Cary on 12 WHAT’S ON Four pages of unmissable stuff 18 one to one The UK’s most entertainingly

subversive medic’s here to sort us all out 22 theatre You’ll be beggin’ for tickets once you’ve

heard from the Jersey Boys. See what we did there?

26 bristol heroes Leave or remain?

31 books Meet new columnist Jessica Paul, from

Bristol’s brand-new indie bookshop, Max Minerva’s

18

food & DRINK

34 RESTAURANT Quesos sera, sera 38 Food and drink news New squids (etc) on

44

the block 41 stan Chocolate nirvana 44 sunday lunch Roasts with the most 52 festive drinks That’s the spirit 58 life on the leash COVER FEATURE It might

have been quicker and easier to compile a list of cafés, pubs and restaurants that don’t let you bring the dog . . .

shopping

67 shopping intro Print isn’t dead 68 editor’s choice See above.

a man’s world

73 seb barrett Own-goals a-go-go

Business

79 business insider The Gromit Unleashed 2

fundraiser – it’s the final count-up...

Property

87 showcase A house, a very big house in the country.

Well, Alveston.

Regulars

7 spotlight 9 instas 74 society 98 bristol lives Annie Mentor; she’s blessed

the rains down in Africa Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior Art Editor Andrew Richmond Graphic Design Megan Allison Cover Design Trevor Gilham Contributors Colin Moody, Stan Cullimore, Alex Diggins, Rachel Ifans, Baz Barrett Advertising manager Neil Snow neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager James Morgan james. morgan@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Jake Newland jake.newland@mediaclash.co.uk Sales Executive Gabriella Cronchey gabriella.cronchey@mediaclash.co.uk Production/distribution manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager/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.

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. Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help. Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

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BRISTOL

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Manchester . York . Sutton Coldfield . Bristol . Farnborough . Brentwood . Aberdeen . Tunbridge Wells . Cardiff Beverley . Chichester . High Wycombe . Liverpool . London North . London West . Orpington

spotlight Film and TV

Skins flicks

Ross!! Sorry – Poldark!

Sherlock!

When Teachers and Skins first screened, in 2001 and 2007 respectively, the sight of Bristol locations on the box was still a thrilling novelty: “Ooh, look Mum! It’s the Banana Bridge!”. Today, you can barely watch a TV series or movie without spotting a corner of the city pretending to be Jersey, or Oxford or London. Sometimes it’s even pretending to be Bristol.

Spoiling all the childlike excitement for us is the The Bristol Film Office, set up in 2003 to “attract, assist and provide business development opportunities for the moving image industry for the benefit of the city’s economy” – an aim it’s amply achieved, as it revealed with figures just announced to celebrate its 15th birthday.

Four feature films were shot in Bristol last year. In April, both the new Laurel & Hardy biopic Stan & Ollie, starring Steve Coogan and John C Reilly, and Mike Newell’s The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society starring Lily James and Matthew Goode, used the city’s harbour and the ship Balmoral as key filming locations.

Iain Morris’s comedy The Festival, from the creators of The Inbetweeners, was filmed at The Bottle Yard Studios and Colston Hall, Hengrove Park and Ashton Court, while Neil Marshall’s blockbuster Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen used a council block in Redcliffe for night shooting of major scenes last September.

The year also saw plenty of high-profile TV titles filmed in the city. Sky drama A Discovery of Witches made the most of Bristol locations including Corn Street and Deanery Lane (pretending to be Oxford), while series three of Sky Atlantic’s major arctic thriller Fortitude, starring Dennis Quaid, recreated the icy extremes of Svalbard at the Bottle Yard.

And let’s not forget (as if !) Sherlock, Wolf Hall – or Poldark, which built more sets at the studios for its fourth series than ever before –18 in all, including a scale replica of the House of Commons. Dramatic mining scenes were filmed in the underground tunnels of Redcliffe Caves, while George Warleggan (boo!)’s London pad is, in fact, Clifton’s Trafalgar House.

Channel 4 drama Kiri starring Sarah Lancashire, also chose Bristol’s urban streets and green spaces as its backdrop while also filming from the sky with camera drones.

Stats for stats fans: The film office has handled TV and film production worth over £235 million to Bristol’s economy, with annual figures reflecting another healthy year in 2017-18. A £15.2 million inward investment has generated 10% rise in filming days with more than 1140 recorded; 470 jobs have been generated at the Bottle Yard Studios, and in a year that saw over 383 productions issued with permits to film in the city, the film office recorded 1141 filming days at Bristol locations and/or at the Bottle Yard; in 2017-18, its operations have generated more than £1.4 million of income for Bristol City Council.

For more: www.filmbristol.co.uk

The original and best cast of Skins

Theatre

you’re bard, mate

Russell’s back, with a new theatre show which plays Bristol Old Vic for three nights next month, between 19-21 November. Details haven’t been thick on the ground, but the title of the show – My Life by William Shakespeare – leads us to believe that Russell’s been taking a few life lessons from the Bard. What we do know is that tickets will sell fast, so click onto the website pronto.

For more: www.bristololdvic.org.uk

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SPOTLIGHT FOREVER AMBER

It’s the season of crunchy autumn leaves, peachy dawns, tangerine sunsets and six-foot hedgehog chuggers. All beautifully captured, as ever, by you talented igers guys

@perkspectivephotography

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@wildplaceproject www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 9

THE ARTS S N A P S H O T S O F B R I S T O L’ S C U LT U R A L L I F E

DIRECT GRANT Archie Leach. Not a name designed for stardom, perhaps; especially not during the golden age of Hollywood.

Cary Grant – now, that’s much more like it. And why not ditch the Horfield accent on the boat to New York, while you’re at it, in favour of a clipped transatlantic drawl, and shed your past along with the name? And once you’ve ricocheted, effortlessly, to superstardom and movie immortality, just bury all the sadness and perplexity of your childhood under a persona no more real than your screen characters?

“Everybody wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant,” he once quipped; not as flippantly as some assumed, because he also said, “I pretended to be somebody I wanted to be until, finally, I became that person, or he became me.”

Controversially, it took medically controlled LSD to reconcile Cary, the box-office idol with Archie, the rebel schoolboy, whose mother vanished from his life when he was just 11. (He was told that she’d gone on holiday, then that she’d died; in reality, she’d been incarcerated in Glenside mental hospital.) The full story unfolds in Mark Kidel’s masterly documentary, Becoming Cary Grant – neither a celebtastic hagiography nor a warts-and-all exposé, but an empathetic exploration of the life of Bristol’s biggest-ever star.

And if that’s not enough to reel you in, there’s buckets of Cary’s home movie footage, shot in Bristol.

Becoming Cary Grant screens on 23 November at UWE Glenside Campus, as part of the Cary Comes Home Festival (23-25 November); www.carycomeshome.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 11

What’s on 26 October 26 November

A carefully curated round-up of the most necessary theatre, art, music and shizzle in town. Steel yourself: it’s full-on festive from the next issue onwards

Date night for Kena and Ziki in Rafiki; at Afrika Eye

exhibitions Until 4 November

FAB 4 Bristol artists Andrew Burns Colwill, Julian Quaye, Thomas Dowdeswell and Jimmer Willmott offer a surreal mix of allegorical and metaphorical delights at Bocabar; bocabar.co.uk

Until 9 December

Benoît Maire: Thebes For his major solo exhibition, a recurring theme for Benoît is the origin of humankind and the objects we produce; spikeislandorg.uk

Until 22 December

in your face Paul Trevor’s spontaneous close-ups taken on the streets of London 19771992; martinparrfoundation.orgk

Until 25 December

Original woodblock prints by Hokusai and Hiroshige landscapes – yes, including *that* Great Wave at Bristol Museum; bristolmuseums.org.uk

show works based on the human condition and the modern age at Centrespace; centrespacegallery.com

Clowns: An Eggs-Hibition A surreal and interactive realm of light, colour, mirrors and clown cars, and (if you’re wondering about the name) the most amazing painted eggs; part of Circus 250; bristolmuseums.org.uk

north bristol arts trail An unhurried opportunity to buy original artwork from the makers; this year it’s tied into the launch of Alchemy 198, a new European-style café/bar which will be a venue on the trail. northbristolartists.org.uk.

Until 24 February

Wildlife Photographer of the Year The acclaimed wildlife photography exhibition from the Natural History Museum brings 100 beautiful, thought-provoking images to M Shed; bristolmuseums.org.uk.

27 October-21 November

166TH Annual Open The annual autumn biggie for RWA, with work from emerging and established artists; rwa.org.uk

mats Rydstern Lime Tree welcomes back the noted Swedish still-lifer and landscape artist; limetreegallery.com

Until 6 January

27-31 October

Masters of Japanese prints

line and point Established and emergent artists

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24-25 November

Theatre & shows Until 27 October

beautiful thing A 25th-anniversary revival for Jonathan Harvey’s cult urban fairytale about life and love on a post-war council estate; At TFT, tobaccofactorytheatres.com no show TFT opens the new Spielman Theatre with an award-winning all-female contemporary circus show from Ellie Dubois. A show for anyone who has tried, failed and failed better. tobaccofactorytheatres.com

a pure woman A new play by former Bristol Old Vic head honcho Simon Reade, about the dalliance between author Thomas Hardy (then aged 84) and a 20-something Dorset woman playing Tess in the local am-dram.

Who knew Hardy was such a lad?

At 1532; 1532bristol.co.uk WNO Season The world-class Welsh National Opera company bring their autumn season to Hippodrome; La Traviata’s up for 25th and 27th, La Cenerentola on 26th; atgtickets.com

Until 12 November

twelfth night The first co-production between Bristol Old Vic and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh turns the Bard’s greatest comedy into a riotous house party; bristololdvic.org.uk

30 October-3 November

the duke Shôn Dale-Jones’s award-winning one-man show blends fantasy and reality, weaving together the tragicomic fate of a family heirloom, the quandary of a scriptwriter stretching

what’s on his integrity and an unfolding refugee disaster. TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

that at home. Arnos Vale Cemetery; eventbrite.co.uk

30 October-17 November

6-7 November

jersey boys The all-singing, true story of four boys from the wrong side of the tracks who stormed the charts with their distinctive sound; feature p 22.

Bristol Hippodrome; atgtickets.com

31 October-1 November

an indian abroad Sacred places. Mythical structures.

Nando’s... in Pariah Khan’s new solo show, Krishnan is stifled by middleclass Indian life and desperate to see more of the world, including the exotic isle of Great Britain. Keen to seek out the locals, he sets out to learn about life through their eyes...at Wardrobe, thewardrobetheatre.com above: Is LSD all you need? left: Love’s still a beautiful thing for Jamie and Ste at Tobacco Factory Theatres below: London’s ready for its close-up at Martin Parr

1-3 November

All You Need Is LSD Leo Butler’s darkly humorous new play illuminates the drugs debate that won’t go away and the freedom we have to make our own choices in life, and death. At TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

the anniversary Two sons have something important to tell their mother, but they need to pick their moment; Mum, you see, is evil, malevolent, fanatically domineering, and used to getting her own way... Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

The Infinite Narcissism of Xtravaganzah The Shade Pullers & Lash Stackers Social Club is back with a featurelength show from your holy local Virgin Mary. We think the word you’re looking for is ‘irreverent’.

At Wardrobe, thewardrobetheatre.com

9-10 November

hexed Bristol-based collective Lavrak present a a ‘narrative circus show with a sinister twist’, filled with lustful lovers, drunken alliances, poison and power. At PRSC; lavrak.org

2-4 November

princess charming Some girls like football. Some boys like pink. Everyone likes a good story... Spun Glass Theatre’s cabaret performers explore what really matters about being a boy and a girl with dances, songs and skits created with children, for children, at TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

2-11 November

frankenstein A 200-year-old tale of creation, rejection, love and disaster; parental rejection, body dysmorphia, prejudice, scientific responsibility, revenge and the nature of good and evil; and yes, we know you can get all

Lovely girls Comedic dance-­theatre company The Hiccup Project present an insight, celebration and ode to being a woman in the 21st century (work-in-progress). At Wardrobe, thewardrobetheatre.com

7-10 November

2 November

2-3 November

Sarah guppy: The Bridge, The Bed, The Truth She was the first woman to patent a bridge, and the first to formally design one. She patented a breakfast machine and an exercise bed, had six children and married Charlie Coote, her second husband, when she was 66 and he was 31. Oh yes – and mentored young IK Brunel with that winning entry for the Clifton Bridge competition. Find out more with the help of Show of Strength, at the Hen & Chicken; stagestubs.com

the dark Award-winning poet Nick Makoha’s vivid and moving story of the migration he made with his mother at the age of four; at TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

14-17 November

We Are Brontë ‘Morecambe & Wise meets David Lynch’ in Publick Transport’s anarchic interpretation of the Brontë myth. Expect wind, spooky houses and stagey coughs. At Wardrobe, thewardrobetheatre.com

14-19 November

Celebration, Florida Two unrehearsed performers who have never met present a quietly surreal show for anyone who has ever missed anyone or anything. TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

17 November

ali cook: Principles of Deception Ali brings his own brand of aweinspiring magic and offbeat comedy to 1532. Expect to be genuinely amazed. 1532bristol.co.uk

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what’s on 21 November

on a zero hours contract, and what to do about Jacob Rees Mogg. At Bristol Old Vic; bristololdvic.org.uk

29 October, 12 & 26 November

closer each day The world’s longest-running improvised soap continues to bubble away amusingly at The Wardrobe, every other Monday; thewardrobetheatre.com

4 November

“A hedonistic house party” of a Twelfth Night, at Bristol Old Vic

21-23 November

The Last five Years The intimate musical story of Jamie and Cathy, two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years; at The Station, ticketsource.co.uk

21-24 November

the mountaintop A revival of this Olivier Awardwinner about Martin Luther King’s last night on earth chips away at the myth of the great man to expose his fears about his family, his country and the ever-looming threat of a violent death. Bristol Old Vic; bristololdvic.org.uk

22-27 November

Little gem Elaine Murphy’s award-winning play about love, sex, birth, death and salsa; three generations of women; one extraordinary year. Alma Tavern, almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

22 November-20 January

Oedipuss In Boots The Wardrobe’s big show for Christmas is the original motherloving pantomime. It’s the Wardrobe, it’s Christmas, you know the drill. thewardrobetheatre.com

Music 30 October

villagers The Irish indie-folkies come to Trinity; find our why Conor O’Brien has already bagged two Ivor Novello Awards and two Mercury nominations; 3ca.org.uk

30 October-7 November

bristol keyboard festival Pianos and keyboards of all shapes and sizes, and a wide range of stellar performers who know how to tinkle them, at St George’s Bristol; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

elis james and john robins: The Holy Vible Book Tour Join the lads for a live reading from their début book, which covers topics such as shame, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, while giving a rare glimpse into the off-air world of commercial digital indie radio’s most unproduceable presenters.

TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

5-7 November

2-3 November

the bolsheviks The Bristol punk legends reunite for a special event at The Tunnels; thetunnelsbristol.co.uk

david O’doherty: you have to laugh Well, obviously, you don’t have to, but if you’ve paid the admission price you may as well. David’s back on tour with a new show made up of talking and songs – still played on that crappy keyboard from 1986.

TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

9 November

11 November

brodsky quartet: in time of war Haydn’s Missa in tempore belli kicks off a programme specially created by the Brodskys for the 100th anniversary of the Armistice, at St George’s; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

17 November

the neville staple band The legendary front man of The Specials and Fun Boy Three, aka the original Rude Boy, is credited with changing the face of pop music not only once but twice; come and help him celebrate 40-years in the music business at The Fleece; thefleece.co.uk

Comedy

Until 4 November

marcus brigstocke: devil may care The Devil (that’ll be Marcus) is retired now, but he’s still on the board of the Underworld and attends a biannual meeting to advise on how to make eternal damnation sustainably hot, how to keep a thousand minions

Iliza: Fluent in English Subversively funny stories and observations about friendship, singlehood, and relationships from caustic Texan funygirl Iliza Vie Shlesinger; at 1532; 1532bristol.co.uk

16 November

rob newman: Total Eclipse Of Descartes Rob Newman kindly attempts to piece together a philosophy for our troubled times by sifting through 3000 years of thought, from Pythagoras to AI by way of Pavlov’s dogs and Frankie Howerd’s trousers.

The name of the show alone surely has to warrant the ticket price. At Redgrave; redgravetheatre.com

19-21 November

russell brand: My Life by William Shakespeare Russell takes some life lessons from Shakespeare in a new theatre show by noted director Ian Rickson; appropriately, at Bristol Old Vic; bristololdvic.org.uk

sarah pascoe : ladsladslads Always honest, always regretting it later, Sara opens her heart and mouth again to share the adventures of the last year. Full of jokes, hope and white wine LadsLadsLads is the thinking person’s stag do*. *Do not bring an actual stag do.

Do bring a polite friend, your mum, someone you hope to seduce or a book for the interval. At Redgrave; redgravetheatre.com

festivals Until 29 October

Bristol Festival of Literature Come along and see literature presented in fresh and meaningful ways; bristolliteraturefestival.org

27 October

the gin sessions Yes, we thought that would stop Five Fingers for Marseilles

4-12 November

afrika eye Afrika Eye returns for its 14th year, with the usual heady mix of African arts, cinema and culture.

Highlights for 2018 include 100th birthday tributes to Nelson Mandela, the best new and classic films from and about Africa, live performances, singing and spoken word workshops on a Bristol ferry, a ferry screening of Vanishing Sail, about the lost art of Guyanese boat-building, photo exhibitions and the outcomes of a Bristol/ Senegal creative exchange.

As ever, the festival’s centrepiece is a full weekend of film screenings, Q&As and topical discussions at Watershed (9 -11 November), opening with a launch party featuring live music from southern Africa.

Full programme at the weblink below; see also page 98. www.afrikaeye.org.uk

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what’s on you idly scanning this section in your tracks; the gin fest’s back at Paintworks with more juniperrelated stuff than you can shake a cocktail swirler at; eventbrite.co.uk

28-29 October

Love Food Festival Get cosy with a Dick Willows mulled cider, stock up on beautiful local produce and enjoy some of the best street food Bristol has to offer. At Paintworks; lovefoodfestival.com

4-12 November

afrika eye The South West’s biggest celebration of African cinema and culture; mostly at Watershed; see panel p 15. afrikaeye.org.uk

23-25 November

cary comes home A weekend celebrating the life and work of Archie Leach. Not going to lie; whenever we remember that Cary came from Bristol it gives us a frisson. See p11. carycomeshome.co.uk

Other

Until 31 October

black history month A wide line-up of events curated by the student BME network in collaboration with the Bristol SU events team, with the aim of promoting community cohesion through the teaching, learning and exploration of black history. www.bristolsu.org.uk

26 October; 2, 9, 16 & 23 November

haunted and hidden bristol tour The perfect Halloween tie-in, though fun at any time of the year.

A 75-minute walk visiting Bristol’s darkest and creepiest buildings along with film and TV locations; historical fact and trivia delivered with a healthy dose of humour. hauntedandhiddenbristol.co.uk

27 October

Genre-geddon: John Carpenter Bristol Bad Film Club’s Genregeddon returns with a triple bill of terror from the master of horror; at Anson Rooms, bristolbadfilmclub.co.uk bristol zombie walk Don’t head to College Green – this year’s walk congregates next to the Fairbairn steam crane, just down from Wapping Wharf, at 3pm before shuffling their way around the harbourside. Will numbers exceed the record 3k? Up to you, mate; find out more at facebook.com/bristolzombiewalk

28 October

benedict allen: Ultimate Explorer The adventurer-explorer takes us on his most recent adventure – a solo expedition to Papua New Guinea.

At 1532; 1532bristol.co.uk ruby wax: how to be human Ruby’s back, and she suggests that you upgrade your mind as assiduously

as you do your smartphone; Bristol Old Vic, bristololdvic.org.uk

31 October

immersive voodoo dinner Three Sisters Pop-Up presents an evening of immersive fun that explores the origins of voodoo.

With ritualistic performance from Armanah Ufaoma, spoken word from Edson Burton, and a six course dinner. At Corner 77; email threesisterspopup@gmail.com

2 November

J’Accuse (1919) Two men who love the same woman meet in the trenches. Their story becomes a microcosm for the horrors of war, in Abel Gance’s epic silent film classic with live organ accompaniment. Part of a fortnight of World War I centenary commemorations in Bristol Cathedral; bristol-cathedral.co.uk

7 November

clifton lights You do know, yeah, that Clifton regularly has the biggest Christmas tree in Britain? Come and see the 6pm switch on, hear carols and lash yourself into a festive state of mind; discoverclifton.co.uk

9 November

Bristol’s Christmas Market We know. We’re having trouble getting our heads round it too; but the big Christmas market IS opening at Broadmead, and resistance, as they say, is futile. bristolchristmasmarket.com

12 November

investigating murder Bestselling crime novelist Ian Rankin discusses his new novel In a House of Lies, alongside a panel of experts from forensics and detectives to reveal what really happens in a murder investigation. At St George’s; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

13-14 November

reel rock film tour 2018 Loved Bristol Old Vic’s Touching the Void? You’ll reel at this extraordinary collection of real-life climbing films from some of the world’s best adventure filmmakers at Redgrave Theatre. redgravetheatre.com

17 November The Bolsheviks are back, for a special gig at The Tunnels

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winter fair and ice rink The winter playground on Harbourside gets going, with the

Wall-E. More fun than Gravity

Until 8 November

Bristol Film Festival The fest continues on 27 October with To Infinity, taking over The Planetarium after dark to show films from the final frontier. First up is the fabulous Wall-E, followed by space-y, impressively shot but oddly unengaging (just us?) Gravity.

On 26-28 October, Horror in the Caves screens The Lost Boys, an Alien/Aliens double bill, and vintage horror Invasion of the Body Snatchers, screened in Redcliffe Caves.

Don’t Look Now’s at Avery’s on 26 October, with plenty of Veneto wine (which you’ll need). Also at Avery’s on 27th, Interview with the Vampire comes with (red?) wines.

Scariest of all, are the killer clowns in It at Bristol Museum at midnight on 2 November. If you’re not hard enough, and we’re definitely not, the (animated) Dumbo’s on at the same venue earlier that day, with a singalong show of The Greatest Showman before it all gets really, really dark.

Rom-zom-com Shaun of the Dead’s at The Station on 8 November, accompanied by a flight of four of Wickwar’s flagship ales. www.bristolfilmfestival.com

ice rink, big wheel, film screenings, markets etc. More in our next issue when we’re feeling more festive.

Hopefully. www.wethecurious.org

18 November

Dr. Phil Hammond: Happy Birthday, NHS? Everyone’s witty, woke medic’s at Redgrave, and has plenty to say about modern Britain (feature page 18); redgravetheatre.com

“For 90 percent of symptoms, you’re better off with a dog than a doctor”

18 I bristol LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

one to one

the doctor will see you now

Ahead of the Bristol leg of Dr Phil Hammond’s new tour, Alex Diggins sits down with Britain’s most entertainingly subversive medic, and finds out why the National Health Service is a ‘golden thread’ running through our society www.mediaclash.co.uk I bristol LIFE I 19

one to one

M

y interview with Dr Phil Hammond begins inauspiciously: with a dog escape. Tilly, Dr Phil’s five-month-old golden retriever, seizes the arrival of a delivery man and her master’s temporary distraction – phone to ear, greeting me – to bust through the canine Colditz of the dog gate and dash into the drive. Readers must assume this drama was constructed, Crimewatch style, after the fact. On the other end of the line, all I heard were the confused sounds of doors opening, jubilant barks and increasingly plaintive cries of “Tilly! Tilly! Please come back!”

On reflection this introduction was not remotely inauspicious, but deeply appropriate. Dr Phil, a comedian, writer and NHS doctor, has spoken warmly about the benefits of doggy companionship. “For 90 percent of symptoms, you’re better off with a dog than a doctor,” he wrote recently. “You can wrestle on the carpet with one without getting arrested. And if you’re too depressed to put your pants on in the morning, they’ll lick your testicles. When did you have that much fun with a doctor?”

Dr Phil’s twin professions as an outspoken funnyman and a medic evolved side by side. He first took a show to the Edinburgh Fringe in 1990; Struck Off and Die, tell-all dispatches from the frontline of the 120-hour weeks of junior doctoring, proved a hit, and sparked a succession of further tours, books and journalism, including a long-running Private Eye column. The formula has remained consistent. The titles of his tours – Trust Me I’m a Doctor, What Doctors Really Think – give a fairly clear indication of his approach, as he casts an acerbic yet affectionate eye over the lurching progress of our greatest and most unwieldy institution: the NHS. As he puts it: “I’ve been blowing the whistle on bungling and underfunding in the NHS for almost 30 years.”

His latest tour, Happy Birthday NHS?, comes to Bristol on 18 November, and promises something a little different.

“I’ve decided to get a people’s plan for the NHS,” he says.

“I’m going out and asking the audience what they think will improve health and social care.”

So far, he admits, the results have been mixed. “We’ve had some serious suggestions, but also some not so serious. One of my favourites was the idea that people who shelter their money in tax havens can still call ambulances, but they have to come from the Cayman Islands.”

There’s nothing new about literary or humorous doctors, from Jonathan Miller to Harry Hill. Recently, Adam Kay, Henry Marsh, Gavin Frances, and Rachel Clarke have all published acclaimed works which reflect, with varying degrees of humour and candour, on the profound trials and triumphs to be found in medical life.

For Dr Phil, the affinity feels natural: “There’s a long history of doctors who write. The stuff of medicine, of healthcare, is really interesting and drags us all in.”

What’s changed, he thinks, is that the closed culture of the NHS – its rigid hierarchies and fear of speaking out – is gradually being eroded by social media, and shows such as Junior Doctors and 24 Hours in A&E. The common humanity and fallibility of doctors is being slowly revealed – and celebrated. “When I began campaigning as a junior doctor, there were half a dozen of us picketing the Conservative Party conference. When Jeremy Hunt took on the junior doctors, by contrast, there were roughly 65,000 of them telling their stories on social media.”

Despite the medical profession letting down its barriers, Dr Phil admits it can still seem opaque. “The hope is that doctors move from being gods to guides,” he says. “The trouble is that they just can’t do that in ten minutes. The greatest frustration we have is that we don’t want to be

“I’ve been blowing the whistle on bungling and underfunding in the NHS for almost 30 years”

seen as élitist; we want to be human, sharing decisions with patients. But often, we just don’t have the time.

“Most people support the idea of the NHS,” he says.

“They see it as a golden thread running through our society: we put our money in the middle, and we take out according to need.” The problems arise, he argues, when governments snap that thread, and break the implicit contract of welfare and social care. “If we don’t sort out social justice, then we can’t fix the NHS. Poverty kills more people than anything else. People will continue to die avoidably through austerity.”

Dr Phil’s politics have got him into trouble. He was sacked from his position at BBC Radio Bristol because he decided to run against Jacob-Rees Mogg as an NHS Party candidate at the last election. And he sees his new tour in explicitly campaigning terms: “I hope to eventually publish the people’s plan for the NHS as a manifesto.”

The opportunity to explore the foundation of the NHS also throws up interesting analogues with today’s turbulent political landscape, he says. “The NHS was a huge social experiment; leaving the EU is a huge social experiment.”

The difference, he claims, lies in the calibre of leadership.

“Nye Bevin was a hugely effective politician and an inspirational leader, and that’s what we’re lacking at the moment. Politicians should have grown up and decided on a cross-party plan for Brexit like a wartime coalition. Instead we’re left with this really childish infighting.”

Forthright and charismatic, it’s little wonder some have suggested he should become the next health secretary.

Seriously? We could do a lot worse.

Dr Phil Hammond brings his show, Happy Birthday NHS? to The Redgrave on 18 November; tickets £17; www.redgravetheatre.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I bristol LIFE I 21

Hello boys!

Heading to Bristol following a nine-year run in the West End, Jersey Boys remains a red-hot ticket. VICKY EDWARDS discovers that for its four lead actors, the show has led to love, laughter and an awful lot of sightseeing‌

22 I bristol LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

THEATRE Let them entertain you: l-r, Lewis, Simon, Michael and Declan

“Jersey Boys hasn’t thrilled over 25 million people worldwide simply by taking a trip down musical memory lane”

P

ulling in one of the broadest audiences in musical theatre history, Jersey Boys has won almost as many awards as The Four Seasons had hit records. Well, perhaps not quite that many; after all, while the show features over 30 Seasons chart-toppers, between 1962 and 1978 Frankie and the boys sold in excess of 100 million records. But if your expectation of the show is a night of nostalgia presented in jukebox format, think again. Jersey Boys hasn’t thrilled over 25 million people worldwide simply by taking a trip down musical memory lane.

“It’s a true, gritty and gutsy story,” says Lewis Griffiths (Nick Massi).

“The Seasons were idolised, but they were blue-collar guys who worked their way up the ladder. It works because it’s a story of hope; if it can work out for the Seasons then why not for you?” he finishes, stressing that not only is this a true story, but also a fascinating slice of social and musical history.

seasons change Being part of the juggernaut that is Jersey Boys, and on a tour that lasts longer than a year, what do the boys do for down time?

Simon: The show is a workout in itself and keeps you in shape, but I do try to stay as fit as possible.

One of our girls is training for a triathlon so I’ve been doing some running with her. Other than that I guess I do the same as everyone else after a day’s work, but just a bit later.

Declan: Travel! And I’m a social butterfly, so I hang out with the cast and go for dinner, drinks, to the

movies and the theatre.

Lewis: Duvet day with a pot of tea, a bowl of M&Ms and a box set on the telly. When I stop, I really stop. I’m a typical Gemini – all or nothing.

Michael: I’ve just passed my driving test, so I can jump in the car and get home to my girls.

“It’s such a fascinating story, and each guy tells it from their own viewpoint,” says Simon Bailey (Tommy DeVito). “The whole thing is so fast, so slick; this show never pauses for a moment, and as actors we don’t pause for breath either. It’s an event. People come back again and again, and there is no ‘average’ audience member – good music is timeless, whether you’re eight or 88.”

“It’s everyone’s show, but it will always be one of the biggest parts of my life,” says Michael Watson, who plays Frankie Valli, returning to the role after several stints in the West End. “It speaks to everyone. It’s a play, a concert, a history and a party. You connect with it on so many different levels.”

It’s certainly a happy ship, which is just as well given that the tour runs until March 2019.

“It’s my second tour and it’s something that took me a while to adjust to,” says Simon.

“It’s strange when you have to change every two weeks, but the negative points can also be the most exciting; you’re on the move, but you also get to see this fabulous country. We’ve become a family; there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t laugh until tears come out of my eyes.”

“I have a travel guide on my dressing table and I’m trying to see everything in it,” says Declan Egan (Bob Gaudio). “Australia is such a relatively young country, but the history and architecture over here in Britain is amazing.”

As for Lewis, the show led to an unexpected romantic bonus on a previous tour, when he was interviewed on stage in Newcastle by a young TV presenter. She’s now his fiancée.

As for the songs, as well as being prolific, The Four Seasons had an unmistakable and utterly unique sound. Do the boys have any favourites?

“In my ‘season’, things start to come apart at the seams. Beggin’ sets that up and is the moment when these four singers realise that they’re not superhuman. Also, every night when I sing the finale I sing it as a tribute to my mum and dad, because Who Loves You was ‘their’ song,” says Lewis.

“It is a really joyous finale,” agrees Declan.

“It’s such a thrill to sing it, and everybody just goes crazy.” “At the moment my favourite is Cry for Me,” says Simon. “It’s the first time The Seasons all sing together and it’s a great song.

But they are all such great songs. It’s a party, and you’ll leave with the hugest smile on your face,” he promises.

“Come and see a show that won’t just entertain you, but will inspire you and educate you in a pivotal part of music history,” says Lewis. “There’s a line in the show that goes, ‘Even after I quit the group it still had some kind of pull over me.’

“Well, you can leave Jersey Boys, but whether you’re in the cast or in the audience, it will always have that pull over you.”

Jersey Boys: The story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons plays Bristol Hippodrome 30 October17 November; www.atgtickets.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I bristol LIFE I 23

1

BRISTOL HEROES

In, out, shake it all about. Hard, or soft; deal or no-deal . . .

Words and pictures by Colin Moody 26 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

photography

D

eal or no deal, Brexit is a-coming. But how have the good people of Bristol been reacting to it? Colin Moody has been monitoring the situation, and thinks he’s identified eight Bristol Heroes who, in their own way, reflect one side or the other of the argument about our position in Europe. Some are anonymous, having left their opinions in secret; others have just been looking off wistfully into the middle distance, unsure about our collective future.

Bristol voted to remain and it’s been hard to spot too many voices against, so instead look out for a few metaphors, a few chance moments, and a photo story of how we feel about it all at this moment. It’s a moment that needed to be recorded in some way. Even if we’re doing that oh-so-British thing of not saying very much while quietly having a good worry.

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3

Titanic Someone was doing the washing up at the Easton Community Centre, and then they just stopped. Left this mug as they found it, in the water. Instead of an iceberg of Arctic ice, soft Fairy Liquid surrounds the vessel.

I tried to imagine the person who had left this, and wondered if they realised, at all, the art that had been created. Later on, someone finished the washing up and the mug was upside down on the drying rack with all these other mugs made all over the EU.

See me looking back at you We cant go on together, with suspicious minds.

It’s an odd moment, isn’t it? To be this close to delivering the promise to those who dreamed about leaving the EU. Which do we want? A hard or soft Brexit? If, when why, what, how much have they got? In a Western world.

Is it just me or are people more suspicious of each other than any other time?

And what kind of Brexit will we get? Nice and shiny, with that new-car smell, or second-hand, hand-me-down and a bit shabby, there are moments that capture this mood. Like this crowd at the Downs festival. Worn-out UK cover taking a shot of me taking a shot of them. Eyes at the border of the press pit looking. Thinking. Waiting.

There seems to be a lot of that at the moment.

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3

“All around us, a circus of events took place. Some ironic, some laconic, all a tonic”

Dismaland I know Dismaland was a while back now, but at the time I had no idea how astutely Banksy was predicting a potential Brexit future. How it was all going to be.

People queuing for hours for a chance to sit on a bench that was designed to look like there was a person on that bench being mobbed by seagulls. You get a photo, but do nothing for the poor metaphor. However all the people sat on that bench got their snap and that’s what mattered.

And all around us, a circus of events took place. Some ironic, some laconic, all a tonic. Great art, but – unknown at that time – a prediction of ceaseless queuing at borders, extra security checks on the way in, twisted metaphors and constructions that we all enjoyed, and may yet have time to enjoy.

Banksy. Bristol’s own Nostradamus.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 27

4

Friendly Society Wasn’t it Bill and Ted who said, let’s all just be excellent to each other? What would they have made of all this Brexit stuff? There does seem to have been a percentage dip in the friendliness round here. Reports of more pushing and shoving. Is it me, or are the reports of a rise in purchasing of tinned goods a sign?

A sign of looking after our own?

I have no idea where they are now, but this long-abandoned Bristol City Friendly Society building seemed a good metaphor. Of, at first maybe, a distancing between ourselves, and our own needs and desires, with those of others. But also of the increasingly empty shops and retail units that pepper our high streets. The satellite dishes are interesting, too.

We are taking in much news and data, but are we losing our friendly edge?

5

4

Round and round and round we go, where are we going?

Does anyone know?

At a garden centre on the edge of town someone has created a perfect metaphor for Brexit. In a shed extension of the main building sheltering from the rain, the smallest of fairground rides goes round and round. As many colours on the ride as there are places in the cabinet. And while this circus goes round and round and those little horses chase each other, rising and falling, life in the shed annexe on the edge of the main place goes on and on... someone has placed a sign that delivers the message. “When it’s gone... it’s gone!”

I have nothing else to add.

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“Is it me, or are the reports of a rise in the purchasing of tinned goods a sign? ” 28 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

photography 7

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6

Reach out, darling reach out; I’ll be there Just one moment at a rally a few days after the referendum result was known, and these two perfectly encapsulated the mood for many at the time. The EU reaching out, and us stood there. Smiling at this time. I wonder if everyone is still smiling now?

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the Eyes have it I’ve printed this photo in this magazine before, but filtered. A bit brighter. A bit touched up. But as we get closer to Brexit I don’t now think it’s right to touch it up, but instead to see it raw. Her eyes cry the stars of the EU. This was a couple of years ago.

I wonder how she is doing now?

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labels The woman on the left is telling us she is a migrant. And many Bristolians came out in 2015 during the migrant crisis to support her and many others. This may have been before Brexit, but I liked the way that we don’t always know who is a migrant. And how much they contribute. All we see is a label. So here is a label and I hope you can see more than just a migrant. I see a couple of Bristolians standing together. What ever happens next we need to look after each other.

Follow Colin on Twitter @moodycolin Instagram @moodycolin319

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 29

Reach the best in the west Auent, active and inuential and just a call away

Bristol Life team 01225 475800

JESSICA PAUL BOOKS

Autumn leaves

Say hi to Jessica, who along with husband Sam Taylor has just opened Max Minerva’s, a new independent bookstore for Bristol.

So, Jessica (we said) – why not kick off a new column for Bristol Life with your top picks from the autumn new releases?

T

his autumn seems to be the season of the misfit. From BBC’s Bodyguard and Black Earth Rising to Netflix’s Maniac, TVs stories are focused on characters struggling to adjust to the world around them – and the new literary releases are no different.

Tara Westover – Educated In a harrowing memoir that delves into what it means to accept your unfavourable past, Westover recounts living in a doomsday cult and her eventual escape. The sort of story that has readers astounded at a human being’s capacity for love and forgiveness. It’s also one of Barack Obama’s picks for the year, incidentally.

“GalRo is at the top of her game, serving up another nailbiting thriller starring Strike and his UST sidekick Robin”

Robert Galbraith – Lethal White Are we all ready to drop the pretence over who Robert Galbraith is yet? What’s in a name – what matters is that GalRo is at the top of her game here, serving up another intelligent, nail-biting thriller starring curmudgeonly hero Cormoran Strike and his UST sidekick Robin with wit and panache. This latest plot bears a striking resemblance to the smash hit BBC show, The Bodyguard – plenty of intrigue, down at the Met, along with political blackmailing. Set just before the 2012 Olympics, it’s a slice of social commentary wrapped up in glowering, brooding, snarky quips.

Sayaka Murata – Convenience Store Woman All right, I’m cheating. This book came out in August but it really is worth adding to this list.

There is something about a Japanese

convenience store that I find intriguing. Sells hot, healthy meals for lunch that don’t taste of cardboard? Tell me more.

The slim novel follows the life of a staff member who finds a safe place in the store, only to have it taken away from her. This is a delightful read, and gives solace to those of us who don’t always fit in.

Amor Towles – A Gentleman in Moscow This has been a bestseller for a reason; it’s now in paperback so there’s really no excuse not to get your mitts on it as soon as you can.

Towles tells a tale of a Russian count who is sentenced to house arrest, while the political events of 1920s and 1930s Russia swirl around him. Hardly a comedic setup; but the novel will surprise you with its humour and charm. With Russia hitting the headlines right now, this novel provides warmth and depth to an otherwise chilly topic.

Yuvah Noah Harari – 21 Lessons for the 21st Century Harari is on his third book, and this time he’s tackling the idea of liberalism in the 21st century. He delves into the duelling concepts of free will and big data and tries to make us all feel better about losing our jobs to the robots. He manages to create a compelling case for the future while explaining the very scary present. A timely book that helps the world feel less isolating.

Laura Purcell – The Corset If you’re looking for a quintessential underthe-duvet read, try The Corset. Based on a true story, it’s set in Victorian England and the main conceit is a ‘did she or didn’t she?’ murder mystery, in a similar vein to Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace. This is a gothic thriller that lays bare the exploitation of women in 19th-century England, and presents a protagonist that is all at once complex, dark, puzzling and endearing. The fabulous cover art means that it also makes a great gift.

Max Minerva’s, Bristol’s only independent bookshop for kids and adults, is now open at 39 North View, Westbury Park 07498 538858; www.maxminervas.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 31

advertising feature

Eat Exeter, drink Exeter Foodies visiting the Exeter and Greater Exeter area can now embark on a journey of culinary discovery as an exciting new trail has officially launched.

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et to place Exeter on the map as a major new foodie destination, the Exeter Food and Drink Trail has brought together the area’s finest food and drink producers, retailers and restaurateurs.

At the centre of the self-guided Exeter Food and Drink Trail is a beautiful map, which pinpoints the locations of over 40 local food and drink producers, foodie experiences and eateries.

The trail promises followers the opportunity to sample fabulous produce and exceptional experiences that celebrate Exeter’s rich larder of food and drink.

Explorers can take a tour of the rooftop gardens of Princesshay, home to a variety of fruit trees and bee friendly flowering plants, supporting around 300,000 honey bees in five hives.

Honey that is harvested from Princesshay’s city bee project is sold in Chandos Deli, located in Roman Walk with all proceeds donated to charity. There is also a scented herb garden, providing herbs for some of Princesshay’s restaurants and bars. Tour goers will learn all about the busy world of bees and get the opportunity to see a working hive in action.

For the wine connoisseur, Pebblebed Vineyard tours and tastings will offer an educational experience. Visitors are welcome from May to September to take part in guided tours and expert wine tastings. If ale is more your thing, Exeter Brewery also offers tours. Go behind the scenes of one of Exeter’s most celebrated breweries, all topped off with pie and mash in

Exeter Cookery School

32 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

the Tap Room bar.

Other delectable experiences on the map include a tour around the award-winning Quickes Cheese; hone your culinary skills beside the beautiful quay at Exeter Cookery School, and taste Exeter Gin at the Exeter Street Food Market where you will get to meet creator Karen Skerrat. In addition to exclusive experiences, the trail will bring followers exciting competitions and special events.

Trail ambassador Mitch Tonks, who’s new Exeter Rockfish restaurant is set to open this autumn, commented: “Devon is a serious food destination, there’s no doubt about that and to have a trail like this in and around Exeter is great. The trail showcases what we in Devon already know – Exeter’s absolute best, the hidden gems, the independent and artisan producers and growers, the fantastic group operations who provide quality and consistency and who generate great loyalty and fans in their customers.” n

For more information on the Exeter Food and Drink Trail and to download a copy of the map, visit: www.exeterfoodanddrinktrail.co.uk

Pata Negra A new menu at an old favourite? We couldn’t get over to Clare Street quick enough . . . Words by Deri Robins

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e can’t go on like this. We probably need to visit a few rubbish places, now and again.

Because in Bristol Life, it’s just one positive review after another, no? Maybe what we need is to pour 700 words of scorn over some random lacklustre chain, to show that we do possess a critical faculty.

But here’s the thing. The remit of this magazine is to big up the best. We’re all about accentuating the positive; and when it comes to restaurant reviews, we always visit places we’re pretty sure you’re going to love, either because we’ve been, or we know someone who has – and what kind of monster wouldn’t love Pata Negra on Clare Street?

We’d forgotten quite how much we loved it, until we slid back into one of the pneumatically comfy banquettes and recalibrated our mood to the infectious disco-meetsSpain music track, curated by front-of-house Diego from Menorca. Ask Diego about the Mahon gin, or anything else, really; the chico knows his stuff.

The name Pata Negra – literally, ‘black leg’ – refers to the jamón ibéricos you’ll see strung up in every decent

34 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

tapas bar from Catalonia to Cadiz. Like the hams, which are duly out in force here, Pata’s as authentic as they come, except that the aforementioned music’s too good; a cut above the Europop played in most backstreet Andalucian bars, assuming you can hear it over the excitable footie commentaries blaring from the ubiquitous TVs. Pata’s décor is also rather more elegant than your average tapas joint; all dark jades and ruby reds, with that seductive glamour that characterise Hyde & Co’s gaffs from Milk Thistle to The Ox. You could have a thoroughly good night here even if the food and drink weren’t on point, which they are; and they have a brand new menu.

I always feel a bit sheepish not ordering sherry in a Spanish restaurant, but my margarita-love always conquers my desire to appear in the know. I was awarded with a textbook-excellent, no frills version with a sprinkling of chilli (a favourite ingredient of chef ’s) that I swear was twice as alcoholic than most; a nicety which didn’t stop me ordering two more. Your Man’s wine, recommended

by Diego, was one of those supremely mellow reds that announce their arrival by their aroma; we could almost see visible lines of the bouquet waving towards us across the room, like in the old-fashioned Bisto ad. Mmm... merlot....

restaurant

“Pata’s as authentic as they come, except that the music’s probably too good” Diego had done such a sterling job with the music and drink that we took him up on the tapas feast option (£25 pp), in which the kitchen sends out choice dishes of the day. This began with the classic prelude of a board of cured meats and cheese: thin slices of oozily rich chorizo and iberico, crumbly, sweet-salty Manchega, creamy, spicy picos and a mild semi-cured cheese from Mahon.

Then came jamon croquetas; crunchy, fluffy and silky in all the right places. A decadent slice of pork belly, the sweet wobbly fat topped with note-perfect crackling, had a vibrant plate-mate of romesco sauce; luckily the patatas bravas arrived before we’d gobbled this down, as the two dishes went together a treat. Pata’s patatas come with alioli picante, instead of the more ubiquitous tomato sauce; it stops the crunchy spuds turning soggy, said Diego.

Two simply grilled squid came dressed to impress in a pool of olive oil, chilli and garlic; no hint of rubberiness there. Salmon tartare, a no-hiding-place kind of a dish demanding the freshest ingredients, took things even further back to basics, chopped up with avo and lime. Just to show we’re not total pussies, we’ll admit that we found the grilled purple sprouting broccoli a little woody.

Silky roast pumpkin and soft, spicy sobrasado came doused in honey and almonds – not for nothing did Arabic influences hold sway over Spain for over 800 years. It was so indulgent and sweet that it could probably have done duty as a pudding course, but we plumped (operative word) for a creamy rice pudding topped with boozy plums.

It’s impossible not to have a good time at Pata Negra.

It’s like having a Spanish mini-break, but without having to pad through airport security in your socks at 4am.

Oh look, it’s another happy customer review. For our next issue we’ll review an inadequate, struggling chain, if you insist; but seriously, what would be the point? n

Dining details Pata Negra, 30 Clare Street; 0117 927 6762; www.patanegrabristol.com

Opening times Monday - Saturday open for coffee from 11, food from midday until 10pm, then Noche Negra (upstairs club) is open Fridays and Saturday nights from 7pm Prices Tapas £3.50-£14.50 (average £5); tapas sharing feast £25 pp. Puds £2.50-£6.50 Vegetarian choice Six options plus cheeses Disabled access Loos downstairs Drinks Wines mostly focus on the diverse regions of the Iberian peninsula; many by the glass Service/atmosphere Perfecto – charming, attentive without being intrusive, informative yet laidback

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 35

2 PORTWALL LANE BRISTOL, BS1 6NB

Sundays at Pasture

www.pasturerestaurant.com

food & drink

The Bartender Meet Lewis Spindlove of The Bartender Hire Company, who’s poised to shake it like a polaroid picture at any party or shindig you care to throw, mixing the finest cocktails known to humanity behind bespoke bars – just for you While he was working in cocktail bars across Bristol, people would often come in and ask Lewis if he’d work their parties. One thing led to another and soon he was bartending at parties every weekend. It was a logical step to launch The Bartender, for whom he deals with everything from initial enquiries to polishing bar tops ready for the weekend.

Give us a brief overview of the services you offer We mix cocktails for anyone who wants them.

Most of our bartenders find themselves shaking cocktails in people’s homes and gardens, as well as in offices and event spaces.

You do workshops too, are we right?

Of course; we have some really popular Gin & Teatime packages, which end with guests making their very own ginfusions with fresh and dried botanicals. Our favourite corporate workshop is the ‘Star Behind the Bar’ where delegates race each other to mix a mojito as

fast as possible. Scores are recorded on a magnetic score board à-la-Top Gear, with the fastest time taking home a cocktail kit.

We know you have a strong eco ethic – how are you reducing your environmental impact?

We stopped using plastic straws nearly four years ago, opting for biodegradable options instead. Our office is completely paperless, and we stopped supplying plastic bottles of water at events, instead using large glass bottles and decanting them per serve.

We also use compostable blue roll, refilling anti-bac spray bottles, and opting for compostable plastic cups for exhibitions.

We also use local suppliers such as Reg the Veg in Clifton for all of our fruit, and Bristol Syrup Company in Ashton for all of our sugar and fruit syrups.

Enough of the serious stuff – let’s jump to the fun bit. What’s your all-time favourite cocktail?

We love mint juleps, mint sprigs muddled with sugar and topped with crushed ice and lashings of bourbon. Heaven in a tin cup.

What’s the most popular cocktail with customers?

Lewis’s very own Garden of Eden; gin, elderflower syrup, fresh lime, cloudy apple juice; shaken and strained over ice with a fresh mint sprig. Tastes of English summers.

What single spirit or ingredient could you never be without?

Tea. Not only for drinking between events, but for making a variety of syrups for flavouring some great cocktails. It’s really easy to create your very own flavours, too.

If we’re thinking of hiring you for a festive shindig, what can you bring to the table?

A cracker of a party. Stunning LED bars covered in bauble graphics, and presents stacked either side, bartenders shaking up all kinds of Christmas inspired drinks using cinnamon, cognac and plenty of glitter. Oh, and elf hats.

Can you give us an idea of costs?

A really rough cost, for a party of 50 people for 4 hours with us supplying everything: £1000 + VAT. For more www.thebartender.co.uk

38 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

no-one expected the spanish acquisition Don’t be silly; of course we did. The Sanchez Iglesias family don’t rest on their laurels; take Casa Loco, the collab with Pasta Loco this month in aid of Young Minds, for which only those with the ninja reflexes of seasoned Glastonbury goers were able to bag tickets.

Now, mere weeks after announcing they’d be closing Pi Shop (boo) they revealed that Peter Sanchez Iglesias would be opening a restaurant in London next year, on the roof of the Standard hotel in King’s Cross; no official details have been released about the menu, but we believe that Spanish/Mexican flavours may be involved. There’s another rumour circulating closer to home, too…. www.sanchez-brothers.co.uk

They’ll put a taqueria on the roof OK not on the roof, precisely – but at MexFest, Cargo

Peter, quietly plotting world domination

Cantina’s Day of the Dead festival on 2 November, the guys are teaming up with other members of the Cargo community to host a night of Mexican-inspired food and drink, with a tequila shack from the guys at Cazcabel. As well as all the victuals, there’ll be a mariachi band and sugar-skull facepainting; for anyone wanting to carry on the Día de Muertos vibe there’s an after-party at Corner 77 in the Croft. www.cargocantina.co.uk

Squeezed?

Not exactly…

The Juice Collective, a cold-pressed juice manufacturer, is the latest foodie offering at Cargo, offering cold-pressed juices and superfood smoothies to go, from Unit 3.

Breakfast bowls, toasts, cold-pressed health shots, coffees and speciality lattes will also be part of the offering. www.thejuicecollective.co.uk

Say “ayubowan!” … . . . to The Coconut Tree, the award-winning Sri-Lankan street-food restaurant that’s just opened a branch on Gloucester Road. Created by a group of friends wanting to bring their favourite home-cooked recipes to the UK, the restaurant offers a variety of street-food classics from Ceylon, with small to medium dishes to be shared, in typical Sri Lankan fashion. Natural vegan and vegetarian food with a tropical taste, and all very affordable – dishes start at £2.50. www.thecoconut-tree.com

amuses bouches The Real Greek has launched a new street-food deli in Bristol, situated outside its main restaurant in Cabot Circus. The authentic style deli will utilise the space outside the restaurant to

create a buzzing street food atmosphere. www.therealgreek.com Local food writer Lia

Leendertz and food stylist Anna Shepherd are

collaborating on a new monthly seasonal supper club at new Gloucester Road bar, Alchemy 198. The Almanac Supper Club will be loosely based on Lia’s bestselling book, The Almanac:

A Seasonal Guide to 2019, which celebrates every month of the year through sky-watching, tides and folk stories, as well as with seasonal food and celebratory recipes. www.facebook.com/alchemy198

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 39

f x 3 99Queens

CELEBRATING OUR 1 ST ANNIVERSARY Fresh homemade food & cake Large terrace Wifi Certificate of excellence 2018 (Trip Advisor) 99 QUEENS ROAD, CLIFTON BS8 1LW

01173 179806

cafÉ society Stan Cullimore

Icing, icing baby Don’t be fooled by those innocentlooking Madeleines. Mrs Potts is a den of iniquitous cupcakery, and needs to be approached with extreme caution . . .

S

tories – I’m a sucker for them. So when I find a café with a story to tell, I’m keen to get inside and smell the coffee beans. And the cake. Or, in the case of today’s coffee shop, the cupcakes. Plural. It was a friend who told me this story, by the way.

If you are sitting comfortably, I shall pass it on to you.

Once upon a time, two fully grown and sensible men were strolling down to the bottom of Park Street. (That would be

“I suggested we should go inside, and hopefully, unlike Bono, find what we were looking for”

me and my friend, actually.)

After several minutes of intense strolling, we were ready for some refreshment. Luckily, we soon found ourselves standing outside Mrs Potts Chocolate House. I suggested we should go inside and hopefully, unlike Bono, find what we were looking for. But my friend refused to set foot in the place. Not even a tippy-toe. He just wanted to walk on by. Then he told me the story.

Turns out that his wife and teenage daughter go there, frequently. Once inside, they purchase hot chocolate, which is fair enough. Nothing wrong with a cup of delicious hot chocolate, I hear you say. But, dear reader, that is not all they have. Oh, no.

They also get … cupcakes. Plural.

One each. Then they send him pictures.

Now these are not just any old cupcakes. Oh, no. Far from it.

After all, if they were just any old cupcakes, this story would like a bald hedgehog. Pointless.

From the pictures he has seen, my friend knows that these innocent-sounding treats are, in fact, terrifying creations. More frosting than cake. Enormous swirling pyramids of sugar-filled creaminess on top of the teeniest, tiniest dollops of sponge known to man. The sort of snack that could unhinge a hungry soul.

Or at least, send him into such a

whirl of sugar-induced craziness, that he may never recover his senses. So, my friend insisted we should not go inside this den of iniquitous cupcakery; instead, we should move on to somewhere more suitable. Which we did.

However, recently, I once again found myself outside Mrs Potts place. This time, I was alone, so taking a deep breathe, I stepped inside. Turns out, my friend’s story is entirely and completely true. They do indeed have an amazing range of cupcakes on offer. And they do look scary.

Terrifying, even. Enormous beasts that can probably give you diabetes type 2 just by looking at them.

Reader, I was so scared that I could barely move. Luckily, I somehow found the strength to pick up some tiny chocolate Madeleines, a friendly bar of chocolate and a black coffee before making my way to the safety of a table, as far from those enticing cupcakes as possible.

But I made a vow that day.

Oh, yes, I did. To return with my wife. Then maybe, just maybe, we can take on one of those superb cupcakes, together. Show it who’s boss.

The End. n Former Housemartins guitarist Stan is now a journalist and travel writer www.stancullimore.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 41

Riverstation sits majestically on the harbourside as it has done for the last 20 years. Our iconic building boasts one of the best sunshine locations in Bristol and offers al fresco dining in abundance.

You can dock on the pontoon from the ferry and enjoy the whole day in this wonderful setting.

The newly refitted restaurant offers fantastic views across the water and delivers monthly rotating seasonal menus. Balcony seating also allows you to leisurely watch life go by.

The up-beat ground floor hosts a large sunshine terrace so you can while away a night with cocktails, or enjoy a bottle from our extensive wine selection.

We proudly support local Bristol breweries, as well as offering our flagship Young’s ales on tap.

D N A R IN A W BO O D EN IL M W GA

Be sure not to miss out on our great events hosted in proper Bristol fashion. Follow our social networks for updates.

We are now taking bookings for Christmas, please head over to www.riverstation.co.uk for further information or contact us at riverstation@youngs.co.uk

For great Christmas value

• Woolley Park (Bath) free range turkeys, geese and ducks • Copas organic and free range turkeys • Usk Vale boneless turkey crowns stuffed to order Gift vouchers • Set boxes The Grove, Bristol BS1 4RB; 0117 914 4434 riverstation@youngs.co.uk www.riverstation.co.uk

f riverstation.bs1 a riverstation_ x riverstation.bristol

Molesworths of Henleaze 101 Henleaze Road, Bristol, BS9 4JP

Molesworths of Frampton 147 Church Road, Frampton Cotterell, Bristol, BS36 2JX

0117 962 1095

01454 777337

www.henleazebutchers.co.uk

Re-open under new management.

Kitchen now open, offering traditional pub food.

Open: Monday - Saturday 12pm-11pm, Sunday 12pm-10pm Food served: 12pm-9pm Monday to Saturday, Sunday lunches 12pm-5pm 6 Dowry Place, Bristol BS8 4QL 0117 336 8151 | roseofdenmarkbristol@outlook.com

f theroseofdenmarkbristol |

x @roseofdenmarkbristol

Sunday Best On an autumn Sunday, all we ask is a lunchtime table groaning with succulent meats, fresh vegetables, fluffy roasties and corking Yorkies.

And if you don’t fancy doing the cooking or washing-up (really, does anyone?) here’s a cross-section of Bristol restaurants prepared to do just that on your behalf

By Rachel Ifans

44 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

sunday lunch There are country pubs for lunch; and then there’s the Pony . . .

N

ot to overstate it, but the crushing disappointment of being served an average Sunday roast can put the kibosh on the whole weekend. It’s a meal that so drips with expectation that the odds are ludicrously stacked against it from the get-go, and in my time I’ve signed off pubs and restaurants forever for watery gravy, a tough slice of meat, rock-hard roasties or soggy Yorkshire puds.

I’ve sworn off eating out and even had periods of Sundayroast celibacy, but as this autumn came into full swing I felt re-energised and able to try again. As the days began to shorten and the Indian summer began to merge into November’s mizzle, I set to work conjuring up a shortlist of the most magical lunches being served in and around Bristol this season.

THE MALAGO

Where? 220 North Street; www.themalago.club When? Roasts available from 12.30pm until

they sell out.

To book or not to book? Booking is essential:

0117 963 9044. Tables of eight or more require a £10pp deposit and a pre-order.

What’s on the menu? Expect classics like roast beef striploin and braised brisket, pork belly with apple sauce and crackling, nut roast, and add in some surprises like vegan cauliflower steak. Marvel at the rainbow of veg including braised red cabbage, cheesy leeks, carrots, swede mash and spring greens.

What we love about The Malago

It’s a family-run independent that’s chefowned, so food is the top priority. It’s also been named one of the 10 best dog-friendly restaurants in the South West.

Go for it – boast about your roast

“Our all-time faves are the weekly guest meats that use the best the season has to offer. Plus our amazing gravy, which we start making days in advance. Helly puts so much love into her gravy; it brings the whole roast together.”

Best for… the Yorkies (not the dogs, though they’re allowed, too)

Both trad and vegan Yorkies on the menu.

“The crushing disappointment of being served an average Sunday roast can put the kibosh on the whole weekend”

*Adds The Malago to dog-friendly restaurants feature*

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 45

sunday lunch BOCABAR

Where? Paintworks; www.bristol.bocabar.co.uk When? Lunch midday – 3.30pm To book or not to book? Do book, on 0117

9728838. It’s best to do it a week in advance, but it’s a big place, so you might be lucky a day or two before.

What’s on the menu? Classics such as confit lamb, pork belly and topside beef line up alongside lamb-dripping roast potatoes.

Swoon! There are a couple of veggie dishes and a fish one, too. Aside from roasts you can choose from the pizza/deli/salad menu on a Sunday.

What we love about Bocabar

It’s a big, relaxed space: either go for the main lounge bar with grouped sofas, or the dining room for a full-on dining experience.

Go for it – boast about your roast

“Bit leftfield, but we love our almond, kidney bean and mushroom nut roast. For meat-eaters the Style Farm lamb confit shoulder is slowcooked for hours then pulled and formed into a disc. People love it.”

Best for… large groups

The front lounge bar can accommodate up to 75 on the sofas and there is also a dining room at the back with a capacity of 80.

Bocabar; there’s pizza, if for some unaccountable reason you’re not turned on by roasts

46 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

PASTURE

Where? 2 Portwall Lane

www.pasturerestaurant.com When? Sunday lunches from midday-5pm To book or not to book? Prep it well ahead, dudes. Two weeks is safest.

What’s on the menu?

Have the beef, the lamb or the pork, or all three combined in the signature Pasture roast.

Starters include duck liver parfait, charred cauliflower and Fowey mussels.

What we love about Pasture The ethos – fire, meat, music – and the food in equal measure. And we’re pleased to see that this new(ish) steak house and late-night bar also serves up the goods in the cold light of day.

Top picks have to be the vegan roast or the aforementioned trio-of-meats. Oh, and Grace Dent agrees; she recently gave Pasture a rave review in her Guardian column.

Go for it – boast about your roast

“You’ll love our locally sourced free range meat and bottomless gravy.”

Best for… all the meats

A celebration of fire-based cooking and incredible local ingredients. The in-house butchers handpick and prepare the very best from farms in the South West.

THE SPOTTED COW

Where? 139 North Street www.thespottedcowbristol.com When? Roasts available midday – 8pm To book or not to book? Book at least a week in advance on 0117 963 4433 (but they will take walk-ins if there is space).

What’s on the menu?

A generous selection of four meats, two veggie options and a fish dish. All ingredients are sourced locally from the best suppliers.

Warning: you’ll be dreaming about the Frampton Salt Marsh lamb shoulder with mint sauce for days.

What we love about The Spotted Cow

A passionate team behind the scenes and a ladleful of individuality to boot. Music comes from resident DJ Tony Clarke; the 79-yearold’s selection of jazz, blues and Americana is the perfect soundtrack to a lazy Sunday.

Go for it – boast about your roast

“We have to shout about the beef. It comes from Buxtons, a fantastic local butcher.”

Best for… families

Fancy running off your roasties in an enclosed walled garden? No, thought not, but we bet your kids will. Time to relax with the latest issue of Bristol Life, then.

sunday lunch

“Nothing builds the appetite more satisfyingly than watching a bunch of sinewy dudes pulling on oars. Have an extra spud” RIVERSTATION

Where? The Grove; www.riverstation.co.uk When? Midday-2.45pm on Sundays To book or not to book? Legend has it that

you can book just one hour before arriving (when you’ve finally rolled out of bed and schmushed your hair into place). Try it on 0117 914 4434.

What’s on the menu?

It’s extensive and it’s varied. Just two roast meats on the day we went, but lots of other options to tempt you away from the traditional Sunday treats.

What we love about Riverstation

The location has unrivalled views across the harbour, so rock up early and grab a Bloody Mary before lunch while you watch the boaters scull by.

Go for it – boast about your roast

“Our 21-day aged roast beef and Yorkshire pudding is our favourite. You can’t beat a roast on a Sunday and our crispy roast potatoes cooked in beef dripping are the best.”

Best for… fans of vicarious exercise

We love exercise; we could watch people doing it all day. And nothing builds the appetite more satisfyingly than watching a bunch of sinewy dudes pulling on oars. Have an extra spud.

THE LITTON

Where? Litton near Wells; www.thelitton.co.uk When? 10am to 11pm

To book or not to book? It’s advisable to book a week in advance so call them on 01761 241554.

What’s on the menu?

The new Sunday lunch menu is full of seasonal produce – everything from traditional favourites like roasted rump of beef to wild mushroom and butternut squash Wellington.

What we love about The Litton

Traditionally untraditional is the awardwinning Litton’s motto. Their menus are based on modern British cuisine, using fresh, seasonal ingredients from local farmers and businesses, and they welcome everyone – young, old, twolegged (or less) and four-legged . . .

Go for it – boast about your roast

“Our favourite dish has to be the braised shoulder of lamb, which we get from a local supplier and is always tender and delicious.”

Best for… making a day of it

The Litton has lots of cosy places in which to spend the day including the whiskey bar, which has a log fire, comfy armchairs and velvet sofas, and a terrace with fire-pits and blankets to snuggle under.

New kid on the block Quay St Diner is ideal for a relaxed Sunday meal, from breakfast to brunch to lunch and beyond

CLIFTON SAUSAGE

Where? 7-9 Portland Street www.cliftonsausage.co.uk When? 10am for brunch and 12pm for lunch To book or not to book? It’s best to book as early as possible – on 0117 973 1192 or info@ cliftonsausage.co.uk What’s on the menu? It changes every week but you can always count on a roast sirloin of Wiltshire beef, slow-roasted belly of Old Spot pork and of course one or two of the eponymous sausages; veggies may like the Glamorgan – leek, Caerphilly and Cheddar with shallot gravy.

What we love about Clifton Sausage

The great value, the great-quality food. That, and the fact that the twocourse Sunday sausage roast costs a mere £14.

Go for it – boast about your roast

“My favourite thing would be our slow-roasted belly of Old Spot pork, because not only does it come with super crispy crackling but the meat is very tender. The thought of it now is making me hungry . . .”

Best for… taking the dog

The Clifton Sausage is, like most of our Sunday lunch destinations, pooch friendly.

Best to check details on booking.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 47

sunday lunch

The Wellington. We’re loving the Wes Anderson vibe

THE COTTAGE

Where? Baltic Wharf; www.butcombe.com When? Midday-9pm

To book or not to book? Some weeks they’re booked up over a week in advance, so try to book as early as possible. Tel 0117 921 5256.

What’s on the menu?

You’ll always spot a Ruby Red roast sirloin of beef on the menu, alongside weekly variances of roast chicken, pork and lamb.

The mushroom, tomato and red wine pie is a popular vegan option. All roasts are served with crispy and fluffy roast potatoes, heritage carrots, broccoli, honey roast parsnips,

cauliflower cheese, Yorkshire pudding and plenty of gravy.

What we love about The Cottage

Everything is really fresh and there’s no compromising on quality. Oh, and a promise from us – there’s no way anyone is going home hungry from here. On warmer days, the outside tables are among the best waterfront drinking spots in Bristol, possibly rivalled only by the quay outside The Arnolfini.

Go for it – boast about your roast

“The roast beef served rare is melt-in-yourmouth gorgeous and the potatoes, roasted with garlic and onions are really moorish. I can’t get

not only but also . . .

Four more to keep on your Sunday radar The Pony & Trap How handy for Sunday lunch fans that one of Bristol’s Michelin-starred kitchens happens to be a country pub that does a predictably cracking Sunday roast. Chew Valley preprandial walks optional. www.theponyandtrap.co.uk

The Wellington Friendly community pub on the Gloucester Road serving proper roasts with

locally sourced meat and veg in a spit-and-sawdust deluxe setting. We just love the purple banquettes.

huevos rancheros known to man.

www.the wellingtonbristol. co.uk

Arts House Café The multi-arts hub in the Croft is another ideal venue for brunches influenced by ‘Sunday lunch flavours’ such as hanger steak or roasted hake. Great value and a genuinely relaxed, over-easy vibe – just what Sundays are about.

Quay St Diner Maybe brunch is more your thing than a meat-andthree-veg blowout? Head to this new diner in the city centre, where the friendly staff will serve you the finest coffee, Bloody Marys and

www.quaystreetdiner.co.uk

www.theartshousecafe.co.uk

enough of them. . .”

Best for… the roasties

Roasted with garlic and onions, perfectly fluffy on the inside and super crispy on the outside.

Also great for rewarding yourself for a nice brisk preprandial walk around the harbour.

ROSE OF DENMARK

Where? 6 Dowry Place www.roseofdenmark.co.uk When? Lunches Midday-5pm To book or not to book? No advance booking is needed at the moment but (and this is a big but, they’ve only recently reopened) they are getting busier, so it’s probably best to book at least a week in advance. Tel 0117 366 8151.

What’s on the menu? The beef, the chicken, and a three-cheese and mushroom pie, as well as vegan butternut squash mushroom nut roast.

What we love about Rose of Denmark

They don’t serve dinners designed for Instagram, but they do cook traditional, heartwarming and homely lunches.

Go for it – boast about your roast

“The roasties are amazing: perfectly cooked, light and fluffy in the middle and slight crisp on the outer, and seasoned well.”

Best for… the nostalgia factor

Customers say it’s exactly what you want from a roast dinner; nothing fancy but with fantastic flavours – just like your grandma made when you were young.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 49

SUNDAY LUNCH MENU 2 COURSES £19.50 / 3 COURSES £25.00 SALT-BAKED HERITAGE BEETROOT crottin goats’ cheese, wet walnuts PROVENCALE FISH SOUP aioli, rouille, crouton DUCK RILLETTES cornichons, grilled sourdough JAMBON PERSILLE celeriac remoulade --------------GLOUCESTER OLD SPOT PORK BELLY boudin noir, celeriac 12 HOUR BRAISED LAMB SHOULDER potato gratin, sauce verte DUCK EGG AND MUSHROOM TART pomme mousseline WHOLE SEA BREAM garlic, anchovy, capers all served with seasonal vegetables --------------ST EMILION AU CHOCOLAT amaretti, crème fraiche CRÈME BRULEE sable biscuit STEAMED DATE PUDDING butterscotch sauce, pouring cream FOURME D’AMBERT preserves, baguette *please note our menu changes on a weekly basis.

Glassboat Brasserie, Welsh Back, Bristol BS1 4SB 0117 332 3971 | www.glassboat.co.uk

In our last issue, we were all over Bristol’s craft beer scene.

This time we’re rolling out the cider barrels and cracking opening the spirits cabinet – after all, it’s only eight weeks ‘til Chri-i-stma-as . . .

Words by Rachel Ifans

Booze flash

52 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

festive spirit

“All distillation is done in mankinis, and all business meetings are held wearing fluffy unicorn heads . . .”

D

early beloved, with the looming festive season in mind, we have gathered together a select group of distillers and brewers to lift your spirits. We’ve intel, experience and even recipes to share – it’s time to meet the experts.

high spirits

With rumours of booze-free millennials swilling around the media, we were keen to pick our experts’ brains about alcohol trends. David Blatch, head distiller at Bristol Dry Gin, only has to look to his newest, highest-strength vodka for evidence that alcohol is not going out of favour. His topically but controversially named Novichok vodka, launched this summer to a bit of a brouhaha, has 75% alcohol content, and has been a hit with core customers, as well as those new to the distillers; anyone, in fact, with a dark sense of humour.

Bristol Dry Gin is, unsurprisingly, a specialist in gin-distilling as well as vodka. Its micro-distillery, The Psychedelic Unicorn, lurks underneath the Rummer Hotel in St Nicholas market and produces three gins: an easy-drinking 40%; a punchy 55%; and a mind-blowing 75%. They also make a less potent 40% vodka and a caraway-heavy Aquavit, which is a Scandinavian spirit. As you’d expect from a team who’d launch a product called Novichok, humour underpins all their work. As David says: “All distillation is done in mankinis and all business meetings are held wearing fluffy unicorn heads.”

Espensen is another Bristol-based distillery that specialises in gin and vodka. Founder Sam Espensen tells us: “Gin is still top of the pops for us, and as a maker of three varieties, long may that continue. However, there is also an increasing interest in vodka. Our current range includes Gin Genie Blueberry Gin, Ruby Cuby Rhubarb & Custard Vodka, and Pump Up The Jam Raspberry Gin. All our products use fresh fruit and contain no added preservatives or colourings.”

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 53

festive spirit Sam started off her business after years making fruity gins for friends. She loves Bristol so much that she named her bar kitchen on Whitehall Road ‘Bristol Spirit’. “It’s the only place that has ever really inspired me as a creative or felt like home;” she says; “I’ve been a nomad for most of my life.”

And it’s not just a case of upping the alcohol content across the board. Take cider for instance, another stalwart of the area.

“Although the cider category is growing, the sharpest up-trends are lower strength and fruity ciders,” says Pete Snowman of Bristol Cider Shop which sells over 100 varieties of awardwinning local cider. Their craft-cider-loving customer base has developed into quite a community: “We hold weekly cider tastings and have just launched our new cider club, where you get a monthly selection of ciders, tasting notes, food pairings and prizes for the best/funniest customer reviews.”

Gin, Gin

We also spoke to Pete Axford from 6 O’Clock Gin, a craft gin brand owned and operated by the family-run company, Bramley & Gage, based in Thornbury on the outskirts of Bristol, firstly about the name of his gin. He says: “The 6 O’Clock name was inspired by the long-held family tradition of indulging in the first G&T of the evening at 6pm; a very British custom with colonial roots, still enjoyed at the distillery and shared by gin-lovers all over the world.”

6 O’Clock distills a range of smooth artisan gins, handcrafted in small batches, using traditional skills and natural ingredients.

“Our newest gin,” says Pete, “is called Jekka’s Edition, and it’s an on-trend, herbal take on our London Dry Gin, where we’ve added botanicals like juniper, coriander seed, angelica, orris root, winter savory, elderflower, orange peel, lemon verbena and rose petals to create a refreshing new flavour.” n

Contacts Bristol Cider Shop Unit 4, Cargo 1, Gaol Ferry Steps, Bristol BS1 6WE www.bristolcidershop. co.uk

6 O’Clock Gin Bramley & Gage, Ashville Park, Short Way, Thornbury, BS35 3UU www.6oclockgin.com

54 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Bristol Dry Gin All Saints Lane, Bristol BS1 1JH www.bristoldrygin. com/

Espensen 86 Whitehall Rd Bristol BS5 9BQ www.espensenspirit. com

MIX IT UP THE GARDEN ROYALE FROM 6 O’CLOCK GIN “Balanced sweetness with a delightful herbaceous note”

Ingredients • 35 ml 6 O’Clock Gin Jekka’s Edition • 10 ml lime juice • 15 ml thyme syrup* • 40ml soda water • A splash of dry sparking wine (preferably English!)

THE TURBO 75% FROM BRISTOL DRY GIN “Mind-blowing”

Ingredients • 25ml Turbo Island Gin • 25ml lemon juice • 12.5ml passion fruit syrup • Dry cider Method Shake and fine strain the gin, lemon juice and passion fruit syrup into a flute and top up with cider. Garnish with orange zest and maraschino cherry.

Method Add the gin, lime and syrup to your glass along with plenty of ice. Add the soda water, stir to combine, then top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme. (*Thyme syrup is three parts sugar, to two parts boiling water.

Add in a good handful of fresh thyme – stems and all – then leave to infuse and cool.)

ORCHARD MIST FROM BRISTOL CIDER SHOP “The West Country’s answer to Pimms!”

Ingredients • A small handful of raspberries and strawberries • Kingston Black Aperitif and farm-pressed apple juice in equal measures • Lemonade

• Ice • Fresh mint • Lemon Method Slice the soft fruit and add a generous glug of Kingston Black Aperitif to a tall glass.

Add the same amount of apple juice and top up with quality lemonade and a handful of ice. Garnish with mint and lemon.

PLAN 9 FROM ESPENSEN

“Named after the Ed Wood film Plan 9 From Outer Space it is basically a Terry’s Chocolate Orange espresso martini with sloe vodka” Ingredients • 50ml Espensen Spirit True Romance Sloe Vodka • 1 shot dark roast espresso • 12.5ml Creme de Cacao • 12.5ml Cointreau

Method Add all ingredients into shaker (espresso first), shake hard with ice and strain into a coupe or large martini glass. Garnish with coffee beans and a dehydrated orange slice.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 55

xxxxx

Who let the dogs out?

Bristol’s an inclusive kind of town, and in many cafés and restaurants this warm welcome extends to dogs. And why not? After all, your canine companion is probably far less likely to spill your beer than your human best friend (you know the one we mean) – AND they’ll hoover up the food you drop on the floor…

By Deri Robins Photos by Ben Robins www.benrobinsphotography.com

O

K, OK. Not everyone’s heart leaps at the sight of a pooch being led to the next dining table.

That said, not everyone’s thrilled by the arrival of frisky, over-excited toddlers, either.

Or shrieking hen parties. Or tanked-up lads murdering Toto Africa. Or self-important business types, bellowing into mobiles. We’ll take a quiet, well-behaved pooch slumbering under a table any day of the week – and in fact you can take them, to a remarkably wide number of dog-friendly diners and cafés in Bristol.

Over the next pages are a few top feeding and watering holes, that have either welcomed our mutley crew, or those of friends and colleagues. Walkies just got a lot more interesting . . .

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The Gallimaufry. And no, that dog probably shouldn’t have been on that table

life on the leash

“The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs” Charles De Gaulle

CITY CENTRE

We’re throwing the net fairly wide here, from the top of Park Street to Christmas Steps to Cabot’s. The only real criteria is that the venues included must love dogs…

Boston Tea Party The BTP cafés can be found in many Bristol postcodes north of the river, but we stopped off at the original Park Street branch, whose outdoor garden makes a perfect spot on a sunny day. BTP serves great coffee, and you need to try their West Country breakfast; we’re pretty sure the staff will turn a blind eye if you ‘drop’ the odd rasher discreetly under the table.

75 Park Street; www.bostonteaparty.co.uk Bambalan If it’s not warm enough to sit out on the huge outdoor terrace (see page 3), you can bring dogs into the bar, where you can surreptitiously slip them the odd bit of lamb from your Middle Eastern bab (but ideally not any of your two-for-£10 Happy Hour cocktail).

Colston Tower, www.bambalan.co.uk Chance and Counters This friendly, quirky café/bar at the bottom of Christmas Steps offers customers a chance (uh-huh) to play every kind of board and card game under the sun. Wonder if they stock DogOpoly? Yes, that’s a thing.

20 Christmas Steps; www.chanceandcounters.com Prince Street Social A contemporary British brasserie near Harbourside serving all-day menus from brunch to dinner in a space big enough for an entire pack of direwolves. They dote on four-legged dudes, and are guaranteed to make a big fuss of them.

34-41 Prince Street; www.princestreetsocial.com Volunteer Tavern The panelled 17th-century pub near Cabot Circus exudes atmosphere and history; let the staff look after your food and watering needs, while resident dog Treacle gives your pooch a good sniffing. There’s a beer garden too, if you’re cheerfully indifferent to the elements.

9 New Street; www.volunteertavern.co.uk Also getting the paws-up: The Christmas Steps (pub); The Royal Naval Volunteer, King Street

OLD CITY

Pata Negra Hyde & Co allow dogs into two of their emporiums (not the steak restaurants, though that would be comedy gold), including this justifiably busy tapas bar in the heart of Old

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architects life on the leash City. The laidback atmosphere is as authentically Spanish as the dishes; pop in for a sherry and a few small plates, Andaluz style.

30 Clare Street; patanegrabristol.com More: Great for sports fans – Horts on Broad Street, a traditional pub screening most footie and rugby games.

CLIFTON VILLAGE

A meal and/or a pint make the perfect end to a romp on the Downs or Ashton Court – but which restaurants, pubs and cafés are most likely to crack a smile when you walk in with your dog in tow?

East Village Café Cool and contemporary; wildly Instagrammable, if that’s your bag; vegetarian and vegan in philosophy, with a sunny terrace. They simply love to make a fuss over well-behaved dogs (rule of thumb: the more veggie the menu, the more animal-friendly the attitude tends to be).

Boyce’s Avenue; www.eastvillagecafe.co.uk Nettle & Rye Casual fine-dining and the best of the local craft beer and cider scene, in a pub setting, with a games room offering American pool, shuffleboard, darts and board games.

16 Kings Road; www.nettleandrye.co.uk

“To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs” Aldous Huxley

Also getting the paws-up: The Mall, on Clifton’s The Mall – popular pub with lovely outdoor area; The Hope and Anchor on Jacob’s Well Road – cosy pub beloved by locals with a wide selection of craft beers and good traditional pub food; large beer garden, all wellgeared to four-legged friends.

WHITELADIES ROAD, COTHAM HILL, WORRALL ROAD

We found a rich seam of dog-friendly haunts on this patch; here are just a few standouts.

Bravas Huge props to Season + Taste for welcoming dogs to all their restaurants – even tiny, crowded Bravas, with its seriously excellent tapas offering. Massively popular, so a good idea to book.

7 Cotham Hill, www.bravas.co.uk Marmalade Café Our regular café correspondent Stan Cullimore is one of the many devotees of this Worrall Road café, staffed by resident dog Doris. Locals insist that the best breakfast in Bristol is matched only by the owner/ chef ’s cheeky banter.

3 Worrall Road; www.facebook.com/WeAreOrange Also getting the paws-up: Brew Coffee Co – popular café/ brunch hangout (with resident Bassett, Frank); River Cottage Canteen – Hugh FW’s excellent, ethical canteen/kitchen welcomes dogs in the bar area; Alma Tavern – popular pub/theatre/restaurant.

Outside Little Vics there’s ample room for Big Dogs (and little ones inside)

xxxxx

dogma Some dogs can learn more than 1,000 words.

A dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 times stronger than that of a human.

Petting a dog can lower your blood pressure and heart rate.

No two dogs have the same nose print.

Paul McCartney recorded a high-pitched whistle at the end of the Beatles song A Day in the Life for his dog.

Your dog is as clever as a two-year-old human.

GLOUCESTER ROAD & STOKES CROFT

One of Bristol’s coolest, most inclusive areas; we’d have been massively disappointed if we hadn’t found a lot of dog-tolerance here. Luckily . . .

Bakers & Co Famed for its relaxed brunches, with a farm-to-table philosophy, Bakers has an ever-changing menu, though we’re still a long way from being bored by the smashed avo with chilli and lime on sourdough. Lunches are seasonal, the suppers colourful, the coffee’s Extract, the juices surprising – mulled pomegranate for a chilly autumn morning, anyone?

193 Gloucester Road; www.bakersbristol.co.uk The Gallimaufry Head chef Maddie Crombie has just introduced a strong plant-based element to refresh the menu, and evening meals are often accompanied by music sets; most are gently acoustic, though Thursday’s funky Snazzback sessions may be a bit noisy for the more sensitive pooch.

26-28 Gloucester Road; www.thegallimaufry.co.uk Pieminister Never mind a bowl of water and a biccie; when we visited in the summer they were even serving dog ice-cream from Marshfield.

Though to be honest, the average dog will have its beady eyes firmly on the pies – which, they’ll be pleased to learn, are all made from ethically sourced, free-range, local ingredients.

24 Stokes Croft; www.pieminister.co.uk Also getting the paws-up: Gastropubs The Grace and The Hobgoblin; trad pub The Bristol Flyer

HARBOURSIDE

A walk along the harbour is reward in itself, but a decent pub/café/ restaurant at the end (or indeed the middle) is the icing on the biscuit.

Wild Beer We love everything about Wild Beer, and would have been most upset to learn that their Wapping Wharf restaurant didn’t admit dogs; as it is, you can dine indoors or out with your pooch and enjoy the surprisingly imaginative menu (though when you think of Wild’s creative beer flavours, maybe not surprising) while enjoying the harbour goings-on.

6-8, Gaol Ferry Steps; www.wbwappingwharf.com Little Victories Just a short trot up the steps from Wild Beer, Little Vics has a different brewing mission: to produce the best coffee in Bristol. It’s tiny inside, so probably not ideal for Beethoven-sized pooches, but there’s also plenty of outdoor space for the balmier autumn days.

7 Gaol Ferry Steps; www.littlevics.co.uk also hot to trot: Mokoko Coffee & Bakery, Cargo Cantina Gambas, Pigsty (Wapping Wharf); Society Café, Mud Dock, Arnolfini, The Stable (across the river); Spoke & Stringer (Lime Kiln Road).

HOTWELLS

More waterside vibes are readily available at . . .

It’s easy to be a Good Boy at Bakers & Co. By the way, our model Chip is a rehomed rescue dog – if you feel you can give a dog a home, Bristol Animal Rescue centre has many staffies similar to Chip

The Pump House Named by The Telegraph as one of the most dog-friendly pubs in Britain, never mind Bristol, the riverside gastropub has two resident dogs in Minnie and Scooby; a huge gin menu (700 different varieties to work your way through), and Toby Gritten’s ace seasonal British menu.

Merchants Road, www.the-pumphouse.com

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Celebrating 40 years in Clifton Village.

Selling top quality jewellery and GIA Diamonds, 40% more aordable than average market price!

We supply 14 London jewellers including 5 Hatton Garden sites.

Personal design service available & all products guaranteed for 12 months!

Unit 2, The Clifton Arcade, Boyces Avenue, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4AA

Telephone: 0117 909 4906 | Mobile: 07877 633030 | Email: terrycvantiques@icloud.com

life on the leash Moor Beer: moor dog-friendly than your average venue

The Cottage Butcombe pub right on the waterside – one of the very best spots for a beer or cider on a sunny day, with good solid pub grub.

Baltic Wharf; www.butcombe.com/pubs/the-cottage Grain Barge Yes, it’s a boat, but dogs are frequent visitors on the decks of this relaxed favourite moored off Mardyke Wharf. Rather than resting on the USP of being, you know, afloat, the menu is seriously, seasonally, locally sourced; the regular pie-and-a-pint nights are much loved by regulars, as are the Sunday roasts. It’s amazing what you can do on a barge!

Hotwell Road; www.grainbarge.com Also getting the paws-up: Pickle Café – lovely little caff at Underfall Yard – small inside area but dogs welcome inside and out.

OLD MARKET

Old Market has just been voted one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the UK, whatever that means – hoiked-up house prices, probably – and much of this can be blamed on this place: Old Market Assembly The laidback atmosphere in the bar/restaurant/café – bring dogs, bring kids, come for coffee, dinner or a drink, play board games – belies the seriously good cooking, the ingredients of which are impeccably sourced. Winner of Best Restaurant, Bristol Life Awards 2018.

25 West Street; www.oldmarketassembly.co.uk

EASTON & REDFIELD

Just two of the places filled with Eastern (and Westie, lol) promise…

Greenbank Love dogs, beer and pizza? Easton’s family-friendly Greenbank pub, part of the excellent Zazu’s group, is the place for you, both in the large dining room and beer garden.

57 Belle Vue Road; www.thegreenbankbristol.co.uk Bristol Spirit Bar and kitchen created by Espensen Spirit, who make their own naturally infused Bristol gins and vodkas. Their dog-craziness manifests itself in lead rings under most tables, and dog-friendly film screenings.

86 Whitehall Road; www.espensenspirit.com

SOUTH BRISTOL

You really won’t struggle to find dog-friendly venues south of the river; here are just a few that people endlessly recommend.

“My dog is half pitbull, half poodle.

Not much of a watchdog, but a vicious gossip” Craig Shoemaker

THE Spotted Cow North Street’s beloved gastro-pub has huge indoor and outdoor spaces, making it the obvious hassle-free, all-year-round destination for dudes with dogs.

139 North Street; www.thespottedcowbristol.com The Old Bookshop We don’t think we’ve ever been into The Old Bookshop and not seen a dog (quite apart from resident Staffie, Siren). Always ahead of the game, TOB was a pioneer of the ‘quirky, mismatched, buckets of taxidermy and your nan’s lampshades’ school of interior design; it’s open from breakfast to dinner time, favours a tapas-style menu, and is a frequent host to street-food pop-ups and live music.

65 North Street; www.theoldbookshop.co.uk

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LIFE ON THE LEASH VX BRISTOL “Please bring your dogs – we love them!” reads the board outside VX (but not to eat or cook, obviously, it’s a ‘vegan junk food’ restaurant and purely plant-based). So keen are they to lure in the little tykes that they offer dog treats.

123 East Street; www.vxbristol.com

“A lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me” BARACK OBAMA

ALSO GETTING THE PAWS-UP: The Hare; Lounge North Street; The Steam Crane; The Malago (see page 44).

CHEW MAGNA

PONY & TRAP It’s not every Michelin-starred diner that admits dogs, but then the Pony is still a community pub at heart, as enthusiastically frequented by local farmers and ramblers as it is by serious foodies. On a warm day, the big beer garden merges with the surrounding farmland, where most of the ingredients of your food comes from. You may spot chef-patron Josh Eggleton’s springer, Winslow, and you can even buy a china mug with his likeness on. ■ Moorledge Road, Newtown, Chew Magna; www.theponyandtrap.co.uk

STRAIGHT FROM THE DOG’S MOUTH

A few recommendations from Bristol’s Instagram community. No, we’re not calling them dogs . . . oh, never mind... @thelucyhyde Cotham Arms on St Michael’s Hill, Hope and Anchor in Hotwells; Small Street Espresso; Bakers and Co; Lazy Dog; The Galli; Old Market Assembly; Salt – SO many places!

Little Victories

@almataverntheatre

@plumella The lovely @twelve_clifton welcomes a nicely behaved pooch! @_stablebristol bring that dog in, @bristollifemag! @hannahatkinson66 @thekensingtonarms welcomes our four-legged friends bettymarmalade99 @spikeislandcafe @thefolkhousecafe sylwiapresley @bristolspirit is totally the best!

Canapesandcakes @twelve_clifton loves fourlegged visitors

Pieminister

Small Street Espresso

Camilladempster @thegallibristol loves them!

Katdixon @lashingsbristol @theshakespearebristol are two of my favourites chloeeedavis @picklebristol We love dogs at Pickle!

Water bowls are left out for them, and even some treats if they are well-behaved almataverntheatre We love our four-legged customers! We’ve even started showcasing them on our instagram once a week #almapups @theduckbristol At the Duck and Willow we love to see pooches !

Racks Bar & Kitchen

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Boston Tea Party

SHOPPING LIVE WELL, BUY BETTER

WHAT’S NEW, PUSSY CAT? A certain amount of eye-rolling among those of us whose wardrobe has always been 80% animal print, in regard to the fashion pack’s decision that ‘leopard is now the new neutral’.

I mean, some of us have been working on this principle for 20 years. We bet Kat Slater is looking for someone to sue on the grounds of cultural appropriation.

But just when you thought you could save a fortune by simply recycling your existing outfits, along come the designers with a few new, irresistible twists – one of the most covetable examples being this jumpsuit. Hemali Modha tells us that it’s been one of her biggest sellers at Amulet this season, which we can quite easily believe – just look at the elegant drape of the thing, and its wide sleeves and legs.

Yet more printastic temptations await you on page 68.

Leopard jumpsuit ,£115 Amulet Boutique, 39A Cotham Hill www.amuletboutique.co.uk

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BECKSONDERGAARD BAG, £90 No snakes were harmed in the making of this stylish small leather bag; admittedly, this may be of little consolation to cows From Maze ,18 The Mall, Clifton www.mazeclothing.co.uk

ZEBRA JUG, £25 A zebra’s stripy coat is thought to disperse more than 70 per cent of heat, keeping it cool in the African sun.

Whether or not this ceramic jug can pull off the same feat we really can't tell you, but we promise it'll bring a stripey charm to your dining table From Vinegar Hill 46 Queens Road www.vinegarhill.co.uk

THE WILD BUNCH It can scarcely have escaped your notice that animal prints and motifs are hot right now.

Like we needed an invitation...

HIDDEN TIGER PRINT, £12

By Bristol artists Peskimo, aka Jodie and David, who say they find inspiration in cartoons, vintage graphic design “and overhearing people in the post office queue”.

From Soma Galley, www.somagallery.co.uk

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MELISSA ODABASH SWIMSUIT, £235 OK, so this “Me Tarzan, you Jane” number may not be the cheapest option in town; but frankly if you’re shopping for a swimsuit in November, presumably with winter sun in mind, we’re assuming money is no object From Harvey Nichols 27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com

SOPHIE ALLPORT CUSHION, £48 Soft knitted cushion, designed by Sophie with the Zoological Society of London, to raise vital funds for protecting animals in the wild, From Pod Company 24 The Mall www.thepodcompany.co.uk

ED’S ED S CHOICE VERSACE WILD PRINT DRESS, £1,920 When it comes to animal print, there’s a very fine line between ‘high-fashion chic’ and ‘Whit from EastEnders’.

No doubt which camp this Versace number falls into, though From Garment Quarter 23-25 Penn Street www.garmentquarter.com

HOUSE OF HACKNEY WALLPAPER, POA Take the leopard print thing to full-on statement level by papering a wall in your home. As a bonus, it virtually turns your jumpsuit (page 67) into an invisibility cloak From Whittaker Wells, 157 Whiteladies Road www.whittakerwells.com

TALLI SCARF, £39 A not too in-your-face nod to the leopard trend; perfect for lifting a classic all-black outfit, no?

From Mint Velvet, 44 Regent Street www.mintvelvet.co.uk

DARWIN BOOTS, £150 A versatile, everyday Chelsea ankle boot with a wild edge From DuoBoots, 33 Milsom Street, Bath; www.tedandmuffy.com

BY MALENE BIRGER MITTERA MITTENS, £145 These furry mitts rock the ‘camopard’ look, with a practical (yet prettily pink) leather underside. From Grace & Mabel, 32 The Mall; www.graceandmabel.co.uk

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Jacob Hull, for Buch & Deichmann, a glass and silver plated pendant on a chain, Denmark, 1970’s.

£195

Specialising In Preowned, Design Led Scandinavian And British, Jewellery, Silver And Metalwork, Second Half Of The 20Th Century

Swedish green agate set silver bangle, Malmo, 1956

£275

Unit 4, Cargo 2, Wapping Wharf, Museum St, Bristol, BS1 6ZA. 07914 764 936 johnkelly1880@yahoo.co.uk | www.johnkelly1880.co.uk a @johnkelly1880

x John Kelly 1880+

advertising feature

Meet the headteacher Four heads tell us what makes their school special

Ruth Glover

Lesley Barton

Bristol Steiner School 0117 933 9990; www.bristolsteinerschool.org What is different about Bristol Steiner School?

We blend the best of the Steiner ‘whole-child’ educational philosophy with the best modern educational practices so that children do extraordinarily well academically, are happy, confident and love learning. Their wellbeing is paramount to us. More than any school that I’ve worked in, it really feels like a community. Parents understand that they play a big role in the success of the school. There is something particularly special about seeing the children rushing into school, excited, happy and smiling every morning.

Why should parents in ‘mainstream education’ look at a Contemporary Steiner education?

Our class sizes of about 15 ensure each child gets genuine time with their teacher every day. We know that building a ‘love of learning’ first is key to long term academic success. For parents worried their children are being labelled early in their educational journey, we offer an alternative. We passionately believe in assessing progress but without the pressure of SATS: putting pressure on young children is counterproductive. Our children are happier, more confident and sociable and therefore more engaged than children who are stressed or unhappy.

Stephen Symonds

Tockington Manor School 01454 613229; www.tockingtonmanorschool.com What does your school offer that others don’t?

We strive to allow children to be children for as long as possible while delivering a curriculum to form a foundation that will equip them with the right attitude and aptitude to tackle the challenge of senior school and future life. Together we aim to continue to develop our curriculum so that it will develop our children as problem-solvers, creative thinkers, independent learners and children that can work collaboratively and ready to lead their generation. All of our school parents agree that we encourage confidence, independence, teamwork and social skills (100% stated agree/strongly agree in our recent parent survey).

Describe the sense of community at the school We are a small school with big aspirations so often feel more like a family. One of my favourite parts of the day is greeting the children and parents as they arrive at school in the morning. We are a friendly, approachable school and encourage all children to be polite to everyone. It is not unusual to see upper school pupils (up to aged 13) helping or playing with those from the lower school (aged 4+). How wonderful is that!

What makes you most proud?

I am proud of every Tockington pupil as they grow into strong, self-assured, confident and polite young people who contribute to our sense of community and family within the school.

Fairfield School Backwell 01275 462743; www.fairfield.school

Ruth Glover

Lesley Barton

What does your school offer that others don’t?

The school is small and combines high expectations, excellent teachers and a very nurturing environment which focuses on each individual child’s needs What do you enjoy most about teaching?

The variety and the fact that no two days are ever the same. The opportunity to try to provide children from a very early age with opportunities to become enthusiastic and inquisitive learners.

What are the qualities and skills of an excellent head teacher?

Ability to be adaptable, flexible and compassionate in approach and to try and lead by example. Need strong leadership skills, stamina, resilience and a genuine interest in people.

What is your top tip for parents visiting a school?

Talk to staff and pupils and ask questions which will enable you to feel confident about whether it is an environment in which your individual child will feel happy and secure.

Describe the sense of community at the school?

The school community is small, friendly, welcoming and supportive. Parents, governors and staff all share the school’s ethos and values and work together to maintain high standards of behaviour and attitude and to achieve the best outcomes for the pupils.

Clare Sherwood

The Cathedral School, Llandaff, Cardiff 029 2056 3179; www.cathedral-school.co.uk

Stephen Symonds

Clare Sherwood

What is paramount to picking a good school?

You need to be confident that your child will be happy!

A good school celebrates the joy of learning – inside and outside the classroom. Nurturing and strengthening a child’s confidence in their unique and many talents is essential.

Describe the sense of community at The Cathedral School?

CSL is a family school where girls and boys work together, inspiring each other and learning to respect and enjoy our differences. We are an inclusive community which welcomes and seeks the very best for all.

What makes you most proud?

When a child achieves something that makes them smile; whether it be in the classroom, on the sports field, on stage in a drama production or musical performance, or trying something new for the first time. Our wonderful staff encourage each one of our pupils to aim high and achieve their potential.

What scholarships and bursaries are available for students?

We offer a range of academic, sport and music scholarships for pupils joining the school at Year 7 and 12 as well as means tested bursaries.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 71

A MAN’S WORLD SEB BARRETT

Own goals Dropped the ball recently?

Honestly, it could be worse . . .

“The next time anybody asks me what my ideal superpower would be, I’ll reply ‘rhino skin’.”

A

moment of madness at Ashton Gate in August started a conversation that reached fever pitch at the Bath Recreation Ground in mid-October.

Just as Bath fullback Tom Homer’s dropped ball over the try line gave Bristol Bears the dream start to life in the Premiership, so did another Bath fullback, Freddie Burns, help Toulouse avoid defeat when the ball was knocked out of his hands after some muchmaligned showboating in the act of trying to score.

Anger for the supporters (Bath’s, not Bristol’s; the latter are still rejoicing) but searing embarrassment for Homer and Burns (the players, not The Simpsons characters).

Respectively, the poor duo must live with the public shame of gifting victory to their side’s sworn enemy and cocking up what would have been a famous win in Europe.

We’ve all been there, though.

At the peak of my playing powers – year 10 of high school, if you’re wondering – I ran what would have been a match-winning try straight over the dead ball line under very little pressure. Even as a youngster in a pre-social media era, you still couldn’t live down something like that too quickly.

It sparked a conversation between myself and my friends about our embarrassing moments, over a pint of ye olde ale, with a side order of pink gin.

I recalled the time I was home one weekend from university.

Skint as I was, my mum offered to take me shopping for food in one of the massive local supermarkets.

The size of the shop is important to the story, because we somehow ended up on opposite sides of the building, and my mum wasn’t picking up her mobile.

The next thing I knew, “Would Bazz Barrett please come to the shop entrance? His mum is waiting for him there,” was

shrieking over the PA system.

Mortified, because of the strong likelihood that there was at least someone I knew in the shop – besides my mum – who knew I was in fact 20 years old and not nine, I hurriedly went over to find her at the entrance, blissfully unaware of the considerable cringe she’d just induced.

Such an experience can only make a person more immune to the cringeworthy moments in life.

So the next time anybody asks what my ideal superpower would be, I’d reply “rhino skin”.

My friend Rich (his real name) could have used rhino skin when, sat in his living room with a flatmate he couldn’t stand, he texted his girlfriend to say: “I’m just sat next to the worst flatmate in the world. He’s such a ****.”

Rich’s stomach did a 360 inward double heelflip when he realised he’d in fact sent the message to his flatmate.

That would appear to be a fond childhood memory compared the story our friend Sarah (not her real name) inexplicably recounted. Travelling home from Thailand with her mum and brother, she was overcome by the worst kind of diarrhoea: the explosive kind. This happened before she was able to reach the toilet, meaning a number of fellow passengers witnessed the show unfold.

After cleaning herself up, Sarah’s mum made her brother relinquish his boxer shorts for his sister to wear. Once they had landed, airline protocol meant she had to be taken off the flight in a wheelchair as a priority, presumably while cabin crew fumigated the affected areas - hers and the plane’s.

Think about that the next time you drop the ball, whether it be literally or figuratively.

Seb Barrett works in sports communications. Follow him on Twitter @bazzbarrett

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SNAPPED AC ROSS BR IS TO L , O N E SH I N D I G AT A T I M E

Bristol poet Miles Chambers

Broadcaster Gail Bowden-Huggett and writer and poet Edson Burton Tom Morris and Emma Stenning

Xxx

Actor Patrick Malahide, Laura and Harry Marshall

FINAL STAGE

After ten years and squillions of pounds, the final part of the Bristol Old Vic refurbishment – the beautiful new foyer and 1766 bar/kitchen – was declared open at a big party on 23 September.

Actor Timothy West pulled the rope, Jon Boden and his band supplied the toons while guests gawped appreciatively at the gorgeous new shutters (with historic words

by David Garrick and modern ones by Miles Chambers), and at the back of the foyer, the original theatre wall – revealed for the first time in its 252-year history.

Ferment producer Ben Atterbury and Bristol Poet Laureate Vanessa Kisuule

Photos by @JonCraig_Photos

Actors Miranda Richardson and Simon Callow

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David Sproxton and Claire Doherty

Pam Muir and Maetin Evans (right)

SOCIETY

Deri Robins and Timothy West

Emma Stenning, Anna Starkey, Savita Custead and friends

Scott Doran and Ian Vickers

Cast of Touching the Void: Edward Hayter, Josh Williams, Patrick McNamee and Fiona Hampton Jon Boden and band

Jonathan Harper, Sarah Robertson, Patrick Malahide, Lucy Hunt, Freya McLuckie and Todd Wills Sian Weeding and Peter Edwards

Christmas Carol director Lee Lyford, Bryony Rutter and designer Tom Rogers

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 75

SOCIETY

Chris Callaghan Pat Lam and Kevin Stokes

Mel Base

OLÉ

Jason Mead Christina Robino

When you work for Hyde & Co, a new menu is definitely an excuse for a party – which is precisely what they threw at their tapas restaurant Pata Negra. The headwear game was strong, led (predictably enough) by Meg Pope and Frankie Wallington but ably supported by Christina Robino and Nathan Lee. Photos by Julian Preece

Nathan Lee

Meg Pope, Jo Clerc and Frankie Wallington Shonette Laffy

Karen Daly, Todd Francis and Danny Clarke

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businessinsider bristol gets serious

Quote of the issue

We spy Dawn French and Pete Lord frowing . . .

“It was incredible – getting paid to lift weights and run into people”

Fetch! £1.62 MILLION, in fact . . .

W

hat a year for Gromit Unleashed 2! Through contactless donations, the app, the auction and The Greatest Dog Show on Earth 2 exhibition, along with fundraising and private donations, the trail raised an amazing total of £1,621,500 for The Grand Appeal.

After a spectacular summer on the trail with Wallace, Gromit and Feathers McGraw (also benefiting local tourism), all 67

Gromit Unleashed 2 sculptures were auctioned off in a thrilling evening, and fetched a record total of £1,321,500.

Sponsored by SLX, the auction was the grand finale to the summer of GU2. Bids poured in from near and far, with around 600 attendees bidding in person, while online bidders upped the ante. The standout stars were Wallambard and A Grand Tribute with both going for a whopping winning bid of £55,000.

Sounds like a dream job – but who was the lucky guy? Find out on page 83

The Big Number Attendees were welcomed by Dawn French, who introduced auctioneer, Richard Madley; the host for the evening was Aardman’s own Peter Lord.

Every penny raised at auction and throughout the Gromit Unleashed 2 trail will go toward helping the patients and families cared for by Bristol Children’s Hospital and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michael’s Hospital.

For more: www.grandappeal.org.uk

£22k

The amount raised by law firm Barcan+Kirby for The Grand Appeal, from the auction of their sponsored structure, Bristol’s Own (nicknamed Private Gromit). Other activities connected to the campaign were a Day of Memories for dementia sufferers, a donation of £1,250, and touching goodwill telegrams from children and families visiting Bristol’s Own to children at Bristol Children’s Hospital.

Nice one, B+K. www. barcankirby.co.uk

Get creative, get involved . . .

F

ancy getting involved in the Bristol Life Awards next year? There are a variety of ways to go about it.

Only four category sponsorship opportunities remain, a whole six months before the event. Businesses are encouraged to act quickly if they wish to align their brand with the Awards and its extensive multimedia campaign.

“Just one of the ways to get on

board with Bristol’s biggest business event is through sponsorship,” says Steph Dodd, events director at MediaClash, Bristol Life’s publisher. “Sponsors benefit from an unrivalled long-term marketing campaign, which peaks in April.

“We’re thrilled to welcome on board our latest sponsor, Weston College, who are supporting the new Civic category which highlights the contribution of an

organisation or company which has done something good for Bristol this year, making it an even better place to live and work.”

As well as aligning their brand with a specific category, businesses can sponsor one of the Awards’ shoulder events, which include the finalists’ and sponsors’ reception, the champagne reception on Awards night, and the winners’ dinner after the event.

Those hoping to become finalists are also encouraged to begin considering their entries now, with nominations opening on 3 December. The Awards are free to enter, and companies can enter multiple categories. Tickets are now on sale via the Awards website.

For more info, contact Neil Snow at neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk www.bristollifeawards.co.uk

mediaclash.co.uk 115

BUSINESS INSIDER “WE HAVE AN INSTAGRAM WALL IN THE SHOWROOM FOR OUR CUSTOMERS TO SHARE THEIR PHOTOS” What’s new for autumn 2018?

We have just launched our AW18 Fabric Edit. This is a limited-edition collection of eight fabrics that work with one another to create a cohesive autumnal interior look. The fabrics centre around a deep, moody Winter Garden velvet and the idea is, any of the fabrics in the collection can be used with one another for a unified look that doesn’t feel too matchymatchy.

Kindly give us an idea of the current range . . .

You can find anything from our bestsellers like the Darcy, a modernday Chesterfield, to mid-century inspired pieces such as Elton and Philo. We also have a vast range of standalone chairs and footstools, plus a wide range of home accessories.

SOFA, SO GOOD

Arlo & Jacob build furniture first and foremost for family life – but without sacrificing style, as product manager LAURA BARNARD explains Arlo & Jacob (the name comes from the founders’ children) launched in 2015 with a single showroom in Fulham. Its MD had access to an established furniture factory in Long Eaton, and wanted to set up a company that brought wellmanufactured British furniture to the market, with a focus on family life. They have three stores, the most recent having launched right here in Bristol.

How would you sum up your approach to furniture making?

We approach furniture making using the traditional methods. Long Eaton is the home of British upholstery, and we truly believe we are the best in the business when it comes to pattern-matching our fabrics. We’re so proud of our furniture and the way that it’s made that every piece comes with a lifetime guarantee. We have a varied range of furniture, from mid-century to modular, traditional to contemporary. Overall, we’d describe our furniture as traditional comfort, with a modern Arlo & Jacob twist.

We read that family is at the heart of what you do – can you explain a bit more about that?

One of- our brand straplines is ‘sofas for life’, and this feeds into that narrative. We design and make sofas for all of life’s moments; for when the kids build a fort, to when you want a quiet night in together. Your

sofa really is the stage for all of life’s moments, both big and small.

Tell us about your craftspeople We have some very talented people in the Arlo & Jacob team, from the frame-builders to the upholsterers in our sewing rooms. In reality, sofa making hasn’t changed all that much in centuries; the processes remain very much the same, with the addition of some modern technologies like our pattern-cutting machines, which speed up the process of cutting fabric.

What made you decide to open a showroom in Bristol? Why did you choose Whiteladies Road?

We had been looking for our next retail destination for quite some time and Bristol just seemed to fit. The space was ideal for us, being split over two floors, allowing us to show off our full range of products. Also, the culture and atmosphere in Bristol feels right for our brand.

Why did you launch a blog?

The blog launched with our website and we feel it is an important part of the way we communicate with our customers. Our blog can range from ‘Get the Look’ style pieces to top sofa-care tips and guides, and even recipes for you to try at the weekend.

We enjoy updating the content on a weekly basis to show people that we are immersed in our industry and know about current trends.

What are the main influences in interior design at the moment?

We’d say textures with a nod towards earthy tones. There also appears to be a trend for combining furniture from different eras. By mixing furniture, say mid-century and contemporary styles, you result in a more layered interior look that is also more personal to you.

What other marketing platforms do you like?

As we’re a lifestyle brand, we have a propensity towards any image-led social media platforms: predominantly Facebook and Instagram. We pride ourselves on our beautiful lifestyle photography, so these channels work well for us.

We have an Instagram social wall in the showroom for our customers to share their photos, using the hashtag #myarloandjacob.

What’s your most popular line?

Our bestselling pieces are often the more classic styles like Darcy, Philo and Cartwright. Our most popular fabric range is without a doubt our cotton velvet; we now offer it in 17 colourways. A velvet sofa is still an interior piece that many people covet and is always a recommended buy in most interior magazines.

Arlo & Jacob, 94C Whiteladies Road; www.arloandjacob.com

Arlo & Jacob fully expect your kids to bounce on sofas – hence the lifetime guarantee

What new thing has Arlo & Jacob brought to Bristol?

We want Arlo & Jacob to become a household name that’s known as the ultimate destination for well-made, excellently designed, good-quality furniture. Our showrooms are designed to be like a home away from home. Our design consultants have an expert knowledge of the products and fabrics in our range, so if you want to discuss anything, simply make an appointment or pop in for a chat.

www.mediaclash.co.uk MEDIACLASH.CO.UK I BRISTOL LIFE I 117 81

4 Whiteladies Road Clifton, BS8 1PD Tel: 01179 292281

“A name you can trust for specialist legal services” • Accident Claims • Attorneyships & Court of Protection • B usiness Sales & Purchases • Commercial Property • Conveyancing • Debt Recovery

• Dispute Resolution • Divorce, Family & Children • E mployment Advice • P robate & Estate Services • W ills, Trusts & Tax Planning

Call free for a no obligation consultation

0800 097 8611 www.johnhodge.co.uk | email: mailbox@johnhodge.co.uk

BRISTOL | CLEVEDON | WEDMORE | WESTON-SUPER-MARE | YATTON

BUSINESS INSIDER

into a group that had the facilities and the know-how to scale it up. It offered me an chance to take technological advancements and patient experience pathways to a completely healthcareorientated company, focusing on the individual’s wellbeing and health goals, rather than retail targets.

INJURY TIME ANDY CURTIS is the director of physiotherapy at The Medical – and as a former rugby player, he has vast experience of both sides of the healing process . . .

It’s always good to meet someone who’s a round peg in a round hole, and Andy’s clearly ended up in his dream job, with a passion for sport and physiotherapy, and excellent results in both fields. “‘Team physio’, as I call us, are dedicated healthcare professionals,” he says. “It’s my job to make sure they are all well-equipped to make sure that your physio experience is both effective and enjoyable.”

Tell us about your previous career as a rugby player It was all too short! I played rugby through school, clubs and agegroup representative teams, and managed to get myself a contract with Bristol Shoguns when I turned 18. Unfortunately, I found myself on the injury shelf by the time I was 21.

It was incredible – being a young guy and getting paid to lift weights and

run into people. We men are simple creatures, really! I unfortunately took an injury to my left knee which never fully resolved, but I did manage to play a bit of semi-pro rugby in London, and I still coach and work with up-and-coming players now.

What did you learn about physio from the point of view of a professional sportsman?

Understanding how the body feels with certain training loads, injuries or recovery methods, means I can personally recommend things that I know have worked for myself and others. Being a great physio is about applying scientific evidence to realworld scenarios, and often the best evidence is made on the treatment couch, gaining insight in the results of treatment.

Why did you join The Medical?

I saw an opportunity to bring my brand of proactive and expert physio

What are the advantages of being part of a group with 21 branches?

I have always had patient-centred clinics, but when you are working in your own little corner of the world, you can get blinkered to your way of working. There are more shoulders to lean on at The Medical, with a wider range of experience and experts, plus the ability to invest in the ultimate support technology for optimum diagnosis and treatment.

How would you sum up your approach to physio?

Assessment is key. Having the absolute knowledge of applied anatomy and accurately differentiating your diagnosis. For example, if you treat a shoulder because the patient has pain in their shoulder and arm, are you sure the problem is not actually stemming from the nerves in their neck, and therefore should you be treating the neck?

What range of treatments does The Medical offer?

The Medical doesn’t just have physio, pilates, sports injury, massage and gait analysis strings to its bow, but also a vast team of chiropractors, osteopaths, GPs and nurses working across its sites. This really makes The Medical a ‘one stop shop’, meaning there is something for everyone, and truly a unique offering.

We can see some unusual services such as ‘bike fitting’ …

We all know prevention is better than cure, right? Some aspects of health

can’t be prevented completely, such as joint degeneration over time, but it can be managed and massively slowed. I always say that opticians help prolong the health of your eyes, dentists help prolong the health of your teeth; so why only see a physio when you are injured, when it can help prolong the health of your musculoskeletal system?

How does The Medical market itself?

Most of the traffic into a Medical Healthcare centre has come from someone heading online in search of a service, or through recommendation, whether you need a physiotherapist, a late night appointment with a GP or are simply in need of a good massage – so a good web presence is really important to us. Word of mouth is a huge compliment, with 38% referrals coming from our ‘refer a friend’ scheme, showing effective treatment that people will shout about is key.

If you could give office workers just one piece of advice to head off posture-related/health problems, what would it be?

Don’t eat lunch at your desk! The physical and mental benefits of getting up, stopping, having a walk, getting some air and talking socially are massive. Read this and then get up, breath in and have a walk about!

What do you think of Bristol Bears’ performance this season?

Bristol is a team I have always followed through the highs and lows since I left the club, and I’m really excited by the start to the season they have had. Even in the games they have lost, they have shown some great go-forward, massive heart and some decent sets of wheels. It’s a tough league, but I think they have huge potential for a solid season.

For more www.themedical.co.uk

MEDIACLASH.CO.UK 117

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Looking after beneficiaries with a disability?

By Andrew Jack of AMD SOLICITORS.

R

ecently I was consulted by parents who had a son on the autistic spectrum. They did not have a large estate but were aware that should they leave a proportion to him absolutely he would not be able to cope and he would be vulnerable to people taking financial advantage of him.

There was also the risk that a sizeable inheritance would affect any benefits to which he may become entitled in the future.

Two of the most important matters parents of a disabled child or indeed vulnerable adult need to bear in mind are who will look after their child when they are no longer around to do so and who will deal with their child’s finances if that child is unable to do so themselves.

For a disabled or vulnerable child a guardianship appointment can be extended to express the wish that the guardian is also responsible when the vulnerable child becomes an adult. This gives guidance to the wider family and indeed social services who you would like to apply for a deputyship order to manage any money to which your child may become entitled to in their own right.

The best option to protect a vulnerable child or adult’s intended inheritance is to establish a trust. While there is a specific statutory form of trust for disabled beneficiaries it offers little flexibility as all income is payable to the beneficiary, which can cause difficulties particularly if the income is not spent by or on behalf of the beneficiary and accumulates in the hands of the beneficiary.

There is also the question of who qualifies as ‘a disabled person’. The definition is statutory and while your child may qualify at the time your will is made, it is possible that the definition may change over time. Indeed, this type of trust was introduced by statute in 2005 and the qualifying criteria changed in 2014.

The most common type of trust used to manage and protect money where there

is a disabled or vulnerable beneficiary is a discretionary trust. Under this type of trust, the parents can leave a proportion or often the whole of their estate into the trust. The trust will have a class of beneficiaries, commonly children, grandchildren and other family members who can benefit from the trust at the discretion of the trustees.

This type of trust can be established on death by means of your will or set up in your lifetime and is often accompanied by a letter of wishes giving guidance to the trustees on making distributions and expressing your wishes. While it needs to be said that there are some tax implications of this type of trust, it is often the case that the flexibility that it provides usually outweigh any tax disadvantages.

If you have a beneficiary for whom it is appropriate to consider a trust, Andrew and his colleagues will have an initial discussion with you free of charge with you and will suggest a trust tailored to your needs. ■

Contact Andrew on 0117 9621205 or email andrewjack@amdsolicitors.com.

Call into one of our four Bristol offices.

100 Henleaze Road, Henleaze BS9 4JZ 15 The Mall, Clifton BS8 4DS 139 Whiteladies Road, Clifton BS8 2PL 2 Station Road, Shirehampton BS11 9TT

Formerly The Lighting Warehouse

Lighting the way it should be...

New Lighting, Mirrors & Furniture arriving now Visit us in store at: Unit 2, Bedminster Retail Park, Sheene Way, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4TA Tel: 0117 963 5943 Email: info@thelightingstudiobristol.co.uk

www.thelightingstudiobristol.co.uk

property a pl ace to c all home

raise high the roof beams They had us at the gorgeous exposed ceiling timbers . . .

By Lisa Robins www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 87

A property place to call home

Y

ou want wooden roof beams? You’ve so come to the right place. Because while, like you, we do love our cool urban new-builds and graceful Clifton terraces, there’s something about this time of year that makes us dream of traditional farmhouses tucked away in peaceful hamlets – nothing too remote or rural, please, we still want a bit of bustle and convenience up the road – but still far from the madding crowd, and preferably with room for an absurdly large Christmas tree.

Blanches in Alveston fits the bill hands-down. Here are two more things we love about this former farmhouse, even before we get down to the room particulars.

One, it has a proper name, and not just a number (it’s hard to call your Wapping Wharf first-floor two-bed a pet name, and still keep a straight face). Secondly, like so many country homes, it’s an absolute one-off, having

88 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

grown and evolved in its own sweet way down the centuries. Because we are talking centuries, plural, here; Blanches can trace its stones back to 1630.

An impressive approach is essential for any country pile – weekend guests really do expect to announce their arrival with a satisfying crunch of tyres on gravel – and Blanches takes ‘sweeping driveway’ to a whole new level.

They’ll get a glimpse of the immaculate garden as they park up; a three-bay garage awaits those who arrive first.

Before going inside, they’ll probably want to roam around the grounds – and knowing you, you’ll insist on giving them a tour even if they don’t. They’ll heap fulsome praise (while inwardly seething with envy) on the delightful, well maintained lawns with their mature shrubs and borders, numerous seating areas, terraces, formal parterre box garden and secret vegetable garden.

All of which should give them sufficient time to brace themselves for the envy-inducing interior. The current owners have taken huge care to retain all the best bits of the characterful original, while ensuring the accommodation is bang up-to-date.

There are generous spaces for entertaining across the four large ground floor reception areas, the kitchenbreakfast room (farmhouse style, complete with Aga and Belfast sink), and the garden room – a particularly fine L-shaped space overlooking the garden, with one of the many wonderful, vaulted wood-beamed ceilings, oak flooring and a log burning stove, the latter meaning that this is a room for all seasons.

property

As you can see here, those covetable roof beams are pretty much ubiquitous in the main rooms, all of which are at least 16ft wide – most lead off the central hallway, including a family room with floor-to-ceiling French windows on two sides overlooking the garden.

Six bedrooms, three with en-suites (with proper baths) ramble over the first and second floors, with a further family bathroom and large study; on the top floor, sloping roofs under the gables takes the wood-beamed-ceiling thing to a whole new level.

That’s surely enough room for most families; if not, or if you really are unremittingly sociable, there’s also an adjacent two bedroom annexe with a fitted kitchen/ breakfast room, two reception areas and two first- floor en-suite bedrooms; it’s currently sealed off from the main house, but an opening could easily be created, subject to the necessary planning approval.

Because here’s the thing: although Blanches is so gorgeously historically lovely, it’s never been officially listed, so there are no draconian restrictions when it comes to tasteful tweaking. Just don’t even think of messing with those ceiling beams, though or we’ll be straight over with a restraining order. n House numbers Reception rooms 5 Bedrooms

6 + study

Guide price

£1.375m

For more: Savills Clifton 20 The Mall, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4DR 0117 933 5800 www.savills.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 89

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

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1 & 2 Eden Office Park

• Excellent A3 restaurant opportunity

• Easy access to Clifton and Gordano

• May suit other uses

• Open plan ground floor office unit

• New lease

• 9 car spaces

• Rent on application

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UNIT 4 BROOK OFFICE PARK, EMERSONS GREEN BS16

NEW STUDIO OFFICES

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

(0117) 934 9977

ST STEPHENS HOUSE, BS1 HQ OFFICE TO LET Located on the recently pedestrianised and revamped Colston Avenue, St Stephens House has undergone a striking refurbishment to provide a self contained office finished to the highest of standards:

Julian Cook FRICS

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bristol LIVES

“I admit I found Mongolian milk tea quite a challenge . . .”

Your ongoing work as the curator of WOMAD’s Taste the World events must have turned up some interesting events . . .

Annie Menter The director of Bristol’s Afrika Eye festival isn’t from Africa herself – so why the fascination with the culture of this continent, and how did it all begin?

Consider yourself welltravelled? Next to Annie Mentor’s CV, I’m afraid your gap year spent trekking around Indonesia looks pretty tame.

During 20 years spent working with WOMAD (the World of Music, Arts and Dance festival), Annie’s seen, heard and tasted far more than most people manage in their lifetime.

And yes, Bristol’s Toto fans; this does mean that unlike most of you, she’s qualified to bless the rains down in Africa – or at least, have a vague idea what the lyrics mean . . .

When did you first become fascinated by Africa?

I was a child of the 1960s, and went off to explore Morocco for four months. Also, a magnificent exhibition of African textiles at the Museum of Mankind was the

start of a lifelong love of cloth, and how it’s worn and used from across that continent.

During your 20+ years with WOMAD you must have seen some amazing places and performers – any standouts?

Working with WOMAD offered a wide-open window on the world, and each experience was memorable in its own way.

Standout moments include travelling to Lesotho to bring a group of shepherd musicians to the UK, and venturing into the heartlands of South Africa in search of Ndebele painters.

Being involved in education has allowed me to work with artists and communities I would never otherwise have had the opportunity to connect with – a school for the blind in Brighton, a group of Aboriginal children in Western Australia and a family of San people from the Kalahari desert, to name a few.

98 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Guo Yue, Chinese flautist, raconteur and chef extraordinaire seduced us with his virtuosity and inventiveness, both musically and in the kitchen.

Bringing together stories around food, music and a childhood lived through the cultural revolution in China was a potent mix.

And then there was the 18-strong Georgian Choir from Bristol’s twin city of Tiblisi, who brought bags of herbs and dried plums and conjured up a delicious stew that bubbled away as they transported us to the Caucasus with their polyphonic songs and chants.

Any downsides?

I admit I found Mongolian milk tea – imagine a salty soup with strips of mutton dipped in – quite a challenge, and I’d be happy if I never tasted another durian fruit again. On the other hand, monitor lizard stew was surprisingly tasty, in small quantities.

Bristol. It’s a long way from Africa. Why should we be interested in Afrika Eye?

My question would be, why shouldn’t we? We are a city made up of multiple ethnicities and I believe that we should be open to an exchange of ideas, and take up every opportunity to find connections, whether that’s through music, film or the arts, giving us continuing threads into each other’s lives.

What first brought you to Bristol?

I moved from London to Bath in the 1970s, then to a remote cottage on the top of Backwell Hill. Eventually, the pull to be

part of creative Bristol was too strong, and 20 years ago I moved into Montpelier.

What are your favourite Bristol haunts?

Child-friendly spaces are important when you have 11 grandchildren, so St Andrew’s Park and Ashton Court rank highly, as do Bristol Community Ferries. Having the Thali Café, The Bristolian and, for special treats, Bell’s Diner a walk away is totally brilliant – and we should all be doing everything we can to save Hamilton House, a venture which has transformed this side of the city.

What aspects of Bristol life would you like to take to share with the people you work with in Africa?

Aspects of Bristol life that I’d want to pack in my carry-on bag would be a meander through St Nick’s Market, with a stop-off at the Moorish Café for a superspicy Moroccan snack; a moment on Brandon Hill as the balloons of the fiesta float past; a Banksy and street art trek; a great movie at Watershed; a sunny evening soaking up the atmosphere in the docks with a glass in hand, with the buzz of conversation drifting across the water; a game of boules in Queens Square; a pint in the Duke of York (one of the friendliest pubs in Bristol); a gig at St George’s; a visit to the Tobacco Factory and the wonderful Tobacco Factory Sunday market. What not to take would be the harder question.

Afrika Eye, the South West’s biggest celebration of African arts, cinema and culture, takes place at venues across the city, from 4-12 November, with a full weekend of film screenings and special events at Watershed; www.afrikaeye.org.uk