Bristol Life - Issue 257

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property

A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CITY

ISSUE 257 / NEW YEAR 2019 / £3

ISSUE 257 / NEW YEAR 2019 / IT’S A NEW DAWN, IT’S A NEW YEAR, IT’S A NEW BRISTOL LIFE

OOOH, FASHION

BUT MAYBE NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

BRISTOL 2018

ALL DAY & ALL OF THE NIGHT

SO, HOW DID WE DO?

A ROCK AROUND THE BRISTOL CLOCK

NEW SQUIDS ON THE BLOCK THE BEST OF LAST YEAR’S FOODIE OPENINGS

SKIN DEEP

BEAUTY PRODUCTS TO BEAT THE JANUARY BLUES

large version

large version

LAUGH OUT LOUD CHEER UP, BRISTOL, SLAPSTICK’S BACK! (AND THIS YEAR, THAT NICE RICHARD HERRING’S IN CHARGE)

Editor’s letter Going into 2019 like . . .

B

ecause this issue comes out at the end of December, we’re not exactly sure what mood it will find you in.

Still festive and fabulous?

Back at work, and not too happy about it? Or weighing up your New Year’s Eve options, and gloomily concluding that whatever you do it will be nothing like the final scene in When Harry Met Sally? We feel for you.

Poised, Janus-like, between the end of 2018 and the start of 2019, we’ve chucked a few retrospectives into this issue’s mix; we’ve selected some of our favourite memories on page 9, and since Bristol is increasingly defined by its prodigious food and drink scene, we’ve looked back at some of the best new openings and events from the past 12 months on page 52.

Into 2019, then – and whoever originally thought of holding a comedy festival during the bleak, post-Christmas midwinter deserves a large medal; hooray for Slapstick, which returns in all its glory for five days from 16 January. We are, as ever, duly grateful to have such a lolworthy subject to feature in our first issue of the year.

Back at you in mid-January, when all this will have become just a blur...

deri robins Follow us on Twitter @BristolLifeMag Instagram @BristolLifeMag

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Fr id S ay a 28 le S th ta De rt ce s m be r

bespoke cabinet furniture, kitchens & Bathrooms upholstery, curtains and blinds

Sofa Library manufacture bespoke upholstery, curtains and blinds in our own factory in Bristol as well as fine cabinet furniture in hundreds of different specialist veneers and any solid timber.

Our Kitchens, Bathrooms and Cabinet Furniture are completely bespoke and can be in any contemporary or period influenced design and are conceived and detail designed with you or your interior designer and fabricated in 8-12 weeks.

We also re-upholster, source and procure antique and vintage pieces for clients and restore them. Our re-upholstery and fabrication of new upholstery and curtains takes 2-3 weeks.

We provide a complete design, furnish and install service for single rooms, whole houses or a hundred flats (as we have just completed for one client). We specialise in refurbishment for landlords and are experienced in balancing cost considerations with anticipated rental increase and also complete hotel, restaurant and commercial interiors.

We also provide full 3d renders.

We are just past Clifton Down Shopping Centre 56/60, Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2PY Mon-Sat 9.30 - 5.30/Sun 12 - 5

Tel: 01173 292746 www.thesofalibrary.co.uk

Issue 257/New Year 2019

24 hours in bristol . . .

14 Rock around the bristol clock

A snapshot of one day in the city

the arts

29 art page Spied a white swan?

30 WHAT’S ON We safely see you into the New Year

and beyond 34 comedy Cheer up; Slapstick’s back 42 bristol heroes Ooh. Fashion

a man’s world

47 seb barrett When Baz began his column with

“While flying at 30,000 feet . . .” we began to worry © COLIN MOODY

63 kam kelly Happy No Europe, everyone

14

10

food & DRINK

48 RESTAURANT We’re kicking off the New Year as we

mean to go on 52 Food and drink Our review of 2018 57 Stan cullimore Dream big; eat cake

shopping 58 editor’s choice Looking out for a hero?

Lifestyle

67 keep fit Prevention’s better than cure 70 golden years Retirement living’s starting to look

lots of fun 80 GREAT ESCAPES Surfing mecca Newquay’s

definitely on the up

Business 89 business insider Our Business Lunch with

Bristol Energy

Property 102 showcase Our favourite featured home from 2018

Regulars 9 spotlight 2018 highlights 10 Proper Bristol Alternative postcards for the city 106 bristol lives Meet Bristol’s most community-

minded chef

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, Kam Kelly, Seb Barrett Advertising manager Neil Snow neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Craig Wallberg @craig.wallberg@ mediaclash.co.uk 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

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 5

ER S IS H IN G A AL H L A O PP F Y OU N EW R C YE US A TO R M W

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 That was the year that was

2018

Bristol’s arts centres received a massive overhaul; a new restaurant opened almost every week, a new festival every other month; Bristol Rugby became the Bristol Bears; The Simpsons came to South Bristol; we held the second Bristol Life Awards and celebrated our 250th issue. Here are some of our standout memories of the year.

JANUARY Clearly unaware that it’s everybody’s duty to be as miserable as possible in January, Aardman’s Early Man opened in UK cinemas and immediately became the highest grossing (and funniest) movie of the year so far.

APRIL Bristol Rugby changed its name to Bristol Bears for their Premiership return, but we kept the same name and venue for our second Bristol Life Awards.

FEBRUARY We ran the first of Colin Moody’s Bristol Heroes features in the magazine, and decided that we were never going to let him go. If you didn’t get his Stokes Croft and Montpelier photojournalist book for Christmas we suggest you remedy this immediately.

MARCH Being Brunel, Bristol’s newest visitor attraction, opened its doors right next to IKB’s ss Great Britain, and was promptly named one of the UK’s best new museums of 2018 by The Guardian (which seems to be a bit of a fan of Bristol as a whole).

MAY After a year off, Mayfest celebrated 15 years of adventurous, thought-provoking theatre, playfully and sometimes provocatively championing new work from artists, played out from the heritage of St George’s to the nightclubs of Old Market.

JUNE Also back for 2018 was Food Connections, with an angle that was truly representative of Bristol in all its maverick glory: instead of creating a temporary village of tents, the team created a citywide partnership to connect the whole city in a more lasting and meaningful way. Meanwhile, Colston Hall closed its concert hall for a massive refurb; it’ll reopen, with a new name, in 2020.

JULY If the Urban Art Festival wasn’t already a mega-highlight in the city’s calendar, this year marked an extraordinary collab of Upfest x Springfield, with The Simpsons’ creator Matt Groenig personally choosing three artists to create their take on the characters; below is Nomad Clan’s #BeMoreLisa. July also saw St Paul’s Carnival return, just in time for its 50th anniversary.

AUGUST The Balloon Fiesta followed days of zilch lift-off with one of the prettiest dawn mass ascents we’ve ever seen. Meanwhile, we celebrated the 250th issue of Bristol Life; Aardman made us a Morph, and made our year.

OCTOBER A new festival for Festival City, as Wild & Well put the fun in wellness. The TFT opened its new Spielman Theatre, and C4 announced that Bristol would become one of its regional hubs.

NOVEMBER Cary Comes Home moved to a late autumn slot, meaning we could finally have Bristol’s handsomest and most famous son as our cover boy (in the past the festival had clashed unpardonably with Upfest).

SEPTEMBER The Downs 2018 festival will mostly be remembered for the duet between Paul Weller and Noel Gallagher. Bristol Old Vic and St George’s both revealed the final stage in their new look.

DECEMBER All the Christmas shows opened, there was (pretendy) snow in the city centre, and Bristol rockers Idles’ album Joy was voted best of the year by BBC6.

So – how was 2018 for you?

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Proper Bristol?

What image says ‘Bristol 2019’ loudest and clearest to you?

L

ook. We love the Bridge. We ‘heart’ balloons. Nobody disses the ss Great Britain on our watch. We never tire of seeing beautiful shots of them. But we also get it that a lot of folk don’t feel they tell the whole story of the city. The People’s Republic of Stokes Croft definitely think that less glamorous, more representative images should be out there, and to this end they’ve launched a photo competition to find pics that would work as postcards for the city. Regrettably, we had to send this page to press before the winner in the over-18s category was revealed, as voting by popular ballot continued until 21 December. But we can showcase all 15 finalists, and the under-18 winner. Here they are.

Full details and winners at: www.prsc.org.uk/proper-bristol

top: Under-18 winner Intimacy by Roo Morgan;

above, from left: Morph by the Docks by Steve Lorriman; Easy on Consumerism by Carole Fureix; Untitled by Elroy April

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photography

top row from left: Surveillance by Rebecca Doe; Bristol July 2018 by Daniel Durrans; Big Jeff by Paul Blakemore; second row from left: The Silence of Maes Knoll by Edward

Field; Demonstrator Leading March in Support of Hamilton House by Giulia Spadafora; It’s a Wall by Dave Beech; third row from left: Hoochy Cooch by Arvind Howarth; Untitled by Emily Parker; Bristol 2017 by Daniel Durrans; bottom row from left: Untitled by Emily Parker; M32 Comfort Break by Phoebe Flint; Untitled by Lee Ramsey

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all day and all of the night

It’s late December. Not a lot of new stuff is happening – no, not even in Bristol. While we wait for 2019 to properly kick off, here’s another chance to read one of our most popular features, in which we take a look at the way that Bristol rocks around the clock

By Mal Rogers Photos (unless otherwise stated) by Colin Moody 14 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

architects TICK TOCK 00.00 Midnight: The Clifton Suspension Bridge illuminations may be switched off, but the safety lighting stays on all night. 2,976 low power LED bulbs light the bridge.

AM 00.05: The Met Office receives its first hourly report from Filton automated weather station giving details of the Bristol area’s air pressure, temperature, visibility, humidity, wind speed, likelihood of cats and dogs, etc.

AM 00.15: The Bristol Scrabble Club at Upper Horfield Community Trust calls it a day. The only anagram of Bristol, sadly, is Sir Bolt, so unless Usain gets a knighthood and sets up home in Totterdown sometime soon, local celebrity wordplay will continue to be minimal.

AM 00.30: Bristol Sewage Farm at Avonmouth is reaching its quietest period. They treat up to 300 mega-litres of sewage every day.

NOTE: if you’re visiting (and they hold regular open days) be aware: there is no farm shop.

AM 00.45: Punters at Mother’s Ruin in St Nicholas Street dance like nobody’s watching; little knowing that photographer Colin Moody is.

AM 01.00: Florist Kika from Belle Du Jour heads for London to select the best specimens from the Covent Garden flower market.

Meanwhile, the last punters are being admitted to Thekla, whose club nights stay open until 4am.

AM 01.30: Bristol’s ambulance service is on full alert; midnight until 2am is one of the busiest times for the emergency services. It’s a busy time for Bristol’s street cleaners, too, thanks to all that mess you left last night. Honestly.

AM 01.45: Taxis in Bristol city centre hit their peak period and are at full stretch.

AM 02.00: Flying Fish Cornwall drive to Chew Magna, delivering fresh fishies for the Pony & Trap to put on dishies.

AM 02.10: Somewhere, one or both of these things is happening: in a quiet tunnel, a graf artist tags a wall; and at least two Igers photographers capture long-exposure trails of the city lights. Possibly while perching on some balcony or crane on which they are most definitely not allowed. Stop it, boys. Get a drone.

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© Joshua Perrett

tick tock

01:45 AM 02.15: The night manager at the luxurious Hotel du Vin begins collecting the room-service breakfast cards.

AM 02.30: Bristol and Avon Constabulary officers continue patrolling the streets – but please move along to the next time slot.

There’s nothing to see here.

AM 03.00: The first check-in staff arrive at Bristol Airport, ready for the rush hour. Bristol is to aircraft what Salzburg is to Mozart, or Melton Mowbray is to pork pies. The city has an aeroplane pedigree that dates back to 1910; today, the airport processes over eight million customers a year.

AM 03.30: Busiest time for Bristol’s 24-hour locksmiths, helping forgetful or careless homegoers. Many of these same customers present themselves later at Bristol’s taxi ranks and police stations, trying to locate their mobile phones.

AM 04.45: The first train for London Paddington pulls out of Temple Meads. Those sitting in the first class carriages and holding open return tickets will have paid approximately £187 for a seat.

Even oil companies have been saying, hey, come on, you can’t rip off customers like that.

AM 04.50: Colin Paige, head brewer, arrives at Butcombe, checks the temperature on the hot liquor vessels and then starts the mashing process. This is not an early morning dance, but a cunning way of kickstarting that ancient equation: yeast + hops = happiness.

AM 05.30: Across town, the alarm clocks belonging to the city’s greengrocers go off. These top bananas in the fruit and vegetable retail sector will be opening at 9am, and those shelves need to be stocked.

AM 04.00: Steve, master baker at Bakesmiths on Whiteladies Road, arrives to feed his sourdough mix and turns on the ovens in readiness for the day’s first batch of bread.

AM 06.00: “Good morning Bristol. Let’s get ready to bong,” says Great George, Bristol’s biggest bell, in the Wills Memorial tower. George not only strikes the hour, but reaches his many fans throughout the day via Twitter. Be nice to him #sensitivebell.

At the same instant, Kam Kelly wakes up the rest of Bristol on our favourite radio station Sam FM. Turn the dial to 106.5 FM, and if you’re lucky with the playlist you’ll be able to pretend that you’ve woken up in 1985 and still have all your hair. This compensates to a large degree for all the latest traffic-chaos news.

AM 04.30: Tim Fowler of Certus Cars checks his route for an early run to Bristol Airport. His Mercedes S has SatNav, compass and Google Earth, but in addition Tim always has a look at his map; for younger readers, this is a paper thing with roads drawn on it.

AM 06.45: Cod and haddock arrive at Salt & Malt fresh from Cornwall. The driver has been trout and about since 4pm. And that’s the only fishy pun you’re getting. You’ve come to the wrong plaice if you’re after that kind of whiting. Oh, stop it.

AM 03.55: The first Plymouth Falcon arrives at Bristol Airport terminal with bleary-eyed passengers full of hope – the hope that they’ve remembered to print out their boarding passes.

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“Punters at Mother’s Ruin dance like nobody’s watching, little knowing that photographer Colin Moody is”

AM 07.00: At Bristol Zoo, young gorilla Afia, who won our hearts when she was born by Caesarean section two years ago, is fed. Her scientific name might be Gorilla gorilla gorilla, but all she wants is breakfast, breakfast, breakfast.

AM 07.05: The BMI Regional flight edges out from the apron and onto the main runway at Bristol Airport, ready to depart for Paris.

AM 07.10: Bristol Bears players have their breakfast, limber up, and discuss team tactics.

AM 07.15: Tim Hunter, Butcombe transport and distribution manager, waves the first of 10 Butcombe drays out of the yard.

AM 07.30: Joe at Niche Frames in Stokes Croft loads up his van and heads for London. Meanwhile, in Old City, Small Street Espresso administers the first caffeine hit of the day.

AM 07.35: Who made all the pies? Maggie and David warm their oven ahead of a busy day at Pieminister city.

AM 08.00: The Lido welcomes early morning swimmers, who, if they have any sense, will stay for brekkie and pile the calories back on.

00:45

AM 08.12: The deep mid-winter sun rises in Bristol. If it’s turned out nice, Cameron Balloons in Ashton Court might be inflating their flying machines and taking to the air. Bristol’s early-riser Instagrammers Sam, Bryn, Rich and co have probably already gone home, after taking golden, misty dawn shots of the deer.

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TICK TOCK AM 08.15: At HorseWorld, a dozen or so grooms are feeding the 100 plus animals currently being cared for there.

AM 09.01: It’s all hands to the pumps at Underfall Yard pump house, in the historic boatyard on Spike Island.

AM 08.30: Arnos Vale Cemetery opens to the public. Look out for the grave of Sarah Terrett, an inveterate do-gooder who sadly (and somewhat counter-productively) was conducting a temperance meeting when she fell off the platform to her death.

AM 09.20: Hemali Modha arrives at Amulet on Cotham Hill, checks the online orders and prepares them for dispatch.

AM 08.45: At Bristol Wine School, Tristan Darby checks the wines for the day. Remember – a meal without wine is called ‘breakfast’.

AM 08.50: Chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias arrives at Michelin-starred Casamia to check the menus; whether he does this after polishing all his awards or before, we’re not sure.

AM 09.00: Over 3,000 passengers will have already made their way through security at Bristol Airport. And what fun that is.

AM 09.00: Two would-be Thatcherites (in the alcoholic sense) check Google Earth to see if Thatcher’s Cider Shop is nearby. Mercifully, it is, and open for business.

AM 09.30: Another tweet from Great George: “Clapper polishing will commence shortly. Do not be alarmed if you hear excitable squeaking noises.” Polishing, incidentally, can take up to two hours.

AM 09.56: The first Bristol Ferry Waterbus departs Hotwells at The Pump House, edging out into the river, bound for Several Remote Nations of the World. Oh, sorry, that was Gulliver, who left Bristol on board The Antelope in 1699. The Bristol Ferry, of course, heads for the city centre.

AM 10.00: One of the greatest bargains in Europe is now on offer: free admission to Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. Knowledge is free here; all you need is a container to take it away in.

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AM 10.10: At Bristol Old Vic, preparations are underway for another magical evening performance of A Christmas Carol.

AM 10.15: John at RB Boatbuilding continues waterproofing a boat hull, cm by cm. In the old days it was inch by inch, but John is always happy to employ the latest innovations. His boats, by the way, sell for several guineas.

AM 10.30: Coffee shop time for Rich Warren, director of the Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival. He likes his coffee so dark and mysterious that it might well have been directed by Otto Preminger.

“Waterbus maintenance takes place all through the day, as experts make sure the timbers are suitably shivered”

AM 10.50: At Butcombe, coppers start boiling. These coppers (vats, not policemen) disperse a lovely, hoppy, steamy vapour into the atmosphere.

AM 11.00: After a team meeting, the rucking and rolling begins in earnest at Bristol Bears, as training gets underway.

AM 11.00: The Bakesmiths baristas begin a roast of some green coffee beans. But don’t ask for a green coffee, mind; it’s still black.

Unless it’s a matcha. You can tell we’re not baristas, can’t you?

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TICK TOCK AM 11.15: Underfall Pump House is inspected for full pumpability.

AM 11.25: Rosie Morgan, big cheese in the dairy world, continues her mission to explain the ancient art to the laity at The Bristol Cheesemonger at Cargo.

AM 11.35: Customers gather round on an Eat Walk Talk Bristol food tour, to learn about the city’s top bites and sights – for example, the making and eating of gelato at Swoon.

NOON 12.00: It’s showtime for Steve Yabsley’s BBC Radio Bristol show, as it is every weekday.

12.05: The chefs at The Pony and Trap start making stock – beef, chicken or lamb. It takes three whole days to get it Pony-ready.

PM 12.15: Bristol Zoo’s Asiatic lion brothers, Kamran and Ketan, are having lunch – joints of meat, served rare. They seldom ask for a cheeky vegan walnut and beetroot salad.

PM 14.10: On match days, Bristol City players begin their warm-up prior to the 3pm kick-off. A match takes 90 minutes, even though a mathematician has recently worked out that in order to ensure the better team wins – and that luck plays no part – a match should probably last for 14 hours 18 minutes.

PM 14.20: Colin Moody gets back to work on his ambitious, ongoing art project #WeAreOne, taking portraits of thousands of Bristolians and making them into ‘one’ portraits. Want to be part of it? Email mrcolinmoody@gmail.com or DM on Twitter: @moodycolin.

PM 14.30: Mike, volunteer at the Underfall Yard is about to call in as his shift ends by the human accumulator. What is a human accumulator? Ask Mike.

PM 15.00: The busiest time of the day at Bristol Zoo is over, and as many as 1,500 people will have passed through the world’s fifth oldest zoological garden.

PM 12.20: Waterbus maintenance takes place throughout the day.

Here (left) an expert makes sure the timbers are suitably shivered.

PM 15.45: One of the many photographers contributing photos to the #igersbristol hashtag on Instagram finds the exact shot she’s been looking for (below).

PM 12.30: The Butcombe-owned Cottage Inn on Baltic Wharf is on full service, serving meals, and of course beers, bitters and ciders. If there were a Nobel Prize for bitter, the Butcombe Blond would surely have won it by now.

PM 16.00: Mike Timmins at Fabrication is ready to clock off after upcycling fabrics (that would otherwise have been sent to landfill) into art, cushions and handmade wonders, using a limited-edition 1935 Singer sewing machine.

PM 12.35: A passenger on the X1 bus leaving for Weston goes into a state of transcendental meditation. It’s the only way to travel.

PM 16.30: In mid-winter, most of the animals at Bristol Zoo have begun putting themselves to bed. The birds and butterflies in particular will have begun roosting at 16.00. Nightie-night, avians and lepidopterans.

PM 12.55: Paddleboarders prepare for a daily harbourside 4mph float-out past the ss Great Britain and back. Heave-ho.

PM 13.00: The staff at Milk Thistle arrive bleary-eyed following the previous night’s shift. Meanwhile, workers keeping more normal hours are thinking about lunch; if they’re close to St Nick’s, they’ll have a truly global selection of street food to choose from.

PM 17.00: On match days (Fridays & Sundays), players arrive at Ashton Gate. Bristol supporters will also have begun arriving at roughly the same time, unaware for the most part that a joke focusing on ‘Bristol supporter’ was banned by the BBC in the 1950s.

PM 13.45: Start time for Paul Tuckwell and the raptors. Although sounding a bit like a psychobilly band, they’re the anti-pest team at Southmead Hospital with a regular appointment to stop crows and pigeons dropping stones on their reflections in the roof glass.

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TICK TOCK

16:00 PM 19.00: The chefs at Casamia are at full stretch, with the dinner service well underway. After sampling dishes with such deceptively simple names as ‘parmesan’, ‘carabineros’, ‘beef’ and ‘beetroot’, the diners discuss whether their life up to this point has merely been a drab interlude.

PM 19.05: The HMV store in Broadmead has closed for the night.

Nearby, a statue to the HMV dog, Nipper – born in Bristol – stands patiently at the corner of Park Row and Woodland Road. Good boy!

PM 19.25: Bellringers arrive at St John’s Church on Broad Street to practise the likes of quarter peals or Whittington Whole Pulls (you’d know a Whittington Whole Pull if you heard it). The tower of the 14th-century church, the only remaining Bristol building built into the mediaeval city walls, contains a ring of six bells.

PM 19:40: Jorvin and Nila are over the hump – Henry the pie van has been loaded ready for a trip to London with a full load of pies. A cup of tea and a catch-up on social media beckon before they head back to finish packing the peas and gravy. #PieLife PM 20.00: Lights. Action. The film (every Wednesday) at Horts’s 26-seat Director’s Cut Cinema on Broad Street gets underway.

PM 20.15: Tom Hines of Bristol TV takes a short break before heading back to the studio.

PM 20.30: The evening shift gathers momentum in one of Bristol’s oldest pubs, The Seven Stars. Abolitionist Thomas Clarkson collected information here on the slave trade – it’s still a good place to talk politics and quaff pints.

PM 21.00: The Ivy Clifton Brasserie is now well into its evening service. The London branch regularly has paparazzi camped outside to snap A-listers, but we’re way too cool for that at Bristol Life. No, even though the odd Game of Thrones star can often be seen tucking into baked sea trout with almonds. No. We’re not stalking them at all. pM 21.15: It’s peak drinking time at the Llandoger Trow on King’s Street. In this ancient inn, Daniel Defoe allegedly met the famous castaway Alexander Selkirk, and the novel Robinson Crusoe emerged from the meeting. It’s also thought to have been the model for The Admiral Benbow in Treasure Island.

Pm 21.30: The River Grille restaurant at The Bristol is taking its last orders. Around 300 hotels throughout the world are called The Bristol – named after the 4th Earl of Bristol’s appreciation of fine things, if you’re wondering. But Bristol didn’t have one until 2007 when Jury’s Hotel Bristol changed its name simply to The Bristol. Got it?

PM 22.00: “Left hand down a bit, now, hard right . . .” aircraft overnight parking begins at Bristol Airport. Flight-schedule changes, emergency landings, unexpected arrivals all have to be factored in;

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everything from Airbuses to Boeing 737s need to be accommodated.

And you thought it was difficult finding a parking space on Queen’s Square.

PM 22:35: The two-person crew set about securing the SkyView wheel for the night.

PM 23.00: At HorseWorld, Vicky the live-in groom begins her final checks for the night.

PM 23.39: The last train from Paddington pulls into Temple Meads Station.

If you’re lucky.

PM 23.40: Long after the applause, laughter and sobbing (have you seen their Tiny Tim?) has died down, Bristol Old Vic’s tech team are busy rigging the theatre lighting for the next production.

© rich perrin

PM 23.45: The last scheduled flight of the day lands at Bristol Airport. If you’re just arriving in Bristol, welcome! Turn right at the exit door, and head for the UK’s best city.

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TICK TOCK

“Nearly 3,000 bulbs light the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Even when the illuminations are off, the safety lighting stays on all night”

00:00

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the arts s n a p s h o t s o f B R I STO L’ S c u lt u r a l li f e

bourne again Think ballet’s not for you? You’ve clearly never seen one by Matthew Bourne. This most populist and audience-conscious of choreographers has recently revived his majestic 1998 Swan Lake – you know, the one where the swans are lads with muscly feathery legs (you’ve seen Billy Elliott, yeah?).

If you’ve ever watched a Bourne ballet, we’re sure to be preaching to the converted; if you haven’t, give it a whirl when it comes to Bristol in March. Trust us.

Swan Lake by Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures visits Bristol Hippodrome 11-16 March; www.atgtickets.com

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What’s on 28 December 2018 18 January 2019

Most of the Bristmas shows are still open, and guaranteed to cure your January blues.

Oh, and Slapstick’s on its way

Christmas may be over but BOV’s A Christmas Carol isn’t; grab tickets if you possibly can

exhibitions Until 3 January

212 productions Alchemy 198’s first show, with a strong street-art element from Jody, Inkie and Cheba et al; alchemy198.co.uk

Until 6 January

Japanese prints Original woodblock prints by Hokusai and Hiroshige; Bristol Museum; bristolmuseums.org.uk Clowns A surreal realm of light, colour, mirrors and clown cars, and the most amazing historic painted eggs; part of Circus 250 at Bristol Museum; bristolmuseums.org.uk

Until 24 February

Wildlife Photographer of the Year The Natural History Museum brings 100 beautiful images to M Shed; bristolmuseums.org.uk

Until 3 March

Albert Irvin and Abstract Expressionism

A major retrospective of Irvin at RWA, and a celebration of the seminal exhibition, The New American Painting. They’ve got a Pollock and everything; rwa.org.uk

16 January-16 March

a contested land Document Scotland examines the complex relationship between the nation’s people, history and landscape, at Martin Parr Foundation in Paintworks, martinparrfoundation.org

19 January-24 March

The Blazing World The artist explores witchcraft and the relationship between women’s oppression and the emergence of capitalism in an immersive installation punctuated with ritualistic sculptures, puppets and textiles. Spike Island, obviously. spikeisland.org.uk

shows Until 30 December

The Gift of Presents Shesus is a multi-gender Miss-iah.

The Sistas, genuine twins. Together

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

they offer something between cabaret, comedy, carols and therapy, at TFT, tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Until 3 January

the borrowers Mary Norton’s classic tale of the little people who live under the floorboards gets the TFT festive treatment; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Until 6 January

Cinderella If it just ain’t Christmas without a nice bit of He’s Behind You, hie ye to Bristol Hippodrome; atgtickets.com chloe and the colour catcher A bright, festive fantasy ideal for 4–7 year olds. bristololdvic.org.uk

show since its National Theatretransferring Peter Pan, this witty, touching, musical take on the tale brings all the magic; bristololdvic.org.uk the railway children The E Nesbit classic brought to life by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Feel free to gasp with disbelief when the trains run on time. At Redgrave; redgravetheatre.com

Until 20 January

Oedipuss In Boots The Wardrobe reprises one of its funniest, fastest festive hits for Christmas. thewardrobetheatre.com

2-6 January

beasty baby With puppetry and live music, Theatre-Rites creates a funny and magical family show for TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres,com

aladdin The award-winning Starlite Productions returns for the 17th year to Redgrave with their family panto, with the sole aim of raising as much money as possible for children’s charities, in particular Children’s Hospice South West. redgravetheatre.com

Until 13 January

9-12 January

a christmas carol Arguably the best BOV Christmas

hercules Welcome to Thebes – a ping-pong

what’s on parlour presided over by Zeus, king of the gods . . . Young Company and Made in Bristol bring the Hercules myth bang up to date, scrutinising what it means to be strong in today’s society. At Bristol Old Vic, bristololdvic.org.uk

11-18 January

the adventures of the improvised sherlock holmes No script, Sherlock! An improvised romp through the underworld of Victorian Britain with shady villains, red herrings and the brilliant deductions of London’s great detective; at Bristol Improv Theatre, improvtheatre.co.uk

15-19 January

impermanence A selection of striking new work from the Bristol-based dance theatre company, alongside showcases from the finest dancers in the South West and beyond. At Bristol Old Vic, bristololdvic.org.uk; impermanence.co.uk

Music

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top:

Guess the classic comedy. Stumped? Have a look at the Slapstick programme; Faster pussycat, kill, kill; Oedipuss clearly still having issues at The Wardrobe

below:

craig charles funk and soul new year’s day Let Craig ease you into 2019 with a soulful, funktastic set, with help from The Egg, Feel The Real, Sip The Juice and Rockit Science; at The White Bear; funkandsoulclub.com

5 January

the great bowie party Marking two years after he left us stranded alone on Earth, it’s Trinity Centre’s celebration of David Bowie with Bristol’s own 60 piece Fantasy Orchestra. Pick your favourite Bowie era and dress the part; 3ca.org.uk

Other

Until 30 December

pop-up cinema Bristol Film Festival’s festive offering at Passenger Shed continues with both Charlie & The Chocolate Factory and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Mary Poppins, Gremlins and, for those who really, really love their children, a singaong screening to Frozen. bristolfilmfestival.com

Until 1 January (on selected dates)

festival of light The perfect post-Christmas family day out; Chinese lanterns in a bewildering range of shapes and colours – people, animals, magical creatures and places – in an ‘epic adventure in time and space’ at Longleat. www.longleat.co.uk

16-20 January

slapstick festival The nationally revered festival of classic comedy returns to cure your January blues, with this year’s curator Richard Herring; at various venues.

See feature page 34, slapstick.org.uk

NEW YEAR’S EVE

It’s ten seconds to midnight – let’s start the countdown, with 10 of the best…

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Steppin’ Out ’80s party The ’80s: the era that music forgot, or its last truly innovative decade?

Dust off your shoulder pads for the Tobacco Factory’s annual NYE shindig; tobaccofactory.com

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Wonkyland If Willy Wonka was a party, it would be this one. Expect the usual Hype lavishness; edible table centres, a naughty-or-nice helter skelter, and a cascade chocolate fountain, just in case you didn’t inhale enough of the stuff over Christmas. At Passenger Shed; hypeagency.co.uk

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Farewell to Paris Hyde & Co spin you back to boho 1920s Paris with excellent cocktails (theirs) and sparkling company (BYO); hydeand.co

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NYE at Milk Thistle Over at Hyde & Co’s sister bar, the bartenders are doing what they do best, with a special NYE menu alongside the usual one. milkthistlebristol

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Fiesta Go Spanish style at Noche Negra’s Fiesta; after unlimited cava and pintxos there’ll be all-night dancing with the resident DJ. patanegrabristol.com

’90s Party Bambalan winds the clock back 20 years, with a specially created cocktail on arrival; Panda Pops, anyone? bambalan.co.uk Great Gatsby party Dress to the Roaring Twenties max, and avail yourself of the free bar, but keep it classy; nobody wants to wake up to find a dead host in a swimming pool. thesquareclub.com

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Bristol Museum Come along to elegant Winterstoke Hall for a night of dark discovery, dining and dancing

before continuing into Wills Hall for a three-course dinner and yet more dancing; bristolmuseums.org.uk

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Circo Bizerko Slip and slide, it’s a fast ride at Loco Klub as you dive back into the underground sound of the electronica revolution; dress as ‘sideshow freak meets rave-goddess chic’. headfirstbristol.co.uk

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Prehistoric Pop Party Pop Confessional Thekla’s setting the time machine to a million years BC to celebrate with Earth’s earliest party poppers. headfirstbristol.co.uk

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

slapstick Goody goody yum yum!

Slapstick stalwarts Graeme, Tim and Bill have a new DVD out

Laugh out loud

Cheer up, Bristol. Yes, we know: another Yule’s over, and you’re deeper in debt. By the time you pick up this magazine you may even be back at work.

But hey! Slapstick’s here to bust your January blues with five days of laughter; so ignore the weather, forget the credit card bills and ignore the doomy Brexit headlines – at least for an hour or two, in the flickering light of the silver screen 34 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Buster the January blues with the guy who was funnier than Chaplin

slapstick

“I never know what people mean when they speak disparagingly about ‘dad jokes’. . .”

Tim Vine

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ere are two justifications for feeling smug about living right here in this city. (a) You have just celebrated Bristmas, while other cities had to make do with plain ordinary Christmas. (b) Slapstick’s a-coming. While non-Bristolians emerge, blinking painfully into the cold, postNew-Year-party dawn, with nothing but blurry yet deeply regrettable memories of the office Christmas party to dwell on, we have an ace comedy festival to cheer us all up.

We defy you not to find one event in the 2019 Slapstick programme that’ll make you laugh just thinking about it. Because Slapstick isn’t just about banana-skin pratfalls filmed in jumpy vintage black-and-white. You don’t need to be tickled by the sight of Laurel and Hardy smuggling a performing gorilla into a boarding house to enjoy it (though if you don’t, what’s wrong with you?) – there’s plenty of recent comedy on offer, too.

It’s true that the original aim of the festival was to put the classic silent comedies up on the big screen, with a big audience, with live music, so that people could see them as they

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

slapstick

“As a lifelong comedy nerd, Slapstick is absolute heaven for me. Hopefully for you too. But I’m the important one here” Richard Herring were originally intended, and this is still at the heart of the festival. But since 2010, the appeal and remit has widened and grown, and you’re just as likely to find a Perrier Award-winner extolling the virtues of Hancock’s Half Hour, or an Edinburgh Fringe young Turk explaining why he or she owes everything to Tommy Cooper. There are family-friendly events too, aimed at introducing the comedy greats of the past to a new generation.

This year’s eclectic and tasty programme runs a full five days between 16-20 January; the website has an excellent brochure for you to download, so you don’t really need us to break it down for you. Instead, we thought we’d have a chat with three of the leading lights at this year’s festival.

First off, we met Slapstick 2019 curator Richard Herring. “Not only do I get to spend more time in one of my favourite cities in the world,” says Richard (oh, you old flatterer), “but I will also be chatting to some of my alltime comedy heroes, like The Goodies and The Inbetweeners team. As a lifelong comedy nerd, this is absolute heaven for me. Hopefully for you, too. But I’m the important one here.”

We also have Tim Vine, the most hilarious punmeister of our time, who’s choosing his top comedy moments of all time and revealing his main comedy inspiration in the process.

Sally Phillips flashes the cheekiest smile on the comedy circuit while explaining that there was more to Louise Brooks than the sharpest haircut in Hollywod. below: expect the usual silver-screen suspects, from Stan and Ollie to Harold Lloyd, along with 1920s superbabe Mary Pickford

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

SLAPSTICK

RICHARD HERRING

Richard’s stint as festival curator will see him quizzing Tim Vine about his comedy favourites, rummaging with The Goodies through their new DVD box set and looking back at The Inbetweeners with its writers and co-star Joe Thomas. We hear from the organisers that Richard’s been ‘positively saintly in his support’ for this year’s Slapstick, so we put him on our front cover Richard, why do you think Slapstick has become such a well-loved festival?

The team behind it work incredibly hard to create a programme that Bristol can be extremely proud to host. Comedy is a crucial part of our lives, and it’s good to honour and celebrate those who have done it well in all its forms. Slapstick comedy is often incorrectly overlooked, or at least looked down upon, but as with any comedic discipline there are geniuses at work who deserve to be recognised and remembered.

Richard says that ‘comedy is a crucial part of our lives.’

Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he?

Who or what first inspired you to get into comedy?

I loved comedy as soon as I could laugh, and have loved people who can make me laugh, and loved making people laugh my whole life.

My granddad, who was a big Chaplin fan, was an early influence, and then I got into stuff like Tiswas and The Goodies, which led on to Python and The Young Ones…

Has it become harder to make it on the comic circuit since you started?

It’s much harder to get started in comedy now, mainly because there are so many people doing it. I still have a passion for what I am doing, and though I can’t work quite as hard and obsessively as I did in the 1990s, I still love coming up with new stuff, and am just pleased to still be here.

Which funny man or woman has made you laugh hardest and longest?

James Acaster is hard to beat as a stand-up, and Bob Mortimer is my favourite naturally funny man. But my favourites chop and change all the time.

Favourite comic movie of all time?

This is Spinal Tap.

Slapstick has presented quite a few lifetime achievement awards in its time.

If you could choose the next recipient, who would it be?

I am sure most of the people I would choose already have them, but of the living comedy icons I think Michael Palin and Barry Cryer spring to mind first.

Are there any comic talents, past or present, that you feel have been criminally overlooked or underrated?

(Cough cough)… But of course. Loads. Most comedians in fact. Many of them only have themselves to blame, but fame isn’t everything.

Simon Munnery should be widely heralded as my generation’s Spike Milligan.

“Bristol is as cool as flip. Don’t let anyone know the secret or a load of wassocks will turn up and ruin it” Tell us what you’re bringing to your strand of the festival, and what event you’re most excited about.

I am bringing myself and my comedy nerdiness, to talk to comedians I admire, and hopefully get some new stories from them. It’s going to be awesome chatting to The Goodies.

You kindly say that Bristol is one of your favourite cities in the world. Go on, massage our collective civic ego, and tell us why you love it.

You don’t need me to tell me why you’re great, Bristol. You know why! Obviously I was brought up fairly locally so it will always have a special place in my heart, but the city is as cool as flip and the comedy audiences know their stuff. Don’t let anyone know the secret or a load of wassocks will turn up and ruin it.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 37

SLAPSTICK

TIM VINE

Tim will reveal his Top Comedy Moments at Bristol Old Vic on 19 January Why is Slapstick Festival so important?

Well, I guess we all need more humour, more jokes in this day and age. Also, when you get a lot of people together who share the same passion, that gives any festival momentum, so it gathers new audiences. Which is obviously a very good thing.

jokes’. I loved my dad’s jokes. He’d go past a sundial and say, “Blimey, is that the time?” He was a lecturer as well as a lay preacher, so in a way he was a performer. He was a huge Sergeant Bilko fan — he’d get me up in the middle of the night to watch the show. He was also a big Goon Show fan, so introduced me to them.

Who or what first inspired you to get into comedy?

I suppose I’d say my dad. I never know what people mean when they speak disparagingly about ‘dad

Which funny man or woman has made you laugh hardest and longest?

Foster Brooks. Basically he plays a drunk man.

It’s terrific stuff. His appearances on the Dean Martin Show were masterly.

Mind you, the man who came to get rid of the wasps in my attic came out with a great line. As it happens, I have a top hat with large wasps sown on it. There’s a guy who makes props for comedians, so when I go there for a specific item I usually get him to run up a few random ones as well.

For some reason I decided a top hat with giant wasps sewn on it would be a good idea. And sure enough an occasion arose. When the wasp eradicator came round I

put it on. “They’re pretty big, mate,” I told him as I opened the door.

He wasn’t fazed. And he told me a very interesting thing. “You know what, Tim,” he said. “The big difference between bees and wasps is when you fumigate, the bees all try to get away. Panic, and fly off. But the wasps go deeper into the nest. To protect the queen.

“See – it’s the loyalty what kills ’em.”

I loved that.

Favourite comic movie of all time?

Top Secret with Val Kilmer and Omar Sharif.

Are there any comic talents that you feel have been criminally overlooked or underrated?

Benny Hill, and Bilko. I think Benny Hill is underrated. Bilko isn’t underrated; he’s just overlooked. I suppose a television company looks at their schedules and goes, “Hmm, 160 episodes of a black-and-white 1950s show.

Maybe not.” Which is a pity, because anybody who saw the show would probably love it.

Tell us what you’re bringing to your strand of the festival?

I’m doing my Ten Favourite Comedy Moments. Bilko will definitely be in there, Benny Hill too. Some Buster Keaton — another comic hero of mine. Always preferred him to Chaplin.

What do say to people who claim that puns are the lowest form of humour?

Puns? Can’t stand ’em myself. No one’s more surprised that I am that I do this for a living.

But they do seem here to stay – there seems to be something appealing about divorcing words from what we normally expect them to mean.

And they are international. I love Groucho Marx’s wordplay. And do you know, they even have puns in France? A French friend told me that the word for tomorrow – ‘demain’ sounds just like ‘deux mains’, ie ‘two hands’. So when a French person says “See you tomorrow”, in French, obviously – they wave their two hands.

Those guys.

What other event are you looking forward to seeing?

Jimmy Cricket is coming to the festival. He’s an old friend, so I’m definitely looking forward to that. I was round at Jimmy’s house and he asked if I wanted to hear his latest song. I said sure, thinking he’d play me a CD. But no – he put on a backing track, picked up a mic and gave me the whole thing, live in his front room.

It was great. So maybe he’ll do that.

Tim Vine: baffled that he gets to make puns for a living

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

Slapstick Festival runs 16-29 January at various venues. For full programme see www.slapstick.org.uk

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BRISTOL HEROES Ooooh. Fashion

Words and pictures by Colin Moody 42 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

photography

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ashion: it matters. It’s how you interface with the world. It’s your chance to tell everyone what you are all about. Fashion.

Turn to the left. Fashion. Turn to the right. Oooh fashion.

This issue’s Bristol Heroes features people I’ve met, randomly on the streets, or at events, who have just got something extra to add to the vast visual landscape.

I am not averse to a bit of “that looks good, it may be a bit over the top, but I’m gonna wear it anyway” school of what to wear. So let’s take a catwalk show over the next four pages. And if you think your own fashion game is strong, let me know on Twitter at @moodycolin and I will happily snap you on a street of your choice . . .

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He knows who he is. I know who he is. But does he want the world to know that every time he takes a hotair balloon for a ride, he is wearing clogs? Best to err on the side of caution. What I will say is that it’s a proper fashion statement, and it made me want to try a pair.

Stokes Croft. For those who don’t know, I’ve got a book out about the area (Google ‘Stokes Croft and Montpelier’ to find it) and walking the Croft every week you can see some amazing fashion statements being made. The charity shops and vintage market help to supply a lot of the good stuff, but every now and then someone stands out. Thalia here took time out by the market for an impromptu fashion shoot before the board run down to the Bearpit.

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Someone recently arrived in Stokes Croft. Lewis was just checking out a new flat when I met him opposite the Carriageworks building, which is now being demolished. I really loved his fashion choices. The joy of street photography is that, unlike a studio where you have to choose the right back colour for a shot, all I had to do was ask Lewis to stand in front of whatever mural or art handily presented itself.

“Fashion – it’s how you interface with the world.

How you tell everyone what you’re all about” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 43

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Amy here. We met walking in – you guessed it – Stokes Croft. She said she was doing a fashion shoot at the Arnolfini the next week, so we met up. It was a rainy day, so we improvised with an umbrella we found in a bin. Amy is wearing clothing from That Thing among others, and holds my minilight effortlessly inside the blue-sky thinking umbrella to bring some light into an otherwise grey day.

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It’s late. Very late. And Bristol Pants Man is making his statement. It was a hot summer, so I suppose that explains the minimal look.

This may be the most Bristol fashion statement of all eight heroes chosen this month, but he was not alone. Seven more rolled past just a moment later.

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When Grayson Perry rocked up to the Arnolfini a while back, everyone brought their A-game fashion. Funny thing was that while these two fashionistas were fawning over his image, the real deal in a fabulous dress was taking local artists and media on a tour round his work. For me this was the show of the year. Grayson makes art that looks at toxic masculinity, delves into our collective subconscious but also drives up the fashion stakes to 11. Thanks, Grayson.

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“In this wonderful world of purchase-power it’s nice to see the personalised fan look still strong” 44 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

photography

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Edson. Fashion icon. That’s it. Nothing to add. This was taken at Afrometropolis, an inclusive city state. All could enter. And if you were not there, you probably won’t understand what went on, so I won’t go into details here.

Thanks Edson.

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There are a lot of Manics fans in the city.

Big fan of the band myself. But some just live it, don’t they? In this wonderful world of purchase-power it’s nice to see the personalised fan look still strong. You have to mean it to push badges though your black leather jacket.

Fair play. Chwarae teg.

Colin is available as a ‘mini-mobile PR/marketing/ social media unit’, to shoot striking street-style photographs at live events: parties, launches, promos and performances, for impactful immediate social media.

Fees start at £100 for a two-hour package. email: mrcolinmoody@gmail.com Twitter: @moodycolin; Instagram @moodycolin319

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

A MAN’S WORLD SEB BARRETT

Sophie’s choice Why is the German idea of essential New Year’s viewing all but unknown in the UK? Despite the fact that it’s British through and through?

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“If Hogarth were alive today, he wouldn’t be bothering with etchings; he’d be a photojournalist in Stokes Croft”

lying at 30,000 feet somewhere over the Middle East, I was browsing the hit-andmiss smörgåsbord that is the in-flight entertainment centre when a particular video caught my eye. Dinner for One was described as “a much-loved New Year’s tradition. Even if you’ve never heard of it, sit back and enjoy this classic . . .”

But I had heard of it. In fact, I’d seen it, many years ago, this 1963 black-and-white short – impressively filmed in one shot – about a butler who gets increasingly drunk as he placates his lonely employer on her 90th birthday.

My Danish grandmother had insisted we watch it as children when we visited her over the Christmas and New Year holidays in Copenhagen. “It’s tradition!” she would say, as we gathered round to watch put-upon, aged butler James do his best to please his boss. “The same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie?” “The same procedure as every year, James!”

I hadn’t thought about it for years, or even considered why an English film so beloved as a New Year classic in Germany, Austria, and the Scandinavian countries was virtually unknown in Britain.

Dinner for One has been shown on German TV every year since 1972, with other nearby countries following closely behind.

Much like James himself, its broadcast history has had some bumps along the way. When Danish TV chose not to show the film on New Year’s Eve in 1985 – Sweden had earlier done

likewise, due to concerns about the 16 glasses of wine consumed by the butler – the complaints flooded in, and they capitulated to public outcry the following year.

There’s even a hint of something rude going on in the film’s final moments, but I’ll let you be the judge of that, if you’re ever inclined to watch it.

It just so happened that I was sitting next to a German on this flight. I wondered if he was familiar with Dinner for One, although I felt I already knew the answer. “Of course, this is a classic,” he responded, matterof-factly. “Would it surprise you if I said that most people in the UK have never heard of it?” He looked taken aback, then replied: “I am thinking this would very much surprise me!”

So why is Dinner for One not part of our British New Year’s traditions? Maybe it’s because we don’t need to look at our televisions to see somebody consuming enough alcohol to make the general medical officer flip his sensible lid. If Hogarth were alive today, he wouldn’t be bothering with etchings and engravings: he’d be a photojournalist in Stokes Croft.

Last New Year’s, my partner and I had the best intentions of staying up to watch the fireworks usher in 2018. Alas, with a threemonth-old baby, we were fast asleep well before midnight, a half-drunk Baileys in hand.

The same procedure as last year? Yes, please.

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

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

suncraft Generous bowls heaped high with goodness, a friendly vibe, its own hydroponics lab – what more could you want from your neighbourhood vegan restaurant? Alex Diggins tosses up the salads (and options) at this sunny new Glo Road opening

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here’s no chance of eating-out ennui setting in if you live near the Gloucester Road.

A short stroll up Bristol’s self-proclaimed independent shopping quarter (we’re not arguing) is a moveable feast of world cuisine. Hopscotching between tiny Thai cafés, buzzing Lebanese lounges and ramen joints thick with savoury steam, all via a smattering of good old-school Bristol boozers, is a round-the-world ticket without the expense, jet-lag or the need to pad through airport security in your socks at 5am.

That said, if you lean towards the vegan end of the spectrum, pickings can be a little slim. You can grab the odd salad or falafel here and there, and shops specialising in ethical, environmentally-friendly produce are thick on the ground. This is Bristol, after all, and the siren song of Stokes Croft can be heard drifting clearly through the Arches. But if you yearned for a simple, sit-down, plantbased restaurant, you may have been searching for a long and hungry time. Rejoice, then, in the arrival of Suncraft.

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

It’s run by the folks behind the beloved Glo Road watering hole and gig space, The Gallimaufry – yep, the one with furniture stuck to the ceiling – and it marks their first foray into a straight restaurant. And on initial impressions, it’s been a sure step, rather than a stumble.

The atmosphere is lovely; large windows face out into the street, looking out onto Gloucester Road’s neverending dramas, and letting light wash in. Inside, it’s bright and pretty. Vibrant pastels and interesting prints on the walls catch the eye. The furniture is unfussy: a few communal tables, the odd booth, and a handful of stools perched by the window. It’s a modest, democratic space; not a date-night location perhaps, but that’s not the point.

The point, as I soon discover, is serving fresh, flavoursome plant-based nosh. And they happen to do that rather well.

After a scan through the menu on the wall and its accompanying crib-sheet – handy if you don’t know your dashi from your dhansak – we chose two mains and a handful of sides. You’ll want some sides, if only because this kind of cooking rewards generosity.

restaurant

Alice, our waitress, was chatty and welcoming; and implored us to add the tofu in Vietnamese tomato sauce to our order. Good call. That dish is, as they say in these parts, banging. It arrived in a flurry with the other plates, but effortlessly overshadowed them. We jealously divided the small pile between us, greedily hoarding its naughty tomatoey richness – I could have eaten it by the troughful.

The pumpkin dhansak and gochujang stew we shared as mains didn’t quite hold their own against the tofu’s swaggering flavours, but they were nonetheless hearty and wholesome. I particularly enjoyed the dhansak. Its chickpea-tumbled sauce, backed up by herby basmati rice and leek bhaji, was gloriously comforting. Perfect for a day when the trees are stark and bare, and the wind nips; it warmed me to my roots.

The gochujang stew was, to my mind, less successful.

Admittedly, I’m not as familiar with its Korean-influenced tastes, but I still found its insistent chilli heat had a flattening effect on the other flavours and it became a rather monotone mouthful towards the end. Which was a shame, as it – alongside all the other dishes – had looked pretty special when it had arrived, presentation throughout being artistic and thoughtful.

The other sides were experimental and tasty. Kohlrabi, carrot and green mango salad was a superb palatecleanser: as sharp and bright as a winter’s morning.

The green tea and courgette pancake was a great idea, executed with flair. Though the subtle green tea taste was a little lost in the general fried deliciousness, it was that rare dish: one that feels mischievous, but is actually good for you.

Pudding pulled off a similar trick. Carrot kheer, a kind of set mousse, was redolent of cardamom and cinnamon with a delicate, brittle crunch of almond flakes on top.

Here, the flavours of the Indian sub-continent, which had been the mood-music to most of the menu, were allowed full voice. It was a light but satisfying end to our meal.

We just had time for a quick tour, admiring the focused bustle of the open kitchen, and oohing at the in-house hydroponics lab, which, though small, nonetheless demonstrated Suncraft’s admirable dedication to a local, organic and sustainable food chain. We peeked into the garden: a cosy little space, garlanded with fairy lights, it will make a lovely hideaway when it opens.

Here was a restaurant, I thought as I left, focused on doing things right: right by the staff, right by their customers, right by the planet. And in these turbulent and uncertain times, that is exactly the kind of approach we need. Long may Suncraft continue to shine its light on Gloucester Road. n

“The dhansak’s chickpeatumbled sauce was gloriously comforting”

Dining details Suncraft, 39 Gloucester Rd, Bristol BS7 8AD; www.suncraft.co.uk NB – no bookings taken Opening hours 12noon-10pm, Monday-Saturday We visited Midweek lunchtime Prices No printed menus, just daily specials – expect to pay around £6.50£7 for a mains, £4 salads, £4.50 puds Drinks Freshly made juices, organic wines and local beers Atmosphere Good morning, starshine Service Friendly, cheerful and helpful; staff wear yellow t shirts emblazoned with ‘Eat. Grow. Shine’.

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

05.12.18 France • 07.01.19 Algeria • 04.02.19 Bangladesh • 06.03.19 Cameroon 05.04.19 China • 05.05.19 USA • 05.06.19 Korea • 02.07.19 Senegal

New squids on the block

We’re still not sure how much use those umbrellas were in Nepal, mind

Who opened? Who closed? Who’s been hitting it out of the foodie park?

B

ristol is famously said to have the best food scene in the UK outside London; in this feature we look back at the main events of the past year to see how everything’s been moving along. Very tastily, it would appear.

One of the earliest of the 2018 new openings turned out to be one of the best, as the team behind Indian favourite Urban Tandoor on Small Street opened Urban Kohinoor on Whiteladies Road. One month later it was named Best Newcomer at the Asian Restaurant Awards; Urban Masala, their third branch, has just opened next to Tandoor.

Few openings were hotter than Pasta Ripiena on St Stephen’s Street, from the team behind the beloved Pasta Loco. Specialising in stuffed pasta, this tiny joint cheffed by Joe Harvey, brother of Loco’s Ben, became, entirely predictably, an overnight success.

Meanwhile on Portwall Lane, young Sam Elliott was ambitiously preparing to open Pasture – a first-floor steakhouse with a cocktail bar downstairs. Cue a rapturous

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

reception from everyone from Trip Advisor punters to The Guardian’s Grace Dent.

Gloucester Road, with yet more piggy delights and a takeaway menu called On the Trot.

All eyes were on the big Park Street site vacated by Goldbrick House when The Florist moved in. With walls inside and out rendered beautiful by Jody and Gemma Compton, and Instagrammable ceilings made of flowers, the menu felt something of an afterthought, but it’s certainly an opulent setting for cocktails.

Back to Cargo, where seafood diner Gambas, inspired by Valencia’s Mercado Central, became Season + Taste’s second opening on the Wharf, and their fifth Bristol restaurant – they already had Bravas, Corner 77, Bakers & Co and Cargo Cantina.

This was the year when many Bristol branches of the nationals closed and slunk away, while local chains thrived and expanded. Corner 77, from the team behind Bravas, opened a street food market on the former Meat Liquor site in Stokes Croft, offering ‘street food and events, offering an ever-changing feast’. Now doesn’t that sound more Bristol?

In summer, Woky Kauto, Woky Ko’s big sister, opened on Queens Road with lots of favourites from Larkin Cen’s Ko menu, including baos, noodles and a ramen that has become the stuff of local legend, along with cocktails. Also building on its success at Cargo was Pigsty who opened a bigger branch on

Jon Finch and Ben Merrington, the affable duo who launched Grillstock, opened Quay Street Diner on Quay Street (we see what they did there). The all-day kitchen has a strong Cali/ Mex influence, served alongside British classics in a easygoing, surf-shack ambience.

Welsh outfit Bar 44 confidently brought the unique take on modern Spanish dining that made them a hit across the Severn to Clifton, with a highly stylish interior, seasonal menu and 100% Spanish drinks.

The Bristol Cookhouse – a multi-use food venue with a canteen/supper club/food studio overseen by Sam Waterhouse – opened on Gloucester Road.

2018 foodie review

Also back was Bristol Craft Beer Festival, which this year moved to Harbourside to accommodate an even more hoptastic offering.

New for 2018 was the first British Dal Festival in March with a whole week devoted to this dish; having successfully taken the pulse for 2018, it’s due to return next February.

Coffee freaks finally got their own festival in the form of The Coffee House Project at Passenger Shed in September, offering a caffeine-fuelled celebration of the best the city has to offer; it’s also due to return in 2019.

WHAT ELSE?

Well, Bristol gained its fifth Michelin star when Bulrush won it for the first time; it now joins the Pony & Trap, Wilks, Casamia and Paco’s Tapas on the UK’s most respected list.

THAT NEPAL TREK

Bao bao baby: Woky Kauto opened on Queen’s Road

The restaurant with the longest name in Bristol – Goram and Vincent Smokehouse at Avon Gorge by Hotel du Vin – opened in the newly revamped hotel, and instantly became famous for serving the smallest and most expensive prawn cocktail in town. It’s definitely not cheap, but it’s stylish, our lobster was world-class, and it has killer views.

“Basically all chefs are bonkers, with big hearts”

It’s all very well, chefs climbing mountains for charity, but who’s going to cook our dinner?

Seriously though, big up to Peter Sanchez Iglesias, Dominic Borel, Jamie Randall, Freddy Bird, Josh Eggleton, Aine Morris and Kieran Waite, who all took part in the April Nepal trek for Action Against Hunger in the Langtang region of the Himalayas. It’s a charity that most of Bristol’s chefs have got behind, raising over £1m through various initiatives. We hear that another bunch of them are attempting a second climb soon; because basically all chefs are bonkers, with big hearts.

Bristol Old Vic revealed the final stage in its transformation with new 1766 Bar & Kitchen; Coco Barone is reportedly serving one of the best Sunday roasts in Bristol…

Two standout Clifton restaurants, Wellbourne and Wallfish, joined forces to create Wallfish & Wellbourne, serving a seasonal British menu.

Suncraft, a plant-based restaurant with an Asian flavour opened on Glo Road (p48).

Finally, The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes opened for a month at The Island, in an initiative to redress people’s attitude to dementia; apart from executive chef Josh Eggleton, every member of staff had the illness. “Fourteen people who have been diagnosed with dementia running a restaurant – what could possibly go wrong?” said supporter Hugh Bonneville. Nothing did.

THE EVENTS

After a year’s break to regroup and re-inspire, Food Connections returned in May with a truly citywide mission.

Slice work if you can get it at Bar 44

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

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cafÉ society Stan Cullimore

New adventures Stan uncovers a taste for new beginnings on the Gloucester Road

A

h, the new year.

A lovely thing, precious and sweet. If a little weird. Now I think about it, reminds me of some soap we had recently, strawberry liquorice flavour, it was. That was both sweet and weird. Really weird. But not in a good way. Who wants to come out of a bathroom with their hands smelling like they’ve just been to a sweet shop? It’s unsettling, that’s what it is. Unsettling. But I digress.

Point is, this portion of the calendar always puts me in a

“The décor is sort of relaxed hipster meets shabby chic, with a soupçon of yurt life thrown in for good measure”

thoughtful frame of mind. As the first few days of 2019 turn into weeks and then months, it makes sense to spend some time contemplating the future and maybe even dreaming a little.

Who knows, the next 12 months might even turn some of those dreams into crazy, delicious plans that actually come to pass.

Don’t know about you, but I find there is something strangely reassuring about this time of year. You can dream big, without worrying about the wake-up call.

Though truth be told, that could just be because I have had a lot of Christmas spirit onboard over the last few weeks and lost the will to rise and shine. But I am digressing, again.

Point is, bearing all that in mind, ladies, gentlemen and others, my cafe of choice this week is Jackalope. A proudly independent little coffee shop that is quietly settled in at the top end of Gloucester Road, somewhere between Ashley Down and Horfield Common.

It’s an oasis of peace that sits modestly on one of my cycle routes, which means I have plenty of excuses to drop in for a coffee and piece of cake.

The décor is sort of relaxed hipster meets shabby chic, with a soupçon of yurt life thrown in for good measure. Also, and

more importantly, they do a very good piece of cake. Caramel fudge being one of my particular favourites. Mmm. Another thing which pleases my heart is the little cork coaster that comes with your cup of coffee, snuggled up underneath there like a cosy cork glove of loveliness.

Very nice touch.

There are lots more things about the place that please me, too. The music they play. The picture cards that local businesses put out for you to peruse whilst you pass the time. More nice touches. The hand-drawn diary on the wall that tells you all about the crafty workshops they run.

Macrame, crochet and ceramics and even a book club.

Very appealing. If, like me, your mind has turned to new adventures at this time of year, you could do a lot worse than turning up to one of these workshops. Giving some new hobby a whirl might just be the very thing your new year is crying out for.

Either way, happy new year, folks. Here’s hoping it is filled with coffee, cake and wonderful café society adventures for us, one and all. n Former Housemartins guitarist Stan is now a journalist and travel writer www.stancullimore.com

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GINGER & JUNIPER MASSAGE OIL, £14 The perfect winter warmer; a blend of stimulating essential oils in a skin-softening base to help relax tired muscles while helping to boost your circulation From Neal’s Yard 126 Whiteladies Road www.nealsyardremedies.com

THE REVENGE OF LADY BLANCHE, £185 Heritage perfumery Penhaligons feels like a little corner of the Burlington Arcade transported to the West Country. Their Portraits line, such as ‘dangerous’ white floral Lady Blanche, smells as gorgeous as the bottle looks From Penhaligons 14 New Bond Street, Bath www.penhaligons.com

OWAY SCULPTING MIST, £28.50 “It’s our favourite product – as an aerosol-free hairspray, it’s kind to the environment as well as hair and skin. It smells amazing, too,” says hairdresser Clair Swinscoe. “It holds better than any hairspray, it doesn’t leave any hard sticky feeling in the hair, and you can even brush it out to create a soft, natural look.”

From Clair Swinscoe Studio Couture 11 King’s Road www.clairswinscoe. wixsite.com

THE SKINS EDIT No, not Bristol’s most famous teens (though we couldn't resist the header). Just our New Year roundup of the very best products to make your skin and hair glow this winter

HOURGLASS AMBIENT LIGHTING POWDER, £42 This universal finishing powder in six shades creates the most exquisitely flattering light, from ethereal moonlight to luminous candlelight From Harvey Nichols Quakers Friars www.harveynichols.com

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

LAVENDER & TEA TREE CLEANSING GEL, £5.94; VANILLA & HONEY FACE MASK, £7.98 We love Bristol skin-care range Amphora for its calm, no frills packaging, reasonable prices and the beautiful aroma of their pure essential oils From Amphora Aromatics www.amphora-retail.com

ED’S CHOICE PEVONIA POWER-REPAIR, £68 Potent anti-ageing intensifier, proved to significantly decrease the skin’s deterioration and the appearance of lines From Cadbury House Spa, Congresbury www.cadburyhotelbristol.co.uk

STILA ONESTEP CORRECT PRIMER, £26 The triple-swirled serum instantly primes, colourcorrects and brightens while the three colourcorrecting pigments even out any complexion From Harvey Nichols Quakers Friars www.harveynichols.com

DARPHIN ROSE AROMATIC OIL, £40 It’s hard to convey how special this feels to use; but the luxurious floral aroma and ergonomic bottle make you feel you’re applying the precious drops of a magical elixir to your skin From Space NK 81 Queens Road www.spacenk.com

BOBBI BROWN LONG-WEAR FOUNDATION, £32 Our go-to every morning, due to its 16-hour lasting full- coverage and the natural, multidimensional matte finish – comfortable, breathable and weightless From Bobbi Brown, Cabot Circus www.bobbibrown.co.uk

INCREDIBLE MILK, £1.39-£10.99 “Our hero product – a leave-in treatment with 12 effects, suitable for all hair types. We love it because it is a miracle-working multi-tasker!” says Claire Hurst.

From Jon Hurst Hairdrssing 18 Cotham Hill www.jonhursthairdressing.co.uk

AVEDA CHERRY ALMOND SOFTENING SHAMPOO, £15.50; CONDITIONER £17.50 Not only does this smell intoxicatingly like the most delicious bakewell tart, but Sam Bell says it creates “incredible shine; it’s like having a salon at home.”

From Hair at 58, 58 Cotham Hill; www.hairat58.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 59

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on the radio kam kelly

Give it up for Europe What’s the point of quitting the booze and the fags if we have to leave the EU?

T

o quote Eddie Murphy as Billy Ray Valentine in Trading Places: Merry New Year!

The pressure to commit to umpteen New Year’s resolutions is upon me once again. I’m sorry but I refuse, once again, to make any.

You’re thinking it’s because I’m weak and have no willpower, aren’t you? To be fair, you’re not wrong. But this year I have a bona fide excuse for not making any resolutions. It seems to be everybody’s go-to scapegoat.

It’s a little thing called Brexit.

And yes, I can use it as a megareason that I will not be giving up smoking or drinking this year.

See, all the power and control has been taken out of my hands.

I am being forced to quit Europe.

I mean, you can’t expect me to wilfully kick my other addictions when my biggest one has been forcibly removed from me.

Because I always really liked Europe – awesome place to go for cheap fags and booze.

Yeah, I can still go, but when you’re part of Europe, and you wear a football shirt on holiday,

“When it came to style and the weather, we were like the really thick kid in the class that was Europe”

the locals have to look at you and bury their heads in their hands, knowing that we are all part of the same union. Which means, by default, that they have to be as embarrassed of us as we are.

But now they have no allegiance to us, so can simply point, laugh and judge. When it came to style and weather, we were like the really thick kid in the class that was Europe. We singlehandedly brought down the class average.

We’re pasty and blotchy, with illfitting clothes, and acne to boot.

Anyway, maybe I’ll think about writing some proposals for leaving my bad habits in 2020.

I shall get to work on Beerxit.

But based on Brexit, that may take longer than a year to complete. Damn Europe and its drinking quotas.

And I shall also be getting to work on leaving the Nicotinean Union. Smoxit will ensure that no longer will my hard-earned cash go to the bureaucrats in Londis, thank you very much.

And seeing as how most of my family live in London, I shall ban them from heading any further west than Reading. Freeloaders.

Coming down here drinking all our cider. Down here we use apples for cider, not poxy rhyming slang for stairs.

You’re probably wondering what I’m going to do with all the extra cash I’ll get to keep

after Beerxit and Smoxit, yeah?

It will go directly back into the VHS. And after weekly influxes of cash we should be able to afford a much-needed upgrade of the VHS, and we should be on BluRay by 2021 if our calculations and forecasts are correct.

What about importing and exporting? I am currently working on a trade deal to keep importing Sky to my flat. If talks collapse at Chequers (down on the river in Lower Hanham), then I shall restart talks with the Bristolian alternative, Skoi TV as their schedule is pretty good.

Like their show that tackles Bristol’s drug problem, Stash in the Attic. Or crime drama Whitchurch, starring Bristol Old Vic Theatre School grad Livvy Coleman.

Popular soap EastonEnders.

For quizheads there’s The Weakest Link Road hosted by St Anne’s Robinson, and The Chase(rs) with Bradley Stoke Walsh. For the kids, there’s a range of programmes on CBabbersies, from Postman Patchway to Curious Gorge. On Comedy Central Chambers you’ll see such classics as Little Bitton, Pill and Grace and Southmead Park , all of which will have you UWEing yourself.

Happy No Europe, everyone.

Kam Kelly’s breakfast show, every weekday from 6am, Sam FM Bristol, 106.5fm

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 63

INTRODUCING

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keep fit

Health matters

Hazel Bugler, chiropractor at The Medical, explains that prevention is always better than cure

Y

ou could join a gym. Go vegan. Buy a Fitbit. Maybe all three. Or how about getting your new year off to a flying start by having a full-body MOT? The Medical is a private healthcare supplier, offering award-winning services from GPs, chiropractors, physiotherapists, osteopaths, acupuncturists and more. Established in Bristol 11 years ago, it now has 22 healthcare centres across the UK, with the largest group of clinics and widest range of services here in Bristol.

What sets you apart from similar companies in your field?

As we’re open from 7am until 9pm, we’re designed to make life easier for our patients, to provide appointments that can work around a busy schedule. We also aim to deliver the ultimate convenience to patients, with so many healthcare services available under one roof, as a ‘one stop, healthcare shop’, affordable prices and payment options. Our team of experts offer a multidisciplinary, patient-centred approach, with unique treatment plans, tailored to the individual.

Is chiropractic, physio etc just for sportspeople or those with problems, or should we all have a regular checkup?

Prevention is better than cure… always!

Some aspects of health can’t be prevented completely, such as joint-degeneration, but it can be prevented and considerably slowed.

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 physio can help prolong the health of your musculoskeletal system?

In the same way that you visit the dentist for regular check-ups, we encourage you to look after your body with an ‘MOT’ check.

Just as you hope not to have any serious surprise dental requirements, you may require considerably more treatment if you wait for a problem to give you symptoms.

“Take 2019 as an opportunity to strive for optimum health, and be happier as a result” What are the biggest misconceptions about chiro, physio and osteopathy?

So many patients assume that they must see their GP first. These professionals are qualified as primary health care practitioners, so you can refer yourself directly and they are trained to be able to assess if you have a musculoskeletal injury that can be treated.

Another confusion is ‘which type of treatment is right for me?’ This is why a

detailed consultation and assessment of symptoms is a key starting point of treatment.

Tell us why we should pay you a visit in 2019, and how it can enhance our lives

During your initial consultation, the practitioner will conduct a thorough assessment and advise you on how we can help.

Sometimes this involves advice about your lifestyle, wellbeing, exercise regime. This can enhance your life in so many ways and not just about treating your symptoms and current complaint. Or why not book a full-body health check with the GP? Take 2019 as an opportunity to strive for optimum health, living healthier and therefore happier as a result.

If we could do one thing to make our 2019 fitter and healthier, what would it be?

Move! More often, in a conscious and mindful manner. So many of the problems we see in clinic are from patients that have a sedentary lifestyle and do not take enough exercise.

Combined with this is stress or tension that is held in the body, as it is not released through activity. To release stress and get more exercise, aim to get outside, walk and cycle rather than drive and ensure everyday that taking some deep breaths in nature (even if it is cut through Queen’s Square, everything helps!). And as it’s New Year, why not get up and dance? That counts! n Visit www.themedical.co.uk or call 03303334123

www.mediaclash.co.uk I bristol LIFE I 67

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RETIREMENT

“The current elderly generation don’t want a gated community where older people only mix with older people” 70 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

RETIREMENT

Golden years The face of retirement living is changing; our current elderly population expect a high standard of life, whether it’s their own home in a carefully created community, or a residence offering full-time care. Here are some of the best options we’ve found

By Lisa Warren

THE Vincent

Privately owned apartments in Redland The Vincent offers bespoke retirement living for people over 60 who want to live as part of a community. Overlooking Durdham Downs, the development is an easy walk from the best of Redland, but also offers its own self-contained social and lifestyle hub. Life revolves around the arboretum garden, the barista-fronted coffee bar, the lounge and private dining room, gym, stretch studio and hydrotherapy pools, while a concièrge service is the first port of call for everything from booking a spa treatment to information on Bristol’s latest exhibitions.

For more: www.pegasuslife.co.uk

The Chocolate Quarter

The hotel-style indoor pool at The Vincent

Private apartments in Keynsham community Created by Bristol charity St Monica Trust (see also page 106) within the former home of Fry, later Cadbury, The Chocolate Quarter offers luxury retirement living within beautifully designed apartments, public spaces and impressive diners.

The facilities in the £60 million development – a spa, gym, pool, craft studios, hairdressers and salon, pizzeria B Block and bistro Somer Dining – are all open to the public, encouraging intergenerational use, which helps prevent the sense of isolation that older people often experience in gated communities.

For more: www.thechocolatequarter.org.uk

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RETIREMENT The Hawthorns

Retirement community with a breath of sea air The Hawthorns retirement community, situated on the seafront at Clevedon, is a recently refurbished, purpose-built community for independent senior living, that provides the highest quality rental option for an all-inclusive monthly fee.

The high-quality facilities have a friendly, home-from-home atmosphere, with a choice of stylish apartments, all with their own kitchen and en-suite shower room.

Communal areas include a dining room with restaurant-quality dining and table service, a cinema, therapy and treatment room, hair and nail salon, games room, library and beautifully maintained landscaped gardens.

Residents can take advantage of the sea air with their own nine-hole putting green and landscaped grounds; there are also easy walks along the coast.

For more: www.hawthornsretirement.co.uk

Stoke Gifford Retirement Village

Homes to buy or rent within a retirement village community The ExtraCare Charitable Trust is a registered charity with a vision: to create better lives for older people, creating sustainable communities that provide homes older people actually want, lifestyles they can enjoy, and care if it’s needed.

A vibrant community has been created at the £53m retirement village in Stoke Gifford

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

Abbeyfield

near the University of the West of England campus. There are 261 apartments, with homes available for outright purchase, shared ownership and rental.

Around 18 social and health facilities are open to residents and local older people, families and volunteers, including a reception and main street, shop, café bar, library and IT suite, hairdresser, salon, craft room, fitness suite and village hall.

The village also has a wellbeing centre, and care and support is available on site for residents who need help to live independently (around a third of the community).

For more: www.extracare.org.uk/Retirement/Villages

Glenview

Residential care for dementia patients A new award-winning sister care home to Meadowcare, also based on Belvedere Road, Glenview is a round-the-clock personalised high-end care facility for people with dementia in a new state-of-the-art home just off the Downs. Facilities include a hydrotherapy bath, sensory room offering music therapy, light therapy and a range of complementary therapies, such as reflexology and massage.

There are also exercise classes, along with cognitive therapies.

For more: www.glenviewbristol.co.uk; www.meadow-care.co.uk

Retirement houses in the Bristol area Abbeyfield’s focus is to support older people and enable them to remain independent for as long as possible. It’s the ideal option for stressfree retirement for those who are struggling to live alone; many residents still drive their own cars, and continue to be active in the community. Abbeyfield sees its role as helping them to do this for as long as possible.

Residents enjoy three home-cooked meals a day, along with a calendar of social events. They have the privacy of their own apartments, but with daily coffee mornings, and communal mealtimes, there’s always someone to talk to. Loneliness is never an issue.

For more: www.abbeyfield-bristol.co.uk

Amelia Lodge

Private community in Henleaze Located on Henleaze Terrace, next to a beautiful park and close to local shops, Amelia Lodge is a collection of 33 privately owned one- and two-bedroom retirement apartments and shared facilities, designed exclusively for the over 60s.

Apartments have spacious rooms throughout, and an ideal combination of design and functionality. Owners also enjoy ultimate peace of mind from a fitted camera entry system for the highest level of security and a 24 hour emergency call system.

“Residents tell us how they ‘started to live again’ when they came to us”

above: Bird’s Fry view? The innovative new Chocolate Quarter in Keynsham; below: the new community at Stoke Gifford

A lodge manager oversees the day-today running of the development, offering a friendly face to turn to, and taking care of all the upkeep and maintenance so that owners don’t have to. With less to worry about, owners have more time to do the things they enjoy, such as having family or friends to stay in the development’s well-appointed guest suite, having a chat with neighbours, or attending one of the regular social events in the owners’ lounge.

For more: www.churchillretirement.co.uk

Frenchay Park and frenchay Gardens

Independent home ownership Frenchay Park and Frenchay Gardens are the first two phases of the development built on the site of the old Frenchay Hospital. The development has been designed to appeal to everyone, with a choice between traditional homes – the Heritage collection, based on the Arts & Crafts houses of the 1930s and 1940s – and modern ones with open-plan living spaces.

Close to Bristol city centre, the site offers suburban living with a community village feel.

An unique online system at the weblink below allows customers to personalise their new home, choosing from a range of highspec styles.

For more: www.redrow.co.uk

THEY SAY . . .

The Vincent

“Independence is the single greatest driving force in our new generation of retirees. They want to enjoy their later years in comfort, and keeping the mind and body active is important.

Retirees are looking for homes which facilitate an active social life; the type of living offered by forward-thinking developments, such as The Vincent, is especially attractive to single retirees, who are looking to meet people and build relationships.”

The Chocolate Quarter “What worked for one generation won’t necessarily work for another, and the current elderly generation don’t want a gated community where older people only mix with

older people. They want to live in open communities, with access to people from different generations, who will keep them feeling alive and vibrant.”

The Hawthorns “The demands of the retirement sector are growing and developing quickly, as those entering the age bracket have progressively experienced more in the way of hotels, travel, and an overall high standard of life. They don’t just want an apartment in a retirement block with a residents’ lounge; they want a supported, active and healthy lifestyle within a friendly and vibrant community. It’s a great blend of being with others, but with the privacy of having your own front door.”

Stoke Gifford “Older people don’t want an institutionalised model of care.

Independence, being part of a community and having opportunities to rekindle old skills or learn new ones are all key parts of meeting people’s expectations.”

Glenview “Research has proven that the impact of inter-generational contact, cognitive therapies, cohesive communications with all external and internal care staff, doctors, consultants and others is crucial in providing high quality care for those with dementia.”

Abbeyfield “To convince someone that they’d be happier if they left the home they love is difficult, and

sometimes they need to make the move to really appreciate it. We offer a trial period to any prospective resident. There’s no commitment, but the majority end up moving straight in and taking a permanent flat.

Residents tell us how they ‘started to live again’ when they came to us. We take away the stress of living alone.”

amelia lodge “Amelia Lodge has proved a popular choice for local retirees thanks to the lifestyle on offer.

The development has a real sense of community and offers all the support and facilities needed for an independent, hassle-free retirement. With just three apartments now available, potential buyers will have to act quickly to secure a move to this well-connected part of Bristol.”

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 73

Photos taken at The Chocolate Quarter, St Monicas Trust

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clockwise: Sweeping enough for you? Cantock

Sands; just add smugglers; foam party down Fistral; Lusty Glaze – like an Ibiza beach club in summer, gloriously cosy in winter

Rock and rollers We visit the UK’s capital of surfing, now offering entertainment, elevated cuisine and a long, wave-battered coastline

By Deri Robins

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

great escapes

T Oh, and since you’re in the area . . .

If you’re down for a couple of days, and want to mosey around a classic Cornish fishing village (and hell, who doesn’t?) then hightail it to nearby Padstow.

Here, Rick Stein’s fishy empire holds sway. There’s his Seafood Restaurant; his Fish & Chips; his Gift Shop, and his Deli – and just as you have all those sorted in your head, you discover Rick Stein’s Café tucked away in Middle Street.

Thought that was confusing? Then know this: the name is disingenuous.

It may call itself a café; it may have more than a soupçon of old-school seaside charm with its scrubbed wooden tables; but the cooking is as ambitious (Asian fusion), the service as smooth, the dining as fine as you’d find at a restaurant with a far posher name.

A pair of lethally good spiced apple daiquiris preceded a bowlful of plump mussels with chilli, garlic and ginger (me) and fat, fish-heavy, potato-lite cod fishcakes (him).

Ignore perceived wisdom about sea bass being too delicate and easily overwhelmed to take strong flavours; served here, in a hot sweet chilli sauce with crunchy cashews, ours was up there as one of our best dishes of the year.

Dining à la carte here isn’t cheap, but the three-course menu at £24.95 is an absolute steal for food of this quality and refinement. It’s not exactly a secret, though; booking ahead is recommended.

o reach the Lusty Glaze restaurant, deep in a Cornish cove surrounded by 200ft high cliffs, you have three choices: go by boat; stumble down a set of 133 steps clinging to the side of the cliff, or whizz in by zip-wire.

In the realms of surreal access to restaurants, clearly we are dealing with giants here. But it appears to put nobody off. Demi Moore apparently once opted for the zip-wire route, while visiting with Ashton and the kids (what, and he still left her for Mila?).

We, however, clambered gingerly down the 133 fairylit steps on a dark November night. Even though a force five south-westerly whipped in off the Atlantic, I think we managed our descent with an acceptable degree of aplomb.

Whatever your means of arrival, you’ll be glad you made the effort. The restaurant sits – well, dominates – the cove, looking out west across the Atlantic. On a hot summer’s day, you could be at an Ibizan beach club; the stretch of sand it fronts was named the best beach in Britain by The Times last year. In winter, the surf is pounding outside, but in the restaurant the log burners are roaring away, the day’s catch is in, and dishes are being prepared – try the mussels in cream sauce. If I told you how many we had, you wouldn’t believe me.

By the way, the words ‘Lusty Glaze’ aren’t anything to do with what you might think; the only saucy thing here is the stuff you get with the aforementioned mussels. In fact, ‘Lusty Glaze’ comes from the old Cornish meaning ‘a place to view blue boats’. Which sounds fair enough, if somewhat niche.

After clambering back up the steps, you’ll be wondering where to stay. Nowhere better than nearby Lewinnick Lodge, a hotel perched with admirable bravado right on the cliff edge. Modest enough from the outside, it’s rife with luxurious

boutiquery within; picture windows frame views along the snarling coastline, the roar of the sea is a constant, and you’ll wish you’d packed your complete Penguin set of Daphne du Mauriers.

But we have to get underway. Put those binoculars down (supplied in every room) and get ready for Newquay. This is the capital of surfing UK. Fistral Beach, just west of the town, is its number one centre – dudes relax in dunes before braving the rollers, which have had 3,000 miles to pick up speed before crashing into Cornwall.

There’s a surf school, surf shop and beach bar.

The natural grandeur of Newquay’s beaches has remained unchanged since the tectonic plates first began to inch about. But the town itself is transformed. Yes, you can still get your candyfloss and your slot machines, but next door to the amusement arcade you’re just as likely to find silent disco yoga or a vegan café. Top chef Nathan Outlaw recently named Newquay’s Kahuna as his “under-theradar” choice of where to eat in Cornwall.

(Not under the radar now!) The hipsters have arrived, and co-exist alongside the surfers, the families, the dogwalkers, the ramblers, and you.

Newquay’s beaches include Cantock, whose beautiful white dunes are bound together by marram grass as tough as fisherman’s twine. The esoteric sounding Polly Joke beach is no laughing matter; the name comes from the ‘Porth Lojowek’ meaning ‘cove abounding in vegetation’. This is no idle boast — it’s bounded by National Trust land, and is a top destination for those studying marine botany.

This area of Cornwall is renowned for is surfing, but today is attracting new visitors to its destination hotels and its cliff top walks. Of course, heavy weather isn’t uncommon; but you already knew that. It just means that the changing drama of the seascapes, the cuisine and the craft beer is a huge attraction, no matter what time of the year you decide to visit.

“‘Lusty Glaze’ comes from the old Cornish meaning ‘a place to view blue boats’. Which sounds fair enough, if somewhat niche”

Travel details Lewinnick Lodge Pentire Headland, Newquay Cornwall TR7 1QD (01637) 878 117; www.lewinnicklodge.co.uk

Double rooms January/February mid-week, including breakfast, from around £110 to £155

For more: www.rickstein.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 81

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Catch the sun…

Stuart Shotton, founder of SUN KISSED CAMPERS talks about the growing popularity of his campervan hire business and what the future has in store What is your background?

For the past four years, my wife Jan and I have helped create hundreds of memorable road trip holidays. To celebrate this milestone we are adding two more, brand new DSG automatic VW California Oceans to our growing fleet of campervan hires.

What is a VW California Ocean?

It is an amazing piece of kit. The rear bench slides on a rail, allowing a simple transformation from seat to bed . Cab chairs swing round to create a comfortable “lounge”. The electric pop-up roof glides open at the touch of a button.

They sleep four. Both beds boast memory foam mattresses. Windows are double glazed and have integrated blackout blinds.

You get total off grid luxury for about five days – wine is chilled, phone stays charged and nights are cosy. Perfect for festivals.

Where are the most popular destinations?

Cornwall and Devon are constant favourites, as are Dorset and South Wales. Being on our doorstep, they are perfect for a long weekend.

2018 saw a huge surge of interest in the Highlands. The big draw is the North Coast 500.

A circular 516 mile scenic route from Inverness Castle, it’s Scotlands answers to Route 66. Spring and Autumn are the best time to visit if you want to avoid the dreaded midges.

What do your customers say about their camping experiences?

“We don’t want to give the keys back!”

What upgrades do you offer?

Our standard kit is usually more than enough.

But, we offer many upgrades to enhance your experience. We provide kit to carry bikes, kayaks and boards. Bell tents and driveway awnings for basecamps. Our fire pits and kiln dried logs create perfect campfire nights. We offer pet friendly campers, bedding, toilets and even outside showers. If it is not listed we’ll do our best to source it.

Where are you based and how do we get to you?

We are essentially an internet based company, with all bookings conducted online. For the past two years our campers have lived in a fabulous high street garage in Weston Village, directly behind the Royal United Hospital. But, with our fleet growing year on year, we will soon reach

capacity. Bath hasn’t much space to grow, so a move to Bristol is very possibly on the cards.

How long do most people tend to hire the campers for?

It varies. Three day mini adventures are very popular, we can have a camper ready as early as 9.30am and you don’t need to return until 4.30pm. However, we get many people taking campers away on tour for weeks on end. Our longest hire was four and a half months.

What’s been your favourite destination to date?

We have become big fans of the road trip. Back in Easter we took off through France, over the Pyrenees into Spain. We reached Valencia before heading back up through Catalonia. It was an amazing adventure. You can read about it on our website blog. ■

1-2 High Street, Weston Village, Bath, BA1 4BX 01225 330106 info@sunkissedcampers.co.uk www.sunkissedcampers.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 83

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

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

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

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

advertising feature

Meet the recruitment agent Looking for a new job, or to expand your team, in 2019? Who you gonna call?

Lucy Evans

Jon Shearing

HEAT RECRUITMENT 0117 922 1771; www.heatrecruitment.co.uk

Resolve recruitment & Training services 01179733155; www.resolveithere.co.uk What sectors do you recruit for?

We’ve expanded to work across sales, office support, driving & industrial. We also have an e-learning and training division.

Why should a candidate enrol with you?

Candidates can expect a highly focused service offering career expertise along with expert training to enhance career prospects.

How long have you been in recruitment?

I’ve been working within the recruitment industry for 15 years, from senior consultant through to management, and now as a director.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

No day is the same. There’s so much variety in my position dealing with both individuals and businesses.

What is your career highlight?

Winning holidays with BT in my younger days was certainly up there. But opening a successful and expanding recruitment and training business tops it!

Why should companies use you as an agent to find their staff?

Experience aside, we possess all leading job boards, have a huge amount of followers across all social media platforms and a very effective in-house database. We also manage the ‘Jobs In Bristol’ group on Facebook which has over 14,000 members in – this collectively gives us a huge advantage over our competition in the region.

How long have you been in recruitment?

I have worked at Heat Recruitment since leaving university in 2015. During this time, I have been lucky enough to be promoted three times from trainee recruitment consultant to executive recruitment consultant. I feel extremely grateful to have spent the last three years with a company who not only care about providing a brilliant service to clients and candidates but also provide an outstanding working culture for their employees.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

As a financial planning specialist, I enjoy speaking to clients and candidates with whom I have built trusted and long-term relationships over the past three years. Although building this client portfolio has its challenges, I really like being in control of my personal success, and if I work hard, I am rewarded through a generous commission structure and company incentives. I also really like the culture at Heat, which is professional but fun, and we are also lucky enough to have a company gym where I spend my lunchtimes.

What is your career highlight?

Over the past three years, my career highlight has to be achieving one of the quickest promotions to executive consultant in the history of the business.

Jon Shearing

Lucy Evans

Stuart Raison

Skilling Gate 0117 428 6388; www.skillinggate.co.uk

Kate Davis

Juice recruitment bristol 01179 209 393; www.juicerecruitment.com What sets you apart from other recruitment companies?

Our brand, culture and ethos oozes enthusiasm, passion and energy. We treasure old-fashioned values ­honesty, trust and integrity ­and our goal is to connect the right people with the right opportunities. This is integral to everything we do.

What are the most rewarding aspects of the job?

The recruitment sector is a fascinating industry to work within, it¹s fast paced and ever changing. We work with the most amazing organisations across the South West, our dedicated consultants work hard to understand the ins and outs of their business and the individuals who make it a success. That, coupled with the incredible people we support at every stage of their career; meeting with them to truly understand their motivations and drivers in order to find them the perfect next move.

How long have you been established for?

Juice Recruitment started twenty years ago, in a small office in Bath. We now have five branches across the South West region and we have exciting expansion plans on the horizon.

Our aim in the forthcoming months is to continue to deliver a first-class experience to our clients and candidates alike.

Kate Davis

Stuart Raison

What sectors do you recruit for?

Our firm specialises in financial services recruitment, with a focus on investment platforms.

Why should companies use you as an agent to find their staff?

Despite being a recruiter, I still consider myself a financial services professional. I’ve interpreted regulation, spoken to clients and built and managed teams at one of the UK’s largest investment platforms. My experience has proved invaluable when talking to candidates about companies and vacancies; ­I can provide true insight, and I’m better placed to assess their suitability. Recruiting firms appreciate working with someone who understands their industry, and as a business-owner I’m motivated to deliver exceptional client service.

What is your career highlight?

Despite spending much of my time knee-deep in the FCA handbook and overseeing teams responsible for billions of pounds of client assets, my career highlight has undoubtedly been recruiting and helping people develop and flourish in their career. It’s why I became a recruiter. I enjoy encouraging others to consider working in a sector that they might otherwise have overlooked.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 87

businessinsider B R IS T O L g e t s s e r i o u s

Quote of the issue

left: Andrew looking very comfortable in his new role

“Being owned by the city means we are under a spotlight” Who finds this helpful in marketing the business? Find out on page 90

The Big Number

that’s entertainment Andrew Billingham is the guy in the hot seat steering the latest plans for Bristol Arena OK; so Bristol’s not getting an Arena at Temple Island. That ship has sailed.

But that doesn’t mean that we’re not getting one at all; indeed, YTL has appointed Andrew Billingham as MD for Arena Operations, with plans to create a music venue within the Brabazon Hangars. The arena will breathe new life into the now dormant hangars, formerly the home of Concorde.

As the former CEO of Bristol Sport, the company responsible for rebuilding Ashton Gate Stadium, Andrew has a wealth of experience in the sport and entertainment industry; he has already been working as a consultant for YTL UK, and the permanent appointment shows the company’s firm commitment to moving the project forwards.

“The moment I walked through the Brabazon Hangars’ huge doors, and was surrounded by so much history of innovation and engineering, I knew something special needed to happen to bring them back to life,” said Andrew.

“I am excited about the opportunity to develop our plans, and privileged to be part of YTL, an organisation that has a highly respected international reputation in the communities it serves.

£65k

The amount Children’s Hospice South West hopes to raise from December’s Santas on the Run fundraiser, which saw 1500 Santas take to the streets of Bristol; www.chsw.org.uk

“We have an immense amount of work to do, but together with the wider Bristol community we can make history: transforming an iconic building into a truly world-class arena and entertainment destination for the people of Bristol. Over the next few months we will be building the team to deliver a 16,000 capacity, multi-purpose arena. We will work with local businesses and organisations to create a venue that reflects Bristol’s proud engineering and aviation heritage and its modern, diverse and innovative character.”

Colin Skellett, chairman of YTL Developments UK, says he’s delighted to have Andrew on board.

“Andrew brings an enormous amount of experience in the sport and entertainment industry, and his appointment is an important step towards delivering an arena in the Brabazon Hangars. We are committed to creating an arena that people can be proud of, and that puts Bristol on the map with one of the UK’s premier entertainment venues.” We think the phrase we’re looking for is ‘watch this space.’

For more: www.ytlarenabristol.co.uk

mediaclash.co.uk 115

BRISTOL LIFE BUSINESS CLUB

PETER HAIGH – BRISTOL ENERGY

Last October, our speaker was the MD of Bristol Energy – a Bristol City Councilowned enterprise that aims to feed its profits back into local communities, delivering non-profit energy at lower prices than the large, profit-making energy corporations

P

eter Haigh has over 30 years experience in the energy sector, including spells working at Yorkshire Electricity, E-on, Elexon and the advisory firm, Energy Market Risk Ltd. Focusing on energy solutions that are socially responsible, his job includes finding sources and methods that can support energy consumers and wider communities.

Peter comes from an engineering background, having worked in Manchester before heading to Leeds University to study electronics. He eventually fetched up in Bristol.

“It’s a great city to start off in,” he told the Business Club audience, admitting that the transition from being a division director to becoming the overall boss had its challenges as well as its rewards.

He believes that Bristol Energy looks after the three Cs. “These are the essential things you need to run an energy business — Customers, Colleagues and Cash. These are the only three things that a company should worry about,” he said.

Competition, however, is the fourth C to keep an eye on. Peter explained how the market has filled up: “In 2006 there were around 10 engineering companies; now there are 70.”

Business practices in the energy companies vary widely, “but there are a group of people who miss out on this, because their landlords say that they can’t switch companies, although some 17 percent of customers switch regularly.

“You think about the choice people have; people are being penalised for loyalty, which makes this a bit similar to a supermarket shopper who’s been going to one store for years and years,

and pays 20 percent more than a person shopping in a cheaper place.”

As regards the competition from the ‘big six’ energy companies, Peter Haigh is forthright. The regulators aren’t doing enough. The ‘big six’ are the half-dozen largest UK energy companies: British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON UK, Npower, ScottishPower and SSE. They currently supply over 90 per cent of British households with gas and electricity.

Surprisingly enough, perhaps, not all of Bristol Energy’s customers are from the city. Not even the vast majority.

“Most of our customers are not from Bristol,” Peter explained. “All of our marketing is done locally, but 80 percent of our customers are not from the city. They’ve heard of us from colleagues working in the area, or customers talking about our company.

“They’ve joined us because of the leak in sales. Around 70 per cent of customers want utilities to be in a public partnership; that’s a fact.

“But being owned by the city means we are under a spotlight, and with the interest we have gained from the spotlight we’ve been able to nail our marketing every time.”

And for Peter Haigh, there are no single standout achievements in his time in Bristol — just an overall pride in where Bristol Energy are in the market now.

“Getting the company to this point, and through the journey, I’ve managed to experience fabulous customer interaction. I’m also proud that the energy business has been able to reach the national level it is at now.”

For more www.bristol-energy.co.uk; www.bristollifebusinessclub.com

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

Peter in conversation with Greg Ingham

Witness the elegance: the new venue for our Business Club Lunches is the Avon Gorge by Hotel du Vin

FORTHCOMING EVENTS 23 JANUARY BEVIS WATTS, TRIODOS BANK 12:00 – 14:30 Avon Gorge Hotel

27 MARCH LOUISE MITCHELL, BRISTOL MUSIC TRUST 12:00 – 14:30 Avon Gorge Hotel

25 FEBRUARY STEPHEN LANSDOWN, HARGREAVES LANSDOWN 12:00 – 14:30 Avon Gorge Hotel

1 JULY DR PAUL PHILLIPS, WESTON COLLEGE 12:00 – 14:30 Avon Gorge Hotel

business insider

“The essentials you need to run an energy business? the three cs – customers, colleagues and cash”

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 91

© WHITE VILL A PHOTOGRAPHY & FILMS

© TIM WOOLF

BUSINESS INSIDER

N

ominations are in full flow for the 2019 Bristol Life Awards, and businesses are urged to act soon if they want to be in with a chance of lifting the golden trophy on 11 April.

Companies are encouraged to submit their entries promptly, as the deadline for the Bristol Life Awards nominations looms. Businesses will have until noon on 15 February to put their best case forward for winning an Award.

“Entering the Bristol Life Awards is a chance to show everyone how your business makes the city a better place,” said Steph Dodd, events director at MediaClash, which publishes Bristol Life.

“Winning an Award is highly beneficial for your company profile, and serves as great recognition for teams and individuals who go the extra mile for your company.”

Last year the Awards sold out, with over 650

IMAGINE …

These guys are SO happy they entered . . .

... winning a Bristol Life Award.

And need we remind you that you have to be in it to win it?

attendees inside the marquee and dozens on the waiting list. Winners will be announced at the ceremony after being decided by a panel of impeccably independent judges.

Winners receive coverage in Bristol Life magazine, a hand-crafted trophy, window stickers to proudly display and two places at a special Winners’ Dinner – plus the long-lasting remembrance of an award-winning moment.

Nominees are encouraged to check the ‘12 Top Tips’ and ‘How To Win’ presentation on the Awards site, which cover everything from what to include within a nomination to using social media as a supporting tool.

Finalists are announced on 19 February.

Very limited opportunities remain for category sponsorship, with a select number of Silver Sponsorship packages available that allow you to benefit from an unrivalled marketing campaign as well as a guaranteed table at the event. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Neil Snow: neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk

Already showing support through sponsorship are headline sponsors Bristol Airport, Platinum Sponsors Jelf, and category sponsors Sam FM, The Alternative Board, Curo, Weston College, Burston Cook, Nicholas Wylde, Anderson Financial Management, Acorn, Cabot Circus, Lexus Bristol, Clear River, Triangle Networks, Dribuild, Clifton College, VWV, Amarelle, Kersfield, British Corner Shop, Brunel Insurance and Regus.

Silver Sponsors include CityFibre and Life Media UK. This year organisers are also offering the impressive infrastructure of the Bristol Life Awards space to local businesses. Companies looking to host an incredible party, conference, show or even their own awards are urged to get in touch to discuss hiring the Awards marquee.

For more: bristollifeawards.co.uk Twitter: @BristolLifeAwds

MEDIACLASH.CO.UK 117

BUSINESS INSIDER

EXCITEMENT BUILDS*

. . . for the very first Bristol Property Awards

Bristol Life Award winners – twice! *Look out for more property/award-related puns in future coverage

IN FOR THE WIN 2018 was a great year for serial Bristol Life award winners VWV, as managing partner Simon Heald explains “2018 was a great year for us,” said Simon.

“Turnover is fast approaching £40 million, and during the year, we have made substantial investment in our infrastructure and premises. We also remain committed to supporting the region and attracting new talent to our Bristol office.”

How has Brexit uncertainty affected VWV? We continue to have a watching brief on the latest Brexit position. Currently, we are not experiencing any adverse effects from the prospect of Brexit, and we are actively assisting clients with their preparations.

What have been the standout moments for you this year?

We have won a total of seven awards this year, including Bristol Life’s Legal category (for the second year running) and most recently, the LawNet’s Excellence in Client Care.

Any big changes or exciting news for 2019?

Maintaining our growth strategy, commitment to the region and embracing new opportunities, including Brexit.

For more: www.vwv.co.uk

Key dates have been revealed for Bristol’s inaugural Property Awards, including two new events and the details for nominations and tickets.

The Awards take place on 17 May at Ashton Gate as a lunchtime event, and will celebrate all aspects of the dynamic property market.

Categories cover every aspect of the property world, from residential to commercial, from lettings to new builds, from civic buildings to bold reimaginings.

There are 18 awards in all, plus overall Winner of Winners: Architect, Commercial Agent, Commercial Development, Commercial Interior Designer, Consultancy, Contractor, Deal, Green Initiative, Lettings Agent, Developer, Interior Designer, Professional Services, Residential Agent, Residential Development, Residential Interior Designer, Rising Star, Supplier and Transformation.

The Awards are targeting agents, developers, architects, designers, propertyfocused financial and legal companies.

Endorsed by Mayor Marvin Rees, they are backed by two additional events, which bring the whole sector together: first, the official launch at the Avon Gorge Hotel on 23 January (from 8am) is open to all in the sector; sponsors and finalists are then also invited to a special reception event in April ahead of the ceremony.

Nominations are made via the new site: www.bristolpropertyawards.co.uk. Tickets

are on sale from 23 January on a strictly firstcome, first-served basis.

For more information, and to find out more about sponsorship, please contact stephanie. dodd@mediaclash.co.uk There are already six sponsors for the new Awards: Regus, Brief Your Market, Interaction, Amarelle, Burston Cook and AWW. Sponsorship is supported by a multichannel targeted marketing campaign.

The winners are chosen by a panel of independent judges. The Bristol Property Awards are run by the team behind highly successful Awards in Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter, as well as Awards for foodie mag Crumbs and the Creative Bath Awards.

For more: www.bristolpropertyawards.co.uk

BRISTOL PROPERTY AWARDS: KEY DATES 23 January 2019 Official launch (venue to be announced). Nominations open and tickets on sale midday 19 March 2019 Finalists revealed 3 April 2019 Finalists’ and Sponsors’ Reception 17 May 2019 Bristol Property Awards 2019, from 12pm midday

MEDIACLASH.CO.UK 117

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Every penny counts!

Sarah Burgess of AMD SOLICITORS discusses what can go wrong under a Lasting Power of Attorney

C

reating Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) is an important part of planning for the future.

An LPA is a legal document which enables an individual (‘donor’) to appoint one or more people (‘attorneys’) who they trust to manage their affairs if they lose mental capacity.

Although there are two types of LPA, Heath and

Welfare and Property and Financial, this article focuses on the second.

Trust is an extremely important factor in choosing an attorney and perhaps this is why many people prefer to appoint people they know as their attorneys rather than professionals. However, this is a big responsibility to place on their nearest and dearest.

All attorneys owe a duty of care which means that they must act in the donor’s best interests at all times. If the donor dies, the beneficiaries of their estate might query transactions on the accounts, especially if any large or unusual withdrawals took place.

Attorneys are required to keep thorough records to show that they have complied with their duties and we would recommended that all receipts together with notes explaining any unusual transactions are kept.

Attorneys must be careful when making gifts, even at the donor’s direction, and any large gifts will require ratification of the court before being made on behalf of the donor. Failure to do this could result in the attorney being personally liable to repay the value of the gifts to the donor’s estate.

The standard of care attorneys owe to beneficiaries is high because they are in a position of trust; although it is rare for an LPA to be misused or accusations of misuse to arise,

“ALL ATTORNEYS OWE A DUTY OF CARE WHICH MEANS THAT THEY MUST ACT IN THE DONOR’S BEST INTERESTS AT ALL TIMES” attorneys should get legal advice if there are any allegations of misuse to resolve issues as soon as possible as legal fees can escalate if there is a protracted dispute.

Even if you successfully defend any claims, there is no guarantee that you will be able to recover all of your legal fees. It is also worth knowing that these claims are not time-barred and consequently these disputes can remain ongoing indefinitely.

If you are an attorney and questions are being raised about your management of a donor’s affairs, please get in contact with us so that we can assist you. We are also able to provide advice, to any beneficiaries concerned about how an attorney has managed someone else’s affairs when a donor has died.

For advice on wills, inheritance tax, lasting powers of attorney, administration of estates and all other private client issues, please contact Sarah Burgess or another member of our team on 0117 962 1205, email probate@ amdsolicitors.com or call into one of our four Bristol offices. ■

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 104 I BRISTOL

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 97

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Elderly divorce The latest set of ONS figures indicates the number of divorcing over 60s continues to rise. Nicola Walker, a specialist family lawyer with Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth, has found herself being instructed more and more frequently by people who are in their 60s, 70s and even 80s.

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icola says, “whereas in the past a couple might have reached a particular point in their marriage and felt it was too late in the day to separate, attitudes have changed. The stigma once attached to divorce is now largely gone. Elderly clients often tell me that they are all too conscious of the passage of time and that they are no longer willing to spend their remaining years in an unhappy marriage.”

Acting for the elderly can present quite particular challenges. Nicola acted for one wife who had to move in with her daughter following divorce. Acting as ‘The Bank of Mum and Dad’, during their marriage the couple had gifted large sums of money to their children, never expecting that they would need it back. As a result of their generosity the couple’s own pot simply couldn’t support two separate households and in a stark role-reversal, the wife found herself dependent upon the children she had wanted to provide for.

Nicola also acted for a husband who had been married very happily for 30 years, but on losing his wife he met and married another woman in a very short timescale.

Nicola refers to this as ‘Paul McCartney syndrome’, but where the assets involved are much more limited than those in the Mills/McCartney divorce, it can create real difficulty. Where people have retired and lost their borrowing capacity, or they are entirely dependent on pensions in payment, options can be limited. If one person is in ill health, then meeting their additional needs can also be tricky.

Nicola says there are usually solutions but they require careful planning and creative thinking.

In order to avoid losing a valuable widow’s or widower’s pension it is possible for a couple to ‘judicially separate’ rather than divorce. In order to unlock money in the family home, there are a number of companies that will assist with equity release.

Nicola also stresses how much importance people attach to the act of preparing and determining the content of their own will, without the interference of the other. Often a divorcing couple will know they both want to leave their assets to children or other relatives – however, they will feel it necessary to divide the

pot while still alive and then each prepare their own will.

Separation and divorce is going to represent a significant change to you and your family.

Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth offers unrivalled understanding and can provide guidance and support to you for all legal needs, whatever the circumstance, so you can plan appropriately and make the right decisions at the right time. n

If you need legal advice, contact Nicola on 0370 1500 100 Extension: 1584, or by email nicola.walker@irwinmitchell.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 99

Cider house rules

As part of our retrospective issue featuring the best of 2018, we looked though the houses we’ve featured over the past 12 months and chose Hill House in Olveston – a historic home with its own Grade-II cider press and ‘wig room’

By Lisa Warren 102 I bristol LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

PROPERTY

Y

House numbers Date of original house 1570 Date of original dwelling 1320 Bedrooms 6 Kitchen

28ft

Main receptions (plus study, library, breakfast room and wig room!) 3 Grounds Price

1.5 acre £1.495M

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

es, I remember Adlestrop,” mused poet Edward Thomas, in his somnambulant snapshot of a Gloucestershire village dozing in the midday late-June heat.

‘Olveston’ scans just as satisfactorily, and we’re still in the right county, but whereas Adlestrop frankly sounded as dead as a doornail (admittedly, this was back in 1914), this modern-day village 13 miles north-west of Bristol is comparatively bustling, as a glance at its highly active website reveals.

Hill House stands just a short level walk from the heart of the village, yet in its own totally private sanctuary. One of the most distinctive and historic buildings in the area, it was built in 1570 on top of the even older Hill’s Place, whose original foundations were dug back in 1320.

The house has a fascinating and lovingly documented history. For example, being built during the Reformation, it had no fewer than three priest holes; we assume it must have been as popular a bolthole for the South Glos papal set as Hyde & Co is for Friday-night drinkers in modern-day Bristol.

As you’d devoutly hope, many of its distinctive old features have been saved and incorporated into the current version of the house – original oak mullion windows, a myriad of beams and hinges, an inglenook and a studded oak front door – solid enough to keep Cromwell’s hordes at bay while the priests tucked up their cassocks and scrambled behind the panels.

Hill House has been extended occasionally over the previous three centuries; a major restoration took place in the mid-1950s, and ongoing renovation continues to date.

The Grade-II* main house is at the end of a long gravel driveway set far back from the road. Among its

stellar rooms is the oak-panelled entrance hall and a drawing room with the huge inglenook fireplace; there are two more reception rooms, and a study on an upper level. Generously extended over the years, the kitchen is focused around the original fireplace with its bread oven and Aga stove.

Ascend a beautiful spiral oak staircase to the top floors, and you’ll find six bedrooms to choose from, one with adjoining dressing room, and two family bathrooms.

A fabulous Georgian library has excellent views over the garden, and across the landing is an exceptionally rare find – a 17th-century wig room, where a servant would have powdered gentlemen’s elaborate hair pieces; suits you, Sir Anthony Absolute and Sir Peter Teazle . . .

As is often the way with large country piles, there are also the kind of outbuildings that city-centre dwellers, squeezed into cramped apartments, would happily move into wholesale; here, a magnificent Grade-II cider barn and coach house, with their own private driveway.

These wonderful buildings have remained largely unchanged since the 17th century, and still contain the original mill and press. There are also listed stables and numerous other stone outbuildings.

All of the above are surrounded by ornamental grounds, featuring 32 varieties of trees, from ginkgos to mulberries, Japanese cedars, weeping ash and tulip trees; one yew is over 400 years old. And that’s not just a boastful guesstimate by the owner, either; the tree has been personally certified by no less than David Bellamy.

Some of these spectacular trees shade a streamfed lake and ornamental fish pool – it’s impossible to imagine a more restful spot to sit, though if you’re not the sitting-around type, there’s always plenty to do in the large kitchen garden, orchard and vineyard.

In fact, it’s all so timelessly peaceful here that Hill House could, on reflection, easily give Adlestrop a serious run for its money.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I bristol LIFE I 103

bristol LIVES

“Food makes people happy; it brings families together and raises self-esteem”

Adrian Kirikmaa Holding out for a foodie hero? Adrian might just be the most community-focused chef in Bristol. Here’s for why . . .

Adrian is the food development manager for St Monica Trust, at B Block and Somer dining; he’s a founder and partner for The School of Food, and a trustee for Matthew Tree Project and 91 Ways. He recently won The Lords Mayor’s Award for charity work in the community.

What was your favourite food as a child?

I’ve always loved decent food – so fish and chips, potato scallops, prawn cocktails – food was different back then, with nowhere near the choice we have nowadays.

We read that you are a firm believer in ‘the power food has to enrich people’s lives’. . .

Yes, food brings happiness to people. All through my career I’ve enjoyed cooking for people and making them happy. It brings families together, and raises selfesteem and confidence. Cooking doesn’t need to be complex, and people don’t realise how easy and rewarding it can be. Just following simple recipes can bring wellbeing

and health to people. Precooked prepared meals are full of badness – fat, sugar, salt and no flavour. I like to promote healthy eating.

Why have you chosen to focus on community projects instead of building a fleet of restaurants?

Running a restaurant is a tough business, and the margins are very small. I’m working on a number of projects in the community at the moment.

F’rinstance . . .?

FareShare – Josh Eggleton and I spent a week going in to local schools preparing breakfast for kids, highlighting food hunger and surplus food in the city with FareShare.

Josh and I are also working on a new community food hub concept – watch this space! – and along with Weston College we’ve created The School of Food, a new initiative to fill the massive shortage of hospitality jobs within the city.

Then there’s Matthew Tree Project – helping families living

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

in Bristol out of poverty and into a better, healthier future, using surplus food from around the city.

At St Monica Trust we have introduced a community fridge, where we package up leftover food, staff donate money in exchange for the food, and all the money goes to the North Bristol food bank.

We’ve been recognised for our innovative idea and have recently won a national waste award for the concept.

Every two months we also hold a charity breakfast at The Bristol Fruit market to support local charities. And for the Bristol soup run, we make soup using surplus ingredients from The Bristol Fruit Market.

Where did you grow up? What were the best bits about it?

I grew up in Brislington; loved the Gaiety Cinema on Wells Road, Bristol ice-skating rink, powerboat racing in the docks, and nightclub The Locarno, all which have closed down now.

Apart from the food scene, what are your favourite things about living in the city today?

Favourite new Bristol restaurant opening in 2018?

Pasta Ripiena.

If you had out-of-town mates visiting, where would you show them peak Bristol?

The Old Duke; Bar Humbug (lovely Long Island iced tea); Pyschopomp bar (my favourite gin); Pasta Loco; and Thekla or Fleece for some live music.

If you could suggest just one thing the average householder could do in 2019 to reduce food waste, what would it be?

Plan your meals carefully. We have introduced Chef’s Eye in our kitchens at SMT, which weighs and records all our food waste.

What other job would you be quite good at, and what would you be terrible at?

Definitely fancy my chances as a barber. Think I would make a terrible used-car salesperson.

Do you have any secret skills?

I can play the acoustic guitar and sing a little.

I love Ashton Court and Blaise Castle. Bristol also has a fantastic music scene, with lots of decent bands coming to Bristol. We definitely need an arena, though.

And what is your most regrettable habit?

Favourite foodie destinations?

Kenwood mixer; it does everything.

Bank Tavern (great Sunday lunch); Harts Bakery; Root.

Where would you go for a special meal out?

That’s a hard choice, so will name a few: Wilks; Casamia; Adelina Yard; Wilsons; Bullrush; Pasta Loco; the Pony and Trap . . .

Social media.

What piece of kitchen kit could you never be without?

How will you be spending New Year’s Eve?

I have a young son, so will be spending it with the family and friends, with decent wine and food, of course . . .

Follow Adrian on Twitter @cobchef