Bristol Life - Issue 270

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property

ISSUE 270 / OCTOBER 2019 / £3

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ISSUE 270 / OCTOBER 2019 / IT’S A NEW DAY, IT’S A NEW TRANQUIL DAWN…

ORANGES ARE NOT THE ONLY FRUIT

Editor’s letter

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What your ancient palazzo needs is a contemporary sink and a mirror glowing like a halo; maybe not an official trend, but we love this roomset by Ripples anyway

t 4pm on 21 September, dead on the equinox, the clouds rolled in across a brilliantly blue Bristol sky, and autumn arrived with a punctuality that would put the 08.15 Temple Meads to Paddington to shame.

Right on cue, summer tipped its hat like a Bob Fosse dancer and jazzhanded its way out of the building.

We’re going to be spending a lot more time indoors from now onwards, and you probably know where we’re going with this: it’s time for our big autumn interiors issue.

As you’ll discover, the latest trends aren’t too dissimilar to the big ones that came out of Paris earlier in the spring, but with a more autumnal emphasis on richer colours and luxurious fabrics.

Do you know something else autumn’s totally great for? Sunday lunches, that’s what. We have that covered, too; head over to page 88.

But before you get stuck into the features, please turn to page 47. Do we have news for you…

deri robins Follow us on Twitter @BristolLifeMag Instagram @BristolLifeMag

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Issue 270/October 2019

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photography

Picture this: a tasty collab going down at Paintworks

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interiors get in

Welcome to the autumn trend zone

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sunday lunch

Delivered to your table: autumn on a plate

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Issue 270/October 2019

Cover Cole & Son’s Fornasetti Senzo Tempo in orange (stocked by Bracey Interiors)

the arts

37 art page Poldark’s done; Tristan’s back 38 WHAT’S ON Four pages of arts and events, curated for

your pleasure from a packed autumn calendar

52 crafts Prepare to meet your maker 62 festival Summit’s brewing . . .

72 bristol heroes Dismaland revisited

a man’s world

77 kam kelly A car park epiphany

food & DRINK

80 RESTAURANT Bombay mix 85 Food and drink news One more drink,

bartender

87 stan The quest for the perfect café continues

37 52

shopping

100 editor’s choice Soft touches and cushy numbers

Business

115 bristolworks Not only our new, expanded new

offering, but also…

125 professional services …our mega-guide to

white-collar Bristol

Property

173 showcase A grand design in Sneyd Park

Regulars

9 spotlight 11 instas 109 scene 184 bristol lives Charlotte Geeves

Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior Art Editor Andrew Richmond Graphic Design Megan Allison Cover Design Trevor Gilham Contributors Colin Moody, Christian Annesley, Stan Cullimore, Kam Kelly Advertising manager Neil Snow neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Craig Wallberg @craig.wallberg@ mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Dan Nichols dan.nichols@mediaclash.co.uk Advertising & sales executive Hayley Allwood hayley.allwood@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 and Exeter. 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 7

BRISTOL

PREMIUM, SLEEk, german engineered, luxury kitchens at competitive prices ● Premium, Sleek, German Engineered ● Luxury Kitchens at competitive prices ● All kitchens delivered pre-built ● Supply only or Fully installed ● Free Design and quotation service

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0117 213 0497 2 9 stor e s n a tio n w i d e

spotlight This is either the 2019 panto press call, or the rat infestation at the Slaters is really getting out of control…

Pupils from Brunel Field Primary School

Education

talkin’ ‘bout a revolution

Bristol is kicking off a revolution (again) – and this time it’s to do with a groundbreaking initiative in partnership with local schools.

The recently launched Earthsong Programme – a collab between Bristol Music Trust and the Earthsong Foundation – is designed to benefit thousands of children by creating new opportunities for them to access music education.

The new programme will support children that have traditionally not progressed beyond early stages by providing high-quality singing and instrumental music lessons. Born out of the belief that every child should be given an equal learning environment, the Earthsong Programme creates a level playingfield by using the child’s own instrument, the voice, to teach and embed musicianship skills. www.colstonhall.org/about-us/bristol-music-trust

Panto

rags to richie

We heart Shane Richie. We heart him a lot. We had a lush chat with him in his dressing room at the Hippodrome back in 2006, when he was starring in Scrooge, and now he’s coming back in Bristol this Christmas to play everyone’s favourite cockney rags-to-riches upstart Alfie Moon… sorry! – Dick Whittington. Shane and his supporting cast will be telling the rags-to-riches story of the lad who outwitted King Kat – sorry! – Rat, to became Lord Mayor of London.

Our favourite EastEnder has recently been starring as washed-out funny man Archie Rice in John Osborne’s classic The Entertainer, but what he really fancied, he once told us, was being cast as a knife-wielding maniac: “I’d love to shave my head and play an out-and-out lunatic. I really would.”

We’re not entirely sure how we feel about this, Shane.

Book for Dick Whittington at www.atgtickets.com

Community

East is easton

bob the building

Did you know that Bristol’s only abandoned Brunel structure is on the Heritage at Risk Register? ‘Brunel’s other bridge’ (which likes to be known on informal occasions as BOB) is 170 years old this month. The swing bridge at the gateway to Bristol docks was IBK’s first large wrought-iron opening bridge, and the engineer was closely involved in its construction. Decommissioned in 1968, BOB came close to being scrapped; even though it was saved, its condition deteriorated. Today, Avon Industrial Buildings Trust is working with Historic England to fund its repair, with the longterm goal of bringing BOB back into use as a working part of the cityscape and a public crossing point.

For more: www.brunelsotherbridge.org.uk

© Colin Moody

Bristol bridges

Not everyone’s thrilled when their neighbourhood is described as the next hipster hotspot – so it’s with rather mixed feelings that we pass on the news that Easton has been named by Time Out as one of the ‘50th coolest neighbourhoods in the world’, where Bristol’s ‘clued-up residents hang out’.

The list rightfully praised Easton’s ‘globe-spanning food and drink, plethora of community projects and genuinely neighbourly atmosphere’, summing it up as ‘a chilled and Easton’s Grand Iftar was cited as friendly haven for proof of the strong community vibe hip young families, alternative-leaning young professionals and indie business owners alike’, with ‘an authentically messy melding of many cultures and a strong sense of identity’.

Read more at: www.timeout.com/coolestneighbourhoods-in-the-world

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SPOTLIGHT

A SQUARE FOR ALL SEASONS Queen Square’s a year-round beauty, but it’s weirdly difficult to take a great photo of it (just us? ). These guys seem to have nailed it, though…

@bristolpictures

while_i_was_walking

@mrbenadams

@matthewpriceartist

@gertie.photography

@ellisreed

@chill1983

@louchudley

@thesefourwallsblog

@paddyo.11

@t0m.wright

@chill1983

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interiors

Get in

Pack away the patio furniture, the SPF and the eco-glitter. The brilliant Bristol summer is drawing to a close, and we’re all going to be spending a lot more time indoors. And you know what that’s a preamble to – it’s our big autumn interiors feature…

Words by Deri Robins

A Rebel Walls; don’t let anyone tell you that cactuses are ‘out’. . .

utumn heralds the arrival of myriad delights. Russet fallen leaves for the crunching. New shows at the theatre. Cosy lunches, in pubs with open fires (the ones on page 88, for example). It’s also the season when we all tend to squint critically around our homes and consider a bit of a refresh; it may be a full-on change of colour in the living room, some edgy new metallic handles in the kitchen, or a new statement sofa.

So, what’s in and what’s out? Well, even after conducting the most forensic examination of the new trends coming out of Paris, we’re failing to detect any major differences from those of the spring. Virtually anything goes – again. You can be as blingy, blowsy or minimal as you like; pick any colour from the spectrum

(apart from grey, possibly), and you can guarantee that some top designer is rocking it somewhere.

The latest buzzword, should you be easily swayed by such things, is Dulux’s Tranquil Dawn – not a peachy sunrise, as you might first imagine, but a kind of pleasing greenish grey. Paint manufacturers are clearly still keen for us to connect with nature: we live in stressful times, is the implication, and it’s more important than ever that our homes feel like a soothing refuge; a sanctuary in which we can shut the door against the crazies.

And if that sounds as if we’re massively overthinking a nice new set of palm-covered curtains or shaggy Nordic rug to a risible degree – well, welcome to the world of interiors….

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The only thing missing from this jewelcoloured Deco room by Zoffany is Jean Harlow lounging about in an eu-de-nil satin slip

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INTERIORS RUBY, RUBY, RUBY, RUBY…

And indeed, emerald, jade, sapphire, amethyst and citrine: jewel tones add a uniquely rich and sophisticated touch of opulence, specially when used in luxurious fabrics such as velvet and satin.

“As people move away from the more neutral palettes in favour of bolder colours, jewel-based hues add warmth and personality,” says Charlotte of Farrow and Ball. “With winter looming, the introduction of deep, rich colours helps create drama and can create a cocoon, creating rooms with an upbeat yet elegant atmosphere.”

If there’s an AW19 tweak on this already popular trend, it’s the combo of these shades with florals, says Alison of Bracey Interiors. Alison loves Designers Guild’s new collection ‘La Poeme de Fleurs’: “A new and enigmatic vision of painted flowers, dynamic geometrics and intricate embroidery, in a brooding atmospheric palette of colours.”

Kay James of K-Interiors is also a fan of the giant floral/ jewel tones pairing: “Blueberry, damson, midnight and deep forest greens look amazing when paired with soft blush colours to create light and shade. Teamed with giant floral pattern fabrics such as Designer Guild’s, the pairing adds a feminine touch to the jewel-tone darkness.”

Kayla Wilson of Gardiner Haskins is another fan of these rich and regal tones. “If you can’t find furniture available in these lovely textures and bold patterns, then look for the fabrics you want, and re-upholster existing furniture and cushions – the economical and eco solution.”

David Hutton likes to use jewel tones in accents – eg in fabrics for cushions. “It’s the little finishing touches that can transform a room and stop it from looking a tad dull. You don’t have to paint your walls in a bright colour; try using more colourful accessories. And although I’m not a big fan of overusing blingy items, a little bit of shine works well in small doses.”

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GET THE LOOK

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1. Farrow & Ball’s jewel based palette, such as Emerald Green, add warmth and personality 2. Ripples softens the geometric lines of its ‘Cubism’ range with jewel tones 3. Botanicals are being paired with florals to great effect; if flowery paper or fabric is too much for you, this Arlo & Jacob chair against cobalt walls is both fresh and inviting 4. On the other hand, if you want to go all-out, Designer’s Guild’s new La Poeme de Fleurs range is the ideal way to go 5. Kay of K-Interiors loves the intense shades of Painthouse’s current range 6. Archer + Co’s bespoke British-made sofas combine seductive lines with a wide choice of jewel tones

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NORDIC RETREAT

When people attribute the craze for Scandi interiors to Nordic Noir, it does make us wonder if they’d ever actually watched any of the shows in question. Really; when did you ever see Sara, Saga or Lisbeth lighting a candle while reclining on a shag rug? As we recall they spent most of their time running about in gritty underpasses or investigating blood-drenched basements. Not a great look.

But hey; whatever alerted us to the charms of this most calming and liveable of styles, it’s clearly here to stay – and a doddle to achieve.

“Add layers of textures in different fabrics and knits to add comfort and harmony to your home,” advises Finola of Nola Interiors.

“Cosy up with sheepskin rugs, soft knits, fringed cushions, rattan light shades, pale wooden furniture and jute rugs. Add soft pink accents for warmth with nude beige walls – softer than the more familiar, white minimalist Scandi look.”

Nordic style also lends itself beautifully to a nice bit of Tranquil Dawn, which Zoe Hewett of Stylemongers of Bristol sums up as ”a very soft shade of muted peppermint with a hint of sage – the perfect backdrop for juxtaposing lots of

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

different textures.” Then just add “handcrafted ceramics and textural accessories made from honest materials like wood, rattan, macramé yarns, leather and organic shaped glass and woven textiles – perfect partners for this washed-out look, and also a reflection of our need for grounding and digital detox to enjoy the simple pleasure of tangible, hands-on experiences in the everyday.”

Voila! (Or, we guess, varsågod!)

And if you want to introduce an actual silver birch forest (or any number of soothing natural images) to your home, such as the seagrass design above, look no further than wallpaper from Rebel Walls (stocked by Bracey).

“You can take humanity out of nature, but you can’t take nature out of humanity. It’s our origin,” says Emma Bylund of Rebel. “Even though our species have spent centuries eagerly striving towards urban life, nature still has the greatest impact on us. Spectacular landscapes both scare and inspire us. They allow us to draw deeper breaths. They give us time to stop for a while and contemplate.

“If we’re lucky, every new outlook brings new insight. Bring the Nordic tranquillity into your home for a peaceful place to recharge.”

GET THE LOOK

1. Combine a soothing Rebel Walls feature wall with white paint everywhere: instant calmer 2. Rattan table, £75 from Mon Pote 3. Scrapwood wallpaper by Piet Hein Eek, from Archer + Co 4. Hey basket, £60 from Bo Concept 5. Natural sheepskin, £85 from Midgley Green 6. Nordic Pine room diffuser, £17.60 from Mon Pote 7. Steam-bent trug, from £95, Midgley Green 8. White Forest metal print, £419 from Bo Concept

RETRO FUSION

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Mid-century has been enjoying a renaissance for several years, but unless you fancy living in an actual Terence Rattigan stage set, the trick is to merge it with other styles.

It’s a nostalgic trend that combines several looks that were popular between the 1920-70s. Hence ‘retro fusion’ (also called ‘soft assembly’), with the greens, browns and mustards so beloved of the 1970s mixed with the scalloped shapes of Deco, with a smattering of Danish 1950s design. Basically, if it’s a classic from the early-mid 20th century, it’s hot for 2019.

“The look combines irregular, more curvaceous geometric shapes with a palette of natural tones alongside unexpected pops of warm brights in reds, oranges, yellows and green and a generous helping of lilac and desaturated blue, to create a nostalgic and reassuring feel,” says Zoe Hewett of Stylemongers.

“Carmine Lake are producing exciting wallpapers at the moment, and their ‘Cher 70 - Night Fever’ design fits perfectly into this trend, with its gently undulating rhythm and up-to-date lilac colouring, that simultaneously evokes 1970s style and antique marbled paper.”

Jasmine Main of Main Interiors loves this look too, “for showcasing really classic pieces of furniture and accessories. Convex mirrors and mid-century furniture add a retro twist and vintage vibe. This is a great style for people with eclectic tastes and beautiful collections. Top tip: three’s the magic number with accessories. . .”

“Strong fashion trends and eras have the ability to inspire over time and return again and again – always in new tweaked versions,” says Emma of Rebel Walls.

“The ’50s and ’60s, with their distinctive patterns, materials, and colours, are among those rich epochs, eager to be reinterpreted and played with. Luckily, any item from the past can be considered ‘retro’, so reuse vintage pieces, maybe from your parents’ home, to create your own, eclectic retro vibe. Friendly for the environment as well as the wallet.”

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SHOPPING LIST

1. Rebel Walls nail the fusion look and add their own twist 2. Retro cachepot, £14.95 from Pod Company 3. Telephone, £38 from Pod Company 4. Austin Powers would love Carmine Lake’s ‘Cher 70 - Night Fever’ designs 5. Jasmine Main pairs convex mirrors with midcentury style furniture for an eclectic vintage vibe 6 & 7 Archer + Co’s shapely Deco sofa and Raffa armchair are somehow simultaneously nostalgic, contemporary and timeless

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INTERIORS FLOWERS TO THE PEOPLE

Botanicals and florals: here’s another perennial trend (pun fully intended) that’s going absolutely nowhere.

Obviously, the design can be as subtle or in-your-face, as pale or vibrant as you like. The buzzword here is ‘biophilia’ and it’s all about the relationship between humans and nature.

“With the public mood shifting towards being more environmentally conscious, people are wanting to reconnect with nature in interior design, and not only with houseplants,” says Zoe Hewett.

“The Thousand Leaves wallpaper by Carmine Lake hides numerous colourful creatures such as ladybirds, spiders and dragonflies. Their ‘Flora Botanica’ wallpaper in Noir has a deliciously dark and dramatic base that makes the pretty pinks sing out, and the detail up close is phenomenal. Paired with velvet furnishings it would have a glamorous edge.”

And as we saw on page 17, florals works fabulously with dramatic hues, too. ”Navy blue living rooms continue to be popular, and the midnight colourway offers a nod to the heritage floral patterns of the Arts and Crafts movement that would look particularly good in Bristol’s architecturally superior homes,” says Zoe. “Floral wallpapers in strong designs and colourways are making a welcome return,” agrees Alison Bracey.

“Designers Guild have introduced some amazing floral murals creating statement and timeless wall features.”

Alison also advises that painterly fabrics in more delicate shades are also abundant, along with intricate embroidered florals and classic printed florals in timeless designs.

“More flowers to the people!” says Emma of Rebel Walls. “Fresh flowers make us realise how many different colours there are and appreciate the beauty of nature all around us. And best of all, you can keep them looking fresh right inside your home, all year long, with floral wallpaper. Let flowers fall from the sky or twirl around in surreal and ever-changing kaleidoscope-like patterns.”

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1. Designer’s Guild’s ‘Foscari Fresco’ wallpaper: in-your-face blooms that work beautifully in a soft colour scheme 2. ‘Helleborine’ cushion, £66 from Midgley Green 3. Faux aloe vera plant in pot, £6 (reduced from £19.99) from Vinegar Hill 4. A dreamy pink scheme from Rebel Walls 5. Bouquet canvas print, £549 from Bo Concept 6. Floral on floral (typical!) from Timorous Beasties (Whittaker Wells) 7. Flower wall decoration, £42 from Bo Concept 8. Rebel Walls, incidentally rocking the retro fusion trend along with the botanicals

and for all you fans of those slightly random ‘IN/OUT’ lists…

IN

OUT

Curved sofas – so much sexier than hard lines

Hygge – because chucking a sheepskin over a chair will not fast-track you to a Danish state of mind. Also, you can’t pronounce it

Fringing and passamenterie – from lampshades to cushions, fiddly edgingy bits are going to be big this year.

Memphis design – primary colours and tub chairs haven’t seen this much action since the ‘80s (cf also curved sofas) Soft colours – forget Pantone’s rather harsh Greenery; we’re all over Dulux’s Tranquil Dawn, while blush, dusty pink, and bronze are our new go-to neutrals Iridescence – mermaid, pearly gleams – all part of the ‘go softer’ movement Dramatic splashbacks – check out the work of Bristol artist Sally Coulden (www. reddogglassdesign.com)

Leather – love the look but want to be more sustainable? Eco vinyl alternatives look and feel incredibly similar

Terrazzo – what, already? We’ve just redone the kitchen floor!

Greys – there are far prettier neutrals… blush, dusty pink, and bronze, and let us not forget, the ubiquitous Tranquil Dawn…

Copper and brass – think less flashy, more subdued metals like oil-rubbed bronze or aged iron (or, we guess, just don’t polish your existing copper or brass…)

Cactuses… oh, look, you know what? These in/out lists are just plain silly…

Addicted to Patterns’ recent wallpaper collection includes corals and sea florals in a warm, powdery colour palette, which team beautifully with silver, blue, grey and gold

168 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol, BS7 8NT. 07909 308668 f NolaInteriors-bristol x @168nolainteriors

BRISTOL

LIGHTING COMPANY

Bespoke light shades for the home or trade individually handmade to order in our Bristol workshop.

Unit 4B Avondale Works Bristol BS15 1PA

Nola Interiors are proud to be a new supplier for Ca’Pietra artisan tiles

01179676710 bristollightingcompany@gmail.com www.bristollightingcompany.com

INTERIORS

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URBAN MINIMALIST

Think the kind of stripped-back interiors that define modern city dwellings – your new twobed at Wapping Wharf, perhaps? – in which functionality and versatility merge in calm and well-organised homes, painted in muted colours and tranquil neutrals, paired with edgy accessories. And no, this doesn’t have to mean 50 shades of grey…

“I like how this trend keeps evolving, giving artists and designers opportunities to use traditionally ‘urban’ materials in new ways,” says Daniel Thomas of Wuffles Design.

“Minimalism is no longer synonymous with white walls and simple stark objects; there’s a warmer feel to this trend which gives an opportunity to use more natural materials alongside the ‘harder’ urban metals.”

“City life is busy – and best served by a notso-busy home, which is why urban minimalist design is taking over,” says Kayla of Gardiner Haskins. “Neutral shades like cashmere are perfect for open-plan homes, and those who want their kitchen to be a quiet haven away from busy urban life. Opting for handleless kitchen units creates more space in the kitchen, but adding some wood helps break up the continuous block of pale colours.”

Justyana Medon of Addicted to Patterns recommends working this look with “pastel washes of yellow and ochre, off-white and grey inspired by marble, combined with natural wood and rattan. Complete it by introducing texture and colour of an extraordinary, eyecatching pattern on the carpet (be brave: carpets can also be hung on the walls); add a few cushions in woven geometric patterns, or play with statement glass and ceramics, lamps, vases and tiles.”

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1. This design by Rebel Walls reminds us a bit of Cargo…

2. Beautifully crafted table by Wuffles, mixing metal and wood 3. Copper adds glamor to urban lighting; Kay of K-Interiors loves these shades by Molts 4. Ripples use urban concrete for this sink and then go right ahead and soften the whole look with baby pink – one of this season’s new neutrals 5. Mr Clarke clocks, £40-£98, from Pod Company 6. Concrete planters, £8-9, from Mon Pote 7. ‘Pebble Beach’ tiling from Fired Earth 8. Dublin footstool, £493.85, from Bo Concept

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interiors 1

Dark and stormy

Yep, we’re still all over dramatic moody hues.

“Bring drama to your walls or woodwork with dark colours for a bold statement, providing a moody, yet restful atmosphere in a bedroom or living space,” says Finola Kelly. “Add accent colours such as orange, teal and fuchsia for a focal point, from a bright throw to a bold, velvet sofa.

Use dark colours in a hallway for a dramatic entrance. Add a large feature mirror, favourite artwork or a chandelier to create a welcoming focal point.”

It’s one of David Hutton’s favourite prevailing trends, too. “If you use it wisely and in a considered way, it’s so transformative. Painting a room in a darker hue can be a game-changer; be careful, though, as you can go overboard – I always recommend mixing dark colours with some lighter shades, as this will balance the overall scheme, and adding splashes of colour will set off the final look.

“A hallway is always a good starting point, as it’s the one room you don’t stay in, but has that all-important first impression in your home; also, painting out a hallway in a dark hue will contrast the more neutral adjoining rooms brilliantly. When I used the darker colours in one of the first Finzels Reach development show apartments, although at the time it was daring it still looks relevant to trends today.”

If you’d rather restrict your dark and stormys to accessories, Kayla of Gardiner Haskins is seeing lots of striking black furniture and kitchens around. ”Soft blush tones or green tones, such as Tranquil Dawn, pair really well with the intensity of these black feature pieces. For finishing touches think clean lines with the occasional curve, and small metallic details.”

“If you’re looking to create drama and a luxurious feel, dark colours and black are winners. Couple with high gloss surfaces and metallic accents to bounce the light around and banish the gloom. Statement lighting will really sing against the dark hues,” says Jasmine of Main interiors.

And bold, dark, sultry bathrooms always feel high-end and indulgent…

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shopping list

1. David Hutton recommends mixing dark colours with lighter shades, for balance 2. Textile art brings soft fabric into your interiors, says Justyana of Addicted to Patterns; here, Invincible Paris cyanotype prints 3. High gloss furniture and dark hues are a dream team, says Jasmine Main (we’re also loving the combinations with botanical wallpaper) 4. Little Greene’s Obsidian Green (Nola Interiors) is ideal for those who want to go very dark but stop short of full-on black; it’s a match made in heaven here with retro-fusion furniture

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An award-winning interior designer with a personal touch Do you dream of a home that’s filled to the brim with the perfect blend of colours and textures? One that indulges your senses at every turn, providing you with little pockets of beauty and peace among the mayhem that is real life?

That’s exactly what I can help you achieve. I’ll give you the confidence to tackle difficult design decisions and help you realise the stunning home you’ve always wanted, but never believed you could actually create.

Ready to get started...?

kay@k-interiors.co.uk | www.k-interiors.co.uk

Call for a free phone consultation: 07906 167 710

direcTory

interiors directory Bathrooms & Kitchens

Mobius

52 Bristol Hill www.jmibathrooms.co.uk

Carpets & Flooring

JMI Bathrooms

Kellaway Bathrooms

172-174 Kellaway Avenue www.kellawaybathrooms.co.uk Kutchenhaus

Unit 11, Clifton Down Shopping Centre www.kutchenhaus.co.uk Ripples

88 Whiteladies Road www.ripplesbathrooms.com Schmidt

170-172 Whiteladies Road www.home-design.schmidt Sustainable Kitchens

Unit D4, Avondale Works www.sustainablekitchens.co.uk Wren

Cribbs Causeway Retail Park www.wrenkitchens.com

Building Contractors Build Bristol

www.buildbristol.com HAL Group

www.mobiusworks.co.uk Conran Carpets

278-280 Gloucester Road conrancarpetsltd@gmail.com Oriental Rugs

Bookbarn International www.orientalrugsofbath.com

Furniture

Arlo & Jacob

94C Whiteladies Road www.arloandjacob.com Bo Concept

51-53 Merchant Street www.boconcept.com Loaf Furniture

Cribbs Causeway; www.loaf.com Park Furnishers

Willway Street, Bristol www.parkfurnishers.co.uk Raft Furniture

68 Whiteladies Road www.raftfurniture.co.uk South West Upholstery

62-64 The Mall, Clifton www.swupholstery.co.uk

www.halgroup.co.uk

Heating

JAS Building

50 North Street www.bristolboiler.co.uk

www.jasbuildingservices.co.uk

Bristol Boiler Company

Inspired to make a change?

Here’s your little black book of top local experts and suppliers Embers

Goodchild Interiors

Kindle Stoves

K-Interiors

117-119 St Georges Street www.embersbristol.com Glenavon Farm, Bath Road www.kindlestoves.co.uk

Home Interiors Arlo & Jacob

94C Whiteladies Road www.arloandjacob.com Farrow and Ball

16 Princess Victoria Street www.farrow-ball.com Gardiner Haskins

34 Berkeley House www.goodchildinteriors.net 23 Highdale Road www.k-interiors.co.uk Main Interiors

384 Gloucester Road www.maininteriordesign.com Nola Interiors

168 Gloucester Road www.nolainteriors-bristol.co.uk/ Stylemongers of Bristol

www.stylemongersofbristol.co.uk/

Brunel Rooms, Straight Street www.gardinerhaskins.co.uk

Wuffles

Just Shutters

Lighting

Interior Designers

4B Avondale Works www.bristollightingcompany.com

www.addictedtopatterns.uk

Parkway Lighting

Bristol; www.justshutters.co.uk Addicted to Patterns Bracey Interiors

Waterloo Street www.braceyinteriors.co.uk David Hutton

17 Druid Hill www.davidhuttoninteriors.co.uk Fawn Interiors

Unit 4.6, Paintworks www.fawninteriors.co

Bristol www.wuffles.com Bristol Lighting Company

343-347 Fishponds Road www.parkway-lighting.co.uk

Windows and Doors Polar Bear Windows

Jarretts Garden Centre www.polarbearwindows.co.uk Timber Windows

29 The Mall, Clifton www.timberwindows.com

JAS Building Services

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Raft_Bristol Advert_Final.indd 1

17/09/2019 11:47

advertising feature

Build. Improve. Maintain . . .

Mark Holmes of hal group introduces a very local building firm, for whom customer satisfaction is a paramount consideration

H

AL is a forward-thinking building company specialising in providing a professional, local service to residential and commercial clients. Let Mark Holmes tell you more . . .

Have you always worked in building?

We’re a relatively young company but I’ve personally been in and around the building trade for over 30 years. As such, I’ve been involved in all aspects of the industry – from direct-to-client services to delivering services and contracts with national clients.

Are there any particular services that you specialise in?

Initially, we started out offering bespoke maintenance and small works to our local client base. We pride ourselves in high levels of customer satisfaction so this part of the business has continued to grow – along with our client base – and, as a result, we’re now able to offer a wider range of services while also being able to deal with larger scale projects. New-builds, property refurbishments and alteration work, extensions and kitchen/bathroom installs are all part of what we can offer.

What sort of timelines are you able to turn a project around in?

It really depends on the size of the job.

Smaller works can be done in as little as a day, whereas larger projects can sometimes be scheduled over the course of a year – we try our best to work to our clients’ requirements.

Do I need to arrange other contractors to get a particular project completed, or would you manage the whole process?

We’re more than happy to manage the whole process and make it as straightforward as possible – after all, we have the experience and the contacts to tackle almost any job. Equally we’re also happy to work with a clients’ existing plans or architect of choice, if desired. n

What size project will you carry out?

We’re open to all briefs, no matter how big or small. Typically, the maximum project value we’re able to cater for is £750k.

Are you locally based?

We’re all about local. I’ve grown up in Bristol and, where possible, we recruit local staff and similarly use local suppliers. Our offices are based on Chandos Road in Redland – if we’re open, feel free to drop in for a coffee and a chat.

On that note, what areas of Bristol do you cover, and do you operate outside of Bristol too?

We cover all areas of Bristol and the surrounding areas but we mainly operate in the BS6, BS8 & BS9 postcode areas of Bristol.

HAL Group Tel: 01172 591 591 Email: info@halgroup.co.uk www.halgroup.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 31

ADVERTISING FEATURE

On-the-spot interior design

N

Bristol’s husband-and-wife partnership THE GOODCHILDS are a bit of a dream team when it comes to solving interior design dilemmas

ot only have they been around the block for more years than they care to remember, but Paul Goodchild and Gill Richardson each have expertise in a different aspect of home design, combining to make an incredible resource of interior design knowledge.

Excitingly, they are now offering on-the-spot two-hour design sessions so you can acquire some of this expertise without having to commit to long-term fees. Voila! Your architectural, building, cabinetry, carpentry (and lets not forget storage), kitchen, bathroom and any-room–youcan-name design query can be tackled by the indomitable Paul, while your painting, papering, flooring, furniture, finishes, fabric and upholstery options can be given over to Gill for on-the-spot deliberation.

Running their award-winning practice for complete larger renovations (Goodchild Interiors), Paul and Gill have just launched their exciting sister site www.goodchildconsultancy. com which offers the two-hour standalone design sessions for a single fixed fee.

“There’s an awful lot you can cover in a focused two hours’ Gill says, ‘especially with the two of us present. We come up with exciting design ideas to springboard a project that may have faltered or at the early planning stages when it’s beneficial to get some interior perspective.

“A lot of people just want an experienced, impartial professional to advise and inspire them with ideas that will work to improve their home,” says Paul, “so recognising the demand, we have developed a process to condense our design service in a cost effective and time efficient way.

“This two-hour consultation can cover any aspect of design, for example, refurbishing a single room or extending part of the house, colours schemes or wardrobe storage options, bathroom or kitchen layouts to name but a few.

Most refurbishments are a major investment so it’s important to get it right.”

During the session Paul often sketches plans and visuals in situ to explain key points where

necessary. “We tend to take notes so that nothing is forgotten and you can concentrate on the session,” says Gill. “We refer to online examples to illustrate products and styles and can suggest suppliers that may help. People want smart, practical ideas that will work in their space and that’s what we aim to deliver.” ■

Inspired to transform a space in your home?

Check out goodchildconsultancy.com Or speak to Paul Goodchild directly on 07971 449 752. www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 33

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Kitchen sync JMI BATHROOM AND KITCHEN CENTRE is throwing an exciting relaunch event on 11-12 October – and yes, there will be prosecco & canapes!

W

e are a family-run business who install bathrooms and kitchens from design to completion. We have been running since 2001, however John Gibbs our managing director has over 35 years’ experience in the industry.

We employ our own project management & installations teams many of which have been with JMI for over 15 years. We have two showrooms in Brislington and Chipping Sodbury with our Brislington showroom currently being comprehensively refitted to showcase some of our latest kitchen designs and styles. To celebrate, we’re going to throw a relaunch party!

So be sure to make a note in your calendar, because on Friday 11 October and Saturday 12 October 2019, we open our doors to the public for the official launch party from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Whether you’re an existing customer or a potential new customer you’re welcome to pop in and meet the team.

We have installed four large stylish displays that cover every taste from ultra-modern to 34 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

timelessly traditional. These displays are packed with the latest technology, clever storage ideas and stylish finishing touches such as Arenastone, Corian, Granite and Neolith work surfaces.

Our launch party will be supported by the UK’s leading name in built in appliances, Neff, who will be participating in our celebrations by sending along one of their own home economists, who will be providing cooking and baking techniques on some of Neff’s latest cooking appliances.

These appliances feature Neff’s brilliant Slide&Hide® oven door, Home Connect single and compact ovens and Flex Induction Venting Hob. As part of our showroom upgrade, we have been awarded Neff’s converted five-star Masterpartner® status reserved for UK kitchen showrooms that offer excellent service, stunning design and display everything Neff from ovens and hobs to laundry and refrigeration.

There will be the chance to sample the food cooked by one of Neff’s finest home economists, enjoy a glass of fizz from our Kaelo integrated wine cooler, enjoy a cup of coffee from our brand new Neff integrated coffee machine as

well a chance to view all the other high quality kitchen products that we have to offer.

Any customer who books a home design appointment with us at the launch or up to the 19 October after visiting the launch will be entered into a prize draw with the prize being a Neff hamper worth over £300.

Our Brislington showroom is located at 52, Bristol Hill, Brislington, Bristol, BS4 5AB. We look forward very much to seeing you there, and we’ll have gift bags with goodies in them for customers to take away. ■

52 Bristol Hill, Brislington, Bristol, BS4 5AB. T: 01179720171 8 Horse Street, Chipping Sodbury, Bristol BS37 6DB. T: 01454319019 www.jmibathrooms.co.uk

The Bespoke Furniture, Upholstery & Soft Furnishings Experts Clifton Village 62-64 The Mall, Bristol, BS8 4JG

Bedminster 196 North Street, Bristol, BS3 1JF

Open Mon – Sat 9AM – 5PM 01173 702745 www.swupholstery.co.uk

September Exhibition - Feona Ness & Martine Wills October Exhibition - Sally Coulden A UNIQUE GALLERY OF WORKS TO OWN BY SOME OF THE WORLDS GREATEST ARTISTS Three rooms offering original hand-signed works by Picasso, Banksy, Matisse, Hockney, Dali, Lowry, Haring, Grayson Perry, Stik, Chagall, Francis Bacon, Peter Blake, Henry Moore, Joan Miro and more, alongside stunning contemporary works by Huw Richards Evans, Chitra Merchant, Lucianne Lassalle, Feona Ness 6 -10 The Clifton Arcade, Boyce’s Avenue, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4AA www.myhiddenworld.co.uk | hiddenrare@outlook.com | Telephone: 0117 279 6402

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

LOVE WILL TEAR US APART (AGAIN) Alert the UXB squad, because a charisma bomb is heading our way. Bristol Old Vic’s big hitter for October is a new production of Cyrano, and taking the lead role of the lovelorn soldier – cursed with the face of a donkey, but with the soul of a poet – is Bristol’s favourite actor, Tristan Sturrock. Tristan hasn’t trodden the boards for quite a while – blame Poldark! – and Cyrano is quite the return gig; he’s heading up a pretty blissful cast of Bristol Old Vic all-stars, too, including Felix Hayes, Giles King and Patrycja Kujawska, in what we’re promised is a dazzling new verse adaptation by Peter Oswald, directed by Tom Morris.

We’d put this magazine down and book right now, if we were you. www.bristololdvic.org.uk

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

What’s on

® Disney

27 September 27 October 2019

She just can’t wait to be queen: Nala struts her stuff in The Lion King

exhibitions

the scenes of the Aardman hit movie; bristolmuseums.org.uk

Space Steps Exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing; at RoPhoSoc; rps.org/spacesteps

Until 15 December

Until 29 September

Until 30 September

transformation High-quality art by prisoners and ex-offenders from HMP Leyhill; at Alchemy 198, alchemy198.co.uk

Until 5 October

Markéta LuskaCová In the late ’70s, Czech snapper Markéta fell in love with Whitley Bay and the people who, despite the harsh weather, loved the seaside. See her captures at MPF; martinparrfoundation.org

Until 11 October

Andrew Bird Layered, dynamic abstracts inspired by the bustle of life in coastal Cornwall and rural Derbyshire; cliftoncontemporaryart.co.uk

Until 3 November

On Set with Aardman: Making Early Man M Shed’s unmissable peek behind

Still I Rise: Act 3 Major exploration celebrating Bristol’s history as a hotbed of radical feminist and queer resistance; Arnolfini, arnolfini.org.uk

28-29 September

st werburgh’s art trail Artists and makers across the neighbourhood invite you into their homes; many other events happening in local venues, too; stwerburghsarts.org.uk

28 September-8 Dec

Imran Perretta: The Destructors Imran’s major new film work draws on both his own and collective experiences of marginalisation and oppression. Spike Island; spikeisland.org.uk Meriç Algün: Day Craving Night The Stockholm-based artist explores the precarious nature of love in a world obsessed with individualism, consumption and borders. spikeisland.org.uk

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

28 September-31 Dec

Interventions/2 A series of avant-garde films and art installations by Yoko Ono, curated for Bristol by Jimmy Galvin, at The Georgian House; bristolmuseums.org.uk

29 September-1 Dec

annual open It’s the 167th year for the RWA Open, and anyone can submit work for consideration, in a wide variety of disciplines (go on, then...); rwa.org.uk

19 October-19 April

do you believe in magic?

From ancient uses of witchcraft, to the role superstition plays in the modern mind, this new exhibition explores how magic has been used to heal, hunt and harm across the world and down the ages; bristolmuseums.org.uk

SHOWs

Until 28 September

art on the hill This weekend, it’s the turn of Windmill Hill and Victoria Park to host a trail; artonthehill.org.uk

Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) Blood of the Young pick up the karaoke mic to deliver an oddly faithful yet utterly different take on P&P at BOV; bristololdvic.org.uk

11-17 October

Until 5 October

5-6 October

Centrespace Open Studios A rare opportunity to glimpse behind the studio doors, buy from independent artists and experience the creative co-operative community; centrespacegallery.com

the barber of seville Opera Project return to TFT with Rossini’s exuberant prequel to The Marriage of Figaro; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

19-20 October

the lion king Baaaaa Sowhenyaaaa! It’s the autumn biggie for Bristol Hippodrome, as the massively popular ‘Hamlet on the Serengeti’ musical tale comes to town; atgtickets.com

West Bristol Arts Trail Showcasing over 100 artists living and working in Clifton, Clifton Wood, Redland and Hotwells; westbristolarts.com

Until 23 November

WHAT’S ON 27-28 September

BOBBING FOR APPLES: THE HALLOWEEN SHOW It’s Halloween. There will be weird.

Soul Cake Theatre bring four tasty tales of love and revenge laced with dark humour and unpleasantness to Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

IT WILL COME LATER Stripped back, edgy international contemporary dance performed around a revolving set, with six different bodies pushing against each other in constant transformation. Circomedia; circomedia.com

29-30 September

SHESUS & THE SISTERS SELF-SERVICE: A RESURRECTION STORY Your favourite drag king Missiah reincarnation brings you a story of self-love, lunacy and transformationalisationic behaviour.

Look, we’re just printing the press release here... At TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

30 September-1 October ABOVE: Night of the long knives? Jay reflects on a life in restaurant reviews LEFT: We can’t really complain that Yoko’s official photo is about 40 years old. Our ed’s photo at the start of the mag is almost as out of date . . .

BELOW:

Miles Kane brings his “punky but croonery” (his words) sound to SWX

AWKWARD CONVERSATIONS WITH ANIMALS I’VE F**KED Linus Karp’s Bobby discusses onenight stands that are as awkward as f**k, in a one-man tragicomic psychological examination of loneliness. At Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

ME & ROBIN HOOD Following on from The Duke in a trilogy of shows questioning the value of art and the power of story, Shôn Dale-Jones offers up a thoughtful and engaging tale about inequality, myths and taking control of your own story; at TFT, tobaccofactorytheatres.com

EXTRAORDINARY WALL (OF SILENCE) Ad Infinitum combine the company’s signature style of physical storytelling with the beauty of British Sign Language in three powerful coming-of-age stories; at BOV; bristololdvic.org.uk

12 October

REASONS TO STAY ALIVE Stage adaptation of Matt Haig’s frank and funny bestseller, chronicling his journey out of the depression that almost crushed him; At BOV; bristololdvic.org.uk

2-4 October

5-19 October

AUSTENTATIOUS Austen improv! In every show, the cast conjures up a new ‘lost’ Jane Austen novel based on nothing more than a title suggested by the audience. At Redgrave; redgravetheatre.com

JAY RAYNER: MY LAST SUPPER It’s your final meal on Earth; what are you going to have? In a new show based on his new book, Jay tells the stories of the killer dishes that would end up on his table, linked to anecdotes of his life. At Redgrave; redgravetheatre.com

SILLY FUNNY BOYS New show from Wardrobe faves Sleeping Trees. Remember them from the movie trilogy Mafia?, Western? Sci-Fi? No? Put this right immediately at their new show, at thewardrobetheatre.com

RUMPELSTILTSKIN Insane Roots’ candlelit immersive version (expect to stand or walk about) is a spine-tingling take on the ancient folk tale of greed, imagination and the terrible choices we have to make. At John Wesley’s Chapel; insaneroot.co.uk

9-11 October

1 October

1-5 October

4 October-1 November (selected dates)

SH*T FACED SHAKESPEARE: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Take an entirely serious adaptation of a Shakespearean classic, and add an entirely sh*t-faced cast member.

One cast member is selected at random and given four hours to drink before every show; it’s been an international hit, and it’s coming to Redgrave; redgravetheatre.com

12-16 October

CYRANO It’s the autumn biggie for Bristol Old Vic; see page 37; bristololdvic.org.uk

14-16 October

REBECCA Suffering from a deficit of Kernow romance since Poldark ended? Du Maurier did it first, and best; Alma Tavern; almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

15-19 October

SINGING IN THE RAIN BAOS take on the greatest movie musical of all time (discuss), packing in every memorable moment

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

What’s on 4 October

from the film and a downpour of unforgettable songs, at Redgrave; redgravetheatre.com

the tallis scholars A centuries-spanning programme from Peter Phillips and his plainchant Scholars, at St George’s; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

16 October

peter clifford Local magician Peter Clifford brings an evening of bamboozlement and banter to the intimate setting of Alchemy 198; alchemy198.co.uk

5 October

Penguin Café Scion of the famous Penguin Café Orchestra, and with many of its hallmarks, the ever-enigmatic Penguins transcend popular and classical music in a truly unique and immersive sound, at St George’s; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

16-19 October

Everyone is Dead Well, nearly everyone. How much humanity is left when humans have (nearly) wiped themselves out?

That depends how much there was to begin with... New writing champions Theatre West storm back with a new play that delves beneath the surface in a postapocalyptic world. BOV; bristololdvic.org.uk

11 October

lissie The midwestern songstress comes to St George’s, returning to her roots and laying out her romantic past in fresh and vibrant reworkings in song; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

16-20 October

above: Miss Lissie comes to St George’s left:

Last Tango in Bris? It’s The Selecter

below:

This Circus City show is called Outside the Club.

It looks nothing like Mr Wolf’s at 3am to us...

miles kane One half of the LSP bromance has embarked on a special intimate run of UK dates to road-test some new material; SWX is one of the stops. swxbristol.com

trying it on Leading political playwright David Edgar imagines what his 20-year-old self might think of his generation’s actions over the past 50 years; at TFT, tobaccofactorytheatres.com

12 October

16 October-9 November

much ado about nothing The Shakespeare event of the year, as STF returns to Tobacco Factory Theatres with Elizabeth Freestone’s take on the evergreen comedy about the precarious path to love; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment The theme’s Bach, the universe and everything (as in Beethoven tells you what it’s like to be Beethoven, Mozart tells you what it’s like to be human, and Bach tells you what it’s like to be the universe). At St G’s; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

24-26 October

15 October

still no idea Lisa and Rachael want to make a show. They make a pact. They’ll go onto the streets, interview people, and whatever story the public come up with – that will be the show.

Deal. TFT; tobaccofactorytheatres.com

kate tempest The spoken word artist, rapper, poet, novelist and playwright brings her Book of Traps & Lessons to O2; academymusicgroup.com

20 October

al stewart The Year of the Cat man brings his Hits and Misses show to St George’s; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

music

29 September

lady nade Bristol’s own alternative rootsy pop balladeer launches her new album Safe Place at Southbank Club; ladynade.co.uk

2 October

quercus The unique folk-meets-jazz partnership of vocalist June Tabor with Iain Ballamy on sax and Huw Warren on piano; at St George’s stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

22 October

gary numan It’s 40 years since Gary went on the road; now the electronic pioneer returns with his (R)evolution tour.

O2; academymusicgroup.com

24 October

the selecter We’ve had The Specials on Harbourside. We’ve had Madness on The Downs. Complete the set at O2, as the Two-Toners celebrate 40

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

What’s on years in the biz with a hit-rich set, academymusicgroup.com

film, animation and virtual reality; encounters.film

25 October

27-29 September

Oysterband & June Tabor One of the most exciting collaborations in folk music has resumed for a major tour that takes in St George’s; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

comedy 29 September

jon culshaw Comedian and impressionist Jon Culshaw and legendary comedy producer Bill Dare come to Redgrave for the first time following their sell-out tour last year. redgravetheatre.com

30 September, 14 October closer each day The world’s longest-running improv comedy soap continues to froth amusingly away at Wardrobe, thewardrobetheatre.com

30 September

john robins: hot shame The Bristol homeboy returns with his first new show since the sell-out tour The Darkness of Robins.

Expect soul-bearing, self-lacerating, piping-hot shame at The Redgrave; redgravetheatre.com daniel sloss: X Dirty, sweet and clever: Daniel’s X-rated shows tend to sell out as quickly as they’ve been announced; best hurry to the Anson Rooms booking site, then: bristolsu.org.uk

13 October

james acaster: COLD LASAGNE HATE MYSELF 1999 Why has James named his new tour after pasta and self-loathing? Hie ye to BOV to find out. bristololdvic.org.uk

17 October

rory bremner The foremost political impressionist drops the mask to appears in conversation at St George’s, discussing his fascinating career live on stage. A pre-launch event for Slapstick Festival; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

other

Until 29 September

encounters Bristol’s best and freshest film fest celebrates its 25th year with a typically top-notch programme of

HQ cocktail weekend A three-day event of sampling new cocktails and finding the hidden gems of cocktail bars across the city; see page 85. eventbrite.co.uk

28-29 September

community reuse festival Recycling, arts and creative play unite for a two day programme that celebrates Bristol’s exciting and innovative reuse culture.

Curated by Children’s Scrapstore; childrensscrapstore.co.uk

18-19 October

simple things The festival returns to Bristol’s most innovative gig spaces once again for a full day of musical diversity; simplethingsfestival.co.uk

19 October

the hobbs show The wholly local (though worldclass) fashion, dance and music extravaganza – this year at Pennywell Studios; hobbs-style.co.uk

19-20 October

BOP Bristol 19 BOP is Books on Photography – and it’s a brand new photobook festival, hosted by Martin Parr Foundation and RPS at Paintworks (see p58); martinparrfoundation.org

28 September

PROM 2019 Come and celebrate the Class of 2019 (that’s you!) and all your wonderful achievements. The category is... Dazzle! The music policy is strictly bangers, while Carmen Monoxide will be on hand to crown the Prom king and queen.

Old Market Assembly; find ’em on Facebook.

28-29 September

docks heritage weekend A celebration of Bristol’s maritime past with a packed weekend of events for all ages; at Underfall Yard, M Shed and ss Great Britain; underfallyard.co.uk

6 October

Conversations with Norman Jay MBE The legendary DJ steps away from the decks to discuss his enthralling new memoir, Mister Good Times, at St George’s; stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

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

above:

His name is Norman James-s-s-s, he’s just a normal guy…

4-6 October

Shextreme Film Festival The world’s first film festival celebrating women in extreme sports and adventure is back at Watershed. You go, girl; shextremefilm-festival.com

9-13 October

IBT19 We Rise A four day gathering of conversations, performances and provocations (see page 62); inbetweentime.co.uk

16 October

Festival of the Future City The UK’s largest public debate

about the future of cities returns to Bristol, exploring key issues and solutions; futurecityfestival.co.uk

17 October-2 November

Circus City 2019 The UK’s biggest festival of contemporary circus returns with an ambitious, events-for-all programme; bristolcircuscity.com

25-30 October

Circus berlin Breathtaking circus performers from (contrary to expectations raised by the title) all over the world; on Durdham Downs; circusberlin.co.uk

Hey there Yes, YOU – a moment of your (If that’s OK.)

time, please. energy

Like you, WE LOVE BRISTOL. Love its and its DYNAMISM. Love its creativity and ; its DIVERSITY and PLAYFULNESS. Love its (and its spirits). Love its BARS and RESTAURANTS and RETAILERS and DESIGNERS and CREDS and SUCCESS; love it’s being the CAPITAL OF THE WEST (if not the alt capital of the UK); love its BUSINESSES, of the INDIES to the from the of the CORPORATES; love its ART and its STREET ART, its SPORT, MUSIC and theatre.

Love its HARBOUR, BOATS, BRIDGES and CRESCENTS, its HILLS and SPACES. And its , SPARKLING GROWTH while yet , EDGY, FRIENDLY Bristol. still being

ingenuity spirit

green

coolest

boundless grungy

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But here’s the thing. With so much here and , we can’t cover it all in a so much three-weekly magazine. Just can’t.

happening

So what can we DO..?

Try THIS

→

THE BRISTOL LIFE AWARDS 2019 24-PAGE SOUVENIR ISSUE!

!

EN Small versions Small versions

SAVE THE DAY: LOOK WHO'S COMING OUR WAY

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FIELDS

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Small versions Small versions

RISING GLAMP: CAMPING FOR GROWN-UPS large version

Small versions Small versions

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THE FESTS ARE YET TO COME

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*… Not to mention ice-cream pastels, new neutrals, mono and dark brooding hues, (but probably not grey)

LILY IN THE

TIME FOR BEDMINSTER

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FIFTY SHADES OF GREEN*: THE BEST OF THE SS19 INTERIORS TRENDS

A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CITY

ISSUE 263 / MAY 2019 / £3

ISSUE 262 / APRIL 2019 / IT‘S ALL ABOUT YOU, BRISTOL

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WE’RE ALSO….

BOOKING NOW FOR BRISTOL’S BEST SHOWS DRINKING COCKTAILS FROM ELEPHANTS TAKING THE FAM OUT FOR THE DAY SPOILING OUR MUMS

ISSUE 263 / MAY 2019 / BRISTOL FT W

ISSUE 261 / SPRING 2019 / LEAF IT OUT

SPECIAL BRANCH

ISSUE 262 / APRIL 2019 / £3

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A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CITY

ISSUE 261 / SPRING 2019 / £3

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A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CITY

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property

FFFI

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property

ANNIVERSARY ISSUE: 15 years of living for the city

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GOES FORTNIGHTLY! Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property

A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CITY A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CITY

ISSUE 269 / SEPTEMBER 2019 / £3

ISSUE 265 / SUMMER EDITION 2019 / £3 SSUE 270 / OCTOBER 2019 / £3

A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CITY

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IT’S BIG AND IT’S CLEVER: WHY JODY’S NEW WORK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ART HAPPENING OF THE YEAR

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SSUE 270 / OCTOBER 2019 / ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK

ISSUE 269 / SEPTEMBER 2019 / ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE BS1 A CHANCE

ISSUE 265 SUMMER EDITION 2019 / SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT

FOR THE

ORANGES ARE NOT THE ONLY FRUIT

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Of our love affair with the city

THE DREAM TEAM

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Bridal wear: Mishi www.mishimay.c May om MUA: Magic Owen www.morgande fre.com Photos: Morgan Defre www.magicowe n.co.uk Hair: Jodie Austen www.jodieauste n.co.uk

Venue: Blaise Castle www.bristolmus eums. org.uk

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Bridal designe MUA Morgan r Molly Lewis Smith, aka Mishi May; Defre, and photogr created this otherwo apher Magic Given their mysticalrldly bridal shoot at Blaise Owen Castle. unsurprising that -sounding names, it’s perhaps the results are so enchanting …

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PLASTICENE ERA A film about cavemen made by a young Nick Park, a tray of oddly sinister looking mouths, and industrial amounts of Aardmix are just a few of the exhibits poised to fascinate us at Aardman: Animating Early Man – M Shed’s must-see show of the summer

A “We’re not in Encyclopedia Brittanica territory here, but the singular brain of Nick Park”

“Can you see our Uber, Hognob?” up “No Dug; I suspect he’s been caught Bridge” in the Extinction Rebellion on Bristol

s everybody knows, the game of soccer began when an asteroid collided with the Earth, wiping out the dinosaurs but somehow sparing the humans. Finding a roughly spherical bit of to kick it asteroid, the cavemen naturally begin around, and so invented football . . .

We know this to be true, because it’s in Early Man. Aardman Animations’ recent movie humans Please don’t write in to point out that and dinosaurs weren’t contemporaneous.

We’re not in Encyclopedia Brittanica territory here, but the singular brain of Nick Park; and in his ‘Stone-Age soccer-movie satire’, our Nick doesn’t so much invite us to suspend of disbelief as to revisit the wacky universe know we gags visual and nostalgia slapstick, and love from previous hits Shaun the Sheep, Chicken Run and The Wrong Trousers.

But despite all the silliness and fun, into which a stellar cast including Eddie Redmayne, gleefully Maisie Williams and Tom Hiddleston throw themselves, the film’s story – about save his plucky caveman Dug, who sets out to them home from hostile invaders by defeating in a game of soccer – has a gentle underlying with message; we need to treat each another kindness in order to survive.

Nobody makes films quite like Aardman; discover and now they’re kindly inviting us to at exactly how they put their movies together, Shed. the new big summer exhibition at M kindly Exhibition officer Karen MacDonald .. took us on a tour – so walk this way .

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Yoko Ono 1969 by Ian Macmillan

Discovery of food and arts and retail and business and property

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EXHIBITION

Celebration of the very best of Bristol

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he inspiration for shoot all started the with a book about Russian prison tattoos,” begins Molly, promisingly.

“A captivating

little book filled with old photographs of the most depraved, violent and disturbing tattoos I’ve ever – it was enough seen to wanted to apply get stuck in my head, and I the idea to a wedding dress.

“My favourite kind of tattoos on a true salty are the ones sea dog, so I started the dress as a whole body covered to think of and symbols in stories of love, sin, sex and from there the concept for the death, and to include all my most loved collection grew briney things stormy waves, – thunderclouds , anemones, sea birds and, of course, is called The Tempest.mermaids. The collection “To sum up the with most Mishi look of the collection, as May work, I would balance between say it’s a used soft colours the hard and the soft. I’ve and delicate silks, big shoulders but also and Although much a femme fatale silhouette. of it is undeniably I like to think feminine, of my clothes as power too; I definitely imagine the wearer dressing, elegant and fun, to be but “We did the shoot also fierce. in one of the outbuildings of Blaise Castle.

I took photographer Magic Owen there on a recce; on our way into the we passed through beautiful old greenhouse the old laundry took one look shed. She at the it here’ – we barely walls and said ‘let’s do bothered to look greenhouse.“ at the Molly’s currently very excited to her first made-to-order be launching collection. “Creating only bespoke gowns number of dresses limits us to a very small bespoke, though, each year; we’ll still offer and everything made here in will still be the Mishi “I’m lucky enough May studio in Bristol. skilled pattern-cuttersto know some highly , seamstresses finishers who and have given up their work for larger labels to move to Bristol and families. Our big step of launching start will hopefully a collection mean I can grow the the most of the awesome skills team, make available, and will hopefully enable and more of what Mishi May to do more we love.”

Models: Ceci Zhang, Victoria Lindsey Coutts and Grace Cairns

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ARCHINGS WEDDI TECTS

Hold ART beca the front cove r (we artis use world-reno wn did!), ko her t Yo st soloOexno is preseednt Bristfir ing hib ol. itio In triguing n in not contshowing at somly, it’s e the emporary ga llery,cool, ric Alrehisto y we Georgian but questad ions… have a fewHouse.

Words by Deri

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IMAGIN BETTE EA R WO RLD

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verybod y Most of knows her name. us what she think we know We had admitte looks like; although artist and a lot of question dly image of that iconic 1960s with this: composer Jimmy s for the show’s curator, Galvin, by curtainsa pale face framed how did Why has Yoko the and we chosen you become of long kicked off is about black “Yoko involved Bristol for her 50 But where years out of hair in show, and planned had originally date. agreed curating it? sit in the does Yoko Ono to be in was calledto curate in 2011 a show Sure, she’scultural panoply I’d Eno, BryanTremor, and was for the RWA,” ? due to featuredsays Jimmy.

Ferry and does she famous, but what didn’t happen many Yoko, Brian“It an artist, actually do? Is she “In 2013, due a funding leading artists, but sadly I saw Yoko’s issue. maker or a musician, a filmMuseum though it an activist? it’s only happen in Vienna, and show Intervention fairly recently Well, all of fitting recognit in the setting Bristol – and thought, I have at Ernst Fuchs that Yoko the above; ion for her credits to now got of The has received And if Georgia it’s all coming to make this previous many Lennon work, includin n House together songs (notably g the lyric ly airbrush clue’s in that seems an unusual , in Museum As an ed out the show’s Imagine) .” choice of reclaimi that were love with Asian-American of history. title.

It’s ng venue, the woman whole new the space in a a deliberate interven feminism a Beatle, an outspok who dared new tion – to fall in be pulled audience to the and exciting en, provoca Yoko has , and a category in way Georgia tive had to navigate -defying “Yoko to explore its n House, to bring a and racism; avant-ga voice of who will decades rde artist, despite challeng is an artist whosesignificance in Bristol’s bitterne then of misogyn this, she es people’s thought ss seems serenely y, distrust history. around -provok what has or resentment. understa them,” free of says Jimmy. nding of art ing work art in this her artisticalways mattere What matters most to d to “By experien and the world an invitatiounexpected context, Yoko – In our vision as truthfull Yoko – is that cing concept n to all member it will in the conversa serenely mind, Yoko is alwaysy and steadfasshe adheres to s from all create a platformual tion.

“As we light (thatin a large, unclutte dressed in tly as possible commun as . mono, ities to join red white is one of are all co-creat experien Imagine video room filled standing ors ced a frisson has a lot difficult the few authent of our cities’ wasn’t showing of surprise to answer for), with but necessar ic platform legacy, and a show her new space of on learning so we s that art y conversa within a work in tions, this allow us to have that she show.

“I have setting of Anolfini or Spike the will be, The Georgia Island, cool, contemp meets-n always been a in effect, ew in unusual fan of the n House. but in the very orary would normall juxtapos heritage settings; ition y expect it’s always modern of white gallery to see modern interesti oldattachm space, but concept ng. You ent and baggage that always ual art in a that can sometim comes with es diminish

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OPEN DOORS

THE HIDDEN CITY

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Expect the unexpected at this year’s Bristol Open Doors festival.

Come on in . . .

© CHRIS WILKINS

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here are hidden, mysterious corners in every city.

Driveways glimpsed beyond gated passageways; unknowable, ancient chambers protected by heavy locked doors; entrances barred by hi-vis stewards, who heads at your tentative approach. shake their No entry, mate.

Once a year, however, along comes Bristol Open Doors, with its huge, jangling bunch of keys to unlock the city and ‘open sesame’ get-in you’ve offer you the always wanted. An architecture festival with a difference, it gives you the chance to storm the barriers and take a look behind the scenes of some of Bristol’s most fascinating buildings, from private venues to ‘staff only’ zones in public ones.

The rollcall this year includes an airfield, science labs, historic boats, a renewable energy wind farm, a working Victorian boatyard and an asylum chapel, along with even more tours, talks, workshops, activities and exhibitions than usual. What will you discover? www.mediaclash.co.uk

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ED’S CHOICE EVENFALL 4; SIGNED GICLÉE PRINT BY JODY THOMAS, £120 Don’t tell Jody that we’re work suggesting you choose his to match your colour scheme.

Oh, actually, go ahead; we reckon he wouldn’t mind...

From www.jodyart.co.uk/about

£15 they’ll give you a roseFRAMELESS SUNNIES, and a snip at the price, but Not only are they fun, funky down the Croft on a rainy autumn afternoon even tinted view of the world – Croft; www.thatthing.co From That Thing, 45-47 Stokes

Of a showcase of this gorgeous cornucopia, of this here Bristol. (“Best in the West?” Nope: just best)

£POA TOILE FABRIC AND PAPER, shellin your Timorous Beasties, a word your modern like, please! We just adore see London, urban toile, but we can only New York in the Edinburgh, Glasgow and range – when you doing Bristol?

From www.timorousbeasties.com

PINK KNOTTED SWIMSUIT, NOW £70 (WAS £140) Flattering plunge-necked one piece, from our current lingerie crush, Bristol online shop Fleur of England From www.fleurofengland.com

LA VIE EN ROSE

pale Millennial pink; rose gold; dogwood: whether you think it’s ironically pretty, post-pretty, get or just plain pretty, we can’t enough of it. Think pink!

ANNIE SLOAN CHALK PAINT, RRP £19.95 It’s not easy choosing just one colour from Annie Sloan’s glorious range, so we’ve gone right ahead and chosen the ‘Antoinette’ for you.

You’re welcome From My English Home, Clifton Arcade www.myenglishhome.co.uk

BARTS SKIPPER HAT, £27 The Greek fisherman’s cap has been seen on celebrity heads from Kate Moss to it Liam Gallagher (Kate wore better). We’re loving this pretty made feminine pink colourway, and from a warm wool blend with adjustable fitting From Fox + Feather 43 Gloucester Road www.foxandfeather.co.uk

COLAB CRUISER DECK, £225 Bristol artists CopyRight and Gemma Compton combine street art with a romantic narrative in these strong iconographic decks; we’d purely love this one on our wall From www.cantcopyright.co.uk

ESTELLA BARTLETT ‘SCORESBY’ BAG £50 It’s wide and spacious, it comes in ‘vegan leather’, it has a handbag charm and a little tag that reads ‘dare to dream’, and we’re seeing nothing not to love here From Pod Company 24 The Mall www.thepodcompany.co.uk

SALCOMBE GIN, RRP £40 The prettiest, rosiest gin we’ve ever seen, with such a delicately citrus taste that we’re almost reluctant to add anything extra, even tonic. We didn’t swig from the sample bottle neat at our desk, you did From Clifton Cellars 22 The Mall www.cliftoncellars.co.uk

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN T SHIRT, £185 Innocent sugar pink, and an ominous skull – if this contradiction doesn’t scream ‘unisex’ we don't know what does From Harvey Nichols 27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com

IN

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD ORB PASTELLE WATCH, £215 Pink’s a dream match for silver, and we’re loving the dangling addition of Viv’s trademark orb charm From Garment Quarter 23-25 Penn Street www.garmentquarter.com

IES ROCKD ’N’ROLL

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t’s not an easy time closing – on the high not much about, just the chains, street. Restaura nts are but also popularwhom nobody competit cares ion from business retail giants, indies. Shops face very cut and colour . I’m working indepen mountin and while towards dent g The good online, salons face nobody can news is “Bristol business it’s toughbringing in a business their own get a business is a wonderf challeng to find the is good – that for many Bristol always choose es, too. ul city Bristol support finance. manager, but as so what’s an their secret? companies, enjoy seeing to support localfor an indepen the local would they dent, How well indie scene? give “My advicebusinesses succeedbusinesses rather and my clients And what does In their own to a hopeful than a chain. would and grow; to a start-up? bandwag advice words, then…start-up?

They on.

Be unique, it makes them SAM BELL, market for If you truly believe feel part don’t Aveda concept HAIR AT of it. in what you jump on the latest the risk – you, and you’re do, prepared but hair salon, 58 Sam Bell risks, althoughdo your research to do it 24/7,if you know there’s is Health & a force of nature. 58 Cotham Hill; . I am a be I wouldn’t Beauty Award, The winner www.h say that very impulsive, brave and take been nominat airat58. would work and I enjoy NATHAN, co.uk ed in the she’s also just of the 2018 Bristol taking for everyone leg of the JASON Wales & Life Restaur !”

South AND KEVIN ant and Hairdres British Hairdres Nathan sing Awards West ser , HYDE Lee, Jasonbar group; www.h Sam’s storyof the Year. as & CO Mead and ydeand began .co remortg Kevin Stokes in 2009, aged her when she set up in with just house in salon on biz back £20k, opening order to Cotham in 2010 on Upper open a it by my Hill.“I was the family and advised against added TheByron Place. SinceHyde & Co bar heart that friends, but Milk then they’ve Thistle, of The Ox, I was ready.it was the right thing I knew in my two to do. I knew Gods; they’veBambalan and branches “I’d started Seven Lucky also just my career Rosema loved my teamed rino in Bonomin 14 loved Clifton to re-invigorate up with in explorin years there, but i; I this muchbrands; andg more natural, I was interested “We were restaurant. vegan-fr just three a certain iendly and eventualthat is how I came friends age, across Aveda, old-fashio and wanted to who had reached own salon. ly decided to challenge ned way open I wanted people drank,” wanted somewhe the without to create up my being pretentio a space says Jay. “We re we’d like you could my clients, us; somewh that was beautifu to drink, come in whether but where a baseball ere that l and luxuriou “My main in which my you had a was cap s suit on or still cutting challenge is nothairdressers could welcoming, not “Having and jeans.” junk shops only for creative, no money made levels that hair three days having enough be creative. gave a real and eBay, and the ” says Nathan, us very hours a week, have all need my attention a team of in the day. I’m grew, and character to our result was an eclectic “so we scoured , while running 20 staff at joints. We just kept mix of styles we got more varying reinvesti continue and managin ng our profits which d confiden in that vein were fewer g the t, and the business into the next project.as we fit-outs. Thegood leases around environm result was and we started ent improve But as that we started d, there to to stretch spend more on our ourselve s financial ly,

INDIES

“Bristolians have a rebellious streak, and wou ld always prefer an indi e to big businesses”

Bristol Life is going fortnightly in February.

Join us on the journey:

Bristol’s independ known for its independ ence – and its ents. Her six shining e are examples Photos by @JonCra ig_Photos

To get to Sam Bell, past Rascal you (it’s really have to get not difficult)

Looking

cool, Hyde

& Co dudes!

Left to right,

Jason, Nathan

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

neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk

BRISTOL PROPERTY AWARDS

ARTS Rosemarin o? See main

feature

...

• Having played over Mandarin and Spanish, www.med iaclash.co 100 cities in 20 countries Portuguese .uk I BRISTOL on every continent LIFE I 13 The except Antarctica, • Produced by Disney Lion King’s worldwide Theatrical Productions, gross exceeds that of under the direction of any film, Broadway show Thomas Schumacher, or other entertainment The Lion King has made title in box office history theatrical history with six productions • There are six worldwide running 15 indigenous African or more years languages spoken in

the show: Congolese Swahili, Tswana Zulu, Xhosa, and Sotho • There are 232 puppets in the show, some of which were inspired

by Japanese Bunraku puppetry. They include rod, shadow, and fullsized puppets.

Theatrical Productions, Thomas President and producer of Disney’s original 1994 The Lion King Schumacher, was a producer on the on the new film version. movie, and is an executive producer to be translated into 32 “The Lion King was the first movie “It was even translated into different languages,” says Thomas. a grandma in South Africa, a Zulu. Whether you were a kid in Israel, saw the same story – because it’s college student in Finland, you all community and responsibility about all of us. It’s about family and so universal.” and growing up: I think that’s just

“EXTRAORDINARY MUSIC”

of production for the Disney Richard Oriel is general manager on many big name musicals Theatrical Group, and has worked Oliver! and Cats. including Miss Saigon, Sunset Boulevard, The Lion King a huge “There are many elements that make is set against success,” says Richard. “The storytelling talents as Elton extraordinary music from such diverse accompanied by John, Hans Zimmer and Lebo M, together by Garth Fagan’s choreography, all sewn the fusion of these Julie Taymor’s exquisite vision. It’s combine to make different creative influences that something so unique and ground-breaking. show fresh. Each “Disney also manage to keep the company. show gets crafted round the individual it that couldn’t There will always be some parts of a fresh creative change, but essentially, it’s given wherever look every time the show is performed, that is in the world.”

“GREAT CREATIVITY”

Disney’s The Lion King plays Bristol Hippodrome 7 September-23 November; www.bristolhippodrome.net

®DISNEY

Neil for commercial

outside

“A UNIVERSAL STORY”

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Lebo M, has worked on both Lebohang Morake, also known as singer, and performer, the film and stage versions as a composer, soundtrack of the remake. and has recorded four songs for the show, Julie Taymor, The director of the original Broadway of Lebo in her stage said she was inspired by the music inclusion of many South adaptation, which resulted in the African influences. of the characters,” “People can relate to aspects of most a Scar, a Timon says Lebo. “In every family there’s authority. And and Pumbaa; a mother or father of amazed everyone can relate to death. I’m still great how much that touches people. There’s and a creativity in the staging of the show, great universality in the story.

“The Lion King introduced a new audience to animation, a new audience to theatre, long before we even go to the obvious new opportunities for South African music and South African talent. It’s opened doors in many ways. It’s a very proud legacy.”

they standing

• The Lion King has been performed in nine different languages: English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch,

others, ome dubbed it ‘Bambi on the Serengeti’; similarities to ‘Hamlet with lions’. Whatever the the fact any literary and movie predecessors, with its remains that Disney’s The Lion King, about a lion admittedly uncuddly-sounding plot father’s land cub trying to reclaim his murdered one of (that’ll be the Hamlet bit, then), became the best-loved tales of all time. movie – one It all started with the 1994 animated era, of the big successes of Disney’s ‘comeback’ and Beauty and the Beast. along with The Little Mermaid, Aladdin with that opening sequence: The film began in jaw-dropping style, set to a mesmerising Zulu an epic, overhead procession of animals, rather bathetically translates, learned) subsequently chant that (as we it’s a lion” (and repeat). More as “Here comes a lion, father; oh yes, remake, with the CGI recently, we’ve had Disney’s ‘live action’ Glover and Chiwetel Ejiofor. beasties voiced by Beyoncé, Donald the last two decades. Brace The stage version’s been going for 25 global productions, seen by yourself, stats fans: there have been cities in 19 countries, earning it over 100 million people in over 100 entertainment title in box office the highest worldwide gross of any this Hippodrome at Bristol history. The latest tour, which opens the theatre. month, is the autumn big-hitter for the show, and asked them what We met three key figures behind King’s phenomenal appeal. they felt was the secret of The Lion

deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk

Why are

• Since its Broadway première on 13 November 1997, 25 global productions have been seen by more than 100 million people

Oh yes, it’s a lion: Disney’s leonine blockbuster . is padding stealthily towards Bristol . .

Deri for editorial

and Kevin.

THE LION KING IN NUMBERS

THE MANE ATTRACTION

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

We're recruiting a Deputy Editor!

Sorry, everyone. We can’t do this anymore.

We can’t keep trying to fit everything that’s going on in this city into a three-weekly magazine. We want to cover MORE events; be MORE reactive; preview and review MORE places – and with this in mind, from 21 February 2020, BRISTOL LIFE WILL GO FORTNIGHTLY. This means that for the first time in the magazine’s 16-year history, we will be recruiting for a full-time deputy editor.

You’ll need to be…

• Highly literate, with a great visual eye • Impeccably organised and efficient • A superb self-starter and team player • Adept at social media • Bristol’s biggest fan Excited by the prospect of becoming a key part of Bristol’s best magazine? If so, please email your CV, covering letter, a sample of your written work and a few lines about why you feel you’re the ideal fit for the job, by 25 October 2019, to deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk We look forward to hearing from you….

www.mediaclash.co.uk

BRISTOL COLLEGE of MASSAGE and BODYWORK Professional Massage Training and Low Cost Massage Clinics • Remedial & Sports Massage Diploma Course MTI Level 5 Diploma - apply now for September 2020

• Indian Head Massage Certificate Course MTI Level 3 Certificate - contact BCMB for 2020 dates • Holistic Massage Diploma Course MTI Level 4 Diploma - apply now for February 2020 • Two day Holistic and Thai Massage Introductory Workshops • Exciting CPD programme for therapists from in-house, national and international tutors.

Low cost massage available from our students and graduates - please call for availability and prices.

Lower Ground Floor, 109 Pembroke Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3EU - 0117 946 6371 enquiries@bristolmassage.co.uk - www.bristolmassage.co.uk BCMB has been providing high quality training since 1987. We are accredited by the Massage Training Institute (MTI). Our courses exceed the training standards of the General Council for Massage Therapy.

Prepare to meet thy maker This creative, eco-aware city is a magnet for artists and makers – and you can get up close and personal with some of the best of them in a new book, Artisan Bristol Words by Lissie Warren

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crafts

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ristol has always attracted artists and craftspeople, from ceramicists to glassblowers, silversmiths and textile designers. Now, in the pages of new book Artisan Bristol, you can pay a virtual studio visit to 25 of the city’s finest makers, and learn how their relationship to the area inspires their work. (Look out, too, for a kind of ‘shop of the book,’ coming to a high street near you soon – see next page.)

The author of the book is Sophie Rees, a trained fine artist with extensive experience in curating exhibitions and markets. Sophie has been based in Bristol for almost four years, and alongside her passion for promoting design and craft, she’s still actively painting – in fact, she’ll be exhibiting at the North Bristol Arts Trail this November.

“The designers in the book represent just a small section of the creative talent here in Bristol,” says Sophie. “Some of them have lived here many years, while others moved here recently because of Bristol’s reputation as a creative hub.

“I think Bristol continues to attract two sets of creatives – those just starting out, such as students, and those fed up with chasing their tails in bigger cities such as London. Bristol has its own creative eco system, that allows designers and artists the opportunity to support themselves and continue their creative practice.”

The book features interviews with makers working in an eclectic mix of old and new crafts; some you may remember from features we’ve run in previous issues – digital embroider Jacky Puzey, for example, and knitwear creator Amber Hards.

Sophie, why should we buy local and handmade goods?

The apparel and footwear industries together account for more than eight per cent of global climate impact – greater than all international airline flights and maritime shipping trips combined.

above: Who could possibly resist this bull in a bow or the angel with little feet? Sophie Woodrow’s ceramics draw inspiration from many sources, incuding the way that animals live in our collective imaginations below: Beguiling work by glass-blower and jeweller Catriona R MacKenzie

“We have to start taking responsibility for our shopping habits, rather than blaming the manufacturers”

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crafts We have to start taking responsibility for our shopping habits rather than blaming the manufacturers who are supplying to meet our demands. 99% of the designers I work with utilise other local services and materials to ensure their products have the lowest possible carbon footprint; by choosing locally made clothing or homeware, that‘s made to last, you know that you are supporting independent makers while helping to preserve our beautiful planet.

“By choosing locally made goods made to last, you’re supporting independent makers while helping to preserve our beautiful planet”

How can we find out more about local makers, and where can we buy from them?

Bristol is a great place to source products from independent makers, although sometimes you have to seek them out in the many small, independently run shops throughout the city. This November I will be opening a permanent shop on Lower Redland Road called The Bristol Artisan, which will hold a curated selection of contemporary homeware, clothing and gifts. We will also be running a selection of workshops within the space by designer makers which will allow locals to learn new skills and perhaps find a new passion. Several of the designers featured in Artisan Bristol will be stocked within the shop. n

Artisan Bristol by Sophie Rees is published

by The History Press at £20 h/b www.thehistorypress.co.uk For more www.designersmakers.com

When art meets knitwear: Amber Hards’s innovative designs mix contrasting yarns and techniques with unexpected results

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talking w pictures

Meet the shutterbugs at BOP, a festival at Paintworks that celebrates photo books

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

e love a coffee table photo book – the best are virtually coffee tables themselves, of course – so we’re somewhat giddy about a new Bristol festival that celebrates just that. Hosted by two of the best-known names in photography – Martin Parr Foundation and The Royal Photographic Society – BOP (Books on Photography) takes place at Paintworks on the weekend of 18-19 October. It’s free to enter, and you’ll get to see some amazing pictures and meet the photographers themselves. Among those hosting talks are Bristol-based snappers Jack Latham and Aaron Schuman, plus assorted national and international names: think Indian transmedia artist and activist Poulomi Basu, documentary photographer and political artist Lisa Barnard, and London documentary/ portrait photographer Sophie Green. Lost and Grounded has a pop-up bar, and there’ll be grub from Love Food Festival too. n

For more, www.rps.org/bop

PHOTOGRAPHY opposite page: A surreal shot from Slant by Aaron Schuman

clockwise from left: Pieces from Congregation by Sophie Green, Centralia by Poulomi Basu, and Ed Ruscha to William Eggleston, the history of American photography by Mark Power

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PHOTOGRAPHY

clockwise: Fang Sheng Gathering, Shanghai Ferry Port, by Liz Hingley;

Paintworks, where it all takes place; pieces from The Canary and The Hammer by Lisa Barnard, and Jack Latham’s Parliament of Owls

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It’s Time…

Over the years, In Between Time has opened our eyes to the spectacular, the inspirational, and, occasionally, the downright odd. From fog bridges and dancing cowboys to giant monsters bounding through Temple Meads, IBT has inspired, enthralled and engaged us – and 2019 sees this festival of extraordinary arts and ideas return, with its sights firmly set on the political landscape Words by Lissie Warren

Part of FranceDance UK, Dorothee Munyaneza’s Unwanted focuces on the plight of woman and children in the aftermath of the Rwandan Civil War

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T

arts

© Christophe R aynaud de L age

his October, the In Between Time Summit will play host to over 40 captivating works of art, with six UK premières as well as a whole host of discussions, workshops and social events.

Before we delve into the nitty gritty of the programme, let’s just take a moment to find out why this year is so different – and the clue lies with the operative word, ‘summit’.

The word has serious connotations when it comes to the political landscape. Summits are not for the eyes and ears of the many, but the few. You know they exist; you’ve seen them in films, and heard about them on the news. But unless you’re a very high-up personage indeed, the actual details may elude you; most of us aren’t privy to the machinations which take place within their walls. They are typically reserved for those in the highest echelons of power.

In evoking the word ‘summit’, In Between Time is making a statement. It’s reclaiming the political landscape through the power and influence of art and, in its own words, will pose the question: ‘Imagine a better future where art and artists save the world’ – a concept that equally applies to the Yoko Ono exhibition currently running at Georgian House.

Add into the mix a quote from Harlemborn author and social activist Toni Cade Bambara, that “The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible,” and from these two statements, The In Between Time Summit takes form.

But hey, let’s dive into the three-day programme, pick out a few of of its highlights and explore what’s in store for Bristol when the magical mystery tour rolls into town . . .

“Imagine a better future, where art and artists save the world” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 63

Consignments invited for our pre-Christmas Specialist Sale

£8,600

£23,500

Our 14th November pre-Christmas Quarterly Specialist Sale is timed to coincide with the busiest time of year for the sale of fine & decorative arts & antiques, fine Jewellery, silver & watches. To take advantage of this we have three FREE VALUATION DAYS at the Salerooms in October plus a Jewellery, Watch, Silver & Gold Valuation Day at Stoke Lodge in Bristol on Saturday 5th October where our Specialist Valuers will provide free no-obligation verbal estimates with the pre-Christmas Sale in mind. Alternatively why not email images of items you may be thinking of selling to info@csrauctions.com (Home visits can be arranged for large collections – Call us for more details).

Free Valuation Days in October 1st & 14th, 15th At the Salerooms 9.30am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm --------------------------------------------------

Bristol Jewellery & Watch Valuation Day Saturday 5th October 10am – 4pm At Stoke Lodge, Shirehampton Rd, BS9 1BN (Ample Free parking) Every lot in every sale illustrated and sold with live internet bidding

£19,600

© Cigdem Aydemir

arts

“The Ride is an incisive political act created out of the simple, playful sharing of a motorcycle journey” The Ride, Cigdem Aydemir

Cigdem Aydemir is collaborating with the public (that’s you!) to create The Ride, an incisive political act created out of the simple, playful sharing of a motorcycle journey; you can book a 20 minute slot to become a cast member in this one-on-one film performance in which you share a motorcycle ride through a contemporary Australian landscape.

Cigdem, a Sydney-based artist, devised the piece when a lone gunman held 10 customers and eight employees of a Sydney chocolate café hostage in December 2014 – an action which spawned a wave of anti-Muslim sentiment across Australia. In reaction, a viral response quickly formed with locals using the hashtag #illridewithyou in solidarity with those affected by the backlash.

How live art can unf***k the world

Live art is known for its risk-taking and fearless approach. Using it as a global tactic and artistic strategy, artists take on some of the world’s real, brutal, complex, beautiful and even silly questions.

Join this unconventional panel comprising members of the Live Art UK network of programmers, producers and presenters, and a few of the Summit’s visiting international delegates. Each has three minutes to respond to the question, with a provocation, example or description – the choice is entirely theirs.

Unwanted, Dorothée Munyaneza

Part of FranceDance UK, a festival from the Institut Francais, Dorothee Munyaneza’s Unwanted makes its UK première.

Dorothée was 12 when, after surviving the disgusting mass genocide of the Rwandan civil war, she left her native home and moved to London in the summer of 1994. Unwanted focuses on the stories of the women caught up in the atrocity – specifically those who suffered rape, an act of domination and suppression still used as a weapon of destruction in war zones today.

A generation of children were born of this, traumatised by their history and ostracised by the taboo of their origins. With raw energy and empathy, Dorothée unfolds these stories, delving into the heart of the unspeakable and giving voice to this lost generation.

Imagination is not a Luxury, Gabriella Gomez-Mont

An international keynote address from Brazilian artist and advocate Gabriella, who will explore and outline the role art plays in the building of our future, and how its imagination and creativity can help solve many of the challenges a modern urbanised society faces, from community and urban planning through to health and technology.

Gabriella was the founder of Laboratorio Para la Ciudad, the award-winning

experimental arm of the Mexico City government. She has received several international recognitions for her work in different fields, such as the first prize in the Audi Urban Future Award, the Best Art Practice Award given by the Italian government, The Creative Bureaucrats Award by the German government, and the TED City 2.0 Prize.

We Are Warriors, Helen Cole

A sound and light installation set in the spectacular surroundings of Bristol’s Redcliffe Caves, this human-made catacomb will play host to a powerful constellation of equality, fairness and safety, created by In Between Time’s own creative director, Helen Cole.

We Are Warriors is a potent mix of visual and aural power – and power is the key word here.

The light and sound in this piece combine to give back this lost power, and a voice to generations of women who have had their voices oppressed and repressed.

Individual lights, each created by members of the public, are combined with the voices of women and girls aged eight to 85 to create this thought-provoking showcase. n In Between Time: Summit runs 11-13 October at various Bristol venues For more www.inbetweentime.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 65

Meet the GARDEN EXPERT

Autumn’s the perfect time to start thinking about a garden redesign – and come next spring, you’ll be glad you called in the professionals . . .

advertising feature Caroline Butler

LESLEY HEGARTY

Hawkmoth Garden Design www.hawkmothgardendesign.co.uk

The Hegarty Webber Partnership 01934 853273; www.hegartywebberpartnership.com

Describe your style as a garden designer It’s different for every project. The design needs to flow from the given architecture and blend into the wider environment, as well as reflecting the individual aspirations and personal style of the client. Every garden is unique.

What future trends do you think we will see in gardening?

I hope to see more creative management of rainwater – which can be beautiful as well as functional – and greater progress towards true sustainability.

What is your favourite part of the job?

The client’s reaction when they see the garden completed. A garden of any size can have a transformative effect on people’s happiness and wellbeing. It’s the best feeling, knowing you’ve helped them achieve that.

We’re now in autumn; is there anything we should be doing in the garden to prepare?

A minor tidy up (leaving some seed heads for aesthetic appeal and wildlife) and then a good layer of peat free compost for winter protection and soil structure. It makes a world of difference to the vitality of a garden.

What is the nature of your business?

We design and transform gardens – everything from city courtyards to country house estates. We combine responsiveness to our clients’ wishes with our own design flair to create stunning bespoke landscapes.

Why should people employ you?

The other half of our partnership is Robert Webber, former head gardener of Bristol University Botanic Gardens. We combine extensive design experience and project management skills with unsurpassed plantsmanship and horticultural knowledge.

Our clients are therefore assured of a rewarding investment (one of the best they may ever make) with a significant improvement to their lifestyle.

How do you conduct your business?

We work on each project together to produce a variety of design options. We guide our clients seamlessly through the process with abundant enthusiasm, attention to detail and a real sense of fun.

What do you do when off-duty?

I’m a keen sportswoman and regularly play tennis, run and ski and I enjoy singing in a local choir. Robert collects contemporary paintings and prints and is ruled by two black, fluffy, ‘diva’ rescue cats.

Caroline Butler

Nina Bastin

Nina’s Garden 07866770249; www.ninasgarden.co.uk What do you most enjoy about gardening in Bristol?

I love Bristol’s diversity. I get to design for all sorts of different people, using different materials and design styles.

What future trends do you think we’ll see in gardening?

I think climate change will drive more water-saving initiatives, like sedum roofs, permeable paving and drought-tolerant planting.

What is your favourite public garden in the country?

David Austin’s Rose Gardens.

What’s your favourite local garden open to the public?

Yeo Valley Organic Garden: so cleverly conceived and beautifully planted.

What’s a good way to accessorise a garden?

Use atmospheric lighting.

Describe your style as a garden designer?

Elegant, considered, totally bespoke.

What does a typical working day involve for you?

I could be out surveying, at my drawing-board, computer-modelling, or planting a new garden.

Tell us a little about your work My job requires creative vision, design skills, and technical and horticultural expertise, so I’m always learning.

What is your favourite part of the job?

I love turning my drawings into beautiful spaces for my clients to enjoy.

What’s the biggest mistake that can be made with a garden?

Making piecemeal changes without an overall plan.

Lesley Hegarty

Nina Bastin

Phil Stovell

Phil Stovell

Phil Stovell Garden Design 07970 705384; www.philstovell.co.uk Which garden/landscaping project have you most enjoyed working on?

It’s hard to say, as each job has its own satisfaction as problems are solved, or the design is met with huge enjoyment. Currently I have a large project where large curved retaining walls are being employed successfully.

Follow the progress on Instagram: @philstovellgardendesign What future trends do you think we’ll see in gardening?

Garden features using metalwork or water are becoming more accessible and affordable allowing smaller gardens to be creative and engaging.

What’s a good way to accessorise a garden?

Currently I have been using corten steel screens in my smaller gardens to create focal points.

If you could give one bit of advice to garden owners what would it be?

Make the most of your garden space; it has the potential to be an ‘outdoor room’, adding value to your property.

What’s the biggest mistake that can be made with a garden?

Underestimating the maintenance involved. It doesn’t matter how small the garden is once completed, choosing the right plants and putting in place irrigation is so important.

We’re now in autumn;is there anything we should be doing in the garden to prepare?

Yes, lots. Now is a good time to start preparing for hedging as soon it will be ‘bare-root’ season. Also think about buying bulbs for planting in late October/ November.

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

advertising feature Andy Bending

Terrey Maufe

Andy Bending Garden Design 07943 495158 www.andybendinggardendesign.co.uk

Outerspace Creative Landscaping 01275 870 701 / 07972 927 728 www.outerspacegardens.co.uk

Tell us a little about your work The garden designer’s job is to unlock the potential of any outdoor space. Getting the design right to best fit the client is key. By exploring design ideas and inspirations with the client, I can help realise their perfect garden.

Describe your style as a garden designer My love for nature is reflected in my design style. My gardens often contain bee-attracting perennials and grasses alongside natural elements of stone and timber, incorporating exisiting features into the new design.

Which accomplishment has made you proudest?

In 2018 I won a RHS Silver-Gilt medal and People’s Choice award when I designed and built my first show garden at the RHS Malvern Festival. My garden, ‘The Salad Deck’, also featured on BBC Gardener’s World.

What tip could you give to utilise more space in a garden?

My tip to maximise planting in gardens is to consider vertical growing space. Often vertical space is overlooked, but when well designed, it is easy to maintain, easy to irrigate and can be very innovative and attractive.

Andy Bending

Jamie Bramhall

Greenwave Landscaping 01275 541 723; www.green-wave.co.uk Tell us a little about your work I’m Jamie Bramhall and my business is Greenwave Landscaping Ltd. We design and build garden transformations, whether that’s building a decking area or laying a patio, creating raised beds, we level steep gardens and much more. We aim to create gardens for the whole family to enjoy.

What do you most enjoy about landscaping in Bristol?

The variety of terrain and the challenges that some of the gardens offer. To me it’s all about creating a healthy and safe space that will extend the home and deliver the client a space they can relax in or to play in.

What future trends do you think we will see in gardening?

People want to make their gardens an extra living area to their house so I see more outdoor kitchens and outdoor entertaining spaces (with the option of cover if it rains!).

What’s your favourite local garden open to the public?

The gardens at Penny Brohn (body and mind cancer care charity) in Pill, where I used to work are impressive – they have a variety of exotic trees and plants, it’s very peaceful and beautiful. Everyone is free to visit the centre to visit the gardens.

What is your favourite piece of equipment?

It’s got to be an ‘Auger drill’ – it digs big holes!

Saves our backs!

Which accomplishment has made you proudest?

Leaving my desk job at Penny Brohn, setting up my own business and pursuing my dreams of working outdoors creating amazing gardens.

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

Terrey Maufe

What future trends do you think we’ll see in garden design?

• Blurring the lines between interior and exterior – with big expanses of glass planned within extensions and home improvements, garden views are becoming an ever-present visual part of the interior, as well as providing wide and inviting openings into exterior spaces. Exterior materials are keeping pace with interior innovations, so the visual connection between interior and exterior is closer than ever before.

• Focus on health and wellbeing – the benefits of spending time outside for both physical and mental health are becoming increasingly acknowledged. A well-planned garden can be a real life enhancer and even a small amount of time spent outside each day can make a difference.

Which garden project have you most enjoyed working on?

I recently designed a large accessible garden for a family with a very active outdoor lifestyle. The challenge was to use the additional requirement of wheelchair access to create a garden for the whole family to use and enjoy. We solved threshold issues and level changes across the whole garden using gently sloping curved paths to create some great dynamic lines.

What is your favourite local garden open to the public?

The Organic Garden, Holt Farm, Blagdon, Bristol

Lee Hopkins

Lee Hopkins Landscape and Garden Design 07817137039; www.leehopkinslandscapeandgardendesign.co.uk

Jamie Bramhall

Lee Hopkins

Which garden/landscaping project have you most enjoyed working on?

I loved a small project where I designed a contemporary ‘secret’ garden as a memorial for a client’s late wife. I designed a laser cut panel that reflected an important time in their lives together. I really enjoyed working with the client and creating a tranquil space for him and his young daughter to enjoy.

What’s a good feature for a garden?

A lighting scheme can work wonders.

Describe your style as a garden designer I really enjoy designing contemporary gardens, but I can tailor my style to what the client wants as well as their needs and budget. I endeavour to create a garden that makes you want to spend more time in it.

What is your favourite part of the job?

The moment when I know I’ve cracked the design; also, having a happy client.

What is your favourite piece of equipment?

A pencil! I still love drawing by hand before putting anything into CAD. Which accomplishment has made you proudest?

I designed the Gromit garden for the BRI Cots for Tots Appeal. We had a very tight budget and we had to build the garden in just one weekend!

ADVERTISING FEATURE KATE SAVILL-TAGUE

NICK WOODHOUSE

KATE SAVILL LANDSCAPES 07792 657777; www.katesavill.co.uk

WOODHOUSE & LAW

01225 428072; www.woodhouseandlaw.co.uk Which garden/landscaping project have you most enjoyed working on?

It has to be building “The Jo Whiley Scent Garden” at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. We designed this as one of 5 show gardens to celebrate the 50th anniversary of BBC Radio 2.

What future trends do you think we will see in gardening?

Sustainability and becoming more environmental friendly - with climate change becoming a reality, there will be an inevitable change in the type of plants and planting styles that we adopt in our gardens.

If you could give one bit of advice to garden owners what would it be?

Its all about the planning - getting a clear plan, well thought through and doing things properly in the first place to ensure a garden will look good in the future. I am confident that the longevity of the build is down the quality of the materials used as it can often be a false economy to have to replace cheaper products.

Describe your style as a garden designer?

First and foremost, I love functional design and have a keen eye for detail, combined with a passion for plants.

What is your favourite part of the job?

I love the initial stage coming up with a concept design (the master planning stage) as this is where the transformation of the space really happens and it can be quite exciting.

Kate Savill-Tague

Nick Woodhouse

What trends do you think Spring 2019 will see in gardening?

More colour. The growing momentum in the home towards bolder colour choices will start to see itself being replicated in the garden; expect to see more of the hotter colours being combined with purples and blues. I think we’ll also see larger leafed, more exotic-looking plants being used to greater effect, taking their inspiration from the growing trend towards the houseplant indoors.

What’s your favourite local garden open to the public?

The gardens of Hauser and Wirth in Bruton. I’m a huge fan of Piet Oudolf’s work, both here and further afield. His naturalistic planting schemes are both playful and romantic, whilst his plant selections are really robust too.

Describe your style as a gardener...

I don’t like to impose any particular style on a client; preferring instead to work to their personal tastes and the style of their home. As well as ensuring a consistent look throughout, this also makes the job more fun for us – we get to work on a range of styles from ultra-contemporary to the more classic, traditional feel.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 69

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Tel: 01275 333589 or 07872 665602. Or Email sales@mietystone.co.uk Website: www.mietystone.co.uk Miety Stone Limited. Hillmans Transport Depot, Chelwood Bridge, Chelwood, Bristol, BS39 4NJ

1

Dismaland: four years later

Four years ago, on the very day that this magazine comes out, Banksy’s bemusement park closed for good. Here’s a slightly disappointing souvenir Words and photos (if you can call them ‘photos’) by Colin Moody 72 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

photography

2

W

e found these pics down the back of the sofa. Couple of rolls of film, some notes scrawled on cigarette packets, and half a Jammie Dodger (inedible). We’ve done our best to make sense of it all, to bring you a nostalgic throwback to Dismaland – which, by an extraordinary coincidence, closed four years ago on the exact date this magazine comes out.

It may be the work of Colin Moody; we’re not sure.

None of it is very good.

3

1

“Felt rubbish today. Half a breakfast, and then a long slog to get to Weston. Feel sluggish. Don’t expect I will take any decent shots. First thing that greets you when you walk in are the Dismal guides. Can they be bothered to hand out leaflets? Can you be bothered to take one.

Mostly, no.”

2

“Sorry, I over exposed it. Dropped the film in that fire pit they burn stuff in every hour and it got a bit . . .on fire. I can’t remember what I took the shot for. There was a bench, some seagulls and that’s all I know. I don’t have a caption. Er... just print ‘Blah blah British queue, what we do best’, or something like that? Too obvious? Can’t find anything to eat or drink here. Maybe that’s the point.

Effing clever isn’t it. Maybe a bit up itself, but I loves it.

“Dear god, just spotted a couple of Guardian readers over there who think they ‘understand it’. Quick, let me go get a shot.”

3

”Here they are. ‘What this says to me...’ is how they began. It was all very well analysed. They seemed to like the way the billboard showed a guy in a better jacket than theirs shoving the billboard out of the way.

There was a fair amount of chat about irony, and I also overheard ‘That jacket. Want.’ Odd.”

4 4

UNREADABLE WORDS OBSCURED BY KETCHUP STAIN... “Bench”... UNREADABLE WORDS BURNT AWAY .....“Seagulls”(???)... UNREADABLE WORDS COVERED IN UNKNOWN SIGNATURE IN POSCA PEN...

“Bloody selfies everywhere”...

5

“Went for a sit down. It’s all very wonderful here, and probably the greatest artistic event in my lifetime, but I’m tired and need to sit down. Looked at the exit. This may be the most dismal of all the things I’ve seen here.

Sorry I didn’t get you these photos right away – a few of us wanted to have bevvies on the beach afterwards. A bit of sand might have gotten into the camera. And beer.

Every time I wound on the last few frames it sounded like nails on a chalk board. But hopefully you can use them.”

6

“NB EDITOR DO NOT USE. Last thing I want is people to see that (a) I can’t be bothered to get a decent shot of the front of Dismaland and (b) MY finger was deffo in front of the lens. Delete delete, do not use. “(Unless you want to be clever and run a series of shots that are actually a bit rubbish, to suit the whole theme of the thing. Ha! That’s actually not a bad idea.)”

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

photography

5 6 7

7

“Had a go at printing one shot. It’s people watching the films in deckchairs. I think.

In conclusion these are the worst shots I’ve ever taken. Utter rubbish. Sorry.

“So we don’t get into this kind of mess again I’ve taken the liberty of excusing what’s wrong here: (1) Overexposed, or underexposed, it’s hard to tell because of 2.

(2) Beer-soaked roll of film. Not my fault.

The top of that organic wheat ale must have come off in the bag for life on the way home.

(3) I got absorbed in the films and forgot I was on a photo commission.”

“Delete: do not use.Unless you want to be clever and run a series of shots that are a bit rubbish, to suit the theme of the thing.

Ha! That’s actually not a bad idea . . .”

8

8

9

I’ve changed to a fresh roll of film “It’s too late. We are being asked to leave.

Something about Damon Albarn wanting an exclusive view, or something. Well, before him and Brad Pitt start buying up pieces, this is the end of the road for me.

“It’s of that amazing model of a disappointment of a future. I don’t know, maybe the artist is predicting a change from this wonderful liberal society to one in which our leaders drive a nationalist agenda to boost their own importance, creating a division that can only be sorted by heavy state intervention.

Like that could ever happen!

“Hey, editor: did you get my email about running a Bristol Heroes series in your magazine? Photos of eight heroes each week? I promise they will be better than this lot.”

9

“Bonus shot. NB ed: not sure we were allowed to shoot in here.”

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

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

opinion kam kelly

Anger management In which your friendly local DJ experiences a car park epiphany

S

ee, what I’ve realised recently is that it’s so much easier to get cross, irritated and generally vexed than it is to let something go.

I don’t know whether our increased propensity to anger has something to do with the current political climate. I don’t know if it’s something to do with social media, raging and trolling, and confronting us every single minute of every single hour of every single day.

As I say to anyone who cares to listen, I’d hate to be a kid in this day and age. When I was at school and was subject to bullying (which thankfully wasn’t much), I could go home and close the door behind me, shutting out at least some of the angst that came from an awful day. The door wasn’t a magic barrier to negative thoughts, but at least I didn’t turn white with fear every time my phone buzzed.

And then there are the FOMO inciters. Every day we see friends parading their wonderful holidays, new cars, houses,

“When it comes down to it, we’re still all throwing turnips at witches”

kitchens, kids or relationships in front of us. That doesn’t anger me per se – nine times out of ten, I’m happy for them; besides, we all know that they’re just posting the filtered highlights of their life.

My main concern about social media is that it has become a virtual soapbox for individuals to jump on and preach. We may consider ourselves to be a more enlightened generation than, say, folk in the Middle Ages; but when it comes down to it, we’re still all throwing turnips at witches.

Opinions are wonderful. It’d be a pretty dull existence without them. Opinions are also great because, as a word, if you remove the P and I you’re left with onions, and what better to pep up a dull salad or pizza than onions?

Anyway, I digress.

Has social media made us quicker to anger, or was it ever thus? Hard to say – but here’s an example of me getting it totally wrong.

I found myself waiting to get into that car park in Hanham – the one on the street opposite Lloyds Bank. I was behind a guy in a Citroen Berlingo. I love a Berlingo, I do.

Someone in front of him was trying to get out, so he starts reversing. I start beeping. I start swearing. I start gripping my steering wheel with rage. None of my screaming, beeping or arm-waving prevented him from reversing into me anyway.

When the car park congestion cleared (unlike the red mist, which was still very present) the Berlingo pulled up and its driver

emerged. He must have been 90 years old if he was a day. More importantly, I could tell from his demeanour and the look in his eyes that he was nothing short of 100% lush.

So, one of life’s lush humans made his way over to my window and apologised profusely. I didn’t get out to check for any damage; I told him that there was no need to apologise and I was fine, as I’m sure my car was too.

I offered him the one remaining space in the car park and wished him a lovely day.

I waited for him to toddle off before getting out and finding a little dent and scratch on the front of my car. Didn’t bother me.

Nope. It’s a car! He’s a human, and the idea of him being upset or worrying would have ensured I didn’t sleep that night.

Oh, you’ll be pleased to know that his towbar was fine, by the way. It was only marked with a little bit of my paint.

The reason I use this example is twofold. Firstly, I was amazed at how quickly the anger subsided, which made me question why that was my first response. Why, subconsciously, I’d made my mind up that stuff was gonna go off and get real.

And secondly, as a story it’s a great way to demonstrate that I’m a thoroughly bloody amazing human being!

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

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 77

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Inside South Korea South Korea’s not on your bucket list. Relax; you don’t have to pretend, we know.

Often overlooked, it remains a bit of a mystery. So, let’s make a deal. INSIDEASIA will let you in on what makes South Korea so special, and you get that bucket list updated…

S

outh Korea is positively doused in myths and legends, with some of its earliest stories rooted in shamanism, the worship of spirits and ancestors.

The country is home to 14 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, at which you can witness first-hand the relics of the dawn of religions and the end of great dynasties. It’s also possible to visit the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea – where over one million soldiers are stationed each day – if you prefer your history a little more current.

NATURE AFICIONADO? South Korea has 21 national parks, each with its own rugged, dreamlike landscape, many of which are peppered with achingly beautiful cherry blossom trees (which, incidentally, are much less touristy during bloom than the muchspoken about trees in nearby Japan). Seoraksan National Park astounds with views of the bone-like ‘Dinosaur Ridge’, while on Jeju Island you can hike the sweeping dormant volcano ‘Hallasan’. While you’re out wandering, keep your peepers peeled for unique wildlife: lynxes, minke whales, mandarin ducks, white-naped cranes, and Asiatic black bears await.

ARE YOU LURED BY THE CITY LIGHTS? Say hello to Seoul by night. Whatever your tastes in twilight activity – whether karaoke, K-pop, or coffee and smooth jazz – Seoul will provide, every night of the week. The neighbourhood of Hongdae is the hangout of students and 20-somethings, and is revered

for its underground music scene. Then there’s Itaewon, known for trendy restaurants and sparkly bars. Gangnam (yes, like the song!) is the upmarket spot; think swanky clubs and pretty people.

WHAT’S ON OFFER FOR AN INSATIABLE FOODIE? A warning: if you’re already feeling peckish, shield your eyes. South Korea is home to some lively flavours. Maybe you fancy chowing down on bulgogi, a juicy dish of grilled, marinated beef wrapped in lettuce with added garlic and onions. Perhaps you’d prefer Kimchi, a light side

dish of spicy fermented vegetables - supposedly one of the world’s healthiest foods, which might explain why Koreans are set to overtake Japan for longevity in the near future. How about bibimbap, a bowl of mixed rice with sautéed veggies, beef, soy sauce, chilli paste, and a fried egg? If you like it rich and reasonably healthy, then friend: you’ve found your Shangri-La.

A FEW FACTS FOR THE PUB Did you know…

- Korea means ‘Land of the Morning Calm’ - 20% of South Korean men wear makeup daily - 1 in 5 South Koreans have the surname Kim - It is illegal to shop online via any browser except Internet Explorer - 36% of the top female golfers in the world are South Korean - When taking a photo, South Koreans say ‘kimchi’ instead of ‘cheese’ ■

We’re looking for a few pioneering types to take on our first South Korean adventures. Come say hi at our new Bristol centre office!

InsideAsia Tours, Electricity House, Quay Street, Bristol, BS1 4TD E: info@insideasiatours.com T: 0117 244 3380 www.insideasiatours.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 79

bandook

The street-style Indian food served in this tiny, casual Cargo diner is so authentic that you could even risk bringing a travel-bore friend…

Words by Deri Robins

D

on’t even think of going out for Indian food with anyone who’s just back from travelling – or ‘on holiday’, as we used to call it back in the old days, before Millennials decided that six months backpacking in Asia was their solemn, god-given right – in the Sub-continent.

Yeah, they’ll say, chewing thoughtfully on their sambar bhaji; it’s fine; but it’s not a patch on the ones made by Rajiv, the legendary bhaji vendor in Old Delhi. (You can’t miss his cart, apparently; it’s perched on the second traffic island just by the bus stop at Chandni Chowk market.)

A meal at Bandook, however, might briefly stop the travel-bore wallahs in their tracks. This is the casual streetfood scion of the fine-dining Mint Room; to confuse the easily confused, it recently changed its moniker from Sholay (named after the classic Bollywood crime movie) to Bandook (named after the classic Bollywood crime movie). For reasons we haven’t managed to get to the bottom of, there was a copyright problem with the former, but not the latter.

We were dining during the recent Indian summer, (appropriately enough), so headed straight out to the

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terrace; we’re guessing that during the winter months this tiny room is an intimate, cosy-verging-on-cramped space, with room for only a dozen or so diners next to the steaming open kitchen – which, we guess, only adds to the ‘roadside diner meets Bollywood’ vibe.

In the culinary history of the UK, the people of the Sub-continent have always played their cards exquisitely.

Indian food had been in Britain sporadically for centuries, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that it made its concerted move. That decade was the nadir of British cuisine.

Vernacular cooking was gone, replaced by frozen food, TV dinners, dehydrated Vesta sachets. Olive oil was something you bought from a chemist for medicinal reasons. A posh restaurant was one in which you paid after you ate.

Enter Indian food into this barren gastroscape.

Bangladeshis were in the vanguard, with dishes engineered to suit the British palate, but enough of the roadside diner remained to produce flavours that astounded us. Britain was hooked; the next step was to primp and preen the biryanas of Uttar Pradesh, the dosas of Karnataka.

Today, places like Bandook have upped the authenticity a stage further. The signature dish here is a good example:

restaurant

Grandma’s Curry, a daily-changing dish made with chicken, lamb or vegetables. Sadly it wasn’t ready by the time we arrived (Grandma had obviously enjoyed a late night), and neither were the chicken lollipops (we may never now discover why they are so ‘dangerously moreish’).

No worries; my pre-prandial Bombay margarita, spiced up with green chilli liqueur, sweetened with pineapple and rimmed with masala salt was a bilkool slamdinger; so no opprobrium for granny if these caused her tardiness.

Besides, plenty other beguiling dishes beckoned.

Baingan moillee – potatoes and aubergines in a coconut milk sauce – was rich and deep and satisfying, containing those Kerala culinary caryatids: cardamom, tamarind, cloves, fennel, garlic and cinnamon. The masala murgh was our dish of the day; drier than most chicken curries, it was sweet, aromatic and delicately flavoured – Indian food with a lightweight sari on, not the hefty overcoat it sometimes wears.

But you don’t have to go for the large plates, or Grandma’s curry, even if she happens to be up and about. You could feast regally here on small plates. We’d started, for example, with pani puri: thin, crispy globes, as delicately crackable as eggshells, revealed an inner bounty of masala, potato, onion and chickpeas. No better starter to any meal exists. And if you don’t agree with me, well, we were once in Old Delhi, you know.

The samosa chaat turned out to be a bowl of the familiar, crispy triangular snacks topped with chutney, pomegranate and salad leaves, all bound with a moss-green raita – so often used as a fire extinguisher in standard curry houses, but here elevated to a delicate sauce.

The gobi pakora, cauliflower fritters dipped in green chutney, were equally irresistible. The menu says that these ‘can be enjoyed as a snack with a cup of tea’, and yes, I can imagine strolling along the Wharf and popping in for a pakora and cuppa. Maybe bring along a copy of The Times of India for extra atmosphere.

We were now ready for dessert, specifically the mango kulfi, but once again we were foiled. There were no kulfis to be had. Not a one. Granny again, presumably. Forgot to order the mangos. Last Mango in Cargo.

So only one thing for it – more Bombay margaritas it was. We nursed our drinks and watched as a luridly over-the-top Harbourside sunset got underway. Yeah, it was colour-saturated enough, we decided; but obviously nowhere near as good as the ones you get in India… n

“Don’t even think of going out for Indian food with anyone who’s just back from travelling in the Subcontinent” Dining details Bandook Indian Kitchen, Cargo 2, Wapping Wharf; 0117 336 2845 Opening hours Monday-Thursday 11.30am-10pm; Friday and Saturday 11.30am-11pm; Sunday 12 noon-9pm We visited Wednesday lunchtime Prices small plates £4.50-£10, large plates £7.50-£12.00, side plates £2.50£4.50. Drinks: cocktails £9, mocktails £4.50; short but enticing wine list, bottles £20-£26; beer £3.30-£4.75 Vegetarian choice extensive, with several vegan and gluten-free dishes Atmosphere If you’re dining inside, cosy, buzzy and intimate; outdoor terrace a delight on a warm day Service friendly and helpful Invalid access fully accessible by lift

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E R A H S 2 E V ## LO

EXPERIENCE PLANT POWERED FOOD AS YOU NEVER HAVE BEFORE. Serving lunch and dinner and everything in between, come visit us for good times and great food!

10 Zetland Road, Redland, Bristol BS6 7AD Walk ins are always welcome, but we recommend booking a table for groups of 6 or more.

koochamezzebar.com | 0117 9241301

food & drink s n ap s h o t s o f B R I S T O L’ S f o o d s c e n e

good day at black rock Move over, gin; you’ve monopolised the local spirits scene for far too long now.

The team behind one of London’s most acclaimed whisky bars – once described as a ‘game-changer’ by scotchwhisky.com, which should know – is about to open on Marsh Street, just off Baldwin Street.

Black Rock Bristol’s aim is to bust all the traditional preconceptions surrounding whisky.

Drinkers will be encouraged to discover their own personal tastes through a huge selection of whiskies from around the world, organised in cabinets by flavours – smoke, sweet, fruit, spice, fragrant and balanced. There will also be a carefully thought-out selection of craft beers, created in collaboration with some of Bristol’s local breweries, including Moor Beer Co. The bar itself, occupying the ground floor and basement of the former telephone exchange building on Marsh Street, will feature a 216-year-old-English oak tree, which will hold Black Rock’s house aged whisky

“Oh show us the way to the next whisky bar” – just turn off Baldwin Street onto Marsh Street…

cocktail, available on tap (we’re not entirely sure how an ancient tree can be incorporated within a bar either, but the need to get to the bottom of this is a brilliant excuse to play a visit). As well as bottled whisky and beers,

Black Rock will also offer a selection of whisky highballs and specially created cocktails, along with suitably Hibernian-sounding bar food such as Scotch eggs and haggis sausage rolls.

For more www.blackrock.bar

amuses bouches The World Food Travel Association clockwise from top left: Look out for New

Moon Tapas in this quirky Harbourside spot; £4 cocktails are go; Harts, now 100% plastic-free

has just announced the semifinalists in their 2019 Food Trekking Awards – and Bristol is the sole UK representative on the shortlist.

The Awards are the world’s first food and beverage travel trade awards, celebrating excellence and innovation in experiences for food tourism. The full list of 29 semi-finalists were chosen across six award categories: Bristol is in for the Best Food or Beverage Destination of the Year Award. www.worldfoodtravel.org

That funny little winged building

on Cathedral Walk, most recently home to Young and Foodish, will reopen as the second branch of New Moon Tapas. Chef Takvor Terlemezyan and his wife Irina tell us to expect small plates and cocktails, with an international

menu that changes the focus of its cuisine monthly – in other words, a very similar offering to their Clifton restaurant. www.newmoontapas.co.uk Props to Harts Bakery, who have

announced on Twitter that ‘from cow to churn to coffee’ they are now completely plastic- and waste-free, having developed a new system with Bruton Dairy and Milkit. www.hartsbakery.co.uk

Bristol Cocktail Week is coming to

the city between 27-29 September.

The format’s simple: buy a wristband for £10 then head off on a cocktail adventure around the city, sampling £4 signature cocktails at up to 20 top cocktail bars, with a handy printed map to help you stagger around them all. www.cocktailweekend.co.uk

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NEW

NEW MOON ON THE QUAY OPENING ON FULL MOON IN OCTOBER

CLIFTON VILLAGE RESTAURANT OPEN AS USUAL ADDRESS: THE KIOSK 3 HANNOVER QUAY BS1 5JE | TEL: 01172393858 BOOKING ENQUIRIES: HELLO@NEWMOONTAPAS.CO.UK

cafÉ society Stan Cullimore

Eats, shoots and tea leaves

You can lead a Stan to horticulture, and you can make him drink . . .

W

hen my parents got to a certain age, they fell in love with garden centres. Not for the plants; no sirree. Their garden was already bursting at the seams with flowery goodness. It was for the cafés. For some reason which I could never quite fathom, they decided that the best place to eat, while they were on the road, was at a garden centre café.

“After a very pleasing lunch, the prospect of spending four hours on the naughty step really didn’t seem that bad after all”

It made very little sense to me then, and, until recently, it made very little sense to my grown-up self. Although, after a recent trip, I’ve decided that my dear old folks might actually have been on to something. Let me explain.

A while back, I was on my scooter. Heading over to Ashton Gate, to attend a course for naughty people who have been caught speeding. Not going to lie, I was not looking forward to it. Reminded me too much of my school days. Being given detention, then having to go along and listen to kindhearted teachers explaining that they were more disappointed than angry, that rules were there for a reason, and this punishment was for my own good, etc, etc.

So, I decided to cheer myself up with a bit of a scoot around before being put on the naughty step. Trouble was, the weather had other ideas. Turning very soggy, very quickly, meaning I had to change my plans, to make a sudden stop for shelter.

Closest place that fitted the bill was the café inside the Riverside Garden Centre, down by Cumberland Basin. It was far too early for lunch, so I got myself a piece of cake bursting with fruity goodness, some very nice coffee and waited for the storm to pass.

Trouble is, the storm was in no hurry.

After a while, my phone rang.

It was a friend; a fellow biker who had been hoping to join me for a pootle around. He was also caught in the rain. Turned out, he was nearby. Long story short, we joined forces; we sat, chatted and time passed.

Before we knew what was happening, our eyes were drawn to the colourful menu. Which turned out to be surprisingly seductive, with lots of unexpected treats on offer.

My mate went for meze, whilst I had a Linda McCartney burger; I have to admit, they were both very tasty. An unexpected treat.

Looking round at framed notices on the walls, I realised that this place had been given an award in the past, for being one of the best garden centre cafés around. Can quite see why.

All of which proves that my parents weren’t being entirely bonkers. Some garden centres really do make very good cafés.

Who knew? Either way, main thing is, after a lovely couple of hours and a very pleasing lunch, the prospect of spending four hours on the naughty step really didn’t seem that bad after all.

Thanks for the tip, Mum and Dad. n Former Housemartins guitarist Stan is now a journalist and travel writer www.stancullimore.com

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Easy like Sunday lunchtime What do we want? Lunch!

When do want it? Sunday!

Where do we want it?

Take your pick…

Riverstation: bag a window seat

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sunday lunch

A

re there two more alluring words in the English language than ‘Sunday lunch’? For Saturday night ravers, it suggests the perfect hangover cure. For the family member who always gets stuck with the cooking, it’s a blessed respite from the oven. And while in vegan-capital Bristol most restaurants are savvy enough to offer tempting plant-based offerings, for many punters the main lure is a cast-iron excuse to devour hilariously huge slabs of meat. Whether you’re sloping up the road to your local or heading out of town for a blast of country air, we suggest you get these on your gastronomic sat nav pronto.

IN TOWN

1766 Bar & Kitchen

The newly renovated Bristol Old Vic front-of-house is steeped in beauty, history and culture – and word on the street is that chef Coco Barone serves up one of the best Sunday roast in town here.

“We serve up a banging roast (those Yorkies!) and with our amazing new space and the atmosphere it offers, it’s no surprise that we’ve already built up a loyal following,” they say.

Kindly recommend a dish from the menu

“Our confit duck, pork and cherry arancini, quince and parmesan is a naughty autumnal treat, washed down with our Marlborough sauvignon blanc. It’s tropical with citrus undertones, so pairs beautifully with quince and cherry.”

Can we bring the dog?

“Not your family pooch, sadly, but guide dogs or assistance dogs always welcome.” www.bristololdvic.org.uk

THE CHRISTMAS STEPS

Cool, cosy and characterful, and one of Bristol’s oldest pubs, the Steps dates back to 1600 but has been brought right up to date with an attractive refurbishment, with menus which use the best local suppliers to create seasonal dishes.

Please recommend a dish from the menu

“Our vegan roast is one of the best in town; wash it down with our very own beer, Crack Hops.”

Can we bring the dog?

“Of course! They’ll love a seat by the fire.” www.thechristmassteps.com

KENSINGTON ARMS

Grace Dent recently raved about the Kenny in The Guardian, but the staff at Redland’s favourite gastropub promise us that this hasn’t gone to their heads. Anyway, they always knew their Sunday roast was pretty special. “It’s proper Bristol pub Sunday roast scran. The vibe’s relaxed and homely, and everything’s cooked from scratch, even down to the horseradish.”

Kindly recommend a dish from the autumn menu

“We get beautiful saddleback pork belly from Origin Butchers, and without fail the crackling is always amazing. That, dipped in the homemade apple sauce that we serve with the pork – what could be better? Wash it down with Bloody Mary after Bloody Mary – bar manager Matteo has a secret spice mix and always serves a cocktail stick of a pickled onion, gherkin and pepper on the side – a great pre-starter.”

Can we bring the dog?

“Yes – mention when booking.” www.thekensingtonarms.co.uk

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architects littlefrench

Opened just a couple of months ago, Freddy Bird’s friendly Westbury Park neighbourhood restaurant was an immediate (and utterly predictable) hit, and while we’d happily dine there any night of the week, it’s ideal for Sunday lunches. “We’re a relaxed Bristol bistro with a bohemian edge, with a great chef making the food he loves on a Sunday so you don’t have to,” they say.

Kindly recommend a dish and a bevvy from the autumn menu “We’re serving roast venison until the end of October – this is when deer taste their best and have lots of fat. We will serve the venison traditionally with autumnal peppercorn sauce and seasonal veg.

Some delicious Burgundy wines have been be appearing on our updated wine list (which has also been getting a lot of praise).”

Pouvons-nous amener le chien?

“Mais oui!” www.littlefrench.co.uk

THE OX

It’s famed for serving some of the best steak in the city, so no surprise that the cosy, laidback Ox also does a mean Sunday roast.

Beef naturally takes centre stage, but you can also find an everchanging selection of different meats, including pork with perfectly crispy crackling, succulent roast chicken and lamb cooked to perfection. Vegetarians are also well catered for.

We’ve had our eye on the big copper table in its own alcove at littlefrench since the restaurant opened . . .

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“We have a great chef making the food he loves on a Sunday, so that you don’t have to”

sunday lunch Kindly recommend a dish from the menu “Local butcher Nigel Buxton’s dry-aged beef rump, Yorkshire pudding, horseradish, served with roast potatoes, buttercrushed root vegetables, braised red cabbage and house gravy; washed down with an Ox Bloody Mary – seasoned to your liking, but we like it spicy!”

Can we bring the dog?

“Unfortunately not! Sorry!” www.theoxbristol.com

QUAY STREET DINER

If the idea of a trad roast isn’t hitting the spot, how about one of the best brunches in town, taken at lunchtime – or indeed, at whatever hour of the day that you drag your sorry hungover bones out of bed.

“From our legendary thick-cut smoked bacon and eggs or Mexican huevos rancheros, through to the Quay Street Big Breakfast, we’ll set you up for the day. It’s a little bit of laidback Californian sunshine in the heart of Bristol,” they say.

Kindly recommend a dish from the autumn menu “The crispy buttermilk fried chicken with waffles and maple syrup hits the spot for us every time. It’s a hug on a plate.

Drinks? The bottomless Prosecco and Bloody Marys are superpopular, but for us, you can’t beat a classic mimosa. Or coffee, actually – our coffee is lush.”

Can we bring the dog?

“Absolutely! And we have a jar of treats on the bar ready and waiting. Who’s a good boy then?” www.quaystreetdiner.co.uk Few places do beef better than The Ox – and those roasties and that cauli are singing a siren call to us, too . . .

RIVERSTATION

Chilled, relaxed, laidback and friendly, with views across the harbour and easy parking nearby. The guys offer a selection of Sunday roasts from meat to vegetarian options; there are also vegan and fish dishes.

Kindly recommend a dish from the menu “West Country herb-crusted lamb rump, roast potatoes, root vegetables and Savoy cabbage, washed down with one of our guest ales – at present this is Natural Selection from Good Chemistry Brewing.”

Can we bring the dog?

“Guide dogs are welcome in the restaurant; unfortunately we only allow dogs into the bar and out on the terrace.” www.riverstation.co.uk

THE SPOTTED COW

There’s a characteristically laidback south-of-the-river vibe at the Cow, aided in no small part by resident, octogenarian DJ Tony Clarke, whose selection of jazz, blues and Americana is the perfect soundtrack to a lazy Sunday. The passionate kitchen team source all of the produce locally from the best suppliers; all in all, no surprise that the Spotted Cow was recently named as one of the top 50 places for a Sunday roast in the UK. Kindly recommend a dish from the autumn menu “Roast beef from Origin Butchers, washed down with a bottle of pinot noir from our great wine list.”

Can we bring the dog?

“Of course; we also have dog chews on the bar for them!” www.thespottedcowbristol.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

We are now taking reservations for our wine dinners in October + November in aid of Phase worldwide. For all information and tickets for these great events, please go to https://www.riverstation.co.ukwhats-on or give us a call in house on 0117 9144434.

The Grove, Bristol BS1 4RB; 0117 914 4434 riverstation@youngs.co.uk www.riverstation.co.uk

sunday lunch The Pony & Trap: putting the chew into Chew Magna since 2006

“At the Pony we’ve been perfecting the Sunday roast for 13 years, and we’ll keep on refining it” YURT LUSH

Many restaurants struggle to lay claim to a genuine USP, but this is definitely not an issue for the Yurt, which is the only place we know that serves Sunday lunch in a Mongolian tent right next to Temple Meads. Huge love and dedication goes into each dish.“For example, we start making beef and chicken stock on Monday, and reduce them down slowly until Friday, when we combine them into one super-stock. On Saturday we add all our special ingredients, and on Sunday we serve!”

Kindly recommend a dish from the menu “We serve roast sirloin with slow-cooked Jacobs Ladder – roast beef and braised beef all on one plate – yes! We have a whole Bloody Mary menu – the Bloody Irish is a twist on the classic, but instead of vodka we make it with the traditional Irish spirit poitin – pronounced ‘potcheen’ – and add horseradish and beef stock for extra oomph – ideal for a chillier day.”

Can we bring the dog?

“Yes – allowed everywhere.” www.eatdrinkbristolfashion.co.uk/yurtlush

OUT OF TOWN

THE CARPENTERS ARMS

At this quintessential English country inn in Pensford – all oak beams, open fires, nooks and crannies – they don’t just offer lunch, but “an experience prepared with love, passion and as much local produce as we can source”. You don’t have to sacrifice a lie-in, either: traditional roasts are served between midday to 9pm.

Kindly recommend a dish from the menu “Spiced duck confit glazed in orange with black cabbage, roasted

squash and Parisienne potato. We have an amazing wine list and fantastic ales, too.”

Can we bring the dog?

“Dogs are very welcome in our bar and snug areas; big bowls of water and treats come as standard.” www.the-carpenters-arms.co.uk

PONY & TRAP

They’ve been perfecting Sunday roasts for 13 years at Josh Eggleton’s Michelin-starred Chew Magna gastropub. “The Sunday roast is an institution for British pubs, and something we will always serve and keep refining,” they say. “The starters and desserts we serve here on a Sunday are dishes you’d find on our à-la-carte menu throughout the week, served alongside a classic Sunday roast with a Pony & Trap twist.”

It’s all made with ”really decent, really local produce,” too – all the meat is from the South West or even the Chew Valley, and the greens are from the garden.

Kindly recommend a dish from the menu “We get lovely lamb from Ston Easton, braise it slowly for seven hours first, and then cook it on high heat in a Butcombe Bitter glaze. And it is good . . .

“Start with a Bloody Mary (naturally) and then treat yourselves to a bottle of red – a cabernet franc would be perfect, such as Jonathan Maunoury Sarrandieres from Saumur. It’s a deep ruby wine with aromas of violets and raspberries – perfect alongside a roast in the autumn.”

Can we bring the dog?

“Yes; mention when booking.” www.theponyandtrap.co.uk

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CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS I N S T Y L E AT T H E CENTURION Christmas Party Nights

£38.50

Bar opens at 7pm, your meal will be served at 8pm followed by a disco from our resident DJ until midnight. Also included Nigel Coles will be providing his Funky Photo Booth on all evenings.

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07/12/2019

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Christmas Menu 2019 STARTER

MAINS

Red onion & goat cheese tartlet with dressed salad Curried parsnip soup with herb pesto Chicken liver parfait with chutney & toasted ciabatta Smoked salmon with dill mayonnaise, pickled cucumber

Roast turkey with all the festive trimmings Vegetarian nut roast with roast potatoes & veggie gravy Roast loin of pork topped with savoy cabbage crust Baked Cornish pollock with dauphinoise potatoes

DESSERTS Dark chocolate mousse with raspberry sorbet Selection of 3 cheeses, chutney & crackers Passionfruit cheesecake with chantilly cream Christmas pudding with rum custard

All dishes can be made gluten free, just let us know.

Vegan options are available.

The Rudgleigh

Restaurant 10% off food with this advert

FESTIVE CHRISTMAS IN THE RESTAURANT Lunch 2 Course £18.50 Dinner 2 Course £23.50

3 Course £22.00 3 Course £27.00

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Speciality Burgers

Steakhouse

Sunday Carvery

Martcombe Road, Easton in Gordano, BS20 0QD Best Western Plus Centurion Hotel, Charlton Lane, Midsomer Norton, Nr Bath BA3 4BD 01761 417711 | centurionhotel.co.uk

01275 372363 �e-rudgleigh-inn@mail.com

sunday lunch a few more suggestions...

Arts House Café A cracking brunch is served up until 4pm in a bright, inviting, creative atmosphere in the heart of Stokes Croft.

Bambalan Prefer a casual spread with a Middle Eastern flavour? Bam opens for brunch 10am-2pm, but is open right through until 8pm with a great choice of grills, babs and mezze; there’s a heated terrace during the colder months so you don’t miss out on the great city-centre views.

The Bank Tavern The Bank has stood on its John Street spot since the 1800s, surviving “an alarming number of riots, two world wars, Bristol City Council town planners and Thatcher.” They offer their award-winning Sunday lunch in a relaxed, fun vibe.

The Cauldron St Werburghs Sunday roasts of legend, cooked in ‘Woody’, the wood-fired oven and over charcoal pits. The gravy alone takes four days to make, in ‘Bertha’, the 60-litre cauldron.

Jamaica Street Stores They’re open again! Deep sighs of relief among Stokes Crofters, for whom the JSS Sunday roasts, in a large airy dining room dripping with greenery, had become a go-to.

Pasture Yes, there’s a nut roast, but you’ll be heading here for the three choices of steak/beef, the lamb and pork, from Redcliffe’s speciality meat guys.

SWAN AT WEDMORE

There’s a welcoming, easy-going vibe at this beautifully renovated traditional pub in the pretty village of Wedmore. The kitchen, helmed by former River Cottage head chef Tom Blake, helpfully serves Sunday lunch from midday until 9pm.

Tom is a champion of local produce and the meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, eggs, cheeses, yoghurts etc all come from named local suppliers. There’s also a great range of local ciders, ales and gins.

Please recommend a dish from the menu “Orchard Farm pork belly, from Jim Baker’s farm in Wedmore, with fennel and sea salt crackling. For veggies, the beetroot, pistachio and quinoa nut roast with balsamic onion gravy is worth travelling for. All our roasts are served with garlic and herb-roasted potatoes, seasonal roast veggies, buttered greens, root mash and Yorkshire puds.

“Wash it down with a delicious dark and powerful Puglian red or a glass of Murmuration from local artisan cider makers, Pilton Cider. It’s named for the formations of starlings that swirl over the Somerset Levels and orchards at harvest.”

Can we bring the dog?

“Most definitely. We love dogs at The Swan and they’re always welcome – along with muddy boots and children! There’s lovely walking from the doorstep of The Swan and autumn is the perfect time to explore The Levels.” www.theswanwedmore.com

“We love dogs at the Swan, and they’re always welcome – along with muddy boots and children” Orchard Farm pork with fennel and sea salt crackling? Say no more, The Swan at Wedmore!

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

NEW MENU

Find a little sunshine on Gloucester Road at The Blue Lagoon!

For great Christmas value

- Cocktail of the week: two for £7.95 everyday - Half price Pizza: Monday to Friday, between 2pm and 5pm - Live music all week

• Woolley Park (Bath) free range turkeys, geese and ducks • Copas organic and free range turkeys • Usk Vale boneless turkey crowns stuffed to order Gift vouchers • Set boxes

LOCAL PRODUCE The Promenade, 18/20 Gloucester Road, Bristol BS7 8AE 0117 942 7471 | www.thebluelagooncafebar.com

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

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

0117 962 1095

01454 777337

www.henleazebutchers.co.uk

Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine when you present this ad

Just 20 minutes drive from both Bath & Bristol lies the tiny Hamlet of Stanton Wick, home to The Carpenters Arms.

A traditional inn Serving great food in a relaxed environment in the country. Plenty of parking available.

Private Room Perfect for relaxed private dining & small conferences. Great packages available.

Stanton Wick, Nr. Pensford North Somerset, BS39 4BX

tHIRTEEN en-suite bedrooms These delightful rooms offer king sized beds, digital flat screen televisions & superfast fibre optic internet, all in a contemporary styled room.

01761 490202 www.the-carpenters-arms.co.uk

MOHAIR THROW, £90 A woolly throw is a must in any home; we’re particularly drawn to this number in a heathery hue From Arlo & Jacob 94C Whiteladies Road www.arloandjacob.com

KNOT CUSHION, £95 Design House Stockhom is poised to bring a contemporary edge to your cool, urban home From Harvey Nichols 27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com

SOFT TOUCH

Autumn cometh. It’s the season for cosying up with warm, cuddly things . . .

SHEEPSKIN, £139 We see this tactile beauty slung over a simple wooden chair in your Nordic retreat From Bo Concept 51-53 Merchant Street www.boconcept.com

ARAN DOG JUMPER, £45 If this photo of a good boy in his new jumper doesn’t make you go ‘awww’ then you may be reading the wrong magazine From Peregrine Clothing Montpelier Central Trading Estate www.peregrineclothing.co.uk

BELLEROSE HELA BAG, £55 We’re not entirely sure how practical this bag is for daily use, but we’d definitely take a chance on it, as we really like the idea of carrying our stuff about in something that resembles a baby yeti From Maze Clothing 26-28 The Mall www.mazeclothing.co.uk

ASH WOVEN THROW, £195; CUSHION £75 You’ll only find work by the best UK designers at this artisan shop; Katherine Fraser, for example, who weaves magical scarves, throws and cushions that are soft to the touch yet rugged and long-lasting From Midgley Green, 26 Alexandra Road, Clevedon; www.midgleygreen.com

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ED’S CHOICE ED LIV INTERIOR ROUND CUSHION, £32 There’s an indulgent touch of Deco about this velvety number, and we’re all over it From Fox + Feather 43 Gloucester Road www.foxandfeather.co.uk

FAUX FUR HOTTIE COVER, £30 Just like your favourite teddy, but even more comforting From Pod Company 24 The Mall, Clifton www.thepodcompany.co.uk

NORDAL FRINGE CUSHION, £29 Fringing is having a moment (if you care about such edicts), and this pale purple is very easy on the eye, too From Mon Pote 177 North Street www.monpote.co.uk

MEN'S WAFFLE SHAWL CARDI, £125 This 100% British wool cardigan is a classic wardrobe staple, and also comes in navy and cinnamon From Peregrine Clothing Montpelier Central Trading Estate www.peregrineclothing.co.uk WOVEN RUGS, FROM £28 From Scandi company House Doctor, whose trademark look is Nordic cool combined with a boho touch From Mon Pote, 177 North Street www.monpote.co.uk

LULU CHAISE LONGUE, £POA Archer + Co can upholster this beauty in every colour in the rainbow (and then some) but we purely love this Little Trees fabric, which makes us think fancifully of Finland and (for some reason) Moomins From Archer + Co, 24 Alma Vale Road; www.archerandcompany.co.uk

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advertising feature

Thoughtfulness delivered

W

Introducing The Paper Pioneers - Bristol’s very own greetings card subscription service

e’ve all experienced that slightly frenzied lunchbreak supermarket dash, when you realise you don’t have a card for an upcoming birthday or event. Well look no further, because in this issue, we introduce you to The Paper Pioneers. In a world where everyone is so busy and everything is available online, they’re on a mission to bring back the personal touch with the simple written word. Because everyone loves that feeling when an unexpected, handwritten envelope lands on your doormat.

Who are The Paper Pioneers?

Meet Mel, Zoe, Clair and Laura: four Bristolbased friends who met when they all worked in a design agency, and bonded over their love of design, cake and all things creative. The goal was to come up with a business idea that would ultimately save its customers time and money, while providing something that would create some big smiles when delivered.

That excitement of receiving something lovely in the post - a handwritten letter or exciting-looking parcel…that is where The Paper Pioneers was born.

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

How does it work?

As a member, you’ll receive a Pioneer Pack delivered straight to your door each month, containing four individually designed, multi-use greetings cards and matching high-quality envelopes. There will often be a little something extra in there too... because we all like surprises!

You can buy membership for yourself or as a gift for just £9.50 per month, and it’s really easy to pause or cancel at anytime.

What makes them special?

Multi-use cards The focus is on bespoke, creative and unique cards that can each be used for a multitude of occasions, so the insides are almost always kept blank so you can use the card as you see fit. There will always be a birthday card in each month’s pack and you’ll never receive the same card twice. Send your cards straight away, or save and build up a stash, so you’ll never suffer a greetings card emergency again!

Supporting local talent Mel, the founder, explains: “Bristol is such a creative hub, and we’re excited about showcasing some of the incredible work of local designers as well as those further afield.

We have already had our first guest-collaboration with the incredible calligrapher Ivy Inks Paper Co, and have many more planned for the future.

This keeps the designs really fresh and varied, and it’s nice to pay it back to the city that so inspires us!”

Eco-friendly All cards and envelopes are printed on FSCcertified stock, so you can rest assured that with a Paper Pioneers membership, you are looking after this big, beautiful planet of ours. n

EXCLUSIVE OFFER Being thoughtful just got easier!

As a Bristol Life reader you’ll get an extra card in your first three packs. Simply enter the code ‘BRISTOLLIFE’ at checkout.

Find out more and sign up online www.thepaperpioneers.co.uk or visit them on Facebook or Instagram @thepaperpioneers

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Creating a world where children can be children...

In a world of fast-paced technology and screens, the nostalgic adventures of BELLE AND BOO are the perfect antidote for those wanting to recreate the slower and more traditional childhoods of their own youth.

F

or those who haven’t had the delight of discovering the Bristol based children’s brand Belle & Boo, let me introduce you…

One day a little girl called Belle, and her bunny Boo, hopped, skipped and jumped onto a page and began their adventures together. Since that day in 2008, these friends have been enchanting children and adults alike with their innocent games and charming stories.

Belle & Boo’s world is a world in which imagination has no bounds, a world full of fun and adventure, where children are encouraged to explore. A world where children can be children.

After first gaining popularity in a collection of six children’s books, illustrated by Mandy Sutcliffe, the delicate drawings of Belle and Boo now adorn a whole host of products to inspire the imaginations of children and their friends.

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Kate Shafe, co-owner of Belle & Boo reflects on her own childhood and shares what drives her passion for the brand.

“Looking back, I see how lucky I was to have a childhood with so much freedom to play, where our imaginations were filled with stories of pirates and tea parties rather than computer games and TV shows. I read recently that parents in the UK believe childhood to now be over by the time their kids reach 12 years old! What with children now spending more and more time on social media and YouTube marketing to them 24 hours a day, the pressure on them to grow up too quickly is enormous.

“It’s when I hear reports like this that my passion for Belle and Boo and what we stand for, reignites again. When I came on board at the company, it was the innocence of Mandy’s illustrations that caught my attention. The world was one where children’s imaginations were allowed to run riot, where friendships were forged and kindness was paramount – all values that at the time, as a mother to two young girls, struck a chord as I was navigating my own way through motherhood, trying to recreate the freedom of my youth in a world which seemed to be constantly changing.

“It’s important for me that our stories and gifts also inspire children to get outside and interact with nature. Whether it’s encouraging meaningful relationships between children and animals, or inspiring kids to climb trees, jump in puddles or have teddy bear picnics outside, connecting our little ones to the outside world, especially in living situations where it might not be a part of their everyday lives, is something fundamental to the Belle and Boo narrative and something we’re so passionate about passing on to parents and children all around the world.” ■

WELCOME VOUCHER Belle & Boo welcome voucher: get 15% off with the code “BRISTOL LIFE” Valid until 31 November 2019

The full range of Belle and Boo gifts and interiors can be viewed at www.belleandboo.com

Lunar Optical was established in 2012 as a local, Independent practice, to offer the best FRAMES, SPECTACLE LENSES, CONTACT LENSES and, most of all the, best CUSTOMER SERVICE possible.

Every Member of the Lunar Team are fully trained and qualified so that Lunar Optical can give a complete and comprehensive eyecare experience, whatever your optical needs.

We have a huge selection of amazing frames to suit all faces and pockets. Including all the latest trends like Andy Wolf.

And as Nikon Spectacle Lens specialists, we can tailor your specs to your individual needs

291 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8NY. Tel: 0117 942 0011 Email: info@lunaroptical.com Open: Monday 9.30am - 5.30pm, Tuesday - Friday 9.30am - 6.00pm, Saturday 9.30am - 4.30pm

www.lunaroptical.com

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Community vision As part of commitment to the local community LUNAR OPTICAL is supporting Unique Voice

U

nique Voice is a Bristolbased comminity interest company, delivering creative projects in our city for disadvantaged children who have had adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in areas of high deprivation.

We fundraise to run out-of-school provision for children who have had ACEs, causing trauma which affects every element of their social and emotional development; alongside this the children are often living in chaotic households, are experiencing holiday hunger, and are vulnerable.

Our provision is targeted at those most in need, professionals involved with families (eg social workers) who refer children to us when we have secured funding. Each programme has a capacity for 25 children, and we receive an average of 45 referrals per programme. The children would be unlikely to access any other provision if ours wasn’t running. All the delivery team receive childhood trauma training along with all other safeguarding training. We receive multiple disclosures from children during our provisions and follow up on each appropriately.

Feeding Bristol is currently providing our provisions with lunches.

In August, Lunar Optical held a garden party to raise funds for Unique Voice, providing a delicious buffet lunch and drinks; in exchange all the guests made a donation to Unique Voice.

There were goody bags to purchase with the chance of winning one of the great prizes, including a Nikon Camera donated by Nikon UK. The day was a great success and lots of fun and raised an incredible £1590 for Unique Voice.

Their Team told us, “We are hugely grateful to Jill and all at Lunar Optics who supported Unique Voice at their company event last month.

“It was an amazing day organised by Jill which included food and drink as well as entertainment. The £1590 raised will go towards our #help100 campaign, which is to support disadvantaged children in Bristol.” ■

Please feel free to contact us if you would like to discuss our work, or have a project you would like us to be involved in E: theoffice@uniquevoice.org T: 0117 428 6240 www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 107

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

Jane Chong, Harry Calvert and Jane Kippax

Anna Garrod and Rashinthe Rodrigo

CRUMBS AND COCKTAILS

Our sister mag Crumbs held a party for this year’s Crumbs Awards finalists, judges and sponsors at The Coconut Tree, where Sri Lankan ‘hoppers’ and ‘cocotails’ made a pleasant change from canapés and prosecco. The Awards take place at Bristol Old Vic on 6 October – who’s excited?

Photos by @JonCraig_Photos

Paul Hardman, Anna Bonner and Ash Bonner

Tori Burgess, Hannah Jarrett-Scott, Christina Gordon and Felixe Forde

Royal Lyceum AD David Greig Associate director Shilpa T-Hyland and cast of Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)

Isobel McArthur

GORDON BENNET…

BOV artistic director Tom Morris

It’s P&P, but not as you know it! Bristol Old Vic’s AD Tom Morris welcomed guests to the launch of current production Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) – yes, that’s what it’s called – with a party featuring a lot of karaoke…

Photos by Owain Astles

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Reach the best in the west

Why choose CoolSculpting at Simon Lee’s Aesthetic Medical Clinic?

Affluent, active and influential and just a call away

- Medically led - owned by Mr Simon Lee Consultant Plastic Surgeon - We have been offering CoolSculpting for over 7 years now – the expertise we have gained in this time means you can be confident your treatment is in safe hands.

- Our consultations are never rushed and we will create a personalised treatment plan just for you.

- FDA cleared treatment - both safety and efficacy has been proven

Before

3 MONTHS AFTER Second CoolSculpting Session

*Photos courtesy of Brian Biesman, MD

www.simonleeclinic.co.uk Simon Lee, Aesthetic Medical Clinic 3 Whiteladies Gate, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2PH Telephone 01173 292027

Bristol Life team 01225 475800

SOCIETY

Phillip Willis, Lily Rice and Jo Thomson

Exec chef Saravanan Nambirajan

Josh Campey and Andrew Peacock

INDIAN SUMMER

The Mint Room in Clifton launched its new menu, with taster canapés from executive chef Saravanan Nambirajan.

Photos by Guy Traynor

Holly Osborne, Sophie Osborne and Dan Britton

Alan and Louise Dawson

THE EYES HAVE IT

Lunar Optical held a garden party in aid of Unique Voice, rasing £1400 for the local charity.

Photos by Charlotte Sunderland

David Bostock, Amy Hunter and Nastasia Janssens

Heather Rees, Robert Griffiths and Duncan Taylor

Krystal and Clare from Unique Vocie with Jill Sunderland (centre)

PARTY FEARS TWO?

Cleo Kyriacou and Lindsay Iles

Local award winning architecture practice AWW held a get-together at The Pump House for their annual summer celebration – and to raise a glass to five newly appointed Associates.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Being dementia-friendly is sound business sense...

The BRISTOL DEMENTIA ACTION ALLIANCE explains the advantages

I

s your business dementia-friendly?

Should it be? These are two questions many are asking today.

Do you know that there are approximately 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia – 4500 of whom live in Bristol? Some of those people have had to ‘retire’ early, because they had unsympathetic employers who saw them as non-productive units. They saw the dementia rather than the experienced employee they still were.

GET INVOLVED BDAA was launched on 9 July 2013 and we are to achieve our objective of making Bristol the ‘dementia-friendly city of the UK’. There are a number of ways to easily support BDAA: DONATING. Every penny really does help us to raise awareness of dementia within Bristol. BDAA is run solely by volunteers and has a part time administrator who is funded by a charitable trust.

FUNDRAISING. We have a local giving page set up where you can directly fundraise for the BDAA and even have a poster featured on our website with a live donation timeline for the amount you’d like to raise.

CO-OP. We are delighted to be one of our local Co-op’s chosen charities this year. If you live in Bristol and have a Co-op card or shop at Co-op, please register us as your chosen charity.

GIVE AS YOU LIVE. If you shop online please consider doing so through Give as you Live – we receive a percentage of your total plus extra donations from Give as you Live.

VOLUNTEERING. Volunteers are our lifeblood – please support us if you can. We have a range of volunteering opportunities and welcome additional suggestions.

It’s no wonder that many people with dementia are: Stigmatised In denial Embarrassed about their symptoms Frustrated that they no longer have a role Often just left to live the rest of their lives relying on family and friends (if they live nearby and assuming they care!) ● Isolated from their wider communities, giving up on their interests and skills ● In anxiety and depression ● ● ● ● ●

Contact us at www.bdaa.org.uk or phone Tony on 0117 968 1002.

We look forward to hearing from you.

The recent The Restaurant that Makes Mistakes programme on Channel 4 highlighted the fact that, with a little effort, understanding, patience and training, people with dementia can still do a useful day’s work. Not only does that give more resource to the business, but enables the person affected by dementia to feel good about themselves and maintain or improve their self-esteem. It can also boost their physical and mental health, which may also slow down the advance of dementia.

A range of businesses in Bristol are moving down the dementia-friendly road, including Bristol Airport, Wiltshire Farm Foods, Barcan+Kirby (and other solicitors), several supermarkets, hairdressers, as well as hundreds of small independent retailers.

Bristol Dementia Action Alliance (BDAA) is a small local charity run mainly by committed and passionate volunteers, who can give guidance and share resources on making your business more dementia aware and inclusive.

This, let’s be honest, will make your business more welcoming, thoughtful and inclusive for staff and potential customers. Most people know someone with dementia; they need to feel confident about using local businesses and this situation is likely to increase What about you and your business?

Would you like to know more? ■

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Training that gets you there faster and leaves you there better Sales Training Management and Leadership Customer Service Skills Training One to One Coaching Business Skills Training Personal Development Training

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It’s the city’s business

bRISTOLworks This issue >>wapping wharf (116) >>news in brief (118) >>business bites (119) >>alex reillEy (120)

Factory settings

T

he sales office of one of Bristol’s hottest new residential developments has just opened its books. Factory No.1 on East Street in Bedminster offers 271 new apartments created by heritage developers City & Country, the team behind the conversion of The General in Redcliffe. Many of the homes are set within the former HQ of Imperial Tobacco, designed by Sir Frank Wills – noted Victorian architect and a member of the Wills tobacco clan.

Now City & Country is writing a new chapter for the buildings. Consort House and Regent House offer five stylish new apartment blocks designed around attractively landscaped courtyard gardens; Imperial Arcade on East Street will also be restored and transformed into a collection of creative workspaces and new retail premises, providing a vibrant mixeduse environment, attracting a range of new people to the area.

Many of the apartments have retained a wealth of original features, including fireplaces, cornicing and plasterwork, as well as large windows and generous ceiling heights.

“For years, Consort House and Regent House were some of Bedminster’s most eye-catching landmarks, paying homage to the city’s great tobacco heritage,” says Suzanne Aplin, sales and marketing director at City & Country. “These buildings became redundant and were falling into disrepair.

“Having converted The General, we knew that Factory No.1 could create a complementary yet affordable range of apartments, while breathing new life into these historic buildings; this is exactly what City & Country is all about.

“Factory No.1 lies at the gateway to Bedminster – one of Bristol’s most vibrant areas, and home to an eclectic range of shops, restaurants and bars, just minutes from North Street.

The transformation of the historic buildings, including Imperial Arcade, will act as a catalyst for change in the immediate local area, making it a very wise place to invest in and enjoy.”

Prices range from £250k to £657k, with Help to Buy available on homes priced up to £600k.

For more information visit www.cityandcountry.co.uk or call 01173 219 729. The Sales Suite opens 10am, 21 September. The Show Home will open this autumn.

Stories & ideas to share?

Get in touch with our business editor, the experienced business writer and event host Christian Annesley, at christian.annesley@ mediaclash.co.uk

BRISTOLWORKS

PROPERTY AND PLACE

© JONCRAIG.CO.UK

Tide of transformation

In under a decade, Wapping Wharf and the whole southern side of the Floating Harbour has has been transformed, with M Shed’s opening in 2011 being followed in the years since 2013 by Wapping Wharf’s reinvention as a new cultural quarter, with a crucial walkway, dozens of places to eat, drink and shop and hundreds of waterside apartments.

CHRISTIAN ANNESLEY caught up with Stuart Hatton, director of the area’s owner-developer Umberslade, to take stock 116 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

W

apping Wharf.

We’ve all been down there and enjoyed ourselves since the Cargo container eateries sprang up in late 2016, and since Gaol Ferry Steps created a new pedestrian route between Bedminster and the harbour.

It’s clearly added something special to the city, and now supports dozens of small independent businesses, with retail and restaurants to the fore, as well as a barber shop. But what’s the story behind the transformation – and what’s in the pipeline?

years to get its vision underway, even if it’s now making up for lost time.

Stuart Hatton is the man at the helm at Umberslade, which for six years has worked on Wapping Wharf in partnership with Muse Developments in a joint venture called Wapping Wharf Living. It delivered the celebrated phase one project and is now embarked on the works to deliver phase two.

“We’ve travelled a long, slow road, but we don’t mind that,” says a buoyant Hatton, chatting to me over coffee at one of the development’s independently owned cafes, Little Victories.

FAMILY OWNERSHIP

“Umberslade bought the site in 2003, when it was mostly derelict. It took a long time to get planning for the proposals that we put forward, and in the meantime we also inherited the car parking from the

The background isn’t necessarily what you’d expect. A family-owned developer from the Midlands called Umberslade is leading the transformation, and took many

PLANNING SECURED

site’s only tenant at that time, the car-parks giant NCP. It pulled out, leaving us to run the car parking ourselves for a spell. But in 2006 we finally got our longed-for outline permission.”

The masterplan covered all the phases of the project, adding up to half a million square feet of buildings to include 625 homes, a 150-bedroom hotel and up to 50,000 sq ft of retail, leisure and commercial space.

“Of course, getting the outline permission was only a first step.

The scheme was then stalled by the economic downturn and the resulting collapse in bank funding for development projects,” says Hatton.

So what kicked things off again – and when?

“Well, eventually the stars aligned on several fronts,” says Hatton.

“First, we got the ear of the then-Bristol West MP Stephen Williams, who was in the coalition government at the time and opened some doors for us at the council and elsewhere. Next, we found a partner on the project in Muse, and finally we were able to apply for a grant from the Homes & Communities Agency. We were successful in that bid – for £12m, under the Get Britain Building programme – and it served to get things underway. By this point it was 2013, so plenty of water had passed under the bridge since we bought the site – but still, better late than never!”

Tenure, tenants and community

As the project finally began to take shape, with construction the responsibility of Muse, Hatton says Umberslade’s thoughts turned to the mix of tenants for the area – and not just residential but commercial.

“We decided not to target private

Sixteen years and counting 2003 Site acquired 2006 Outline planning 2006 Industrial Museum closes, for redevelopment as M Shed 2008 and 2009 Teeth of the downturn 2011 The council’s M Shed museum opens 2013 HCA grant awarded worth £12m to develop 194 apartments (113 private owned, 55 private rent, 26 affordable) May 2014 Museum Square opens as part of Wapping Wharf’s public realm redevelopment April 2016 Gaol Ferry Steps opens to public; phase one apartments completed October 2016 Cargo 1 shipping container units open May 2017 Cargo 2 units open May 2018 Construction of phase two begins, delivering 256 apartments, with 81 affordable homes due to follow in a separate project Spring 2019 Phase two residential marketing begins 2020 Phase two works set to complete

Stuart Hatton

investors, as we wanted more committed long-term residents if possible. That meant finding owner-occupiers ideally, for the privately owned apartments, while also doing a deal with the housing association Sovereign that ensured a proportion of the apartments would be Sovereign’s social tenants and the rest would go for private rental.”

As for the commercial tenants, for the Gaol Ferry Steps units and for Cargo 1 and Cargo 2 shippingcontainers projects that followed on, Hatton says the principal Umberslade has stuck to is to find the right mix of independents to take the units, to help create a great vibe in the community and an interesting draw for visitors.

“That decision is a crucial cog in the whole project. Umberslade’s roots are substantially in retail and it informed our choice to avoid populating the site with national chains, even if we could have pulled in higher rents. We knew that with independents you get a drive and passion that is completely different, and you get uniqueness, too. It always seemed like a good fit with Bristol, as well, which has such an independent spirit.”

The mix of offerings was also

part of the project, adds Hatton.

Alongside the already-mentioned barbers there’s a florist, an organic supermarket in Better Food Company, plus coffee shops, a craft-beers-and-food outfit and many other restaurants, large and small.

“We’ve had lots of interest, partly by offering affordable rents and straightforward in/out terms – tenants only need to give four months’ notice to move on – and so we’ve been able to curate the mix of offers to a large extent.

“It’s a privileged position but it really makes a difference. Wild Beer has a key spot on the corner of Gaol Ferry Steps and it’s been a great success, attaining the status of a local pub where locals can drop in and visitors gravitate to as well.”

Hatton himself is hands-on with the commercial tenants, meeting all prospects and talking in detail about the nature of the community that’s been created.

“We hope that any newcomers become part of it, and certainly with the shipping-container businesses coming through we’ve seen a real coming together of people, of mutual support and inter-company trading as well.”

BRISTOLWORKS Bristol lays out smart city plan to 2024 Bristol’s ongoing smartcity work has picked up pace with the launch of a new five-year plan

CREATING CARGO

Where did the idea come from for the shipping container businesses?

“Well, as Gaol Ferry Steps was being finished, we knew we wanted to bring in more leisure and food businesses and had the land at the bottom of the walk-through that was just hardcore, so we got thinking.

Phase one works were essentially finished, and recession was in the past and we’d been in New York and seen shipping container businesses in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, and liked them.”

Originally, says Hatton, Cargo 1 was planned as just four shipping containers in a horseshoe, but the project grew and ended up as two storeys and 21 containers, even before Cargo 2 became a project.

“Again, we were careful picking and choosing tenants to try to make it work. I’ve spoken about the mix already, and some of those in there, but we knew too we wanted some fine-dining places alongside more street-food type options. We wanted to develop somewhere that people could visit and potentially hang out all day.”

Getting the shipping containers past planning was straightforward, says Hatton, even if it was a leap of faith for them.

“They have temporary planning permission, but it should be extended, and once the planner saw what we were doing they believed in the vision and backed it.”

FUTURE PLANS

There’s plenty that can go wrong with a site with the complexity of

Wapping Wharf, as Hatton admits.

Down the years there have been dozens of issues to work through, from refuse collections to some build-quality and snagging issues that have impacted residents.

“It’s the nature of working on a project like this. It’s management-intensive, for sure.

But we are committed to making everything work and we bring that commitment every day, as do our partners.”

What’s next? The work on the phase two apartments will carry on well into next year, even as they are being pre-sold, and there will be more commercial space to fill on the ground floor. Then there is another phase of affordable apartments to be built, and further road infrastructure to go in as well.

“Further down the line, Cargo Work is coming – that will be a co-working hub of shipping containers, offering smaller office suites on flexible leases for a mix of tenants. As elsewhere, we want to create that community feeling all over again among the office tenants we draw in,” says Hatton.

So there’s plenty still to be done.

When, then, will Wapping Wharf be completed? At this stage, Hatton says he wouldn’t even want to hazard a guess.

“It’s not a race. It will take as long as it takes. We’ll keep on doing what we do and try to make it work as we’ve always done. Really we aren’t even halfway there yet!”

For more www.wappingwharf.co.uk

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

The city’s first Smart City Strategy was launched at the Bristol | Sweden Future Cities Summit at City Hall on 12 September, where representatives from industry, research and local government from Bristol and Sweden discussed their approaches to enhancing cities via innovation, green energy, sustainable transport and connectivity.

Organised by the city council in collaboration with Business West and Business Sweden, the summit saw discussion around developments such as sustainable heating and cooling solutions, energy storage, electric vehicle infrastructure, improved connectivity and open data access.

Bringing together existing smart city functions like the Bristol Operations Centre, Bristol is Open, City Innovation Team and Connected Cities Programme, Bristol’s new strategy outlines an approach the council tags “responsible innovation” to the problems and issues facing the city.

The strategy will be updated regularly and aims to ensure smart city projects will provide opportunities to more people and communities to assist in the city’s inclusive growth and help towards solutions to issues such as public safety, traffic congestion, energy poverty and health and social care.

The Connecting Bristol strategy supports the One City Plan, which outlines the vision for the city up to 2050 in areas involving connectivity, health and wellbeing, homes and communities, economy, the environment and skills.

Craig Cheney, deputy mayor and cabinet member for finance, governance and performance, said: “Bristol already has a reputation as a leading smart city, but the challenge now is to deliver further on that potential.

“The summit was an important opportunity for us to understand how these developments have already been pursued in Sweden and what we can learn as we seek innovative solutions that will benefit Bristol residents in future years.”

News in brief

The developer Cubex has appointed HTA Design to lead on the design of a masterplan for Frome Gateway in Bristol, together with Avison Young, which will act as planning consultant on the project.

The site is on largely industrial land lying either side of the River Frome, and also borders Riverside Park and Newfoundland Way. Bristol is the first city to play host to an app that lets users book salon or spa appointments.

WhatSalon partners with salons and beauty professional to generate more business through the app and other back-end integrations. There’s a platform called WhatSalon Connect that integrates with existing booking software and one called WhatSalonGrow aimed at salons without on software-based booking currently. Alongside the booking functionality are customer database functions and analytics. The developers of the app say they plan to roll out in other locations shortly.

Promotions and appointments

Ashton Gate Stadium has appointed Jenny Hutchinson as head of venue & events.

Hutchinson was theatre director at The Bristol Hippodrome.

The law firm Bevan Brittan has strengthened its national corporate team with the appointment of Marti Burgess as a new corporate partner based in Bristol. Burgess advises on a broad range of corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, investments, re-organisations, corporate governance, commercial contracts and general aspects of company and commercial law. She joins from Gregg Latchams, where she was head of corporate SME for Bristol.

Marti Burgess

BRISTOLWORKS

artists, musicians and sports people who have become successful, and need to work out their financial and personal priorities. (JB) It’s worth knowing a bit more about Close Brothers and BPOS. Close Brothers Asset

Business bites Ed Green of Close Brothers and Jerry Barnes of Bristol Private Office Services Bristol has many business people who become wealthy when they sell their business. It’s a nice

position to be in, but it also needs some planning and a network of support to set things up. (Ed Green)

Bristol Private Office Services is partnering with Close Brothers to add some crucial services. BPOS

already works with high-net-worth individuals – the very wealthy – and by having Close Brothers Asset Management in support alongside it really bolsters the offer. Close Brothers can provide just the kind of advice and investment services that the individuals that BPOS works with need to realise their personal goals – and the service is all here in Bristol and aimed at local people.

(Jerry Barnes)

It’s the kind of service that might have previously meant a trip to London. But really you want

someone on your doorstep for this kind of project. It’s a personal thing; it takes time and there are lots of layers to it. You don’t want to have to get on a train and take a day out of your life to sit in an office 120 miles away. When you need to get something sorted, popping down the road or having someone visit you is much more suitable. (EG) You’d be surprised at the number of people in the city that need this kind of service. It might be

a business owner who is looking to sell or has sold, or an inventor or innovator whose idea has been bought by a major technology company. The city also has plenty of

Management has 45 staff in Bristol, including nine financial planners and access to an investment team.

It’s a FTSE 250 company and very secure. Bristol Private Office Services was formed in 2016 to provide a dedicated PA and office service to successful people. It supports individuals by providing vital organisational, financial and administrative activities to those who are time-poor. Prior to establishing BPOS, I set up the Bristol office of Saffery Champness Chartered Accountants. (JB)

BPOS is what’s known as a multi-family office. In other

words, it is a company that supports families to manage their entire wealth. Nearly everyone in life has a family to think about and plan for rather than just themselves. So the question of what to do with wealth is rarely simple. There are often questions to resolve about issues like business succession, the setting up of trusts, philanthropy, land management and much more.

It’s easy to put off making big decisions, but sometimes things just have to be sorted out for the benefit of everyone. (JB)

What kind of issues come up?

All sorts. It’s fascinating work because it’s highly personal and when a business owner sells up, which is when many need advice, it’s a crossroads moment for many.

There are decisions to be made, a new purpose to be found and a new life to be mapped out. Some

people come from families that have been wealthy for generations, and are used to managing this side of their lives, but if someone has come into substantial money for the first time it’s an adjustment. It might be a nice position to be in, but it still needs careful navigation. There are choices to be made not just for the individual and his or her spouse but often for the next generation, which is when things can get complicated. (EG) As with most things in life, communication is everything.

Sometimes family members see the world differently, and want different things. That’s natural, but gaps between people and what they want still need to be bridged somehow. That might mean mediation and some frank discussions, until everyone is on the same page. Just ignoring potential problems or divisions and letting things drift is rarely helpful, where there is something that needs resolving. Other situations are more straightforward, but there are always practical issues that crop up. The world is smaller now and many people travel a lot and families may fragment in time, for example. That’s something that often needs to be thought about and planned for. (JB) The wealthy tend to be quite a private bunch. But I’ve worked with

the likes of Johnnie Boden and many other household names. Everyone’s personal situation is unique to them, and has different priorities. So every working day is different, and never boring. It’s great to have BPOS and Close Brothers working together now and bringing something new to Bristol. (JB)

For more www.bpos.uk.com

F

rom small beginnings, with the right business idea almost anything is possible. Alex Reilley is living proof.

Seventeen years ago he and two friends, Jake Bishop and Dave Reid, opened a cafe in Southville with a kitchen attached, and once it got established they opened another one. Today, there are 150 outlets in the Loungers business all told, across its Lounges and its Cosy Clubs, with more being added all the time.

How did it come together so well – and in an industry with so much competition and so many comings and goings?

“Well, hindsight gives you are certain perspective, but we definitely got things off on the right foot,” says Reilley, in conversation with MediaClash’s Greg Ingham at the recent Bristol Life Business Club at Avon Gorge Hotel in Clifton.

“All three of us had a background in restaurants and hospitality, and to an extent we knew what we were doing. The minute we opened the first one it was busy, and we soon started looking for a second site in another part of the city.”

POWER OF TWO It was a big step on the journey.

One important way that Reilley and co so quickly found their feet was to make a real success of that potentially difficult second opening.

“The second Lounge was on Gloucester Road and was the result of a deal we struck partly in return for equity,” Reilley recalls through

slightly gritted teeth, given what a good deal that turned out to be for the investor.

“It was a bit further up the street than we ideally would have liked, but it was still a great location and we were confident we could land it and get it profitable quickly.

“We were definitely aware, in taking on the second one, that it needed to be better than the first opening,” Reilley adds. “If you are trying to expand in restaurants, taking on a second place is the only time that everything doubles in the business. With double the overheads, you need it to fly from the start. If the second place drags down what you’ve achieved with the first, that’s a hard place to find yourself.”

GROWTH THROUGH A DOWNTURN The growth of Loungers was relatively slow in its early years. By 2007 it had a few sites spread across Bristol, Bath and Cardiff, and in 2008 it started to talking to private equity about a potential investment, just as the world’s financial markets were going wrong and the world was being dragged down. Not surprisingly, the investment didn’t pan out but some bank debt kept the company moving forward and the openings started to pick up pace, recession or no recession.

“I think we made some good calls from early on, and reaped the benefit when the world got tougher in 2008,” says Reilley.

“We weren’t approaching the business in too structured a way in

BUSINESS CLUB

NO TIME FOR LOUNGING September’s Bristol Life Business Club interview saw Alex Reilley, executive chairman and founder of casual-dining success story Loungers, talking about the company’s rapid growth, its recent stockmarket flotation and what keeps things on course Photos by White Villa Photography and Film

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

BRISTOLWORKS

FAST FACTS Founded 2002, by Alex Reilley, Jake Bishop and Dave Reid First opening Southville, Bristol 150th opening Wells, Somerset Closures along the way Four Restaurants 150 (June this year), comprising 125 Lounges and 25 Cosy Clubs Turnover £153m Staff 4,000 PE investors Two, with Piper investing in 2012 and exiting in 2016, at which point current investor Lion Capital took a controlling stake. Lion cut its holding to 38.6% with the flotation on AIM AIM listing April 2019, raising £83m

the first few years, but we did think hard about our customers and what was making each Lounge work for them. So when times were good, we didn’t take advantage and push up prices, and our customers kept on coming to our good-value cafes, putting our business on the right footing when things got tricky for a spell.”

In fact, says Reilley, for Loungers when the recession fully hit in 2009 it led to opportunity to an extent, as some rivals paid the price for business models that weren’t so sustainable.

“We had professionalised in certain ways by 2009, and were on a decent footing financially.

The downturn meant some lower overheads, with premises being cheaper to come by in some locations, while the talent pool was also deeper. It became easier to find and recruit good people, and we weren’t having to reposition our offer and reinvent ourselves. We could stick to doing what we knew and doing it well.”

THE JOURNEY TO NOW If those early years laid the foundations for Loungers, it is in the past 10 years that things have really

taken off. From a few cafés doing a few million pounds of turnover to an outfit that’s these days reporting sales of £150m across 150 sites with 4,000 employers – and boasts a stockmarket listing, as well as retained private equity investors – is a hell of transformation over ten years.

What defines that journey for Reilley?

“There are so many layers to it. We started from a good place, in terms of our skills and desire to work hard, and we’ve learned a huge amount at every step along the way.

“The management challenge is in part about thinking ahead and being strategic and understanding and playing to your strengths, and it is partly about finding and trusting talent and bringing people with you on the journey,” he says.

In terms of strategy, Reilley picks out the need to embrace reinvention as the company grows, but also to trust in what works and leave well alone what you can.

“As you grow, you have to restructure your management and create systems and processes so you can spread the culture and embed good practice, and that’s a challenge that never stops. But for our customers, constant, in-yourface innovation isn’t on the agenda.

Each location has to work on its own terms and gain the trust of its customers, changing as it needs to without needlessly upsetting the apple cart.

“Behind the scenes, we are of course working hard and planning ahead, and thinking about our business disciplines as we gain scale, but most of that happens without customers being impacted other than positively in the form of new openings and small improvements.”

POSITIVE ON PE Working with private equity investors has been a big part of Loungers scaling up, and Reilley says is has been positive as well as an eye-opener.

“The public perception about private equity firms as asset strippers is a million miles from our experience. We’ve learned from both our investors – first Piper then Lion Capital – how to scale up and plan several years ahead and how to open new sites effectively. You

get the support you need but are also left alone to get on with it and to deliver the growth that everyone wants.”

As for the people side of business, it lies at the heart of everything for Loungers, with constant recruitment in a competitive marketplace and the need for each new Lounge and Cosy Club opening to be led by a motivated new team.

“We are always asking ourselves the big questions, like how to improve staff retention or how and why we should innovate. We want to keep improving and not compromise while making fast decisions, like we always have,” says Reilley.

Backed by £83m of new capital from its float earlier this year on London’s AIM stock market, and with plans for 25 new openings a year for the foreseeable, few would bet against Reilley’s vision for 500-plus restaurants one day, spread far and wide across the UK’s

suburbs. Even today, it still holds amazingly true say that Loungers is largely keeping to an unpretentious blueprint that was first dreamt up by three mates opening a cafe in Southville all those years ago.

For more www.thelounges.co.uk The next Bristol Life Business Club is on 16 October, with a Q&A with Anthony Gruppo, CEO of Jelf www.bristollifebusinessclub.co.uk/

SPONSORED BY

The Bristol Life Business Club is a unique lunchtime event with a high calibre speaker. Attendees come from all sectors of Bristol’s business life – from the coolest of the indies to the largest of the corporates. For information on the latest events, please go to: bristollifebusinessclub.com

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PROSERVICES

2019

architects

AG E N C I E S / B US I N E SS SE R V I C E S / FI N A N C E / L AW / PR O PE R T Y

the city at

work mEET THE PROFESSIONALS MAKING THE CITY BUZZ

mediaclash.co.uk 1

SETTING THE AGENDA

ARCHITECTS

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Meet the shining stars of Bristol’s professional services’ community, from creative directors to financial experts who help your wealth grow, and a myriad of other professions in between

ADVERTISING FEATURE

2 MEDIACLASH.CO.UK

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agency ambitious PR

Sarah Woodhouse, director

Tell us a little about your business

AMBITIOUS PR is an award-winning independent PR agency that focuses on business-to-business and corporate communications. We help businesses find, influence and engage their target audiences regionally, nationally and internationally.

We take a strategy first approach to determine the most effective communications channels to reach a client’s goals. We invest in developing a deep understanding of a client’s business and industry and then, fuelled by insight, creativity and clever ideas we strive to build relationships for our clients through multiple touch points online, offline and everywhere in between.

What achievement as a firm are you most proud of?

AMBITIOUS PR was named Best Public Relations Agency in the UK at The Drum Magazine’s Recommended Agency Register (RAR) awards in 2018 and 2019. This award is based purely on client feedback.

What areas do you specialise in?

The sectors we are strong in include technology and innovation, property and construction, education, healthcare, high value design and engineering, professional services including financial services, law, recruitment and management consultancy. We provide integrated communications services including strategy and planning, media and influencer relations, digital PR, content marketing, copywriting, stakeholder mapping and engagement, social media management, crisis and issues management.

Did you know?

Every client works with a Director who has a stake in AMBITIOUS. This means a highly motivated leader manages each team, with hands-on senior counsel as standard. Our approach is built on the understanding that your business is our business. www.ambitiouspr.co.uk

Toby Farrow

hide the shark

Toby Farrow, owner / creative director Tell us a little about your business

We’re a strategic brand and design agency – a nimble team of digital designers, developers, marketers and problem solvers who help to give innovative companies the killer edge. We’ve been running for nearly ten years and in that time have gained a wide client base in the cultural, charity and commercial sectors.

How have the last 12 months been for you?

They’ve been very busy. We’ve had a few large scale brand projects that have really helped to reinforce our reputation. We have also moved to [HERE], which marks an exciting new chapter for us. The current UK uncertainty makes us even more committed to providing sector leading brand, content and design services.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

A lot of agencies claim that they’re storytellers, but my background as a theatre and TV writer means that we are really able to back that claim up. Story-telling structure flows through all our work giving it a logic and depth that our clients and their audiences really respond to.

Did you know?

As a kid I was obsessed with Jaws. I loved the way the music, lighting and camera angles created the shark in my head. The shark is a perfect metaphor for our approach. Our clients come to us with an objective.

From that we create a shark full of personality. We give it purpose and direction and then deploy it, keeping it hidden until it’s the right time for the big reveal. That’s why we’re called Hide the Shark. www.hidetheshark.com

Sarah Woodhouse

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

“As a kid I was obsessed with Jaws. I loved the way the music, lighting and camera angles created the shark in my head”

BUSINESS SPECIAL

kubiak

Chas Pratt, managing director

Tell us a little bit about your business

Kubiak specialise in the marketing of commercial and residential property. Evolving creativity is what we do. Our team lives and breathes each project, using all our creative passion to produce breath-taking, fresh creative thinking. It’s the opportunity to find new ways to engage an audience’s imagination that excites us.

Whilst we practice all the traditional design and print disciplines, it is the online digital work that most enthuses us and that today’s target audiences most engage with. Our creative team is accomplished at building bespoke, future-proof, mobile-responsive websites and digital solutions.

New media is also a vital part of a modern marketing campaign, so when it comes to features like film, virtual tours, drone footage, photography and CGIs, we have the creative expertise right here.

When was your firm founded and who by?

Kubiak was founded by George Kubiak over 25 years ago. George was a very talented designer who worked tirelessly to put Kubiak on the map. I joined Kubiak as a Director in 1997 to help generate new business and feed George’s creative genius.

What areas do you specialise in?

Right from the start in the early 1990s, Kubiak had a connection with commercial property marketing and can now boast some of the world’s large commercial property companies amongst its clients; such as Schroders, St. Modwen, Jones Lang Lasalle, Knight Frank, Savills and UNITE. Property marketing has become our unique point of difference and it’s what we do best.

Did you know?

Kubiak is a dog friendly office, sometimes three dogs a day! It’s amazing what a calming influence they can have in our crazy studio. www.kubiakcreative.com

Chas Pratt

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BUSINESS SPECIAL

Nikki Ellison

marles + barclay

Adrian Barclay + Gill Marles

Tell us a little about your business

Marles + Barclay is a graphic design partnership – we create brands and design communications to help businesses and organisations thrive. Our work ranges from brand identity, naming and guidelines to websites and exhibitions, for clients ranging from independent retail businesses to large public sector organisations.

What areas do you specialise in?

We specialise in design and visual communications for healthcare, craft and culture. What this unusual mix have in common are great people with an amazing commitment to their work – customer relationships are very important to us. Our healthcare clients include several NHS trusts and Second Step – this leading mental health charity are really flying after our re-brand. We also re-branded Two Day Coffee and Planet Pizza, two established independents ‘crafting’ brilliant food and drink. Amongst our cultural clients we’re proud of our work with Bristol Old Vic Theatre School – a great Bristol institution with an international reputation.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

loom

Nikki Ellison

Tell us a little about your business

We’re a specialist integrated digital marketing agency. We make our client’s digital channels work together in a joined-up way and have been transforming businesses in Bristol and beyond with our award-winning digital marketing for over 10 years.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

At Loom, we focus on the whole user journey. We create bespoke digital marketing strategies that reach online users at each touchpoint, weaving together different channels to reach them at the right time with the right message. We have teams of experts dedicated to each channel including PPC, SEO, content marketing and social media, making us an unbeatable powerhouse when it comes to digital marketing knowledge.

We’re a small agency and we’re hands on – immersed in each project from initial ideas to finished designs. Our approach goes beyond pure business – it’s born out of commitment, care and a deep understanding of our customers’ goals and aspirations. Our approach builds trust and delivers results – and this is reflected in many longstanding client relationships.

Did you know?

An infographic we designed for Southmead Hospital has really struck a chord with healthcare professionals on Twitter... In August 2019 this image had one-and-a-quarter million Twitter views and, over 20k likes later, enquiries are rolling in from hospitals across the world. www.marlesandbarclay.co.uk

How have the last 12 months been for you?

The last 12 months have been all about growth, change and looking forward. We’ve refined our services, restructured the team and undergone a total re-brand to better reflect what it is we offer to businesses.

Did you know?

We used to be called Digirank – but we changed to Loom because it sums up exactly what we do: weave the different threads of digital marketing channels to make digital marketing achieve more.

Loom also represents how we work with our clients, symbolising how we integrate our team with theirs, creating close partnerships that help businesses reach new heights. It also demonstrates how our team of digital specialists collaborate – each one an expert in a specific channel – to achieve incredible results for businesses. www.Loomdigital.co.uk

“The last 12 months have been all about growth, change and looking forward”

Adrian Barclay and Gill Marles

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BUSINESS SPECIAL

vaughan and company

Ryan Vaughan, founder & creative strategist What are you?

We are a distinctively different design studio.

What makes you distinctively different?

We operate in a virtual space to produce award-winning work for daring brands + agencies by harnessing the best freelance talent for the project in-hand.

Think of it as the creative A-Team, perfect for your brands next challenge.* Our services:

• Graphic Design • 2D Animation • Social Media Advertising • Pay-per-click Advertising Who do you work with?

Ailsa Billington

We collaborate mainly with clients in the financial, tech and FMCG sectors who want to produce truly distinctive brand communications that are remembered by customers.

“It’s very hard to buy something you can’t remember.”

Do you have an office?

Proctor + Stevenson

Ailsa Billington, client services director Tell us a little about your business

Founded by Roger Proctor MBE in 1979, Proctor + Stevenson is one of the region’s longest-established independent marketing businesses.

From our beginnings as a brand and design agency, we’ve expanded our offering over four decades, now providing services that cover creative, strategy and technology to clients around the world.

What achievement as a firm are you most proud of?

We’re Bristol born and bred, but global in our reach. From our earliest days, we’ve been a champion of local and regional business, working with clients that include UWE and the South West Regional Development Agency.

While our heart remains in the city, we’re well-established on the international stage, exporting 70% of our work overseas, with a track record of clients that includes blue-chip brands such as BMW, HP, Epson and Panasonic.

Yes, despite working with creative talent from around the globe, we have a fixed space at 1 Victoria Street, where we encourage our client partners to visit for a coffee.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

Unlike our traditional agency peers who brief a project to ‘Dave’, midweight designer on £30k+ per year, out of necessity, we hand-pick creative talent, perfect for the project, to deliver a superior service.

And that’s all we ask our clients to pay for, no fancy office with 17 ping-pong tables, extravagant end of year parties or yoga mats, just industry-leading work.

What plans do you have for 2020?

We want to expand our global creative roster and capabilities into new services such as 3D motion graphics and augmented reality outputs.

Did you know?

Vaughan + Company = Ryan Vaughan + Creative specialists. www.vaughanandcompany.co.uk

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

We have a can-do attitude that’s second to none. Always ready to adapt and evolve, our commitment to say ‘yes’ more than ‘no’ means we offer in-house specialism in a broader range of disciplines than almost any other similar-sized business in our sector.

As an example, I started my P+S career as a graphic designer, later becoming an account manager and then the company’s first female director.

Did you know?

Our HQ in Easton is one of only two buildings in the UK to be coated in an active air-purifying substance that absorbs NOx, improving air quality in built-up areas. www.proctors.co.uk

“While our heart remains in the city, we’re wellestablished on the international stage”

Ryan Vaughan

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BUSINESS SPECIAL

Bristol City Centre BID Keith Rundle, operations director Tell us a little about your business

The Bristol City Centre BID (Business Improvement District) is all about making the city centre a better place for everyone who lives, works, studies, visits or spends time there. We are focused on improving the safety, the welcome and feel of the area, and to benefit our levy payers – the local businesses and organisations that fund us.

Tell us about your community/charity involvement…

Helping to solve homelessness in Bristol is a major part of our work as the numbers of people rough sleeping is a particular concern for our levy payers. Partnering with Caring in Bristol, we have just launched ‘TAP for Bristol’ – the UK’s first-ever contactless donation system to raise money for homelessness prevention services as well as directly supporting people who are currently homeless.

Team Blackstar

business services Blackstar Solutions Nick Smith, CEO

Tell us a little about your business?

Blackstar Solutions is a trusted telecoms provider who deliver best-ofbreed business communication solutions.

Our team’s technical expertise is matched by their passion for delivering the highest quality solutions and support services.

At Blackstar, we pride ourselves on having long-established customer relationships. Our 5-star Trustpilot rating and high client retention rate speaks volumes for a positive experience and our customer-first approach.

What achievement as a firm are you most proud of proud of?

Our team are extremely important to the success of our business. We’re therefore most proud of our 100% employee retention rate.

We work on creating a working environment that everyone enjoys.

We also equip team members with the tools to work remotely and allow flexible working to manage family and other commitments.

They’re provided with training and mentorship on a regular basis for them to progress and continually improve.

We enjoy ourselves along the way with quarterly team nights out and we meet for a monthly lunch club. We also reward the team with Wriggle vouchers, Bristol Zoo membership and tickets to Bristol Bears rugby games.

What makes working in Bristol special?

So many things! From the creative, defiant, disruptive spirit for which Bristol is known nationally and increasingly internationally, to its can-do attitude and down-to-earth mentality. It’s fun, it’s diverse, it’s impressively committed to – and delivering on – sustainability. A city that regularly tops tech and growing economy lists the world over, but somehow Bristol still has the best attributes of community – a place where you’ll often bump into someone you know, where you can chat to a stranger and people really do say ‘cheers, drive’ as they get off the bus.

Did you know?

Bristol City Centre BID has been operating for less than two years and so far we’ve helped businesses to increase recycling rates by 98% and save an average of 40% on their waste services; provided 4,000 additional hours of street cleansing to improve the look and feel of the city centre; installed more than 35 street planters growing free fruit and veg; and partnered with Caring in Bristol to raise £28,500 for homelessness support in the city. www.bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

We take the time to listen to our clients’, partners’ and employees’ needs before providing an innovative telecoms solution and we deliver on our promises. This approach ensures we are highly rated for our service and retain our clients.

Did you know?

The Blackstar team jumped out of a plane from 15,000ft (with a parachute) for Bristol charity Jessie May, raising £3,200. www.blackstarsolutions.co.uk

“Our team’s technical expertise is matched by their passion for delivering the highest quality solutions and support services” 134 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Keith Rundle

Funding solutions for your business and property needs South West Business Finance (SWBF) is an independent finance consultancy and commercial brokerage. We work with a broad range of lenders and funding providers to find our clients the most appropriate finance for their needs.

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BUSINESS SPECIAL

Datasharp Integrated Communications Will Wood, senior account manager Tell us a little about your business

We’re a business communications company based in Bath – now celebrating our 20th year! Our areas of expertise are VoIP phone systems, internet connectivity, network security, business mobile phones and video conferencing combined with the in-house consultancy, design and deployment skills required to bring the technologies together and create the best solutions for our clients.

Amy Bramhall

What challenges are your clients facing?

Our clients face enormous challenges providing environments where staff can work, communicate and collaborate easily – both inside and outside the workplace – while, simultaneously managing the security around those environments. Take video conferencing. Yes, it has the potential to transform the way a business communicates, but it has to be highly available, absolutely secure and super-easy to use for the deployment to be successful.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

We’re proud to be a multi-vendor solution provider with a keen focus on customer service. We have strong links with many of Bath’s top 100 businesses and retain our clients for many years – so we must be doing something right!

Did you know?

Microsoft Teams cloud-based team collaboration software is the fastestgrowing product ever released by Microsoft. Can it be used as your business phone system? Absolutely! If you’re planning an upgrade to your business phone system, talk to us about the benefits of moving to Microsoft Teams with Direct Routing. We’re here to help. www.datasharp-ic.co.uk Will Wood

MEET bristol

Amy Bramhall, convention bureau manager Tell us a little about your business

Partnering with the best venues, hotels and local suppliers in Bristol and the surrounding areas, we work with you to secure the best options for your event. We offer a free to use venue and accommodation finding service, negotiating rates with selected suppliers.

What areas do you specialise in?

We specialise in business events, providing practical solutions for event planners and impartial advice about what Bristol can offer.

What plans do you have for 2020?

We’re developing a conference ambassador programme, working with local industry experts to enhance conference business in the South West region.

Did you know?

Bristol ranks 7th in the top UK destinations for business events (BMEIS Survey 2019). www.meetbristol.co.uk

“Bristol ranks 7th in the top UK destinations for business events”

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BUSINESS SPECIAL

Royale Chauffeur Group Rob Dickenson, managing director

What achievement as a firm are you most proud of?

This company was founded at the turn of the millennium by two ‘gentlemen’. They built a business based on quality of service and won contracts with some of Bristol’s largest employers, particularly in the aerospace industry. When I was introduced to them some 6/7 years ago, they were both well past retirement age and the business had lost direction and drive, if you pardon the pun!

I quickly realised that the business had a good reputation across a broad spectrum of businesses, and agreed to help build the company back up again.

Today I am proud to say that we have a fleet of prestige vehicles and employ full trained drivers who safely deliver our clients all over the country. We have a diverse and growing list of companies that appreciate us ‘going that extra mile’.

What makes working in Bristol special?

If I didn’t live in Stratford-upon-Avon I would definitely live in Bristol. It is such a diverse and interesting city with an abandonment of different cultures, restaurants and entertainment. It is the business hub of the South West and is within easy distance of some amazing countryside and places to visit. I have loved working here and am looking forward to enjoying ‘Bristol Life’ for the foreseeable future.

Did you know?

Tom Cannon

The Royale Chauffeur Group was the first company in the South West to offer the Tesla all electric car to our clients, and have since covered over 200,000 eco-friendly miles. www.royalechauffeurgroup.co.uk

Moore IT

Tom Cannon, managing director

Tell us a little about your business

We are an IT company that specialises in IT support, IT security and cloud services for small businesses, schools and charities. We focus on the South West region of the UK, with offices in central Bristol and Bath. We deal with all sizes and types of organisations varying from start-up businesses to secondary schools, and tailor the support we provide to each of their individual, and often different, requirements.

What challenges are your clients facing?

Keeping up with the latest technology and software in a rapidly changing tech-driven world. Topics such as cyber security are interesting; we are always advising our clients on how they can help protect themselves and helping with new and emerging technologies.

Tell us about your community/charity involvement

We work with a lot of charities in the South West and help not for profit organizations set up free to use software such as Microsoft Office 365, which some charities aren’t aware of. We also regularly take part in events such as the Bath Half, and Bristol 10k to raise money for charity.

Did you know?

For the last 5 years we were called ‘Moore Stephens IT Solutions’. We have recently re-branded and renamed, following the recent ‘Moore’ network rebrand in the UK. www.msbit.co.uk

“We work with a lot of charities in the south west and help not for profit organizations set up free to use software”

Rob Dickenson

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BUSINESS SPECIAL

SERIALTRAINER 7 Simon Hares, director

Tell us a little about your business

Simon Hares created SerialTrainer7 in 2014 with an ambition to deliver unique and engaging sales and management training. Simon has 25 years training and development expertise and works with a global client base to deliver the very best in people development.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

Everyone has experienced the same run of the mill training – sitting in an airless room watching someone read off PowerPoint for seven hours!

That’s not how things are done at SerialTrainer7. Simon crafts each training event to ensure it not only meets the business’s commercial objectives but also inspires each delegate to leave the training with improved skills and the motivation to implement things right away.

The approach clearly works evidenced by 200+ very enthusiastic testimonials on LinkedIn.

What plans do you have for 2020?

It’s an exciting time at SerialTrainer7 as we are partnering with a number of our clients to deliver sales and management academies.

These are detailed learning programmes – delivered to the wider workforce over a 9-12 month period – that really drill down to look at what people skills are needed to ensure that client’s business is successful. We are lucky that are clients recognise the importance of investing in their people and understand that training isn’t a ‘one off event’ to be imposed on people – it’s about their personal and professional growth and development, and aligning that with the business strategy.

Did you know?

SerialTrainer7 has a mascot: a very shiny Toyota Hilux flatbed truck called Huxley! Huxley has quite the following on LinkedIn and we always find our traffic (pardon the pun!) increases when there’s a post featuring Huxley. Look out for him on the road – he’ll be the only silver Hilux sporting Bath Life Award Finalist stickers! www.SerialTrainer7.com

SOUTH WEST BUSINESS FINANCE Steve Barrett and Dan Smith

Tell us a little about your business

South West Business Finance (SWBF) is an independent finance consultancy and commercial brokerage. Our offices are in Corsham, near Bath, Steve Barrett and Dan Smith but we have members of the team in Bristol who are able to help businesses with their finance needs. We have access to over 200 lenders and alternative finance providers and we use our broad range of experience to put together the best debt structures for our clients, focusing mainly on trading businesses and property professionals. We offer a much more flexible approach than a mainstream bank, and a personal service to ensure we fully understand your business to provide the right finance at the most competitive rate.

The main part of the role is to educate our clients about the number of alternative funders that are out there looking to support the SME sector. Over the last few years these providers have developed their offering and are providing excellent solutions for businesses in all areas of their business cycle, especially in the growth stage. Whether you need finance to help with your cashflow, quotes on rates for commercial mortgages, buy-to-lets or development finance, we can help.

All the team have come from high street banks, and as ex commercial bank managers are ideally placed to discuss your requirements as we know how lenders want a proposal presented to ensure a swift, positive and competitive response.

We are happy to come and meet you at your premises, or come to our offices in Corsham and we can give you our advice and support for your business.

What predictions do you have for the sector in 2019?

The uncertainty in the external economic climate does bring both challenges and opportunity for businesses. All businesses and property professionals will need to be discussing their finances to ensure that they will stand through this difficult period and therefore we are still forecasting growth.

Tell us about your community/charity involvement…

Simon Hares

We are delighted to be supporting Children’s Hospice South West as our charity partner of year 2019. The team completed a sponsored walk along the Bristol to Bath cycle path, raising over £3,700! These funds will help support life-limited children and their families from across the South West.

What areas do you specialise in?

We specialise in all aspects of business and property finance. What we are currently seeing most of is cashflow finance, whether that be for growth, growing pains or a small gap in general cashflow. On the property side we are completing a lot of property development and commercial mortgage transactions. Debt sizes vary from £100k to £20m.

When was your firm founded and who by?

My fellow managing director Steve Barrett and I founded the business in 2014, having both come from a background of commercial and corporate banking. Our team is now 14 members strong with a huge amount of commercial banking experience, over 250 years between us.

With this much experience we don’t believe there is a transaction that we haven’t seen… Saying that, we are happy to be tested!

Did you know?

We have an office dog called Digby. www.swbf.co.uk

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BUSINESS SPECIAL

Dr Paul Phillips

Stripe OLT

Tom Robbins, technical account manager Tell us a little about your business

For over ten years we’ve been providing managed IT services to customers all over the UK, working with clients across a range of sectors, from Transport and Logistics to Finance and Legal. Our expertise has been built on extensive experience, so whether you need to implement a cyber security plan or migrate your business to the Cloud, we’ve been there, done that and gained the knowledge your business will need along the way!

What achievement as a firm are you most proud of?

As it happens, the last few months at Stripe have been some of the best yet! Not only have we received our Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation, but we’ve also become a Microsoft Gold Partner! The Microsoft Gold Cloud Platform Competency is an elite level in the partner programme, attained by only a small percentage of their most capable Microsoft partners. We had to meet a lot of criteria to attain this accreditation, from installing live customer systems in Azure to passing exams – it wasn’t an easy process, so we’re extremely proud of it.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

When it comes to customer satisfaction, at Stripe OLT we’re completely transparent and pride ourselves on the exceptional service we provide. To show this, we’ve made sure our customer feedback (SmileBack) score is visible on our website; to this is day, our score has never been below 97% – unlike a lot of companies that say they have “excellent customer service”, we want to prove it!

Did you know?

Tom Robbins

We started out in London (we still have an office there!) and were originally called ‘Stripe’. The OLT part of our name comes from a merger with OLT Consulting in 2013. www.stripeolt.com

Weston College

Dr Paul Phillips CBE, principal and chief executive of the Weston College Group Tell us about your business

One of the largest education and skills providers in the region, we provide education and training to over 30,000 learners, reaching people of all ages. We offer a diverse range of opportunities to our students, and aim to develop people at all levels – from people just testing the waters in an industry, all the way to offering Masters Degrees.

We also work in partnership with over 2,500 employers to offer bespoke training solutions that meet businesses’ needs.

What achievement as a firm are you most proud of?

As a college we see fantastic achievements on a daily basis; from students that have defied the odds, to helping businesses to grow.

We are proud holders of regional and national awards, which shows the impact that we are having across the UK in creating brighter futures.

The achievements that we are most proud of, though, are being rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted; this is a reflection of our ethos, approach and the quality of learning available, plus achieving the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Further and Higher Education.

What challenges are your clients facing?

“When it comes to customer satisfaction, at Stripe OLT we’re completely transparent and pride ourselves on the exceptional service we provide” 142 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Skills is a hot topic, as ever. Many organisations that we meet are unsure on where they will get their future work force from – especially with the uncertainty of Brexit looming over us.

This is why we offer an array of opportunities to engage with us as a training provider – in order to find a solution that meets individual business’s needs. We offer future employee talent pools via our work focused qualifications plus apprenticeships, industry placements and bespoke training programmes to upskill existing employees, amongst other things.

Did you know?

We provide education to 19 prisons across England. www.weston.ac.uk

BUSINESS SPECIAL finance

Andrew Sandiford

Anderson Financial Management Ltd Tony Anderson, FPFS, chartered financial planner, managing director Tell us a little about your business

We are a chartered financial management practice of seven extremely professional and expert staff; we are known for our expert advice and outstanding service.

What areas do you specialise in?

We are best known as financial planners to individuals and families, but we also have a growing portfolio of business clients too. We love the passion and energy that comes from entrepreneurs setting up and developing new businesses, as well as working with established organisations in planning for the future. We’re engaged with the local business community and have built up strong networks over time; by staying up to date with issues and trends, we understand the challenges and opportunities our clients face.

What predictions do you have for the sector in 2019/20?

Rather than trying to predict the future, which in the financial world is a fool’s errand, we advise clients to focus on their own goals and stick to their plan. Don’t be tempted into emotional reactions to short-term market conditions beyond your control.

Did you know?

We have a strong belief in doing the right thing by our clients, our staff and our community. We believe we have a responsibility to support and nurture the good causes that have helped either ourselves, our clients or our families and friends through difficult times. We have started our own Charity Partner initiative and on average donate £12,000 per annum to our nominated Charity of the Year. www.andersonfinancial.co.uk

Tony Anderson

Bishop Fleming

Andrew Sandiford, managing partner Tell us a little about your business

2019 has been Bishop Fleming’s centenary year. But far from viewing this as a just another anniversary and looking back, we’ve used it to transform our business and position ourselves for the future. We’ve rebranded, grown our turnover and headcount and set a new ambition to be the most rewarding accountancy firm in the UK for our clients, people and communities, underpinned by a new set of values, which is changing the way we do business.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

We genuinely believe we have different approach to servicing our clients needs that focuses on the relationship we build with them. This focus is embodied in our brand promise. It’s what we bring together, that sets us apart.

Tell us about your community/charity involvement

As part of our centenary, we committed to raise £100,000, a target we smashed after just six months. Our people have taken part in a range of individual and team challenges and are on track to have delivered over 2,000 hours of volunteering and community support. In March we were title partner of the Bath Half Marathon, fielding a team of 120 runners ­the largest corporate team in the history of the event. What is most pleasing however, is the way the activities have brought our people, our clients and our communities together.

Did you know?

Our whole business has been accredited as a plastic free champion following our efforts to remove single-use plastics across our offices. www.bishopfleming.co.uk

“We genuinely believe we have different approach to servicing our clients needs that focuses on the relationship we build with them” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 145

BUSINESS SPECIAL

Clifton Mortgages Edward Payne, director

Tell us a little about your business

Clifton Mortgages was founded by Edward Payne in 2017 after 20 years of working in a variety of senior roles for a variety of lenders and insurers. Too often, advice can be too transactional and customers deserve a better, outcome driven service. Our approach is simple; we believe in taking a holistic view of our customers circumstances and then offering the right solution from a range of options both for now and the future, not the narrow vanilla approach of some advisers in the sector. Instead of a one time transactional approach we aim to be able to support clients throughout their property owning lives, from first time purchase, to property investment and right through to equity release. We also specialise in family purchases in the form of gifted deposits and guarantor mortgages through our sister company, www.familyfirstfinance.co.uk.

What predictions do you have for the sector in 2019/20?

In our opinion the home mover mortgage market in Bristol will remain relatively buoyant for first time buyers and those buying more modest family homes, but the higher end of the market will remain sluggish until Brexit uncertainty is resolved and people are more confident about making a large step up. For younger customers, low available housing stocks will keep prices high and this will continue to be a particular challenge for people with average incomes. For older customers it’s about being able to access and leverage the value in the homes. This is where getting the right advice from a professional is key. We foresee huge growth in areas such as equity release and parents utilising ways to pass on the value in their homes to their children to help them to buy property. More generally, clients will also continue to take advantage of low interest rates when remortgaging or consolidating debt.

Corrigan accountants

Describe your offices?

Tell us a bit about your business

We’re lucky enough to have offices above the Clifton Club on The Mall in Clifton Village, with wonderful views down the West Mall and across South West Bristol to Dundry. It is difficult to modify the old and listed building we are based in, so we utilise Zoom video calls where customers have mobility issues or we can see clients in their own homes.

Did you know?

Clifton Mortgages is so named because we are based in Clifton Village, but did you know that the name Clifton derives from the old English word ‘Clistone’ meaning hillside settlement? Anyone who has ever walked up Constitution Hill has probably already figured that out for themselves! www.cliftonmortgages.com Edward Payne

Edward Corrigan

Edward Corrigan, managing partner

Corrigan is an independent firm of accountants supporting growth in Bristol businesses by providing a broad range of accounting tax and advisory services, delivered by a highly skilled team.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

As a growing business ourselves, we understand the demands of meeting ambitious growth plans – whether that is staying ahead of industry innovation, scaling up, business planning or tax efficient strategies, to name but a few.

We are proud of the contribution we are making to the economy of Bristol, supporting some of the fastest growing businesses in the region, acting as a fair and trusted expert adviser. Our size and structure allow us to adapt the way we work with clients through the complete life cycle of their business. We are also proud of training and developing a great team of Chartered Accountants rooted in the local business community.

What challenges are your clients facing?

Running a business is always challenging. Two of the current big issues are uncertainty and innovation.

Clearly the current political situation is creating massive challenges, and no-one currently knows how things are going to look after 31 October. We can help mitigate some of these risks by using sophisticated financial modelling tools which can show outcomes based on various scenarios. We have our ear to the ground and are ready to advise our clients on the impacts of Brexit as soon as they become clear.

From an innovation perspective, there are lots of developments in the automated transmission of data and use of artificial intelligence, which is changing the way people use and record financial information.

This creates significant opportunities to increase efficiencies in running and managing a finance function, and provide much better management information. www.corrigan.co.uk

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LAW ASHFORDS

Samantha Newton

Tell us a little about your business

Ashfords is a national provider of legal, professional and regulatory services. We combine legal expertise, commercial experience and our wider network to help our clients achieve their goals.

What changes have you experienced recently?

As part of the firm’s exciting growth, Ashfords’ family team has recently expanded into the Bristol market, with the team continuing to grow over the next year. The specialist family team provide bespoke, sensitive and commercially minded advice and are trusted advisers to the firms’ existing entrepreneurial and high net worth clients and connections. With a real focus on their collaborative offering, the team will help couples resolve their family law issues by sitting together and devising solutions for the family has a whole.

What predictions do you have for family law in 2019/20?

• A rise in the number of people seeking asset protection advice to help limit the financial impact of a relationship breakdown.

•An increase in financial claims by separating parents on behalf of a child.

•Greater use of out of court options to reach agreement on family law issues – such as early neutral evaluation, arbitration, mediation or collaborative law.

•Use of online systems for divorce and agreements about finances, hopefully streamlining family law processes.

•Receipt of the long-awaited law removing the requirement of blame for couples who want to divorce or dissolve their relationship.

Did you know?

Last year Ashfords launched ‘The Ashfords Foundation’, a grantmaking charity which is closely associated with the firm, and brings together all of Ashfords’ charitable giving. Its mission is to make a real difference in the communities in which its partners and staff live and work. www.ashfords.co.uk Samantha Newton

Anna Wilson

BARCAN+KIRBY

Anna Wilson, executive partner

Tell us a little about your business

We are a full service law firm with six offices across Bristol and South Gloucestershire. We specialise in private and commercial law and pride ourselves on our clear, high quality legal advice. We recently won the Legal Award at the Bristol Life Awards and the Business Award for Gender at the Bristol Diversity Awards 2019.

Describe your offices?

We have offices in the following areas – Thornbury, Queen Square, Kingswood, Clifton, Bedminster and Horfield. Earlier this year we moved our Bedminster office into brand new premises next door, extended our Thornbury office and made improvements to our Kingswood and Clifton office. We will be moving our Horfield office down the road to Bishopston in October 2019. We have listened to our staff and implemented their ideas for improvements to our offices.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

Over 82% of our staff are female, and three quarters of our business support managers are also female. Also, over 53% of staff work either part-time or flexibly. Last year we achieved a gender-balanced Partnership on International Women’s Day 2018, and promoted a solicitor to Partner whilst they were on maternity leave.

Did you know?

We have twelve Mental Health First Aiders (two in each office) whose responsibility is to develop an understanding of common mental health issues, such as stress in the workplace, and provide staff with the support or signposting they may need. www.barcankirby.co.uk

“OVER 82% OF OUR STAFF ARE FEMALE, AND THREE QUARTERS OF OUR BUSINESS SUPPORT MANAGERS ARE ALSO FEMALE” 148 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

BUSINESS SPECIAL

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BUSINESS SPECIAL

Neath Raisbeck Golding Law Michael Ridgwell, corporate litigator What areas do you specialise in?

Our practice mainly involves corporate disputes and commercial litigation matters, such as breach of contract, shareholder disputes, disputes arising from corporate acquisitions, and risk mitigation in a business operations context. My first exposure to commercial litigation was during my training, and I embraced every opportunity to learn.

Wanting to focus more specifically on business and company disputes, I went on to graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma in Corporate Law from the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa).

What challenges are your clients facing?

Generally client’s face two types of commercial disputes – those with parties outside of the business, and those that arise internally within the business itself. Internal disputes can be devastating to a business, and we always aim to minimise the impact of the dispute on the underlying business, while getting our client their desired outcome.

Clients have invested significant amounts of time, effort and money in the enterprise, and tensions can run high. Shareholder’s disputes can prove especially challenging, and they always involve a multiplicity of considerations. Once our clients objectives are clear, we can devise the most efficient route to achieving this result.

Tell us a little about your business

Lorna Bolton

Neath Raisbeck Golding Law is an eclectic mix of individuals with strong, well-grounded legal experience and the vibrancy, vision and creativity of youth.

Our focus is developing long term relationships with our clients, and getting the best result for them is always our primary objective.

A surprising or little known fact about the firm

Greenaway Scott

Lorna Bolton, director - commercial & IP, and head of Bristol Tell us a little about your business

Greenaway Scott is a business law firm specialising in the provision of legal services to start-up and SME businesses in the areas of Corporate Law, Commercial Contracts, Intellectual Property, Employment and Commercial Property.

Greenaway Scott, together with Verde Corporate Finance, forms part of the GS Verde Group, which combines talents of the legal and financial professionals.

This multi-discipline professional advisory approach enables us give our clients access to extensive capabilities to advise on all aspects of a corporate transaction under one mutual offering, including sourcing investment, equity and debt fund raising, mergers, acquisitions, corporate restructures and commercial contracts, providing seamless solutions to complex business challenges and maximising value for stakeholders.

Our office is historically known as a solicitors’ practice and was one of the first buildings that was constructed as the village of Clifton extended along Whiteladies Road. www.nrglaw.co.uk

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

Greenaway Scott successfully securing an ABS license in 2017 made us the first law firm in Wales to operate as an alternative business structure, allowing us to offer other professional services alongside our legal activity.

We believe that having the right people in your team from the outset can be the difference between success and failure, so it’s imperative that our Clients take on people who share the same drive and enthusiasm for their brand and who will work together as a team to grow the business across all areas.

Did you know?

Not only does GS Verde Group specialise in assisting companies through fast growth periods, the GS Verde Group itself has shown a 900% growth rate since its incorporation 7 years ago. www.greenawayscott.com

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

Michael Ridgwell

Letrequired sold To similar

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SOLD SIMILAR sold similarREQUIRED required

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Newbury Office

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Contact our experienced, professional property agents.

ETP Property Consultants are proud members of the BPAA & RICS.

www.etpproperty.co.uk

BUSINESS SPECIAL

Thrings

Simon Holdsworth, managing partner Tell us a little about your business

Thrings is the go-to law firm for growing businesses. We support our clients from start-up to household name and, as leaders in mid-market corporate transactions, we can help secure the finance needed to achieve a business’ full potential. Anticipating our clients’ future needs, our specialist teams of commercial and private client lawyers pride themselves on enabling growth and success.

Work/life balance – how do you get it right for you and your staff?

We recognise that life doesn’t always fit around normal working hours, so (where possible) we offer a degree of flexibility – whether a longer lunch to fit in a trip to the gym, working from home or leaving early on occasion. Around a quarter of our staff work reduced hours too.

We’re proving every day that we can deliver the best service to our clients, while giving our private lives (and health) the time and respect they deserve.

Name a rising star in your company

James Worrall

Royds Withy King LLP

James Worrall, corporate partner, Bristol Tell us a little about your business

Royds Withy King, which has a consulting office in Victoria Street, Bristol, was named Best Managed Law Firm 2019 at the Managing Partner Forum Awards earlier this year, is ranked in The Times Top 100 UK Law Firms and is an accredited Best Company to Work For. Although Royds Withy King has grown rapidly over the last few years, we pride ourselves on our personal approach and long-term relationships. In addition to offering a comprehensive range of legal services to individuals and businesses, we also have teams focused on specialist areas, including Private Wealth, Mergers and Acquisitions, Flexible Office Space, Health and Social Care, Technology, Drones, Reputation Management, Crypto Currencies and Brexit!

We have a strong reputation in Bristol for our work with entrepreneurs and industry disruptors, supporting them in achieving their businesses’ potential.

If you work in the Bristol property market, you’ve probably heard of Ros Trotman – recently named one of the region’s most powerful people in property. She’s been making quite a splash as chairman of Women in Property South West – tirelessly working to raise the presence and profile of women in the sector (her agenda is not for the faint-hearted). Ros is an accomplished planning expert, recognised as a leader in her field, and involved in some key residential and commercial schemes in the region.

Did you know?

More than half of our top paid salaried employees are women, as are five of our eight board members. www.thrings.com Simon Holdsworth

Name a rising star in your company

Our emphasis is on team working and we are lucky enough to have rising stars in all areas of our business. We continue to grow with high profile hires, including Dan Meadon-Bower, who was a senior commercial lawyer at TSB in Bristol, Catherine Welch, a construction lawyer from Ashfords, Richard Roth, who headed the Bristol-based Real Estate team at RPC, and Laura Podger, a family lawyer from Irwin Mitchell in Bristol.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

We take the time to get to know our clients so that we can respond effectively to their current needs as well as to anticipate the issues and challenges which may lie ahead for them. With a focus on forwardthinking and innovation, our clients benefit from a whole host of added value experiences through their relationship with us. These include our Life Safe® legacy management portal, online cost calculators providing instant legal estimates, and inspiring Year Ahead events. We are proud supporters of local good causes, including The Milestone Trust and Quartet Community Foundation. www.roydswithyking.com

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Edward Le Masurier and Alastair Kimpton

PROPERTY Ethical Property

Tell us a little about your business

Ethical Property was formed back in 1998 to provide affordable workspace to change makers. Last year across the UK we supported over a thousand different organisations throughout the UK via our conference spaces, retail units, educational facilities and office space.

We provide space for organisations to flourish and achieve their goals.

With 22 centres across 9 different cities in the UK – all with their own unique style – we’ve proven over the years that a workspace can be sustainable, ethical and supportive.

What makes working in Bristol special?

Bristol is very special to us, it’s where we started and it’s where we’ve just opened our latest centre, Streamline, in the heart of The Paintworks.

We love working with the diverse nature of social enterprise, campaign groups and charities that are a foundation of what makes Bristol so unique. A diversity matched by the centres we have here, from St Pauls Learning Centre, which provides a valued asset for the areas, through to Brunswick Court, which is home to a wide range of charities and businesses.

ETP Property Consultants

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

Edward Le Masurier MRICS, partner and Alastair Kimpton MRICS, partner

Did you know?

We are the oldest private commercial property practice in Bristol.

Today, we are a leading independent commercial property consultancy based in Bristol, Chepstow, and Newbury, with our service area extending to cover the South West and South Wales. Our clients include lenders, developers, private individuals, occupiers and SMEs. We offer a wide range of commercial property services, drawing on our knowledge of the markets to advise you with property acquisition and disposal, development, valuations and professional advisory services.

Unlike some other workspaces, each of our centres is unique and staffed by people that really know Bristol and are passionate about the work that our tenants do. As a company, not only do we strive to support our tenants to achieve real change in this world, it’s something that is at the very core of how we work. Ethical Property is one of the very few workspace companies run on a triple bottom line basis, proving for over 20 years that a business can be run ethically.

Our MD, Conrad Peberdy, was once a tenant working in our Brunswick Court Centre.

To find our more, please contact us at info@ethicalproperty.co.uk www.ethicalproperty.co.uk

Tell us a little about your business

What achievement as a firm are you most proud of?

Following a restructuring of the business in November 2018, we have grown in numbers from five to eight members of staff, as well as moving to smart new offices just off Whiteladies Road. We have seen steady growth in the workload we are able to deal with, whilst creating an inspirational working environment for our staff.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

As a privately-owned firm, they are our names ‘above the door’ when it comes to the quality of work we produce. All instructions are carried out or overseen at Partner level, and our collective 40 years’ experience in the South West and South Wales markets means that we have the expertise to call upon when advising clients on the broad range of issues that can arise.

Did you know?

ETP Property Consultants was founded by Edward T Parker in 1878, making us Bristol’s oldest independently owned surveying firm. A true philanthropist, Edward T Parker also founded the Bristol Dog’s Home! www.etpproperty.co.uk

“we are a leading independent commercial property consultancy based in Bristol, Chepstow, and Newbury, with our service area extending to cover the South West and South Wales” 154 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Dedicated to finding the most secure, long-term outcome for separating and divorcing clients

Family transitions, including divorce, are difficult.

Protecting what matters most

The way you divorce or resolve your family matter shouldn’t add to the turmoil. Many people who come to us are looking to reach settlements that protect the best interests of both them and their children, for the long term.

Talk to Clare Webb to find out how our experienced family lawyers can guide you towards a constructive outcome that enables you and your family to move on with life.

Bristol 0117 9055 055 13-14 Orchard Street, Bristol BS1 5EH clare@sharpfamilylaw.com

Office also in Bath

BUSINESS SPECIAL

Greenheart Sustainable Richard Hatfield, director

Tell us a little about your business

Greenheart have pioneered sustainable building in the Bristol area for two decades, delighting clients with innovative, beautiful projects – from domestic extensions to groundbreaking new-build homes.

Offering a full Design & Build package, the team use a wealth of combined skills, experience and creativity to design and build dream homes that are both a joy to live in and kind to the planet.

What areas do you specialise in?

We specialise in Passivhaus construction. With a great team of friendly eco builders and in-house team of designers and architect, we can build your dream sustainable home from start to finish.

What plans do you have for 2020?

We will continue to build beautiful, low impact eco homes in the Bristol area.

Did you know?

Our recent Bristol project that achieved ‘Passivhaus Plus’ certification is one of only a handful of buildings in the UK to do so, and the house produces as much energy as it consumes! www.greenheartuk.com Richard Hatfield Jessie Rowe

Knight Frank

Jessie Rowe, senior negotiator in the Bath New Homes team Tell us a little bit about your business

Knight Frank has a wide field of expertise; our global network, consisting of over 19,000 property professionals, spans 512 offices spread across 60 territories. From our Bristol and Bath offices, we advise our clients on the sales and marketing strategies for a wide variety of schemes across the South West. We are instructed on a number of flagship developments in the region, including Brandon Yard, located on Bristol Harbourside.

What sets Knight Frank apart from other firms?

There is a human element in the world of property that is too easily overlooked. At Knight Frank we believe that our ability to build longterm relationships and take a personal approach is what sets us apart.

This gives us a detailed understanding of how we can connect our clients with the perfect property – whether it be residential or commercial.

Tell us about your company’s community or charity involvement?

For the past four consecutive years, Knight Frank has celebrated its annual ‘Day of Giving’, which sees all our departments and offices across the UK raise money for charity. Our latest ‘Day of Giving’ took place this September. Here in our Bristol and Bath offices we embarked on the ‘Climbing Mount Everest Together’ challenge, where each of us walked up and down Bristol’s Constitution Hill 25 times. Our combined walking distances equalled the distance to the top of Mount Everest.

“Greenheart have pioneered sustainable building in the Bristol area for two decades”

Did you know?

Knight Frank – founded by John Knight, Howard Frank and William Rutley – began life almost 124 years ago as a valuations, surveying and auctions business. In 1896 the firm’s first sale took place at Conduit Street – situated in the heart of London’s West End, off Bond Street in Mayfair. www.knightfrank.co.uk

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BUSINESS SPECIAL

Vickery Holman

Robert Beale MRICS​, director

Tell us a bit about your business

Vickery Holman is now the largest multi-disciplined surveyors in the South West covering Cornwall to beyond Bristol through four offices.

We are commercial property specialists providing building surveying, general practice, property management and property agency services.

We are very strong on our service levels to clients and the depth of our local knowledge, which sets us apart from many other surveying firms.

Did you know?

Vickery Holman is a staff owned company and has had this structure in place for over 25 years. Our culture puts staff at the heart of our business.

What achievement as a firm are you most proud of?

Staff are key to the company and our best achievement, demonstrated by our very high retention rate. We can trace our roots back to 1848 and our team has an excellent record of helping graduates become qualified. Ongoing training and development is part of our culture and we are very encouraging of staff who wish to further develop their skills or gain qualifications during their career with us.

Lee Bignell

“Despite the industry being perceived as being stuck in its ways, we find the Bristol market very innovative and dynamic”

What plans do you have for 2020?

We are ambitious for the business with plans to continue to grow and thrive across the South West. Our vision for the company is centered on growth, as shown by opening our Bristol office recently and the continued investment in new staff. We have just taken on a new wave of graduates and our staff is now around 70 across the Western region. ential clients to be discerning, busy professionals, with a taste for quality, technology and no appetite for hassle or managing multiple trades to get the job done successfully. www.vickeryholman.com

Mobius

Lee Bignell, managing director

Tell us a bit about your business

Mobius is a leading integrated services company providing innovative solutions to the commercial, industrial and luxury residential sectors.

What areas do you specialise in?

Our services cover every aspect of electrical, mechanical or build projects, from the initial design and installation right through to ongoing maintenance: Electrical – As a leading team of expert electrical contractors, we’re proficient in the design and installation of all types of commercial, industrial and residential electrical applications.

Mechanical – From concept to completion, we project manage the design and installation of all the services every building needs to make it function in the optimum way.

Build – We excel in the delivery of first-rate building services, including refits and refurbishment projects for business and high-end residential clients.

Maintenance and compliance – For many businesses, ensuring compliance in the face of increasingly complex regulation can be something of a challenge. Our reactive and planned maintenance and compliance services give clients peace of mind and the freedom to focus on running their business.

What is it like to operate in Bristol?

Despite the industry being perceived as being stuck in its ways, we find the Bristol market very innovative and dynamic. Local commercial clients are keen to embrace technological advances and modern working practices, and we find residential clients to be discerning, busy professionals, with a taste for quality, technology and no appetite for hassle or managing multiple trades to get the job done successfully. www.mobiusworks.co.uk

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Robert Beale

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Taking a taste of Somerset to the capital

MOBIUS WORKS provides high quality design and build services.

The Yeo Valley Café in London’s Kensington Gardens is a case in point…

Y

eo Valley is a household name throughout the UK. Based in Somerset, it has grown to become an internationally renowned organic dairy business. However, if you think Yeo Valley is just about the yoghurt, you’re wrong. Throughout Somerset, Yeo Valley is equally renowned for its amazing organic café located at its HQ in Blagdon.

When Yeo Valley decided to take a taste of Somerset to London, Mobius was delighted to be asked to take care of the fit-out. This really is a café like no other.

Located just a few metres from Kensington Gardens, the newly opened Yeo Valley café brings a delicious menu devised by Chef Paul Collins. It offers organic food served in a wonderfully quirky environment that does indeed bring Somerset to the people of London. It provides both a feast for the palate and a feast for the eyes where delicious food meets unique fixtures and fittings in a casual and unusual environment. There is something to see everywhere you look – even the toilets are something to behold – and, of course, the Yeo Valley Café wouldn’t be complete without its very own yoghurt bar.

Mobius was engaged to carry out and manage all electrical, mechanical, build and decorative elements of the complete café fit-out, and the results speak for themselves.

It really does have the wow-factor. Work was completed to the highest of standards within a matter of weeks and the Yeo Valley Café opened its doors as aptly planned on Somerset Day in May. Commenting on his experience of working with Mobius, Yeo Valley Properties Ltd Managing Director Adrian Fenton said: “Mobius proved to be a dynamic and reliable construction company. They were able to work flexibly to accommodate all requests, no detail was too small and no challenge too great. Their work was of an extremely high quality, and we’re keen to work together again as part of a long-term relationship.”

The results speak for themselves. If you visit London and fancy a little taste of home, you’re in for a treat! ■

If you’re thinking about a new project for your restaurant, home or business, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch today for a no obligation consultation.

0117 403 8560; hello@mobiusworks.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 161

GREENHEART SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION Design & Build | Passivhaus Specialists

Our experienced, friendly team can design and build your dream home – sustainably. www.greenheartuk.com Studio 2, St Andrew’s Road, Montpelier, Bristol, BS6 5EH | 0117 942 9717 | info@greenheartuk.com

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Bristol’s BID for success

From street cleaning and night-time safety marshalls to street parties and tree planting, if it’s helping to make Bristol an even better place for everyone who works, lives in or visits the centre, the chances are the BRISTOL CITY CENTRE BID is involved

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ow in its second year, Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) represents 760 businesses and organisations to make the city centre safer, cleaner, more attractive and welcoming.

Initiatives include the city’s first-ever deep clean to thoroughly cleanse streets and remove graffiti and chewing gum, plus additional street cleansing services funded by the BID and delivered by Bristol Waste.

Improving and promoting night-time safety is another major priority. Two safeguarding marshalls now work through the night on weekends and holidays to help and support people who may be vulnerable or in need of assistance after a night out in the city centre. Alongside Bristol Street Pastors, who are also supported by the BID, they offer a friendly face and can report issues and incidents to get them quickly resolved.

The work of Bristol City Centre BID is also about fun. This spring saw hundreds of people attend the Old City Street Party and every year the BID funds Christmas lights to add seasonal sparkle to Park Street, the Triangle, Queens Road and Old City – this year extending to King Street. February will be given a much-needed boost with Bristol’s first-ever Light Festival bringing colour, light and play to the city centre at a traditionally quiet and dark time of the year.

More than 30 wooden planters growing fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers are now in place on city centre streets, making Bristol one of the first cities in the UK to install pavement planters offering free, fresh produce and helping to improve air quality.

This is just one of several projects to improve ‘urban greening’ and sustainability across the city centre.

Bristol City Centre BID is one of five BIDs in Bristol and over three hundred in the United Kingdom delivering significant improvements for the benefit of its levy payers.

More information can be found at bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk on Twitter @BrisCentreBID Facebook and LinkedIn. ■

To get in touch, contact Paula Ratcliffe, business liaison manager at Paula@bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk Bristol City Centre BID Team, 8 Unity Street, Bristol BS1 5HH www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 163

JAS Building Services

Quality First

Residential & Commercial

Extensions – Renovations – Refurbishments

Call us today on: 01454 877520 www.jasbuildingservices.co.uk

V+Co_Half Page_Bristol Life.pdf 1 14/09/2019 18:02:47

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The Travelling Bistro We can be hired for any event, and can tailor to your needs. We offer a selection of menus to choose from or create your own bespoke menu!

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EITHER SINGLE DAY OR WEEKEND - WE MAKE YOUR EVENT OUR PRIORITY travellingbistro@hotmail.com | www.travellingbistro.co.uk Find us on: Facebook & Instagram

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Your fair share Louise Higham Financial Divorce Expert at NEATH RAISBECK GOLDING LAW is here to help deal with the financial fallout of a relationship breakdown.

T

he breakdown of a relationship, whether by divorce or separation after a period of living together, can be one of the most difficult and stressful events in a person’s life. Coping with the combination of emotional issues, uncertainty about the future and having to deal with an unfamiliar legal process can be daunting.

Facing the inevitable changes ahead, particularly in relation to the family finances, armed with appropriate legal advice from the outset is the best way of reducing this pressure and gaining the confidence to make the right decisions.

With over 20 years’ experience, Louise specialises in resolving financial issues that arise following relationship breakdown.

Louise has a breadth of experience dealing with complex financial matters including cases where there are substantial assets, such as property portfolios, pensions, company shareholdings and other business interests.

Louise aims to achieve the best outcome

for her client whether this is by way of sensitively negotiating an agreed financial settlement outside of the court process or, in more contentious cases, robustly litigating within the court process.

Whether you are the one initiating the divorce or separation, or you find yourself in this situation, making the decision to talk to a professional can be hard but is necessary to ensure that you are fully aware of your legal rights so that you can make those important decisions about your future from a fully informed perspective. With the advice and support of an experienced specialist lawyer you will be best placed to make the right decisions.

Louise is a member and accredited specialist of an organisation called Resolution. This is a group of family lawyers, and other professionals, that promotes a non-confrontational approach to resolving family disputes. She offers out of hours appointments, including Saturday mornings, to accommodate your family, work and business commitments. ■

M: 07702316402 E: louise.higham@nrglaw.co.uk W: www.nrglaw.co.uk A: Bush House, 77-81 Alma Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2DP

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 167

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Prevention is better than cure Grant McCall of AMD SOLICITORS has sound advice to any SME wishing to avoid future internal conflict

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nfortunately, we see many promising business ventures cut short due to internal conflict between the owners. This is particularly common for smaller businesses where the owners are also the key employees who work full time in the business. Whilst market forces and changes in legislation can alter the course for SMEs, quite often internal conflict can arise due to a difference of opinion at management level or a perceived inequity in working contributions between the owners. Rather than allow uncertainty to damage or destroy the goodwill that has been generated, putting in place an ownership agreement could provide for a dispute resolution procedure that the owners would need to adhere to.

An ownership agreement will be relevant for any SME business with 2 or more owners, whether the owners trade as a limited company, a partnership or via a joint venture agreement. Whilst it is always advised to put an agreement in place when starting a business venture it is equally applicable to the owners of an established business with a solid trading history. The key requirement is that the owners are in agreement on how they wish to document their requirements. An example of this might be what the owners want to happen if an owner dies or falls critically ill.

Early investment in a bespoke Agreement will ensure the agreed terms between the business owners are documented at a time when there is consensus on key decisions. Trying to agree terms when the owners are no longer of the same mind is far more problematic.

The main benefit of a written agreement is therefore to avoid the risk of substantial disruption later down the line and to avoid the potential of the owners putting the business at risk due to a misunderstanding or a change of contributions.

In the case of a limited company, unlike the articles of association, a Shareholders Agreement is a private document that only the shareholders are party to.

In general terms, some of the main areas to cover in an ownership agreement are listed below.

1. How the business will be managed on a day to day basis.

2. How material decisions will be made and whether unanimous consent will be required to protect any minority shareholders.

3. What should happen if a shareholder dies or falls critically ill.

4. What will happen if a shareholder is absent from the business without consent of the other owners.

5. What happens if a shareholder wants to leave the business.

6. How can shares be sold or transferred.

7. What happens if a shareholder is in breach of the terms of the agreement.

8. What happens if a dispute arises or there is a deadlock on decision making.

For businesses who trade as a partnership, a Partnership Agreement operates in a similar way to a shareholders agreement for limited companies.

If the partners do not agree and document the terms of their legal relationship, the partners will be bound by the terms of the Partnership Act 1890.

It is unlikely that many new partnership businesses will consider a piece of legislation from 1890 when setting out in business!

Here the maxim ‘prevention is better than cure’ has never been more appropriate.

For further advice and information upon legal issues for businesses (including a free 30 minute consultation) get in touch with Grant and our Company Commercial Team. Email grantmccall@ amdsolicitors.com or telephone 0117 9733 989.

■

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 www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 169

business directory Agency

Ambitious PR www.ambitiouspr.co.uk hide the shark www.hidetheshark.com

vaughan and company www.vaughanandcompany.co.uk

business services Blackstar www.blackstarsolutions.co.uk

HIVE www.hive.agency/

Bristol City Centre BID www.bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk

kubiak www.kubiakcreative.com

Datasharp integrated communications www.datasharp-ic.co.uk

loom www.Loomdigital.co.uk marles + barclay www.marlesandbarclay.co.uk Proctor + Stevenson www.proctors.co.uk

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

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Royale Chauffeur Group www.royalechauffeurgroup.co.uk SerialTrainer 7 www.SerialTrainer7.com South West Business Finance www.swbf.co.uk Stripe OLT www.stripeolt.com Weston College www.weston.ac.uk

finance

Anderson Financial Management Ltd www.andersonfinancial.co.uk BATH BUILDING SOCIETY www.bathbuildingsociety.co.uk

BUSINESS SPECIAL

Bishop Fleming www.bishopfleming.co.uk

INCE METCALFES www.incemetcalfes.com.co.uk

Ethical Property www.ethicalproperty.co.uk

Clifton Mortgages www.cliftonmortgages.com

Neath Raisbeck Golding Law www.nrglaw.co.uk

ETP Property Consultants www.etpproperty.co.uk

Corrigan accountants www.corrigan.co.uk

Royds Withy King LLP www.roydswithyking.com

FINE AND COUNTRY www.fineandcountry.com

Sharp Family Law www.sharpfamilylaw.com

Greenheart Sustainable www.greenheartuk.com

Thrings www.thrings.com

JAS Building Services www.jasbuildingservices.co.uk

VWV www.vwv.co.uk

Knight Frank www.knightfrank.co.uk

law

AMD www.amdsolicitors.com ashfords www.ashfords.co.uk Barcan+Kirby www.barcankirby.co.uk Greenaway Scott www.greenawayscott.com

PROPERTY

burston cook www.burstoncook.co.uk

Mobius www.mobiusworks.co.uk Vickery Holman www.vickeryholman.com

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property a pl ace to c all home

That ’70s Show

Somewhere far away the Vietnam War rages, but our dinner parties are legendary – especially late on, when the fish bowl comes out. Or so we like to imagine life might be like at Elan House, where the 1970s meet the 2020s, and fun is just around each corner…

By Clarissa Picot

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 173

A property place to call home

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otus made a car called the Elan; in a pale silvery blue, the deathless Emma Peel drove one in The Avengers. It wasn’t far from the colour of the central wall in this house, in fact, the one separating living space from kitchen area. We can imagine Mrs Peel – retired from avenging but still somewhat feisty – pulling up outside, tossing back her flicked chestnut hair and padding inside, ready for a fight or a coupe of Champagne, whichever came sooner. Paul Newman and Peter Sellers, equally dedicated Lotus Elan fans, would be here to greet her with the latter, of course.

This place – called Elan House, so there is a modicum of point to all this – speaks in so many ways of the glamorous early-’70s, but was recently enlarged and refurbished in a winning fashion that combines the best of that most distinctive of decades with modern specs and contemporary open-plan living. Built over three floors, plus various mezzanines, it’s all high ceilings and natural light, which floods in through vast double-glazed aluminium windows and doors. (This place is in leafy Sneyd Park in Stoke Bishop, near to Durham Downs and Clifton Village, so the extensive views outside are actually worth looking at too.)

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

It’s the vast open-plan living, kitchen and breakfast area you’ll spot first, of course – all interesting angles and intriguing details – but the adjacent split-level drawing room and dining room are mighty impressive too.

Together they make an appealing living area that homes valued at twice this price would find hard to beat.

Upstairs you’ll find a master bedroom suite with a free standing bath in the bedroom (and a shower room too), plus four further bedrooms (two en suite) and a family bathroom. There’s also a gym (easily converted into some sort of hobby or play room), an integral double garage, a study nook, plant room, utility room and cloakroom, plus – outside – a large driveway with extensive parking, an enclosed courtyard front garden, and a glorious rear raised sun deck with a concealed hot tub, leading to tiered and lawned gardens.

You don’t need us to tell you just how stylish it all is.

(A young Jane Seymour and The Candidate-era Robert Redford are stretched out on the decking – in our heads – while Jane Fonda is chatting with Donald Sutherland near the kitchen island.) This is a place of tasteful eraspanning glamour, the ultra-modern under-floor heating and endless Neff appliances in the kitchen teamed engagingly with the fanciest retro-styled lighting and the original ’70s Australian teak timber-clad ceilings.

A less imaginative refurb might have stripped these ceilings right out, but thank goodness they didn’t; it seems to us integral to the Easy Riders, Raging Bulls-era appeal of the place. n

property

House numbers Bedrooms

5

Bathrooms

4

Reception rooms

3

Outside Double garage, courtyard garden, tiered garden, decking and extensive parking Guide price

ÂŁ1,575,000

Where Sneyd Park, Stoke Bishop What else? Gym, plant room, assorted mezzanines, tonnes of natural light and ’70s glamour, all over 3,777 sq ft Savills, Embassy House, Queens Avenue BS8 1SB; 0117 9102200; www.savills.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 175

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

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Julian Cook FRICS

Jayne Rixon MRICS

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RESTAURANT & SHOPS IN BS1 & BS8 Restaurants, cafes and shops of various sizes and rents throughout Clifton and Bristol city centre.

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Julian Cook FRICS

Jayne Rixon MRICS

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bristol LIVES

“Dream production?

Kit Harington playing Hamlet, or Eddie Redmayne in The Pillowman . . .”

Charlotte Geeves Bristol Old Vic has entered a new golden age – and it’s got itself a brand new executive director…

What a brilliant time for Charlotte to be joining team BOV: the theatre has completed its decadelong, multi-million-pound refurb (it’s a beauty); and under Tom Morris’ artistic direction, an impressive string of recent hits have transferred to the West End and beyond.

“It’s an incredible theatre, with a wealth of history,” agrees Charlotte, who has been coming to see work at Bristol Old Vic for a long time. “I’m passionate about regional theatre, and making theatre as accessible as it possibly can be – and for me there wasn’t really anywhere else I wanted to work.”

So, what exactly makes this theatre so special?

Its ambition and ability to work and connect with local communities, and the desire to be inside those communities. Its ambition to put artists first when thinking about a show, as opposed to which shows we should put on the stage. All the while, putting the audience first and making sure the theatre is truly accessible.

Tell us a bit about some of your previous jobs . . .

I’ve been working in the world of festivals for the last 10 years but before this I did 15 years in producing theatre and dance.

This is ultimately where my heart lies. I hope I can bring the experience and understanding of how to run a charity and

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business in a very competitive and challenging market, with the ambition to be inclusive, accessible and to make it fun.

and who would you cast?

What are the main challenges in running a commercially viable yet highly creative theatre in 2019?

What production in the BOV autumn programme are you most looking forward to seeing?

I think the thing to remember is that we have a responsibility to the audience who see the work, and to the artist who makes the work, and how we realise that from a commercial perspective will always be challenging. We are a charity, but alongside this we are running a business, and both of these are of equal importance.

At the time of writing, I’m just 11 days into my new role, and at the moment I am in the process of exploring and investigating what we do, and how we do it, as opposed to coming up with any new ideas.

What are your earliest memories of seeing theatre?

I remember my nan taking me to see Dancing on Ice as a child (not strictly theatre, I know). I was probably five years old.

When did you decide that working in theatre would be your career?

I sort of knew by the time I was 14 that I wanted to work in theatre.

I also knew I didn’t want to be an actor, as I was truly terrible at it.

I had to do some acting at school as part of my drama GCSE and Theatre Studies A Level, but I haven’t done anything since (and that was a long time ago . . .)

If you could put on any production, what would it be

That’s a tough one – either Kit Harington playing Hamlet or Eddie Redmayne in The Pillowman.

Our new production of Cyrano.

How well do you know Bristol?

What’s the best thing about moving here?

I lived here from 2010 – 2014 and then moved back due to work. I’m so pleased to be back. It’s great to be in a city that is so vibrant, with so much going on.

Where’s your manor, and why have you chosen to move there?

I haven’t moved completely yet, but we used to live on the border of Stokes Croft and Kingsdown.

Do you have a favourite restaurant, café and bar?

Poco Tapas in Stokes Croft.

Do you have any secret skills?

Doing triathlons.

What is your most regrettable habit?

Not letting people finish their sentences (I get a bit over enthusiastic around some topics).

We’d better let you get on! What are you doing immediately after answering these questions?

Writing a report for our next board meeting.

Check out Bristol Old Vic’s autumn programme at www.bristololdvic.org.uk