Bristol Life - Issue 289

CONCRETE POETRY A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CITY

ISSUE 289 / OCTOBER 2020 / £3

ISSUE 289 / OCTOBER 2020 / KEEP ON KEEPING ON

THE ARCHITECT’S HOME

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Parts 1 and 2: shopping and the arts

HOLLOW MAN The Fall of Colston

SNAP HAPPY

Esther May Campbell x the kids of Ventures

BRISTOL LIFE AWARDS 2020

Happy shiny people holding prizes

EDITOR’S LETTER

T

here’s nothing like a pandemic to bring out a rash of clichés and weary metaphors. New normal. Uncertain (and indeed, challenging) times. Uncharted waters. Flattening the curve. Now more than ever. Pivoting. Unprecedented.

Here’s a well-worn proverb to add to the mix: necessity is the mother of invention.

To be fair, this must have sounded box-fresh when Plato first coined it (what he actually said was “our need will be the real creator,” but it’s much the same thing).

Anyway. Faced with the impossibility of doing things the old way, smart people find new solutions: taking the 2020 Bristol Life Awards online, for example. Yes, of course we were sad not to see you all together in a gurt big tent; we missed seeing you decked out in all your finery, and hearing the rising decibels of merriment from your tables.

Except perhaps when you drowned out the speeches; honestly, Bristol, what are you like?

But there were some unexpected positives in going virtual. The whole event felt more intimate, somehow, with close-up shots of winners accepting awards from their living rooms or work places, often in the company of partners, kids or dogs. We felt a stronger connection than we might have done if we’d seen them as distant figures on a podium.

We could even hear what they were saying.

You’ll find our souvenir of the night on page 53. There are other features in this issue too, but I’ll leave you to discover those at your leisure.

Do share this issue with those in your ‘bubble’; I think you’ll find it pairs beautifully with a quarantini.

Stop press! We just had to squeeze in this cracking shot of the new Wallace and Gromit balloon, which launched on 29 September as part of Aardman’s ongoing support for The Grand Appeal

DERI ROBINS Follow us on Twitter @BristolLifeMag Instagram @BristolLifeMag

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Proud WINNER of

Local Fresh Cuisine for Everyone At The Malago we use local suppliers to bring us the freshest ingredients, our skilled chefs use natural and seasonal produce imaginatively to create a dynamic menu that is inclusive of vegetarians and vegans.

Visit us: The Malago 220 North Street,Southville, Bristol, BS3 1JD To book a table with us call: 01179 639044 Contact us: eatout@themalago.club | www.themalago.club

Issue 289/ October 2020 COVER Our Property Showcase this issue is West End in ingsdown. nd yes, it has a home o ce (page

THE ARTS

13 ART PAGE Bet you’ll never look at the Purdown

Tower in the same way again

14 WHAT’S ON From virtual events to actual real-live

gigs and shows! Remember them?

22 53

16 WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? #1 In the first

of a three-part feature on post-lockdown Bristol, we (almost) discover what theatres have in store for Christmas 22 PHOTOGRAPHY Esther May Campbell, the kids of Ventures, and a testament to the joy of mucking about 28 BRISTOL HEROES The fall of Colston, in photos and a poem

FOOD & DRINK

35 INTRO Take us to Church 36 RESTAURANT Fish cooked, served and eaten on a

boat? What will they think of next?

39 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS Lots more new

openings, encouragingly enough

40 STAN Sausage roll nirvana at Bakesmiths

SHOPPING

43 SHOP INTRO Born out of lockdown 44 ED’S CHOICE Small pleasures, small pleasures, who

would deny us these?

46 WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? #2 The future

of the Bristol high street

BRISTOL LIFE AWARDS

53 AWARDS 2020 The winners and other highlights

BUSINESS

63 BRISTOLWORKS We feel the white collars of Bristol

professionals

PROPERTY

77 THE HOME REVOLUTION How has Covid

impacted the local property market?

84 SHOWCASE A home for our times

REGULARS

9 SPOTLIGHT 11 BRIZZOGRAM 98 BRISTOL LIVES It’s the lovely Jess Siggers LEFT: Wass on? Find out who has now won a BAFTA and a Bristol Life Award on page 53

Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors Colin Moody, Stan Cullimore, Milly Vaughan, Jamie Rees Advertising manager Neil Snow neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk New business manager Craig Wallberg craig.wallberg@mediaclash. co.uk Account manager Jake Horwood jake.horwood@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. Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help. Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

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SPOTLIGHT

Community

LOCKS DOWN

Visual light display by Limbic Cinema Photos Colin Moody

Music

THE STORY OF A NEW NAME

he music hall formerly known as olston finally has a new name.

For reasons too obvious to mention, the big reveal on 23 eptember was a low key a air that took the form of a streamed broadcast from the foyer. Speeches by Louise Mitchell of Bristol Music Trust and Mayor Marvin Rees were followed by a poem by Vanessa Kisuule, read by a diverse range of Bristolians in a short film. he new name for the hall was revealed in the last line of the poem: Bristol Beacon.

The name, said Louise, was designed to be “a symbol of hope and community. A gathering space, illuminating the way ahead. A place of welcome, warmth and light. An open invitation to the city for everyone to come and share in the joy of live music.”

The controversial former name of the venue, with its associations with slave-trader Edward Colston, has been a thorn in the city’s side for many years, and the Trust declared as far back as April 2017 that the venue would be renamed as part of its ongoing multi-million-pound transformation.

“We believe in the power of music to break down barriers and cross boundaries,” said the Trust. “Bristol Beacon will celebrate this in everything we do.”

No reason for Massive Attack not to play the venue now. Launch gig, lads?

Shine on, Beacon. bristolbeacon.org

Many thanks to Karno Arieli for sending us this photo of six-year-old Teo having his hair cut by his dad during lockdown. The image was selected by Hold Still, a nationwide community project launched in May to create a unique collective portrait of the UK during lockdown. Just 100 images were chosen from over 31,000 submissions.

“I loved watching as Saul gently shaved the sides of Teo’s hair; my son’s fingers still had nail polish on from other adventures. e was a little fragile, and scared of the little hairs and the machine, but the connection is tender and strong. For me, as a mother and artist, photography has been a friend and saviour during lockdown, helping me to create, document and digest in these challenging times.”

See the full gallery at the link below; the images are deeply touching and uplifting, and rea rm, if rea rmation is needed, your faith in humanity. npg.org.uk

Books

A LOCAL BOOK BY LOCAL PEOPLE Think you know Bristol? We defy you not to be surprised, intrigued and inspired by the latest book on the city. 111 Places in Bristol That You Shouldn’t Miss by Martin Booth is a cliché-free guide that looks beyond the obvious tourist trappings to unearth places mostly only known to locals. Every page is crammed with insider knowledge and love for Bristol, lavishly illustrated with photos by Barbara Evripidou.

Our tip: if you ever take part in a Bristol-themed pub quiz, make sure that Martin’s on your team.

111 Places in Bristol That You Shouldn’t Miss (RRP £12.99) is available from local bookshops

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SPOTLIGHT

PLAY BRISTY FOR ME “And a grey Brist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking...”

– John Masefield (misquoted)

@sambinding

@thebristolnomad

@neiljamesb

@brisvadar

@sambalyphoto

@polly_newt

@sambinding

@thebristolnomad

@aaronpjsims

@thisiscarrington

@mikeyknighty

@kruggy01

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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

TOWER POWER

“Hi! I am organising an art show celebrating this guy,” read the email from Matthew Healey, aka Spot the Badger. The guy in question turned out to be the Purdown Tower.

“I never really paid the Tower much attention” the message went on. “I would only really look at it while on the M32. But then I moved within the city, and I can now see the Tower from my window. It stands alone on a hill, away from the main attractions of Bristol.

Everyone knows it, yet there is very little information about it. Technology has moved on, and its heyday has passed, yet it feels like it still has a purpose.

“Is it an eyesore? A relic of the past, a monument, a beacon perhaps? Either way, there is something hypnotising about those rings. Once you start paying attention to it you start to realise that it’s always there, commanding the horizon, looking over rooftops or appearing from behind the trees: Bristol’s unconventional lighthouse, watching over the motorway and welcoming weary travellers to our city.”

To honour ‘this guy’, Matt has assembled an impressive roster of largely Bristol-based artists, including Inkie, Alex Lucas, Anna Marrow, Used Pencil, Acerone and Andy Council, whose pieces will exhibit alongside his own work, such as the one shown here.

“The brief was simple: create a piece of work using the Tower as your muse.

It’s thought by some to be a refuelling station for passing UFOs, so a lot of people have gone down that route...”

All pieces are available to purchase, so that’s Christmas sorted, then.

The Purdown Tower Art Show runs until 31 October at The Farm pub, Hopetoun Road, St Werburghs For more: spotthebadger.com/tower

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WHAT’S ON

As accurate as it’s possible for a three-weekly mag to be in these ever-changing times: check websites for up-to-date info on the day

9 October20 November

Anarchy in the UK, or more specifically, at Martin Parr Foundation

ART

Ongoing

INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION The Royal Photographic Society’s gallery is currently closed, but you can still view the 162nd outing for the world’s longest running photography exhibition virtually, and admire the work of 43 international photographers. rps.org SUGAR PAPER THEORIES: Meanwhile, also at the RPS, the icecool Sugar Paper Theories is a true-life Nordic noir as Bristol photographer Jack Latham chronicles the most controversial murder investigation in Icelandic history. rps.org

Until 17 October

RICHARD AARON WARD: OIL AND WATER Improvised work, exploring, experimenting and re-imagining worlds; at That Art Gallery, thatartgallery.com

Until 18 October

FURIOUS, WILD AND YOUNG: THE DEATH OF CHATTERTON Bristol’s boy poet is celebrating his

250th deathaversary, and RWA have managed to get a loan of ‘that’ Pre-Raphaelite painting; rwa.org.uk

Until 26 October

ST WERBURGHS VIRTUAL ART TRAIL The arts and crafts community take the trail online; stwerburghsarts.org.uk

Until 31 October

PURDOWN TOWER See page 13; spotthebadger.com/tower

Until I November

HASSAN HAJJAJ: THE PATH Hassan’s colour-bomb of an exhibition explodes into the cool space of rnolfini; arnolfini.org.uk CENTRE OF GRAVITY Soapworks hosts work by over 60 Bristol artists, in a monthlong programme of visual arts, performance, talks and events. thesoapworksbristol.co.uk

Until 22 November

CHANTAL JOFFE: FOR ESMÉ – WITH LOVE AND SQUALOR Inspired by the Salinger short story, the exhibition captures the changing faces of Chantal and

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Esmé as they move between mother and daughter, love and squalor, and the act of care and being cared for. arnolfini.org.uk

Until 20 December

CHRIS KILLIP: THE STATION A vivid photographic document of the style, theatricality and raw energy of the anarcho-punk movement which ourished under Thatcher; martinparrfoundation.org

Until 17 January 2021

DENZIL FORRESTER: ITCHIN & SCRATCHIN Denzil’s paintings capture the vibrant energy of the dimly lit dance halls of 1980s London and today’s open-air clubs of Jamaica; spikeisland.org.uk

Until 28 February 2021

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC? Bristol Museum takes a look at the way that magic has been used to heal, hurt and harm down the ages; bristolmuseums.org.uk

Until 5 April 2021

BEING HUMAN Can art capture what it is to be human? Many notable sculptors have had a go; see the results at

Bristol Museum; bristolmuseums.org.uk

10-23 October

EVA WATKINS The analogue photographer’s photo series of the synchronised swimmers of Henleaze; Room212, room212.co.uk

SHOWS

Until 11 October

CIRCUS MONTINI An actual, physical show, up on the Downs, in a Covid-proof state-ofthe-art big top. circusmontini.eu

Until 30 November

PERICLES Shakespeare’s wildest tale – adventure, shipwreck, corruption and romance on the high seas. From Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, directed by Andrew Hilton: online oldvic.ac.uk

9 October

GOING OUT WITH ANNETTE CURTAIN Annette is Bristol’s biggest gossip and she’s hosting the glitziest, glammest drag cabaret in town at Bristol Old Vic bar; bristololdvic.org.uk

© AL AN GRIFEE

WHAT’S ON

ABOVE:

“Everyone wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant.”

It’s Purdown, but not as you know it; a mixed-media art show curated

by Matthew Healey, honouring Bristol’s strange but beautiful tower BOTTOM LEFT: Hot vamps in Filton (is a phrase you don’t hear every day) TOP LEFT:

23-25 October

GARDEN SESSIONS It’s the turn of Stanlaey with Jakabol, Young Echo and Afrobeats at Trinity; trinitybristol.org.uk

FILM

Until 11 October

ENCOUNTERS Bristol’s annual festival of short film, animation and new talent goes digital; n oun r .fil

Until 15 October

BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL 2020 hasn’t been ideal for wanderlust bunnies, but BANFF have designed virtual events to give us our annual adrenalin fi ; an uk. o

19-23 October 10-11, 17-18 October

SHERLOCK IN HOMES: THE ONLINE MURDER MYSTERY Don your virtual deerstalker, grab a notepad and stick the kettle on: it’s time to Zoom in on a murder mystery via bristololdvic.org.uk

19-20 November

DANIEL KITSON: DOT.DOT.DOT Daniel’s account of six ridiculous and devastating months. Conceived specifically to be performed in and streamed from an empty theatre; this, says Daniel, will hopefully be a lot more fun than it sounds; TFT, tobaccofactorytheatres.com

MUSIC 10 October

THE MAGPIE COLLECTION Kneehigh and Wise Children musical director Ian Ross takes us on a musical journey through magical compositions from recent shows. In Bristol Old Vic bar, bristololdvic.org.uk

17-18 October

GARDEN SESSIONS Trinity launches its Sessions in a tent in the grounds of the former church, with Waldo’s Gift, Livity Sound’s Hodge & Danielle Afrobeats’ DJ Neyo, Dancehall Generals, DJ Wally & DJ Simba; trinitybristol.org.uk

WILDSCREEN FESTIVAL: A virtual outing for the renowned celebration of natural world storytelling; wildscreen.org

27 October- I November

DRIVE-IN CINEMA Head up to Filton for a contact-free screening of blockbusters. See if you can spot the theme: Monsters Inc, Scream, The Conjuring, Nightmare on Elm Street, Get Out, Hotel Transylvania, Shaun of the Dead, Coraline, The Lost Boys, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Hocus Pocus, The Exorcist, The Nightmare before Christmas, Beetlejuice, Ghostbusters,The Shining. Anyone would think it was Halloween week or something. adventuredrivein.co.uk

20-22 November

CARY COMES HOME Marking the 100th anniversary of the teenage Archie Leach’s emigration from Bristol to the USA, the theme of this year’s festival in his honour is Journeys. Events planned to take place in New York this July had to be shelved, but the team held three online talks anyway, and there are links to these on the website. carycomeshome.co.uk

OTHER

10-30 October

BLACK HISTORY MONTH The annual event celebrating the culture, history and myriad achievements of Britain’s African and Caribbean communities. bristol.gov.uk

12 October

ANTHROPOLOGY + TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE 2020 An online outing for the international conference brings together technologists working on emerging projects related to AI, and social scientists to foster dialogue and collaboration; anthtechconf.co.uk

29 October

FILM LONDON JARMAN AWARD 2020 Spike Island screens this online tour of contemporary artists’ filmmaking; oin them, why don’t you? spikeisland.org.uk n

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ARTS

#1 The state of the arts

E E WH R DO W E O R F OM G H ER E? In the first of three features focusing on the future of ristol arts, retail (page and hospitality (ne t issue , Jamie Rees meets the artistic directors of two ristol theatres, and discovers that reports of hristmas being cancelled have been widely e aggerated 16 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

© MARK DAWSON PHOTOGR APHY

FROM TOP: Tom: “It’s our job to provide something beautiful, uplifting and entertaining to the city at Christmas” Mike: “We’ll definitely be offering something exciting”

T

he devastating impact of Covid-19 on the arts in general and theatre in particular has been widely reported. At the very top of the agenda has been the cancellation of Christmas shows and pantos, unquestionably the busiest time and biggest earner for theatres up and down the country (oh yes it is...)

However, when I spoke to Tom Morris, artistic director of Bristol Old Vic, and his Southville counterpart Mike Tweddle of Tobacco Factory Theatres, to my surprise the festive prognosis wasn’t nearly as gloomy as I’d anticipated.

I’m pleased to say that the news is this: the show will still go on (oh yes it will…) in one form or another.

Bristol has led the way during lockdown when it comes to digitalising theatre, with Bristol Old Vic outperforming just about any other regional producing theatre company, with a whopping 350,000 views of their virtual broadcasts. It has also led the way in partly reopening its doors to the theatregoing public, with foyer shows over the summer and more planned for autumn.

But with the threat of another national lockdown, what does it all mean for the much-loved Christmas shows, which for many families represent their single annual jaunt to the theatre?

Tom Morris and Mike Tweddle were both unequivocal in their response: Christmas is on.

“It’s Bristol Old Vic’s job to provide something beautiful, uplifting and entertaining to the city at Christmas,” said Tom. Meanwhile, south of the river, Mike told me that the TFT will be definitely be o ering something e citing, for the festive season – even if it ends up being online.

Neither could tell me what the ‘it’ will be, but ‘it’ will happen, and the ‘it’ will undoubtedly o er the thrilling kind of spectacle we’ve come to e pect from these two powerhouses of theatre production in the South West.

“Broadly, we’re hoping to provide something magical online, with opportunities to get behind the scenes and meet the creative people behind our productions,” said ike. omething that fully re ects why people come to the theatre at Christmas”.

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‘Echoes of Summer’ by Peter Wileman FROI RSMA FRSA 84 Hotwell Road, Bristol, BS8 4UB Telephone : 0117 929 2527.

For more information visit: www.limetreegallery.com

ARTS

© GER AINT LEWIS

Last year’s A Christmas Carol at Bristol Old Vic. Without the light and cheer of theatre, Christmas won’t be Christmas...

Tom also wants to tap in to something that represents why people ock to theatre at hristmas. or me, the challenge is to try to bring people together, even if only online; it’s so important at this time of year, and we have to take on that challenge, and this enormous opportunity to think afresh”.

While Tom says that “we talk a lot about economics at times like these, but what about people’s hearts?”, there’s no getting away from the cost of Covid. “Without question, lockdown has left a massive hole in our finances. alf a million pounds to be exact; but the people of Bristol deserve something special and we want to deliver that in a way that brings people together in a safe way”. ike o ers a sobering assessment of the situation.

“Our Christmas show is the main contributor to our business model.

When we closed our doors in March, we only had until May before we went into administration. etween arch and uly we had to fight hard to keep the organisation from closing. It was a devastating few months, as we tried to protect as many jobs as we possibly could.” he word ‘fight’ also came into the discussion with om orris, who had nothing but praise for his sta who have contributed to the consultation process throughout this di cult period with e traordinary passion. We have an amazing body of people who took the organisation through reopening in , and who continue to fight and work hard to keep the organisation alive now.”

Of course, it’s not just the people who work in contracted roles at these venues who have had to fight. Perhaps the biggest battle of all has been fought by the many freelancers who work backstage in technical, costume, marketing and producing – the list goes on. They might also find themselves without work this hristmas, at a time when the industry is normally buoyant with many opportunities for creatives.

“Each year over 1,000 freelancers contribute to our work, many of these around Christmas” says Mike. “The work simply won’t be there

at the end of this year, when they’ve struggled so much already”.

“The pandemic has been merciless on freelancers and individuals who work in the creative industries,” agrees Tom. “As positive as we try to remain in our ambition to bring theatre to the people of Bristol in some kind of capacity, you have to think about the many people who won’t have work this Christmas.”

Ultimately, theatre is all about the audience. Without an audience it has no future; so what can we expect as the nights draw in? At time of going to press, we only have a few live dates in the diary.

“After our successful experiments in the courtyard space in front of the theatre, Bristol Old Vic is not currently building towards a programme in the theatre itself.

Some shows will be performed live to a socially distanced audience in the same room as the performers; some will be streamed live to people’s homes, and some will play to both audiences at the same time, trying to capture the unique atmosphere of our building for people all over the world, who would love to be there but can’t. We’re also continuing our ongoing strand of music, comedy, dance and performance in the foyer, and working out how we can bring back The Red Lion, which was so cruelly cancelled on press night in March.”

Meanwhile, Tobacco Factory Theatres welcomes Daniel Kitson with his new show ‘for empty theatres’. Again taking place online, Daniel presents his account of six ridiculous and devastating months in a piece conceived and written specifically to be performed in and streamed from an empty theatre.

There’s no doubt that the months ahead will be hardgoing both on stage and o . It’s good to know that the leading lights of ristol’s theatre scene still insist that, come Christmas, they’re doing everything in their power to bring us fun and joy at a time when we crave it most. n For more: bristololdvic.org.uk tobaccofactorytheatres.com

“The people of Bristol deserve something special, and we want to deliver that ”

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SUPPORT INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES AND ARTISTS WHEREVER YOU ARE ECLECTIC GIFT SHOP is home to over 75 independent businesses and artists, specialising in greetings cards, artwork, gifts and jewellery designed and made in Bristol.

There’s something for the whole family and you’ll find something new every time you visit.

The space is beautifully curated and a joy to visit.

Nicola Bartlett, owner, launched an online shop during lockdown meaning you can also support her fantastic business, and all those she works with, wherever you are.

SAVE 10% ONLINE with the code ‘BristolLife’ Valid 1st-31st October

Proud WINNER of

Find us at our store: 51c High Street, Hanham, Bristol, BS15 3DQ. Or visit us from anywhere at: www.eclecticgiftshop.co.uk ECLECTIC GIFT SHOP recently scooped the ‘Retail’ Bristol Life Award.

“Our judges were very much impressed by the way that Nicola is helping energise the Hanham High Street community. She quite clearly has a civic approach to running business. Her story is impressive.” - Greg Ingham

“We were learning about framing, using a camera with a set exposure.

He wanted to take a picture of me taking a picture of him”

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

ARTS

LET US PLAY A collaboration between award-winning filmmaker Esther May Campbell and the kids of St Paul’s Adventure Playground offers a unique testament to the “infinite qualities of mucking around”

W “The pictures are a portal into the telling world of child’s play, upside-downing, risk, creation, kinship, destruction, art and story, as the world keeps on spinning”

e have Bristol University to thank for bringing Esther May Campbell into our midst. Esther came here to study drama; after her course was over, rather than disappearing back to her home town of London she chose to stay on.

“I didn’t need London to hone my craft, but I did need time and space; this was possible in Bristol,” she told us when we met her back in 2017.

During her course, she found both the work and uni community very hard. “This propelled me to extend friendships and work outside of college and into the city and its edges. I made films based on the places I found here. Many of my projects and ideas come from a sense of localism and community. I’m interested in liminal places and the imagination; I look for whatever is exceptional or important about the domestic, social and environmental.”

Take her BAFTA-winning short film September September,, for example: a poetic 21-minute drama set in the “in-between world of flyovers, grass verges and dead-ends” of a sleepy rural corner of the West Country. Or the 2015 feature-length Light Years, Years, which premièred at the Venice Film Festival: “a story of loss, hope and deepest human connection, in a giddy trip through England’s edge lands”.

Esther’s most recent project is Scrapbook Scrapbook,, a photographic collaboration with the children attending the photography club at St Paul’s Adventure Playground – or ‘Ventures’, as the kids call it. The result, to quote Esther, is a glorious “testament to the infinite qualities of mucking around; a portal into the telling world of child’s play, upside-downing, risk, creation, kinship, destruction, art and story, as the world keeps on spinning.”

The images were shown at an exhibition, both at the playground and in giant posters across the city, and are now available in a book that aims to raise money for the frequently beleaguered Ventures.

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ARTS

clockwise: “On one of my first visits to Ventures, the kids were jumping off the playground onto a crash mat, so we decided to try and get a timed shot“

“This girl made a light reflector into a headdress, and another child later collaged a sign over the top of the image reading ‘Welcome to Ventures’ “One of the kids ran off with the camera. They took a photo that I wouldn’t have taken, because I thought it would be too dark, but it came out beautifully”

Esther, how did you first get involved with the club?

I’ve been teaching black-and-white photography to local kids in Easton around my kitchen table for a while, focusing on relationshipbuilding with community and land through art.

Rachel at St Paul’s Adventure Playground asked me to run a similar club, for kids aged between 3-13. It evolved from there, depending on who showed up, the direction of the wind, etc. Soon the Arts Council became involved and we were set to keep going, finally producing a street exhibition and a book.

When did the project take place?

It meant the kids felt they were handling something less usual – even exotic. As artefacts, the old cameras we used were objects of time travel. Some were a hundred years old. Some mums would see us using an old Rolliflex, and recall how an uncle would come to their village and take pictures of the community.

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We took cameras apart, collaged, photographed, and thought and played like artists. We watched the light, created archetypes, froze movement. The kids led me into a more anarchic frame of the world.

I worked with them looking at photobooks and images from the past to deconstruct how light, a lens, an expression and much more might make us feel when we see an image. For each session I’d have a theme, but was always prepared to run off in a new direction. Emerging from the depths of collaboration, the book and exhibition reveal the risks and joys of throwing oneself into play and imagination.

I took some of the photos, then they collaged, then they were retaken. Or, they would create a character or a piece of art, and I’d take the image. So the notion of authorship is much more blurred. blurred.

“The kids led me into a more anarchic frame of the world”

Between April 2019 and March 2020, on and off. We had to stop because of the virus, and then the playground suffered an arson attack. After this we began to design the book from home. In a way, though, Scrapbook is still taking place.

Images have been up around the city and outside the playground, the book is being bought, and we hope to hang the work next spring once the playground is up and running again.

Why did you shoot in film instead of digital?

Tell us a bit about how you collaborated with the children

Do you have any favourite photos?

The girl with a headscarf taken against a wall. The camera has struggled with light and the picture has gone very grainy, like an expressionist painting. One of the girls took it, and whenever I see the image I catch my breath. n SCRAPBOOK costs £20. All profits will go to the ongoing work at St Paul’s Adventure Playground; buy at apeproject.co.uk For more: esthermaycampbell.com

“This was taken on a 100-year-old camera, so the subjects had to keep still. It’s a real challenge for kids to be that still. The first chance was lost when they were distracted by what was going on in the playground. They turned back round and we were lucky enough to get this second shot.”

“This is not about erasing history. It’s about writing new pages”

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HOLLOW MAN On 7 June 2020, a group of Black Lives Matter protestors toppled the Colston statue and dragged it into the harbour. Vanessa Kisuule wrote an extraordinary poem; Colin Moody took extraordinary photos Words and photos by Colin Moody 28 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY

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lack lives matter.

But to Colston they did not.

They put a statue of him up a long time after he died, to send a message. It was something to do with control.

Somewhere in the history books it tells you about that.

And in the new editions of that book, they will include this moment.

The day they sent him to the bottom of the harbour.

Carefully, with consideration, with the authority of a willing crowd and city. And with control.

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I CALL THIS SHOT THE WAVE. I was thinking of all those people stretched in the photo here. They are the wave, and they send this statue to the bottom.

It reminds me of Hokusai’s great woodblock print.

It is a moment.

However, this is a movement.

And it’s unstoppable.

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A PORTRAIT OF A WHOLE FAMILY WHO ALL CAME TOGETHER ON COLLEGE GREEN ON THE DAY COLSTON FELL At protests, you have to read the signs. And this family has something to say. And we should listen. Learn from someone else’s values.

Are we listening? And what power is in black ink on cardboard? I propose a lot. It speaks even in these frozen moments. Black lives matter. And on the right, out of shot, is yet another sign: black lives matter. And again, a hundred times over: black lives matter. And by the time College Green was full, there were a few thousand signs all saying the same.

Read the sign. Did you ever have to write such a sign? No? Then maybe you need to learn more. Listen more.

Did you ever take a few minutes to think through how it might be for someone outside of your group? Your skin? And if we did think that way, for ust a few minutes, might we find a way to build on our communality around the speakers, across this land? Couldn’t we achieve anything, if we went that way?

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THIS IS NOT A MOMENT This is a movement.

And we all need to listen.

Look into her eyes.

And remember George Floyd, and so many others killed.

Black lives matter.

I was asking around, and Belly Mujinga and so many other names came up. And stories. And conversation. People who were attacked and died. One is too many. It keeps happening, which means something is wrong. And this protest was saying enough. It stops here. No more “we are listening”; it’s time for action. In a few hours, olston swims with the fishes.

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HE FELL. And nothing was ever going to be the same after that.

From here on in, the world did not just watch, it initiated a response. Black lives matter banners were held high. And a few of us moved close to the fallen slaver. The photojournalist on the left got his shot of the man with his knee on the statue, and left to send it to his editor. I asked the protester how long he was going to hold his knee there. He did it for the same time George Floyd had it done to him.

Eight minutes and 46 seconds.

It was a long time.

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

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LAST TIME ANYONE ADDED TO THE LEGACY OF THE NAME OF COLSTON She walked through the crowd, and she leant down and sprayed his face. She held it so close, and for so long, that it began to clot and ow.

She did so with such silence that I have never felt so moved.

And this is when the decision was made to put this man in the water. Can’t say who suggested it. But it was time. Thirty years of petitions had done nothing. History was being written. This was history.

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THE LAST JOURNEY OF COLSTON If you were there, you will remember the sound his hollow frame made as it was pulled along the roadway.

In the background you can see the Colston Tower. It was not long before they would send up their own team with ropes and tools to remove the name. As they did with the Hall.

This is not about erasing history; it’s about writing new pages. If we never took down statues, would we not still be under the shadow of Roman emperors? Come on, Bristol. It’s decolonisation of the public art time. It’s about time. It’s going this way.

Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeech went Colston.

His last journey to the dockside where his ships had docked, rich with triangular profits and goods. Rich on the deaths of so many and the su ering of many more.

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

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PHOTOGRAPHY

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THE JEN REID STATUE WASN’T UP FOR LONG Marc Quinn the artist set it up bright and early one day, and and a half hours later the council took it down and put it into storage. ut in the short time it was up, it was amazing to watch the people who brought their kids or grandkids to come and see this.

Eyes and minds are now opening. And I need to ag up my own privilege, having worked in diverse pro ects all over this city, that I can cover all matter of stories. I am a white male, and so many doors are open to me. I get that.

So remember that for many of the people you see in these photos, this is not something that is happening ust now. It’s a thing for life. nd I want to show I am aware of that.

Let me skip forward a few days.

I met en at an event, and she told me that it was watching how the young people reacted, as they came to see her statue, that was really special to her. hen, as we talked, an elder from t Paul’s walked over. e locked eyes with en, and then held his hand aloft ust like the statue, ust like that nd they both held that moment. ust think about what this statue, standing in place of a slave trader, this woman who speaks words of power, whose pose speaks volumes

more: just think what this means to an elder who made t Paul’s their home. ll those years, all that change, all that hatred and racism, often from those meant to protect and serve.

And still the shadow of Colston stood there.

Years of meetings and representation. Years of petitions and conversation and hope, but the statue of a slaver still stood all through this, and cast his shadow around the sundial of his form every day. nd here in t Paul’s, this man and Jen can share a moment in a very long story.

You can feel a new chapter is being written.

And we need to be on the same page on this. hat’s what this is all about this issue. e are looking at black lives matter. Not a moment. A movement.

This was not disorder. This was order. Black lives matter.

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

Hollow

Vanessa Kisuule, June 2020 You came down easy in the end the righteous wrench of two ropes in a grand plie brie y, you ew corkscrewed, then met the ground with the clang of toy guns, loose change chains a rain of cheers.

Standing ovation on the platform of your neck punk ballet. Act 1. there is more to come.

And who carved you?

They took such care with that stately pose and propped chin.

Wise and virtuous the plaque assured us.

Victors wish history odourless and static but history is a sneaky

mistress moves like smoke, olston, like saliva in a hungry mouth.

This is your rightful home here, in the pit of chaos with the rest of us.

Take your twisted glory and feed it to the tadpoles.

Kids will write raps to that syncopated splash.

I think of you lying in that harbour with the horrors you hosted.

There is no poem more succinct than that.

But still you are permanent.

You who perfected the ratio.

Blood to sugar to money to bricks.

Each bougie building we aunt haunted by bones.

Children learn and titans sing under the stubborn rust of your name.

But the air is gently throbbing with newness.

Can you feel it? olston, I can’t get the sound of you from my head.

Countless times I passed that plinth its heavy threat of metal and marble.

But as you landed a piece of you fell o broke away and inside nothing but air.

This whole time You were hollow.

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

ADVERTISING FEATURE

SPB patrol car

Group of volunteers

A friend in need SUICIDE PREVENTION BRISTOL (SPB) was founded in 2018 to reduce the suicides in the Bristol area, and is the only organisation in Bristol patrolling hot spots.

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uicide Prevention Bristol (SPB) relies on public donations to be able to continue the life-saving work we do.

With your help we can give people the vital information and support they need.

HOW DO WE HELP? We are a team of volunteers that have received advanced training in suicide prevention. We offer a range of support services to members of the public, in Bristol and nationally via telephone (24 hour assist line) and social media. We also patrol known hotspots by foot and car to listen and care for those in crisis. We believe that people deserve care and

CALL US Telephone: 0800 689 5652 (assist line, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week).

Please note that in an emergency, 999 should be dialled first.

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

compassion at their time of need, and work closely with local services and signpost people to where they can access support. All volunteers have DBS checks. We have two marked patrol cars that have ‘Crisis Intervention’ placed on the cars.

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO? Every 90 minutes a friend or loved one is lost through suicide in the UK. Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 and young people aged 20-34.

Sadly, Bristol has one of the highest suicide rates throughout the UK. Our founder Mike was reading news reports regarding people of all ages from the local area who had ended their life, and felt helpless. This is when Mike decided he needed to do something to try and prevent suicides and support those at their time in need.

Since starting our patrols of suicide hotspots throughout Bristol, we have had a significant

impact on reducing suicides at these known locations.

In the first six months of 2020, we became a registered charity and our online social media posts reach as many as 18 million people. We continued working throughout the pandemic and recruited 33 new volunteers at this time with 2,640 patrol hours having been completed and have actively prevented 58 suicide attempts. n

For further information: email: info@spbristol.org website: https://www.spbristol.org/ facebook: Suicide Prevention Bristol address: Suicide Prevention Bristol, Suite 601, 179 Whiteladies Road, Bristol, BS8 2AG

FOOD & DRINK S N A P S H O T S O F B R I S T O L’ S F O O D S C E N E

TAKE ME TO CHURCH The chap with the jaunty yellow shoelaces is Tom Frost, co-founder of The Red Church in St George’s. The lady on the left is Tom’s mum, Karen. Can you sense a nice impending family story? Here it comes . . .

The new all-day bar and restaurant has been created within the old Lloyds Bank building on Church Road – which just happens to have been aren’s first workplace, years ago. Karen says that while the area has changed superficially since the late s, the community feels just as friendly and busy as it ever did, with locals gathering on a Friday evening at the pub – it’s just that now one of the pubs is owned and run by her son.

Tom is part of a team with serious pedigree, having The Christmas Steps and The Spotted Cow already under their belt. Simon Mills, former head chef at the Ethicurean, is in charge of the kitchen, while the bar o ers local beers and wine sourced from local suppliers.

The new décor’s looking snazzy, with a lot of steel, exposed brick and simple wooden furniture. The music is being taken very seriously, with a sound system from Pinewood Studios for Bristol’s best selectors, and a library of vinyl for punters to choose from. Naturally, the whole space is Covid regulation-compliant.

For more: theredchurch.net

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

FiSH

A wholly piscine menu served on a floating barge? Makes you wonder why nobody thought of it sooner.

Our tip: turn up hungry . . .

Words by Deri Robins

RESTAURANT

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riday evening, Bristol city centre. Crossing Prince’s Bridge It wasn’t, though; the enthusiastic young team were e cient and and strolling past outsidefini, the wharves are rammed; well informed. ll the fish and shellfish, they told us, were caught daily it feels like half of ristol is out tonight, drinking and o the outh est coast. If we’d pushed for more details I’m sure they’d socialising cheek by owl. arely anyone is wearing a have been able to pinpoint the e act latitude and longitude where every mask. You half e pect some modern day e uivalent of cod, scallop and lobster had formerly swum, along with their age and an P warden to bowl around a corner, growling don’t star sign, and whether they preferred ristol ity to ristol overs. you lot know there’s a pandemic on ake Platt clearly underwent his formative training at robdingnag, hings become much more chilled once you cross because i serves massive portions. Ignorant of this detail, we ueen uare and emerge onto elsh ack, and once ordered up a pre starter of cod’s roe. o nouvelle messing about you walk over the gangplank into the calm, ovid regulated dining for ake, who sends out ramekins filled to the brim with the loveliest, space of FiSH all feels positively serene. smokiest, creamiest of taramasalatas, topped with chilli akes, a world he clue is in the name i is a fish diner, bar and takeaway. he away from the arbie pink dyed stu you get in supermarkets, which name, concept, menu and furnishings are new, came with several slices of very good malty but the venue is anything but. sourdough. I generally try to avoid falling on the FiSH: THE NEED-TO-KNOW bread basket like a fo on a binbag, as it invariably ere’s the history. ack in , rne What? A new fish restaurant, bar and takeaway inger opened a restaurant called lassboat spoils the appetite; but a dip needs a dipper, and aboard the barge formerly known as Glassboat in a converted barge moored ust down from the bread really was very good, being both springy What’s the schtick? Fishies on little dishies, ristol ridge. he local food scene was a pretty and chewy, so there was really nothing to be done. served in a relaxed, informal atmosphere with lacklustre a air back then, but lassboat o ered aughter predictably plumped for the scallops. an enticing new e ception to the rule fine dining upbeat friendly service Plump is an appropriate word not for the How much? Starters £6.50-£12.50; mains cuisine, with the added novelty of having it daughter, I hasten to add, but for the trio of king £12.50-£30; puds £5.50-£6.50 served to you a oat. weaks were occasionally si ed monsters that arrived, heroes in a half shell Drinks Local beers, mostly French wines, though made down the years, but one thing never drenched in garlic butter. aturally, more bread there’s a lovely rosé from Devon’s Sharpham changed you could always get a decent meal at was re uired for the mopping. y mussels were Details FiSH Bar and Restaurant, Welshback, lassboat without a hefty bill at the end. e ually supersi ed, steamed in an irresistible Bristol, BS1 4SB. Booking only for groups of It takes a brave owner to mess with the mo o cidery broth (yet more bread, etc etc . eight or more (when such a thing is allowed); of such a well loved institution, but during t the start of the meal I’d fretted that half a 0117 332 3971; www.fishbristol.co.uk lockdown rne and head chef ake Platt came lobster would be insu cient; to be fair, I’ve had up with a fresh new approach. ut went the plenty in the past that amounted to a meagre few traditional dining furniture and formal waiter service; in came well mouthfuls. owever, this guy had clearly been working out at the same spaced out picnic style tables and benches, attended to by bouncy gym as the scallops and mussels it was a beast, its esh sweet as a nut. young sta . Instead of a brasserie o ering, the menu became entirely I can never be fa ed with teasing out negligible strings of meat from fish focused the catch of the day, cooked and served using simple, spindly lobster legs with those little prongs that look like torture tools, classic recipes. he small print at the bottom of the menu e presses a but claws are always worth a bit of e ort, and a deft twist and crack of willingness to cater for veggies, vegans and carnivores, but really, if you the shell yielded almost as much uicy esh as the main body. don’t like fish, why are you here e’d ordered one portion of chips to share; even so, I was defeated by tepping aboard still feels special. lthough the barge doesn’t bob the uantity. ot so the kid. I hate food waste, she declared virtuously, about landlubbers be reassured, it’s so securely moored that you sco ng the remainder along with her whole grilled sole, cooked on could be on terra firma the water rippling past the windows makes the bone to retain ma imum moisture and avour. I ga ed in sheer you feel nautical and aunty, like being on your holidays, an impression admiration as she then proceeded to demolish a generous dollop of enhanced by the endless toing and froing of the watercraft. cross the bitter chocolate mousse with honeycomb and cultured cream, along von, the great storehouses of ristol’s dockland past rise up from the with the ice cream I’d only managed to toy with. riverbank, intermingled with recent builds the archaeological strata of I’ve resisted fishy puns all the way through this review, but I’m only the city. e could have stared at it for hours, and wouldn’t have minded human. id daughter and I en oy our meal at i e loved it. in the least if the service had been dilatory. r to put it another way, that’s a moray. n

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

FOOD & DRINK

TASTY BITES

Positive news from the hospitality sector this month, with plenty of new openings to shout about. First up is this bunch of cheeky monkeys:

FOUR WISE MONKEYS

Who are these weird (yet weirdly cool) simian dudes, and what are they doing on our food and drink pages? Answer: these are the Four Wise Monkeys, and you’re likely to be hearing a lot more about them in the future, not least from us.

Why are we excited? Because Four Wise Monkeys is the latest opening from the group behind Hyde & Co, Milk Thistle, The Ox, Bambalan, and Seven Lucky Gods. The new restaurant has been created at the site of their former tapas bar Pata egra, and, says athan ee, o ers sian folklore meets retro ’ s okyo vibes, alongside a punchy weekend brunch and all-day menu of small plates, sandos, buns and sharing-style Asian-fusion cuisine, as well as dumplings supplied by Bristol’s much-loved Eatchu. Diners will also be able to enjoy pints of ice-cold Asahi beer and a cocktail menu created by the bartenders at Hyde & Co and Milk Thistle.”

They had us at ‘sandos’. We’re drooling. fourwisemonkeysbristol.com

MORE TITBITS...

MOCKINGBIRD SPIRIT, just launched by Fern McCoy from her sitting room in

lifton, is made with blue agave with sweet vanilla and cinnamon along with a healthy hint of habanero . he ‘fake uila’ mimics the traditional taste of te uila, allowing you to have all the fun without the hangovers. indly make ours a mockerita... mockingbirdspirit.com

THE BOTANIST in Berkeley Square has reopened with a glamorous new look that takes inspiration from the UK’s most elegant dining and drinking hotspots. There’s a secret courtyard area, too, for when the weather’s not too parky. thebotanistbristol.co.uk

BRISTOL’S FIRST DEDICATED FERMENTED FOOD SHOP

...is the latest foodie kid on the Wapping Wharf block.

The brains behind Every Good Thing is fermented food specialist Dr Caroline Gilmartin, whose new book A Practical Guide to Fermented Foods is published this month. everygoodthing.co.uk

KLOSTERHAUS has opened in Quakers Friars, the splendid former Dominican friary recently occupied by Carluccio’s. The all-day restaurant and bar is designed to evoke the grand cafés of Mittel-Europe, with a menu inspired by head chef Bojern Wassmuth’s German heritage; so think the likes of soused herring with caviar, veal schnitzel, Caesar salad, Venison ‘Baden Baden’, and naturally, uche mit ahne... klosterhaus.co.uk

BURGER THEORY are about to open their new restaurant Om Burger in Stokes Croft, with the aim of bringing vegetarian and vegan food to the masses. But hey, this is still a burger joint, not a salad bar, so sliders and fries are guaranteed to be every bit as dirty as your grubbiest foodie fantasies. omburger.co.uk

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

CAFÉ SOCIETY STAN CULLIMORE

It’s only sausage roll, but Stan likes it Stan gets some serious pastry satisfaction at Bakesmiths

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f desperate times call for desperate measures, well, I’m starting to think that new abnormalities call for new habits. New crazy ways of being, in a world of lockdown illogic.

In this case, it all started with a trip down the Whiteladies Road, all the way down. The sort of trip where you shoot straight past the Everyman Cinema without passing go, not stopping till you get to M&S. At which point you cross the road, like a chicken in search of a punchline.

“I didn’t check what the seeds were. By now I was past caring.

I was in the loving arms of savoury snack paradise” 40 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

May not sound like much when you read these words, but when you’re doing this trip before breakfast, with nothing to keep you going except the promise of good times and co ee ahead, well, it becomes more of a labour of love. Or lust, in my case.

It all started when my good lady wife discovered that Bakesmiths, the renowned fine baked goods emporium down there, opens nice and early every morning. At least, I think it’s every morning.

To be honest, I never got round to checking. For reasons which may become obvious.

Either way, Mrs Cullimore suggested we should go there for an early morning co ee and snack.

Normally, I would treat that sort of suggestion, the sort that involves early morning pavement bashing, with a dismissive wave of the hand, the sort it so richly deserves. After which, I would turn over in bed and go back to the more sensible business of snoozing.

But on this occasion she had an ace up her sleeve. A whole deck of them, in fact. You see, it turns out that Bakesmiths doesn’t just bake bread and sweet pastries, it also makes a mean sausage roll.

In fact, it makes several di erent varieties, covering the whole range from vegan, to veggie to carnivore. (Again, I didn’t check.

By the time we got there, I was on a mission. Facts were less important than feelings. And I felt snackish.)

If rolls of sausage aren’t enough to tempt you out of bed, hang on, because this gets better.

These beauties are, apparently, world-famous. I’m not sure how big a portion of the world we’re talking here, but truth is, when it comes to sausage rolls, I’m not overly interested in details. I’m more interesting in eating the things.

Long story short, early in the morning after all this was brought to my attention, we put the pooches on their leads and headed down to get ourselves some serious sausage roll action.

Reader, I was not disappointed.

I went for the classic. A baked beast with a sprinkling of fennel seeds (or similar) on top, adding even more snap and crackle to the taste sensation. (Obviously, I didn’t check what the seeds were.

By now, I was past caring. I was in the loving arms of savoury snack paradise.)

So if you are ever in the market for a breakfast bap or exquisite sausage roll, I can thoroughly recommend this place. he co ee is rather nice too. n Former Housemartins guitarist Stan is now a journalist and travel writer stancullimore.com

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SHOPPING LIVE WELL, BUY BETTER

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BORN OUT OF LOCKDOWN “Tell us if you started a business during lockdown!” we said – and remarkably, it seems that quite a few of you did. Here’s a brief shoutout to some of our new local indies find them on Instagram 1 @mountainsinbristol – artist Rosalind Howard is “inspired by big views and mountains,” which she turns into giclée prints and cards.

2 @niadesignuk – interior designer Carrie

Northmore’s aim is to “bring unloved spaces back to life,” both in the residential and hospitality sector.

Virtual design service available.

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3 @padgmade – Paige and Nate create vibrant colourful candles along with plants, jewellery and art.

4 @naniasvineyard – From grapes grown in a small urban vineyard in Montpelier, James Bayliss-Smith and Shelley Nania produce a range of wines – in rather lovely cans decorated by their street-artist neighbour Alex Lucas.

5 @milaplants – Houseplants, homeware, skincare etc, all focused on ethical and sustainable products.

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6 @vina.loca – Oliver di Mei runs this online wine retailer start-up based out of Brislington, with free deliveries to the Bristol area.

7 @thepartypicnicco – Charlie Winnerton provides luxe picnic parties and garden parties in and around Bristol.

8 @heart_and_serpent – lovingly curated and beautifully photographed vintage and jewellery shop.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 43

AVELINE CHEESE, £7 here’s nothing more comforting than food, and no food is more comforting than cheese. his soft, delicately sweet ewe’s milk number is made in omerset; the ‘purposeful hole’ that makes it look like a cheese Polo allows for even ripening From The Bristol Cheesemonger Unit 8, Cargo 2 bristol-cheese.co.uk

COFFEE CLUB GIFT BOX, £25 esigned to be given as a gift; but, well, you know... In the bo is a bag of riple o oast ra ilian co ee beans, two terracotta cups that are ideal for at whites, and a ceramic spoon From Fox + Feather 43 Gloucester Road foxandfeather.co.uk

SMALL PLEASURES

If ever there was a year that ustified self-gifting, it’s this one. All these treats cost under , most are far less; all of them will make your day a little brighter COTTON KIMONO, £30 ovely block printed kimono, to help you feel more en about everything. ear it while working from home; we won’t tell if you don’t From Bristol Artisan 3 Lower Redland Road thebristolartisan.com

INKA PORCELAIN CUP £16.95, BOWL £19.50 rom yoy (which admittedly sounds like a ristolian greeting, but is in fact a very cool anish design company , the range includes cups, pots, bowls and ugs in delicious shades of rose, cream or and caramel. Your working from home desk will thank you From From Mon Pote 177 North Street; monpote.co.uk

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

LIP TREATMENT, £5 itch the aseline, it ust dries out the lips; this balm o ers an intense moisturising boost as well as smelling gorgeous From Bam Bristol 104-108 Belle Vue Road bambristol.co.uk

JONES & MODHA NO. 1, £69 he first eau de parfum from emali odha and atrin ac onnell is our scent du jour. ender neutral and sustainably made, it’s citrussy and woody, light and refreshing, and a sprit of it uplifts us every morning. e’re hooked From Jones and Modha jonesandmodha.co.uk

ED’S CHOICE LATE AFTER MOON PRINT, £90 We chose this Glastonbury-inspired giclée print from mixed media Bristol artist Lou Boyce for all you groovers missing late-night revelling at Worthy Farm From louboyce.com

EUCALYPTUS AND PEPPERMINT SOY CANDLE, £25 A blend of essential oils to create a fresh and rejuvenating vibe. The excellent Self Care Co donate 10% of their profits to charities Young inds, Street Link and The Calm Zone From frankly.store

HOLY WATER FACE MASK AND EXOLIANT, £12; BATH SOAK, £14 The Himalayan salt, pink clay, yarrow and rose essential oils of the soak lend your bath a sultry pink hue while delicately detoxing your skin.

While you’re wallowing, slather on the Scottish oat and red rose mask and exfoliant: it’ll leave your face supple and glowing, and smelling pleasingly like a rose-scented oat cake From Mon Pote, 177 North Street; monpote.co.uk

IDEAS A5 NOTEBOOK, £10 A rather lovely notebook to scribble down all your best ideas, made from 100% recycled and sustainable materials. From Vent for Change, which supports children’s education charities worldwide From frankly.store

SAGE AND CYPRESS DIFFUSER, £15 oothing sage and cypress di user from Ripples’ new Kind range, to make your bathroom smell like a boutique hotel.

Available online from 1 December From Ripples Bristol, 88 Whiteladies Road ripplesbathrooms.com

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

E E WH R DO W E O R F OM G H ER E? #2 Shop now, or forever hold your peace

Late March signalled a seismic shift in retail, with shops hastily shuttered and stock snatched from shelves in a scenario rarely witnessed outside zombie apocalypse movies. The big question was whether the city’s independent shops would emerge on the other side unscathed . . .

Words by Milly Vaughan

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

SHOPPING

Wapping Wharf photos by @JonCraig_Photos

“There was always enough to go around during the panic-buying, just not always in the right place at the right times. Sound familiar on a global level?” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 47

SHOPPING

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argely, the answer came down to which side of the retail coin you landed on.

Heads: the essential market was well placed to lucratively reap the benefits from the crisis. Tails: the non-essential shops were forced into closure. And then there was the lucky trick coin: the sole online retailers who were sitting pretty to watch the money roll in, however Covid elected to land.

But within these three retail sectors there have been significant short term changes to shopping habits, which will undoubtedly cause a long-term restructuring to the retail industry.

The essential food market has seen a big shift back to the once-a-week shop, partly because of rationed delivery slots, relying on the goodwill of kindly volunteers, or simply because people want to minimise the experience of queuing on sad dots outside grocery stores.

Incidentally, there was always enough food to go around during the panic buying, just not in the right place at the right times. Sound familiar on a global level? To help with the food rush, some savvy local independent shops and caf s adapted their business profile by selling food boxes out front, or delivering homemade meals: not only easing the food bottleneck, but an example of a positive to have come from the outbreak, enabling us to reconnect with our immediate community rather than falling into the convenience of impersonal lives conducted behind closed doors, in front of smartphone delivery apps.

The non-essential retailers scrambled to adapt by transferring their business online. Many small independents needed either to start an online business from scratch overnight, converting their regular clientèle from shop to web, or strengthen existing online sales. These shops have had to sharpen up their online presence not just to compete with the slick, well-oiled shipping machine of the powerhouses, but also to futureproof themselves in case of sequential waves.

When lockdown was eased, shops faced myriad new challenges: shifting a backlog of outdated stock, the cost of outfitting premises with new safety measures, and worrying if there were enough jobs to come back to once the furlough scheme was phased out. Meanwhile would the customers be more inclined to shop smaller, rather than at the big shops with the big queues to match?

I spoke to Anna from Mon Pôte on North Street in Bedminster.

“I don’t think the size of the shop is the issue; I think it’s more of a location thing,” she said.

“The essential food market has shifted back to the once-a-week shop, with people wanting to minimise the experience of queuing on sad dots outside grocery stores”

CLOCKWISE: The close and eclectic Wapping Wharf community: Something Elsie, Fig 1, Found Hea and Meatbox

WAPPING WHARF

The independent shops at Wapping Wharf have had to face a particular challenge: most of them have very small premises FIG1 “We’ve always had an online shop at Fig1.

Last year we completely overhauled the website: a very large job, but one which has now proved hugely beneficial. During lockdown we were able to deliver to many of local customers as well as attracting custom from people stuck at home across the country.

If your local favourite shop has a website, use it; not only will you get a more personal

service, but your high street will still be there when we come out of the other side” – Mark Flechter FOUND HEA “We took lockdown as an opportunity to rebuild our website, creating a new platform for our customers to discover our ethical and sustainable clothing brands. Now our store at Wapping Wharf is slowly reopening, but with the fitting room closed and face masks on” – Sam Mabley SOMETHING ELSIE VINTAGE “One of our biggest challenges has been the

small size of our shop; it’s only a tiny single unit shipping container, so social distancing is tricky. To compensate for this we have begun selling via our Instagram page, and our private evening appointments have proved really popular” – Kate Seymour MEATBOX “We launched our website during lockdown, which enabled us to keep staff employed as we delivered meat boxes around Bristol and North Somerset. We’ve slowly reopened the shop to the public, and are pleased to say that we are now back to full opening hours” – Luke Hasell

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

SHOPPING

LEFT TO RIGHT: BS3 essentials: wine from Kask, fresh fruit and veg from Five Acre Farm and books from Storysmith; OPPOSITE PAGE: the only spray is Upfest

“Covid has meant that fewer people feel comfortable taking trips on public transport, and prefer to stay within their area, using local shops more. These tend to be the smaller, independents shops that are generally kept out of city-centre locations due to high rents. I think as people look to their own high streets more, they also naturally find fewer queues and crowds, which adds to that feeling of safety.”

The online ‘spend shift’ was a ticking time bomb that had been waiting to destroy the high street for years; Covid put it on steroids.

With the majority of the population suddenly housebound, with 80% of their usual paycheck, its potential to reshape our shopping habits happened more deftly than Mary Portas or any economist could have predicted. he long term e ect of internet shopping that was forecast to happen over years ended up happening in just weeks.

I admit to contributing to this, for while my monthly outgoings for eating out, self-care, petrol etc went substantially down, my online spending had a little lockdown party of its own. A combination of endless consecutive nights within the four walls of my home, coupled with homeschooling two children: my eyes yearned for escapism, newness, a change of housescape. So instead, I bought new wall lights, a jute rug and linen bedding. Anything to create a sense of newness, a pretend night away, a room with a di erent view.

Unfortunately, the projection of this new reality, even when Covid has passed, is that retailers just simply won’t need as many shops as they did before. So if you want to keep your favourite indie shop alive, spend your money to keep the currency circulating in that shop’s future.

A lot of people value the presence of indies on our high streets for adding originality and feel, but that doesn’t always translate to us spending our money there; instead, we shop around for cheaper alternatives or deals. This is not the time to shop for convenience; think big and shop small. Each of us has the power to directly invest in our street’s future, and the local community that ripples out beyond.

After most periods of loss can come the fertile ground for productivity and growth. Bristol is a city that prides itself on its indies; without them we would lose our identity and be just another copycat city, eating from identical menus and wearing identical clothes. n

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

“This is not the time to shop for convenience; think big and shop small” THE GLOUCESTER ROAD

“Gloucester Road has been hugely supported throughout the Covid pandemic, especially now that so many people are working from home. Shopping local has never been so popular. However, our shops are small and it’s important that customers are encouraged to really plan ahead. Buying Christmas gifts and cards during November would really help us” – Sarah Thorp, Room 212

HANHAM HIGH STREET

“The community were amazing during lockdown. Our local hardware store, bakery and bicycle repair shop were able to remain open and were widely supported. As the rest of us have eased out of lockdown, we are also finding a tremendous amount support for local businesses. It’s wonderful that the community is reconnecting with us” – Nicola Bartlett, Eclectic Gift Shop

BRISTOL MARKET

Born in lockdown, Bristol Market started its live 24-hour Friday Instagram Market on 5 May. “Market creator Ger recognised the need to give traders back a platform, and with outdoor markets cancelled it seemed like a natural progression. It’s proven to be a massive success, with over 20 markets under our belt to date.

Each market consists of 30 carefully selected local makers; with nearly 8,000 followers, exciting plans are afoot, and our website is about to launch an amazing one-stop market hub – for the many, not the few” – Ali Davey

WEAREBS3

The ever-inventive and collaborative Bedminster community put its heads together and came up with a new shopping model: a shared online site.

“It was crucial that Bedminster BID and its businesses pivoted into models which suited the nature of the lockdown, and the creation of WeAreBS3 was a huge part of this, providing a platform providing services and amenities direct to the local community.

A simple means of shopping online at a multitude of local businesses, and having the goods delivered to your door by someone from the area, was incredibly important and proved incredibly popular.

“We also merged several local community Facebook groups covering North, East and West Streets. This quickly turned into an amazing community asset, where we really got to see the best of people within the area. We saw some outstanding acts of kindness, charity and volunteering from the local community.”

Bedminster BID

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 51

ARCHITECTS

BRISTOL LIFE AWARDS 2020

© BEN ROBINS

Covid has prevented many things from happening this year, but we weren’t going to let the small matter of a global epidemic stand in the way of our annual Bristol Life Awards

HEADLINE SPONSOR

www.mediaclash.co.uk MEDIACLASH.CO.UK I BRISTOL LIFE I 36 53

BRISTOL LIFE AWARDS

L

ive and on Zoom, beamed straight into your living room, this year’s Bristol Life Awards were quite unlike any that had taken place before.

In this special feature, we reflect on a singular, joyous, uplifting evening for the city.

The pandemic had separated us unduly, perplexingly. Undaunted, the night unfolded in true Bristol Life Awards style – joyously, movingly, defiantly – even glamorously.

Loud, long and lovely were the celebrations.

Truth is, no one knew quite what to expect, including us. It was virtual, but vital – and watched online by thousands of viewers. Incidentally, if you missed it, it’s still available to watch on YouTube.

Whereas previous Awards nights had seen almost 700 people clustered into a big marquee on Harbourside, with thousands more nosed-pressed on the outside, following the ceremony on social media, these Awards were free for all to watch at home. The shape and the atmosphere changed; suddenly family, friends and colleagues could all share the triumphs and delighted reactions.

The format was a live presentation in a bespoke studio with inserted films from sponsors and luminaries, followed by the dramatic live reveals of finalists and winners. We’re new to this kind of thing;

the event was freighted with myriad baleful opportunities for the tech or the timing or the temperament to fail.

But this is Bristol – and the spirit prevailed in a truly uplifting night. It made us feel yet more proud, yet more motivated, yet more happy to celebrate the enduring excellence of this city.

We were particularly impressed by our sponsors. That’s the sort of thing you have to say, yes? Well, up to a point. But this year, stepping up to the plate to support a wholly new virtual awards took some faith. Our sponsors didn’t have to stand by us and stand by Bristol.

These weren’t the same Awards that we’d intended – of course.

But they did. In the worst of times people show their best, as our sponsors have. Thank you to: headline sponsor Marsh Commercial, platinum sponsor Datasharp Integrated Communications, category sponsors Acorn Property Group, Anderson Financial, Bristol Airport, British Corner Shop, Brunel Insurance Brokers, Burston Cook, Cabot Circus, Clifton College, CMC Marquees, Curo, Lexus Bristol, SLX, Spaces, VWV and Wylde Jewellers; feature sponsors The Build Bristol Group and Triangle Networks; silver sponsors Clarke Willmott, Mercure Hotels and Proctor + Stephenson.

And the all-important winners? You’ll find them on the following pages, happily united with their Awards.

But as we say each year, the real winner was: Bristol – always…

Jane, Greg, Deri and the Bristol Life team

BIG THANKS, TOO, TO THESE GUYS . . .

The Awards were enormously enhanced by greetings, speeches, poems and images from those who know and love Bristol best, including actor Rupert Ward-Lewis, Mayor Marvin Rees, author David Nicholls, Bristol Old Vic AD Tom Morris, Bristol Poet Vanessa Kisuule, photographer Colin Moody, baker Briony May Williams, actor and writer Saikat Ahamed, artist Luke Jerram, comedian Mark Olver and street-art godfather Steve Hayles

David Nicholls

Tom Morris

Saikat Ahamad

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

Vanessa Kisuule

CATEGORY WINNERS

ARTS

Sponsored by

BUSINESS SERVICES

Sponsored by

CHARITY

Sponsored by

WINNER:

EARLY DAY FILMS

WINNER:

LOOM DIGITAL

WINNER:

FARESHARE SOUTH WEST

BAR

CAFÉ

CIVIC

WINNER:

THE STRAWBERRY THIEF

WINNER:

VINTAGE BIRDCAGE CAKERY

WINNER:

CITY TO SEA www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 55

CREATIVE

WINNER:

ISTORIA GROUP

EVENT

Sponsored by

FOOD/DRINK PRODUCER Sponsored by

WINNER:

BRISTOL PRIDE

WINNER:

GROW BRISTOL

EDUCATION Sponsored by

FINANCIAL Sponsored by

FOODIE PUB

WINNER:

BRISTOL UPHOLSTERY COLLECTIVE

WINNER:

BRISTOL CREDIT UNION

WINNER:

THE BANK TAVERN

BRISTOL LIFE AWARDS

HAIR & BEAUTY

HOMES & INTERIORS Sponsored by

LEISURE & TOURISM Sponsored by

WINNER:

BLOGGS SALON

WINNER:

STYLEMONGERS OF BRISTOL

WINNER:

QUIRKY CAMPERS

HEALTH & WELLBEING

WINNER:

ACCESS SPORT

Sponsored by

LEGAL

Sponsored by

NEW BUSINESS Sponsored by

WINNER:

GREGG LATCHAMS

WINNER:

OCEANS ADVENTURES www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 57

BRISTOL LIFE AWARDS

PEOPLE SERVICES

WINNER:

NATWEST ENTREPRENEUR ACCELERATOR

RESTAURANT

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION Sponsored by

WINNER:

THE MALAGO

WINNER:

LETTUS GROW

PROPERTY Sponsored by

RETAILER Sponsored by

PLATINUM AWARD Sponsored by

WINNER:

SWEET CONSTRUCT

WINNER:

ECLECTIC GIFT SHOP

WINNER:

LETTUS GROW

MEET THE FINALISTS ARTS

• Early Day Films • Pins and Needles Productions • The Poetry Machine • St George’s Bristol • Travelling Light Theatre Company • Wise Children BAR

• Bocabar (Paintworks) • The Clockwork Rose • Hyde & Co • The Milk Thistle • No1 Harbourside • The Orchard Inn • The Strawberry Thief

• Caring in Bristol • Children’s Hospice South West • Empire Fighting Chance • FareShare South West • FoodCycle Bristol • Many Minds • Off the Record Bristol • PROPS • St Monica Trust CIVIC

• Almondsbury Creative • Bedminster BID • Bristol Cultural Development Partnership BUSINESS SERVICES • Bristol Energy • 299 Lighting • Allegro Logistics UK • Bristol Water • Blackstar Solutions • City to Sea • Community of • Brunel Group Purpose • Duchess Media • Engine Shed • Life Media UK • Loom Digital • Okoru CREATIVE • Proctor + Stevenson • Create Health • EightySix Studios • Purplefish • Harleys Global • Sparkle Cleaning • Hide the Shark • Istoria Group CAFE • JonesMillbank • At The Well CaféLaundrette • Proctor + Stevenson • Mary-Jane’s Coffee • Studio Giggle • Bakers & Co • Vaughan + • Spoke & Stringer Company • Taste of Napoli • The Vintage EDUCATION Birdcage Cakery • Bristol City Council – Adult Learning • Bristol Music Trust CHARITY • Bristol Upholstery • A Life for a Cure Collective • Above & Beyond • Future Stars • Aerospace Bristol

Coaching • Lifeskills – Learning for Living • Tockington Manor School and Nursery • Unique Voice CIC • Weston College EVENT

• Bristol Pride • Cabot Circus • The Coffee House Project • Collaborate Bristol

by Nomensa • Great Weston Ride

• The Grace • Westbury Park Pub HAIR & BEAUTY

• Bloggs Salons • Daniel Rymer Male Grooming • Dougie Johns Hairdressing • Hair at 58 • Moda Hairdressing Bristol • Nuala Morey Hairdressing • Strongman Moustache

Caroline Herbert Chief Commercial Officer, Bristol Sport

Kathryn Davis Head of Tourism, Destination Bristol

RESTAURANT LEISURE & TOURISM

• Ashton Gate • Bear Wood at Wild Place Project • The Bristol Harbour Hotel • Quirky Campers • Strawberryfield Park • Tyntesfield • Village Hotel Bristol

• Aqua Restaurants • Bambalan • The Coconut Tree • The Malago • Masa + Mezcal • New Moon Tapas • Nutmeg Restaurant • The Old Market Assembly • Poco Tapas Bar

NEW BUSINESS

RETAILER

• Bocabar (Finzels Reach) FINANCIAL HEALTH & WELLBEING • Creative • Bristol Credit Union • Access Sport CIO Construction • Corrigan • Amma Life • Green Alternatives Accountants • Luxe Fitness • Greenwave • Dunkley’s Chartered • Soccer Shooters Landscaping Accountants • Studio 11 Pole • Luxe Fitness • Fox Davidson Fitness • Ocean Adventurers • Optimum Finance • Parmenion Capital HOMES & INTERIORS • Seven Lucky Gods • Studio Whisk Partners • Fawn Interiors • PracticeWeb • Fifteen Twelve • Smith & Williamson • Landhaven Homes PEOPLE SERVICES • Main Interiors • Heat Recruitment • Nola Interiors • Kingston Barnes FOOD & DRINK • Red Dog Glass • NatWest PRODUCER Design Entrepreneur • Aldwick Estate • SJP Interior Design Accelerator • Boundless • Yena Activated Snacking • Stylemongers Of Bristol – Nuts and Seeds • TME Interiors • Bradley’s Juice PROPERTY • Caleño Drinks • Alder King • Grow Bristol CIC • Berkeley Place LEGAL • Hullabaloos • Box Twenty • AMD Solicitors Lemonade Consulting • Ashfords Engineers • Barcan+Kirby • Burston Cook • Bevan Brittan FOODIE PUB • JAS Building • Clarke Willmott • The Alma Tavern Services • Gregg Latchams and Theatre • Landhaven Homes • Greenaway Scott • The Bank Tavern • Planning Ventures – part of the GS • The Canteen

ALL HAIL THE JUDGES! Ben Heald Chairman, Sift

• Sweet Construct • Urban Creation

Verde Group • Insight Law • VWV

Mike Livings Branch Director, Marsh Commercial

Sado Jirde Director, Black South West Network

• British Corner Shop • Casper Bristol • Eclectic Gift Shop • Fraser Besant Lighting • Kutchenhaus Kitchens Bristol • Middlecombe Nursery • Nailsea Electrical • Suave Owl • We Make Bristol • Wild Oats Natural Foods TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

• 3Sixty Digital • Amdaris • CookiesHQ • Ghyston • LettUs Grow • Meningitis Research Foundation • Neighbourly • Nomensa • One Big Circle • Triangle Networks

All decisions about these awards are made by a panel of impeccably independent judges, chosen afresh each year from every area of Bristol business life. Many different businesses types and sizes are represented, and individual judges leave the room each time a category directly relevant to them is discussed. With a record number of nominations, the decisions each year are harder than ever.

Sam Bell Owner, Hair at 58

Thanh QuanNicholls Founder, Collaborative Places UK

Tim Bartlett Director of Business Development & Marketing, Bevan Brittan

Tom Morris Artistic Director, Bristol Old Vic

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

It’s the city’s business

PHOTO BY GEOF SHEPPARD

BRISTOLWORKS

Back on tracks

T

he famous Grade-I building next to Temple Meads known as Bristol Old Station – designed by runel as ristol’s first railway in 1840 – has been acquired by Network Rail from Bristol City Council. The deal brings the building back into railway ownership for the first time since privatisation in the mid-1990s.

The Old Station currently houses the business incubator Engine Shed, along with Passenger Shed, an events space which hosts a wide range of events from exhibitions to theatre shows and weddings.

Network Rail plans to maintain the current commercial uses of the building while implementing a programme to maintain and restore the Grade-I facilities, as part of proposals for the wider Bristol Temple Quarter masterplan.

“This is a landmark site with historical

significance for the nation and for etwork ail, said Stuart Kirkwood, acting group property director at Network Rail Property. “We are looking forward to revitalising the building for the enjoyment of passengers, tenants and the local community, as part of our wider strategy to create great places for business and communities to thrive, supporting economic growth and regeneration in towns and cities across the .

And here’s Mike Gallop, Western route managing director: “It’s an honour to have this historic building in Network Rail ownership. The building deserves the best care it can get, and we are planning to do just that. I trust that Brunel would be pleased to know that his first station in ristol is back where it belongs – within the railway family that will cherish and care for it.

For more: networkrail.co.uk

WHAT’S YUUP? It’s a new online marketplace where you can book a wide range of Bristol experiences, from ying a drone, to baking with Briony May, to foodtouring and tasting with Josh Eggleton. Yuup is launching this month, and aims to inject £1.1 million into the local economy.

For more: yuup.co

BRISTOLWORKS PROPERTY AWARDS EXCITEMENT BUILDS

HAS BRISTOL LOST ITS STATUS AS GREEN CAPITAL?

N

ew research commissioned by Anderson Financial Management shows a decrease in the importance that Bristolians place on sustainable finance in .

When asked whether sustainability was important when making decisions about saving and investment in anuary , of ristolians said yes; however, when asked if it was still important in ugust , this number dropped to .

This indicates that sustainability may have fallen down the agenda in Bristol as a result of ovid. owever, the importance of ethical saving and investment is still significantly higher in ristol than in the rest of the country,

with Bristolians placing importance on diversity and inclusion, and fair treatment of sta and suppliers.

“This research indicates that priorities may have shifted in ristol, from care for the planet to caring for each other and our community, said ony nderson (above right . ut ethics and sustainability are not mutually e clusive. thics has moved up the agenda and into the public eye during ovid, most likely as a result of some shocking stories in the media about poor ethical practices. he important message here is that yes, we are green here in ristol, and should be proud of our stance. ut we shouldn’t take our eye o the ball. or or an r onfinan ial. o.uk

he finalists at the second ristol Property wards on ebruary have now been announced, and tickets are now on sale with unprecedented sponsorship and interest e pected.

The Awards recognise all aspects of ristol’s dynamic property sector, from residential to commercial, from lettings to new builds, from civic buildings to bold reimaginings. ickets are now on sale for the event, which will bring together a fresh mi of new companies and familiar faces from the property scene.

“Finalists are expected to secure a vast amount of tickets after their release, and many are expected to go before this highlyanticipated event, said laudia utler, event organiser at edia lash, which runs the ristol Property wards. e’re overwhelmed

by Bristol’s backing for these Awards in what has been a di cult year, and we’re e cited for another uality ceremony in . or or ail on i k an n n ruar ri ol ro r ar ri ol ro r a ar . o.uk

ar on i

BACK TO WORK Questions covered employers’ responsibilities and employee rights, in parallel with working practices in the new commercial and industrial landscape, alongside such challenging matters as redundancy processes. ere’s a avour of the advice received, which we also live tweeted during the event.

Will companies persist with flexi-working?

Our ri ol i Business Surgery: Workforce and mployers featured law firm evan rittan. reg Ingham (top left) was in conversation with Julian oskins, partner at the firm, and associate achel ewman,. he surgery focused on help, insights and practical advice for both employers and employees in these tough, unusual times.

here is definitely more confidence in people working from home, now that we’ve seen, in many cases, that there isn’t any reduction in productivity.

It largely depends on the sector and what way of working is best for a business.

What happens when employees are reluctant to return to the office environment?

It comes down to context and the consideration of individual refusals. ood communication will benefit all parties in this scenario.

Who most benefits from the £1,000 payment to companies in January for each employee retained after furlough?

It largely depends on the size and needs of the business; full details need to be clarified.

About non-compliance...

he furlough scheme has been an ever changing, and at times complicated scheme, so it’s possible that genuine mistakes of non-compliance could have occurred at times. If is the case, the best thing to do is review, and continue to check, to safeguard your business.

Irrespective of what somebody has been paid during furlough, any redundancy pay needs to be made by companies as if the employee was receiving of base set pay. or u ur urg ri an

lu

ia la . o.uk

n

Moving home? Selling, buying or investing?

Looking for commercial premises to rent out?

Need a great architect or builder?

Who you gonna call . . .?

ADVERTISING FEATURE CHRIS KELLY

HANNAH WALKIEWICZ

SPRATLEY & PARTNERS 01179 055090; www.spratley-partners.uk What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on?

One of my first projects was a £3.5m refurbishment of a Georgian country home, which included digging a basement under the main house. It definitely threw up a few challenges but the end results were spectacular. We also have some exciting new-build commercial buildings in the centre of town in the pipeline.

How can your services add value to a property?

As architects and interior designers our passion lies in providing inspiration and design input to create exciting homes that really relate to their context and the way you want to live in them. The added value will not only be on the monetary value of your home but also the value added by creating a space that you will love living in.

What makes you different from others in your profession?

Over the years we have developed a reputation for obtaining planning consent for homes on difficult rural sites, including within the green belt, balancing local authority requirements and maximising site opportunities.

What area do you specialise in?

As a practice we cover a range of sectors including hospitality, commercial offices and one-off houses. We take inspiration from each sector and use it in all our projects – for example our one-off homes may take inspiration from a high-end hotel finish, or an office’s business lounge may look and feel like a relaxed café or bar interior.

THE BUILD BRISTOL GROUP 01179 091969; www.thebuildbristolgroup.com

Chris Kelly

Hannah Walkiewicz

SARAH LANE

STONE KING 01225 326751; www.stoneking.co.uk Why should you put your house on the market now?

Due to Covid-19 we continue to see a trend of movement out of our biggest cities, especially London. It’s also a good time to downsize from a larger property as there continue to be plenty of buyers. Bristol is well connected, offering thriving businesses, a lively cultural scene and the allimportant countryside on its doorstep. With the market playing catch up, properties are moving fast.

What do you love about working in property?

Property transactions, both residential and commercial, are significant investments, and it is a privilege to work with people on fast-moving, interesting projects. It’s rewarding to support my clients through important processes, and I do everything I can to minimise any stress.

What do you anticipate for Bristol’s property market over the next 12 months?

Another trend we’re seeing is ever-increased activity on the second homes market. The outskirts of Bristol and surrounding areas are always popular among buyers looking for countryside bolt holes.

With remote working now more acceptable, and indeed, necessary, we’re seeing changing work-life patterns that I believe are here to stay. Working from the country, rather than commuting, is a new reality for many.

How do you envisage the skyline of Bristol changing over the next five years?

Bristol is an incredible city; if it continues to grow as it has over the last five years we’re in for such a treat! I can imagine some of the derelict buildings being transformed into full use. I also imagine that the growth of the city will stretch as far as Cribbs Causeway, over time.

What part of your work do you particularly enjoy?

I love dealing with our clients and enabling their dreams to become a reality. Often clients have a seed of an idea and just need some help to bring it to life. We’re able to do this with our brilliant inhouse team of designers, architects and builders.

Tell us something about your company, and why people should contact you.

The Build Bristol Group is a collection of experienced designers, project managers, architects and builders. We’re able to offer a turnkey service and help guide clients through the entire process.

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone looking to buy a property, what would it be?

Look at the longevity of the property. Will it be able to suit you long-term if it’s a big investment? Where can you add value if needed? Where could you expand, if necessary?

If you could buy a property anywhere in Bristol, where would it be, and why?

We love the St Andrews Park area. A huge green space, minutes from the Gloucester Road and the houses have so many original features.

JAMES LAWLEY

JAMES LAWLEY | ARCHITECTURAL IMAGE STUDIO 07814 969040 www.jameslawley.co.uk

Sarah Lane

James Lawley

What area do you specialise in?

As an architectural visualisation artist my projects combine CGI, photography and moving image. With over 10 years’ experience in the property sector, I produce images for clients across the UK and internationally, from bespoke self-build homes to multi-million-pound coastal retreats.

What makes you different from others in your profession?

CGI can sometimes be considered technical and characterless, but I love to challenge this perception using light and detail to bring warmth and a compelling story to each image. My background in photography lends an editorial style to my work, which showcases an aspirational lifestyle to potential homeowners and helps a project stand out from the crowd.

What’s your favourite part of the job?

It can be difficult to visualise a space from plans alone, so it’s really satisfying when clients say my images have helped them sell off-plan, obtain planning permission or generate significant interest from buyers. I enjoy helping clients realise that exceptional images are an investment rather than an expense.

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

ADVERTISING FEATURE ANDREW STOWEY

QUARTZ-LITE (REFACEIT INTERIORS LTD) 07976 636848 www.quartz-lite.com

REBECCA HALES

What part of your work do you particularly enjoy?

I enjoy the satifaction of transforming customers’ kitchens with our beautiful overlay quartz worktops, and the look of pure joy on their faces when we have completed the works – in most cases, in just one day.

Best bit of your job?

We believe in excellent customer service and looking after our customers from start to finish, and helping them with the correct choices available to suit their budget and tastes.

What made you originally start working in the property sector?

I have always had a strong interest in DIY. I have renovated five properties; I particularly like older properties. When I was made redundant in 2003 I decided to go into the kitchen-renovation business, and discovered and developed the Quartz-Lite overlay system, which has gone from strength to strength.

What services do your clients currently require?

We specialise in all aspects of kitchen renovations, from simple door swaps to complete new kitchens, including new apliances and flooring. Due to Covid, with people spending more time in their homes, we have seen increased demand for all our services.

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone looking to buy a property, what would it be?

I think the old adage that you should always buy the worst property in the best road rather than the best property in the worst road still rings true today.

What do you think the long term impact of Covid-19 on the property sector will be?

Covid-19 has forced a period of reflection for some; this has led to a re-evaluation of those things which are important to us, and for many the result has been a realisation that time to be with the ones we care about and time to pursue those hobbies and interests we enjoy are key. Our home impacts on the extent to which we are free to play out our lives as we desire; I think we will expect more from our homes as a result, and rightly so, and this realisation will prompt house moves of many different types.

What should we prioritise when moving house?

It used to be Location, Location, Location – now this programme is in its 20th year, can that be right? Perhaps we should be thinking Connection, Connection, Connection.

Internet Connection – we need to have the flexibility to work from home, and we rely on internet connection increasingly for entertainment.

Connection to a community – if we choose to, can we be part of a local community? Having been prevented from in-person, social interaction, we realise just how good it is for us! And if our home is not in the city centre, for example, can we easily connect to such hubs?

Connection with our household – does the layout of our home allow us to interact and play out our lives as we need to?

WHITECROFT DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED 01761 490092 ; www.whitecroftdev.co.uk

Andrew Stowey

Rebecca Hales

JULIAN PYRKE

SEAN REDMOND

GREGG LATCHAMS 0117 906 9400; www.gregglatchams.com What do you specialise in?

We act for commercial landlords and tenants on a range of matters, from lease negotiations through to completion. We specialise in managing large leasehold portfolios, business premises relocation and asset purchases.

What do you think the long-term impact of Covid-19 on the property sector will be?

It is certainly a game-changer. Many of our clients are seeking to renegotiate terms of their leases as well as others looking to buy property for investment. Long term, I think the traditional office will evolve to incorporate a more flexible working arrangement, but I don’t think the office is dead just yet.

What key bit of advice would you give to a client?

If you are reviewing your commercial property arrangements, and looking to enter into a new agreement, be sure to seek the advice of a specialist lawyer. It is crucial to get the terms that you want and have these agreed and clearly set out. If it is advised that changes should be made, having to ‘unpick’ the terms puts you on the back foot. Most importantly, it causes unnecessary delays and fees.

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PH3 DESIGN 0117 911 5458 www.ph3design.co.uk

Julian Pyrke

Sean Redmond

What key bit of advice would you give to a client?

Our job is to create fantastic spaces for you, so choose an architect you get along with, be open to being challenged by new ideas and, even on small schemes, have high ambitions for the project, then ask all the questions, and discuss all your ideas, at the design stage and once a project is on site try not to change things – exploring things on paper is a lot cheaper than making changes on site.

What’s the best project you’ve worked on?

We’re hugely grateful to have been able to work for loads of wonderful clients. We’ve worked on some incredible community projects, as well as buildings for fantastic companies like Adidas and recently completed an amazing £1.5m HQ for Bristol’s own Boomtown Festival, but being invited to be the architect for the refurbishment of the spectacular Cartier headquarters in London was a real honour.

What area do you specialise in?

We specialise in unlocking the potential of challenging sites and buildings, and we thrive on seeing the possibilities and opportunities that others may not see.

We love responding to a clients’ ambitions, and on every project our number one focus is to exceed their expectations.

ADVERTISING FEATURE EDWARD HAMILTON

ANNA BALL

What effect will Covid-19 have on commercial property, and why should I come to 3SIXTY for advice?

While still in the early stages of the full impact this may have on the sector, there are likely to be a significant number of commercial leases terminated/exited that will require some type of expert negotiation to mitigate liabilities. At 3SIXTY we pride ourselves on providing personable advice to all types of clients, whether that be single-property landlords, tenants, SMEs, or national private healthcare providers. We have built a reputation on trusted relationships, recognising that while we deal in bricks and mortar, the property market is a people business. We therefore offer realistic, accountable advice with successful and proven outcomes in negotiations and mediation.

What part of your work do you particularly enjoy?

Working with a varied client base on a wide range of properties and projects is hugely rewarding, and maintains focus. Every instruction is different, so understanding client requirements is key to a successful project outcome.

What’s the best way to protect our assets?

Regular building maintenance can often be neglected due to the perceived benefit of short-term cost savings resulting in long term expense. Having a fully encompassing planned preventative maintenance schedule is key to prolonging the building fabric and in turn, mitigates surprising liabilities at lease expiry stage.

What do you specialise in?

Creative design and intelligent marketing for the property industry. We have a wealth of experience in branding, design for print and cutting-edge digital media.

What are the key values of your business?

We strive to create appropriate, thoughtful, high quality branding and design, using our knowledge of the property industry and by going the extra mile for our clients.

What has been the impact of Covid-19 on property marketing?

We have found less print is being requested but the evolution of digital marketing has given us the opportunity to be creative in very different ways, from animations for social media through to the design of static web banners, HTML 5 programmatics, network display banners, etc. Websites have become more important than ever for relaying up-to-date messaging and displaying current sales information.

What do you love most about working in property?

Seeing the vision for a development through the creation of items such as brochures, CGIs, floorplans and digital fly-throughs come to reality when the building is nearing completion, and we can finally look around the actual properties.

What are your favourite projects that you’ve worked on?

Wapping Wharf for Muse Developments and Umberslade, as it’s a privilege to be part of a project which has had a real impact on the way people live and socialise in Bristol, and Hatchbury’s Guild Heritage House development in Old Market for the quality of the build and its huge sales success.

3SIXTY REAL ESTATE 0117 247 0120 www.3SIXTYrealestate.co.uk

LYN JONES & JULIE LAMING PLANNING VENTURES LTD 07775 863715; 07557 404336 www.planningventures.co.uk

What do you love most about working in planning?

We passionately believe the planning system is a positive force for change and that highquality development affects how we live.

VILLAGE DESIGN AND CREATIVE MARKETING 0117 910 6050; www.villagedesign.co.uk

Edward Hamilton

Anna Ball

Whether negotiating a premium office scheme, repurposing an historic building or securing someone their dream home, being part of a system that makes a real difference to our built environment is a privilege.

What services do you offer and are there any areas you specialise in?

We provide planning support for any type of property project.

We offer advice, manage applications and appeals, and provide expert planning input wherever it’s needed. We’re pretty agile in how and who we work with. Most of our current projects are in the residential, commercial and hospitality sectors, but we’ll work across the board.

Where would you start with a planning application?

No two applications are the same, but there are some basic points that will save you

time and money. For starters do your policy research, check out the planning history and constraints of your site. If it’s complex you could pursue a pre-application enquiry, and it’s almost always worth engaging with neighbours and key stakeholders as early as possible. Frontload your application with detail – even for a minor project.

Do you deal with listed buildings?

Most definitely! Jules has a particular interest in all things heritage. If you own a listed building remember that everything inside and outside the property is covered by the listing, so any changes you want to make will need permission, including works that might affect its setting. Your proposals might not be contentious, but they will require some sensitivity.

Do you have a favourite Bristol building or project?

The city is constantly changing, but we do have a few current favourites – the stunning modern extension to St George’s concert hall, Programme (formerly The Pithay) as an iconic office building restored and reinvented, and Paintworks as a brilliant example of live-work development, to name a few. We’ve also been involved with various regeneration projects in Stokes Croft in recent years, including a micro-brewery, co-work space and restaurant and events venue, so can’t wait to see how this area evolves.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE OLIVIA HUTLEY

CITY & COUNTRY 0117 453 9731 www.cityandcountry.co.uk What misconceptions do people have about buying a new-build property?

Purchasers can view new builds as lacking character, and with ‘traditional’ new build homes that can certainly be the case. This is where the City & Country difference is key – when we build new homes we construct them alongside the historic buildings that we restore and convert. This means you get the benefits of a new home alongside the period setting and character of an original building.

Tell us something about your company, and why people should contact you.

We’re the UK’s market leading developer of heritage buildings – that means we restore and convert some of the UK’s most iconic historic buildings into fabulous new places to live and work.

Hospitals, mansions, schools – you name it, we’ve restored it. These amazing places often create incredible living spaces, meaning our new apartments feature details that you would never find in a new building.

JAMES HEMING

ANDREW SPERRING

A.P. CLARK & SON 0117 363 7693 www.apclarksurfacingcontractors.co.uk Tell us something about your company, and why people should contact you.

AP Clark & Son is probably the oldest surfacing company in the country, having been established in 1890 by my great-grandfather, Arthur Percival Clark. Prior to our move to Avonmouth in 2012, our premises were a well-known landmark at the end of Henleaze Road. We pride ourselves on the personal touch for both private and commercial customers and this is evident by the amount of repeat business we receive.

Why spend money on the outside of your property?

Whether you are intending to stay in your property or sell, first impressions are vital. That all important kerb appeal! When spending money on improvements it is essential that the work is of good quality, will last and is guaranteed.

Best part of your job?

I enjoy meeting people, helping them to realise their ideas, and sharing the satisfaction of a job well done.

JAS BUILDING SERVICES (BRISTOL) LTD 01454877520 www.JASbuildingservices.co.uk

James Heming

Andrew Sperring

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What advice would you give someone searching for a new home?

It’s been well documented that buying priorities have shifted this year, with people searching for outside space and a good place to work from home. But remember that’s not true for everyone; plenty of people continue to want to live in city centres close to the places they love. Our advice would be really decide what’s going to be right for you with your circumstances – will you be working from home more often now? Do you need good transport links to bigger cities? Is access to outdoor spaces a must-have? Start from here, and that will help to narrow your search to the most suitable places.

What trends do you predict for the year ahead?

As more people choose to work from home, we expect to see more buyers seeking greater space in which to live and work with superfast internet speeds.

Are there any areas of Bristol that are proving to be particularly popular at the moment?

Bedminster continues to be a really popular choice for professionals and younger purchasers looking to settle in one of Bristol’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. It’s got everything you need on North Street, while the city centre and Temple Meads are within walking distance.

Why hire an interior designer?

Working with an interior designer can inspire you with fresh innovative ideas that can completely change the way your home feels and flows, often creating more light and space. We are the experts at understanding your vision to make it a reality.

What is it that you love about working in interiors?

I love talking to clients about bringing their dreams to life and getting creative with how we can make this happen.

What’s the best bit of advice you could give to home owners?

Use sites like Houzz to share an idea of what you want but be realistic about your budget, and flexible to new ideas. Reading property features such as in Bristol Life will give you valuable insight and knowledge from local professionals. You can often create the same desired end result without breaking the bank.

What do you specialise in?

We specialise in property transformations.

We are the experts when it comes to renovating and extending your home.

ADVERTISING FEATURE ROBERT BEALE

HANNAH CHAPPATTE

What part of your work do you particularly enjoy?

As a company we employ and train graduates and helping them achieve their Membership with the RICS is a great part of the job, especially when they decide to stay with the company. Our retention rate is excellent, so we must be doing something right!

What common pitfalls do people make when buying or selling a house/commercial property?

Is it worth the price they are paying? People can often progress through a purchase without seeking professional advice on whether they are paying what the property is actually worth.

Tell us something about your company, and why people should contact you.

We are the largest South West based firm of surveyors, operating across the entire region, commercial property is what we live and breathe including agency services, building surveying, lease consultancy, business rates negotiation, valuation and property management. Being able to offer these range of services through our four offices provides our clients with a one stop shop.

What services do your clients currently require?

We are helping a lot of clients reduce their holding and operating costs for property they occupy or own. This work includes advice on rent levels and business rates liabilities.

What advice would you give someone looking to invest in property in the South West?

Use a firm with regional coverage and local knowledge, such as Vickery Holman. We have staff working and living within 30 minutes of almost all properties across the South West who can bring that detailed understanding into the work environment, ensuring we can provide the best advice.

Tell us something about your company, and why people should contact you.

HYBR’s uniquely student focussed. This has two key advantages for landlords we work with. Firstly, we only offer properties for students; a demographic that require their own rental solution. As former students we also understand the student mindset and how to market effectively to them. This is backed-up by the fact that we always rent our properties out within the first month.

Secondly, we support students both practically and emotionally throughout the year to make them better tenants. We help students to find housemates, we connect them with our low-cost portfolio of tradespeople, and educate students about how to respect rented properties.

What services do your clients currently require?

Our clients require support with finding good tenants quickly, either through our pre-tenancy package, where we take care of background checks and tenancy agreements, or our full management package, so they can be completely hands-off throughout the tenancy. We offer the customer service you would expect from a traditional letting agent but through leveraging technology we offer a solution up to five times more cost-effective. Based on the average property price, landlords save around £2,160 by using us as rather than a traditional letting agent.

Is there anything else we need to know about what your company does?

We would never charge landlords an upfront fee. We believe that you should only be charged once you are happy with our services.

VICKERY HOLMAN 0117 428 6555; www.vickeryholman.com

JON MORGAN

JUNIPER HOMES info@juniperhomes.co.uk www.juniperhomes.co.uk Why should you put your house on the market now?

HYBR 07826853139; www.hybr.co.uk

Robert Beale

Hannah Chappatte

The advice we are hearing from the surveyors and legal experts is that the buying/selling process is taking far longer than anticipated.

If you’ve found the home of your dreams, particularly if you’re downsizing, you need to be in a position to move quickly to secure it. So our advice to anyone looking to buy a new home would be to put your house on the market now.

What do you think the long term impact of Covid-19 on the property sector will be?

We have seen many ups and downs in the market over the years and in all honesty Bristol seems to have one of the most resilient property markets in the UK. The impact of Covid seems to be people wanting more space and outdoor space; happily most of the schemes we are building provide just that.

What key advice would you give to a client?

See your home for what it is: somewhere you love, your place of security, somewhere to enjoy with your friends and family and a longterm investment – not somewhere to turn a quick buck.

What do you love most about working in property?

It’s a world full of highs and lows, so you need to be pragmatic and level-headed to meet the challenges that arise daily. No two days

are the same, but when a site is completed and the house you’ve built is the home of someone’s dreams, there’s nothing quite like it.

What’s the best project you’ve worked on?

Redland Court is by far the most challenging scheme to date. Bringing the historic Grade II* buildings back to life and creating the exceptional range of apartments and houses on this site makes it the most difficult we’ve ever taken on, but we are getting this right, and people’s reactions make it all worthwhile.

If you could change one thing about the Bristol property market what would it be?

The planning process.

Are new homes a better buy than older properties?

With the environmental changes taking place, we are futureproofing sites and getting very close to building sites with zero carbon emissions. Reduced running costs and lower maintenance are two good reasons to buy new, but moving in to somewhere where everything is brand new does feel good. You don’t always know what you’re committing to with older homes, but there are options out there, like Redland Court, where you can buy a ‘brand new’ home in a period building which offers buyers a good compromise.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

EDWARD LE MASURIER AND ALASTAIR KIMPTON ETP PROPERTY CONSULTANTS 0117 973 1474 www.etpproperty.co.uk

Tell us something about yourselves and your business?

We are an independent firm of chartered

surveyors and registered valuers working in the south of England and South Wales.

We predominantly act on behalf of lenders, landlords, commercial occupiers and developers, providing a multi-disciplinary service.

What areas do you specialise in?

We provide a range of services to our clients, including the preparation of RICS Red Book

HANNAH REDDEN

HANNAH REDDEN INTERIOR DESIGN 07751 933426 www.hannahredden.co.uk What is it that you love about working in interiors?

For me, there’s nothing more rewarding than helping people to thoroughly enjoy the space they live in for years to come. When a client comes to me at the end of a job to tell me how happy they are with the results, that’s honestly the best feeling ever! Good interior design should be about creating beautiful and inspiring spaces, but which still work on a practical level.

Understanding my clients’ needs and earning their trust is at the heart of everything I do, and building those relationships is one of my favourite parts of the job.

How would you describe your signature style?

I adore colour for its ability to transform a room and instantly lift the spirits. I would say my signature style is timeless yet characterful, colourful and confident. I’m not massively trend-focused, but more interested in following my instincts on what feels right for the client; often looking to nature, art or architecture for added inspiration. I prefer to work with schemes that will last; enduring design with quality at its core. I’m not totally against the odd Ikea buy here and there, but I definitely prefer design which focuses on craftsmanship

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valuations for secured lending, pension fund, taxation and accounting purposes. As well as this, we also advise on commercial property agency matters, and we advise landlords and occupiers on lease renewals, rent reviews, and lease regears, which are particularly important in the current climate. We provide development appraisal and consultancy services to lenders and developers, as well as dealing with acquisitions and disposals of development opportunities.

What are the key values of your business?

We are a privately owned, progressive, trusted, and driven firm that has been based in Bristol for over 140 years. We have strong relationships in the regions in which we work, and our clients will always have a direct point of contact at a senior level for each instruction.

What new plans do you have for next year?

We have adapted our working methods in order that we can continue to provide a high standard of service when working remotely, if needed, and are pleased that this transition has worked smoothly. We are also delighted to confirm that we have recruited a building surveyor, who will be joining the team at the end of the year, which will add another service line to our business. We will be able to offer advice on dilapidations, schedules of condition, project monitoring and party wall matters.

and quality.

How does your design process work?

It really depends on the project – my work is so varied and ranges from creating bespoke textile designs such as wall-hangings and lampshades, to full room styling, space planning, or colour guidance. But the common thread running throughout my work is the personalised interiors service I offer, with each project a collaborative partnership between me and my client. I know how important it is, as the client, to know exactly what you’re getting!

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Oh, so many places! I studied textile design at Glasgow School of Art, surrounded by all this stunningly beautiful architecture, so that has certainly influenced my work over the years.

I’ve also travelled extensively; taking in lots of punchy Italian colours, vibrant Indian patterns and amazing traditional Moroccan craftsmanship. Bold colour is definitely something I return to again and again through my interiors; I’m always trying to encourage clients not to feel afraid of colour, as it can be so transformative.

I’d also have to say that living in Bristol I feel inspired on a daily basis. There’s always something going on: street art, vintage fairs, festivals. It’s hard not to feel inspired when there’s so much creative activity springing up all around you. It’s a truly lovely community to be a part of, and I feel very lucky.

ADVERTISING FEATURE NICK LLOYD

URBANE ECO LTD 0117 9098090; www.urbane-eco.co.uk Tell us something about your company, and why people should contact you.

We’re one of Bristol’s leading sustainable building companies, and we specialise in using breathable, and natural, building materials. We believe they are better for both the health of the occupant and also the planet.

What services do your clients currently require?

We do a lot of external and internal wall insulation using natural wood fibre, breathable render and natural paints. This ensures that the building can breathe and helps prevents humidity and mould growth. We also build new houses to Passive House standards using all-natural materials. This creates a heathy, zero-allergy indoor atmosphere, and with a mechanical ventilation system, where the air is replaced in a controlled manner, the house becomes even healthier, especially in the current climate.

Is there anything else we need to know about what your company does?

Yes! We’re really excited to announce that we are now selling our eco building materials such

as wood fibre insulation, to householders and builders alike from our unit in St Anne’s. Up until now it has been hard to get these materials in smaller quantities. We can also provide some consultancy if needed. Please contact us for more information!

What’s the highest-profile property you’ve ever worked on?

Well, we retrofitted the eco show home in Easton for Bristol City Council for their highly successful Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, so it was quite exciting to have been chosen to do that.

How is sustainability affecting the property market?

Eco measures definitely add value to a property, but it’s worth knowing which ones are important.

I always go for a ‘fabric first’ approach, but of course there are renewables upgrades as well, such as air source heat pumps and solar panels.

What inspires you?

Energy use in buildings and building materials is one of the most carbon-polluting items on the planet. I’m not sure people realise this, and so if I can help do my bit by raising awareness, providing people with more choice in what building materials they use, and reducing the carbon footprint in this way, then I find that extremely rewarding.

OLIVER HAWTHORNE

MARK DAVIDGE

HUBB PROPERTY GROUP

THE TILE AND BATHROOM WAREHOUSE 0117 9770011 ww.thetileandbathroomwarehouse.com

0117 422 0122 www.hubb.co.uk Tell us something about yourselves and why people should contact you?

Hubb Property Group is a real estate private equity and investment firm with a focus on the Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) sector and the development of luxury residential and commercial properties. We originate and manage each opportunity in its own SPV fund and partner with our Institutional, Family Office and High Net Worth investors to join us in structured investments.

What kind of property buyers are you currently seeing coming into the area?

There was an influx of London based professionals before COVID 19 but this has certainly increased since the pandemic. This is due to the amount of enterprises offering more opportunities to work remotely and also buyers reevaluating their lifestyles and their living space requirements.

They are considering areas that are a reasonable commute outside the Capital, such as Bath and Bristol.

Oliver Hawthorne

Tell us something about your company, and why people should contact you.

We are proudly independent and we showcase only the best quality, branded products usually not seen in typical bathroom showrooms. Also, as our name says we are ‘Tiles And Bathrooms’ so we quite literally offer the complete package from Design to Delivery What part of your work do you particularly enjoy?

There is nothing more satisfying than working with a client as passionate as we are. Sharing our ideas with them, and seeing them come to life!

Is there anything you would urge people to look out for when designing their bathroom?

Tiles now are a lot larger than they used to be, the typical size of tile now is 30cm x 90cm. A lot of tile collections also offer a decorative tile to compliment the range and really gives a wow factor! We are also finding many customers are opting to ditch the bath and have a low level ‘walk in’ shower instead and I think this really makes sense. Designed and specified with the best products, this gives what is normally a small cramped room the feeling of space and performance.

Mark Davidge

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

A positive force for change Julie Laming and Lyn Jones see their independent planning consultancy PLANNING VENTURES as a breath of fresh air in a predominantly male, corporate industry

D

own-to-earth and friendly, yet professional and knowledgeable, Planning Ventures values and nurtures its relationships with clients, colleagues and local authorities alike.

“Planning Ventures is a creative and resourceful partnership based on our shared experience of the development industry,” says Lyn. Julie further expands on their philosophy: “With a commitment to high-quality development, respectful relationships and compassionate working practices, we strive to bring a touch of ‘soft power’ to the planning process.”

“We’re convinced that collaborative working and kindness delivers the best outcomes for all, and so we approach every project with this mindset, whatever the nature or scale of the work. Ultimately, we’re all aiming for deliverable development and great place-making, so let’s make the process as positive as possible.”

“We provide tailor-made planning advice and support for any type of property project, be it residential, commercial, environmental or historic,” says Lyn. “We offer planning advice, manage planning applications and appeals, and provide expert planning input into a property project wherever it’s needed. We are really agile in our approach, whether it’s working solely with a client, joining a large design team or simply 74 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

providing a flexible planning resource as and when it’s needed.”

Planning Ventures passionately believes that the planning system is a positive force for change, and that high-quality development fundamentally affects how people live and respond to space. “We love working with people on interesting projects, where we can make a real difference – whether negotiating a multimillion pound office scheme in the city, securing consent for a new micro brewery and events space in Stokes Croft, reinventing The Pithay as the multimedia high tech hub ‘Programme’, promoting a bespoke rural boutique pub in the Chew Valley, or securing permission for highquality residential developments across Bristol and North Somerset. We thrive on the variety of our work and relish a quirky site!”

The busy pair aren’t just about planning, however, and are committed to giving back to Bristol, supporting local charity One25 through various fundraising exploits, as well as sitting on the city’s Conservation Advisory Panel and guest lecturing at UWE. As Julie confirms ”It’s a privilege to be able to contribute; it makes us feel more involved in the city and adds a richer dimension to our business.”

“We believe our strength lies in our approachability and adaptability,” concludes Lyn. “We’re quietly carving our own niche in

the Bristol and South West market, and are committed to following our own path. We’re always open to new challenges, so do get in touch if you have a project you need help with and think our approach might suit yours.” n

Planning Ventures Ltd Call Lyn: 07775 863715 or Julie: 07557 404336 Visit: www.planningventures.co.uk

PROPERTY

The HOME REVOLUTION It’s hardly stop-press news that Covid has a ected every single aspect of our lives so what has been the ripple e ect on Bristol’s property market?

Factory number 1: another tick in the East Street gentrification box. They’ve got themselves a branch of Bristol Loaf down there now, you know . . .

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PROPERTY

A

lthough very few of us were actively engaged in house-hunting during lockdown, we’ve all been spending a lot more time in our homes, and thinking hard about what we want from them – now, and in the future.

One big trend that looks set to stick around, at least to some extent, is the switch from an o ce based nine to five to working from home. This may initially have been introduced as a temporary measure, but given a taste of what working life can be without the tedium and expense of a lengthy commute, many people would now happily see the arrangement becoming more permanent.

So, how has this quiet domestic revolution impacted on the city’s developers, estate agents and property managers? What are buyers looking for, in the post-lockdown world? Are people seeking to retreat en masse to some bucolic idyll, or are they keener than ever to be close to the amenities of the city centre?

Oh, don’t ask us, we’re not the experts – but these guys are…

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THE DEVELOPERS CITY AND COUNTRY

“While in some parts of the UK people are turning to the countryside in search of the rural life, many others continue to want to live in our city centres, with access to everything they provide,” says associate partner Alex Reid. “Good working-from-home space is now vital, and easy access to London is also an important factor.”

Tell us about some of the exciting properties on your books

“Factory No.1 in Bedminster, and The General, just over the river in edcli e both restorations and conversions of some of ristol’s most important historic buildings, but with distinctly di erent styles.

“Factory No.1 is located on East Street, opposite the new branch of he ristol oaf. ormerly the first tobacco factory of and ills, it now o ers stylish new apartments. e’re also building a range of completely new apartments that will surround large and private terraced gardens the perfect oasis in the heart of the city.

“The General has become one of the city’s most well-known developments. Over the past few years we’ve created some amazing homes here, including the conversion of the former chapel and a triplex

“Are people looking to retreat en masse to some bucolic idyll, or are they keener than ever to be close to the amenities of the city centre?”

apartment in the building’s magnificent octagonal gee ome. ow the ing dward II ing is the last opportunity to own a piece of this iconic building, some homes having lovely views over the iver von.

For more: cityandcountry.co.uk

JUNIPER HOMES

onfidence was high at the beginning of and then along came ovid, says director on organ. It brought the property market to a standstill. or the first time in our history we had to close sites, to protect our construction sta ; however, we are back on track now, and e cited about bringing our current developments to the market. e are currently seeing new homes prices hold their own across our developments. n the ipside, I think we are all aware that mortgage availability is likely to become an issue over coming months. utdoor space and rural locations are currently at a premium. ur rural atterswood site sold three of the four homes post lockdown. t edland ourt, many apartments and houses also have private outdoor space, while the site is set in three acres of private grounds.

Tell us about some of the exciting properties on your books

e are really e cited about edland ourt; it’s a landmark development steeped in history. ithin he anor ouse we are creating four e uisitely refurbished apartments. Preserving its historic significance while transforming newer buildings is probably the most e acting pro ect uniper has ever undertaken.

For more: juniperhomes.co.uk

The General has become a benchmark for quality redevelopment, due to City & Country’s heritage-sensitive repurposing and complementary new-builds

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PROPERTY ACORN

ince lockdown restrictions eased, we’ve seen a urry of interest across all our sites, says obin uire, of corn’s ristol o ce. uyers seem more motivated to find a new home and settle now, in case of future lockdown. he stamp duty holiday, as well as regional caps set to a ect elp to uy ne t year, means that now is a great time to buy. he lockdown restrictions have made many people re evaluate their worklife balance. ith the opportunity to work from home, people no longer want the city commute, and instead want more open space for their family, in a beautiful location.

Tell us about some of the exciting properties on your books

In ruton, our ubis ruton development o ers eco chic modern homes in peaceful countryside, and has seen a huge increase in en uiries. ope ouse in ath o ers a parkland setting within walking distance of the city centre, which buyers are loving for the best of both worlds. In rome we’re launching he ld Printworks, o ering contemporary family homes, and we’re also seeing high demand for our ross arm development in edmore, with beautiful architecture bringing the outside in. For more: acornpropertyinvest.com

THE PROPERTY MANAGERS 3SIXTY REAL ESTATE

rom a building consultancy perspective, has been a year of volatility, with an instant pause on the announcement of the lockdown followed by an almost immediate re gear and continuation, says director ames ithall.

Tell us about some of the most exciting properties on your books

THE ARCHITECTS SPRATLEY & PARTNERS

has definitely been a challenge, but among the bad news there have been some positives, says director hris elly. e have been lucky to have remained busy throughout, with a mi of commercial and residential work, and we’re still seeing a good number of new en uiries coming through. e are continuing to remain positive for the industry and will adapt to whatever the ne t few months bring. e have always undertaken a lot of work on one o homes in rural areas, but these en uires have grown this year, with more clients moving away from urban areas and e panding their search to find the right property. lot of people I have been speaking to, clients, consultants and colleagues, have all spent a long time reassessing what they desire from their living space during lockdown. I think has been a year where people have really come to value their own homes, whether it has a beautifully landscaped garden and e ternal space, or a light and airy study area, or even a small snug area in which you can hide away for some uiet time.

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

designed interiors at Redland Court; contemporary living at its sexiest at Lambridgewood; a tub with a view at The General; vibrant new Harbourside community Wapping Wharf

Tell us about some exciting properties on your books “ e are currently working on a range of traditional and contemporary

private houses, including ill arn, a green roofed, contemporary two storey home located within an area of outstanding natural beauty, which utilises P s and a esla battery for renewable energy storage. ambridgewood is a three storey home set into a steeply sloping rural site, allowing uninterrupted long ranging countryside views. oth properties utilise local vernacular materials in a modern manner to create carefully composed interventions in the landscape.

In a more traditional style, we are working on the renovation and refurbishment of ock nd ouse, a th century timber framed home, where we have been utilising hypo allergenic materials to address the health needs of the client’s family.

For more: spratley-partners.uk

“It’s a really fast-paced market at the moment, and people want to get moving – there’s a feeling that we don’t know what’s coming round the corner”

uring lockdown, we managed to work the planning angle on a care facility in ickwar, securing planning for a high end residential scheme and then selling on the site with the benefit of planning. e also began the redevelopment of the former riangle lub in levedon, having secured planning for a mi ed use residential and bar co ee shop ground oor use. hese sites are at opposite ends of the price bracket, yet demand for both appears buoyant, with a fallback of build to rent remaining an option for the long term.

For more: 3sixtyrealestate.co.uk

What trends have you been seeing?

OPPOSITE CLOCKWISE: The superbly sustainable Hill Barn; exquisitely

THE ESTATE AGENTS KNIGHT FRANK

It’s great to come back from furlough to find an active market and many people wanting to get moving, says associate essie ibbs. veryone has been incredibly considerate when it comes to safely conducting viewings and entering active building sites.

I think people spent a lot of lockdown considering what they don’t like about the houses they live in. evelopments which launched after lockdown have e perienced a lot of interest, especially homes with outside space, though some of the properties which had been on the market before lockdown

have struggled.

It’s a really fast paced market at the moment, and people want to get moving there’s a feeling that we don’t know what’s coming round the corner.

Prices are pretty much where they were before lockdown. his is down to the high levels of activity in the market since we’ve come back, and the pent up demand that has built. uyers are not necessarily looking for more rural areas, but they are definitely looking for larger properties with space for home working. utside space has also become far more important considerations such as mental health, standards of living, and what we would all like during any future lockdown situation are all playing a part.

Tell us about some of the exciting properties on your books

e’ve got a development called ydstep errace nine town houses in outhville with wonderful gardens and views over the park. nother e citing one is a rural hamlet of properties in the endips area called ichmont Place. For more: knightfrank.co.uk

SAVILLS

e’ve seen unprecedented demand since lockdown has eased, says icky udbridge, head of residential development sales.

Pent up demand has translated in to record en uiry numbers as people reassess their needs in light of lockdown. In ristol we have seen an increase in the number of buyers of city centre developments, who

Last Property Remaining at Bespoke, Award-Winning Development Staunton Manor is a collection of just 8 private bespoke character properties conveniently located for access to Bristol, Bath or Wells and benefitting from a 10 Year New Home Warranty

Davies and Way 1 High Street, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 1DP 0117 9863681 keynsham@daviesandway.com www.daviesandway.com

All properties are positioned around a central courtyard that was once part of the former historic Horse World Centre and located in the heart of Whitchurch Village. The village offers a range of amenities in addition to good transport links and accessibility to cycling routes into Bristol city centre and Bath.

Key features Price £649,000

• Award Winning Development • Excellent transport links to Bristol and Bath • Flexible living accommodation • Three double bedrooms • En suite shower room • Family bathroom • Landscaped gardens • Private Drive • BANES School Catchment • 10 year ICW Warranty

PROPERTY

“The determination to avoid compromise on li l a in n ifi people are looking for more space, both inside and outside”

ABOVE: Acorn at the cutting edge of modern family living: ABOVE: The Old Printworks; BELOW: Cubis Bruton

are selling a home prior to moving; a di erent picture when compared to pre lockdown. e saw demand intensify over the summer, and a survey we conducted shows that ovid has increased the desire to move home. uyer determination to avoid compromise on lifestyle factors has intensified, too; people are looking for more space, both inside and outside. In the city markets, people are increasingly seeking urban properties with private balconies and gardens, as well as good pro imity to parkland and green spaces. he desire for increased working from home looks set to become a long term phenomenon, with over half of respondents from the survey saying they would be more inclined to work from home more regularly.

Tell us about some of the exciting properties on your books

apping harf is a vibrant new community built among the city’s ever improving independent food, drink and shopping uarter, o ering a mi of apartments o ering the best in modern living within attractive wharf style buildings. sympathetic restoration of the former girls’ school, edland ourt is a collection of architecturally uni ue buildings that will create a new community of apartments and town houses in the heart of edland. he new community will be set among beautiful parkland with spectacular views across ristol, with e ceptional communal grounds in addition to private outdoor space. n For more: savills.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 83

CONCRETE POETRY

This architect’s home in Kingsdown was built in 1991, but could easily have been designed with the post-lockdown world in mind Words by Ursula Cole

PROPERTY

N

ow that Crittal is back in vogue, it’s hard to fathom why it ever went out. What’s not to love about those slim, elegant black steel frames?

The frames work well with almost any kind of architectural style, but are especially happy partnering up with Art Deco, Modernist, postwar Brutalist, and homes that we can loosely categorise as ‘contemporary’. It works an absolute treat when paired with concrete, oor to ceiling glass walls and exposed brick, and if you want a thrilling example of the breed, just take a look at the house featured on these pages.

West End was built in 1991 by its architect-owner.

The house is one of a pair that sits side-by-side in a quiet enclave, tucked away at the end of a no-through

road in Kingsdown, adjacent to a handsome terrace of Georgian town houses.

The design of the house is what the architect might describe as ‘contextually driven’; in other words, it’s built into the hillside to make the most of sweeping views across the city and surrounding countryside. It’s constructed on three levels, with a dramatic central atrium and glass ceiling that draws light throughout the house. The aforementioned combo of concrete with exposed frames, posts and painted brick walls adds up to an exciting and dramatic interior, dominated by simple linear forms and an honest approach to materials.

The front of the house is intentionally unassuming, meaning that it gradually reveals its secrets in the most intriguing way. The main entrance is at street level, set beneath the undercroft; from here you walk from the entrance hall into the first of the two living rooms, which has wall filling steel framed windows looking down at the vast living space beneath, and oak parquet ooring underfoot.

An open walkway leads to the principal bedroom; a beautifully light space with incredible views across the

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 85

PROPERTY

HOUSE NUMBERS Bedrooms

3

Bathrooms

2

Reception rooms Huge (over 76ft!) open-plan living, dining and kitchen area; second living room What else?

Beautifully landscaped garden and courtyard; large working-from-home studio Price Where

£1.5m Kingsdown

From: The Modern House 020 3795 5920 info@themodernhouse.com themodernhouse.com

city. It’s served by a marble en suite bathroom that wouldn’t disgrace a five star bouti ue hotel. cast concrete winding staircase leads down from the hallway to a cleverly designed open plan living space at lower ground level, with a large dining area set beneath the triple height ceiling. striking looking wood burner a contemporary take on the classic ustavian curved chimney, if you like (and we do helps to keep this vast space feeling cosy. eatly divided from the dining room by a line of cast concrete is the kitchen, with a warren of linked service rooms a pantry, laundry, boot room, food prep space that allow the main cooking area to remain stylishly uncluttered. wall of rittal style rench windows opens to a sunken leafy courtyard, home to lush, leafy tree ferns and an obligingly productive fig tree.

he other side of the lower ground oor is loosely arranged as a lounge, with light streaming through yet more steel framed windows opening to a densely planted, south east facing oasis a courtyard garden with wavering shoots of purple verbena, umber grasses and beds of herbaceous perennials. here’s a central seating area for warmer months and brick walls for privacy. power supply suitable for car charging is available in the undercroft parking area. long with two double bedrooms and a second bathroom on the first oor, there’s a wonderfully spacious ft studio, with views stretching across the city and access to a roof terrace. ith the working from home trend poised to become a long term way of life, we can see est nd being snapped up on the strength of this room alone. indly form an orderly, socially distanced ueue.

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

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Redland Court – reimagined

Catch these three stylish Redland town houses – the first to be completed in the highly anticipated Redland Court development

T

hese three beautiful fourbedroom town houses are the first homes to be completed at Redland Court. Due to be ready for occupation in early spring 2021, the stylish homes are perfect for family life and fall within the sought-after Redland Green secondary school catchment area.

With three floors of perfectly planned living space, these homes suit all ages. The lower ground floor has a sizeable snug, shower room and separate bedroom; ideal for teenagers who want their own space. The whole of the upper ground floor is entirely given over to a kitchen/dining/living room, with a cloakroom, while the first floor has three further bedrooms, including a master suite with en-suite and fitted wardrobes. The luxurious family bathroom is also on the first floor. The specification and finishes exceed expectations; design-led kitchens have quartz worksurfaces and

upstands, a Quooker tap, wine fridge and all the appliances you could wish for. Engineered oak flooring runs throughout the house, the bedrooms being an exception where there are neutral carpets. There is porcelain stoneware on the floors of bath/shower and cloakrooms and en-suites.

Each home has integral parking with an electric garage door and fitted charging point. Outdoor space includes a decked rear patio and either a garden or a first-floor roof terrace, plus of course the three-acres of residents’ parkland surrounding Redland Court, overlooking north Bristol.

Redland Court is Bristol’s finest landmark development, in which classic meets contemporary with uncompromising style and character. The result is a development where no two homes are quite the same, from two- to four-bedroom houses and one- to fourbedroom apartments and duplex apartments.

Features within these spacious homes include

skyline views out across the city, high ceilings, restored historic features, private outdoor terraces and allocated parking.

Don’t miss a great opportunity to live in Redland, one of Bristol’s most popular locations and benefit from both the city and an excellent secondary school on your doorstep.

Town houses start at £974,950.

For further information on Redland Court call the agents: Savills on 0117 910 0360 or Ocean on 0117 946 9838 or visit www.redlandcourt.co.uk. n

“Architecturally, there is nothing in the area to rival Redland Court, which makes this the most significant development in Bristol. This is reflected in the significant interest we have received. The spectacular views across Bristol and residents’ communal gardens are unsurpassed. With a move to working from home, this location ticks all the boxes”.

Ross Kieran, Director Ocean Land and New Homes Bristol

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

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

(0117) 934 9977

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Two spacious contemporary homes with separate studios and large gardens.

FOR MORE DETAILS CALL 01761 252502

Treow Barns is the perfect combination of traits, the traditionally rural plus luxurious contemporary design and futuristic features.

Each of the two barns provides single-level living, with four bedrooms, a formal garden, paddock and the most spectacular views.

Previously chicken sheds, the award-winning developers, designers and builders Whitecroft Developments have put enormous thought

and care into each and every element of these two unique and spectacular homes.

From the natural materials used, each bringing a sense of warmth and style to the spacious design, to the energy-efficient systems that have been added, making

the barns sympathetic to the countryside location within which they sit. Each barn also comes with its own large detatched studio, complete with cloakroom. Added to meet the needs of today’s buyer, it would be an ideal home office, maybe a home gym, a games room or extra living space.

This feature is just one of several which we know makes Treow Barns extremely special – there is also the internal courtyard

“An inspirational conversion of two existing barns into two new homes each with an additional separate detached building, was a tantalising opportunity for Award Winning Developers, Whitecroft Developments Limited.�

garden that discreetly and seamlessly brings the outside in. The large span of windows within the open-plan living area add to the sense of these properties working with their environment. Extending from the living space is the decked area that stretches down one side of the barn and leads down to the formal gardens. The second barn is blessed with breathtaking panoramic views across Chew Valley Lakes.

Only the finest materials and fixtures will be fitted as standard, and being only half a mile from West Harptree, the development is ideally situated for everything this sought after area has to offer.

For detailed information on Treow Barns, email sue.sadler@fineandcountry.com

BRISTOL LIVES

“We’re all about ‘Bristol love, not likes’” with it, but also the warmth and friendliness of our people – the members of our community are so supportive of each other.

How did IGers Bristol react to lockdown – were you still active, or did you decide it was better to take a pause?

JESS SIGGERS The leader of Bristol’s Instagram community plays a unique role in promoting the city – purely for the love of Bristol Few people are more passionate about Bristol than Jess Siggers; even fewer possess the kind of skills needed to share that passion with the wider world.

Along with her trademark photos of Bristol’s colourful terraces, along with the occasional balloon and rainbow, Jess has utilised her ninja social media skills to build @igersbristol into the biggest IGers community in the UK outside London. The last time we checked, its followers stood at over 30k, while Jess’s own account, @porthjess, has an impressive 43.8k.

For the uninitiated, please tell us what IGers Bristol does (and how you pronounce it)

We’re the Bristol branch of IGers (pronounced eye-gee-urs! IG

= abbreviation of Instagram), a global photographers and instagrammers community which first began in Madrid ten years ago. Our own community started up in 2014.

What do you most love about being part of the IGers community?

The thing I love most is that it’s all based on love! And nothing else.

We’re just volunteers who love our city so much, we think the rest of the world should love it too. We promote local instagrammers and events just because they’re nice, and we want to, and we don’t expect anything back in return.

We know that it’s the largest active IGers community in the UK outside London – why do you think this is?

I believe our city’s ridiculous creativeness levels have a lot to do

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

We kept going through lockdown, trying to bring joy and hope via photography. But the toppling of Colston derailed us temporarily.

We had expectations placed on us to be a guiding light, but as an all-white team, we were mere pupils rather than educators, and didn’t do a great job at passing the mic. With personal issues on top of this for all three of us (including Ben, who was stepping down), we needed to take time out to reflect and rebuild with new, more inclusive intentions.

You’ve come back with a brand-new team – care to tell us a bit about them and what they all bring to the mix?

Well we’ve got Bobbi on electric guitar, an awesome Miami native who’s adopted Bristol as her new home city, and a champion of black women in tech. On drums we have Imogen, a fabulous queer, bodypositive advocate and mayonnaise expert. Mariel’s got one hand playing the keyboard and the other baking something delicious, and that woman knows how to take a stunning photo. Then in the back you’ve got myself and Rich, bashing away at rainbow-coloured tambourines and hoping people like our vibe.

Is there a negative side to Instagram, and do you have any advice to anyone who feels anxious about it all?

It’s incredibly easy to feel you’re not good enough on Instagram, especially when the ‘rules’ for getting maximum exposure for your photos seem to change

daily. My advice? Let it all go. Post consistently from the heart and only what you love. The right people will find you eventually. We’re all about ‘Bristol love, not likes’.

You don’t just post up pretty pictures; you also play an active role in supporting many Bristol events. Tell us about a few of them

We’re big supporters of Bristol’s arts and culture so love to work with venues such as Spike Island, RWA, Bristol Museum and M Shed, along with our many festivals including Bristol Balloon Fiesta, Upfest, Bristol Light Fest and more, to bring unique photo opportunities to our community and promote the venue or event in the process.

What else do you do outside IGers?

I create campaign- or live-eventbased content for a few different Bristol agencies, but obviously as that’s all gone a bit quiet at the moment I’m mainly concentrating on opening a new online print store.

Do you have any secret skills?

I was a singer in the late ’90s and early noughties, with regular slots at The Fleece, Fiddlers, the now defunct Rummer Underground club and the late great Bar Med. ... and what’s your most regrettable habit?

I care way too much about everything and haven’t relaxed in about seven years.

We’d better let you get on; what are you doing immediately after answering these questions?

Grabbing a coffee with a friend at Twelve in Clifton Village followed by the school run, then an evening of work. Ah the freelance life.

More about Jess at porthjess.com and @porthjess on Instagram Follow IGers Bristol at @igersbristol

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